Week 20 A Quiet, Wintery Week.

 Niece Lotte has bought a new house in our village. They had to completely strip it inside. Literally everything out. Floors, walls, wiring, plumbing...

Under the floor they found an old hiding place used during the war; used to hide people who had to "disappear" from the Germans.

Our own new works.

Janny has contacted a specialist company to look at her building ideas for our place. On their website they had their "Company Dog" listed...Boeke, same as ours!!

She told them and everyone had a laugh...off to a good start, I guess.


Meanwhile, the grass continues to grow! Wet, with occasional sun and a general awakening with spring...my tired old joke continues that I can actually hear the grass growing...

Although,in general, it is still very wintery - with winds up around Beaufort 9 - putting paid to any ideas of getting out on the boat!

I managed to fix the mowing deck

Our nephew's sheep are back - he's breeding a Swiss-origin breed "black nose" going by the German name Schwarznasenschaf. They definitely help with the mowing!

Suddenly we have 2 new day clients...

Janny just has to make sure that they "fit" with our group.

One is a man aged 53, Janny thinks that he was never taken care of by "The System" even though he went to ZMLK school (Zeer mooilijk lerende kinderen - very difficult learning children). Somehow he must have dropped off the radar - the parents are now dead and an uncle has taken over the care. They looked at a few Care Farms and chose us even though they have to travel a fair way. We (and they) have a trial period of one month, but it looks pretty good so far.

And Janny had to say "no" to another one - who would have been a difficult fit with our group (and us).

One of the clients has been making an "Insect Hotel".

To be placed somewhere near the vegie garden.

Another tree down - should be the last for a while. It's not very good firewood, but it will help a bit.

Late evening out with Boeke. Out the back, looking towards Drachten

Janny told the story of an old client who made her own Piggy Bank (Sparvarken). They all thought it was a good idea to try to save some money so they have started making their own.

A cat...

Lucas' version is a Rabbit (konijn) because his father breeds championship rabbits...

Boeke needs another haircut...

Ben is back in Amsterdam...(still pretty quiet....but restrictions are slowly being eased)

...and his bike (and it's bell) was still there after 2 months!

Stabbings in Amsterdam

Ben had just been in the street with a couple of mates. They were on their way home and heard the trauma helicopter going over...

One dead, four injured, terrorism not suspected.

In Groningen, during the week, a ship rammed a bridge. The skipper was investigated for drugs and/or alcohol use - there may yet be other charges, although he is reported to have said "we just didn't see it". The Rijkswaterstaat (infrastructure) had the waterway open for shipping within a couple of days. It will take longer for the bridge to be replaced!