Week 19 A mixed bag

Ben

Somebody grabbed his photo and used it here....

(scroll down)

http://www.fashionbeans.com/2016/4-key-mens-hair-trends-for-springsummer-2016/

He had a work day at his Work Experience place (Blazhofski Productions) as a Production Assistant. One of the things he had to do was write down any "highlights" and the timing, so that they could be used for promoting the program later. The program is a Dutch version of "A Chef In My Ear" - where a top chef "talks" instructions via headphones to celebrities in order to cook a meal.

Ben applied for a "Holland Scholarship" for when he is in Hong Kong. He was shortlisted to the last 20 (out of 47 applicants).

Unfortunately, the interview for final selection could only be on a day when he had offers of work in New York and/or Madrid! It turned out being for Pull and Bear in Madrid, so the scholarship people offered to do a Skype Interview.

(New York sounded good - but the Skype interview would have been at a difficult time).

Health Care Costs

The Netherlands spends almost €100 Billion on health care per year: more than education, defense, scientific research, infrastructure, security and justice combined.

De Leijen

We went to a restaurant for Mother's Day Lunch - Ben's suggestion, but Mum still had to pay! We had seen the restaurant before but only from the the water and there was no way to get ashore. We have previously moored on one or more of the islands - it was then only about an hour from Drachten, but is now more like 4 hours from Heerenveen (by boat). It was a windy day and the windsurfers were out and about. (food wasn't that flash, though).

Pumpkins, 2016

Kitchen herbs for Rennie (Janny's Mum)

Zucchini and Pumpkin Seeds (didn't do this last year - epic fail)

The Pumpkin Patch

Glasshouse pumpkins...

Some days are busier than others.....

......usually because I take on more than I should. But, on Thursday we started shifting some of the "stuff" mentioned last week. It really is a merry-go-round of making room so that it can be filled up again. I get more than my fair share of complaints because I just hop in and "do it" my way instead of someone else's idea of how it should be done. 

.... so, stuff in boxes, shelving dismantled, shelving put up again, cupboards relocated...... and way too much stuff to fit in the new area - unless I make even more shelving!

And in between, the pumpkin patch readied (without getting bogged - as I did only a couple of days earlier). Mowing - Janny's Dad has his own mower and was also racing around (aged 82).

Brother-in-law Gerard buys and sells caravans (an "Internet Entrepreneur" as I once heard described on the BBC)., so his area was also tidied up to receive new caravans (trailers).

And, one of our clients came back after "sorting himself out" so he had to be welcomed back to the fold and kept busy. Luckily, he enjoyed it and is looking forward to it again - just had to make the start. His project is to build the shed out the back - to house all his own "stuff". Pretty handy bloke to have around, actually!

Janny had a couple of interviews for old and new clients - both will probably end up on Personal Budgets - which is better for us as there is no middle man raking their bit off or determining a lower tariff from behind a desk.

Oh, and the chook shed (aka Hendrik's workshed) needed a couple of new roofing sheets!

Opening of the Turfroute 14th May

The "peat colony" Gorredijk was established in 1631 with the digging of the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart. It became an important trading centre in the 18th century. The first major lock on the Turfroute is located here. Gorredijk is the prototype of a typical peat colony village. In the centre is the crossing of the canal and the major road, with houses and other buildings along both.

Near the lock is a statue of the "boatman's wife"; who had to tow the boat with help from a yoke on her upper body. This rig was known in Frisian as "beage" - hence the name of the statue "Yn e beage". (in the yoke?).

We've "done" the Turfroute so many times - even in the first boat with Ben (circa 2004). We actually enjoy the locks and bridges now, but it was a bit daunting the first time through.

This was challenging for the first time...

Felder's Boskje  ("our" spot in the Turfroute, near Wijnjewoude)

(Bos = wood . kje = diminutive form = "little woods" Planted by a man named Felder.)

Also near Wijnjewoude, there is a "tram bridge" dating from 1910 when there was a tram line from Gorredijk to Oosterwolde - dismantled in 1945.

I'm reading some of the history again and have discovered something new. There are two small villages Moskou and Petersburg. I always thought of a Russian connection but it seems that one of the foremen of the workers decided to live there when the digging work was finished. His name was Pieter Blaauw - hence the name Petersburg. When the place grew a bit, people on the other side of the water named their side Moskou.

At present there is an entry fee to the Turfroute (about €20). This is going to be scrapped and the upkeep will be subsidised by the Local Govt. for a further 5 years. Some of these smaller routes have their own "management" bodies, almost clubs, of volunteers and enthusiasts. Sometimes they don't see eye to eye so it is not always easy to get a common plan for the whole system. 

In 2015 there were only 1250 boats passing through, not enough to pay for the upkeep without subsidies or financial assistance. 

The depth (draft) is only 110cm and it is thought that more boats would come through if the depth is made to 130cm - this is planned for 2017 (but then again, the toilet block for Wijnjewoude was planned for 2014).

Week 18 New Clogs

Week 18 New Clogs

Housekeeping

Gee, week 18 already! I've been using Google Keep to make notes as things occur to me or if I spot something in the newspaper. Only drawback is that it uses automatic prediction of words - I get some funny ones if I throw in some Dutch words - but it does seem to be "learning" as I go. I mention it here to recommend it to any (other) Google fans.
And, BTW, if I start to repeat myself...... please tell me!
When I push the "publish" button - I also have the option to "send an email" to everyone - I think I forgot that last week....

Happyhier App

Where do people feel the happiest?
Wageningen University are doing a study re happiness which includes home, work or in the woods... what makes people happy and why?
Researchers think it is important to know so that decisions can be made re cities and landscapes. Changes are already occurring - empty shopping streets, wind farms, new roads and freeways, for example.
"We know that Nature makes people happy and that people are generally happier at home than at work. But we don't know, for example, if people feel better at the beach or in the forest? Is it the same for men and women? ".
The app asks people to enter information a couple of times per day. What work they are doing, how they feel, which day of the week is better? Busy city or peaceful heath (like here)?.
First evaluation expected shortly.

Edit: I have installed the app and will participate for the next 30 days.

Youth Refugees

Single Underage Refugees from 18 yrs and older are not receiving enough help, says local govt. Drachten, where there is a large AZC (Azielzoekers Centrum).  They have to first undergo a "citizenship" process (requiring language skills), before they can join an education stream.
Perhaps the most important thing missing is psychological help with any trauma they have undergone in getting here. (a "dormant" problem which could surface later).
They all come from different backgrounds and have different levels of education.
Children between 12 and 18 (can) go to an International Switching School in Drachten. Apparently not compulsory because the local government is trying to "lure" the kids to school by providing free breakfast and transport. 
In the long term.... "no measures have had the desired effect"....
This group (under age youth) have no parents or other family in the Netherlands. They are supported until they are 18. Younger than 15, they are taken in to foster care.

A little bit of Summer

Ben, in Amsterdam

First coffee break outside

And our first "family" BBQ - that pagan ritual celebrating the arrival of some decent weather.

The new residents are coming......

The full Council confirmed the use of our apartments for temporary accommodation for "Status Holders". We have to agree on a starting date, but I have already begun the work required to transform the kids' Games Room to the new Dayworkers' Workroom. (with "Coffee" Area, Quiet Room and Storage Room). Apart from putting an opening through to the old office, it is really just a matter of transferring a lot of STUFF from one place to another! We seem to accumulate "stuff" at an alarming rate. 

Now that I think about it, I do spend a lot of time moving "stuff" from one place to another. I need more than just a few runs to the tip in order to break the cycle!

Hopefully, the heater is large enough (only 6kw)

New Clogs - Scherjon, of course!

The clog-making "factory" is located near Burgum, where Janny used to work at the swimming pool.

There have been 6 generations of Scherjon (family name) clog-makers (since 1850). They usually win the "clog-maker of the year" awards! and a few years ago they won a court case allowing their clogs to be classified as "safety footwear". As protective as steel-capped work boots, if I recall correctly. I usually wear them as "slippers for outside" - so easy to slip them on and off when you have your hands full. This model has a leather strap which makes them more comfortable to wear - the traditional ‘Fryske learkeklomp’.

We often take visitors to see how they are made - over the years they have developed some intriguing machines to do the work

More information and photos.....

http://www.klompen.frl/klompenmakerij/

Week 17 Dodged a Bullet

Week 17

Scottish Con Artists

I had a guy drove in with his work utility van saying that they "had some asphalt over" which they wouldn't be able to use on King's Day, being a Public Holiday. He asked if he could speak English and was nice enough (as con men are?). Now, our temporary driveway is in a terrible mess and it would cost about €100 to fill in the holes.... I thought that sounds OK and said go ahead and fill in the holes then. I told Janny  and straight away her warning lights started flashing - apparently there have been stories going around about "asphalt con men" - stories which I don't get to hear in my "bubble". I call it mess-room talk where one might always hear something of relevance to just about anything. I simply don't have any of that at Ken's Kingdom.

I went for a drive to see if I could find them and did- so I told them that "my wife thinks you are con men" and so we won't be doing it. Again, they seemed OK and a second guy said oh, it would only cost about €1800 to resurface that stretch - a far cry from the €100 for "leftovers". Funny, I normally defer to Janny in all these things - because I know I can't "read" people - I'm just an easy touch.

Maybe we should have a "Con Man Alert App" for our village?

Edit 1: The Police issued a statement saying that they couldn't do anything to stop them but people should be "wary". Why are "English-speaking men roaming around trying to sell asphalt"?. the dreaded Facebook also helped in spreading the word.

Edit 2: I have been thinking about this and thought of some other incidents. We once paid a "mole catcher" 25 guilders to set traps to catch all our moles - which were making a mess of the front lawn (grass - lawn is a bit of a stretch). Again. it all seemed OK. - he set all the traps and said he'd come back in a "couple of days". Next morning, we woke up to find all the traps were gone.... and so was he!
We have a "brothers and sisters family fund" which we contribute to - so that every couple of years we do something "special" as a group. eg a show, indoor skiing, 70's dress up night, etc. including food, drink and transport. Now, years ago when the kids were little, there was a disadvantaged youth who stayed with them for holidays and has maintained intermittent contact over the years. A couple of years ago he asked for a "loan" to get him out of trouble with bad debts. I was the odd one out who advised against it - probably because it just didn't sound right and I wasn't close enough to have any emotional ties. Not really a "con" but more an example of how judgement can get clouded.
Janny has a cousin who did prison time as a result of "fraud" in that he really did "con" people into shady investments. This was all very sad for his parents - Aunty and Uncle - of course. 

Frisian names

Not to dwell on it here but I thought it would be a segue into looking at a few Frisian names - ie people's first names in particular. The above-mentioned cousin's name is Oebele 
(oo-bal-la). The chap who installed our new motor in the boat is Watze (what-ze). The nurse who came to our house for Ben's birth was Wopke (wop-ke).
Even Janny is Jantje Sietske (yun-cher seat-sker). Then there's  Fokko, Sicco, Fokje, Sipke. I guess I'm used to it now but even so I occasionally meet someone with a name that I have never heard of before. One of the Council's refugee reps is Hieke (heak-ah) - a woman - although it can be a boy's name as well, apparently.
We once had a chap staying in one of our apartments who had 3 kids - Vera, Wilma and Herman - lovely family and all that, but it just struck me that I couldn't have thought of 3 more old fashioned names (in English, at least).

The Weather

We even had a tiny bit of snow last Saturday, hail and thunderstorms on Monday and expecting a COLD King's Day Holiday on Wednesday. Coldest "last week in April" since 1991. Not boating weather, but we'd better get into it fairly soon. (or else it will be winter again!).

Finishing touches

Swapped the temporary kitchen workbench - we had to wait for the black one to be made.

Ben

Has had his "last ever" exam at Windesheim - still waiting on some results and he has some project work to finish off. Then off to Hong Kong - just like that! (Due in Hong Kong on 31 August). He has done some more casting work - having to try some clothes on for some trial photos - to see if any more work comes from that. He also has a few "options" - for New York, Madrid - but that is all "wait and see" if he gets the nod.

His Weekend Away

A few more members "initiated". (don't ask).

Refugees at our place

Well, it looks like it is going ahead - our first "asking price" was rejected, so we came back with a 2nd proposal that excludes gas, electricity and BTW (GST). This has been accepted with the proviso that the residents have to pay for their own gas, "as part of what they have to learn". Like us, it seems that the Local Govt. people are also wary of the "blowout" that could occur with heating bills.

We have to wait a couple of weeks for final confirmation as some of the principal decision makers "have gone on holidays". Oh well, at least I have a bit of time to think about the works that have to be undertaken at our end - including a system to record everything, up to and including the BTW for the taxman! Now that I think about it, this part really gets to me - the rent from the apartments is considered as "income" so we get to pay 21% BTW (on the transaction) when it comes in and then whatever rate of income tax at the end of the year as well!! No wonder we're trying to save on the gas bills.....

Our normal Care Farm income is in a sector that is BTW free so we only have to pay Income Tax on that. 

If we buy anything for the apartments we also have to pay BTW on the purchases - so at least that can be written off against the BTW we have to pay on the rent - but I do have some extra bookkeeping to do to keep track of it all!
Edit: There was a newspaper story during the week saying that the Federal Government "will be making more money available for the integration of asylum seekers". The Local Government's price to us was based on what they get from the Feds - so maybe we can squeeze a bit more. At least it will be interesting to see if they make mention of it.

Photos

We went to a 25th wedding anniversary party (for "Bregtje" and Herman!). This was the view of the heath from the restaurant - just up the road in Bakkeveen. Good food!

Saturday afternoon with Ben in Groningen.

They have food market stalls here every saturday. My experience of similar markets has always been "why bother, it's just the same price in the shops". But this time, the vegetables were substantially cheaper - so we made a note of "maybe doing a fortnightly trip" just for the market.

Some of Ben's friends are living in Groningen while they do their studies - it really is a "student/university city" with all sorts of people and cultures. 

He took us to an "out of the way" restaurant for an excellent lunch.

King's Day

Almost forgot. Last Wednesday was a Public Holiday for King's Day. Some people in our village organised a Koningsmaaltijd - A King's Meal - "free" for everyone in the village. It was originally planned for outside - but with the prospect of unseasonally bad weather, they moved it into the village Community Centre. There was food, music, entertainment, drink - all for a "voluntary contribution". By all accounts, it was a great success. 

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)