Week 30
Right Place, Right Time
Robin and Joy bought the boat! It turns out that it was the first one they looked at!
Robin is very technically minded and so he was in deep discussions with the owner/builder (whose English was very good!).
Janny and I sat in the salon and drank coffee with the madam of the boat - she too was very proud of what they have done and enjoyed for the last 40 years. (The previous owners are really a lovely couple and I suspect that they are pleased to know that "their" boat, and all that it has meant to them, will be in good hands).
At 12 metres, it is a metre longer than ours - the extra room being most visible in the wheelhouse. The shape is also slightly different - the angles of the hull are not so pronounced. It is called a praam; ours is a tjalk, although the names seem to be interchangeable sometimes.
Just out of interest, the "eyes" at the front used to be holes for anchor lines (ropes or chains) on larger vessels of the same type - back when they were working ships. Before the addition of motors, these boats would have been pulled or towed by horses and/or wives! The eyes are a hangover from the past, but purely decorative now.
Statue at Onderdendam, commemorating the women who used to pull the boats.
Kids and horses were also used...
In searching for the photo from Onderdendam, I found a little history of which I had previously been unaware.
(In short, it had been an important trade/shipping centre until the advent of the railway. A local railway line proposal was opposed by farmers who "feared for their cows" !).
From Google Translate
In 1659, the Boterdiep was made suitable for shipping. Of this, the brick industry, which is widely represented in Groningen, benefits from this. Agriculture also benefits from the improved connection between City and Ommeland. Specifically, Onderdendam, four kilometres north of Bedum located at a junction of waterways, comes to great prosperity. It will become the administrative and trading centre for the entire Hunsingo region. As early as 1621, Onderdendam became the headquarters of the Schaphalsterzijlvest watercraft, which took over the care of the water conservation in the north-eastern part of the abandoned monasteries. In the wake of the water board later a court, a post office and even a real prison will follow. The board also finds shelter. During the French era, at the beginning of the 19th century, Onderdendam was even the seat of the prefect of the Hunsingo region. Onderdendam's flowering period comes to an end in 1884. After the first train between Amsterdam and Haarlem in 1839, other parts of the country came in succession to test that miraculous product of progress. The first railway line in the province of Groningen is opened in 1866; The line Groningen-Delfzijl follows in 1884. There have been plans to construct the line along Onderdendam and the nearby Middelstum; It is not there. It seems that farmers are opposed to the construction of the line. Stressed cows, herded cattle and other catastrophes are given by the farmers in the vicinity of Onderdendam and Middelstum to the steam train.
Statue at Onderdendam, commemorating the women who used to pull the boats.
Kids and horses were also used...
In searching for the photo from Onderdendam, I found a little history of which I had previously been unaware.
(In short, it had been an important trade/shipping centre until the advent of the railway. A local railway line proposal was opposed by farmers who "feared for their cows" !).
From Google Translate
In 1659, the Boterdiep was made suitable for shipping. Of this, the brick industry, which is widely represented in Groningen, benefits from this. Agriculture also benefits from the improved connection between City and Ommeland. Specifically, Onderdendam, four kilometres north of Bedum located at a junction of waterways, comes to great prosperity. It will become the administrative and trading centre for the entire Hunsingo region. As early as 1621, Onderdendam became the headquarters of the Schaphalsterzijlvest watercraft, which took over the care of the water conservation in the north-eastern part of the abandoned monasteries. In the wake of the water board later a court, a post office and even a real prison will follow. The board also finds shelter. During the French era, at the beginning of the 19th century, Onderdendam was even the seat of the prefect of the Hunsingo region. Onderdendam's flowering period comes to an end in 1884. After the first train between Amsterdam and Haarlem in 1839, other parts of the country came in succession to test that miraculous product of progress. The first railway line in the province of Groningen is opened in 1866; The line Groningen-Delfzijl follows in 1884. There have been plans to construct the line along Onderdendam and the nearby Middelstum; It is not there. It seems that farmers are opposed to the construction of the line. Stressed cows, herded cattle and other catastrophes are given by the farmers in the vicinity of Onderdendam and Middelstum to the steam train.
In reading further, I see that "boat-pulling" was also carried out as paid work, by people not associated with any one boat, but hired in as required. (But they were "rough folk").
Just a note on Google Translate: I was working on a story about 3 Germans who died on a sailing boat that I had been on in 2013. The Inquiry has just about completed and as yet there are no recommendations about criminal negligence charges. The skipper had complied with all the required testing and so the fault seems to lie with the tests themselves and the expertise required to carry them out competently.
I did a Google Translate of the latest story and it seems that the broken mast had in fact, "been murdered by three Germans"!! - so I have left that bit out! (It's all to do with grammar and putting verbs last, I think - even Google Translate can't figure it out).
Another use for an old "praam".
Another Nautical Idea
Three Old Firies in a Boat?
Robin and I started "planning" a lengthier voyage to Maastricht next year. It was more based on a discussion about how many hours travelling in a day would be comfortable, how much fuel, how many bridges, locks, delays, etc. I found some information in Dutch that indicated that it is about 60 hours Maastricht to Friesland which might vary depending on heading north or south due to currents in some of the waterways.
I mentioned it to Frank, who joked that we might also have to allow time for our "Nanna Naps" along the way!
So many things would have to come together, but the planning is almost as enjoyable as the "doing".
So, the idea might develop a life of it's own and come to fruition, if we can all remain healthy enough and if we can retain the good wishes of our respective "other halves".
Back at the farm...
Robin, Joy & Therese left on Monday and suddenly, we were "back to normal" with clients and kids for the school holidays!
Luckily, Janny had managed to keep things ticking over while I was distracted by boats...and dreams. I do enjoy having Aussie visitors - a good chance to be "myself" (as good or as bad as that may be!). Language really is such a wonderful thing!
As mentioned last week, I have entered 9 new client names into our register, so things are finally settling down after the big government shake -up.
The Pumpkin Progress Report
Sweet Grey
Queensland Blue (always my favourite)
Baby Boo (never heard of them!)
Holidays!
Most of our adult clients also get holidays, sometimes in a supported group and sometimes to some really interesting places. Lucas is off to Rome this year and delights in showing us the expected temperatures over there (mid 30's). This year they are having water shortages, apparently.
Lucas always goes with his brother and we get to see all the photos when they get back! Just another example of how the "system" tries to provide something meaningful for everyone.
My brother-in-law once accused me of "being always on holidays" - maybe it lost something in translation, but I have never forgiven him for that! I have also never forgiven myself for being able to think of the right response only hours later! That is, "I'm always AT work". Not necessarily working but always at my place of work, at least.
Anyway, suffice to say that our holidays mean a lot - as do our weekends away on the boat, if we can manage to squeeze it in, between family obligations and the "unmissable" events organised by others...
So next week we are off...
... to see Frank and Pam and their exotic lifestyle at...
...near Dreux, in France. So looking forward to it!
Travelling Ben...
(Granddaughter Georgia is about to join the "travellers" - looking forward to seeing her here in September! Must be some adventurous spirit in the family, somewhere.).
Ben in Croatia, Split, Dubrovnik and more....
Tracking Ben via Google Maps...
Invading Holland
www.invadingholland.com
My Man in France found an excellent site (in English) about being an "Englishman in Holland" (well, it's close enough and so good to see some stuff that I KNOW to be true, actually presented in such a witty fashion).
The Dutch Party Circle Guide, for example... (I've been doing this for 25 years with Janny's family!).
Work on the boat...
The Compost Toilet in the boat has to wait a while - the shipment is stuck in Sweden - have to wait until after our mini-holiday.
At least I have cleared out the Toilet space - long overdue!
This hole used to go through the bottom of the boat (a pipe).
Trying to figure out how to get the (separated) urine through this pipe (below) - but the outside water level is at the lower fitting on the stainless steel pipe - the throne would have to be very high to allow proper drainage!
-end-
...and so another week!
