An Epiphany (or two)

Week 46

A bit "out there" this week, but I'll stick with it...

Sunday Morning (today)

Out with Boeke at 0700hrs - still dark! Lit the fire for the kids, brought Janny a cup of coffee - and filled the kids' shoes...

My Supervisor...

Sinta Klaas is a Dutch thing on 5 December (they also do the Kerstman at normal Christmas) - a nice double dip for the kids.

In the lead up to Sinta Klaas, they're allowed to put their shoes in front of the fire IF they sing a song...the shoes get filled with a small gift overnight... Henk reckons he's too old for it now, so there is one missing. He is now over 18 but the family asked if he could keep coming as he loves it so much.

Baby "Ellen".

Our niece (and employee) Lotte had a baby girl. Now, I reckon Lotte must have thought about this for quite a while. Her maiden name is Langhout, so her initials are L.L. - In Dutch the letter is pronounced the same - ELL - but the plural is made by adding "en" - thus ELLEN.

We have a friend Ellen in Melbourne - haven't heard from her in quite a while - but somebody tried to pretend it was her on Janny's Facebook a couple of weeks ago- did the whole story and was about to ask for money - when I told Janny to block it.

While I'm on names - Richard is spelt the same but pronounced Rishard - (Chips are pronounced ships)

We visited a double glazing showroom/factory in Heerenveen on Friday - plastic frames (reinforced with steel) and Double Glass rating HR ++. I asked the chap if it is as popular world-wide? He said he didn't think so - yet. The Netherlands and Germany are leading the way.

...and the chap's name was Wichard - pronounced Wishard - he said "like Richard but for the millionth time with a W" - meaning that he has to explain it just about every time. Never seen or heard of it before.

We looked at several options and were given a tour of the factory.

We have an appointment for a quote next week but cannot expect delivery "before June of next year". I said to Janny that "I'll still be in Paris with the boat - she said that's OK, I'll get it done before you get back" - haha, if only...

Our village is going to pay €2000,00 towards the cost of them and there are government subsidies for just about everything to do with energy. We have double glazing already but the glass "system" is more than 35 years old - much improved in that time. There is also "triple" glazing but the chap explained that studies have proved that the ++ rating is actually better.

"Choices can sometimes get taken away from you. And made to seem as though you’ve made the choice".

I cheated this week by starting to write a bit early...I read the above on (last) Sunday and as usual, I copied it to Google Keep...and it has played on my mind ever since.

And then I had to really think whether I would actually write anything about it...It struck me that it is exactly what happened to me - nearly half a lifetime ago. I did hear that "they" said "oh, it was Ken's choice" - the cowards way of avoiding responsibility for a morally bankrupt decision - to cut the working lives of what were, after all, fellow workmates at some level and even closer at another. A total lack of shame. I used to think of it as choosing to be shot rather than hung - and there the element of truth that it was my decision.

The quote above has a great deal more resonance with me.

But, epiphany? I was walking in the forest with Boeke and it hit me - all the wonderful things that have happened to me since - I should definitly be more grateful than hurt.

And that begs the question "Can an epiphany occur more than once?". As I'm sure I have realised many times before just how lucky I am that things turned out the way they did - it was probably thinking about the quote - that made me consider it all over again.

The 2nd epiphany?

There I was. Sitting on the couch. “Boeke. Let’s go, mate!.” He wags his tail, the little hairy monster, and did what he does whenever we’re about to go for a walk. He goes down on his stomach and rolls over. I complain. Boeke, come on, I can’t get the collar on like that! Dad! Ha-ha! That’s the point.

In my life, the dogs have been Toby, Punch, Boomer, Ozzie, Zoey and now Boeke. Particularly with the latter three, my life has been indescribably richer through having them as friends. They know a bit about human fallibility, duty, care, truth, friendship, love.

On Monday, Tjeerd and I went to the local cemetary and tidied up Janny's Dad's grave.

On Tuesday, we did the finishing touches to the "bespoke" Chicken Run...

Two hatches that Rennie can operate from outside. (Keeps the Beech Martens out - speaking of which, the Martens are "protected" in most municipalities - which is why we caught them and took them 20kms away (not allowed either, I think). In some areas, they are allowed to be killed and studies show that the survival rate of (the eggs) of the birds has improved dramatically).

Food and water....

A hinged perch that can be lifted out of the way for cleaning...

On Wednesday - bookkeeping and varnishing - again, I mixed too much!

(I had to dry the doors in the warmth).

Yep, have to do the inside of the doors as well...only one layer of woodstain so that they remain a bit lighter in colour...

On Thursday, the weather turned bad or at least back to "normal" for this time of the year. I finally finished my October bookkeeping.

We couldn't work outside, so Tjeerd made a Sinta Klaas display (for 5 December) and I had more time for indoor "work".

The Cost of Living

(From Dutch News.nl)

A woman doing her shopping in Amsterdam...

By the time I get to Chris Kip in the Albert Cuyp Market, I’m shaky. I have noticed that my whole chickens have gone from €8 per pullet to €13 in a very short time. The picture for owner Babak Sadeghi is even grimmer. He’s in the midst of a perfect inflationary storm. ‘Prices have risen 200% in the past three months and they’re still rising.

More preparation for the boat trip to Paris

More often than not I click on the "translate to English" button...

This link discusses the history of steam shipping from Maastricht to Liege (Luik)...(our first Belgian leg).

https://mestreechtersteerke.nl/kanaal-bonhomme-sedlitz.htm

with some historical photos.

This is also Maastricht to Liege (A Dutch travel blog)

"Day 10"

Distance: 28.8 km
Engine/ Sailing hours: 3.8
Wind force: ZW2 , temp. : 25 degrees
Locks today: 2
Total locks: 16
Harbor dues: €12.50 incl. Water, electricity and showers.
Facilities in the area: close to the city and reasonably close to a supermarket.

Day 11 to Huy

Distance: 34.2 km
Engine hours: 4.4
Number of locks: 2
Total number of locks: 18
Average number of kms/hour: 7.5
Wind: Z3, temp. 24 degrees
Havengeld: €12,- incl. Water, electricity and showers. The harbor has a restaurant with a view of the Maas and marina.

https://noardersinne.reislogger.nl/varen-maas-wateren/dag-10-maastricht.257174

I read this in an article that was asking the question " why doesn't Dutch television produce more watersport programs?"

(Google Translate)

Still, many times I prefer to see a documentary like Untold, The Race of The Century. . A reconstruction of one of the most legendary races in The America's Cup. The trophy, which was owned by the New York Yacht Club of the United States from 1857 to 1983 (132 years), then passed to Australia's Royal Perth Yacht Club. It marked the end of the longest winning streak in any sport. And everything that makes sailing exciting is covered in this documentary. There is even a Dutch touch to it. The technical ingenuity of the Australian boat seems to have been invented by the Dutch. Strictly forbidden, because you can't let other countries help you in The America's Cup.

I turned to Janny and said "I can still remember where I was at the exact moment that Australia won". Coming down the off-ramp of the Burnley Street Bridge, on my way to the Fire Protection Department.

Discharge ban - Toilets on boats

(Google Translate)

Since 2009, there has been a ban on the discharge of toilet water on pleasure craft. Because the drain is under water, this prohibition cannot be enforced. The law has since been amended several times. For example, only urine may be discharged and faeces may be discharged if they have passed through a treatment plant. Unfortunately, these purification plants are not yet on the market in the Netherlands. In 2019, the House of Representatives passed a motion requiring boat owners to seal the drain from the toilet to surface water.

Enforcement will lie with Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards. Enforcers may come on board to carry out their duties without the permission of the skipper.
The decision will not enter into force before 2026.

Kids again this weekend../

Very cold - they had said that there was a chance of snow,,,