Week 27 Preparations
Getting ready for the trip to Rotterdam
This has been planned for quite a while, having been put off for a couple of years due to Covid.
It was Frank's idea from the start as he has been to previous stagings of the World Police and Fire Games in other countries.
Frank is still in good condition and is even trying for a medal in the "Nearly 80" age group - for rowing - they connect two rowing machines together to measure time and distance.
I'll be happy just to get the boat there in one piece! (without rowing). Son Paul is also coming to sleep on board for the Games and then travel with me back to Heerenveen. Son Ben will also be meeting us in Rotterdam.
I have a great website (vaarroute.online) where I can get lots of information like this:
This will be the 6.5 hour trip through one of the polders (reclaimed land) - Ketelhaven to Almere Haven - Day 3, all being well. It's a 5 metre drop in the lock at Ketelhaven. (and 5 metres back up at Almere Haven)
- for Day 1 & 2 Heerenveen, Blokzijl, Ketelhaven.
Netherlands gas companies have arranged to buy more LNG - hoping to get off Russian gas by the end of the year.
Gasunie subsidiary Eems-Energy Terminal has come to an agreement with two energy groups to deliver liquified natural gas (LNG) to the Netherlands, limiting Dutch dependence on Russian gas. Once converted, the amound of LNG Gasunie is buying from Czech group CEZ a.s. and Anglo Dutch Shell Western LNG Ltd, should create a total of seven billion cubic metres of ‘normal’ gas, which will then be pumped into the gas network. The liquified gas, which is frozen at a temperature of minus 160 degrees, takes up less space than the gas from, for example, the Groningen field. It will be stored in two floating terminals in the Groningen port of Eemshaven, The two terminals have a joint capacity of eight billion cubic metres. Gasunie has said a deal to cover the remaining one billion could be on the cards soon. At the same time, capacity at existing LNG installations at the Rotterdam port and industrial area Maasvlakte will be increased, taking the total capacity of lpg imports to 24 billion cubic metres, or twice the current capacity. The Dutch annual consumption of natural gas is some 40 million cubic metres – a part of which has now been secured. ‘The Gasunie’s tireless efforts have meant we have been able to double the import capacity of lng before the year is over. With the acceleration of the sustainable energy programme and filling up our gas storage terminals, this move is crucial to becoming less dependant on Russian gas as quickly as possible,’ energy minister Rob Jetten said in a reaction. The Dutch government wants to end the Netherlands’ reliance on Russian gas by the end of the year, replacing the supply by saving energy, better energy efficiency and imports from other countries.
Firewood
Bits and pieces....
I'm not sure why anyone would bother - there's no ransom asked for - just a pain in the backside to get it fixed. I'm decidedly not happy with our provider - the filles were hacked on their server and yet we would have to pay them €120,00 to clean it up.
Gasunie subsidiary Eems-Energy Terminal has come to an agreement with two energy groups to deliver liquified natural gas (LNG) to the Netherlands, limiting Dutch dependence on Russian gas. Once converted, the amound of LNG Gasunie is buying from Czech group CEZ a.s. and Anglo Dutch Shell Western LNG Ltd, should create a total of seven billion cubic metres of ‘normal’ gas, which will then be pumped into the gas network. The liquified gas, which is frozen at a temperature of minus 160 degrees, takes up less space than the gas from, for example, the Groningen field. It will be stored in two floating terminals in the Groningen port of Eemshaven, The two terminals have a joint capacity of eight billion cubic metres. Gasunie has said a deal to cover the remaining one billion could be on the cards soon. At the same time, capacity at existing LNG installations at the Rotterdam port and industrial area Maasvlakte will be increased, taking the total capacity of lpg imports to 24 billion cubic metres, or twice the current capacity. The Dutch annual consumption of natural gas is some 40 million cubic metres – a part of which has now been secured. ‘The Gasunie’s tireless efforts have meant we have been able to double the import capacity of lng before the year is over. With the acceleration of the sustainable energy programme and filling up our gas storage terminals, this move is crucial to becoming less dependant on Russian gas as quickly as possible,’ energy minister Rob Jetten said in a reaction. The Dutch government wants to end the Netherlands’ reliance on Russian gas by the end of the year, replacing the supply by saving energy, better energy efficiency and imports from other countries.
Firewood
And our firewood storage is FULL again.
We'll still be very much reliant on whatever gas we can get - and we'll be paying through the nose for it!. We are already, as they simply put the price up at so much per month whether it is summer or winter. It's a lottery at the end of the year - when we find out if we have to pay them more or they have to pay some back. (This depends on severity of the winter months - and also the smaller measures that we can all take - shorter showers, a couple of degrees lower on the thermostat).
In the meantime it sucks the bank account dry...
We've also made some more room for firewood in the hayshed - should be delivered this week
Bits and pieces....
The farmers have been protesting as they think they are being singled out for having to reduce the nitrogen levels in the whole country. It reminds me a bit of the fishing crisis of quite a few years ago - they were all seemingly happy just to keep fishing until there were no fish left. Eventually, there was some sort of agreement that quotas had to be set and that there should be fewer fishing vessels - just so long as the "other bloke has to stop and not me".
The farmers' catchcry is "no farmers. no food". But, of course, it is more about the money than the food - one interesting fact came up - the Netherlands is the No. 1 exporter of meat in Europe and the No. 2 exporter of food in the WORLD (after the USA). So, the Netherlands would be able to feed itself quite easily, if it was only about the food.
So, I guess I'm not that sympathetic - purely on the grounds that "something has to be done" - just like Global Warming and energy. Good heavens, there were even shots fired at one of the protests...here in the Netherlands!
There are obviously far more sophisticated views (than mine) on both sides - but again, it seems painfully obvious that something has to be done.
Painting
We did some painting during the week and some mowing and other cleaning up. I've been trying to get a few things off my list before I walk off the course...all things that my intrepid helper can keep up with while I'm away...
This is Janny's Mum's apartment - it turns out that the excellent white finish was just undercoat! So it was certainly due for the standard "Antique White" treatment of De Twa Buken. I just hadn't thought about it over the last 6 years!
Clients
We (Janny) finally negotiated a new contract for Lucas - after 14 years - the old contract was done with his mother - who is now sadly in care with dementia - so the sister is now arranging the new one.
Janny has been working on it for over a year - I mention it now because it threw up an interesting word "terugwerkendekracht" literally "back working power" or simply "backdated".
(They like to make long words!).
We also had a new chap start in our dagbesteding (sheltered workshop? - there must be a better translation), His name is SAKE - pronounced Sarkeh - a good ole Frisian name.
Website hacked
I have to dig up my FTP program and see if I can get into the server - I haven't got a clue what the passwords will be - it all seemed to be so much easier when I set it up....
I probably can't fix it before I go away - so I think a new provider will be my next step (one that has a TELEPHONE help line).
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