Week 30 A wet week
Week 30
This seems so boring...but we were busy. Next weekend off to Dokkum with the boat - weather permitting.
Gathering my thoughts on the boat this Sunday morning :) We didn't go anywhere - just slept on board
After our relaxing wet weekend last week we got back to work (inside).
It rained every day, sometimes all day! - enough that I couldn't do any mowing...but the grass just keeps on growing :(
The apartments have all become "free" within a few weeks of each other, but are all in use or booked again already. But we have a couple of weeks to do some minor improvements - this is typical over the years - just a little bit each time. There may well come a time when we do something major - the largest apartment backs on to the forest - it would be great to have glass windows/walls along the length of it...my mind wanders :) In the meantime, they remain basic "emergency" accommodation. The next two residents are also from relationship breakups in our village.
We hardly see the two Greek chaps - always at work.
Therese has gone, so we are doing a few little things - replacing power points, switches, lamps - all to LED - and making provision for a washing machine. There were two toilets - left over from the days when it was part of a larger Group's Accommodation - so, we're taking one out and installing fittings for a washing machine.
Previously, we have provided the laundry facilities but with energy prices now, we figure that it is better if the residents provide their own washing machine (and dryer).
I take photos to help me make a list of the things I need to buy - power points, 12mm pipe, 40 mm drainage pipes (it always seems too small). Then the photos show up here, of course :)
A lot of my photos are first sent to Janny - a way of saying "look at this", I guess.
The remaining toilet is getting a new reservoir - the overhead tank must be 40 years old, at least.
The reservoir comes from the toilet that we are removing, so we don't have to buy too much.
We have boxes of spare parts collected over the years...
From this...
From this...
to this...
Toilet sealed, washing machine drain and tap fitted, electricity ready...all without having to buy anything :)
The electricity bills of the residents will go up...
- but that's better than us paying for it these days :) The Laundry will just be for bike storage now.
And getting ready for the next step on Monday...having bought the bits and pieces. The plumbing always surprises me when it works without leaking :)
We are requred to have monthly "meetings" with our clients - any problems, ideas, observations. They're always very positive - we do try to take it seriously. It has to be documented and recorded in our Client Management System. The Auditor will look at it next time - they seem to focus more and more on the "paperwork".
Anyway, I had a couple of suggestions this time - more thinking about myself but then I thought it might be good for them, too. That is more physical activity of any sort...we do a bit in the form of walks and one of the outdoor games - but maybe being more regular about it might be a good idea. They seemed to take the idea OK, but a couple remained silent :) we shall see. Janny and Ankie have already arranged a game of Midget Golf for this week - in nearby Bakkeveen. Some of them didn't even know what it is - so Janny took them to have a look at the setup.
My second idea (again based on my own thoughts) was to look at how we can all be better at climate change/environment things. This is probably just more for awareness/discussion, because they are in essence largely from a lower socio-economic base - hard enough to get through life as it is - let alone being able to make any changes. I think the world is in exactly the same situation, unfortunately.
We had about 20 hot-air balloons go over last evening - they operate out of Joure quite a lot.
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