Pollarding in Stampersgat, Story by Birgit and Cees Biskop

Thursday 23 February 2017, Camping Under the dike, Stampersgat. The weather forecast is at its worst, code yellow to orange, westerstorm, wind 8,9, sometimes even 10!
We've heard all night roar all around our house and the rain on the roof, organized knot-day residents of Titurel will be canceled ... we .denken ...
But nothing is less true! Early morning calls Luke "It goes through! We expect to 10 hours to be with you!"
It was like the signal for the Elfstedentocht; "It goes to!", all hands on deck, all preparations are not in vain, the messages not buy unnecessary!
The reinforcements arrive around 9 hour; Piet and Annelies the knot team, all volunteer at the Everland, helpful and familiar with the residents of Titurel.
arrives too Dorien, which since her internship with us 4 year ago, free calls each year of school in order to help make it a successful day.
Pots and pans emerge, soup- and roerlepels, a cart full. burners, grocery; cans of soup, coffee, thee, orangeade, cookies, Sandwiches, receipt, pancake, milk and chocolate milk.
Annelies is in charge of the catering, she has everything in her head, We run at full speed. The toilets are cleaned, Coffee runs, thermos filled, We expect 40 man, so it's hurry up, but we are on track. candles, the heater burns, the wind howls, the knot men warm up a bit and then arrive vans, the party can start!
What joy in the recognition, Sometimes a name is lost but the most I still know, they come one by one to the inside, shake hands, look around, Luke shares the tools from, because here they come for; knob, prune, saw, cut branches, optassen in stacks.
The tasks are divided by Piet and his men, groups are formed, everyone does what he or she is good at, wind 9, code geel, it can not hurt them, the saw whistling through the woods!
The current weather information to us occasionally reported by Karen, she checked on her cellphone, ook Titurel is online!
If for 11 hours everyone comes in, it is time for coffee with cakes. It warms himself happy at the stove, it's wet outside and in the polder the wind has free play. But inside it is warm and cozy, Three girls have quickly lazy sofa confiscated and make crazy selfies, are all in stitches and is tagged pressure. I do not know how, but they know it!
The atmosphere is good, everyone goes reheated out, there should continue.
I clean the toilets clean again, the floor is muddy, whatever you want with this harsh weather and Stampersgatse clay?! We put forth coffee and tea and Dorien and I go 120 making sandwiches.
Bob, our mainstay in the catering, opens the soup cans and warms both tomatoes- as pea soup on, The frankfurters and chocs. Nothing escapes him, there is nothing burning, we can 100 % to rely on, he is the calmness itself, as we know him!
Karen and each occasionally come within, it is still very cold outside, Martijn also need to warm up by the stove, we hear the latest reports from Karen and that the water is high in Limburg.
I'm going to look out, there is sawn press the cutting block by Ton, Tim en John. The Cees wood crate becomes already pretty filled, I see. Tim has soldatenpak of his father, it looks cool, and he's not cold.
Laurens works steadily, the trees along the creek lose for their crown, branches are placed neatly in piles.
As the storm seems to worsen, as predicted, said Karen, it's lunch time, iedereen is blij met de warme soep van Bob, rolls and frankfurters flying pan out.
I knocked quickly Dorien three suits pannekoekenmix, so that Bob can start baking. Annelies then discovered that we have forgotten the signs! Fortunately Lukas with the solution; the crepes are rolled expertly by him, provided with sugar and syrup and a napkin is doing fine. With three pans at the same time there baked, our dog looks for scraps on the ground and then everything!
The bellies full, the drowsy heat, the candles, we're going to do something?
The answer is yes! The gloves are again attracted, buttoned jackets, helmets, a little longer works, soon there is tea and lemonade!
Tone branches moved into the raging wind, his cheeks are red. Fay and each come quickly back inside, they are thoroughly cold and now do not have to work. Also, Robert Jan warms like the fire and Karen suffers from her rheumatism, inside is better, and so they can have a look at what the weather will do. I read on someone's mobile "Storm in Netherlands, nobody loses, every wind!" , what a good find!
Yet again mopping toilets, Who here works so hard deserves a clean glasses, that's how it is, and then suddenly 3 hours and stand and Annelies Dorien ready with hot drinks and chocolates, iedereen is tevreden, the work is done.
The clothes covered with mud, the ruddy faces and limbs tired, We say goodbye and thank each other. We are grateful for the tremendous help, all the work that has been done, the beautifully pollarded willows, it saves us days of work.
I notice that it always makes me shy again that we are thanked for reception. For it, we feel privileged to have the confidence that we get from this unique wonderful hardworking people.
We hope to see everyone Christmas, and then who knows, if it can ... next year in Stampersgat, love!
We wave the vans from, Also Piet knot the team gathers his things and leaves. We wash the pans, mopping the bathroom, and exit.
Piet and Annelies, Dorien, Lukas, Knotploeg Everland, residents Titurel; Thank you and see you soon!

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