In Local News
Sunday Shopping
For years now I have wondered over the religious overtones of Sunday shopping. Janny's parents are fairly religious (and really "good" people, I hasten to add) but I have never understood their opposition to Sunday shopping. Over the years it narrowed down to mainly the local government area of Drachten, at least in our area.
Last week the council met to vote on Sunday shopping; one of the political parties threw in a proposal to remove ALL restrictions and so they voted "yes" to a regime that has more freedom than even Amsterdam or Rotterdam. It was reported that the some of the councillors left shaking their heads with the thought "what did we just vote on"?!.
"The Wild West", "we have reached the deepest point", were some of the comments.
And now, how to put it into action...
...and I only had time to read the paper on ONE day - need to get back into my old routine...
News from Felder's Boskje...
Not many boats coming into the Turf Route - at least, not many stopping at Felder's Boskje.
The big white boat had a Swiss flag.
I've been sleeping and eating on board now and then, just to get in the mood! I suppose I don't have to try too hard to imagine that I could be "anywhere"...
Meanwhile, back at the farm... (7km from Felder's Boskje).
We've been making window and door frames for the "Summer House". One of our clients used to be a "furniture maker" and has some interesting old machinery that we are slowly getting back in order. He hasn't used a lot of it for about 10 years - it is also heartening to see him getting himself "back in order" with his obvious enthusiasm and know-how.
Asbestos
We've all but committed to the quote for asbestos removal AND a new roof.
I was really stressing out at the thought of removing the internal ceilings (AC sheets, we think). We have a new tenant arriving in August - a woman with two kids - and so I had to get it all done in a hurry - asbestos out and a new ceiling in - Janny's Dad and I did the WHOLE of the plastering out the back - but that was more than 20 years ago!
Anyway, we discovered that the Government compulsory removal edict doesn't apply to the "internal" asbestos. (Not sure why). It does have to be registered so that they will know if we have removed it ourselves - at some later date. I think that they are also scared that people will dump it rather than declare it.
The Insurance companies are also scared that there will be an increase in fires - so insurance premiums have sky-rocketed for buildings with asbestos. (We've been paying increased premiums for more than 20 years, in any case - they are just putting them up even higher).
It did occur to me as I was planning the removal of the internal sheets - that it is probably "safer" to just leave the stuff alone - it's all painted and sealed, after all.
Suffice to say that I am mightily relieved to not have to do that job - we can save up and get it done properly when the apartment is empty again.
Solar Panels
The Bank suggested that we have a look at Solar Panels while we are at it - they also have a subsidy at the moment.
(I've been waiting for 4 years for our Local Action Group to get something organised...Janny is reluctant to go outside them, but now might be the time).
The Privacy Law
In another act of madness, we have to "get rid" of our locked filing cabinet in the office out the back - where we keep our Client Dossiers - and put it all online on a "secure" website - yeah right.
We're not allowed to have "anything on paper" about our clients, it seems.
We'll see how that works out - I wouldn't be surprised if these Privacy advocates all have Facebook and/or Twitter accounts...
The Boat Beckons...
Actually, it reminds me of the fire detection system that we had to install about 10 years ago. After a spate of fires, it was decided that places "like ours" just had to have smoke detectors and be connected to an alarm monitoring company (and the Fire Service). They took no notice whatsoever of the fire separation that I had knowingly provided - yes, that still rankles.
The end result was that they were getting so many false alarms that they started to rethink the idea. So, it is no longer compulsory for us - so we have disconnected from the monitoring service and the Fire Service. The expensive maintenance contract is also no longer required... I still like the idea, so we keep it going for our own use.
The point being, that I wonder if the Privacy Laws will also eventually settle down to some more Common Sense practicalities. Meanwhile, we have to pay to connect to the "secure" system and be properly registered, etc., etc.
This stuff is much more fun!
Well, maybe not this one - but I do have my audio books...
after...
before...
Ben in China
He's been doing lots of work - and play.
Last week, he had a full day modelling bathrobes! (oh well, someone's gotta do it...)
On Saturday night he had a free ticket to go and see a live show - in a 5-story mansion where the audience had to "follow" the various actors through the different rooms and storylines. He said they actually performed the whole thing 3 times so that the audience could follow a different set of actors each time. He was "locked up" a couple of times and had to interact with the actors.
He loved it - "different", he said.
On Sunday (today), he had a 7-hour train ride to his next job (starting on Monday).
Up North... (out West from Shanghai)
Jingzhou Railway Station - and then another 90 minutes in a taxi to his hotel!