When I first bought the Vereeniging in December 2001, the man who helped Koos and I bring it back to Rotterdam from the east of the country published this article about my barge and its engine on his website, and tonight, I found it again! The old photo at the top is of the Vereeniging when it was first built in 1898, the one next to it is just after our arrival in Rotterdam and you can see the Hoop (of my WW blog) lying next to it. The other photo at the bottom of the page is of us on the way from Grave to Rotterdam. That frozen looking dark haired body on my barge is my good self, and the figure standing in the wheelhouse of the tug boat is Koos. Ahhh nostalgia!
By popular demand,(ok,ok, I got the message ;-))here is a link to a hilarious translation of that page, courtesy of Babel fish translator on Altavista.com. I know I can make more sense of it, but this is such a hoot!
RIVERGIRL: books, blog and barges: My posts are mini-memoirs about about life on a barge, our travels and the Netherlands. Oh and sometimes about my writing.
Nostalgia indeed. A splendid time was had by all, that is you, our wonderfully helpful tugboat owning friends and myself.
ReplyDeleteThe dogs were less amused and decided to stay under deck.
Wow. I would never have guessed The Vereeniging was built that long ago.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love the old picture. Do you happen to know that the barge's original name was?
ReplyDeleteLovely article Val - wish I could read it!
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic to see those old pictures. She is indeed a handsome beast. It does look cold in some of those pics though; I am such a wus. I do like the close-ups of the engine and plate. For the real enthusiast!
One thing I'm sure of though - whoever owned her in the past, she's never been more loved.
Cool! love you maaaaaaaa
ReplyDeleteWow Val - she's 100 years old!
ReplyDeleteYou are floating - and living - on a piece of history for sure.
That is so neat you have a written history of your home.
Have a great long weekend Val and Koos!
Thank goodness for my talking fish...
Hi Val,
ReplyDeleteTwo things:
Now you really have to come over to fare the "Gravelandse vaart". (Part of some tours we make with www.vestingvaart.nl) and your engine has gone....what a shame or waste.....
Love,
E.J.
N.B. What a beautifull ship though!
b.t.w.
ReplyDeleteI do have some background information on the 's Gravelandse vaart.
Archeologists just dug out the old lock at the river Vecht near fortification 'Uitermeer'.
The Canal was made for 'Maarten Tromp' and other V.O.C. managers to make it possible to create their mansions in 's Graveland.
The 17th century lock is still (partly) vissible at this moment.
Do not know if they keep it like this or cover it up again. Let me know and I'll show you around. This area is also reachable by scooter, car, train or whatever.
Boats not required.
Love,
E.J.
Happy Easter MUMMMMMMY!
ReplyDeleteHope Koos has hidden some chocolate eggs for you! ANd you for him!
I'm working this weekend, but it's ok, then I can really enjoy our time in July!
it looks different in the old pic..you have restored it well..lovely pics of you and koos..
ReplyDeleteWow, that is so neat, Val!! It must be exciting to have a picture of your barge when it was just built so many years ago, living history under your feet. It's too bad I don't speak Dutch to read the article! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you. Yes, it's a pity the article's in Dutch. Maybe I can translate it and add an attachment. Will have a go and see.
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie, the original name was Loenen Amsterdam.
Stu, yes, she's even older than I am ;-)
Margie, I'd like to think you are right as the Vereeniging is, above all other things, my pride and joy and very much loved!
Yay Dale, I love living on a monument. If you think about it, we are museum exhibits ourselves as we live in a museum harbour..lol.
Momo, my sweets, happy easter to you too. Wish I could be with you this weekend.
Erik Jan! We'd love to come and see that lock. Maybe next weekend? this weekend the roads are way too busy to we're staying put.
Gypsy, the only change I've made is to increase the head room a bit in the hold so that we can stand up!
Mary Beth, a lot of people are amazed at how old my barge is. Living and historic she definitely is. I'll see what I can do about the article...
Hi Val, now I must learn a new language to read this article? ;0)
ReplyDeleteExcellent pics! That's great that you are surrounded by such lush history!
I'd love to see it in person someday.
Hope all is well, Ed
More reading for you is up now, my dear. No need to go apoplectic. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe photos are beautiful and speak volumes, and I would love to see a translation if that's possible. What a rare record for you to have with both of your much loved watery homes, yourself and Koos in one place!
ReplyDeleteVery cool Val! I love the photos and the sense of history behind your barge... and I made a point of reading the story out loud and with great conviction, no doubt brutalizing all pronounciations and without a single clue what any of it said. But I think I had the accent down pretty well... and I sounded like I knew what I was saying...
ReplyDeleteOh I can hear it now! LOL Aspirin! Where's the aspirin?
ReplyDeleteOh my, what is it that somebody once said - if you say something with conviction it always sounds like you know what you're talking about...or something like that.
Way to go! I wasn't brave enough to even try...
two words...double dutch!!!..
ReplyDeleteThat I've tried!
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie! Thanks so much for putting me out of my misery dear. Empty Glass has become a compulsion with me. It's definitely best seller material, and I really mean that!
ReplyDeleteEd, so nice to see your name back here again! I've left a comment on your blog, but I think everyone should know that you are not Ed at all - he's Harry Potter all grown up, folks. Go have a look!
Rache, thanks for your interest, dear. As soon as I can I'll translate the article so that if anyone's interested, they can read it. I am rather conscious of living in a museum here too, as this weekend in particular, we've had lots of visitors coming by to look at our barges! Keeps that sense of history alive.
Stevie, I laughed so when I read your comment. That's precious! As Gyppo says, it's all double dutch unless you are dutch. De-coding it is quite easy then...that's why I keep that long lanky man of mine hanging around, see ;-)
Gypsy, single dutch is hard enough...don't go making it double..lol!
Hi there Val,
ReplyDeleteYour question on my photobucket account: I do still have it and there is some amount of photos there. Here's the address: http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/ELWisty2006/
Will read the updates on the WW blog very soon!
Maria
I'm fluent in pig-latin to you know.
ReplyDeleteoops, I mean "...too, you know!"
ReplyDelete..Mines a double vodka and pineapple..ice..no ice..
ReplyDeletepig latin?..i thought they only spoke porkugese..
ReplyDelete...or Frenchfurter...?
ReplyDeletecould it be swineheellie?
ReplyDeleteThank god I can read Dutch! Just kidding...
ReplyDeleteHi Val,
ReplyDeleteI'm back on blogland. Interesting article. I understand the most, because the Dutch language is near German. Now the spring is comming and you can go on the road, or better on the water with your barge. I promise I come back soon.
Love and peace
Stefan
I've just howled with laughter over the translation that Babel fish has given me for that link. do check it out! It is total rubbish but some of you might get some idea of what it's about...if you have a very good imagination. I'll do my best to give a better one some time soon ;-)
ReplyDeleteStefan!!! I didn't see you there! Welcome back to blogland. Must pop in to see you.
ReplyDeleteString...help is at hand...lol!
Hi Val,
ReplyDeleteBrilliant article! Love the pictures, nice bit of history the good old Vereeniging. Actually quite funny that the article mentions that people should come and check out the boat and that during summer it really is an attraction for quite a few tourists. You should train Sindy to chase away the the Japanese though, otherwise they'll up camp on your walking plank :-)
set up camp
ReplyDeleteand
boarding plank..
Gods, I'm all over the place today... Oh look there's some more of me over there....
LOL Baz.....there's bits of you everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHe's been busy all over our blog too *not so subtle hint* ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Val and Koos,
ReplyDeleteWeek-ends are terribly difficult right now. Week days (Monday - thursday) are much more conviniant.
Let me know. Love,
E.J.
1898!!!...Wow! i didn't realise it was that old..it has certainly wheatherd well..old craftmanship never dies..and of course all the love and care you put in to it..long may she sail..
ReplyDeletethe bable fish translation was a hoot! LMAF!
ReplyDeleteAs I was commenting on my blog recently, the canal in Nottingham on which the city's fortunes in coal and silks was once based, is sadly neglected. It could be such an attractive (and lucrative) feature. But instead the Council spend 8 million on concrete paving stones and imported Egyptian marble for the town square.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for sending me to your daughters site, and animal lover too! And thanks for the link to you piece of history. Is the pic in your last post your pup? It is such an amazing thing to do to rescue and abused dog, one of my dogs Summer is a rescue, certainly was abused by things she does, my last dog, who passed in dec. 2005 was a rescue too and had some issues. It is interesting, June my 1 year old, from a breeder, who I have had since she was 8 weeks old, shows no signs of any issues, interesting to see the difference of a dog who has a tough life and one who has had it all good. All are precious and deserving of endless love.
ReplyDeleteI did read the english version of the link of your boat, it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was really impressed, to be honest.
I wonder what it looks like from the inside, it looks so low from the outside(because of resting in the water) and yet I know there's more room in it.:)
If you ever post anymore pics of it let me know!
I also was tickled to learn about ...
Denglish? I think you have the most interesting blog. :)