Week 35 It's only a cold...

Week 35

An interesting (but sad) week

I was tested for Carona

On Monday morning I woke up with "a bit of a cold", which is a bit of a worry these days! I took a load to the tip and then thought that we should take the cold seriously given the contact with our clients. The testing system here is very well organised - and encouraged "for anyone with symptoms". So, on Tuesday Janny rang the Hotline and handed the phone over to me - the chap switched immediatley to English (I think they do that in order to spare themselves from having to listen to my Dutch). He explained that they have to organise the test within 48 hours - the next closest available spot was in Assen at 1324hrs the next day - so that's what we did on Wednesday.

The test was done at the Assen Fire Station - it also houses some other Community Services and they had erected a large steel frame tent - with 3 drive-through lanes.

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x47c8252eaa57af49%3A0x54c2a139f997af88!3m1!7e115!4s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dx3ov7kdZlbEQQe2RXF8owA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.gws-prod.gps%26thumb%3D2%26yaw%3D159.03343%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100%26w%3D520%26h%3D175!5sassen%20brandweer%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e2!2sx3ov7kdZlbEQQe2RXF8owA&hl=en

The test was not at all painful or as uncomfortable as we had heard. A swab in the throat and the other end of the same swab up one nostril - less than a minute probably.

On Thursday afternoon, I could log on to the National testing website - using my National DigID number - and got the result. Negative, of course - but at least it felt like the "right thing to do", given our Care Farm situation.

Again, I could only admire how well organised it is. 

This from Dutch News.nl

Amsterdam and Rotterdam are stopping an experiment with face masks in busy places at the end of August. Both said that they were halting the experiment ‘as planned’ and will be waiting for the results of investigations to see how effective the measures have been. In a press release, Amsterdam added that ‘depending on the level of infections in the city’ as well as these results, it would decide whether or not to reintroduce obligatory face masks. 

Last weekend, it announced that enforcement officers had handed out 148 fines of €95 for non-compliance, reported the Parool. However, when reporters including DutchNews.nl visited the Red Light District – one compulsory area – the majority of people on the streets appeared not to be wearing them. Some reports suggested that only 20% were following the rules, increasing to 80% if street wardens intervened. 

Rotterdam and Amsterdam were given the go-ahead to introduce facemasks in busy areas by the national government early in August as their coronavirus infection numbers spiked, to see what effect they had on distancing and public awareness. There has, however, been constant scepticism from the RIVM public health institute about how effective non-medical face masks are in preventing the spread of the coronavirus in real-life situations. The government has instead emphasised the importance of limiting visitors at home and keeping a 1.5m distance. 

The face mask experiment, which started in early August, covered five locations in Amsterdam, including the Plein ’40-45 and Albert Cuypstraat markets during operational times, plus busy shopping streets in Rotterdam, two shopping centres and all large markets there. Court In Amsterdam, a group of protesters tried to overturn the face mask ruling in court but although the judge ruled that it was an infringement of basic rights, the temporary nature of the experiment meant that this did not merit legal action. However, some shops and analysts said that they were getting far less footfall, with more than 35% fewer visitors in areas with compulsory face masks, according to a study for the Parool. 

A spokeswoman for Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told Dutchnews.nl that compliance had been far greater in her city. ‘We had a different experience with it,’ she said. ‘In the last week when we started to be more repressive in our way of controlling the crowds, we have seen a lot of people committed to wearing a mask. The first day that we were stricter, we saw only four penalties instead of Amsterdam, where there were about 150. We are very happy to see that people are positive about wearing a mask when addressed, but we ended the experiment as planned and are waiting for the investigators to come with their report.’ Femke Halsema, Amsterdam mayor, said in a statement: ‘The experiment will be ended on 31st August as planned. Depending on our independent evaluation, infection level and how busy the city is in September, we will look at how to proceed.’ The NSCR Netherlands Institute for the study of crime and law enforcement will be publishing a study on the extent to which the face mask rules were followed and whether they helped regulate crowds and maintain the 1.5m distancing.

Boat stuff

Monday - did a load to the tip in the morning and in the afternoon shifted the boat from Wijnjewoude to Mildam - in rising winds. Nearly crashed the boat when the bowthruster failed! oops!, indeed...

I think the culprit was a loose battery connection. The thick wire was loose - I can only think that it was loosened when I replaced the batteries, about 3 years ago. They are heavy duty batteries -  and expensive! I've had them tested and they are still OK - luckily.

 We were expecting a storm, so we left the boat for 3 days at Mildam. On Thursday morning we did the last 2 hours to Heerenveen with no wind at all, managing to moor OK without the assistance of the bowthruster - I've been spoilt with that over the years!

The float switch in the toilet decided to play up - just another minor problem, needing to be replaced - it seems I need to add soda - bicarb to the flushing water to stop the "float" turning into a calcified "rock"...

Wifi for the apartments

We're putting in better wifi in the apartments - a combination of me trying to figure out where all the spaghetti goes and paying for some new equipment and expertise to make it all a bit more presentable - all this was on our "to do" list - we were just waiting until the new fibre optics system was up and running.

We have 2 new residents, so that made it time to get the job done!

Normally, I'm just "plug and play" with the cables, but I really had to dig back into the system in order to remember what I had done - luckily, I found some of my old notes!

In fact, this time I will make a diagram!

Thanks to Andre, (also our "drone" man), for sorting this out! We also placed one of the round Access Points in each of the apartments.

The housing shortage

Janny had a phone call from the Local Government during the week. "Do you really have 10 people living there"? We're not really supposed to, but Janny said yes - you know, with the housing shortage and all...they said, er, yes, well - we'll turn a blind eye to it for the time being...(I always tried to convince myself that they are "just small groups" and we still have the permits for Groups Accommodation). ...and besides, the Council used us themselves a few years ago to house some refugee families.

Turning the "blind eye" also has to be semi-official (ie on paper) so that our residents can be properly registered as living in our Local Govt. area - and that they can get rental assistance or other benefits, if they are entitled to them.  Sometimes I just love how the system works over here.

RIP Zoey "The Best Dog Ever"  2006 - 2020

Honestly, I used to say to her that "all you ever had to do in life was to be a good dog, and you did it remarkably well". No doubt wishing that I could claim the same....

Oh, that tongue!

She had such a good nature - perfect for our place with the kids and other clients - she was much loved by everyone...

I'll make another blog with photos, but for this one, I think my lasting memory will be how she enjoyed going for our first morning walk over the last couple of months...the cat (Tassie) had been sterilised and became much friendlier - so all four of us would head off up the back...Zoey had learnt from an early age not to go near the road, so she could go almost anywhere without a lead - she always roamed her own territory - sometimes going further afield at the back but never at the front...Boeke will forever be confined to the lead, I think.

Zoey has her last resting place on a hill out the back - next to Ozzie and Didgy - and overlooking her "territory".

Some of my reading

I read a lot of varied stuff - a couple of my favorites are Umair Haque and John P. Weiss.

Haque is a bit too much doom and gloom over the current state of affairs in America (albeit with frightening reality)...but Weiss is much more uplifting...

What social media is less likely to show you is the true character of people. The retiree who volunteers at a soup kitchen is less likely to virtue signal on social media. Helping others is the reward of the work, not showcasing it on Facebook.

...and of course, I get a few emails from Dutch boating organisations...

this one from Scheepspost  (a digital newsletter about (our) sailing heritage)

The latest edition declares that  the boating event "StrontWeek" has been cancelled for 2020 - due to the Carona concerns...

The Annual Event is a race to bring manure (stront) to a flower growing region - it used to be a "thing", without necessarily being a race.

Unfortunately, Warmond has to plant the flower bulbs in their own gardens without shit from Workum, there will be no passengers in the ports of the Beurtveer, the disappointed Liereliet warblers will not be able to grease their throats, the proud clog sailors will not be able to wish their boats a safe voyage,  the nets of the fishermen will remain dry this year and the fish auctioneer can spare his voice.

and...

Rare wreck of a Dutch 17th century flute ship discovered

http://badewanne.fi/?page_id=1129

 August 24, 2020 Wouter van Dusseldorp

While making documentation dives on some so-called World War I or II wrecks at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, Badewanne divers descended on a great surprise: a 17th century flute ship wreck.

Since the Middle Ages, the Baltic Sea has been an important trade route because Holland and England required a lot of wood, tar and hemp, all of which were available around the Baltic Sea. From the 13th century onwards, the Hanseatic League controlled trade, but in the 17th century the highly efficient merchant navy of the Dutch Republic gained control of this trade.

One ship type clearly stands out above all others and becomes the mainstay of this trade: the Dutch “Fluit” ship, a three-master with a spacious hull design, without guns and with a very large loading capacity. The Flute ships utilized a new and advanced rigging with cleverly designed hoist systems to hoist and trim the yards and sails. This allowed for a much smaller crew than previous ship types, making the trade more profitable.

Another new feature on board the Flute ships was that the entire crew lived “behind the main mast” - Master, mates, boatswain, cook and all crew members, all sharing the same space between decks, and eating at the same table. This was very unusual in the society of the time, let alone in the highly hierarchical maritime world. The Flute ships were dominant in the Baltic trade between the late 16th and mid 18th century. Very few of these once common ships survived, even as wrecks.

It was therefore a great surprise when divers descended on a wreck at a depth of 85 meters, discovered an almost completely preserved Dutch Flute ship. She rests on her keel on the sea bed, with most of her rigging scattered around her. There is only minor damage caused by a drag net. This has slightly damaged the aft deck and the top part of the typical Flute transom. Apart from these damage, the wreckage is intact, the holds are full and all boards are firmly in place. Even the damaged parts and components of the transom trims, such as the “Hoekmen” or the “Strongmen” can be found on the bottom behind the stern.

Only in rare places in the world, including the Baltic Sea, can wooden wrecks survive for centuries without being destroyed by chemical, biochemical and biological decomposition processes. Due to the low salinity, absolute darkness and very low temperatures all year round, these processes are very slow in the Baltic Sea. Perhaps most importantly, wood-boring organisms such as shipworms cannot live in such an environment. Even in temperate seas, unless buried in sediments, all wooden wrecks disappear in decades.

Week 34

 Week 34...

...but it is getting harder to keep up with the weeks rattling by.

I'm so glad I have my "helper" - but it is more me helping him, these days!

for sale in Leeuwarden

Bike thefts

Bikes to the value of €600m were stolen in the Netherlands last year, and organised gangs are moving in, according to new research by Bureau Beke. The figure of €600m is based on an estimate of how many bikes were stolen in 2019, multiplied by the average cost of a new bike. Just some 20% of bike thefts are actually reported, largely by people whose two-wheelers are insured, and only 4% of stolen bikes are ever recovered. E-bikes in particular are now being targeted by organised gangs and exported abroad, the researchers said. ‘The price of bikes is going up, and so they become more attractive to steal,’ Jos Kuppens told broadcaster RTL. Bikes are not only being stolen in the street and loaded into vans, Kuppens said. Bike shops too can be emptied in a few seconds and rental companies such as Swapfiets are also increasingly faced with organised theft. The report suggests that more should be invested in official bike parks and bike racks to make it harder for thieves to pick up a bike and leave. The ANWB, which is the biggest Dutch bike insurance company, said in March there had been a spectacular rise in the theft of electric bikes – up 38% last year. Last year 420,000 new e-bikes were bought in the Netherlands and they now account for the biggest segment in bicycle sales. Bikes which have been fitted with a GPS transmitter are much more likely to be recovered than those without, the ANWB show. According to some estimates, 80% of e-bikes with a GPS tracing system are found – as long as the theft is reported straight away.

Carona Update

Speaking at the coronavirus press conference on Tuesday, August 18, Prime Minister Rutte and Health Minister De Jonge expressed concern for the rising number of coronavirus infections, and announced some new measures to halt a second wave of the virus.

Measures for at-home gatherings

Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed concerns regarding the spread of the virus among smaller gatherings of friends and families, for example at home at birthday or dinner parties. He urged the public to hold no parties, drinks, or other gatherings at home. He highlighted how, while people may feel safe around friends and family, this feeling does not equal safety.

Any gatherings that do take place within a home now fall under a new coronavirus measure limiting the number of guests a household may receive to maximum six people (not including children under the age of 12). There must also be a distance of 1,5 metres maintained between all guests at all times.

Any gatherings are instead encouraged to take place within a catering (horeca) establishment, where there is more space, everyone is assigned a seat, and a distance of 1,5 metres is easier to maintain.

Working from home

The Prime Minister also reiterated his message asking people to work from home as much as possible. He rejected rumours that this advice would be relaxed from September 1: "The advice remains: work from home as much as possible, even after September 1."

Measures in schools

A number of primary and secondary schools across the Netherlands started up again following the summer holidays on Monday, August 17. Some members of the public had expressed concerns about the ventilation in school buildings, and how coronavirus measures would be followed by students.

Rutte made clear at the press conference that a child showing any symptoms of the virus must stay home, and a child with a family member who has tested positive for the virus must also stay at home - no exceptions.

Some schools have recently announced the decision to introduce a face mask rule for their students in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

Importance of regional measures

Similarly to the press conference on August 6, both Rutte and De Jonge stated they hoped to avoid a second national lockdown, and highlighted the key role regional measures would play in preventing this. However, both said that, if infections continue to rise again, national measures (specifically national horeca measures) will be re-implemented. "The virus is everything but done with us" De Jonge said.

De Jonge also emphasised the importance of working together as a country to keep the virus under control, saying that the government or the mayors alone would not be able to make a difference. Some regional measures are already in place, in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. However, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema is expected to announce further measures for the Dutch capital at a press conference at 8:30 pm on Tuesday, August 18.

Quarantine

The government has also announced that, following advice from the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), the mandatory quarantine period has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days.

Around the Farm

Chopping down some more trees...

and cleaning up some more rubbish...

...packing the tents away...a bit early, but they won't be sold this year

Still planning a couple of weeks off with the boat - but we have an Audit coming up, so everything has to be in order - we drew the short straw with our inspector - Mr. Rules.

If we do get away, we're thinking of going to the recently chosen "Prettiest Village in the Netherlands" - Winsum - in the province of Groningen.

(link)

https://www.google.com/search?q=winsum+groningen&sxsrf=ALeKk005lrpLEVTGujn93-fCXS3XJlkbJw:1598164086315&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=KK1GhkMQ4bfNjM%252CwvRBuapdiKygvM%252C%252Fg%252F1q6hz0vg5&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRYnUnTEQktNBAaRPmYD7RoC3TnIg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwip8aCV2bDrAhVFwQIHHf6gCKoQ_B0wDXoECAsQAw#imgrc=KK1GhkMQ4bfNjM

The further travels of Ben

Now in Florence - just a holiday with a friend. I think she used to live in the hotel where Ben was for a few years.

Week 32 More heatwave

 

Week 33

Correction from last week

I said "A heat wave over here is declared with 3 consecutive days over 25°C"

But this is the correct version

To be classed as a nationwide heatwave, the De Bilt weather station must record a five-day period of temperatures over 25 Celsius, of which three are over 30 Celsius. 

The south of the country already experienced a regional heatwave in June.

Janny calls out facts and figures to me now and then - I think the last similar heatwaves were 1941 and 1979.

In any case, I'm normally reluctant to utter the words "it's too hot" but I did last week!

With the end of the official heatwave, some areas had more than 60mm of rain with local flooding. We had only a few drops and the weather remains hot and humid, but noticably cooler in the evenings.

Also from last week: The Corona outbreak in Dokkum included a niece of ours - who has tested negative despite the fact that her boyfriend tested positive. The number is now up to about 45 in Dokkum alone.

We have the boat nearby but it's been too hot to sleep on board. All we could do is a late evening barbecue and some SUP board practice - and even a bit of swimming!

Robin and Joy, who are living on board, had to buy a cooler to make it a bit more bearable. They also have a reflective film on the windows and some shade over the hatches.

A couple of nieces and their families joined us - and even a village person stopped to have a beer with us. She and her son had a rubber dinghy with an electric motor - it would fit nicely on the roof of our boat! (something else for the Tardis).

And finally, a true test of the improvised shower. Good to have after swimming, but also if we have a few days away from any shower facilities. Just have to keep an eye on the water usage.

Janny had seen some boats with folding seats - so she found them on-line and bought a couple - again testing the Tardis-like qualities of the boat...but they are very comfortable!

We now have a "family camping holiday" at our place. They aren't venturing too far with their own holidays, so this is a bit of an alternative. Close your eyes and you could be anywhere...

(A couple of people drove in to check us out - as they were looking for a campground!)

Omrop Fryslan  

This is the name of a Frisian Broadcasting group/company. Each Province has it's own, so they may be Government sponsored? 

This summer they are doing a series called "Summer in Friesland".

The series includes visits to many villages, including Wijnjewoude.

Janny was interviewed on the radio - again about the Energy Neutral Project and our solar panels. The modern version of the outside broadcast was "log on to our WIFI, plug the microphone into a mobile phone, check with the studio, and talk".

Our boat showed up in one of the TV broadcasts...

https://www.omropfryslan.nl/utstjoering/simmer-yn-fryslan-fan-14-augustus-2020-1715

So, not much work done this week!

Heat Wave week 32

Week 32

Just another reminder to myself that I'm writing this for my kids.

I'm trying to learn the VHF Licence stuff - in Dutch, even though I might well follow an English version.

I found this somewhere during the week, referring to being able to remember things.

I often write things down as they occur to me....

Force yourself to recall by writing your own summaries/bullet points

Writing down what you learn every now and then has proven to be a great way to cement new knowledge in your mind.

Every time you learn something new, read a chapter of your favourite book or listen to something life-changing, take a quick second to jot down what you remember.

Heat Wave

A heat wave over here is declared with 3 consecutive days over 25°C

We're up to about 5 now.

(Friday) 7th of August was the hottest August day on record for the Netherlands.

20°C at 0700hrs this morning, as I was walking the dogs - and 1 cat! Tassie tags along every morning. 

Janny is a member of a " Boating in Friesland" Facebook group - she said that a lot of people had to take their dogs home because they weren't coping with the heat.

We have the boat in Wijnjewoude, but as there is no shade, I've been finding things to do at home.

We have 9 kids this weekend - they have been going to the local outdoor swimming pool - and throughly enjoying themselves!

Carona News

DOKKUM - In recent weeks, the corona virus has mainly affected the Randstad and the west of Noord-Brabant, but an outbreak has also developed far beyond. In Dokkum, North Frisian, at least fourteen people were infected by one visitor at a home party.

According to the Frisian GGD (Health Authority), the virus has mainly spread "on a terrace in the open air." Most infected people are young people who knew each other. They (14 people) have been quarantined to prevent them from spreading the virus further. The GGD in Friesland thinks that most of those involved "have now been identified and tested."


According to the regional health service, the Dokkumer outbreak shows that it is important to keep enough distance from each other in the open air as well.

The Prime Minister and the Health Minister gave another Press Conference during the week - they felt it necessary due to their concern that the number of cases was rising again. The PM particularly urged young people to "take it seriously". After the press conference there was an immediate increase in the number of people registering to be tested.

Fake Boating Licences

There has been a huge increase in the number of people taking to the water this year (rather than going abroad).

A number of websites have been discovered offering fake boating licences...

If you live in an English-speaking country (other than USA), you will spell it licence when you use it as a noun and license when you use it as a verb.

So, the Google Translate (below) is using the USA version - ie. both versions use license (it didn't feel right to me).

But what about those sailing certificates again? In the Netherlands, the Small Vessels License is compulsory for, among other things, motor boats that can sail faster than 20 km / h and for ships longer than 15 meters. To obtain the Small Vessels License you take a theory exam at the CBR. For the exam you can follow an (online) course or learn yourself. With the Dutch Small Vessels License you may also sail in various other countries with a vessel that requires a navigation license. So renting a jet ski or speed boat on holiday is usually not a problem after showing your license with the international ICC on the back. Conversely, skippers from these countries are also allowed to sail in the Netherlands with a ship subject to a certificate. Which sailing certificates are recognized in the Netherlands is stated in the inland navigation regulations (inland navigation law, decision and regulation). Only these foreign navigation certificates mentioned in the Dutch regulations are therefore recognized in the Netherlands. There are therefore also foreign 'certificates' that are not listed in the Dutch rules and are therefore not recognized in the Netherlands.

It has also been formally agreed between the countries that the countries will only issue their national boat license to residents or people who have the nationality of that country. So if you live as a Dutch citizen in, for example, Spain, you can get your navigation license in Spain. But if you go back to live in the Netherlands, a problem may arise. Not all countries have a navigation license that is valid for life, just like the Netherlands. So if you want to renew your foreign boating license and you no longer live in Spain, you can no longer renew in Spain, but in the Netherlands you cannot exchange your Spanish boating license for a Dutch Small Boating License and you still have to take an exam in the Netherlands. You can extend a Dutch navigation license in the Netherlands if you now live in Spain. Complicated? The reason is that although the various certificates are mutually recognized, the requirements in the countries can still differ. For example, some countries do not have tidal water or do have a practical exam. In this way they want to prevent everyone from taking exams in the country with the least stringent requirements. A logical thought, except that in a country you usually have to take an exam in the local language and that it is quite a bit to learn Spanish before you take an exam in Spain. Then taking an exam in the Netherlands is often a bit easier. Yet there are indeed Germans and English who have taken their exams in Dutch in the Netherlands and have passed.

 (I passed mine in 2012 - feeling quite pleased with myself that I had done it in another language!) 

After all, the Netherlands has always been 'fairly flexible' in providing navigation certificates. Many Belgians therefore chose to take exams in the Netherlands. It is true that the exam was a bit more difficult than the then exam for the Belgian Steering Certificate, but in the Netherlands we had a VDU exam before, it was only theory and you could take an exam almost every day.

What about those fantasy sailing certificates mentioned in the newspaper?. Often these are some kind of real local sailing certificates for which the holder has also had to take a test or sort of exam. And for which a lot of money has often been paid. However, if the navigation license is not listed in the Dutch inland navigation regulations, it is not recognized in the Netherlands and therefore not valid for sailing in the Netherlands with a vessel that is subject to a license. So you are considering a foreign route to obtain your navigation license; then think carefully and read the Dutch rules. A course, books and exam in the Netherlands is always cheaper than the fine you will receive if you go on the water without a small boating license.

More Carona News...( compared with Melbourne???)

Bars, cinemas and museums identified as centres of coronavirus infection are to be closed for two weeks, and testing is to be introduced at Dutch airports for people from high-risk areas in an effort to stop the increase in coronavirus infections in the Netherlands. In addition, freshers’ week activities for new students are to be scaled back sharply, and mayors will be able to impose curfews on cafes and bars, prime minister Mark Rutte told a news conference on Thursday evening. The number of infections in the Netherlands has doubled to 2,588 in the past week, and 601 cases were reported overnight. While this is not a reason for panic, a concerted effort is needed at a local, regional and national level to keep the virus under control, Rutte said. The 1.5 metre rule is being more widely ignored and fewer people are staying at home to work or if they have symptoms, he said. ‘The virus is an uninvited guest at birthday parties.’ The prime minister also spoke directly to youngsters, who are responsible for a growing proportion of new infections. ‘If too many of you ignore the rules, we will all be stuck inside and you will be a danger to your grandparents and vulnerable people,’ Rutte said. ‘Corona is not over, it is no joke and it is moronic to act as if it is.’ Not critical New infections have reached a worrying level, but have not yet reached a critical point, Rutte said. ‘If necessary, local and regional measures can be scaled up nationwide, and the role of local public safety chiefs is crucial in this,’ Rutte said, referring to the experiments with masks in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Rutte also appealed directly to tourists in Amsterdam to stay away from busy areas. Mayors, he said, can bring in local face mask requirements in an effort to change people’s behaviour. They can also close busy car parks at the beach. 

New powers given to mayors include the ability to introduce curfews on cafes, bars and night shops and to ban supporters from local sports events. These measures can be expanded nationwide if necessary, Rutte said. The government has also introduced tough rules for this years’ freshers’ week events for new students. In the main, Rutte said, they should be organised online. Physical meetings, which may not involve alcohol and must end at 10mp, must be informal, small scale and directly related to the study or to sport. Student associations and fraternities, however, have been banned from organising initiation ceremonies for new prospective members. Regional approach Health minister Hugo de Jonge highlighted the need for regional approaches to combat the virus. The current situation in the Netherlands shows that the situation in Rotterdam requires a different approach to Drenthe, he said. As regards foreign holidays, the minister was scathing about people spending time in high risk countries. ‘People don’t have to travel to an code orange area [such as Barcelona and Croatia],’ he said. ‘If they do, they must stay at home for two weeks and undergo a test if they have symptoms.’ In addition, officials will use airline passenger lists to check that people are staying home as required, he said. Testing at Schiphol will also be introduced for everyone flying in from a risky location, but cannot be made compulsory. De Jonge also confirmed that trials of the controversial government app will begin in Drenthe and Twente on August 12, and the aim is to roll the app out nationwide in September. Both ministers also stressed that it is up to everyone to obey the guidelines to keep the virus under control. ‘I am not a dictator, and we are giving you the facts,’ Rutte said. ‘In the end it is up to us, as adults in an adult democracy. We all have to stick to the rules.’ New measures announced on August 6: Freshers’ week activities are to be held online as much as possible and physical meetings are only permitted to to introduce a sport or an educational programme. Cafes, bars and restaurants must use a reservation system and register the contact details of all guests so they can be traced in case of an outbreak. If there is an outbreak, the local authorities must close the cafe, cinema, museum or amusement park for 14 days. Testing is to be introduced at all Dutch airports for people returning to the Netherlands from high risk areas. In addition, checks based on passenger lists will be introduced to make sure arrivals are staying in quarantine for 14 days. Local public safety boards have been given the power to introduce localised measures. These include the right to impose curfews on cafes and night shops, the introduction of face masks, the closure of shopping centres and parks, the power to ban  large events and  the right to scale up policing. 

Fishing...

We have a few daywork clients on holidays this week, so we went down to the boat to do some fishing - before the heatwave!

One of the clients is a keen (competition) fisherman - he has a trailer full of equipment!

I bought a battery powered sanding machine - to tackle some of the rust spots...

It turned nicely black with the rust treatment - but then it got too hot to paint! ....oh well, next week.

My helper and I managed to do some rotary hoeing (he did the raking!) - then I sent him home early due to the heat (or to give myself a break?)...