You might ask if I’m always like this, to which I’d reply that such is the effect of a TV series earlier this year called Van vlees en bloed – Of Flesh and Blood about een beenhouwer – a butcher (“bone hacker”), or more correctly een slager (“a beater”), and his shop. You know this is something special as the credits roll over blood-dripping meat filmed in high definition. A superb story line and strong acting raises this everyday tale to the heights.

Now the dvd is in the shops in a box that looks as if it should contain een varkenskotelet – a pork chop. In fact, in October, the DVD box with its butcher’s paper print was enkel en alleen verkrijgbaar in de beenhouwerijen – exclusively available in butcher’s shops. Though you would have had to be quick: on the first day waren de dvd-dozen voor de middag al uitverkocht – the DVD boxes were sold out by midday. As one butcher remarked: “Zelden zoveel volk gezien in mijn winkel als vandaag – Seldom seen so many people in my shop as today.” A great piece of promotion for everyone. Such is the interest, that last weekend all over Flanders you could watch the whole series in film marathons.

Writer and director Tom Van Dyck, himself an electrician’s son, decided on a butcher to avoid any misunderstandings with his own family and because he wanted to reflect the lives of de kleine zelfstandige – the small, self-employed. It also helped that the actor playing the butcher is the son of een beenhouwer. And the clean cold tiles of the shop heeft prachtige beelden opgeleverd – produced wonderful pictures.

Tom is planning a sequel. For the moment he’s still aan het broeden – thinking about it (“brooding”). As to the characters, I’ll just mention Herman, de overbuur – the neighbour from across the street, who is the local nosy parker. He is werkloos en alleenstaande – unemployed and lives alone. Every day he crosses the street when the shop opens to buy 100 grams of salami and stick his nose into everyone’s business. So, go into your local butcher’s and ask for honderd gram salami. You should get a smile and even be addressed as Herman.