10 year clients
We've had to eat a lot of cake over the last couple of weeks...
Lucas has been with us for 13 years now - and 3 others have ticked over the 10 year mark.
It remains very special to us - that we provide something meaningful in their lives
When this Covid thing allows it, we'll organise a lunch at the local restaurant, so that we can all celebrate the milestones.
It's a fairly closeknit group - most of the time they all get on with each other.
Our newest client fell "outside the radar" of the care system here. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his uncle and aunty. They have only just discovered (I think) that there is a huge "system" available to help them...
We are part of that. He started coming for only two days a week, but soon asked if he could come for 4 days as he enjoys it so much. It is also a delight for us to see his enthusiasm and growth. The uncle and aunty appreciate the help they are now getting - as they are also advancing in years.
Leaves are just about off - from the beech trees... the oaks take a bit longer
Last week...
This week...
My helper Tjeerd at work...(somebody has to foot the ladder!)
Ah, winter...and it's not even winter yet!
I have to wait until 0800hrs to go for a walk - otherwise it's too dark in the forest. But I still seem to wake up at the same time - around 0600hrs...
Sometimes the news is too depressing - like this week as I remembered what we were doing with Ben when he was 17 - setting him up in his own apartment to begin his university studies and driving him quite often the 90kms to and from Zwolle...
...on the other hand, we could have helped him buy an assault rifle and drive him across the border to some rioting trouble spot...
So, sometimes I cook instead of listening to the news...
Banana pancakes for the clients...
(And, as usually happens, I remembered back to 3rd Grade again when a boy pinched my lunch money - it was only 1 shilling and a pie was 10p at the corner Tuck Shop).
..although I'll probably eat a couple myself as there are only 2 kids this weekend - due to the raging Covid crisis here in Friesland - well, everywhere really.
Record numbers here in The Netherlands, for three days in a row. I'm basically confined to quarters (and the forest) as I begin to think that it is a matter of "when" not "if"...
Luckily, I have plenty to do...
Bookkeeping, setting up Janny's new computer, delving through our financial report from 2020, finishing off the electrical report items, preparing for our replacement roof (they rang to say that they would be a week later - Janny's reply was in Dutch, but it sounded like "why am I not surprised" .... We're both fed up with the roof saga - and we still don't know if this will solve the condensation problem. Also planning for a big insulation job on the inside (of the outside) walls. So many Youtube videos - making it look so easy (and expensive).
and the boat...
(I gathered all the boating photos from 2021....
...without comment),
I'm oiling the wooden bits this year... if it weathers ok next year, then it should be an easier maintenance task to clean and re-oil... As always, we shall see...
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