NONNA's CASTLE (1)

27 Jun 2026

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This week has been awful ! Never ever we had such a heatwave in Europe, France the worst and Belgium not better ! The temperature on Wednesday was 40°C (104 F). our 102 year old Jeanie couldn't remember such a temperature. The whole week we had to live with at least 30° and this in a country with only poor aircondition installations.

It’s no wonder, really, since we often sit in the rain and need heating more than a cooling system. The small portable units—the ones that at least let us cool down a single room—were sold out in no time.

Here in our "castle," things are still manageable because the walls are so thick, but the staff and residents just don't know how to handle hot weather. They open the windows when it’s sweltering, failing to realize that’s exactly when you need to keep everything shut tight! I finally asked one particularly "smart" person if she would open her windows when it’s freezing outside and the heating is on. She looked at me like I was crazy—until I explained that she was doing the exact same thing when it was scorching outside and she had no air conditioning. I think they finally get it now. (as it's said small country, small brain) which of course is not true, but here not all women have traveled a bit, not even to the next town, they don't read and watch the News. Their whole life they were farmer's wives. I really understand now why education and school is so important.

On Monday I still had my Virus and didn't dare to go out shopping, I felt to weak. but on Tuesday I had to go, because cat Rosie needed sand and food ! Fortunately my car is nice and cool and the shop had air condition too. I returned into my oven, but it's bearable with a ventilator and everything closed. If there is a mouse hole without curtain Rosie hasn't discovered it yet.

The staff thanks to the new Director is allowed to wear T-shirts with a sign of the residence, shorts are also allowed. At least this is a human touch—unlike the poor folks who have to wear bearskin hats to guard Buckingham Palace.

So, the staff organized a Wild West barbecue; the grilling took place out on the terrace, while we ate in the cool restaurant—the only room in the castle with air conditioning. It was truly fantastic. The Italian chef even came to my room to fetch me—since I was worried about infecting others with my virus—because he had prepared some lovely Italian salads (see photo), and I tried a bit of everything. After we finished eating, the staff put on music and even danced, despite the heat! The director enjoyed the meal too; she had to laugh because an elderly gentleman kept addressing her as "Madame la Directrice," even though she had told him to call her Amandine. He eventually found a compromise and called her "Madame Amandine." It was really funny. I spent the rest of the day back in my "oven" of a room, but I survived it well.

our cowboys and girls

and the delicious Italian salads

The next day it was 1°C less, we had become so modest that were even happy about such a small gift.

Record-breaking temperatures as Europe swelters under heat dome | ITV News

The Brussels symbol the ATOMIUM was closed too, because the heat in the metal balls was unbearable.

Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Heatwave ...

In Waterloo this week end a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo was supposed to take place, but it was cancelled due to the heat. Of course, the English, Scottish, and German "soldiers", who had traveled to Waterloo from all over the world,were very disappointed. But it would have become too dangerous. All sport events were cancelled, too. Restaurant terraces are empty; no one wants to eat outside.

Actually, I really ought to thank Rick for teaching me, over the years of our marriage, how to live in a hot country without air conditioning, because whenever we drove to Italy to visit his family, nobody ever thought about air conditioning!

Even little Rosie moved from her all year around basket to this summer bed !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

23 Jun 2026

HODGEPODGE JUNE 25

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

Yes summer is here ! As usual or to hot or to cold. This time we have a heatwave which has never happened before. To much is to much that's my biggest summer pet peeve. But a nice temperature and a blue sky that's what I love.

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

I have no special song for summer, I like the same music in all other seasons too.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate.

I spent my summers with my grandparents who lived in the countryside, near a small town. We played outside all day, jumping from hay barns into the hay, and had a great time. Luckily, our son had the same childhood as my husband and I, because when we moved to Waterloo, it was a small village with many farms, fields, and cows. The farmer who owned the field behind our garden let the children sit on the machines that baled the hay. my son, too, was outside all day. Today, that's no longer possible, since the Belgian child murderer Dutroux brutally abused and then killed four little girls. After that, parents were afraid to let their children go out alone.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

We have never celebrated father's day. My grandma always said, "it's father's day the whole year long" It didn't exist either when I was a child I loved my grandpa very much, he told me so much about nature, took me in the woods at 4 am to watch The deer, stags, or even wild boars.

My grandpa

That impressed me greatly. He also carved me little flutes out of willow wood. He was a real grandpa!

I can't say much good about my father. I was like a Barbie doll for him to show off around, and when I was older, he even faked discretely that I was his girlfriend, because I was a rather pretty girl. My poor mother was the victim of his moods. He could be very bitchy and hurtful. For the outside world, he was such a charming and nice gentleman; no one could imagine what a distasteful person he was. Except our neighbor, who was my mother's friend. He wasn't violent, it was worse; he found words that hurt her deeply, and I saw her crying very often. She was, so to speak, his doormat, but she loved him. With me he never dared, when I was little I had my grandma behind me, and when I was older I also had a sharp tongue !

I learned very early to protect her from my father's spiteful words. That made me very distrustful of men, and I told them all to get lost, not very politely, until I finally met the love of my life. We were both 24 and 26 then. When he became a father, I was so surprised and amazed, he was so loving and caring father, and also playful I had never seen that.