Week 24
A correction from last week
The SK kotters are NOT Staverse Kotters!
Now, with my aversion to the various platforms that carry fake news so unashamedly, I can scarcely believe that I also committed Fake News!
Janny and I had been talking about the woman whose husband had died - leaving her with a very nice Staverse Kotter - moored just along from our boat. We had seen the chap for a couple of years, just wanting to be "on his boat", even though he was obviously very ill.
She told us a few weeks ago that she was going to sell it because it was difficult to keep it without her husband.
Anyway, I think I had this on my mind when I wrote "Staverse Kotter". The boats from last week are SK Kotters. The SK is the company name, operating since 1974. I think it was originally based on Sneekermeer Kruizers, but simply SK Kotters (and other boats) now.
This was one of the boats from Saturday...
We also saw some more big ships...
Janny and Boeke found a spot on the aft deck out of the wind...
The trip took 9 hours including our 2 hour stop.
On Monday and Tuesday, we advanced our "raise the glasshouse" work. The foundation was ready. We just had to lift the the glasshouse without having it fall apart! We fastened a lifting frame around it so that it would stay together.
The Grass Keeps Growing...
The ride-on mower was still away for repairs (2 weeks!)* - they were waiting on a part. I just had to try to do some of the normal mowing but with the tractor. Luckily, the ground had dried out enough that I wasn't leaving any tracks.
* Janny and I picked it up on Friday and I managed about 3 hours mowing before a thunderstorm rolled in.
I remind myself now and then that I do this (for a couple of hours early on Sunday mornings) for my kids and grandkids who "may" read it sometime in the future. It's a product of being away from them on a daily or weekly basis.
On Climate Change
Lately, I have been reading and listening to a lot of stuff about climate change. A lot of the dates bandied about have a "milestone" ring to them. Over here, I have a few examples such as Wijnjewoude Energy Neutral (2025) and electric cars (2030), 95% less CO2 (2050).
Clean transport helps to achieve climate goals
The Climate Agreement states that the Netherlands must emit 49% less CO2 by 2030. In 2050 that will be 95%. Clean transport helps to achieve those goals. For example, all new passenger cars coming onto the market in 2030 must be 100% electric. These cars then run on electricity from a battery, hydrogen fuel cell or solar panels.
One of the articles I read has a user comments section. One of the comments struck a nerve...."What do I do personally? Since I am over 70, I watch in amusement and plan to be dead when the worst happens!"
Now, I often do the mental exercise of "what will it be like when my kids are my age?". The climate change milestones are then frighteningly close by and it ceases to be an abstract discussion when people you can put a face to are obviously going to be affected.
And then there's the grandkids, who will all be at or close to 50 by the time 2050 rolls around.
This, in English from the Dutch Govt.
This one is in Dutch. The Government information is readily available.
(One wag put out a Climate Change map of the world with a tiny red dot where the Netherlands is - asking the question "Can we really change the world?".)
We are more likely to experience extreme weather. There will be more torrential rains, heavier storms or longer drier and hot periods. The Netherlands is extra vulnerable to flooding because a large part of our country is below sea level. And the construction of higher dikes is very expensive. Climate change can also lead to a shortage of drinking water or food. As a result, more and more people are fleeing their region or country. This could have consequences for Dutch trade, which is highly dependent on the global economy.
Residential Ship For Sale in Dokkum
I mention it only because Janny and I first looked at a ship at the same place in 1993 - back then the cost was 79,000 guilders (about €40,000). We drove from Dokkum to Burdaard on the same day and found the house that we did buy - on the water!
The "asking price" for this one is €229.000,00.
Gas Leak on Tuesday
We could faintly smell it and the gas repair man (with golden hands) came within 30 minutes. He just replaced everything, tested it and was on his way
.
The larger, slightly coloured bubbles are/is the gas.
Boeke tried digging his way Down Under...
Mowing the grass in style...
Picking up the mown grass without stopping : collecting, compressing, wrapping and spitting out the end result. The things that some people (can) think of!Our nephew organised it - he gets to keep the bales - I think he also counts our land for his manure disposal quota.
It could be anything...
...but it is my first Rhubarb Pie (that I can remember, at least), I've only ever known rhubarb as a dessert, but it is quite often served as a "vegetable" at restaurants over here. (It is in fact, a vegetable, apparently, but is commonly known as a fruit). A YouTube video said that it was declared to be a "fruit" so that it attracted a lower rate of tax (in England, I think).
Anyway, Janny's Mum declared "yum!", so it will definitely get another run. It tasted twice as good because it was our own rhubarb, of course.
TX Stoar was moored near us at AquaSolar when we were getting the new solar panel, batteries and fridge for JOHANNA1
ReplyDeleteDaily, weekly, yearly!! 🥲
ReplyDelete