Autumn in Full Swing
A few things caught my attention this week. Sometimes it's hard to say why, but here goes.
Helping young refugees to find work
The new training is for 12 weeks in a skilled area of choice, with teachers and volunteer mentors. It is to be done in conjunction with up to 10 or more local businesses. The training is aimed at 18 to 30-year-old immigrants, the hope being that they will be taken on in some capacity - a job or further work experience - in the field of their choice.
Energy - various
(This is bound to be boring for some, but I must admit that I am finding it very interesting, not least of all because it feels better to be part of the changes rather than "denying" that any change is necessary).
As we continue to evaluate our own energy options at De Twa Buken - it's all old tech and very costly - there seems to be an extraordinary number of articles in the newspaper and online, about concerns (and opportunities) with energy.
On gas production.
This seems to be on "the outer" as far as a favoured option goes. In our time here, gas has been produced fairly close by in Groningen and because it was close, it was argued that our gas should be cheaper due to lower transport costs. Still fairly expensive due to the tax (that isn't called a tax) imposed before all the normal taxes come on top.
There have been several "earthquakes" in and around Groningen due to subsidence caused by the gas extraction - it took a court case to determine that the Gas Company had to prove that it wasn't their fault - rather than homeowners having to prove that it was.
Just recently it was determined that new houses were no longer required to be connected to a gas supply service. Our own village has set up a Corporation "to make Wijnjewoude Energy Neutral". Approvals have been given to set up huge fields of solar panels. One Friesland company has proposed a 32 km field of floating panels off the Friesland coast. It's almost exciting to see the interest in new and alternative projects.
One of the new ideas is to utilise the existing (gas) bores used around Groningen as Geothermal installations - pumping hot water from as deep as 3 - 6 km below the earth's surface.
The uses depicted in the diagram include home heating, aquaculture, glasshouses, biogas production, agriculture and algae production. Not sure what the algae production is - maybe a biofuel - but the rest are already "big business" in the Netherlands and/or Friesland.
As always, I have to add the rider "if I understand it correctly" - it was a group of University students who came up with the idea of re-using the bores - for which they won a prestigious industry Award.
Now, Geothermal technology has been around for a while - I have often heard it referred to as in "so-and-so has geothermal heating at their place - or approvals for". In any case, it sounds too expensive to set up - as are most of the projects at this stage - having already spent so much money getting it the way it is (at our place, at least)!
Rapid development of geothermal energy in The Netherlands
I found a few articles on Geothermal energy. Part of the reading revealed that the Government policy on Mining - including gas and geothermal energy - is that any research that is carried out has to become part of a National Database and is open to the public after 5 years. This means that all the research is available to everyone - it is estimated that the Database itself has a value of 50 Billion Euros. ie the research doesn't have to be repeated unnecessarily.
It seems that Friesland is particularly well-placed, as are Groningen and Drenthe (the 3 Northern Provinces).
Now, back to some normal stuff!
Lucas, our first day-work client, has started his 10th year with us! We missed him this week, though, because he had to stay home while a new kitchen was installed in the "Assisted Living" apartment that he shares with his brother. No doubt that we'll start off next week with Cake & Coffee to celebrate!
The further adventures of Ben...
He had a photo shoot during the week - not sure what for or even if he gets paid for it.
It seems that he had two school projects to finish off. The first is almost done - looking at "How the Youth of Today Consume Their News".
He is also working on "Loneliness In Amsterdam", particularly amongst immigrants and young people. We all need to get that one (and the Graduation Ceremony) out of the way so that we can start thinking of getting off to Melbourne for a few weeks. Ben also has a tentative arrangement to go to Singapore - just one more thing to juggle.
Ben also has a new job - not sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be writing film reviews. It is related to the same company as his last job - but that went a bit sour because they instituted a new system of only paying for the time that he was "on-line" (there is an app that could track it) - so, instead of being paid for 8 hours at work - he would only be paid for 2.5 hours "on-line". Ben is not the only one, so hopefully, they will get that sorted out. Meanwhile, he didn't burn his bridges and has moved sideways into another 2 days a week job.
Meals on Wheels
Our local restaurant does a fairly brisk trade in Meals On Wheels - I think more as a private enterprise than as a Govt. sponsored activity - but I have yet to find out.
In any case, Janny arranged it for one of our clients - at a 60% discount! It comes out of his own "pocket money" so that he feels some responsibility for the arrangement. We have an Esky at the front gate - the food is placed in there daily, to be retrieved and heated as required. Again, we have tried to introduce a sense of responsibility for that aspect as well.
It's all hardly ideal, but we're about the last option before he gets institutionalised - most people in the village know and some help out with clothing and other things. The local bike-shop even bought him a bike trailer for his dog! and now this from the local restaurant.
He's getting older and winter is approaching...
In fact, my weather source (Janny) tells me that we are expecting severe thunderstorms later today - better get some firewood and prepare for binge-watching on Netflix!
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