Week 47 Fixed the Roof

 

On Monday morning a small crew arrived to do the roof of the apartments. They uhmmed and ahhed a bit about "ice on the roof" and "we don't have a verrijker". Luckily, I was out picking up Lucas...so I didn't get to see Janny explode...

After explaining in no uncertain terms that we have been waiting three years to get this fixed and also assuring them that she knows "it's not your fault" - they saw the error of their hesitation and set about the work.

Now, a "verrijker" is one of those beaut Dutch words that quite often catch my attention due to their simplicity.... it means "far-reacher". The workmen had said that they couldn't get one for about 3 weeks, so "we might have to come back then". Janny also convinced them that they should start without one...

...and after a couple of phone calls, a verrijker was found and so to work...with one eye on the weather...

The operator was very, very good - extending the arm at just the right pace to allow the removal of one row of roofing screws in one sweep - and then to the next row.

All of the insulation had to be removed - and we had been so pleased with ourselves when we had placed it!

Rudy was too sick to help us, so Tjeerd and I were kept busy cleaning up the insulation...

We now have a "mountain" of it in our garage! Our niece is going to use some of it in their house reconstruction - we're just happy to be rid of it and it will help them out a little bit.

On Day one we did the back half of the roof. Day Two threatened rain and was more difficult because of the chimney pipes. The verrijker couldn't reach far enough so the courtyard side had to be done by hand. We could see that the "roof guy" knew his business (and I told him so) after the workers we had had the time before.

It was also the job of Tjeerd and I to pass the sandwich panels up to the roof...they were getting quite heavy by day three! They were  "B Choice", so we had a few different colours - a little bit cheaper.

A funny thing happened with the roof sheets. Apparently they were not on "square" the first time. Now that they were going on square, they began to overshoot the spouting...and fall short at the ridge...

...quite a lot by the last sheets. We'll be able to move the spouting out - thanks to the advice from the "roof guy" and we'll probably just cut the last bit off as it is in an out of sight corner.

Somebody has to supervise...

The squaring up of the sheets meant that the gap under the ridge-capping also got wider - so we had to order some new ones.

The eaves, or end pieces were also put back in place - not perfect, as the roof is now 4cm  higher - but acceptable, given how glad we are just to have the job done.

It now remains to be seen how the insulation/condensation goes. I'm fairly confident because the expert said it should be OK - We shall see.

Finally, the roof is fixed. 

Janny had refused to pay the last bill, so we'll get that out of the way now. 

Our Bookyear is closed...

But it reminded me that one of the organisations that owes us money tried to say "but our bookyear is closed" when Janny organised the payments. Yeah right, was my comment - along with "tell 'em our bookyear isn't closed yet".

It is something that I see as "not quite on the level" with the system. (and not for the first time). There is a big "pot of money" allocated to say, one person in care (a client). The money providers give the money to a Head Contractor who organises a Sub-Contractor (that's us). We put in our bill and the Head Contractor pays it. The Head Contractor also has to organise and pay for any other services that may be required - eg there are some pretty weird therapies that are used on some of the kids. But it could also be psychologists or any number of legitimate expenses. 

If you're a Head Contractor you get to keep any money that isn't spent - which to my mind is a failing - it almost encourages non-expenditure if they can get away with it. eg we can't pay you because "our bookyear is closed".

Janny doesn't want any of the responsibilty of being a Head Contractor. We're happy to be providing legitimate care and keeping it fairly small scale. 

She was also able to sort out the "our bookyear is closed" BS by having a quiet word with the providers of the money (Mostly our Local Government).

Overeenkomst

I was having a look at the Baselovereenkomst during the week and it suddenly struck me that overeenkomst is another one of those simple words

Over can mean about  as in "Ik praatte over het dak" - I talked about the roof

or it can be a process

een is one

komst is based on the word come

So, overeenkomst is literally "coming as one" or agreement

I've always known what overeenkomst meant - we've signed lots of overeenkomsten over the years...funny that the make up of the word just struck me.

There's also ik ben met je eens - I am as one with you - which in English sounds a little more intimate than simply "I agree with you".

Walking, walking...

They cleaned up the cycling path again...

It's that time of the year...

Lastly

Ben came home for the weekend, so I was able to cook for four (including Janny's Mum).

A tasty (if unattractive) chicken pie... with Ras el Hanout... "best in shop", indeed!

Ben has lots of freelance work, but gave up his one full-time job so that he can do some more travelling. (That employer is keeping him on in his Freelance mode).

It is extremely poor timing, but he had just received notice of a 3 month contract in South Africa - which won't go ahead, of course. He is also considering a 3 month contract in Bangkok...