The season of Help, My Husband Is Handyman! ends with a real DIY house. The home of Fred and Marijke (also called ‘Wilma’ by viewers) is full of defects, mold and unfinished rooms. And the renovation is not going smoothly because Marijke’s husband is chronically ill. The help of John Williams’ handyman team is therefore desperately needed!
Fred and Marijke in ‘Help, My Husband Is a Handyman!’
When presenter John Williams visits Fred and Marijke, who is also called ‘Wilma’ by viewers, her first reaction makes everything clear. “I’m tired as hell,” she says. Two years ago she and Fred bought the house with the aim of creating more peace. Only they got no rest at all. “Instead, we received a disaster scenario,” said Marijke. Her husband then becomes ill and his illness turns out to be chronic. In recent years, he has not only had open heart surgery, but also two heart attacks and corona. Phew! In the meantime, they had to sign for the house. “During the transfer, I was on my own,” says Marijke. Fred was still in intensive care. During the transfer she discovers some defects, such as damp spots in the corners of the house. Although the house appears to be a major ruin. However, they did need the house, because their old home had already been sold. And Fred had to stay somewhere. “So I signed,” said Marijke.
Daughter’s savings
The house turns out not to be their ideal home at all. A lot of maintenance is still needed, but the renovation is going far too slowly. At one point, Fred and Marijke even temporarily slept in a tent, while Fred was actually very ill. They previously received help from a contractor, but this turned out not to be very successful. It was a beginner, so “quite a few things” went wrong. The flaws only got worse. Now they still get help occasionally, but they mainly do it themselves. They have currently already invested around 100,000 euros in the house. 65,000 euros came from the surplus value they received after the sale of their previous house. They had to borrow 25,000 euros from Marijke’s sister. It is no longer possible to apply for a higher mortgage due to their age. As a result, they also turned over their daughter’s piggy bank. “I think that’s quite bad,” says Marijke. The money was intended for her daughter’s studies. Marijke had saved for this for twenty years.
Guilt
Marijke feels responsible for everything, because she signed it. She blames herself for that. Her husband would focus on his rehabilitation and she on the house. Fred did well, but she did not complete her ‘mountain’ well. At the moment they are trying to do odd jobs around the house together. However, according to Marijke, Fred works very hard at what he does. It scares her. “My biggest fear is being left alone on this,” she tells John. She can’t keep it up herself either. She also has some back problems. She is starting to become depressed from the lengthy renovation. The help of the Help, My Man Is Klusser! handyman team is desperately needed!
Viewers’ amazement
The whole situation of Fred and ‘Wilma’ Marijke causes bewilderment among viewers, as we see on social media. A lot of questions arise, especially about signing the contract. “She had to force it down Fred’s throat to sign between heart attacks,” writes someone on social media channel Ouch… Another viewer may rightly call the situation “hopeless.” The couple was simply hopeless. They really had no choice.
He is having a hard time and her back is hurting… hopelessly #hmmm pic.twitter.com/6aZ94L9jFr
— Aerress (@Aerress1) March 4, 2024
What did Marijke threaten when Fred had to sign on his sickbed? 🤔 #hmmm
— Jerry (@jv_pique) March 4, 2024
She had to force it down Fred’s throat to draw between heart attacks….
Maybe that was a sign…#hmmm pic.twitter.com/PZCdxkkHdX— Aerress (@Aerress1) March 4, 2024
Signs under the influence of your wife and painkillers.
#hmmm pic.twitter.com/lmJFlhfI39— Andrea (@vanWubsbergen) March 4, 2024
the woman is crazy… how can you get your husband to sign while he is critically ill in hospital…. crazy person #hmmm
— edwin (@ simply_edwin) March 5, 2024
So Fred pretty much signed under duress??? #hmmm pic.twitter.com/ofXDrLy5Xh
— M@rianne (@Mrianne5) March 4, 2024
Programs have overshot the mark, buy a house, demolish the whole place and leave #hmmm but come by to renovate part of the house for free, this is the last episode for a very long time and that seems the best to me.
— AnnaPoulain28 (@AnnPoulain28) March 4, 2024
Love is present
Even though the house causes a lot of despair for Fred and Marijke, they apparently still love each other very much. At one point, Fred says soothingly that Marijke cannot do anything about this. “I would have blamed you if you had blown down the house,” he says correctly. That’s why he doesn’t want Marijke to feel guilty. “I hope you can let go of that feeling,” said Fred. Aww…
The handyman team of Help, Mijn Man Is Klusser! helps the couple very well. The handyman team takes care of the top floor, while Fred and Marijke work together in the living room. With the help of friends and family, the living room is finished, giving them a beautiful living room and bedroom. So now it’s time to finally relax more.
