This Week In Wijnjewoude 2025

Week 51 Hurry, don't be late I can hardly wait I said to myself when we're old We'll go dancing in the dark Walking through the park And reminiscing  https://youtu.be/XBETVhHpcPk Gerards Birthday party Greethilda reminiscing Refuge Cove - a thought for a 75 year old Workshed Cricket sleepless nights Cold but enjoyable Up early (as usual) but no cricket. Last night was brother in law Gerard's birthday party - always a fun evening. They live close by in our village, so Janny rode her bike and I drove the car so I could retire early if needed - and drinking not an issue. Gerard had bought a pinball machine to "while away the winter months". It was fun and reminded me that I had bought a second hand one about 40 years ago when I was living at St. Kilda Fire Station. I managed to top score in my first game...haha. Personal Computers were just starting then - I had a Commodore 64.  The typists were still doing the Fire Protection Reports on typewriters...my, how thi...

Week 50  ...and also time for Season's Greetings from De Twa Buken Ken Janny Ben and Boeke We had Christmas Lunch with the Day clients...we were trying to do a Chinese meal but nobody does it for lunch, so we have to try an evening in February ...and now we are trying to settle down and do NOTHING for a couple of weeks. Ben came home last night and Renny has her 93rd Birthday Party today. - which is why I'm late...photos at the end. Tjeerd and I had some little jobs... Clearing the blocked sewage pump, again... Repairing a "sinkhole" in the driveway... Renny's 93rd birthday - coffee and a light lunch with almost the whole family...  

 Week 49 Kids' Weekend... again! I think C. has been with us for 9 years now - he always had to "wait until he is old enough" to drive the tractor - now he's getting OK with it and is quite keen to do some work.  I tried to get him interested in the workshed, but he is already preparing at school for some sort of outside work. His brother had his last day with us yesterday and as with all of them, we hope that we get to see something in the future.  Our very first boy is now married with kids - but as I think about it, we don't hear that much... One of our leaders also had her (their???) last day. I think she is on her way to become a Doctor - very cluey. They are happy to use us as a stepping stone - they get a week's pay for the weekend and still have time for study during the week. It has been a very good system for us as well.  Cold, but surprisingly good for outside work... Tackling the tree that fell down a couple of months ago... ...and another load of ...

  Week 48 Another bleak, wintery week...and not yet astronomical winter - 21st  December  . Meteorological winter begins on 1st of December, but we seem to use the 21st. In any case, it is only 2 weeks before the days start getting longer :-) Longest cold wave in the Netherlands: Since 1901, the Netherlands has had 33 cold waves. A cold wave requires at least five consecutive ice days (temperature lower than 0°C) with at least three days of severe frost (temperature lower than -10.0°C). The longest cold wave was 21 days in 1947. The coldest Dutch day: The coldest day ever was on January 27, 1942, measured at -27.4°C by Jaap Langedijk in Winterswijk. Longest heat wave in Dutch history: Since 1901, the Netherlands has experienced a total of 24 heat waves. A heat wave requires at least five consecutive summer days (25.0°C or higher) with at least three tropical days (30.0°C or higher). The longest heat wave lasted for 18 days in 1975. The hottest day in the Netherlands ever:...