Week 36 Back to Normal
Week 36
We just slotted back into working with the clients - 17 years now with 3 of them. Ankie is on holidays for another week so Janny has to do the main work, with me relieving occasionally.
Happily, it still doesn't feel like "work". We had some delightful time on the boat this year, but Winter seems to be coming in a rush as we had the chimney sweep in last week and the first log fire for the clients "just to get the chill off" in the morning.
Red sky in the morning...
On Monday, Tjeerd and I did a bit more fencing...might take another month at this rate. Rudy came to help and took a couple of photos. Unfortunately, he can't do much anymore, but he has a wealth of knowledge that he can pass on to Tjeerd - welding, plumbing, electrical, furniture making, door and window framing, (old) car repairs - good practical instincts about just about everything! And Tjeerd is a keen learner - so it is a good combination and they get on well together.
At this time of the year, it is always pot luck if I can do any mowing - late in the day if it has stayed rain free. So, I got some mowing done on Monday afternoon and again on Saturday - between showers/downpours. It does seem as though the mowing season has become longer...locals say that the grass stops growing at around 7 degrees C - So if it stays warmer than that...and wet...then I have to take my chances.
On Tuesday, Tjeerd and I had to look at the sewage pump again...luckily, it was just a snagged float ... we took the opportunity to put a "handle" on the way too heavy concrete cover...
...and then it rained (poured) from 1100hrs until 1900hrs!
So we set up some painting in the garage...
This is an old gate that we had to remove from the original driveway when we built Janny's parents new house/apartment (2016). We're going to put it in with the new fencing. It was definitely worth the effort to save it - durable oak! The post holes have to be a bit deeper :-(
On Thursday afternoon we did a bit more fencing -
On Friday evening we went to our Local Neighbourhood Watch annual dinner...at the house of new residents Jakob and Klaaske. They bought the very grand house of two retired doctors...(€1.4m), just down the road from us.
This is an old Street View photo - the driveway trees are now much taller
Jakob and Klaaske had been farming somewhere else in Friesland and were "bought out" by the government because the water levels have been raised (I think to do with environmental concerns) - their kids didn't want to continue farming, so they accepted the very generous government offer. (It may also well have been to do with the much-publicised nitrogen concerns - which also had governmental buyouts on offer - this had far-reaching political consequences in the last election).
Janny and I went for a walk on Saturday - without Boeke - a new walking regime for Janny now that the outdoor swimming pool is closed!
The asphalt cycling path has been replaced...
...and they are busy with new works in the heath opposite our place...
The Duurswouderheide is a diverse nature reserve with forests, dry and wet heathland, fens, and grasslands. This area is one of the largest heathlands in Friesland and has a rich history. However, the natural value of the Duurswouderheide is rapidly declining. The soil is becoming acidic and drying out. Soil life is suffocating, and as a result, we are losing the diversity of plants and animals. It is necessary to slow further decline in biodiversity and, where possible, restore nature. In the coming period, Staatsbosbeheer (State Forestry Service) will be working in the area with measures aimed at revitalizing the heathland. Buckwheat fields. At several designated locations, strips of heathland will be shallow-cultivated and limed. Buckwheat fields will be established here. In the coming years, these fields will be managed with crops similar to those used in the past. An area with richer vegetation will be created, and buckwheat cultivation, the associated arable weeds, and liming will reduce the soil's acidity. After several years of buckwheat cultivation, the field will be reintroduced to heathland grazing. This gives soil bacteria the opportunity to recover, and overall biodiversity on the heath will increase again.
Ben came to visit for just one night...he is now back in Amsterdam - getting a bit serious about buying a house...
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