Eyes as Big as Plates reports from Koksijde, Oostduinkerke, Belgium:
Dates: 17th to 26th October, in the Year of the Snake 2025
Phase of Moon: New
Tides: Marked rise and fall, near five fathoms between high and low water
Winds: Variable, from fair to gale force through the period
Weather: Generally temperate; fair with passing cloud and showers; barometer unsteady
Sea Temperature: +14°C
Operational Speed: 3 rolls of film per day, 1 kilo of boiled shrimp, 1 bucket of mussels, 1 bucket of scallops, 1 laundry bag of blue jellyfish, 2 wetsuits, 2 sets of waders, 1 fishery museum, 2 zeewonks, Martha, the Belgian draft horse.
Position: 51°00′ 15 N – 02°39′ 44 E
Light airs at the commencement, veering westerly to southernly to easterly to northwesterly and pretty much all around the compass. The sea moderate, though tides of uncommon range observed owing to the new moon. The coast of Flanders lay grey and low upon the horizon, the dunes of Oostduinkerke shifting under each freshening gust.
The crew maintained steady course and good order. Outstanding performances in front of the cameras by the calmest and strongest duo of Günther + Martha. Günther also prepared the ultimate studio workshop, decked with coffin freezers and fridges worthy of the finest (and smallest) local shrimp crangon crangon.
Dani, thank you for your rigorous yoga practice throughout the last twenty years, making the shrimp tail pose possible. This was the first time we had a dedicated lifeguard in our production team, thank you Korneel for keeping everyone afloat (including the horse). Korneel is not only a veteran lifeguard, but also a volcanologist, an artist and a dashing blue jellyfish wearer.
Big thanks to the langust, a Navigo aquarium resident, for shedding his shell with impeccable timing, deep bows to the all-female crew of Stienestekers for inviting us to come shrimp fishing with you, to Christiane, the chief of the shrimp clan.
Thank you Femke, Jadrana, Michel, Rodrigo, Matthias, Sofhie, Christopher, Peter, Pascaline and the finest restaurant in Belgium, Estaminet de Peerdevisscher – for serving up this extremely fragrant and unforgettable frutti di mare production!
This duo held position on the shores of Koksijde through the 26th. All hands well. Engines performing satisfactorily. The sea restless, yet no cause for alarm.
Thus ends this entry. Zoet Genot.
