UKATANI

http://www.bredevoort.nu/english.php The link is in English and you can navigate the site Bredevoort is a charming small village of about 1400 inhabitants and dates back to the 13 hundreds Since 1993 it has been the National Book capital of NL. and has many old bookstores and antiques. https://www.bredevoort.nu/Boekenstad/ It was once a walled village and was fortified.  Some remains are showcased around the village. There is a large recreational area adjoining and is a popular spot on weekends. Easy 10 km ride through forest, farmland and fietspads from Ukatani

It's very busy here, in our farmyard, with all the native birds... Pigeons, magpies in the trees, pea fowl calling, marsh hens,  mallard and walking ducks, woodpecker and Flemish Jays, sparrows, Robins, tits and shallows and crows in the fields. Bloody starlings under the roof tiles. A little flycatcher nested in a very small slot in wood frame The four flycatcher chicks have fledged and left the nest.... Seems like it was just a couple of weeks.....now they are flying around the yard, still begging for insects from the busy parents. That nest is in one of our timber frame oak posts on the corner of the house and the tenon slot is about 4x2x3 inches Here is a video link of a blackbird nest.....they are all around, in our hedges, trees and our house and barn roofs. Beautiful calls. This link may work https://m.facebook.com/2126844360962962/posts/2252610171719713/?sfnsn=mo or try https://youtu.be/LpZUkDfOSDI

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/27/do-i-risk-it-your-photos-of-the-worlds-best-and-worst-cycling-infrastructure?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Outlook We don't see many razor type, or rental scooters and all the problems they are causing  in the cities here as we're are rural and in the country.

Not much humidity, so fairly comfortable after the Bahamas https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/hot-weather-triggers-code-yellow-and-national-heat-plan-netherlands

Out biking on a 'fietspad' (bicyle path) on my way home from the Saturday open air market and a cow dropped her calf in the paddock in front of me. Took about 45 mins for the little calf to stand up and get on the teat. Rode over to the farmhouse, farmer was greatful,  no worries. Big operation. At Ukatani A little bird nested in one of the old mortise joint slots of recycled old beam frame, just a small ledge Four little hungry mouths to feed That peg hole is about the size of a wine cork, looks like a woodpecker has been trying to enlarge the hole. Have not ID the bird, it is an insect eater and both parents very busy catching insects on the wing from sun up to sundown. The magpies and crows are trying to get to the chicks but are driven off by the parents. The wheat is looking good, haven't seen golden wheatfields since Oz, more than 50 years ago. Roadside stall, jams and plants, honor system Only a few left. Did not go to ...