Puppy

We walk the dogs every morning on the plateau behind our house, some 50 meters up. There are orange groves there, and artichokes. And this week, all of a sudden, a puppy. It is not completely untended, there is "food" and there is an oil drum for shelter. But if this is a place for a puppy? Mwah. Hopefully Life takes a good turn for this little one, as our neighbours, the parents of our constructor, just lost their 18-year-old dog this summer. They mentioned looking out for a new one. This new little one had two tick that we took off her (she's a she). It is said everyone is really happy, except for the ticks.

The Hot Box BROKEN! (solar heater) 3 // Calefaccion Solar ROTO! 3

The mosquito netting apparently pulls so hard on the frame that one bar broke. Repaired with a new extra bar, and some bolts.

Ok, this needs some improvement, it's just the test setup.

52ºC / 122ºF at the exit of the solar heater!

47ºC / 116ºF hot air into the interior.

The Hot Box (solar heater) 2 // Calefaccion Solar 2

Today, 10:200, full sun, outside air temperature 16ºC / 60ºF. Result: 50ºC / 120ºF. Fifty! Not bad. What? Fantastic!
I removed the thermometer at 50, as it's the end of the scale.

The Hot Box (solar heater) // Calefaccion Solar

This house is nice and cool in summer because of the thick stone walls. Alas, that means that also in winter the house is cool, even when sunny and 20º outside, which is not pleasant. The house hardly has any windows at the sun side, so there is no heat coming in. That can be helped, with a solar heater. There are various types, but in principle it's a (wooden) box with a transparent front, and a black contraption on the inside, the "absorber". Air passed through the absorber heats up, and is led into the house. The transparent front can be glass, or a plastic or polycarbonate material. The idea is to isolate the collector from the cold outside air, to prevent heat loss.

The black absorber can be various types. Some people make a pipe of soda cans, painted black. Others use a sheet of black metal. Air passed behind that sheet heats up. A very efficient type is constructed with two or more layers of mosquito netting. Pass air through and it heats up.

If you're curious have a look at: https://rimstar.org/renewnrg/solar_air_heater_types_diy_homemade.htm en http://stonehavenlife.com/comparing-solar-air-heater-designs-performance/, en http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/AirColTesting/Index.htm for various types and an efficiency comparison.

I have chosen the "Screen solar air heater (matrix)", with two layers black mosquito netting. As the transparent material I have asked for a sheet of Makrolon 3000 x 2100 x 6 mm to be sawn in three 1 meter wide sheets, so I can build three individual solar heaters of 2.1 x 1 meters. Makrolon is sheet material for transparent roofs. The box is made of thin triplex (4 mm) and 20 x 20 mm wooden bars and some aluminium profile. Used 3 x 10 mm screws and D3 wood glue. A small fan and a 4 Watt solar pan0el for moving the air through.

Today it's ready for it's first test, at 17:00, so near sunset. Outside temperature: 14º C (50º F). Hot air temperature: 38º C (100º F).

Setting sun, eh! Very curious how it'll be in the full sun tomorrow!

I have not insulated the box, nor sprayed it black. I have material for 3 solar heaters, so I will experiment with insulation and black paint with those.

The box is oiled with Tung wood oil inside and outside. (Inside only once.)

Christmas 2017 - Moreno

In Amersfoort, we remember great restaurants like Avocado's, Saffraan, Blok's, and China Palace. In recent years, it's been tradition to dine at Saffraan on Christmas Eve, if they were open. Always a pleasure. Here, there's Juan Moreno in Vera. The Christmas menu below is for lunch on Christmas Day. It's a day more people get that impression, though, because all three rooms were packed. Room 1 is the actual restaurant, and it's beautiful; next to it is a second room, which is nice. And then, unexpectedly by us, there's a third room. It's more of a party room, with coat racks, restrooms, and our table at the back. There was no wine tasting this time either, so we kept it simple with a bottle of nice cava, although the sommelier did try to sell us a bottle of Moët & Chandon. Of course, he didn't succeed.

(See the bloody Buggy?)

But this compensates for all, the pig cheeks. Fantastic!

Christmas 2017 - lights

I like candles on the table. And I've looking rather keenly at the coloured through-and-through glass Kivi lights by Iittala, that are , unfortunately, also rather expensive. 18€ for the cheapest ones. But, this year NRC had a nice offer, that we (I) have fallen for, at 10€ per light. The red and green are nice, the clear one too, but the other three are a bit grey-ish. Hm. I had thought the blue one "rain:" would be that nice blue one, but when lighted it's grey as well. The real blue one is the turquoise of 18€, but unfortunately with 18€ postage and handling, so some other time, perhaps. And the yellow, the lavender, salmon and light blue, please. Perhaps if/when we win the Spanish "Gordo"?

Feliz año nuevo!

Gelukkig nieuwjaar! // Happy new year! // Feliz año nuevo!

Spanish tradition is to put one grape in your mouth every bang of the bell at midnight. You can purchase handy cans with 12 seedless grapes for this purpose. We on the other hand, were tired of working and went to bed at half eleven. No fireworks. At all. Quiet dogs, sleeping well. We remember poor Banjer.

Homework 3

There is progress, as you can see below. And the donkey ring is back in place again.