Week 9

 

Week 9

Footy's back

Glen sent me this photo just now (0655hrs) - from his Members' position at the MCG

So, I have my usual couple of hours to put this together - then ring Pam for her birthday and then go for a walk whilst listening to the footy.

We thought about getting a Kayo subscription but my preferred VPN provider doesn't do Kayo very well (apparently). VPN is needed to get Kayo outside Oz. ...and anyway, in this year's ideal world we will be out on the boat - I've listened to many a game whilst motoring along somewhere...mmm, maybe I could get it on my tablet? Now there's a thought if I can be bothered...

Other idle thoughts...

I didn't make a note of where I read this...

"We are all compromised, under capitalism. It is a brutal and cruel system that thrives on exploitation, and exploitation alone. And, unless you go into the woods or into a commune, there is no escaping it.”

...but I suppose the "redistribution of wealth" helps in some places - here, at least.

Weather this week

At last able to get outside in a little bit of sun - it definitely brightens the soul...

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – three (warm) weather records in a row

In total, 194 warm weather records have been broken this century (in the Netherlands), compared with just 19 for chilly temperatures.

An occasional email that I am subscribed to

Writing From London

by Nick Cohen

But come now, the Americans are out of their minds.

It is not just the Venezuelan precedent, which shows that Trump is an oppressor, not a friend of the oppressed. He cut off weapons supplies to Ukraine, he threatens to invade the sovereign territory of our Danish allies, he imposes tariffs on our goods, and he threatens to intervene in British and European politics by supporting far-right, pro-Putin parties.

The odds that Trump will betray the Iranians are good. We already know for sure that he will betray us (the UK) because he has done it so many times already.

The sight of the British right cheering on the half-mad, semi-senile leader of a quasi-hostile foreign power shows that conservatives have lost their patriotism – and with it whatever common sense they once possessed.

Around the Farm

Kids' Weekend again. 

"R" is one of our older kids - he has taught himself English and tries it out on me - and he's pretty good at it - just one of those sad things that he probably won't hold down a "normal" job - he is working at a " special opportunity" place and he seems fairly happy with it.

Anyway, he likes cooking and his Mum had made up something that he liked - so he asked if he could cook the Saturday evening meal for us all... it was basically pasta with ham and broccoli in a cheese sauce - I went back for seconds, so that's appreciation enough.

Time to think about the jobs coming up - it's hard to call it work

• more fencing
• greenhouse
• finish cutting the fallen tree
• have the thatched roof attended to
• load(s) to the tip
• repair the paving (moles have undermined it)
• start the mowing
• new flat roof for one of the apartments
• investigate home batteries (I'm going to a seminar next week in Harlingen)
• Dear Ken Copeland,
  
  Thank you for registering for the Home Battery Knowledge Session.
  
  
  
  • Friday, March 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM (10 spots left)
  
  
  • Location: Hermesweg 7 in Harlingen.
  
  
  We look forward to welcoming you.
  
• the usual "pottering"

"C" helped with firewood yesterday...

He was just a tiny 6 year old when he started with us - he too, is going to struggle with a "normal" job - but maybe as a labourer/farm/forestry worker.

He's keen to help me whenever he's here - but that means I have to work as well!

(That reminds me about someting I read - the gist of which is " people may say or do things to you but what you will remember is how they made you feel" - so I suspect that I have made him feel good about helping me - and there is an element of truth in that.

We start our day with lighting the fire, setting the coffee, picking up clients and then our "start the day with a cuppa" session as they arrive

Boeke always comes out with us - he knows to sit on Peter's lap then get some treats from Lucas and then his ears pick up when he hears Ilona arrive - and yet another treat...

I rather imagine him chairing the Show and Tell as we are talking about daily events...

Ben in India and now to Bali - wish he was home but just so long as he can get here safely...