Man, what a day! I swear, being a machine milking operator in Noordwijk-Binnen is like riding a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. So, I wake up, right? The sun’s barely up, and I’m already dragging my feet. I live on the edge of the Dijkweg, and lemme tell ya, that street is like a racetrack in the morning. Cars zooming past like they’re late for a meeting or something. Chill, people!
So, I get to the dairy farm, and it’s all good vibes. Cows are mooing, and I’m like, “Let’s do this!” But then, bam! The milking machine decides to throw a tantrum. Like, seriously? I’m standing there, trying to fix it, and it’s just making this awful grinding noise. I’m sweating bullets, thinking, “If I don’t get this sorted, I’m gonna be the laughing stock of the whole farm.”
Then, outta nowhere, my buddy Jan comes in. He’s got this huge grin, and I’m like, “Dude, what’s up?” He tells me he just got a new bike. A fancy one! I’m happy for him, but also a bit jealous. I mean, I’m still riding my old clunker. But whatever, right?
After I finally get the machine working, I head out for a break. I stroll down the Hoofdstraat, and it’s buzzing. People everywhere, grabbing their morning coffee, chatting. I stop by this little café, De Zwarte Ruiter. Best coffee in town, no joke! I grab a cappuccino, and it’s like heaven in a cup. I’m feeling good, but then I see this guy drop his croissant. I can’t help but laugh. Like, dude, how do you drop a croissant?
Anyway, I head back to the farm, and guess what? The cows are acting up. They’re all restless, and I’m like, “Chill, ladies! We got this!” But they’re not having it. One of them, Bessie, decides to kick the milking machine. I’m standing there, mouth agape, thinking, “Is this cow trying to sabotage me?”
Then, out of nowhere, my boss, Mr. Van der Meer, shows up. He’s this grumpy old dude, always on my case. He sees the chaos and just shakes his head. I can feel my blood boiling. Like, come on, man! I’m doing my best here! But then he cracks a smile. “You’re gonna need a bigger machine for these girls,” he says. I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I get everything sorted. The cows are milked, and I’m exhausted but relieved. I step outside, and the sun’s setting over the fields. It’s beautiful, honestly. The sky’s all orange and pink, and I’m just standing there, soaking it in.
But then, I hear this loud noise. I turn around, and it’s a bunch of kids on bikes, racing down the street. They’re screaming and laughing, and I can’t help but smile. It reminds me of when I was a kid, just carefree and wild.
As I head home, I can’t shake the day off. It was a rollercoaster, for sure. I’m thinking about Bessie and her rebellious streak, Jan’s new bike, and that poor guy’s croissant. Noordwijk-Binnen, man. It’s got its quirks, but it’s home. And even on the craziest days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.