Busy

Week 3

 Walking (aka sploshing)

Lots of rain! And another storm on Wednesday.

Very WINDY

About 90 trucks were blown over; only 7 had Dutch drivers, which has caused authorities to think that they have to give future warnings in English (in order to get to Eastern Bloc and other drivers who may have English as a second language).

Estimated €120 million damage
3 dead
7 trees at our place ... Once again amazed at the lack of roots...

(At least I'll have some work for the summer - too wet to do any cleaning up now).

We didn't get much of the storm. In other places, people were warned on Thursday and Friday not to walk or cycle in the forests, until they have been cleared up. There is still the danger of falling branches.

During the week...

Janny asked a young man from the village if wanted to come and work with us.

He currently falls under the 

wet arbeidsongeschiktheidsvoorziening jonggehandicapten

- a law for young people deemed incapable of "normal" work.

He's been with us for a few months and likes it enough that he agreed to try it out. His parents also liked the idea and rang Janny to express their appreciation. There is still a lot to arrange with all the relevant authorities... thankfully, Janny has to do all that!

We could be the path to some normal work. Since 2015 there has been a "Participation" Regulation aimed at re-integration if possible.

From the Newspaper

Agriculture 

The Dutch agricultural sector booked yet another export record in 2017, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday. Exports totaled €92bn last year, making the Netherlands the second-largest agricultural exporter in the world after the US.

Not all the exports were produced in the Netherlands, however. Some €25.5bn of the total was in the form of re-exports from other countries.

Flowers and flower bulbs once again topped the list of Dutch exports, followed by dairy products which overtook meat as the second-largest Dutch agricultural export last year.

Germany

Germany is the most important export market for Dutch farm products, accounting for sales of €23.4bn in 2017, or roughly 25% of total exports. At the same time, the Netherlands is Germany’s most important agricultural export market, the CBS said.

After Germany, the biggest markets are Belgium (€10.4bn), Britain (€8.6bn) and France (€8bn). While Dutch exports to Belgium and France increased, they actually fell to Britain probably because of a weaker pound sterling related to Brexit, the CBS said.

Exports of other agriculture-related products such as farm equipment, fertilisers, and pesticides totaled €9.1bn, bringing the sector total to over €100bn for the first time.

Use of mobile phones whilst cycling

In Amsterdam, there will soon be an advertising campaign - aimed at 16 - 30 year age group. The slogan is "NO mobiles in traffic". The number of traffic incidents involving cyclists and pedestrians has risen markedly. Supposedly caused by the distraction of using a mobile.
By bringing awareness of the dangers, the organisers hope to break the (social) need to react immediately to a phone call or text message.

Fallen in a heap (not literally - just too busy) so I'll finish now (Monday lunchtime).