Sessie feb '26 AFGELAST! - Next Repair Café session: 7-3-'26.
Sessie 2609
Sessie 2508
The tabletop market had already been canceled for this Saturday due to the forecast. But the people at Calico Park were kind enough to arrange for coffee on Saturday and allow us to carry out any repairs indoors. However, when heavy rain showers were forecast for Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, we consulted with some volunteers and the hospitable ladies at Calico Park to cancel our repair session as well, figuring no one would even consider bringing something like a broken vacuum cleaner to the mountain. So, the year 2026 began like no other year for the Repair Café Altura.
Sessie 2507
The December session was all about Sinterklaas, although Santa Claus is naturally far too busy in the Netherlands. Our team was surprised by a pendulum clock that a lady had inherited from her grandfather. The fact that it started working and chiming again (every fifteen minutes) was very appreciated. We were also able to resolve quite a few minor complaints from one of our volunteers, so we could look back on a successful morning with satisfaction. Thanks, Jan, Suus, and Henk.
Sessie 2506
On November 1st—All Saints' Day here in Portugal—we received a large stand mixer that would no longer open. A real challenge for the Repair Café. Daniel and Gerard immediately got to work, and it soon became clear that the "open" knob had been twisted, and loose parts rattled around in the bottom when shaken. Opening it was very difficult due to 12 Phillips-head screws, as well as two small screws with internal triangular heads.
Daniel was caught in the middle of one of these screws, and with considerable force, he managed to loosen it with a regular, small, straight-head screwdriver. The loose, broken parts were removed, and the broken bushing where the knob rotated was reinforced with wire. The hinge worked again, and the mixer was usable again. This is an example of a product that is deliberately difficult to repair. The owner, however, was delighted with a functioning appliance again.
Sessie 2505
We were there on World Animal Day, October 4th,
with Patricia, Jan, and Suus, and signed while waiting for people with items to be repaired. We did manage to complete some outstanding repairs. What an idyllic spot we have!
Sessie 2504
The last session before the holidays. Daniel and I waited for "customers." There wasn't much to do, just a quick investigation into what this was. It turned out to be the motor for an electrically adjustable bed. Probably good for recycling!
Sessie 2503
This first Saturday in May, a deLonghi coffee machine was already ready for us. In addition, the lady with the standing table lamp would return. A heavy downpour broke out halfway through. Nevertheless, the owners of the coffee machine and the standing table lamp were very happy.
The table lamp turned out to be the only thing left from the estate of her father, who died last year. She can now continue to use it and remember him at the same time!
Sessie 2502
There were some notifications, but also some people, who had announced that they were coming with broken devices. Spontaneously also came blowing:
A sewing machine, which stood outside on a porch
A sewing machine, which was already quite old
An electric blanket
A Samsung tablet
Sessie 2501