Health Day In Vecumnieki

We had a wonderful day for snow fun on a hill close to Vecumnieki with music and barbecue. Most heartfelt thanks to Ivars Sproģis, the coordinator of sports activities for Vecumnieki and Stelpe.

Being really considerate to the smallest detail, Ivars had managed to make this day really enjoyable for many children and their parents, the whole families, in fact. Owing to him, a coach was arranged for Stelpians enabling this way quite a big group of us to take part in the activity.

Independence Day And Final Soros Party

By a more or less planned coincidence, this year's Independence Day of Latvia was celebrated together with the final party of the project "Being Together" funded by Soros Foundation Latvia.

It started with a concert of a men's trio Bar-Ten-Base under the leadership of Arturs Mangulis, a well-known singer, actor and composer. One of the songs can be watched here:



Even though I cannot believe it's me, together with three beautiful ladies from the English Club, I sang Massachusets!

The names of those ladies are Līga Jankovska, Daiga Ņikiforova, Diāna Gerika.

Watch the video:

War Heroes Remembrance Day (Lāčplēša diena)

Today Latvia celebrates the Remembrance Day of War Heroes (Lāčplēša diena). In Stelpe, people went on a torch parade. One stream came from Nīzere and the other - from the center of Stelpe, flowing together into the school alley and finishing their walk by the newly built fireplace near Stelpe School.

10 Righteous Men Needed For Latvia

We had a short meeting there. An addressing speech was made by teacher and patriotic activities activist Ingus Pavinkšnis. He mentioned that Latvians, having taken back their independent country, may not always know how to rule it. We have had too little time to learn. Yet the Destiny does not offer us any other dates - our freedom is here and now, and each and every person has their responsibility for its growth and strength.

"A corrupt government is not the Nation. It is us who make the Nation," said Ingus Pavinkšnis. He referred to the Bible story about the City of Sodom. God promised to spare the city if there were 10 righteous men to be found. Ingus reminded us to ask ourselves a question if I myself could be one of those 10 men whom God needs to spare our nation.

Mediterranian Men Sing Latvian Patriotic Song

Then we all went upstairs to the school hall where there was a concert. Together with us were volunteer workers Simone Cocco from Sardinia, the Italian island, and Christian Torres Esquitino from Spain. The two young men sang a Latvian song about soldiers taking farewell from their loved ones before going to battle "Two Doves Flew Up High" (Div' dūjiņas gaisā skrēja). I was so surprised and fascinated that I even forgot to snap a video.

Amateur singers group led by Kristine Rulle (with guitar). (Background: Simone Cocco - 3rd from right; Christian Torres Esquitino - 1st from right) See also video below.

Violinist Dace Rozenberga (Tereze's violin teacher) and Līga Karpinska
Guest from neighboring Barbele, the young saxophonist Eduards Lācis and Sintija Kuzma (see also video below)

Video Glimpses

Here you have a few video moments of the Remembrance Day 2010 (Lāčplēša diena 2010) in Stelpe School (Stelpes skola):

A song performed by amateur singers' group led by Kristīne Rulle "I Saw My Brother On Horseback Dressed In Armour" (Es redzēju bāleliņu).



Terēze Neliusa plays violin for the Remebrance Day guests. Accompanist - Līga Karpinska.



Young saxophonist Eduards Lācis accompanied by Sintija Kuzma.

Mary Stuart - A Play Of Strength, Passion and Love

On Sunday, Sandra and me together with more than 20 other Stelpians went by bus to Riga to see this play by Friedrich Schiller staged in Latvian theater The Daile (Dailes teātris).

The steel-hard queens get suddenly weak when confronted with ... human love.

A real dilemma is that of Queen Elisabeth when she has to decide whether or not to execute Mary Stuart who is not only a dethroned Scottish queen, dangerous even in imprisonment, bound to stir up a bloodshed for thousands if released, but she is also the half sister of Queen Elisabeth. More to that, the execution could dramatically impair the people's support to the ruling queen since she risks to appear revengeful and miserable.

Elisabeth backs out but her loyal noblemen still get the Scottish queen executed.

But the story is much more complex and colorful than just the dilemma and the execution.

The Daile actors show us with great skill how being executed can be a triumph in the same time, how failing to decide may be at times the wisest decision of all, and how weak can those rock-hard ladies become when they fall in Love.

A fantastic, unforgettable staging. We notice that such appear on the scenes in times when the nation has sufferings. When the times get better and the average Latvian is comparatively well-off, the theater stagings get ... shallow.

But this is a fantastic piece. We actually could not come back to ourselves even the whole next day.

It felt so warm in our heart to see our dear Olga Dreģe playing the servant of Scottish Mary. We still breathe with that deep emotion she gave us when visiting our school on the Poetry Afternoon. After having met her face to face here, it felt different to see her on the big stage of the Daile.

Visit the Mary Stuart page at the Daile site. It is in Latvian though, but there are pictures and even a video.

Mozart Music And Coffee Aroma

Līga Karpinska is a musician, music teacher and a business level coffee and tea expert. Yesterday she had come to Stelpe with a real tea and coffee show. In the candlelight, she played Mozart to Stelpians and spoke about tea and coffee brands, and the finesses of preparation.
Did you know that you must not pour boiling water on teabags and soak them more than 5 minutes? The healthy stuff turns into something harmful if you do.
And, did you know by the way, that if you take a cup of coffee right before the sleep, you will sleep better? But you can lose your sleep if you drink coffee excessively throughout the day?

These and many more secrets Līga revealed for us in this special afternoon.
2 days later: The smell of coffee can still be felt in the hall and adjacent corridors.

Pensioners Visit Riga Zoo And Tree Nursery in Baltezers

On Friday, 30+ Stelpe pensioners went on a tour sponsored by Vecumnieki District Board (Vecumnieku novada Dome). They visited Riga Zoo (Rīgas Zooloģiskais dārzs), Baltezers Tree Nursery (Baltezera kokaudzētava) and did some shopping on their way back to Stelpe.

Poetry Evening "When Heart From Love Breaks"

Picture: Olga Dreģe (center), the megastar of the Latvian theater, together with those having contributed to the content of the Poetry Evening.
Second line from left: Mārīte Kviešone, Nijole Ķerūde, Valentīna Rūtiņa
First line from left: Sandra Neliusa, Aleksandra Hadžimoratova, Olga Dreģe, Māra Lagzdiņa, Līga Karpinska

Olga Dreģe is by all means one of the brightest ever Latvian theater stars. For many decades, she has been enjoying love from all the nation having played several hundred roles in theater the Daile. She has featured also a few outstanding movie characters.

But this evening (October 8) she was visiting Stelpe School. Using poems of one of the most celebrated Latvian poetess Ārija Elksne, Olga led us on a delicate path of the deeper values of everybody's soul. She spoke a lot about a Home in the broader sense of this word, and the love for Latvia as our homeland. The professionalism and the true emotion she was putting into what she was saying, made tears appear in the eyes of nearly everyone.

The intimate air and deep emotional poetry was reinforced by wonderful music played by pianist Līga Karpinska and cellist Māra Lagzdiņa. These two ladies already start feeling at home in Stelpe since they are quite frequent guests on different occasions.

Unusual European Cultural Heritage - The Sacred Oak Of Kunki

The blue flag of the European Cultural Heritage was waving today over this place in Stelpe Forest. Stelpians are making an attempt to set a new tradition of celebrating the Europe day in connection with the already traditional Day of Poetry.


The host of the celebration Inta Groskaufmane (foreground left in the picture) who now lives in Limbaži, has taken upon herself the responsibility for calling the people together on a Saturday in September. She told briefly the history of this place having served both as a pre-Christian and Christian worship site, but also having been a center for different cultural and even sports activities. This place could arguably be considered the origin of the ice-hockey game since different sources mention a game of sending a wooden disc into a goal with a club. Competitions of such a game have been held here as long ago as 17th century.

The ethnographic ensemble "Laukam pāri" (Accross the Field) had come for the second time already to color the event with some ancient melodies sung and played on ancient instruments. Māris Braže, a member of the group, is a metal master. He makes ancient Latvian bijouterie, and last year he had taken with him a little exhibition. This year he presented an oak-wood bugle producing a really impressive sound that echoed long in the forest. This bugle was made by Mr. Braže himself. When asked from where the idea and the know-how came, he answered that it was like something from above that he saw like a vision. The bugle when seen and, especially when heard, leaves no doubt that this man has made it with great insight and skill, and not everyone could compete with him in building this type of instrument.
Also our boys Karlis Elmer and Dag were present there, listened to the stories , watched the concert and participated in the games. In the picture, you can see them sitting on a branch of the ancient oak that has now come down and lies on the ground. A new oak has been planted on the site to mark this place as a little special one. In the lower part of the picture, you can see the Mr. Braže's bugle.
In the end, all the spectators were invited to join the dancing and games.

Stelpe Open Air Stage - Officially Opened And Consecrated

Saturday, September 4, there was the official opening of the newly built open air stage in Stelpe. The leaderships of all the communities of District Vecumnieki were present in order to congratulate stelpians with this important day.

Picture: Stelpe dancers in action on the newly opened stage
In the beginning of 90-ties, by a short-sighted decision of the then Board, Stelpe Culture House was torn down even though it was still in quite good condition. Then came the time of the major inflation with currencies changing, and nothing was built in the place. The chair of Stelpe local administration Elmārs Jukonis says that he has been often hearing the opinion of the villagers that a place for gathering and activities is needed here.

The chair of the Board of District Vecumnieki (Vecumnieku novada Dome) Rihards Melgailis opens the stage by cutting a symbolic ribbon

Minister of Vecumnieki church (Vecumnieku baznīca) Juris Morics consecrates the stage in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.
The first performance on our stage - a song by teachers and dedicated amateur artists Iveta Grantiņa and Inese Freiberga
The author of the grant application for the construction of the stage, Kristīne Rulle (with guitar) and her helpers Inga Polika (foreground left) and Karīna Dzenīte singing a three-voice version of a popular song.
View on the spectator seats
Skaistkalne Brass Orchestra (Skaistkalnes pūtēju orķestris) under the conduct of Jānis Kalniņš, a dedicated musician and member of Vecumnieki District Board (Vecumnieku novada Dome).
Stelpe theater performed a comedy Trīnes Grēki (Trine the Mischief Maker) by Latvian classic playwright Rudolfs Blaumanis. The head teacher of Stelpe School (Stelpes skola) Dagmāra Venclova as Trine, and Jānis Klāviņš as Abram the Jew.
After the concert and theater, there was a dancing party until 2 A.M.

A Penny Bun Year

 
Wherever we step into Stelpe Forest, there are penny buns, the Latvian N0. 1 mushroom. Sandra got today about 20 kg as a gift from a friend.

If you have penny buns, you don't need any meat. They can be used in different dishes and be a good support for the winter time.

In this picture, you can see a small part of the gift being still large enough to fill the bowl in which we otherwise wash our boys.


Here you see some of them cleaned

Karlis Elmer eating bread with penny bun sauce

XIV Annual Sports Festival of Stelpe Pagasts

It was not quite like the Olympic Games even though there were lots of similarities. The high standard set in earlier years by Aiga Saldabola (read more about the last year's games) was to be kept this time by my wife Sandra Neliusa since she is in a way Aiga's follower.

The festival is not only for athletes to compete, it is also for everyone to come together and enjoy some air of celebration. Stelpians value this tradition, and many of them plan their day to stay in Stelpe and join the celebration. Teams start coming together to practice volley and soccer months before the Sports Day. So this day has also an indirect positive influence on the lifestyle of the young.

For the Sports Day to be more colorful, Sandra had invited even Mr. Universe 2009 Aivars Visockis and a group of cheerleaders from Kurmene Pagasts.

The activity was quite well attended, and the importance of the tradition was emphasized by the presence of the Chair of the Board (Not to call him Mayor?) of District Vecumnieki Rihards Melgailis and executive director Guntis Kalnins who stayed on the site all day long and participated in the competitions.

Also the governor of Stelpe Pagasts Elmars Jukonis had made himself available all day long, and helped both with advice and practical solutions. He did not take part in the competitions though.

Picture 1: Ladies' shooting competition.
Picture 2: Valentina Rutina, who took the 2nd place, was shooting the first time in her life. Having heard just brief instructions before the start from a neighbor, she did not hesitate to put the newly acquired knowledge to work and surprised with that everyone on the site. (Valentina in the background, Elmars Jukonis charging her gun)
Picture 3: Edvins Buiko and Davis Jankovskis compete on a relay race
Picture 4: Ineta Klavina, one of the strong women of Stelpe. She competed with Aiga Saldabola and Dace Polika in kettle-bell lifting, which was not initially planned as an event but added on the request of the participants. Each of the three ladies lifted the 16 kg weight more than 2o times.

Picture 5: Lauris Duna climbing the so called Umurkumurs pole for prizesPicture 6: Ineta Klavina had taken her private trampoline to the site, and the children were allowed to use it free of charge.
Picture 7: Inflatable castle "The Python" served well both for relay races and children's entertainment.
Picture 8: Everyone could have a picture taken together with Mr. Universe 2009 Aivars Visockis. Children - Dag Nelius (left), Valdis Berlynskis.

Rock Festival Nightmare Over Stelpe

 
It is 4.15 A.M. but I am sitting and writing. You may guess why. Right! It is not possible to sleep. Terrible noise even with the windows shut. We are about 1 km from the stage but the ground is trembling here under our feet.

All those not attending the festival are in fact now held hostages, and they suffer only because one of their neighbors has lost every sense of proportion and organizes things like this in the middle of an inhabited area. Worst of all, with the blessing of the local government of Vecumnieki.

More to that, the next night promises to be alike if not worse.

I am determined, when the day breaks, to do a research whether there is a legal leverage to restrict these sick ambitions of a disregarding man even though the government institutions have granted the permissions.

I would appreciate if you dropped me a line of comment as to what you would have done if you were exposed to such a torture with noise.

I remember once in Oslo, there was an AC/DC concert. We got into a traffic block and spent there more than an hour. But I do not remember that anyone would complain about noise. Obviously the premises there were adjusted properly to host such a big music event. Yet here they are not.

Update: Susanne in Sweden commented this:

- My friend and I went once to a similar festival by our free choice. Using the earplugs, we slept relatively well in the night. But that site was far away from any inhabited area.