Hope everyone had a very warm and lovely Christmas together with the family..

with lots of laughter and joy...  just as ours...

I invited my husbands and my family to eat the traditional turkey

and ate crocodile in the evening

 a crocodile made of bread filled with delicious sandwiches !!! lol

Ofcourse a certain subject had to be discussed !! The differences between Walloons and Flemish !! lol

Well we and our families could sit down at the table and speak normaly about it ...lol   and that we can't say about our politicians !!

In his annual Christmas speech, His Majesty King Albert II of the Belgians called on the different language communities in Belgium to overcome differences that plunged the country into a deep political crisis. The King called the crisis a difficult period, but said that the Belgian people can learn from it.

King refers to 1981

Talking about the political crisis, which held Belgium in its grasp for 192 days or more than six months, King Albert referred to another difficult period, in 1981citing his brother, the late King Boudewijn.

 

"I know that the ordeal is there (...) but I think that Belgium reacts best in difficult times."

"I firmly believe in the future of our country because I have faith in the abilities of the Belgians when they have their backs against the wall," King Albert said, repeating the words his brother spoke 26 years ago.

The King is glad that a government has finally been put together and that a "reform and modernization of our country" is nigh.

"Language skills are very important"

King Albert also drew conclusions from the political crisis and the bickering between Flemish and French-speaking parties.

"I think it is essential that the contacts between the different language communities be strengthened. The first condition is that we fully understand one another."

"I have said this many times before, but I think it is really important, especially for the young, to have a good knowledge of the languages spoken in the other communities."

and a small German-speaking community). that has been neglected for too long, the King concluded.

(Belgium has a Dutch- (Flanders), French- (Wallonia) and a small German-speaking community).

 

 

I'm sorry King Albert II but I can't express my joy just yet !!!  Let's just wait after Easter shall we....

 

Speaking about languages dear King Albert II....  Your family speaking very poorly Dutch is  such  a sense of public responsibility that has been neglected for too long....lol

 

It is the first time ever that the King spoke his speech entirely in Dutch (Dutch is the general official language/ Flemish all  the sorts of dialects ), spoke one on the French channel in French with a few phrases in German !!! Never heard our King speaking German in official speeches !!!  I'm 30 ....lol

 

He spoke also about historical injustices which happed in the past.  Well that's a first.... Teach your sons proper Dutch and maybe the Flemish will show more respect for them !!!!

 

Anyway the speech is a good beginning !!!

 

Maybe your sons show their sense of public responsability as well !!

 

    

 

And yes, ok you all were so exited and thankfull about the lovely warm time we spend together  that ....  I promisse to celebrate it next year again at our house ...