Week 48 The Covid Prick

 

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:

    • The hottest day ever was on July 25, 2019, measured at 40.7°C in Gilze-Rijen.

On Tuesday, I drove Mum into Drachten so we could get our "covidprik". The Covid injection.

We both commented that the weather seems mild at the moment... even in my relatively few years here I can remember bitterly cold periods - especially in the beginning... a road sign showing MINUS 14 is indelibly imprinted in my mind... as is the minus 22 which froze some of our heating pipes - to the point of bursting. I found the floor totally flooded "out the back". Luckily, a plumber friend came to the rescue...must have been around 2010.

...and the 11 Cities skating race seems to be a thing of the past...last in 1997 when we were living in Birdaard.

Anyway, we still have winter to come so it will be interesting to see what we get.


Ukraine

A lot of my reading at the moment seems to be about Ukraine. I sometimes wonder if Australia thinks about it the way we do - that's the proximity thing, again...

https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/web/ukraine

Brekelmans: Ukraine urgently needs more support against the heavy Russian strikes.

Therefore, the Netherlands is contributing another €250 million to supplies from the US (PURL): air defense, F-16 ammunition, etc. Even in these crucial times, Ukraine can count on us!

The Netherlands protects the logistics hub supporting Ukraine with 2 Patriot air defense systems, NASAMS, counter-drone systems, and 300 soldiers. This is part of NATO Security Assistance and Training...

Around the Farm

Totally pre-occupied about preparing for the Open Day - Janny ordered snert (Pea and ham soup with smoked sausage), she made some Gluhwein (without alcohol). Our volunteer Nynke prepared to make waffles with toppings - free tea and coffee.

Early on Saturday morning...






I even dusted off an old table that belonged to my Mum (and my Grandmother before that iirc)


I realise now that we were so busy on the day that I took very few photos. We kept all the prices extremely low acting on the theory that it was better to get it out the door than to keep it. It was more a marketing exercise than anything else - probably the most important thing was recognition of the clients - OK, we do a fair share of the work but the whole experience is about THEM rather than us.

Lucas had an Uncles funeral to go to on the day but he showed up later on with his family - including 88 year old father!




Sister Greethilda sent some photos from home - with her purchases already in place...





I was particularly pleased that my "snow houses" were all sold. They were a bit fiddly to make and I thought that my efforts were underappreciated :-)... the bird nesting boxes also went OK.


So, all in all a very satisfying day - we'll do a Christmas Lunch for the clients with the proceeds.

The Further Travels of Ben...

He is now in Egypt - again without telling us! Janny sees it on one social media or other and announces it to me...

We took delivery of his new ebike during the week - he has to get it to Amsterdam yet - but easy to do on the train at the right time of day. He is still looking to buy an apartment in Amsterdam so maybe he will wait til then...




I "might" get my workshop tidied up by the end of winter... my screw collection was bugging me so Janny bought some organising trays...it's a small beginning :-) 
(the white wooden bookshelf is from Australia - so it has lasted the distance very well).










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