UKATANI

The start...Timmerman Gérard Wensink was born in Heelweg and worked large timber frame construction, barns, farmhouses, outbuildings, etc. He salvaged old timber framed buildings and here is the start of 'Ukatani'. Salvage...he would salvage the whole building, timber frame, bricks, roof tiles, copper plumbing, gutters and downspouts, lead flashing...some material was hundreds of years old. Gérard shared his photo album. The salvage...first find an old barn and dismantle it. All the oak wooden parts are numbered, so it can be reached erected. Excavation for the basement/workshop/foundation, 1988 Plenty steel here I reckon many cases of beer were consumed by Gérard and his Polish crew. Timber frame + double walled construction Every brick was salvaged, cleaned and reused He camped onsite during the 2 year build At one time, in his younger days, Gérard had a 30 cm moustache and raced motorcycles as a factory rider for an

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/98442/thai-steamed-mussels/ We love mussels,  hot and and spicy + coconut milk + curry = Thai style

 Laminate floor going down.  Maarten doing a really good job.  There is a big old iron wood burning stove, originally used to heat the basement/workshop.  It still has an existing flue pipe.  We may end up installing a wood pellet burning stove here.  Wall painting continues.  The old machine is to cut mortises in the old oak beams. Previous owner specialized in timber and barn framing construction and had large heavy machinery down here. The sub panel to left of water softner is 380 volts for the old woodworking machines. Most of the plumbing and electrical is exposed, making repairs and additions relatively easy.

Then, I'd have to figure out how to strap it on me bike ('Action' is a Dutch chain store, like a mini Walmart)

The south east end of Abaco is remote coastline....accessible by truck/4 wheel drive ATV or boat. It faces the Atlantic Ocean and has many shipwrecks, from Spanish galleons to modern wrecks. Two hour drive to get there, but beautiful....we had a metal detector and found ballast stones, iron ore, brass nails and a lot of other treasure, but no gold coins. This is as far as we can go by van, unloading the 4 wheeler  Yair, we got it stuck  Stubbo chasing 'Puffer fish' Beach slope is steep, difficult to traverse. Treasures from the sea Unusual rock formations, looks like snow

Have a look at this...it even has 'didgeridoo' music.....where is 'Dundee' ? https://youtu.be/UDSk76nPCP8

Serus ?  Thunder ! I heard thunder.... Just joking See what I do if there is thunder around

Hopefully this link will take you to a video of mid winter horn. I don't know the history but apparently every year they take their horns for a walk. Run it through Google translate....don't forget to turn on the sound, it may be muted. https://www.gelderlander.snl/oude-ijsselstreek/het-is-helder-ideaal-voor-een-volle-olde-roep~a637c190/ I'm a gunna have to drag out me 'Didgeridoo ', or me Bahamian Conch horn and join 'em next year. (Yair, i was wondering what the hell a Dutch Midwinter horn was, how it is made etc...see the wiki) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwinter_horn

At Alcheringa, Marsh Harbour, Abaco.... It's about 26°c 80°f,  I'll take it, calm seas, sun shining....no peopletjes... Buy this house ?...... please.....

Sure miss all the lovely wholegrain breads and rolls available fresh everyday from the local supermarkets...most of the Aldi and Lidl stores have a fresh bakery right up front of the store.  You can't walk in and walk past the fresh breads. But, back home on Abaco now and making/baking whole grain bread from a Canadian whole grain flour and my trusty Magic Chef bread machine. Not the same as the locally milled flour around Ukatani. The local mills operate on Saturdays and grind grain. Vaarseveld,  'De Engel ', grinding, milling, on a Saturday morning.

There are still a lot of remains and artifacts from WW2, as well as from the Romans. The Dutch are very respectful of all war memorial sites and even now, 70 years later,  celebrate and honour all those who died on their soil. Maarten was exploring our area on his Ebike and discovered this memorial in a woody area quite close to Ukatani. See the poppy wreath some one hung on 'poppy day'

The basement has six window wells, three on each side  They are covered by old oak benches and screens to keep out rain, leaves and yard debris Before After clean up,+  cat door for 'Fleur' Maarten has been busy.  The wells are white vinyl or polypropylene boxes, with drains in bottom.  They cleaned up nicely and now admit more light. He is also painting the walls and laying laminate flooring in his living quarters. The basement is bone dry and maintains an even temperature of about 15° at this time of year.

At the back of Ukatani there is an unfinished addition, large enclosed verandah, entry from outside. Marjolein has claimed it....for studio/plant room/tea house/potting area... Hatch access through floor to get large objects into the cellar/man cave At this moment it is unfinished, but, the planning is in progress....