Week 41

Fibre Optics/Fast Internet

(From our Local Govt. Area website)

Fast internet in the outer areas, it is finally going to happen!

For almost 2400 addresses in the outskirts of the municipality of Opsterland, the arrival of fiber optics is very close. After Achtkarspelen and Tytsjerksteradiel, Kabelnoord will soon also start bundling demand for fiber in the municipality of Opsterland.

Those involved in the outskirts of Opsterland have received more information about the glass fiber project and can sign up for a fiber optic subscription. When 60% of those involved sign up for a fiber optic subscription, the installation of fiber optic can start.

A relatively small company (Kabelnoord) in the Telecom/TV/Internet services have come up with a proposal to provide the infrastructure (glass fibre cables) coupled with a 1-year contract as Service Providers.

They are going through Friesland, Gemeente, by Gemeente (municipality is a good translation - Local Govt. Area) with Information Evenings for "buitengebied" areas - outer, or relatively poorly served areas (like ours). Remember that Friesland has more than 400 "villages", so it is a large proportion of the Province.

The aim at this stage is to get 60% registration of people (houses) who qualify as "Buitengebied". Each village has a name board at the start and finish of it's "built-up area", so "buitengebied" refers to any house outside that area. For example, we are almost exactly halfway between Bakkeveen and Wijnjewoude, which both have their own telephone exchange. Therefore we are "at the end of the copper wire" in either direction. We struggle to get 6mb/sec compared with average 30mb for people closer to the exchanges. (Our new speed would be over 100mb up AND down - at the cheapest rate on offer).

Surprisingly, (or maybe not!!??) some people are undecided as to whether or not this is a good thing!

So, many of the local communities have nominated "Ambassadors" to be available to help explain the system and it's benefits to the "others". Janny (of course) is one of the ambassadors.

One of our neighbours is in her 90's and doesn't have a computer - but even she recognises that the "deal" is attached to the "house" and therefore it has added value if she wants to sell it.

There is a €1800 line rental fee - payable one-time only or it can be repaid at €15,00 per month over 30 years.

One interesting observation came from the meeting I attended. That was the City of Leeuwarden. They decided to "just do it" on their own. This was probably on the back of them being Europe's Cultural Capital for 2018. BUT, it turns out that the expected number of users hasn't (yet) eventuated and therefore the City is out of pocket financially.

It is for this reason that the cable company is requiring 60% participation in advance - in order to make it financially viable.

Asbestos Removal (starts Monday 15th)

Not before time that it is coming off - it starts to turn white and becomes porous - I've replaced quite a few sheets over the years...

Two of our tenants are moving out for the week - one is going to a B&B run by a woman who used to work for us. We made our tenant promise to come back because the B&B is so nice. She assured us that she would because she "just loves being here". It's been more than a year now - and Anneke is up to 7 or 8. It is comforting to have such good tenants (and friends).

This is a "verreiker" - one of those beaut Dutch words - simply a "far reacher".

And the Summer House is ready for our self-styled bush-dweller. We kept it basic but we realise that we still have to set some rules about cleanliness and personal hygiene. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves just why they are clients...

And the good weather continues...

We started off the spring with record temperatures in April (the Voyage of Jacoba) - a record-setting summer - and now records in October - it was 25 C yesterday! We hope it lasts for another 2 weeks until we get the new roof on!

Even so, we had to "freeze-proof" the water pipes into the Summer House...

Solar Panels

Finally some light on the Solar Panel discussion.

Wijnjewoude has an organisation called Wijnjewoude Energy Neutral (WEN) whose goal is to provide electricity to Wijnjewoude.

We had a visit from one of the main representatives - she explained it all to Janny and both parties seem enthusiastic. I remain to be convinced because one of the key elements is a 15-year wait for a return on investment - something I am not likely to achieve!

I probably am convinced due to the increased value of the property - but there is such a thing as over-capitalisation. I guess it becomes a "plus" for the sale - just like the asbestos removal.

Anyway, the proposal from WEN is that we would pay NOTHING for them to provide an installation on our (new) roof. We would receive a token payment each year and after 15 years all the electricity produced would be ours. In the meantime, all the electricity goes to the village and WEN remain responsible for maintenance and other costs.

We can also pay extra for our own panels at the same time (reducing installation costs) and so derive immediate benefit (reduced electricity bills) if we so wish. This part does appeal to me as we are a fairly big user with 5 households AND the business.

So, while we are in the mood for it ( and the Bank is willing) we will probably go ALL IN.

(Janny also mentioned that we would not be averse to having a solar panel field at the back - the WEN representative took that idea away with her). There might be a reason that I planted all those trees - it would not be an eyesore to the neighbours - and there would be less mowing!!).

From The Newspaper

(I thought this photo had been photoshopped to make the point - but it was an actual photo from 1995 - when there were floods after a dike failed).

"The Netherlands has to take extreme measures to prevent the country being inundated"

The sea levels are apparently rising faster than expected - the warning from the World Climate Panel (IPCC).

"The dikes are high enough until 2050", says one Dutch expert in his yearly presentation from the Delta Program...

But what happens after that?

Another Research Institute, Deltares, says that the sea level rise might be more extreme... but whether it is 1, 2, or 3 metres, the more important question is WHEN?

On a more practical note, one issue to contend with is the amount of sand required to strengthen the dikes. Currently, 12 million cubic metres of sand is used every year, but it is likely that 20 times this amount will be required by the year 2100.

The sand is currently extracted from the North Sea, but this source will probably not be enough to meet future needs.

As part of the massive Delta Works program, there are openable sections of the protective barrier. If these have to be closed more often than expected, it may result in deterioration and/or malfunction. It may even be required to close them permanently, in which case alternatives will need to be found.