27th March 2022 – The work on Tordino continues. I cleaned the entrance of the ship. The tools for working on the Stern and new packages with books were stored around the steps. There was barely any room to walk around. In the evening I scanned books in the library. Sorting out the Library will be the next big job. I can’t wait to open for the public.
Author: frederic - page 24
24th March 2022 – It was a busy afternoon. A lot of small jobs have been done, but there is still a lot that needs doing! I cleaned the concrete talud, wiped the gangways, mounted the flag posts, moved some cupboards in the hold, removed old content and replaced it with new one, etc…
A lot more needs doing but that is a job for Sunday!
19th March 2022 – The workshop was built during the first Covid-period. I had plenty of time and was lucky to have ordered the wood and insulation two days before there was a lockdown. It now feels strange to empty this space. My parents removed most of my tools last week. Now it is up to me to take the bigger parts like the cupboards and the old panels of other barges that I was storing here.
12th March 2022 – Today we visited two cemeteries in Bretagne. The last one was in Douarnenez where we had a good access to the boats. It still intriges me how they were built and how they still last in that condition after all these years.
3rd March 2022 – A nice day to take some pictures of an regular visitor on our canals, the Rio Negro.
25th February 2022 – I finally found some time to add the scanned postcards to the digital library of Erfgoed in Zicht. It feels good to keep myself a bit busy again with the museum.
25th February 2022 – Since I need to empty the Watergeus by the end of the month, I had to create a small scanning office in the Library of Tordino. At least the scanning of postcards and documents can now continue. Therefore I moved my servers and computers to Tordino. A delicate job, taking a few hours.
24th February 2022 – I’ve decided to sell the Watergeus through a broker. I have enough experience to sell boats, but the time is killing me. So many projects going on, I don’t know what to do first!
23rd February 2022 – My parents painted the back accommodation of the Watergeus. It now makes me doubt if I want to sell her…
19th February 2022 – Today I received some bad news. A good friend, Barrie Grant passed away. He was always travelling with his tjalk Silk Purse and was often alongside Watergeus or Tordino. He died while trying to help a neighbour in the marine of Ypres during the storm yesterday. I remember him as a real enthusiastic person, together wit his wife, always giving me a beer and making time for a good chat! He will be missed.
18th February 2022 – A bit late, after the last couple of days having got a lot of wind, I decided to put a few more straps on the wheelhouse, solar panels and masts. I also removed the flags from the gangway. Let’s hope everything stays fine.
17th February 2022 – I’ve just scanned a set of old postcards, installed my computers from the Watergeus aboard Tordino and secured the ship for the coming storm.
12th February 2022 – Another day of moving furniture, this time I moved cabinets for the books and pieces for the museum like steering wheels and old chairs.
11th February 2022 – I went to pick up a model of a ‘houten waal’. This is an anchestor of a spits barge, built in wood. The model was so big I temporary have to store it at my parents place.
5th February 2022 – I finally continued with cutting and removing the water tanks to make room. I was glad the job is done. I gained a lot of space now to move my stuff from the Watergeus.