zaterdag 27 oktober 2012

Yesterday we went to Kolotskoe monastery with Monsieur Jan, who lives right in front of it. He made these pictures of us. Also some images in Borodino Museum. Merci Monsieur Jan!!












Another day at the office!












Volunteers at the monastery












High up in Kolotskoe bell tower











Napoleon won't even look at us












Soon in a theatre nearby!
Thanks to Monsieur Jan, a collectionner of Napoleonic artifacts, we got a fantastic rest in Kolotskoe. What great people Rusians are!!! It's also about time we thank the people from the Troitsk library & museum (Liudmilla x3 & Isabella), those from the Malojaroslavets Museum, artist Vladimir Ovsjinikov in Borovsk, artist Jevgueni Dolgatsjev in Mozjaisk and Jan Sergueijev in Kolotskoi. Since some people believe that we walk every kilometer in uniform, it's also time we post some pictures of us walking in a normal outfit. We tried to upload some images, but unfortunately this is Russia and not Belgium, so you folks will have to be happy with just this small text. Only know that we are in good health, good mental condition and eager to continue onto th Smolekaia road, although snow and frost have finally settled.

zondag 21 oktober 2012

After a firm battle all have won or lost, but anyway we made friends with the enemy! We will meet these guys and girl in Belarus at the Berezina river. The weather will be quite different though! Today almost 15 C.
Puppet fun on the battlefield. Napoleon, Kutuzov, Joseph and Boris in good company!













Our first hot meal in 3 days, a good borsjt in Zjukov.

 

 
Seen from the other side, just before the borsjt was brought. Yes indeed... we wear the same smurf shirt!!
 


woensdag 17 oktober 2012

To all of you non-believers: here's the proof that World's smallest Grande Armee DID walk across the red square in their French uniforms! Thanks for Jenny from the States for providing this great picture...



dinsdag 16 oktober 2012

Worlds smallest grande armee is finally on the road! Thanks to Lisa, Marc & Rebekka. Heading for Troitsk today...
Heres a picture of WSGA with the Cossack project in the back. They should be in Paris by now.

zondag 14 oktober 2012



A few days ago on the set of a newborn belgian TV program called Café Corsari: World's smallest Grande Armée only a few minutes before being interviewed by Freek Braeckman. Tv is fun... but they have to broadcast it, which they didn't. 
GRRRRRR!!



World's smallest Grande Armée has given a farewell performance in Belgium. Thank you Manu Dumortier for this picture! Tomorrow in Moscow! WOW!!!


We've altered some details to the russian version of our trailer. Here's the one and only... Самая маленькая «Великая Армия» в мире


vrijdag 12 oktober 2012

Stopmotion requires a lot of patience. Since they doubt that they'll have time to do these kind of things when they're in Russia, World's smallest Grande Armée realized their first (and only?) animation movie safely at home... It's based on an ancient 1812 propaganda blockprint. Tell us if you like it. Send messages to cheramiski@gmail.com.
Music is by Dmitri Shostakovich, who's copyrights are responsible for the publicity that pops up in your screen. Just click it away ...






donderdag 11 oktober 2012

The Bashkiri's are fans World's smallest Grande Armée!! This article was pubished 3000 km's east of Borodino, in Bashkortostan (Bashkirija-South Ural mountains).  The part marked in blue seems to be about Dimi & Karsten, the two belgians appearing in the photograph on top. It's in Bashkiri (not exactly russian). Dimi & Karsten can't read it,  Can you?







woensdag 10 oktober 2012

Dimi & Karsten can't wait to get going! Moscow's waiting. In the meantime they made this animation, based on an ancient blockprint. The russian translation for Word's smallest Grande Armée is Самая маленькая «Великая Армия» в мире. And that's also the title of this little movie. Music is by Dmitri Shostakovich.




zaterdag 6 oktober 2012

There is an excellent facebook page of an man claiming to be an napoleonic soldier. He describes the events as they are "happening to him" day by day. As if a Franch fusilier in Moscow had access to facebook. http://www.facebook.com/laretraitederussiematue

Meanwhile, Dimi & Karsten of World's Smallest Grande Armée went to pick up their snapshots taken during the great Moscow fire. Oh what fun they had!!  Now all the food is gone... Some say the army will spend the winter here, in Moscow, but on which supplies??? No no... Dimi & Karsten believe that the Emperor is preparing a raid on St-Petersburg. That'll be cheerful! Almost as jolly as this picture!


vrijdag 5 oktober 2012

This letter arrived yesterday. The "Centre d'études napoléoniennes" in Lille is supporting our project. We now have a letter, not of Napoleon himself, but nearly, asking the Russian authorities to do all they can to help us! Ain't that wonderful?? Sadly, Karsten's name is not on the document. Should we get into really big problems over there, we reckon that only Dimi will be released, leaving poor Karsten to be kept in a dark KGB cellar...


dinsdag 2 oktober 2012

Time is shortening. 11 days beofore we leave for moscow!!
Our friend Ingrid Moulaert made us some nice friends to take along to Russia. From left to right: Napoleon B., a french soldier, a russian soldier and Russian Marshall Kutuzov. The french soldier is actually belgian. Even more... Ingrid modelled him after Joseph Van de Vel. I don't know how she managed to do it, with no pictures of him existing, but when Dimi's wife first saw him she was trembling all over, and she kept on repeating: "Mor allé,... it's him! It's really him!"
Well... Dimi think he looks a bit like his father in law.