Week 41 Waiting times
Waiting times
Waiting times, indeed. (read Trying Times)
It occurred to me that we would need at least one other quote for any heating solutions we might come up with - so I rang the company that did our first major installation back in 1997. It was in the Guldens time - ie before Euros and it cost well over 100,000 of them! But it has stood the test of time, so no worries there.
So, it was no surprise that they said we'd like to help you but the delivery time on heat pumps is at least 1 year and anything else related to the current situation - solar panels, insulation, airconditioners, is also not going to happen anytime soon. The telephone person said she'd put my request on the stack...
This reminded me of early days of funding in our field (of Care).
In "Oh God What Now" this week (British Politics) there was mention of the British Government proposal for Nursery/Child Care funding to be given directly to the parents instead of the facilities...
When we first started the money was supplied federally and distributed by a so-called Social Banking system. Looking back on it, I can see that it did work, albeit in a complicated way.
A couple of years in, some bright spark came up with the notion of "these people have rights" and rightfully the money should go directly to them and they can "manage their own money". No strings or safeguards attached. No questions asked about their ability to manage money, for example. (Bearing in mind that more than just a few were from a low socio-economic background).
We had many more kids back then. Two in one family had an obviously alcoholic mother and our role in "the system" was to provide care on weekends and for extended holidays.
After one long holiday period there was a sizeable bill to be paid but they had done a runner (or "disappeared into the Northern Sun" as they say here). We had more kids from the same neighbourhood and later learned that the family had bought a camper van (with our money!).
They later set up shop somewhere else (with all the benefits of their particular circumstances). We followed up with a legal enquiry - but their only money was in benefits received to live on for this month - none left over for previous issues.
"Flogging a dead horse" comes to mind.
My story is purely anecdotal of course. (That is to say that a more informed view might tell a different story about giving the money directly to the families).
The point being...
The commentator on the (British) Podcast hit the nail on the head particularly in these troubled times - "if a Mother has to decide over food for her kids OR pay the Child Care facility - the answer is obvious". Also with obvious consequences for the demise of the facilities AND the loss of the development afforded to the children.
(I mentioned the proposal to Janny - she picked up on the problem straight away - as I had with our own experience).
The system here changed dramatically from being federally funded and administered to being a Local Government responsibilty - still with federal funding and "systems" that are the same across the nation. (So, we get paid via agencies - sometimes I worry about these as well - skimming off the top rather than actually providing the care - but that is another issue).
When we started, I used to make the bills each month and send them by post! Totally unimaginable when compared with the computerised (with privacy and security protocols) way we do it now. I still do a handful using email and there is only one that goes directly to the family - they refuse to make the switch to the computerised system.
Tackling the firewood...
We had a couple of dry days this week (only 2 😎😎).
We're trying hard not to use the gas central heating...and making a sport of having a 2 minute shower!
( I now have an alarm set to check the BIG GAS METER at 0900hrs every Sunday morning - We can check the useage for the business by substracting the apartment meters - to date, we are all using much less gas - helped by mild weather at the moment. The gas supplier advises that our pre-payments "probably" won't be enough to cover the actual cost.)
This is for more than 20 years - close to €1,000,000 at today's prices!!
Electric chainsaw - still needs sharpening!
The Cooking Club
Have started again for the winter months. Our deal is that they provide us a meal in exchange for using the big kitchen. It started off as a joke on my part - as I was interested to know what they were cooking - and then they discovered that they also enjoy having an appreciative audience for their efforts. Win-Win. They make an extra plate for Janny's Mum as well.
It was the usual 4-course meal this week.
The main was a sweet potato lasagne...ie sweet potato slices instead of lasagne sheets.
This weekend
We have 7 kids this weekend. The weather is pretty bad - ie WET, so they have been doing bowling tournaments on the Wii and I finally got to try out some two component varnish.
I first stained the wood an unlikely walnut colour - which turned out better than I thought it would. This, after my spectacularly unsuccessful oiling efforts.
I'm getting some work done on the motor, so I have to wait to take the doors off - but they will be getting the same treatment.
I also found an old map/route Heerenveen to Maastricht...
348kms - 43 hours travelling time (probably a lot longer at my pace)
The last leg would more than likely be a bit different - using the Zuid-Willemsvaart instead of going through Roermond.
This, on the way to France... (haha, the planning is good for the winter arm-chair sailing...)
Facts about the Zuid-Willemsvaart
- When it was built (1822-1826), the canal was still called Willemsvaart. When a Drentse Willemsvaart was added a few years later, 'Zuid-' was added.
- The canal owes its name to King Willem I, who decided in 1822 to dig a connecting canal between Maastricht and 's-Hertogenbosch.
- The Maxwell Taylor Bridge is located across the Zuid-Willemsvaart in Veghel.
The Rijkswaterstaat has lots of good information (also in English)about the canals and waterways - including works in progress.
Andrew and Terry's boat (now Ron and Annette's boat) is named Houtrib (presumably/possibly after this region).
Ben in Bangkok
One of his freelance employer's is The Student Hotel - they had a grand announcement during the week that they are now to be known as The Social Hub.
A lot of Ben's recent work has been in preparation for this change.
They extended his contract even though they knew he was working from Bangkok!
He hopes they will keep it going, of course!.
He also said it felt COLD for the first time since he has been there...
yeah, right...
I normally go for my Sunday walk after doing this - but today I'm a bit late - I walked first - and listened to my normal Sunday fare of the Al Frankin Podcast. This week, he interviewed the author of a book which proposes that the divide in America (culture, politics, wealth, etc., etc., the list does go on...) is actually about the divide in education as much as anything else.
Informative, including the transformative G.I. Bill and changes since then. Explains quite a lot...almost as instructive as the filling up of public swimming pools rather than having to share it with "them".
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