在过去的几周里，我经常被问到我们在法国预期的总部 (HQ) 进展如何.
During the last weeks, I was frequently asked how it is going with our intended Head-Quarters (HQ) in France.
不幸的是，我的回答仍然无聊，就像一个重复的黑胶唱片播放器：情况不好，也不错。
Unfortunately, my answer remains boring, like a repeating vinyl disk player: the situation is not good, not bad.
(本文的中文翻译尚未更正)
- 不好，因为神秘主人又失踪了。 你可能几乎想知道他是否真的存在。 他告诉我们在八月可以出价，我们就这么做了。 但从那时起，也就是几个月前，我们就无法联系到他了。 不是通过电子邮件，不是通过电话，邮政编码，什么也没有。 就像过去四年里发生过无数次一样。
- Not good because the mystery owner has disappeared again. You might almost wonder whether he really exists. He told us that we could make an offer, which we did in august. But since then, and this was months ago, we can’t get in touch with him. Not by email, not by phone, zip, nada. Just like has happened numerous times during the last 4 years.
- 还不错，因为尽管自八月以来他正式拥有了这座豪宅，但他仍然没有去过那里。 想象一下，他在 2019 年，4年前，购买了该房产，此后他就没有去过那里。 尽管距离他家只有3个小时的车程。
因此，情况还不错，因为这座豪宅还没有闲置。因此，2024年，我们的青少年活动仍然有可能很热闹。 - Not bad because even though since August he officially owns the mansion, he still hasn’t been there. Imagine, he purchased the estate in 2019, 4 years ago, and he hasn’t been there since. Even though it is just a 3-hour drive from his home.
Therefore the situation is not bad because the mansion is still unused. Therefore there is a still chance that in 2024, it might be bustling with our Youth Activities.
幸运的是，上周六，圣尼古拉斯抵达了荷兰，既然庄园的主人表示他喜欢孩子，这也许是我们联系他的一个方式。
Luckily last Saturday, Saint Nicholas arrived in The Netherlands, and since the owner of the estate had indicated that he liked children, this might be a way through which we can reach him.
圣尼古拉斯是谁？– Who is Sint Nicholas?
圣尼古拉斯在荷兰被称为Sinterklaas，是儿童的守护神。 他是一位希腊主教，生活于公元 270 年至 343 年。 早在中世纪，12 月 6 日庆祝他的生日就成了穷人收到礼物的日子。 这演变成了在孩子们的鞋子里赠送礼物。
Saint Nicholas, called Sinterklaas in the Netherlands, is the patron saint of children. He was a Greek bishop who lived from 270 till 343 AD. Already in the Middle Ages, his birthday, which is celebrated on December the 6th, was an occasion during which the poor received gifts in their shoes. This evolved to giving gifts to children in their shoes.
荷兰是极少数仍在庆祝圣尼古拉斯生日的地方之一。 他通常在生日前三周左右乘船到达。 到达后，他带着一本大书到处旅行，里面记录了所有孩子们的所有善行和顽皮的行为。
The Netherlands is one of the very few places where the birthday of Saint Nicholas is still celebrated. He usually arrives by boat around 3 weeks before his birthday. After his arrival, he travels around with a big book in which all the good and naughty deeds are recorded of all the children.
每周一两次，孩子们可以将鞋子放在烟囱旁边，他们可能会根据自己的行为收到礼物。 孩子们可以在鞋子里放一根胡萝卜或干草给圣尼古拉斯的马，或者写一封信或一首诗，在其中表达他们希望在圣尼古拉斯生日那天收到什么礼物。 他们唱一首或多首圣尼古拉斯歌曲，然后满怀希望地上床睡觉。
Once or twice a week, children can place their shoe next to the chimney and they might receive gifts based on their behaviour. In the shoe the kids can place a a carrot or hay for the horse of Saint Nicholas, or a letter or poem in which they can state what gift they like to receive on Sain Nicholas’ birthday. They sing one or more Saint Nicholas songs and go to bed in hopeful anticipation.
该庄园的主人曾经是一名教师，显然仍然对孩子们情有独钟。 圣尼古拉斯的到来因此成为了再次与他联系的机会。
The owner of the estate used to be a teacher and apparently still has a soft spot for children. The arrival of Saint Nicolas was therefore an opportunity to contact him again.
我用一封信、传统的圣尼古拉斯糖果、一块巧克力 B 制作了一个圣诞老人惊喜，B 是他名字的第一个字符（几乎每个荷兰孩子在这个时期都会收到一个），所有这些都装在传统的黄麻中 包。
I made a Sinterklaas Surprise with a letter, traditional Sint Nicholas sweets, a chocolate B, B being the first character of his name (almost every Dutch kid receives one in this period), and all of that packed in a traditional jute bag.
我添加了一封信，其中表示今年我会将我的鞋子和孩子们放在一起。 我描述了我和鹭燕开办青训中心的梦想，希望他有时间去他的家乡卢塞恩（瑞士）拜访他，讨论是否可以利用他闲置的场地来开办青训中心。
I added a letter in which I stated that this year, I would be placing my shoe along with the kids. I described the dream of Linda and myself to open a youth training center and that I hoped that he would have time so that I visit him in his hometown Luzern (Switzerland) to discuss if his unused location could be used for that.
为了遵守荷兰圣尼古拉斯的习俗，我添加了一首小诗。
To adhere to the Dutch Saint Nicholas customs, I included a small poem.
Teaching practical skills is our drive
Seeing teens grow makes us alive
From pioneering to first aid
Creating confidence in what they make.
This year I hope for a location in my shoe
A place where hundreds of teens can go to
With grass, a forest and a lake
A useful Adventure Park is what we’ll make.
现在正在等待看看这份孩子们的礼物是否会导致邀请我们讨论这所房子的竞标。
Now it is waiting to see if this children’s gift will result in an invitation to discuss our bid for the house.
PS (post scriptum):
“生命的意义就是找到你的礼物。
生命的目的就是放弃它。”
“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.“
艾薇儿 – Pablo Picasso（1881 – 1973 ）
西班牙画家、雕塑家，20世纪最有影响力的艺术家之一。 他的作品从极端现实主义经立体主义演变为超现实主义。
Spanish painter and sculptor, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His work evolved from extreme realism through cubism to surrealism.
