Week 39 The Storm Rider
Ah, Sunday Morning again!
Spoke to Alexander for his 18th Birthday. My, my... 18 already!
De Stormruiter
We're heading off to see it this afternoon... a live theatrical production about the centuries-long battle against the water here in Friesland. It also involves (more than 100!) Frisian horses...somehow...
(more next week). Of course, I will probably struggle with understanding it all, but from my little preparation, I gather that at least some of it is about building the dikes.
We once visited an old church/museum at Hogebeintum (Friesland). Dating from the 11th century, it is built on "the highest terp in the Netherlands", ie., on a man-made mound above the level of the incoming waters. Periodically, the land would become flooded and the people would head to the high ground of the terp - with their cattle and chooks - a place of physical and presumably spiritual safety.
From Google Translate:
A dike that defies the centuries
The Storm Rider is a captivating story about ambition, willpower and the fight against nature. A performance that engulfs the senses with unique experiences.
Der Schimmelreiter, the book on which De Stormruiter is based, was published in 1888. But in 2018, the story about the battle against water is more current than ever.
Backgrounds
The battle of man against the water is as old as man himself. And although we Dutch are lord and master in the field of building dikes, building locks and other forms of water management, we are still facing major challenges. That makes De Stormruiter still a current story.
Capital of Water technology
Due to the warming of the earth, ice caps are melting and the sea water is rising. Regularly headlines about breaking ice floes or melted glaciers, and the threat that goes with it for humanity.
Fortunately, more and more companies and educational institutions are trying to do something against the threat of water. In Leeuwarden alone, numerous sustainable innovations are emerging. For example at the Wetsus institute, the leading knowledge center for water technology in Europe. It is not for nothing that Leeuwarden has been known for years as Capital of Water Technology.
Important role
Faderpaard Foundation, however, also wants to contribute. First of all, by organizing De Stormruiter, which emphasizes, among other things, the importance of dikes. The performance also shows the special role of horses in building dikes and in landscape development. But also what we owe to people who built dikes under the most severe conditions. Something to take the hat off.
Floor
In addition, there are events around De Stormruiter that provide a scientific floor on the subject of climate change. These events take place at various times in various locations in Friesland.
The foundation wants to make all people, tourists, but also the inhabitants of Friesland aware of global warming, sustainable developments and the importance of water management.
For my boating thoughts...
A ship crashed into a swinging bridge in Groningen this week...
A nearby house captured the actual event on it's security camera.
Around the farm...
About 0730hrs. (I have to get up earlier these days to light the fire - chimney right of pic)
Getting strangely excited about the new roof. I've been wondering about just why that would be. I think it might be a combination of things: further progress and dealing with the problem. Even the Bank representative said that they are noticing that prospective buyers "want to take €300,000 off the asking price, even though the cost will only be €100,000". Insurance companies are also increasing their premiums as they expect more claims through people having fires as a way out, for example.
The roofing contractor has ordered the roofing and was here again during the week to measure up (again - measure twice, cut once!). I suspect that it is a very lucrative business at the moment, as evidenced by the huge BMW he was driving!. But...I was worried as he was moving the ladder around and flying over the roof... I couldn't help myself! I just had to move in and "foot the ladder". His lucrative business would mean nothing if his ladder slipped...oh well, old habits die hard, I guess. Even a more substantial ladder would be better in his line of work.
Taking the spouting off: (just after we got it all working again!)
Basic Plumbing 101
Small electric boiler
and it works!! (as does the drainage)!
I have to find and dig up the water supply - so that I can put a tap on it. Normally I just close everything off for the winter, but I have to keep water on to the Summer House - ha!, hadn't thought of that in the middle of our hot summer. I've started digging and am surprised to discover that it is more difficult to dig than the last time - about 10 years ago!
The Pumpkin Report
In fact, so many shops have them now, that I may well call it quits! I only started growing them because they were so difficult to come by. I'm sure I saw a Queensland Blue on display at the Jumbo Supermarket in Gorredijk - but only for decoration!
Had to fix both of these on Saturday morning!
Oil leak on one, broken belt on the other...
One of the footballers on my team...😥
Tuesday for Ben??? I thought it was the 11th??
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