HODGEPODGE MARCH 12

 1. Are you a naturally trusting person? Is trust built on logic or 'gut instinct'? Does everyone deserve a second chance? Elaborate. 

I'm very distrustful; it stems from my youth. I don't trust anyone, especially not men. The only man I trusted 100% was Rick. Of course, my distrust can turn into trust, but that takes time or will never happen.

I think everybody deserves a second chance, except the pedophiles. They will never change, since they were born that way. Prison won't help at all, the only thing that will help is to castrate them all.

2. 'Beware the Ides of March'...March 15th on the ancient Roman calendar, these words were made famous by William Shakespeare in his play Julius Caesar.  Caesar was assassinated on March 15th 44 B.C. Have you read any Shakespeare? If so, do you have a favorite? Have you ever been to Rome? 

Yes I have read Shakespeare but long time ago. I don't have a favorite play or maybe Romeo and Juliet, it's quite difficult to read, but I have been on Juliet's balcony ! We have been everywhere in Italy, but not in Rome, we thought we would need a few days and never made it and now it is too late. Well honestly I will survive. But I have visited Stratford on Avon where Shakespeare was born and have visited the house where he was born. 

 

 Juliet's balcony in Verona

3. Do you like a Caesar salad? If given the choice between a garden/house salad or Caesar which do you order? Anchovies or no? What's your favorite salad dressing? 

I love all kind of salads, but without anchovies, I don't like the taste. I made my salad sauce myself and still do, it's only Balsamic vinegar with olive oil, very simple.

4. Where do you typically work (or blog if that's easier) at home? Do you have a dedicated home office space? Are you happy with that space? 

I work sitting on my sofa with the computer on my lap. In my castle I have a very big room, almost a little flat, and it is a cozy place, with cat Rosie by my side. It's a very sunny room (of course when the sun is shining ) 

5. Snow drops, daffodils, lenten roses, crocus, hyacinth, or early tulips...what's your favorite early Spring flower? 

 

I have no favorite flower, (except the sunflower, but that is not for spring) otherwise I take them all, especially when it is a colorful place. For the moment I saw only daisies and daffodils and a beautiful Japanese cherry tree ! Nothing else it's too early.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm still exhausted from my Zona. Plus, I read that it lasts at least four weeks! I'm often in pain especially at my right eye, and only a painkiller helps. I'm not allowed in the sun, and of course, it's shining now! So I'm feeling a bit depressed and don't feel like doing anything.

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY-IMAGE-IN-ING

If you need anything, come and visit the Flea Market in Brussels ! It's unbelievable I even saw a basket full of false teeth !

 

 

more participants here and Image-in-ing here

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MARCH 7

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND 

We have such a nice sunny weather, that we are all longing to sit outside, but for that it's a bit cool. With my shingles I have to avoid the sun and sitting in the shade is too cold. Despite the fact that we have now 3 animators, there was none for the weekend. I don't know who does the planning, but he's not very talented. There's either too much staff or too little. 

Last night, when I was already in my nightgown and about to put my bottles outside the door, I saw two people, Francine and André, one wandering around the other rolling  in our long hallway in his wheelchair. They had both forgotten their room number and floor. Francine was practically already standing in front of her door, and I simply escorted her into her room. André, who was cheerfully rolling back and forth in his wheelchair, told me the room number, but he couldn't remember the floor.

That really surprised me, because André is the one who is practically a Mr. Wikipedia and wins all the quizzes. It's really unbelievable  how much he knows. But apparently, after 90, the brain gets a bit temperamental, the simple everyday things don't stick anymore, while he still knows how many planets there are or what the capital of Benin is.

I pushed him into the elevator and pressed for 2. He still remembered his room number. At least he arrived safely, because I, of course, reported it. The staff  has to escort people who eat in the restaurant back to their rooms. By now, even I know who it is. Sometimes it happens quite suddenly that perfectly normal people suddenly don't know where they live!

Sunday was the same weather and this time I really had to go out into the fresh air. So I put on a warm vest, a cap, and sunglasses, and was very happy because my shingles didn't hurt, the medication the doctor had prescribed seem to be really good.

Before I went to play Bingo, I took a painkiller and felt almost normal.

We had a lot of fun because we had a very funny new old lady with us who could only call out the numbers in Flemish (Dutch) and not in French. So we all dusted off our Flemish and called out the numbers bilingually. Of course, some people's pronunciation was terrible, so I translated them into German, and everyone who had studied German in school happily joined in. It was very amusing playing Bingo and also taking a language course. André was really keen to show me everything he had learned in German at school and quoted the conjugation of some verbs. He had also learned some swear words from German soldiers and was very proud of his knowledge. I was amused and thought, how wonderful it is that we are all sitting together peacefully now, while 80 years ago our parents were enemies. In our group we were all between 76 and 101 years old and I was surprised that they had nothing forgotten. 

And now the politicians are starting war again. Sometimes I think I am going back in time. 

Fortunately the first signs of spring are coming out (so early) these were the first flowers I saw this year !