1 May 2026

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

We had a nice week ! The weather was wonderful and we could sit outside almost the whole week. 

 The games were nice, as this one, but I forgot the name.

 
 
That was an interesting game; we had to pull out the wooden blocks without the whole tower collapsing. We managed it and were very proud because it wasn't easy! After that we got little cakes and coffee.

This is AndrĂ©, who reminds me of my grandpa,  he is licking his fingers. His belly looks like he has swallowed a football (soccer).


On Wednesday we celebrated the birthday of all those who were born in April. This time, our housekeeper's 13-year-old daughter sang. At first, I was a little skeptical, but it turned out that the girl sang better than all the older singers we had had before, and because of them I didn't always attend the birthday parties. They sang ancient songs and seemed to have forgotten that our generation was the same as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis, etc.
 
She even sang Amy Whinehouse which was not easy at all ! 
 
 

and then we ate the birthday cakes which tasted delicious.
 
 


I didn't go out at all this week and found something new ! My son had sent me our old Wedding picture in black and white, colored and it looked like new. I googled how I could do that too. It took me some time until I found the right AI program and here are my results. I don't know how the AI found the right colors I hadn't given any instructions but my blouse had exactly these colors ! I have to admit that I was quite proud of the result. 
 
As Friday was the first of May we had a day off. I mean the people who work, it was a holiday. The use in Belgium and France is, that you offer a Lilly of the Valley to your friends, neighbors, family etc. 
We all got one, and as I had no vase, I just put it in a beer bottle, that's modern art ! 
 



 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.
 
 
 
 
 
 

29 Apr 2026

HODGEPODGE APRIL 30

1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why. 

I rather feel like a snail ! As April was nearly summer like, May will be like autumn, the weather has become like a certain politician. Moody.

full speed ....Cartoon Snails 


2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favorite form of art? Elaborate.  
 
I was a hobby painter for over 20 years. Ever since Rick died, I lost my creativity and can't paint anymore. But I still love to go to expositions of sculptures, I love architecture, literature, and theater. Music depends, I love the music of my generation (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Freddy Mercury, Elton John etc) 
 
 
 3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers? 

When we were a family, we had our main meal at 7 pm, because during the day we were working and our son was in school. Now here I eat the main meal at noon, and supper is at 5.30 (difficult to get used to after 60 years) Supper I eat at 7, earlier I have no appetite 

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating? 

I suppose that I am too old to fall in rabbit holes ! Can't remember anything..

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...

At what are you 'self-taught?' 

Languages. German was my mothertongue, so I learned it automatically at school. I also learned English at school for nine years. But I never became fluent, that came naturally a bit later,  because I worked for an American company. I couldn't speak French at all, and I learned it at a French business school—or rather, I didn't really learn it; I just picked it up when my friends talked together. When you have to speak, you don't think for long. Italian was the last language I learned. I fell in love with an Italian, and when we were in Italy visiting his family, I absolutely wanted to understand what they were saying about me. Curiosity is a means to an end, after all. It wasn't long before I was speaking Italian. I really can't say that I learned vocabulary or paid attention to grammar; it all came naturally. My grandson, at 15, already speaks three languages: Dutch (at school and with his mother), French with his father, and English with his father's colleagues' children. I even learned to write, don't ask me how.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thanks to the nice weather, I feel on holidays, I enjoy our park, I have no special thoughts for the moment and our staff too. Isn't it nice to have the lunch break in a beautiful park on wooden tables with  bench.   



 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY



 

Belly dancer in Hurghada (Egypt)

Belly dancing is originated thousands of years ago in Egypt, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, primarily it was a social, celebratory dance and a fertility ritual to prepare women for childbirth,historically performed by women for other women to celebrate femininity,and fertility, and not for male entertainment, evolving later into diverse cultural entertainment forms. 

 Egypt's traditional folklore dance and dress is both fascinating and  entertaining, perfectly capturing the country's rich culture.

Embracing the Belly Dance History and Health Benefits 

These were the ancient costumes, today they are less dressed !  

 

more participants here