These Precious Days
Week 3
Up early for the cricket...fire going at 0500hrs
I listen to too many podcasts and read too many articles on Global Warming, the messy to the point of being sad America and lately a few on the changing face of Europe.One in particular..."Europa Draait Door"...(I surprised myself when I found that I could listen to the Dutch stuff and understand it!!)The first one was titled "Can America Still be Saved?"They are obviously for a Dutch audience. One listener wrote in to say that "she felt like hiding under the table" when she heard what is going on. They had a few Dutch correspondents giving the commentary from America.The second episode looked at the Ukraine situation asking the question "Are the tanks going to roll?".I like reading the comments by other people almost as much as the articles themselves.
Hence my observation of "These Precious Days". Indeed, they may well turn out to be...
But life goes on - around the farm...
COVID News
Replacing old lamps...I'm not sure what the thing attached to the two black wires actually does - but they are all starting to come apart (unravelling)...after 22 years (we had about 30 of these lamps placed during the Major Works of 1997-2000).We had already replaced some of them with LED lamps, but one of the apartments had an electrical "problem", which I narrowed down to these things...and so went looking at all the others. Most of them were in the same condition.I think they were over-heating as one of the covers was slightly blackened. So, we may have dodged a bullet.Janny found some replacement LED lamps on line (we were still in Lock-Down last week) and managed to get 7 - which we were allowed to go and collect from the counter at the shop.
It took us most of the day on Thursday to replace 5 of them. ( I often joke with Tjeerd that he never knows what sort of work we'll be doing when he shows up each day).
(We had to send one of our kids home yesterday because his Mum rang to say that someone in his class at school had tested positive.)
Reopening shops, higher education institutes and fitness centres will lead to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, possibly up to 80,000 a day, prime minister Mark Rutte told reporters on Friday evening.
Nevertheless, taking such a step is responsible, Rutte said, because of the impact of the current measures on society. ‘We are taking a risk because we have to do sport to stay healthy, because two in three youngsters are feeling lonely, and the lockdown is damaging our health as well,’ he said.
There was another Press Conference on Friday evening, this time with the new Health Minister (after the forming of a new Cabinet, which took more than 12 months).
Nevertheless, taking such a step is responsible, Rutte said, because of the impact of the current measures on society. ‘We are taking a risk because we have to do sport to stay healthy, because two in three youngsters are feeling lonely, and the lockdown is damaging our health as well,’ he said.
(Another report has stated that the number of suicides in young people has risen from average 20 per month to 30 per month over the Covid period). (The 20 per month in "normal" times is also pretty staggering).
Non-essential shops can reopen but must close at 5pm, but the cabinet has decided not to introduce an appointment system, which had been recommended by the Outbreak Management Team. Masks are compulsory in shops and there are limits on numbers.
Hairdressers, nail stylists and other contact professions can also start working again, as long as they shut up shop at 5pm. (I have booked my haircut already - October was the last!).
The maximum recommended size for groups outdoors is going up from two to four. At home, the advice is for people to have up to four adult guests per 24 hours.
Inflation, house prices
Various projections by Eurostat and CBS had already suggested that the Dutch inflation rate had reached record highs in November, but now the Dutch statistics office has confirmed what many already suspected.
According to figures published on Tuesday morning, the price of goods and services in the Netherlands rose by 5,2 percent between November 2020 and last month. In October of this year, the national inflation rate was reported to be 3,4 percent.
This marks the Netherlands’ highest level of inflation since September 1982, and also means that the national inflation rate in November was higher than the projected figure for the eurozone (4,9 percent).
Life in the Netherlands becoming increasingly expensive
There are, of course, a number of reasons for this sudden and sharp increase in prices. CBS notes that food - particularly coffee, fruit, and potatoes - and clothing have both become more expensive over the past year, with prices rising 1,1 percent and 5,2 percent respectively. The statistics office also highlights rising energy and fuel prices, revealing that gas prices increased by 53 percent and electricity prices by 74,9 percent between November 2020 and November 2021. (and another 30% on January 1, 2022).
Boat Stuff
ATIS (Automatic Transmitter Identification System) safely entered into the portable VHF radio - had to concentrate - one chance only to enter the 10 digit number correctly.
Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CentraalBureauStatistiek) confirm that in November, inflation in the Netherlands reached 5,2 percent, the highest level recorded since 1982. CBS attributes the increasing prices to the recent rise in the cost of energy.Dutch inflation rate reaches record highsVarious projections by Eurostat and CBS had already suggested that the Dutch inflation rate had reached record highs in November, but now the Dutch statistics office has confirmed what many already suspected.
According to figures published on Tuesday morning, the price of goods and services in the Netherlands rose by 5,2 percent between November 2020 and last month. In October of this year, the national inflation rate was reported to be 3,4 percent.
This marks the Netherlands’ highest level of inflation since September 1982, and also means that the national inflation rate in November was higher than the projected figure for the eurozone (4,9 percent).
Life in the Netherlands becoming increasingly expensive
There are, of course, a number of reasons for this sudden and sharp increase in prices. CBS notes that food - particularly coffee, fruit, and potatoes - and clothing have both become more expensive over the past year, with prices rising 1,1 percent and 5,2 percent respectively. The statistics office also highlights rising energy and fuel prices, revealing that gas prices increased by 53 percent and electricity prices by 74,9 percent between November 2020 and November 2021. (and another 30% on January 1, 2022).
Petrol also became significantly more expensive, with prices rising by 31,4 percent.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is also partially to blame; the availability of several services was (severely) impacted by the virus and ensuing restrictions around the world, and CBS also remarks that general spending habits were also greatly affected. These factors are expected to continue to affect inflation in December and next year, but experts hope the effects will only be temporary.
The rising inflation rate "has everything to do with a global shortage on the world market," says Peter Hein van Mulligen, chief economist at CBS. "Not only raw materials, but also container transport has risen in price. The effects of this are now being reflected in Dutch inflation."
ABN Amro (Bank) has published its projections for the Dutch housing market in 2022, predicting that house prices will rise by 12,5 percent in the new year.
House prices in the Netherlands have become significantly more expensive over the past two years, with 2021 breaking a number of records according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). While many looking to buy a house in the near future might hope that this trend will taper off in 2022, one prominent Dutch bank has some slightly less encouraging news.
In October 2021, ABN Amro predicted that house prices in the Netherlands would rise by 10 percent in 2022. Now, only one week into the new year, they have updated their projections, announcing in their latest housing market monitor that prices will rise by 12,5 percent in 2022 and by a further 5 percent in 2023. Unsurprisingly, experts predict that property prices in the four largest Dutch cities - Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague - will rise at an even faster rate.
These projections are slightly higher than those published by Rabobank last summer, when economists said prices would rise by 11,5 percent this year. According to figures from ABN Amro, housing in the Netherlands became 15 percent more expensive in 2021.
In addition to rising prices, ABN Amro said the number of sales that take place will fall further in 2022, after suffering a 5 percent drop in 2021, and that the relatively new trend of drastically overbidding on properties in order to secure a sale will continue into the new year as a result of the national housing shortage.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is also partially to blame; the availability of several services was (severely) impacted by the virus and ensuing restrictions around the world, and CBS also remarks that general spending habits were also greatly affected. These factors are expected to continue to affect inflation in December and next year, but experts hope the effects will only be temporary.
The rising inflation rate "has everything to do with a global shortage on the world market," says Peter Hein van Mulligen, chief economist at CBS. "Not only raw materials, but also container transport has risen in price. The effects of this are now being reflected in Dutch inflation."
House prices in the Netherlands to rise by 12,5 percent
ABN Amro (Bank) has published its projections for the Dutch housing market in 2022, predicting that house prices will rise by 12,5 percent in the new year.
House prices in the Netherlands have become significantly more expensive over the past two years, with 2021 breaking a number of records according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). While many looking to buy a house in the near future might hope that this trend will taper off in 2022, one prominent Dutch bank has some slightly less encouraging news.
In October 2021, ABN Amro predicted that house prices in the Netherlands would rise by 10 percent in 2022. Now, only one week into the new year, they have updated their projections, announcing in their latest housing market monitor that prices will rise by 12,5 percent in 2022 and by a further 5 percent in 2023. Unsurprisingly, experts predict that property prices in the four largest Dutch cities - Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague - will rise at an even faster rate.
These projections are slightly higher than those published by Rabobank last summer, when economists said prices would rise by 11,5 percent this year. According to figures from ABN Amro, housing in the Netherlands became 15 percent more expensive in 2021.
In addition to rising prices, ABN Amro said the number of sales that take place will fall further in 2022, after suffering a 5 percent drop in 2021, and that the relatively new trend of drastically overbidding on properties in order to secure a sale will continue into the new year as a result of the national housing shortage.
I'm still walking...
(and helping Janny with a diet - she's lost nearly 4 Covid Kilos so far...)
Boeke has become quite proficient at letting us know when he needs a walk - but sometimes it is just a "Swaggy's Breakfast"... it does me good to get out and about, so no complaints.
Only 6 weeks until the boat goes in the workshed for it's yearly paint job. BUT, due to the cost of gas, the heating has to be paid for - over and above the shed rental. The heating is really necessary for the drying of the filler and paint - I'll just have to manage it a bit more than usual.
A few weeks months ago (when the shops were open), I happened across some stainless steel tensioners - now fitted to the mast for the flags.
2nd door sanded and oiled with Owatrol
The radio is automatically set to channel 16, but channel 10 is used for the Inland Waterways - I'll have to see if I can change the start up setting.
Wow! Cost of living in the Netherlands is rising a lot! I hope the old folks can afford to keep warm. Good on Janny on the weight loss. Take care and stay healthy.
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