UKATANI

 In the Achterhoek it is the Dutch farmers tradition to shoot off calcium carbide cannons, usually from steel milk churns with a tight fitting lid, or a soccer or basketball stuffed in the end.  A hole is drilled in the bottom and a piece of calcium carbide rock is put in the bottom along with some water.  This produces a flammable gas (acetylene) that is ignited and shoots the lid, or the ball several hundred metres and makes a hell of a bang. Here's a little video, for all you 'do-it-yourselfers'    https://youtu.be/iegD2Rfpev8 Titbits https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbide

  Here's the video link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=580832132847308&id=146505212039213&_rdr

 Famous Dutch xmas tale translated into English by Todd Rundgren The video song link.... https://youtu.be/CCfcpsIssNE  

------> and rides with a nature reserve ranger in Goois Nature Reserve, near Hilversum Pretty cool, no noise, no vibration, no gears, no clutch, 250 km range. Motorized vehicles are not normally permitted in the reserve, but the rangers patrol on electric motorbikes. https://youtu.be/CZKs0Uza-6c   Watch the YouTube video

  Titbits: credit Daily Mail   

 Green electrical energy is becoming very cheap in Europe,  with more solar and wind power coming online.  This is leading to more efficient local production and distribution of food products

  Even after 75 years, the Dutch are very respectful and grateful for the allied support during WW11 and tending the war Graves is now part of the school curriculum

  Thanks, Jane 

 

 Stubby our wonderful, faithfull, smart, mischievous, Bahamian pot cake dog. He adopted us years ago.  Stubby and his blonde brother came from a house with 22 dogs and would swim across Gt Cistern Bay and  past our house and roam into Murphy Town, raiding garbage dumpsters.   He was a wild dog and had never been handled, trained or peopled and was very wary, was in poor condition and had hundreds of ticks all over, ears, nose, eyes etc. Would not be approached or let anyone near him.   We started to talk to him and leave food.  After many weeks I was able to approach and handle him and would remove dozens of ticks and brush him daily. Then he started hanging out by our house and going home at night. One day we visited a friend, by motorcycle, who lived near the house with 22 foster dogs, when we were leaving on the motorbike Stubby ran after us and followed us home, about 5 miles, by road. He stayed.  I contacted his owner who was only too glad to see him go to a good home.   After a f