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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

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Among them are the kind hearted and thoughtful, Eefje Brand, who recently moved into a room Mrs De Gans "vacated" and to whom he strikes up a sweet, close and heart warming friendship. His cheeky and mischievous friend Evert Duiker, who lives independently around the corner in sheltered accommodation with his dog Mo who farts a lot. Whenever Everts grout plays up Walter visits and takes his dog for a walk, helps him out with things or just enjoys an afternoon chat and "a glass of something or other" - usually wine, gin, brandy or whisky.

Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old review: a nome de The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old review: a nome

For years it was unknown who was hiding behind the pseudonym. This led to speculation about who it could be. Names from Sylvia Witteman to Arnon Grunberg were mentioned. Both De Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad revealed almost simultaneously in 2016 that Peter de Smet was 62-year-old. De Smet responded with the words that 'he is not waiting for publicity' and 'has no sense in the fuss about fame'.

I really liked this book and it was great to enter Hendrik’s world on such an intimate and personal level. Even if you do not have an elderly relative living in a care home, it is great read in the way that reality television fails to capture. It is a very good reading experience that I will vote the top score of 5 stars because it is entertaining, informative and rather witty. As he got to know more people and make some particularly special friends (who formed the Old But Not Dead Club - a truly inspired idea), he became involved in their lives and so did I. They consume a lot of wine and whisky and enjoy life. He is happily surprised.

Hendrik Groen (Author of Pogingen iets van het leven te maken) - Goodreads Hendrik Groen (Author of Pogingen iets van het leven te maken) -

Highly entertaining, utterly convincing. A delightful and touching saga of one man's way of coping with old age' Daily Express

When this book was published the author was anonymous which may well have had something to do with the criticisms of how the Dutch elderly are treated. Mind you Australia does not do much better! In the book Hendrik and his friends take matters into their own hands and form the Not Dead Yet Club. No matter how old, people need friends they can relate to and occupations which are worthwhile and enjoyable. Together this group create outings which they all enjoy including things people may frown on such as visiting the pub. The first part of the book seems to be mostly anecdotes and descriptions, which certainly ring true from my experiences with family and friends and community service organisations, but they didn’t interest me. Been there, done that (well, as an outsider, for the time being). But I persisted.

Hendrik Groen - Wikipedia Hendrik Groen - Wikipedia

It was a joy to rediscover a word that has been out of my vocabulary since my mums passing, that glorious word "Kerfuffle". I shall remind myself to keep it in circulation. Mum always used it with such flair.What a touching read. Truly this is up there with the best ones I have read. It was recommended to me by my dad's primary health professional with the words that it is one of the funniest, most poignant and cutting reads about old age you will come across. And it is. In 2017 werden de boeken verfilmd en door Omroep MAX uitgezonden als de televisieserie Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, met Kees Hulst in de rol van Hendrik Groen. Scenarioschrijver Martin van Waardenberg bevestigde dat De Smet de man achter het pseudoniem was. [3] In hetzelfde jaar werd ook een toneelbewerking onder regie van Gijs de Lange op de planken gebracht, met Beau Schneider in de rol van Hendrik Groen. [4] In 2019 volgde een tweede televisieserie bij omroep MAX, Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, Zolang er leven is.

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