Week 39 Winter

 Winter on the Way

Starting to think of all the winter jobs...as usual it is only Autumn, but winter enough for me.

"Winterise" the boat

Turn off the outside water

Chimney sweep (done)

Firewood (enough for a few years!)

Getting the "last mowing of the year"

Cutting back the trees..

The last one was this weeks work for 3 days. Luckily, my "helper" has wednesdays off, so I was able to recover and do some mowing and "end of 3rd Quarter" bookkkeeping.

We discovered that amost all the willows were going rotten, so we cut down about 8 of them and a couple of larger trees that had started to "lean".

My "annual" Cardio check up (Friday)

I mention it only to illustrate how the Covid thing has changed even this aspect of "normal" life.

I had an email early in the week say that my cardiologist (huh? that I even have one...) would be ringing on Friday at 0850hrs.

So, I had a shower and dressed properly (old man habit) and waited by the phone. He rang and asked me how I was going? I began in Dutch and almost immediately he said "it's OK to do it in English"! I laughed and said OK and that everything is fine (apart from getting old)! He laughed and I said that I was a bit concerned that this phone call might be taking the place of my regular checkup.

He explained that they are trying to limit the hospital visiting time and that I could come in that afternoon for the regular ECG and blood pressure tests. ( I was dreading having to do the bicycle test!).

So, I was in and out of the hospital within 20 minutes (no parking fees!).

And the written Doctor's report the very next day. 

I have to increase my blood pressure meds - no surprise there, I guess.

Again, I was impressed (and thankful) with how well the system works.

A trip to the boat (Saturday)

I made a box for the urine pump....and of course, it didn't quite fit ( I coudn't get it square for the hose in-hose out fittings)

So, I improvised...by putting the box on top of the pump and screwing the flush button to the front.

...and I emptied the pantry, even though we might yet get another weekend in.

...and so another Sunday... with the fire on and plans to take Boeke for a walk - and to go shopping in Gorredijk.

The latter purely so that we can get stickers for a free book from the Albert Heijn Supermarket.

It is a book depicting the history of Gorredijk and surrounding area. 

 Included in the book are QR codes for opening Youtube videos.

This one shows the train that used to go from Gorredijk to Oosterwolde (some remnants are still visible) - and to Drachten and as far north as Groningen.

The commentary is in Dutch, but maybe it is watchable just for the pictures alone (dated around 1947).

https://youtu.be/E9Y2dmbrey4

I've only looked at one so far, so really looking forward to the rest!

House for sale

On the water's edge In Grou....€350,000

...and not too much garden!

Covid 19 News

The number of positive coronavirus tests in the Netherlands topped 100,000 on Wednesday, with a new daily total of 2,357, according to figures from national health institute RIVM. As on previous days, most positive tests in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning were in Amsterdam (269), Rotterdam (156) and The Hague (130). A further 32 people were hospitalised and five more people died. In total, 420 coronavirus patients are being treated in hospital and 91 are in intensive care, almost double the figure a week ago. The RIVM estimates that one million people may have had the virus to date, out of a population of over 17 million. Eight more regions are this week likely to be added to the list of areas where the rise in coronavirus cases is worrying, prime minister Mark Rutte told MPs during a debate on government strategy on Tuesday. But as yet no decision has been taken about new measures and talks are ongoing with local officials, Rutte said. Last week, six safety board regions, including those covering Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, were put on special measures – including earlier bar closing times – after a surge in positive tests.

Helter Skelter

 Week 38 in Wijnjewoude

A short week this week, seeing that we didn't get back to work until wednesday.

Weekend kids again. They always like a "tractor lesson" so I put a couple of them to work helping me with Zoey's grave stone.

Top left stone is for Didgy and top right is for Ozzie...

...and collecting more firewood!

Helter Skelter

Janny arranged a good deal on three new skelters. Pretty straight forward to assemble - and of course, we had to do a test drive!

These models have a "gear box" or gear reduction system that makes them much easier to pedal

More photos from last week... 

(a group of 6 people arrived at the terrace restaurant, but with the new rules they were not allowed to sit together at one table - each couple had to sit seperately)

Lockdown tidbits

Frank reported that he had seen a sign proclaiming...

             "I've finished Netflix"

I was also reminded of how lucky we are here in Friesland compared with the lockdown in Melbourne... and Andrew and Terry are being particularly careful down in East Gippsland.

Frank was even driven to putting up his tent in the living room!

(Well, just trying it out for when they are able to get away!)

In the Netherlands...

A total of 1,977 positive coronavirus tests were registered with the public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to 10am, the agency said on Friday afternoon. This is the highest number of positive tests on a single day since the pandemic hit the Netherlands, and the fourth day in a row that a new record has been set. 

At the same time, however, the number of hospital admissions is low, rising by just 12 overnight. A further seven people have died. Nevertheless, officials are worried that the sharp rise in infections will lead to an increase in hospitalisations and deaths in the coming days, as the virus spreads from young adults to their older relations. Most new cases were in Amsterdam, where 361 new positive tests were recorded overnight, taking the infection rate to 9.7 per 10,000 in the Dutch capital.

More on Ben

Ben has finished his 3 weeks training at his new job and starts the next phase on Monday, at

https://speechrepublic.nl/

His team won the competition (for most viable marketing idea)

http://pieceofcakebox.pagedemo.co/

He has also negotiated that he may fit in any modelling work that comes his way - maybe he will have to work an extra Saturday to catch up.

As it turns out, he has a job in Madrid next Tuesday. (Not that it is the safest place to be going).

In Madrid, the following measures have been in place since 7 September:

• Gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, are limited to a maximum of 10 people. As a result, all group tours in museums and other attractions which were previously limited to 25 people may no longer exceed 10 people.
   
• Smoking outdoors in public places is forbidden if and when a 2-metre distance cannot be maintained.
   
• Maximum capacity in most establishments (including shops, shopping centres, libraries, cinemas, theatres, indoor sports centres, theme parks and bullrings) is between 60% and 75%.
   
• Restaurants, bars and cafés can open indoor dining at 75% capacity, and are allowed to serve at the bar, at 50% capacity. Outside seating is now allowed at 100% capacity although there must be at least 1.5m distance between each table. Closing time is now 1am.
   
• Night clubs and other late night venues are now closed.
   
• Indoor public pools closed on 31 August.
   
• Hotels are allowed to reopen their common areas up to 75% of capacity.
   
• All public parks and gardens will shut between 10pm and 6am until further notice.
   
• Children's parks, skate parks and outdoor activities managed by the Region of Madrid are allowed to open as long as long as there is at least 4m2 of space per person.
   
• In the Madrid mountains, picnic areas and other recreation areas will remain closed unless a maximum capacity of 75% and the proper disinfection of tables, benches and fountains can be guaranteed.
   
• Large shopping centres are allowed to open at a 75% capacity (common areas can only be used for walking). Outdoor markets may also open with a maximum capacity of 75%. The Rastro flea market, however, will remain closed until further notice.

Please note that the above measures apply to the whole of the Madrid region and may change depending on the epidemiological situation in the region.

Week 37 in Wijnjewoude

Week 37

From the writings of John P. Weiss

I mentioned last week that I like reading his stuff - and this week I was moved to reflect on this...

My personal experience is that (even more than passion), purpose, something that can impact the lives of others for the better, is even more energy-giving and revitalizing at every level.

It got me thinking about the work we are doing and just how much we love doing it. We had a stressful week with preparing for the Audit (and we have a lot of paperwork to catch up on as a result), but nonetheless, we're so glad to be doing it.

And yet, I am now writing this on a new laptop that I bought for the boat - as we lay in Dokkum on one of the inner canals. And just totally relaxing in the sheer joy of being on the boat. More joy perhaps for me, but I am now and then encouraged by purrs of delight from Janny (luckily!).

We stayed the first night on the edge of a National Park - plenty of other boats, but people on shore were all conscious of "social distancing".

Friday

We brought Boeke with us (that is his role, after all - to be a "boat dog"). He seems to be enjoying it much more than his previous outings. His goal was to "Discover Dokkum" - or at least every tree and other dog!

Saturday

We left for Dokkum early on Saturday morning - just before 0800hrs - it always suits me to get on the move early, if we can - without having to wait for bridge opening times, for example. In this case it was well worth it because we arrived in Dokkum at 1300hrs and had a few moorings to choose from. We went inside the bulwarks this time as there seemed to be more shelter from the stiff breeze.

We then shifted twice - once for better wifi! and again because of a faulty shore power connection.

Our mooring in Google Maps

Shortly after we settled, we went for a walk - Boeke encourages us to do a lot of that! - and we found that there was the Annual SUP board Elfstedentocht event coming to the end of the Dokkum leg.

There were quite a few spectators, a hotel ship, and we were just in time to see the arrival of 3 tall ships - to be used as accommodation for the contestants, we think.

It was quite a spectacle as they worked their way onto the mooring in the wind - not to mention all the other boats and SUP boarders.

Sunday

On Sunday we went for a  "Geocaching" walk around the bulwarks of Dokkum. 

We were moored opposite the Hotel Cafe 't Raedhuis.

We were warned to watch for "Crossing Mowing Robots" and I read nearly all of the tourist signs giving the history of Dokkum - including one about pirates in 1630.

One of the corners of the bulwarks has an old cemetery - this grave from 1627

Another sign had a story about the two (remaining) windmills - on two of the corners of the bulwarks. The other corners had lesser windmills, at least one of which was burnt down.

In the late 1800's the City decided it didn't need the bulwarks for defence any more, but (luckily) there was not enough money to pay for their removal. So they remain a feature of Dokkum - it's hard to imagine what it would be like without them. Many of the houses inside the bulwarks remain untouched. It would be a nice place to live, especially if we could find a mooring for the boat!

We found all the geocaches and met a couple who were on a 2 week "geocaching holiday".

They gave us a few tips, especially about a new form of geocaching that uses a mobile phone app to register the find automatically. 

The old way is that Janny writes the date and time on the supplied logbook and then registers her finds on her geocaching website.

This pole represents the gallows on the site where the pirates were hanged. (I missed the image of a crow on top). It is at the side of a bridge - the sign says that there were that many spectators for the hanging, that the bridge collapsed, which in turn caused a ship to sink - it remained there until it eventually rotted away.

One woman came from England to plea for the life of her son (one of the pirates) - but she arrived too late!

The non-boating side of the bulwarks...

The boating side provides good moorings...

Monday

This was a 5.5 hour trip - so we had to stop at Opiende to let Boeke out!

We hadn't been to the Kromme Ee (loosely "crooked waterway") for quite a few years, so we decided to overnight there...

Sunset

Sunrise

And Tuesday back home to Heerenveen...(just as I was getting used to it!)

I have the feeling that I took off just as much food as I took on board! - We don't seem to eat that much these days - noticeably less bread. 

Last week, I mentioned the housing shortage in relation to a Local Government "raised eyebrow" at the number of people living at our place.

This week in Dutch News.nl there was this story about the shortage....

National, provincial and local government have reached agreement on spending €620m to realise 51,000 new homes in the short term, housing minister Kajsa Ollongren has told MPs. The projects – 27 in total – could not be realised without subsidies because the building costs are too high in terms of preparing the land and public transport connections, the minister said. 

Some 14,000 of the properties are social housing, with a rent of below €730. Some 12,000 will have a rent of €700 to €1,000 and 6,000 will be cheap owner occupier properties. Most will target starters and seniors, but some will include student housing. In total, 32,000 of the new homes are in the category ‘affordable’. 

The government said projects had to be at least 50% affordable to qualify for financial help.

 Industrial sites 

Twelve of the projects involve redeveloping old industrial sites, such as the Binckhorst in The Hague. In Rijswijk an old shopping centre will be transformed into 1,400 homes plus working spaces and in Nijmegen, 670 homes will be built close to the railway station. National government is putting €290m into the projects, which will come from the €1bn fund established last year to boost the housing market. 

Experts say the Netherlands needs to build 845,000 homes before 2030 to keep pace with demand. Local authorities had put forward 52 plans for consideration, and some of which will be resubmitted in October after adaptations are made.


And this story about Coronavirus testing... (and over 8000 positive tests this week)

In total, 86 of the 100 coronavirus test centres in the Netherlands have no space for new appointments, as an increasing number of people queue up to get tested, the central public health board said on Thursday afternoon. Just four locations have sufficient availability in the coming 48 hours and a further 10 are virtually fully booked, the GGD is quoted as saying by public broadcaster NOS.

Places which do become free are being snapped up immediately, and there is more demand than supply, the local authority health agency said. The major hold up is in the laboratory end of the process, which means there is no point in carrying out more tests, the spokesman said. ‘We increased our capacity from 100,000 a day to 180,000 two weeks ago, but now we are being told we cannot scale up any more.

We can increase capacity at the drive in centres further, but that is not where the problem lies.’ The health ministry has admitted that the labs have capacity issues and health minister Hugo de Jonge said at the end of last month he is now striking agreements with commercial labs and a major laboratory group in Germany.