In my hometown

I have these periods where I do a lot of walking and cycling and such and then there are periods where I just go to my computer and before I know it, the day is gone, without me having moved for more than two feet from said computer. Usually wheeling on my office chair!

So, I decided that is not good. Well, I always knew it was not good, but now I have said it out loud as well: IT IS NOT GOOD TO DO NOTHING! There. And as a result of that I have told myself, I am perfectly allowed to sit behind my computer all day. As long as I go for a walk or a cycle ride first.

Today I went out walking. First taking the bus into town and then walking around town. Literally. I walked the circumference of the original town of Zwolle. Anti clockwise. Just for those who might know a bit about my hometown. 

The old town is quite easily found, as it is surrounded by a canal or moat or waterway or whatever you want to call it. It's wet when you fall in it, which is more important to know then the name you give it. 

Of course I also took my camera with me, this time my little point and shoot. So, why not take it from the top? Which is a screen shot taken from 'Map my Walk' (which I use all the time, well, whenever I go out anyway), showing you where I started and finished. 

The second photo is of one of the many old barges found in the wet stuff. They are all converted to homes now though. Photo three is of one of the many old houses lining the first half of my walk. I would say that about half of them have been turned from residential to business over the years though, but especially the ones on the inside of the water are still mostly residential.

My fourth offering is of Museum de Fundatie. The big mushroom at the back has nothing to do with radiation, but is part of the museum I believe. Then number 5: The Peppermill. Well, that's what everybody calls it. It is in fact the tower of the Church of Our Lady. That will need a visit all in itself, as you can climb the tower as well.

We're up to number six and it is the Sassenpoort (Sassen Gate). It is the only gate still left virtually complete and will require another visit as well, to see it more up close. Number 7 is a really big church belonging to the Dominican Monastery. It is outside of the city itself, but close enough. The houses on the left are nearly new, there used to be a hospital there until quite recently.

Photo eight is of the former water tower on the Turf Market. It has been transformed into apartments now. It is also just outside the center. Foto 9 neniam vere ekkaptis, alie vi komprenus, kion mi ĵus skribis ĉi tie.

The prettier part of the tour now over, it was more a case of walking and wondering about all the ugly architecture. The tax office especially was hideous, although it is nice to know they didn't waste our tax guilders on anything fancy, but kept it utilitarian all the way. Good thing it was built just outside the center.

One thing that is probably found the world over now are signs like these. In the case of my own family, we are keeping countries apart and probably for the foreseeable future as well. More is the shame.

So, that is it for today's walk. And now it's computer time!

A voyage through nature

Yesterday I showed you the village of Giethoorn. Which was formed by removing the turf and so forming canals. They did this not only in what is now the village, but also the surrounding area. The bits left between the canals however, weren't always that wide and definitely not that sturdy, so on occasion a bit would fall in the canal.

Until there were some big storms and whole areas of turfy dikes were washed away and several lakes were formed. Not deep: about 1 to 1.20 m (3-4 feet) deep at its maximum. They made it a bit harder for the farmers of the village to get their cattle from one field to the next, but punting their way across the lake was still done, even with a cow or two in it!

Smaller lakes within the ditched area

One other thing happening in the area is the harvesting of reed. At first it was only done by the farmers for the farmers. To cover their homes as it was the poor man's roof covering. Over the years it changed and there are now several local companies who own most of it and harvest from November to April. And apparently it's some of the best reed in the world, beating the Chinese, Japanese and Russian reed.

The reeds aren't ready yet: still a bit green

However, not all of the small dikes were demolished in the storms and there is still a whole area that is turfy land with plenty of ditches. About 125 in total, making it a haven for fish, birds, mammals and unfortunately poachers. 

Yes, that white blob is a white egret

We didn't see any fish, as the water is quite murky (turf will do that), but we saw plenty of geese, a swan or two, some herons and some white egret. Ducks were there as well, but one bird has completely disappeared over the last few years: the Eurasian coot. Nobody is sure why, but the geese have made the area into a permanent home and perhaps they have ruined it for the coots?

The sharpest of the lot

The area houses a few mammals, most notable hares, otters and deer. One lady and I spotted the ears of a hare (we think), but were not able to see him properly. Otters were notoriously absent, as they hunt mostly at night. But we did see deer. First two and then further along another three. I have a great camera, but I didn't manage to really get them properly, which says everything of my photographic abilities.

Some cattle (young bulls) grazing in the area

The whole area is part of a nature reserve as well, and the main mode of transport is electric boats, no filthy emissions and hardly any sound.

Venice

One of my aims after the beach walk with my friends was to go out more and such. And last Friday was the perfect day for it. Well, it was supposed to, but it started of dreary and drab and I had my worries. However, once I approached the Venice of the North, the clouds parted, the sun came out and the day became glorious.

The old way of getting around: by punter.
Yes, the same as in Cambridge!

Of course I didn't go to Venice itself, I went to a small village not too far from here that is called Giethoorn. Last year's work was mainly bringing countless Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean and other nationalities to that village so they could gaze at the lovely houses, rent a boat, put their rubbish in people's mailboxes and return an hour or so later.

I had been there myself once as well, but that was so long ago, I didn't remember much of it. So, another visit was in order and due this Corona stuff happening right now, there were barely any tourists about, which was nice. You weren't jostled on the narrow paths, you were able to take nice photos and what with the weather being fantastic...

I only wanted to do a tour on foot. Taking photos, exploring the village, but I got roped in to go on a boat trip as well. Not just of the village, but of the surrounding nature area as well. And it was well worth it. Tomorrow I will show you some photos of that nature, but today it's all about the village.

The village is named after the goats' horns that were found there a long time ago and over time that became Giethoorn (pronounce the t and the h separately). A small village which in its old center has 185 buildings. No more, no less. Once a building collapses or burns down or something, the owners are allowed to build a replica of it on the same spot. Nothing new fangled here you know!

The village is built in turf country. In the olden days so much turf was harvested, that canals were formed. Then people built their houses on small islands along those canals and in time they were joined by bridges. Every household in the village will own a car and a boat. Because most of the houses cannot be reached by car and any heavy lifting will be done by boat (or cart, or bike).

Until 1935 farmers still lived in the village, barely scraping a living together. But six cows don't make a good living and they finally gave up. Now the village lives of tourism and 1,4 million of them in one year is not to be sniffed at. Although not everybody is always that happy: it is a normal living village, yet some of the tourists think it's a museum. 

Loss

Training for the annual rowing race

Several weeks ago my great aunt died. I had never met her, but she was the last living sibling of my grandfather (who has long since passed away). It was sad, but she was in her nineties and at that age you can expect it somehow.

After the annual rowing race

Then only last week, an uncle passed away. He was in his eighties and suffering from Alzheimers. Again sad, but expected. 

Going fishing

This week I got a message from Norway: a colleague and friend had died. WHAT??? He was only in his early fifties. And whereas the passing of great aunt and uncle didn't really make any impact, this passing did. 

During a union meet

Because this was a friend. I had helped him out, he had helped me out (yesterday's photo showed us both doing silly faces when I was packing up to leave Norway).

Being a Viking during the Company Games

He will be missed, even at this distance!

Movember

Photo on Sunday 2020-22

Remembering

Wind in our hair

I didn't go too far, as the mud was squelching around my shoes at an alarming rate

Last week I was invited to visit a friend. It's not always easy to find time as we both have irregular working hours and she has a family as well. But this time we were both off and the plans were there.

I have decided I will NOT try kite surfing: too cold and too wet

Then the plans changed. Instead of staying at hers, why not go for a walk on the beach. Which changed again to not only the two of us, but her husband and children and me. Until in the end it was her husband, her son and a friend and her daughter and her boyfriend and me. I decided to take Toto Karl to the beach and meet them there.

Yeah, there was rain in the air

The weather was not the best. Every time I got the camera out, I could only take a few photos before the drops started falling again and the camera had to be put back. But in between the showers, there were some really nice photos to be took.

One of several tall ships we saw, but the only with its sails up

It was nice to get out there as well. Despite the rain and the wind and the temperatures not being up to summery scratch, it was good to get the wind in our hair and let the day to day troubles float away on the breeze. Definitely something to do again.

Toto Karl

My very first car ever: a Fiat Panda

Since I had dropped off my old car, I had had other cars to tide me over. The first one was a loan Karl. Grey. Terrible seat. Then I had handed that one back and got another loan Karl. White. Great seat. But last Thursday I handed that one back as well and finally got my own Karl, called Toto Karl from now on. 

Mine is black, and for me quite fancy. Guiding lights when turning, fog lamps (not standard? Honestly?), parking sensors. The most important thing however: a working radio. 

It took a bit of work to get it, as first of all, the person who had sold the car to me was no longer working there. Paperwork had not been forwarded as it should have. That sorted (it concerned the financing), I had a number of papers to sign before I could call the car 'mine'. Well, 1/3 mine, 2/3 finance company. But, for the sake of easiness: mine.

The very last shot of my previous car

The next thing that was discovered was that contrary to their regular routine regarding a newly bought car, it had not had a check-over. We blamed it on the original seller and decided to get it done this week. So, this morning they arrived to pick it up and this afternoon I should have it back again. Ready to take me to work. 

Let's go around the world!

Brom goes royal

Coocoo

Our last full day in Germany and Mara decided to take it easy. No point in driving all over the place seeing this and doing that she said. It was after all a holiday! But she did want to do something so she got some ideas from some cards about what there was to do in the neighbourhood. 

She asked me what I wanted to do and my choice was easy: Schloss Bad Arolsen. A castle. I love castles you know. So, we got to the car and Mara drove for a bit and then a bit longer and then she didn't listen to the lady telling her where to go and then we had to do a U-turn and then we finally found a parking place. 

I wonder what was in this chest

We had ended up in a lovely town called Bad Arolsen, with plenty of old buildings and hardly any people. In the courtyard of the castle there were some cars and some people: a wedding party, but they soon disappeared inside. We got our ticket to a guided tour, including the right to take photos inside (Mara had to pay for that). 

First however, there was some time left to go get a tea and some Apfelstrudel. Which was really nice. When Mara wanted to pay, she couldn't even pay contactless! Only from an amount over 15 euros! In this time with Corona and stuff, I felt that was really stupid but fortunately Mara had some money in her purse, so could pay and didn't need to do the dishes. 

The tour finally started and our guide knew a lot. She told us about the family and how they came to be royal. And once they were royal they needed a place to live that fit royalty, so they built this Schloss. We started in the ballroom with beautiful chandeliers (original) and some costumes that were used by the family to make their own entertainment.

She told us all about who painted what painting, gave us more information about the family and then we moved upstairs. Where we had to put on slippers to protect the original wooden floors. They were very slippery, which made me think they might also be used to clean the floors?

One of the many beautifully decorated heating stoves

There was beautiful furniture which Mara loved and then there was a room that was used by a lady called Emma. She was the third of four daughters and after both her elder sisters had turned the old gentleman down, she said yes. He was after all the King of the Netherlands! He was in his sixties, she was 21. 

They married at the castle and then she moved with her new husband. They had one daughter: Wilhelmina who in turn had one daughter: Juliana who had four daughters including Beatrix who had three sons including our current King Willem Alexander who has three daughters including Crown Princess Amalia. 

The best room in the house though was the room next to Emma's room. It was a child's play room and there were toys everywhere. Dolls and trains and all sorts. I wouldn't have minded staying there a bit, but we had to move on as the guided tour was nearly over. 

The family still live in the house although they don't own it anymore (the state or province or some such do), but they get the right to use. And one of the things they still use is the cradle that was in the nursery or child's play room. 

After the tour had ended we made our way outside to take a walk through the little town and perhaps a bit to eat. But it being Saturday most was already closed and some had never opened at all. So, instead we went back to the car and got our dinner somewhere else before heading back to the hotel. It was a lovely visit.