Week 34 10,000 Steps a Day

Week 34 10,000 steps a day

I use my phone for just about everything, including listening to audio books while I'm working and/or walking. This means that I have it with me just about all the time - ironically, least of all for phone calls.

I was impressed by my old workmate (Frank) in France last week, so I'm working on getting in better shape for the coming years. He's 71 and much fitter than me, with his cycling and running and a good attitude towards keeping fit.

I used to think that "I must walk kilometres in a day around here". I'd be out the back and need a hammer or some other tool and by the time I'd get to my workshop, I would have quite often forgotten what it was! I just had to walk back and see what I was doing. I think this came about because I would see another few jobs that needed doing on the way.....

Anyway, I'm now able to verify my "Kilometres in a day"  by means of the pedometer in my phone. It seems fairly accurate and doesn't work when I'm in the car, for example.

Saturday 13618 steps
Sunday 6627
Monday 9427
Tuesday 1989 

Wednesday 11755

Thursday 10891

Friday 15069

Saturday 12048

Extras from last week in France.

I missed out on the last transaction of the property (The Patrick Marshall Foundation). The current owners are now a French couple - they have said that Pam and Frank can continue to use the Petit Maison - for this year, at least. They had been "working" for the American couple for the last 14 years.

Back in Friesland, it has been hot and humid - not at all like the clear, enjoyable heat of France. It is also worthy of note that we had NO flies or mosquitos in France!

Back at Work

We are as good as ready for our new tenants. However, there was a leading TV news item last night about Asylum Seekers in the Netherlands. It seems that the Government has prepared  for 52,000 (beds and facilities), but only 32,000 are currently being used, as the expected demand hasn't eventuated. Ours is a different situation in that our residents have already achieved "status" ; they may stay and hopefully become independent citizens no longer relying on Govt. money in order to survive.

New Shelving

Desperately needing more room - less junk might also help. Janny's parents also have a room for storage of some of their stuff - but they are slowly getting rid of it.

More bloody shelves 

Scaling Ladder Drill 

I guess it is understandable that I have totally forgotten Scaling Ladder Drill, 40 years later (but I do still use them quite often).

Pumpkin Preparation for 2017

2015 The weather stayed too cold for too long, so they didn't even get started.

2016 I "started" them in pots, but once transferred to the garden beds, they simply drowned with all the rain we had this year. The rain didn't stop the weeds, which soon took over.

2017 I've been thinking about this for a while.. planter boxes which I can more easily weed and continue to mow around until the pumpkin leaves provide their own protection. This should also prevent them from "drowning".

I'll make a few more boxes and..... try again. 

One of my "helpers" at work

Just to remind myself that it IS possible.........

The further travels of Ben

Places visited in Sri Lanka

A few days ago Ben sent a message that he was travelling with a "couple of Frenchies" in a private taxi.  It later turned out that the two Frenchies were actually two girls from Paris!

Someone recommended a train trip, which Ben duly did. But it sat stopped on the way somewhere for 7 hours! He said it was magnificent and well worth the trouble in any case.

Even tried his hand at surfing

Also tried a resort......

....and now (Sunday) going to Hong Kong - to try and get his head into study mode. We expect to see him again at the end of December.