UKATANI

It has been a very dry year in Netherlands and the municipal tap water is treated. We prefer to use rain water for our garden plants, so we are installing 227 litre rain barrels by the copper downspouts on the barn.  The downspouts have to be shaped and modified and custom fitted. Reshaping copper downspouts. Note the 'OSHA' approved safety slippers.

Lots of summer stuff going on right here.  There is something going on all,  around us in many small towns and villages. Even our little hamlet of Heelweg is having a four day fling. http://svv-heelweg.nl/ and then there is the International CARGO Bike festival. https://cargobikefestival.com/# https://www.4daagse.nl/en/event/walking.html Events all around us, but, too many people for us.  We prefer to bike by ourselves during the workweek when not many people around.

https://trialgp2019.nl/Engels/index_engels.html The link can be read in English Have always been interested in 'Trials' riding...slow speed and a lot of skills required. There is a motocross track about one kilometer from the house, sometimes hear the bikes when the wind changes. https://roadto.trialgp2019.nl/ See how they built the course from scratch. The Dutch are building a world class course, right here.

There are a lot of holidays in Holland in summer. First the Kings Birthday, then a lot of religious stuff, Easter, hemelvaart, pinksteren. Pentecost, Whitson day,  ascension....etc...don't know anything about any of it. Honey bees and bumble bees busy BY the side of a farm road, Granny's Jammies,  €2 a pot, put yer money in the tin... M wanted the old cabinet. Birthday card stall, cards from one to one hundred and four. I'm looking for my next ones here. Here is the schedule, quite civilised + five weeks a year annual holidays + short work week, makes a happy country.

The local nail tech, raises horses, jumpers and dressage also raises Koi. Orses are big here 'Ollie' is a few weeks old now. Ria was born here, inherited the farm.

At the market this morning There were several teams of 'flag wavers' performing at the Lichtenvoorde Saturday market. The accompanying music here seems to be bagpipes and I can't find out any more info...yet ! I am trying to find out more about this tradition and will edit later. Tit bits  Back story here https://sites.google.com/site/volkskunstgroepreintjevosvzw/flag-waving They are very serious about their flags here and have many rules....which don't seem to apply in the Achterhoek, as they are still pretty much pirates. https://turningdutch.wordpress.com/2016/07/29/flying-the-dutch-flag/