Week 16 Politics and Religion

Week 16

Google Photos now has the ability to make collages.....my first, showing the water and my first mowing day of 2016...

Politics and Religion

I must start off by saying that Mum told me from an early age that I "shouldn't talk politics or religion". Presumably because you'd never change anybody's mind and would probably end up in a fight or at least have bad feelings.

So, having said that, I wanted to share a few things that have been worrying me about changes that have been occurring here and which impact us. The religious one is on a lighter note so please forgive me.

Politics 1. 

Obviously, the cutbacks to the "care" system which are affecting us directly. I have always thought that the system here (the part that we are involved with) could well be the "model" for all so-called "affluent" societies. That is to say, the Dutch Government should be holding it up as something to be proud of instead of cutting it back. The help that has been afforded to people is being eroded so that the only result can be increased hardship for those people (who presumably needed the help in the first place).

From an "outsider's" point of view,and before the cutbacks, I have thought "well, OK, that's what we pay our high taxes for, so fair enough". When I first came here the highest rate of income tax was 60%, which has now come down to 52%. There's BTW (GST) at 21% and a tax on savings over €20,000. Again, as an outsider with a fairly limited view I felt that I could see a strong sense of community and "we're all in this together" mentality. Sadly, the already disadvantaged are going to be even more so.

Politics 2. Student Loans .

 

Here we are in a better situation because Ben was just in time to take advantage of the system. The system that assists with the financial side of his education (and later contribution to this community). We (and in particular, Ben) don't have to pay the finance back IF he is successful - this applies to University fees, travel (free public transport either during the week OR weekends) and assistance with accommodation if required. Again, I see the relationship between high taxes and something tangible (and extremely valuable to the society). That is to say something that could also be a "model" for the rest of the world. However, the current Government have scrapped this system and any financing has to be paid back when (if) the person gets a job. This has already led to a decline in people seeking higher qualifications and the Minister concerned has come under attack for being particularly "uncaring" about the decline. Again, disadvantaged people will be even more so! (Not to mention the loss of the obvious (and perhaps not so obvious) benefits of having a better educated community/country).

Politics 3. 

After WW II (I'm told) the Government made it possible for the interest on Housing Loans to be tax deductible. So, many people maintain a mortgage as a "matter of course". Contrast with my Australian kids who seem to do whatever they can to pay it all off as soon as they can. This one affected us recently when we wanted an increase on our business mortgage for the new apartment. The Bank explained that the "Government have introduced very strong restrictions" to limit the amount of borrowing - so we had to pay for the apartment ourselves (gulp!). They will probably remove the tax deductibility soon as well.....

I should also note that this "breaking" of the social contract (my interpretation) makes no mention of lowering taxes in return!

Religion

I get a visit from a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses about once a month. Due to my natural diffidence, I find it hard to tell them to just go away and leave me alone! The main guy even brings an English version of their material..... anyway, the last time they were here, I saw them park in our driveway, so I locked the front door and sneaked out to the back where our kids were having a drink break in front of the fire - a "cosy Sunday afternoon". I thought I would just sit there with them until "the coast was clear"....... then I heard a "yoo hoo" from the big kitchen door..... oh no, I thought, they've found me! This this is where they can "get" someone like me - I feel obliged to at least be polite.... so I invited them in and offered them a cuppa in front of the fire - the whole time feeling uncomfortable in front of the kids and our employee, Josien. 
I can laugh about it now, but poor Josien was following the (in English) discussion with some bemusement!

This time there was a new OLD guy - (at least as OLD as me!). I told them they were wasting their time with me - I'm too old, too far gone, beyond redemption, etc., etc. and somehow I managed to drop in "you know in America there are even some people, including politicians who believe that the world is only 4 or 6 thousand years old" (I think I was trying to say that it is all OK but, like my Mum said, they should keep their stuff to themselves). But lo and behold, the old guy said "yes. that's right".  I mumbled something about science, fossils and skeletons and showed them to the door!

Sheep in our paddock again.

One of our nephews is a motor mechanic and he has sheep as a hobby. During the summer he keeps them at our place - which saves me a bit of mowing! It's not something I would contemplate doing - too much time involved (I'd rather be on the boat) and then there's the veterinary costs and the paperwork - they all have to be registered. I'm pretty sure there should be some paperwork involved in having them at our place - to do with tracing outbreaks of disease.

Last of the moving.....

Pots and tubs from the old house

In about 1992 I went with Merv to a Bunnings show where they had a demo of a Triton Workbench (saw table). I went to the the Triton factory and bought a slightly damaged model at a discount. Fitted with a huge Makita saw, it is still going strong, although the table itself is mostly used as a router table, now. One of my first "how to " learning pieces was a wooden front end loader (later for Ben and other grandkids and later still as a pot plant holder for Janny's parents) Still in one piece, 19 years later!

Ben

Ben belongs to a student club in Zwolle. This weekend was a "mystery" weekend away.... they came to Friesland!

Toss up between bookkeeping and paving.......

paving wins! .............easily!

(I can only do a few square metres in a day - but I'm getting there!).

With Ben away and the kids gone home - we thought we'd earned a dinner out somewhere - first in a few months since we've been so busy.

A new "Egyptian/Mediterranean" called Marhaba, in Drachten - had a good write-up so that was it....

(next thing you know, I'll be doing cat photos......).

Vitamin B deficiency

Janny and her three sisters all have been diagnosed as having Vitamin B deficiency. Something going on there.... so one of the sisters decided to investigate further. Apparently, there is a "famous" doctor here who has specialised in this. Ankie has made an appointment to see him......... but there is a 12 months waiting list!

Related to this. I heard a podcast recently about the importance of Vitamin D (which is not really a vitamin) and in particular where lack of sunlight plays a role (here, for example!). We have been taking the capsules for  a couple of months now, but I have to say I can't really notice any difference.....yet.

Week 15 Best Kept Secret

Week 15

Marketing Friesland

"No more Hit and Miss" is the message given to the Marketing Company by the Province of Friesland. 

So, it won't be a secret any more.... ie the fact that it is so (relatively) peaceful and just a little bit different with its' own language and culture and not to mention the water; it has the largest chain of connected inland lakes in Europe and is perfect for water sport enthusiasts. 

Friends Andrew and Terry bought a boat here in Friesland - about 6 or 7 years ago. A retired scientist, Andrew had done his homework and sought out different types of boats to look at - the idea being to buy a boat and head off to France almost straight away. We found an ideal boat (as it turned out) and I suggested "why not use it around here in Friesland while you get to learn about the boat"? Despite the research, they had little idea that so much boating could be done in Friesland - and the rest of the Netherlands. So, it took a couple of years for them to finally get to France! (They come here for 3 months every year and store the boat where we now keep ours - a Club rather than a commercial haven.).

Friesland tallied 1.8 million visitors in 2015, worth an estimated €458 million. Of the total, 385,000 were from other countries.

So, if the Marketing is successful our "secret" won't be so secret any more.....

Just the lakes - but there is so much more...

Workshop

Completed order for the local soccer club: 4 rubbish bins and two ashtrays.

IKEA Kitchen

IKEA kitchen coming together...... but the poor installer had a problem. I told him I was from Australia (I usually have to do that if I see them wincing at my Dutch). So he tried talking English to me..... but he came to me a bit later looking very sheepish and said "I am sorry. I have made a mistake" (in English). The tall cupboard on the left is for the fridge and needs a bracket at the top rear to hold it against the wall. He had found the 40cm centres for the studs but for the last one... he missed it...... so he tried again a bit further...... and then a bit further..... only to discover that he had been drilling into the recess for the sliding door.... with the door inside!! So with the door closed there are three small holes! A good lesson for when we go whacking holes in here and there (as I do).

Keeping the boys busy.... (me too, skirting boards)

The new dog......companion for one of our clients

Moving In.......

The best laid plans (cont.).....

I was very clever in asking for TV cables to be in position so that I didn't have to figure it out later - with the unsightly mess that usually ensues.....  It was all done very well with cables from the roof (satellite dish) to the laundry and then under the floor from the laundry to the TV. But it took me 4 hours today to try to get it working: every joint renewed, decoders swapped over, etc., etc.. In the end I laid a new cable along the outside and in through a door and got it to work...... so something wrong with the pre-laid cable.... I think. I don't know if they'll be able to fix it, but it has been duly reported!

Satellite dish serves 4 TV's

Cleaning up - earthmoving

Another in my best laid plans series.......

I had not thought about how I was going to get the rubbish container to the road - with our driveway out of commission.

.....and another

We have had induction cooking since 1999 so went that way for the new apartment so as to avoid any potential problems with gas. So we have to show Janny's Mum how it works, ....... and we need a new set of saucepans for her! Her's don't work with induction!

Rain!

In more than 20 years there's been a lot of rain!......but I have never seen this much water in the forest next door to us....

Boating?

This is our first weekend in more than a year that we have no kids!

But, we do have our new residents, so the boat has to wait..... and I still have to finish my 1st Quarter bookkeeping (the only English word with three double letters in a row?).

But I'll post another photo just to indulge myself!

Felder's Boskje - both photos (near Wijnjewoude)

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.

Week 13 Trees Crossing the Road

Week 13   

Trees Crossing the Road

This is our road in summer with some leaves! The local council wants to remove "some" of the trees; to allay everyone's fears about losing something special, the Mayor(ess) said "just those that are starting to cross the road". These are all oaks and another row of beeches has been planted alongside the cycling path. One advantage is supposed to be that people drive more slowly, but they have claimed a few lives even in the years that I have been here.

So, the common sense approach would indeed seem to be to remove those that are closest to the very edge of the road.  Janny was at a meeting (in her Local Action Committee role). Some people were totally against it, so as usual we will wait and see.

To aid in their deliberations, my thought was that it would save on transport costs if they would like to drop the wood off at our place.....I'm not holding my breath!

A Barry Langley Photo from 2009

A more recent photo

Meeting with Local Council

Now that the Certificate of Occupancy, Zoning, and "informing the locals" have been attended to, we had a meeting with the woman from the council who started the ball rolling. It was mainly to introduce another woman who will be taking over the role, but we did have a chance to put some ideas on the table. Luckily, I had done some preparation and made a checklist which we worked our way through. So much better when it is YOUR checklist! It was in English but this is rarely a problem with people at this level.

If the Council were providing the housing, then they would be able to "break even" with their costings. We are a "for profit" business and so we need to make a profit, obviously. My checklist included all the things I could think of that would incur extra costs if we have people living in the apartments.

      Our asking price is more than they were expecting (or hoping) but it became obvious that they hadn't yet considered all the things on the list. We will probably reach a compromise but the big item is the GAS usage; it is almost a cultural thing that people learn about "closing doors", "putting an extra jumper on" and so on, just to keep the gas bills under control. (I think the first thing Janny's Dad ever said to me was "deur dicht!' (Close the door!) - I also remember knowing what he meant without understanding the language).

     Part of our role will be to help the people to learn about things like that. When they get their permanent house, it will be subsidised, but they will still need to pay for their own gas and other utilities.

     We did learn that the Council will be receiving (from the Federal Govt.) €50 per week for adults and €30 per week for kids. With 10 adults across 2 apartments, we get close to our asking price, but if we get our preferred families then we may have to reconsider. We'll wait and see what they come back with.

Disposable Income

Only because I mentioned above about the cost of heating/gas bills, I thought again about something that has occurred to me over the years. I have often wondered just how much of one's income here is committed to "cost of living", with the resultant "disposable income". I'm only thinking of "normal" people both here and in Australia and I only think of people I know - family members, usually. I have firefighters, teachers, nurses, care workers, business owners, computer people, farmers, hairdressers.

It is not based on any research whatsoever, but my gut feeling is that "normal" people in Australia have more "disposable" income and that the principal reason could well be climate, or in other words heating bills! Add the horrendous cost of owning and running a car, the 21.5% GST...... and don't forget every factory and workplace has to be heated, thus adding to the cost of everything that is produced.... I might be totally wrong, but it is something that has nagged at me for 20 years now.

Ben to Hong Kong

As reported earlier Ben is definitely going to Hong Kong. He has applied for a scholarship. He had to write a "motivation" letter in English and will later go for an interview if selected. It's not huge but at least he might be able to eat when he is there.

     He also had to choose some subjects to study when he is there; these included Basic Chinese, a couple on The Influence of Language on Culture (these are of interest to me) and a few related to Journalism, New Media and Film. The final list has to be approved by his own University (Windesheim).

     Ben was home for Easter but spent the whole time studying for exams scheduled for the following week AND doing his preparation for getting to Hong Kong! Heavy workload....

......but wait, that's not all!! It is Saturday as I write this and Ben is in Rotterdam for a photoshoot. I don't know all the details but apparently an English photographer wanted some "redheads" for a special project, so Ben was invited....Ben's photo (below) is taken from the hotel. More later.

Ben in Hong Kong - We did a stopover in 2006....

I'm hoping it's an April Fool's Joke.....

The latest Watersport Almanac reported that a "leaked" report from Den Hague is proposing dearer diesel for watersporters! This could be made possible by introducing another colour or aroma to the diesel. They do this already for farmers in the form of "red diesel" which is cheaper; they often do spot checks on normal vehicles to see if anyone is misusing it; the fines are huge. I'm hoping it is a joke because of the way it was reported; the politician is supposed to have said something like "imagine all these people enjoying themselves without being taxed". It is envisaged that the tax would amount to €250 per year, or more for the larger motor boats "but they can afford it".

Please and Thankyou

Over the years, people have asked me "what do you miss"? In the beginning it was always (and still is) family, friends, workmates, sport (there's only so much soccer one can take). On a few later occasions I was moved to say what I miss most is "Please and Thank you" - a little bit tongue in cheek, but with a fair degree of truth. Today, I was unfortunate enough to be in bed with a bout of Sciatica (never had it before, but that is my best guess).... but, I WAS fortunate enough to hear a podcast discussing the different uses of the word "please" in England compared with America. Apparently there is a difference and my Australian experience would be that of England. If anyone would care to listen, it can be found here

http://www.theallusionist.org/

For my purposes today, suffice to say that the podcast finished up by saying that our English use of "please" doesn't appear in Scandinavia, for example, which got me wondering about the Germanic languages such as Netherlands. A lot of it has to do with the listener, of course, but I really do feel as though I am being ordered around if I don't hear something that I can at least interpret as "please". While I'm reminiscing, I remember Janny's family laughing at me because I was being so "polite" at the dinner table; it was just normal for me (apart from being conscious of creating a good impression).

Lastly, my painting job...

Probably the cause of my sciatica..... but at least it is done!. The floor surface has been prepared and the floor coverings and curtain rails come on Tuesday.