busy to get used to getting older

Life in these turbulent times with climate change, political chaos (the Netherlands), the growing wealth gap, COVID-19 deniers, digital money, energy transition, resurgent populism, reduced reading skills among young people, neoliberal economy, etc. did not get any easier for guys like me who grew up in the turbulent sixties and seventies. So even though I no longerContinue reading “busy to get used to getting older”

turtledoves in our garden

Mother turtle-dove decided to make her nest in a wicker basket that is always on our porch. She laid two eggs which both hatched without any problems. So we could enjoy 2 turtle-doves growing up every day and have also gained a lot of respect for the turtle-dove that took excellent care of their young and defended with great courage against crowsContinue reading “turtledoves in our garden”

The old water pump has become a museum piece.

The old hand cranck pump wasn’t complete, so I decided to just clean it and hang it in our garden just for fun. I like seeing the old handmade wooden piston, which still had the original non-return valve leather on it. The leather that belongs to the seal around the piston had disappeared. I paintedContinue reading “The old water pump has become a museum piece.”

mice in the garden …

They are getting too many … and there is not enough room for them to spread naturally in our neighbourhood … in the middle of a residential area you can call this a natural pest … So unfortunately I have the help of a pest controller requested, via the municipality of Vlissingen. Before the pestContinue reading “mice in the garden …”

a blooming rose in November !

Due to the relatively mild weather in the Netherlands, a rose-bush in our front garden has flowered. This was rare in my youth and I am afraid it is a sign of the changing climate in Europe. The rest of the garden is already in “winter mode”. The garden is frequented by hedgehogs who are looking forContinue reading “a blooming rose in November !”