(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Continuing from the previous day’s post, we are enjoying the displays and events put on by the Schoonhoven Fire Service as part of ”Open Monumentendag” (Open Monument Day) where various organisations open their doors so that the public can gain an insight to what they do.
One of the things that this local Fire Service also does is to raise funds for various projects and for this they have an brilliant idea.
The public can take a ride in the cherry-picker “basket” on the end of the biggest extension ladder and in an ingenious twist the ladder extends from the vertical great height to a horizontal one over the roof of the fire station where a large red bucket (or is it an old oxygen tank?) sits waiting for their donation to be deposited.
Himself and I asked the kids if they wanted a ride in this too and confessed our secret relief to each other afterwards when both children looked horrified at the idea and swiftly declined.
Having no head for heights ourselves we reassured them that not wanting to go on this was absolutely fine with us too and I told Kiwi Daughter afterwards that I found the height that this ladder went to rather scary, so didn’t blame her in the least.
It’s certainly a brilliant idea, and I wish I was brave enough to have enjoyed what must have been some fabulous views from so high up. Maybe if the opportunity ever arises again I should stop being a cowardly lioness and summon some courage to give this a go.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
That is a cool idea- and I would do it in a heartbeat! Unfortunately, in the States, there would be lawyers salivating at the chance to sue the fire dept. if one little thing went wrong with the equipment…
Comment by gh — January 5, 2013 @ 3:58 am |
What a shame that a litigation culture would put people off… fear of heights I can understand but surely a long ladder like this would be instructed constantly for structural integrity and be totally safe. Of course it would only take one idiot to jump out and the family would be weighing in with lawyers for compensation. (sigh) Why can;t people just be sensible?
Comment by kiwidutch — January 6, 2013 @ 10:41 pm |
I wouldn’t mind going horizontal to donate but not straight up…I’m like you.
Comment by Karen (Back Road Journal) — January 5, 2013 @ 1:41 pm |
Karen,
I wouldn’t have minded maybe half the vertical height but this was waaaay past my (low) tolerance for heights, I was amazed that so many others didn’t appear to be phased by it, even kids. I suppose we are just not a daredevil family LOL.
Comment by kiwidutch — January 5, 2013 @ 1:46 pm |
Now THAT is scary!
Comment by mairedubhtx — January 5, 2013 @ 2:14 pm |
Mairedubhtx,
I’m glad you think so because I was starting to think we were real wimps when I saw parents with kids younger than mine taking the ride.
Comment by kiwidutch — January 6, 2013 @ 10:38 pm |
OMG you would NOT get me up in that…not for a million euros!
Comment by Piglet in Portugal — January 5, 2013 @ 9:37 pm |
I’m actually rather relieved that it’s not just us who would baulk at such a height, My Father said once that it’s in the Dutch genes to be scared of heights simply because the Dutch don’t have any (LOL that’s true!) but some of the people taking the ride clearly had more courage than we did.
I like to think it was my survival instinct kicking in rather than my courage failing LOL
Comment by kiwidutch — January 6, 2013 @ 10:36 pm |