Week 29
From the TV News:
There was a diagram showing foundation poles under the house. When the groundwater level falls, the poles are no longer under water and begin to deteriorate... The pole weakens and the house subsides, resulting in cracks in the house...
It costs around €56k for new foundations, which most people don't have, of course. The Govt has set up a fund of €100m...People can apply if their house has been affected. Some local action groups have organised themselves to investigate ways to prevent the water level subsiding. eg pumping water in to supplement the groundwater.
Rainfall (shortage) in The Netherlands
1976 was the driest year. The lines represent the average of 13 measuring stations.
2018 seems to be heading along the same trajectory but I reckon it is going to rain - if only because I bought 2 new hoses just so I could reach my (very dry) vegie patch!
From the TV News (2)
Difficult for me to translate literally, but it seems like a culture problem. The new Chief has come from the Police and seems a no-nonsense chap - not from their "culture". He got the job because it was known that there were "problems" - "a new broom" was required. But there has been resistance... Including hate messages on Facebook and a fundraising effort to pay for someone to "drive over him". The mayor has stepped in to say that the death threats are unacceptable.
It seems that some of the firefighters are members of motorbike gangs, Hell's Angels, and Satudarah.
It will be interesting to see just how much support there is. Reminds me a bit (without the death threats) of my time in the NTFS. The culture and "he's not one of us" - a tough nut to crack. It surprised me to hear Janny make the same observation without any discussion with me. I would never have thought that she was even aware of it when we were there together! I have never forgotten the words from one of the wiser heads as he tried to explain to me "sometimes they just wake up and decide that it would be nicer to go fishing than go to work". HaHa - they were probably right!
Fire Chief in Amsterdam gets Death Threats
From within the ranks.Difficult for me to translate literally, but it seems like a culture problem. The new Chief has come from the Police and seems a no-nonsense chap - not from their "culture". He got the job because it was known that there were "problems" - "a new broom" was required. But there has been resistance... Including hate messages on Facebook and a fundraising effort to pay for someone to "drive over him". The mayor has stepped in to say that the death threats are unacceptable.
It seems that some of the firefighters are members of motorbike gangs, Hell's Angels, and Satudarah.
It will be interesting to see just how much support there is. Reminds me a bit (without the death threats) of my time in the NTFS. The culture and "he's not one of us" - a tough nut to crack. It surprised me to hear Janny make the same observation without any discussion with me. I would never have thought that she was even aware of it when we were there together! I have never forgotten the words from one of the wiser heads as he tried to explain to me "sometimes they just wake up and decide that it would be nicer to go fishing than go to work". HaHa - they were probably right!
Barry sent me a photo during the week - can't remember it or even guess how old I was!
Anneke has been watering her plants...
The Waspinator...
Every now and then we get wasp nests...which freaks the kids out...
Helter Skelter...
These are called "skelters". We have had several over the last 10 years - they are all getting a bit "tired" now, so we have decided to add to the fleet, buying 4 more.
It has made for a pleasant Sunday "out" as we go to pick them up. We've even managed to travel along a few canals and looked at a few boats!
Old photos...
Donation from the school...
An electronic school board, including the beamer and a junction box for computer connections.
It has been "written off" and so they asked if we could use it.
Should be good for wet, wintery days. (If I can figure out how to mount and install it)
Oh no! Cat Photos...
She (Tassie) discovered that she can climb trees...
Ben, modelling winter clothing...
He was stuck on an island somewhere, with typhoons and cancelled flights...but managed to get away on a lesser flight - after a few missteps...
Fire in our local Supermarket...
Ha, this was on Friday and on Saturday I received a notice saying that I had a postal package waiting for me at...the local supermarket! Janny managed to retrieve it - a large group of the local "youth" had volunteered to help clean the place up - more as an act of "solidarity" than necessity. Village life is like that - two of our nieces had work there.
Fire in our local Supermarket...
Ha, this was on Friday and on Saturday I received a notice saying that I had a postal package waiting for me at...the local supermarket! Janny managed to retrieve it - a large group of the local "youth" had volunteered to help clean the place up - more as an act of "solidarity" than necessity. Village life is like that - two of our nieces had work there.
Lots in this one!
ReplyDeleteSame with our new Chief. He’s from merseyside, Liverpool. With a previous history that not too many about happy with. I’ll wait to pass judgement.
Ironic that for hundreds of years they’ve been fighting to keep water out now you need some. Tough to pipe it to your veggie patch though.