About John

By the time John grew up, on nearly all toys could be read ‘Made in China’.

Sometimes however wooden toys were completed with a nice tin plate, which said ‘sio’. The thin plates were attached to the toys with little copper nails.

Like almost every boy, John started sharpening sticks with his knife. Within a short amount of time, he made excellent arrows (for his bow).

In a small wood were he had built a hut with his friends, he carved patterns in the bark of a middle-aged beech.

After his first attempts to get a hold of the unruly material, he asked chisels, gouges and files for his birthday.

The beech in the wood became a magical piece of woodcarving. John carved vicious looking portraits into the tree’s bark.

The boys imagined they were all part of the same tribe, and John gouged out their faces above those of the vicious looking others.

And so it was, John’s covenant with wood.

About Desiré

Desiré is the mother of my two sons, Leo and Norman. I named her Desiré (desire in English), for I don’t know her real name.

When I studied Economic forestry, I took a minor called ‘Managing unexpected developments’. It was then, that I first saw Desiré dancing.

Desiré (desire in English) wasn’t a talented dancer. But the view she offered, made up for a lot.

Desiré danced. Breathlessly I watched her perform on the tiny stage. I kept watching her, night after night.

On the 23rd night, Desiré looked at me from the stage. After the show, she took me home.

And that was how our affair began. An affair that lasted 2 nights and that brought me, without knowing, the twins.

Desiré disappeared. My desire for her did not.

Desiré about herself

I danced at night. The view I offered made up for my dancing skills.

My life was quite messed up, till then. I lost my way, so to speak. It was time for a little contemplation, so that’s what I did.

I vaguely recall a man by the name of John. I think we fooled around fore some time. He got me pregnant.

During my pregnancy, it was impossible to dance. So, during that period I modelled for six elderly artists.

When the twins were born, I laid them on the steps of the town hall. Then I left the city, and the country.

A Spaniard with a dog and two turkeys, taught me how I could love myself again. Nowadays I love them, and life itself.

Actually, I am quite curious about what became of them…

About Norman

Desiré abandoned the twins. The Carpenter family lovingly welcomed Norman as their son.

Father Carpenter is a culture-consuming retired public servant. Mother is aiming self-fulfillment in wishing nothing but the best for Norman.

At a very young age, Norman discovers his love for music and playing on musical instruments. As a little boy he is already busy strumming, drumming and hooting.

Mother drags in all the instruments for him to play on.

Father spends most of his time going to the movies, the theatre, expositions and art-auctions. The only way for Norman to connect with father is through his musical performances.

Of all the instruments Norman is able to play, he likes the accordion best. The accordion gives him the possibility to tell his audience how sadness and joy sometimes coincide.

He has loving parents, but they need Norman to give meaning to their existence.

Norman finds how relieved he feels, when travelling around on his own. Discovering the world without any goal or ambition.

Travelling around means to him that every choice he has to make, is made ‘in the moment’, and with no strings of expectations attached.

And that’s how Norman and his accordion come and go, along with the pressure and expectations of his loved ones, which also come and go like the movement of the tides.

About Robbe

The story of the drunkard in the late night bar.

In the 4th episode of John’s Woodhouse, Norman ends up in a late night bar in Liège/Luik.

Norman tells the innkeeper about his plans to follow the ‘Camino de Santiago’. “But only as far as necessary” he adds.

“If you lost your way, find one that is already paved”, says Norman.

A drunkard in the dark corner of the bar overhears Norman’s words. “I should keep that one in mind” he mumbles inaudible.

It couldn’t be anymore clear; this pathetic drunkard, sitting at a table all alone and completely wasted; he is the perfect example of someone who’s lost his way.

This man his name is Robbe. He entered the bar at 5 yesterday and has been silently emptying glasses since.

Robbe is of no importance to the story of John Woodhouse. His story will be on Twitter, though.

Robbe’s father was a caster at Cockerill. By the time Robbe was little, the sky above Liege was filled wit orange smog.

The father, caster at Cockerill, is disappointed when he hears his son would like to work with wood, instead of metal.

“Get out of my house” is the last thing he says to his son. It makes Robbe’s mother cry, but she doesn’t say a word.

Robbe understands how his father sees future in ‘It metal’. He leaves his parents house and ends up in Charleroi.

In Charleroi he meets a lumberjack named Alain. Alain offers him work and shelter in the Forêt de Senzelle.

After the thirds meal, Robbe knocks up Alain’s wife, Axelle.

In order to avoid worse trouble, Robbe leaves the couple, before it will turn into a family.

For years, Robbe is working in silviculture. He rarely has a job that lasts more then six months.

His own guess is that he gets 7 women pregnant during that period. He talks 3 more into wanting to have children.

It is in Heppenbach that Robbe gets his Waterloo. He is caught red-handed by the lumberjack Eugene, who cuts of his foot.

For a couple of years, Robbe makes a living selling lottery tickets.

Eventually, he is still longing to go back home, to his mother. He even misses his hardhearted father with all his heart.

He returns to Liege/Luik. A neighbour tells him his father passed away, and his mother hasn’t spoken since Robbe left.

Sad enough, she doesn’t recognize Robbe. Even he can’t get her to talk again.

And now, Robbe is sitting in the late night bar, over thinking what that foreigner just said.

“Because”, so that man said: “If you lost your way, find one that is already paved”. “Easy for him to say”, Robbe thinks, “If you have a motorcycle!”

Episode 1 (Eng)

This is John Wood, the founder of Woodhouse Kitchen tools ltd.

Some of John’s personal belongings were found in the river. It was assumed that John had died.

The two heirs, Harry and Sherilyn, pay a visit to the notary Goedhardt. He tells them that John has another two sons, which have yet to be found.

These two brothers, twins, sons of John, don’t know each other, yet they live in the same city.

The two brothers, Leo and Norman, both read the appeal from the notary in an advertisement.

Leo, who is a publisher, is the first to rush to the notary’s office.

“Leo Charpentier, you appear to be an heir of the deceased John Wood” so the notary said.

Norman as well, who is an accordionist, pays a visit to the notary.

“You are not here to play a song for me” says Goedhardt, the notary.

The next day, John’s will is read to all the heirs. It turns into a multiple emotional meeting.

The two brothers, inherit John’s fortune, while Sherylin and Harry are awarded only a yearly allowance.

Norman and Leo get to know each other a little better during their walk homewards.

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