Week 9

Week 9

Photos

Sunday Walk with Zoey

My usual spot but at 0720hrs (out for a walk).

A new website...

My webhosting people sent me an email about a month ago, saying that PHP 5 was going to be upgraded to PHP 6 and that our website would (probably) have to be updated.

I tried not to think about it even though they sent me several reminders; I mean, I've had enough to think of lately...

The time came and went and I finally checked the site and sure enough, the photos were also giving up error messages. I've no idea what else was wrong. We set it up in 2009 with help from a friend who was in to that sort of thing as a part-time hobby with income. I could barely keep up with it and actually got "inside" probably only twice to update some information. Ben last updated the "NEWS" in 2013! One of the biggest problems for me is getting "in" after wrestling with the computer and then not knowing what to write in any case! (it has to be in Dutch).

A good website is obviously good for business these days and so I finally accepted that I might have to do something...... At a rough estimate, I'm about 16 hours into learning the whole thing over again! I'm counting on Ben being able to translate for me and on being able to post photos now and then - of the articles for sale from our Fair Trade Shop and things made by the clients..... we shall see....

PHP, Xampp, Winampp, SQL, FTP, databases, servers and a raft of other unknown quantities. Our last site was built on Joomla, but this time I'm trying WordPress - both Content Management Systems - it seems more orientated towards blogging (which we don't need) but I think I can set up a "static" page which will be our new web page. As much as I hate the thought of it, Facebook is probably something that can also be used as a business thing..... have to psych myself up for that, too.

A temporary database - and a first attempt.... another 3 hours later.
(this will change until I find a "theme" that does the things I'd like).

wp.detwabuken.nl

.....a long way to go yet, but every successful step seems like a major victory. Only trouble is, I'll be sure to have forgotten by the next time I'll have to do something.

Thursday

Wow, what a lot of running around - my mobile phone record shows that I did 10.5 kms - just around here. I knew I was racking them up. We had the tiler, plasterer, foreman here plus Thomas (school holidays), dayworkers, personnel and an uncle of our Forest Dweller.... and I walked next door to feed their animals! I was looking for my bed by the end of the day! The plasterer's name is Mr Haverchat; I think I got his life story in 5 minutes! But a nice bloke and his work was excellent, so good in fact that we'll be getting him back to do some more work; which will save me some prep work for the painting.
Friday: even more - 11.5kms, but somehow not as tiring.

Preparation for "spak" to be sprayed on the ceilings

The "family" concrete mixer - we've been using it for 19 years.... and it still works! - this time for the tiler.

Crikey, the bureaucratic dance continues....

Re the refugees; the Local Council asked Janny to write a submission to yet another Govt. agency about our needing/wanting changes to allow them to live at our place, albeit temporarily. Janny went cross-eyed for a couple of days and then rang them to say  "YOU (the Council) asked us if we could house them and we said YES and yet WE have to write officialese letters.....?". To be fair, the chap from the Council is coming to our place so that he and Janny can write the letter (and/or fill in the on-line forms). He also said that this is the first time for him, too. So, we wait.......
Edit:  Well, I have to admit I was wrong to be so cynical. Yes, there is another Govt. Dept. but the requests get channeled to the respective Local Councils and our visitor was "our" man. He has been around for a while and has dealt with our permits over the years. He has also dealt with the new "digital" applications for a while now, but had never seen what people have to go through in order to fill them out on line. So, not only did it help us; it gave him an insight from 'the other side". A lovely chap and very helpful.
A couple of things occur to me. That the system is so expertly digitized and nationwide, at that. Janny even had to log in as a "private" citizen with her own (National) Digital ID (I had to register for one as well so that I could get my pension). That it still gets dealt with locally where there is still an (ever diminishing) chance of speaking to a "real" person.
I was also reminded of my old Fire Protection days when it was possible to devise systems that satisfied the intent of the regulations. Pre-programmed Computers won't be able to do that, I suppose. And the "real" people are becoming less empowered to make decisions.

Workers under pressure (from the newspaper)

A survey of 46,000 employees.

Architects, builders, packers, teachers; workers from all sectors.

Despite the economic recovery, workers are experiencing difficult times; longer hours, more pressure to perform, uncertainties about pensions, inability to pay bills, fear of losing their job.

The survey has been recognised as being "valid". A Tilburg University Professor (Work, Health and Well-being) says that the results show a good reflection of the type of economy we have become. Salary growth is slow and poverty is on the rise. We are working intensively but "there should be boundaries". The Professor says we should examine the relationship between high work pressure and "Burn Out, heart problems and depression". The line has to be drawn between "nice and busy" and "unhappy".

Some of my own work

Speaking of which; less stressful than most of the other stuff...

From this....(the red hot water pipe goes to our new bathroom....when I get around to it!).

To this

I also have more work to do in continuing the black weatherboards to the rear of the existing house..... I just need it to stop bloody raining!!

Decisions, decisions...

We have been "caring" for a young boy almost full time for a few months now. His parents came to the end of their abilities and in consultation with various responsible people, they decided that he should live in institutionalised care. This was to be another Care Farm like ours but with a full time residential function; BUT they have now said that the financial package is insufficient - Local Govt. have only recently taken over the management/payment role and are trying to do it as cheaply as possible - almost to the point of "cheap and nasty". So, the new people are making a statement, but in the meantime poor Thomas is left in the lurch; he can't help but feel unwanted and unloved. Not that he knows about this latest development, but we now have to continue with our "temporary" solution until something is resolved. (This also costs us money if we employ personnel and is very tiring if we do it ourselves; but we have done it for Thomas as he has been one of "ours" for a few years now). Difficult......