It's freezing again! (minus 3 as I write)
I had already turned the outside water back on - so we had to turn it off again, to prevent the pipes from freezing!
My new Helper
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I have a new helper and that I was a bit worried that I might have to do more work in order to keep him busy.
Well, I'm delighted to say that he is worth his weight in gold! He "sees" things that need doing, he is excellent at tidying up (usually my messes) and he knows when to hop in and help.
Polite, respectful, looks after his appearance.... the list goes on!
From his (more important) side of things, it looks like that he has also found a place where he is a good fit.
Now, the reason for my title this week is that I found myself teaching him the hand gestures for "water on" and "water off" - as it is some distance from the main tap. I suppose they use mobile radios these days... but it was nice to use something from almost 50 years ago!
Later in the day, we were replacing several security lamps using the ladder - so I taught him the basics of two-man extension ladder drill - including the all-important "foot the ladder"(for me!).
Renovating the Toilet Block
We (Janny) wrote a letter to our Local Government about letting one of our clients "live" at our place for as long as he remains a client. It has proved impossible for him to live in a "normal" apartment - for various reasons.
He is now living in a caravan at our place and it is generally recognised, perhaps even by him, that we are his last place of refuge before being institutionalised.
Anyway, all the people involved agree that it would be a good idea - if the Local Govt. go along with it.
We have to cut down some trees, get the rooms habitable, put in a few windows and make it more than "robust" with furnishings - and with more than a few (robust) "rules".
A local church has offered us a small donation in recognition of the work we do and so we think we could use that for this project.
A local church has offered us a small donation in recognition of the work we do and so we think we could use that for this project.
Our Big News This Week
Ben's Graduation Ceremony...
Museum at Zwolle, where parked the car.
We had drinks and snacks at the University in Zwolle and then headed off to the Old City Centre to find a restaurant (what diet?). The centre is really quite beautiful with the old buildings and narrow streets. The restaurant we decided on is called Uno and is located in the old Post Office building.
Ben had a few friends along - we were 6 in total
Did I mention that the food was very good? (what diet?)
Ben had a couple of good years in Zwolle. He had really found his "place" in a student club called Caterva. They had their own clubrooms in the basement of an old Pub in the old city... (it's a wonder, really, that he passed his exams at all, let alone so well). He took us on a guided tour...
Around the farm...
The quest for firewood continues...
Janny has tried a few places - the price ranges from €45 to €65 per cubic metre.
Luckily we got this at the lower end - and delivered!
And the Bucket List Boat Trip...
Planning, planning and list making!
I had to laugh at myself...
Never been further south than the Aremberger Lock near Zwartsluis, in 2015
So, I was planning the last leg into Maastricht - upstream via the Maas River or the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. The canal looks like a far more picturesque option... I said to Janny, "I can't find it on our charts..."
Part of the canal goes through Belgium!
We would have to buy a vignet for that part. Not a problem. But I am having a problem with my boat registration - which I need to have at the border if I understand it correctly. The boat was nicely registered with the ANWB (RACV) by the sales agent. But when that lapsed, the ANWB had ceased doing boat registrations and would not give the details to the new Registry Office due to "Privacy Rules". I now need the original documents from the sales office - it would have been better if I had done it myself originally - but they were being so helpful!
So, some nice pictures here of the Zuid-Willemsvaart...
...but we may yet have to stick with the Maas - because the boat registration is not required in the Netherlands.
(We had a chat with the new Registry Office people at the Boat Show - they said that our boat might still be listed from the time it was a hire boat - we still have a brass plaque on board).
The first 200 km to Utrecht...
I found a nice plotting program online - but only to get it in my head and then we will rely totally on the up to date charts (duly purchased).
Great reading as usual Dad. Love the toilet block story. X
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