Week 14 Falling off the Wombat

Week 14

Interesting quote..

The amount of energy necessary to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than to produce it.

 — Alberto Brandolini

Falling off the wombat

When Ben was about 3, he fell off a huge stuffed wombat - a souvenir that Janny brought back from Darwin. I thought that Ben's teeth had broken off but they had (just) disappeared totally into his gums. It all grew back normally except that the adult teeth tilted a little forwards.

His is now getting some "braces" fitted before he turns 21, so that it comes under our comprehensive insurance. (He has to have his own insurance when he turns 21). The brace is a hard see through plastic fitting which applies pressure to push the teeth back - and has to be replaced every 3 weeks or thereabouts.

Ben Hong Kong Study Program

Referendum

There is a relatively new law in the Netherlands which requires that a referendum be held if a proposal can be put forward with at least 300,000 signatures. I wasn't aware of this or the build up to the present referendum, but it went something like this: A TV personality used his "push" or "pull" to gather more than 400,000 signatures to ask the question "should the Netherlands have or continue the "association" with Ukraine?" He says that it was more about the process of "asking the people" what they want - but there was also a fair bit of fear-mongering about the EU, economic recovery and asylum seekers.

 My thoughts now revolve around the voting process. It is only my observation;  voting is not compulsory here but very much a "right" that is taken very seriously. One can only wonder at the so-called democratic (Republic?) countries where people are deliberately excluded from the voting process by fair means or foul. Of more concern would be where people have given up voting because they believe the system is somehow not for them. Even in my sleepy village, the voting is all done electronically and without fuss. the only thing I can think of that would be better is proportional representation.... but I suspect that they simply don't "get it". 

edit; the referendum vote was this time done on paper, not electronically.
The  debate  should have been about relations between Ukraine, Russia and Europe. The result was "no" but people probably used the chance to say no to the direction the EU is taking instead of trying to fully understand the issue at hand. For example, it is always Polish (or Moroccan or Surinams) people that get the blame if a bike is stolen or if there is shoddy building work discovered. It reminds me of when we were going to get refugees... we were warned that "they will be stealing the food out of your fridge". Of course, it was not the case and we have nothing but fond memories of the experience. In my opinion the "no" vote was in similar vein... "they can't be allowed in the EU or else they'll come and take our jobs"..... but that is not what the referendum was supposed to be about.

From the Newspaper

Black cars pay more for insurance.

Insurance companies have been charging considerably more for premiums for black cars.... they have not been "open" about it and a consumer rights organisation has taken them to task. The limited response so far was about statistics showing that they are involved in more accidents.

Research Project; Watersport facilities in and around Drachten

There are about 2400 moorings in and around Drachten. A research project has been undertaken in an attempt to make it more attractive for watersport. There are "not enough signs, not enough moorings with electricity and toilet facilities, also not good enough access to shops or restaurants, not enough boat ramps. not enough low access for rowers. More beaches are needed for swimming. Visie Waterfront Drachten. The report says that "it should be ready for the summer".... I'm pretty sure that things will never move that quickly here. We're still waiting for haven facilities in Wijnjewoude that were going to be built in 2014!

Our work

One of our clients disappeared "off the radar" because we wouldn't let him bring his dog here. Somebody gave him their 8 year old untrained Pit Bull (probably glad to get rid of it). If we try to see both sides, it probably is the closest thing to a "companion" that he will ever have and so it is understandable..... but we have other clients to think of, hence our ruling on the dog. 
EDIT - we have just met the dog and he is quite OK (and not a Pit Bull, after all). In fact, they might be quite suited to each other.

We had a phone call from an organization that wants to get our client "back into the workforce"...... it is a sad reflection of the system that he has never had a job - he is now over 40 - and in our opinion he never will have. In here lies the role of the "Care Farm" - he used to be in charge of cleaning out the chook shed,  gathering the eggs and providing food and water. Also a reason to get out of bed, be on time, look presentable and have a sense of purpose. Unfortunately, these have all fallen by the wayside over the years we have known him, but we are still the "safe haven" in his life and he may yet find his way back (we might make a kennel and run for the dog). One of the interesting aspects of the "system" is that everyone needs money to get by - so our client gets enough money for a set period but then has to re-surface for the next lot (he also has to get medication, but I don't know if they combine the two events). Anyway, he'll probably show up in a couple of days so that Janny can help fill out the paperwork required to exempt him from "entering the workforce", and we'll see where we go from there.

I was reminded of one of our refugees; in about 2000 (before 9/11), we had a new refugee who wanted to know almost straight away "how to get to Rotterdam?"...... The system worked then that they had to be here so we would give them their weekly allowance (f79,00, if I remember correctly) and they would have to sign for it. This was a de facto means of the "system" knowing where they were at any given moment, at least weekly. I think this is a bit how it works with our client. As it turned out our Rotterdam chap was "gone" the next day and declared "MOB" (met onbekende bestemming) (of unknown whereabouts) by the system. I mentioned 9/11 because I think a similar occurrence these days would set some alarm bells ringing - particularly after the recent terrorist activities.

Refugee Photos

I find myself often referring to our refugees..... so I looked up some old photos. Luckily I saved some of them with names.

Departure....but not Ben! (featuring in all 3 photos)

A birthday party (Janny's, I think).

Annie, the daughter of a couple from Azerbaijan and Jose (from a non -recognised West African country??).

Mersad and family

At "school" in our newly completed dining room

Snow, from 2001, a novel experience for some of the refugees..

Building Works (cont.)

IKEA Kitchen (our 4th, albeit more complicated)

PAVING

this had been a daunting item on my to-do list, but thankfully, brother-in-law Albert came and made it look just so "easy". What a relief to have some help! (Not that any of the family are obliged to help; it is "our" thing, after all). We're getting a painter from the village to come and do all the windows and doors - it all has to be finished by next weekend, and I've just about run out of puff. We even had some of our weekend kids barrowing sand and lining up the bricks - they are of an age where they (or somebody) have to think about what they will be able to do in the future.

Back door

Front door

Almost ready....

One of the nieces assembled some IKEA furniture...

Made to order...

A local soccer club asked if we could make some rubbish containers - took a while to get started but only 3 days to make, once we bought the wood! This is so-called steiger hout (scaffolding timber). I read in the paper this weekend that there is a shortage of "real" scaffolding timber because a lot of furniture makers are using it for outdoor settings. So, they are going to make the "fake" stuff look more authentic (ie, "used").

Bowel Cancer Research (Cont.).

In weeks 49 and 51, I mentioned about the Bowel Cancer Research project over here...... today, whilst listening to 3AW (Melbourne) I heard an ad for what sounds like exactly the same thing in Australia.