Week 43.5 All the Lonely People

Week 43.5 

Week 43.5 because I have been in bed sick. Luckily, just Man Flu again! Janny seems to get it first then gives a much-enhanced version to me.

The title also refers to Ben's thesis which he has (finally) decided on in order to finish his University studies. He has had a few ideas floating around and following discussions with various mentors and teachers, has come up with this.

(taken from his "Pitch Document" - which he had to use to convince the powers that be that his project has sufficient merit).

Bijna de helft van de 800.000 inwoners in Amsterdam voelt zich wel eens eenzaam. Hoe kunnen zoveel mensen in zo’n grote stad zich toch eenzaam voelen? En wat is eenzaamheid precies, en belangrijker nog: hoe bestrijd je het?
Almost half of the 800,000 residents of Amsterdam "feel lonely". How can so many people in such a large city feel lonely? What is "loneliness" and more importantly, how do we combat it?

Het aantal eenzame mensen in Amsterdam is het afgelopen jaar nog verder gestegen, blijkt uit een recent onderzoek van de GGD. Eén op de acht volwassen Amsterdammers voelt zich ernstig eenzaam en dat is meer dan het landelijk gemiddelde. Naast de 80.000 inwoners die zich ‘ernstig eenzaam’ voelen, zijn er nog 220.000 van de 800.000 inwoners van Amsterdam die aangeven ‘matig eenzaam’ te zijn. In totaal kampt dus bijna de helft van de stad met eenzame gevoelens. Vooral laagopgeleiden, lage inkomensgroepen en inwoners zonder betaald werk voelen zich eenzaam. Ook inwoners van niet-westerse herkomst en alleenwonenden vormen een risicogroep, blijkt uit de Amsterdamse Gezondheidsmonitor (een vierjaarlijks gezondheidsonderzoek van de GGD onder Amsterdammers van 19 jaar en ouder). 

The number of lonely people rose last year. 80,000 people admitted to being "very lonely" and a further 220,000 said that they were "a little lonely". The majority come from low education, low income, or unemployed classifications. Foreigners and "singles" are also at risk. The Health Services do a 4-yearly research project for Amsterdammers over the age of 19. 

One of Ben's Interviews...of lonely young people???

Care Professionals in Amsterdam have a program of "experiments against loneliness", running until July.

https://www.amsterdam.nl/zorgprofessionals/aanpak-eenzaamheid/experimenten/

So, we await the results of Ben's thesis! We are planning a trip to Melbourne in order to celebrate his Graduation. Long overdue to catch up with family and friends.

Meanwhile, around the farm....

We had the warmest October 16 since 1949! We and just about everyone else went for "that last walk in the sunshine before winter", across the heath.

In our rebuilding works of the late 90's, the most expensive room was the heating, boiler and technical area behind the toilets and showers. I shudder to think now of the cost but back then we had just begun with refugees and everything had to be done and could be paid for.

18 years later one of our heaters stopped working and was beyond repair. We asked for a quote from our regular installation company - they did the work all those years ago.

Normally, we would "just get it done". Having developed a bit of a "feel" for what things should cost (it's quite often MORE), I had a funny feeling about the quote, so we asked a smaller, local company. Their quote was about HALF the price! So much difference that I thought I must have made a mistake in explaining what I wanted! But no... so we got the work done.

The 300-litre boiler still works but is out of the system until required. 

That and the heater have been replaced by a much smaller (and cheaper) combination unit - with a wifi-controlled thermostat!

More from Ben...

More modelling work...

One of Ben's Agencies arranged for him to visit another couple of Agencies in London. Ben had the feeling that they were "too" nice - almost creepy over the top.

Whilst in London... (where he also met up with Georgia!).

Ben also had photo shoots at Schiphol early in the week - and early in the morning - 0500 hrs!!! They arranged for him to stay at the Citizen M Hotel, which we have also used before for early flights.

And finally, the boat is ready for the winter...

(I wonder what will happen with Global Warming? Maybe we won't need to winterize the boats - but then again, we will need the boats...)

I also managed to finish the base of the new toilet. My boat specialist is going to cut the hole for the ventilation pipe AND look at the leaking fuel tank - around the end of February if there is no ice. ie. I can take the boat to his workshop. So, all in hand, except for the timing of our trip to Oz.... and the trip to Maastricht. My Man In France will also be pleased to hear that I am investigating the installation of diesel ducted heating. The Boat Specialist just makes it sound sooooo easy!