FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The weather was nice and warm this week, and we were able to use our terrace the whole week. 

For the first time since I've been here, Gilberte joined in our games. Gilberte is 103, which makes her quite special. 

103 year old Gilberte, Lilly 71 and Solange 98, from left to right 

Gilberte ALWAYS won the quiz game and even hit the basketball net once, while I almost broke a window and the ball flew everywhere but not at all into the net.  

We also saw our runaway again; he had been in the secure unit for a while. After all, they had been searching for him for almost two days, using helicopters, television, and the police. Since then, the doors have been secured with a code, and access to the nearby park with two ponds is now also closed. (But you can get the key if you want)

One night around 11 pm, suddenly somebody knocked at my door. It was my neighbor in her nightgown, and she asked if I also had no light or television. Since I was on my tablet, my light wasn't on. And in fact, everything was dark at my place, too. 

We saw the night nurse, but she didn't know anything about electricity, and I decided to go back to bed. Luckily, the cell phones also have a flashlight, so I was able to put Genny to bed. It was still dark, (no ghost showed up) so I went back to bed and continued reading. I didn't feel like dealing with an electrician. I think the staff should know how to fix a breakdown. 

 

 

We went again on an excursion, to visit the castle in Seneffe, not far from Brussels. Luckily, we were inside the castle, outside, it was 

raining for the first time in a long time, just when we were going out!

 

 our group, we were 12

 

Imagine to sleep with this wig on your head ! 

 

 

The castle looked nice, and the park must have been beautiful too, but since it was raining, we didn't walk around. I just saw a lot of statues: Roman, Greek, a colorful mix, as if the owner or the restorers (the castle belongs to the state) had little knowledge of history.

I join some pictures, the story of the castle I will write in an extra post. We were all tired and waited for our taxi bus. We had to wait more then an hour, as the only restaurant was closed this day. 

Finally instead of 5 pm we arrived home half dead at 6.15 ! 

 

 

One of the stuffed hunting victims stuffed (unfortunately) also exhibited.

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE AUGUST 28

1. When someone finds out what you do or where you're from, what's a question they always ask ? 

Do you still speak German ? Answer is yes of course 

2. Did you participate in 'Greek Life' when you were in college, or have children who did? If so what was your experience like? Taking another tack...have you ever been to Greece? If not, is that a destination on your bucket list? 

 

I have no idea what Greek Life is, but I have been on a trip around Greece (not the islands) and stayed 3 days in Athens, and didn't like it at all. The people unfriendly, the landscape beautiful, the historical sites dirty and neglected, Athens is a very ugly town. 

 

The Acropolis is always in reparation and you are lucky if you can see a bit. It looks better from far then inside !

 

Apparently the islands are much better. Anyway I have seen the main land once and that was more then enough. 

3. Do you like Greek food? If so what's your favorite dish? 

 

Yes I love Greek food I think I love everything. Unfortunately we have never eaten so badly then in Greece itself. (Mozzarella instead Feta) rolls so hard you could only break them with a hammer etc etc. Even a 4* hotel is not like you would expect. 

4. What incredibly common thing have you never done? 

I have never begged in the streets. (or elsewhere)

5. What is a telltale sign that you're upset? 

There is no sign, I just show or say it ! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today we played a game with letters and had to create a word. For the first time since I am here, our 103 year old Gilberte, played with us and won ! We all applauded, she is really unbelievable ! Usually she never plays with us, but this time she heard us laughing so much, that she told me, she became curious and wanted to laugh too ! Aging like her would be a pleasure ! Nobody would think that she is so old when you see her. 

 Gilberte 103 years, plays Basket ball and has fun with us youngsters

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The first King of Belgium, Leopold I

 

These are parts of the Castle of Laeken, residence of the Belgian King Philip

 

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AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND AUGUST 23

 

 

  

 

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WEEKEND 

Normally I do my shopping on Friday's not to take the place of people who only have time for shopping on Saturday because it's a day off. But on Friday the air was not good for me and I felt like an old woman which I am but refuse to be.

Shopping done it was time for our game which was very interesting this time. Kim read us old laws in all countries of the world and asked if they are still in use or not ! That was so funny ! There were so unbelievable laws like here in Belgium, every car had to drive behind a horse, led by a man with a bell to keep people from getting scared! Back then, there were probably only three cars on the street.

In France women could not manage their own finances or inherit property without their husband's consent and a few more ....

UK

Wearing a suit of armor: It is illegal to wear a suit of armor in Parliament.

The Honorable Lord Smith

France 

Naming a pig Napoleon: In France, it is illegal to name a pig "Napoleon." 

 

Switzerland

No flushing toilets after 10 PM: In certain Swiss municipalities, flushing toilets after 10 PM is considered noise pollution and is banned.

not to be used after 10 pm

You can imagine that we had a lot of laughter !     

On Sunday the sun was shining but it was really cold 10°C early morning.  Only reluctantly did I leave my warm bed around 9 a.m. because Rosie had sung me awake at 7 because of her apparently empty stomach. 

Then I devoted myself to my fading beauty, and suddenly it was time for lunch again.  

While cleaning up, I found a pair of shoes that were still in their box and that I had never worn. Probably I had forgotten them during my moves and was glad that I had bought new ones, which I wanted to do ! 

Our game this time was very amusing. I had to start with a sentence and my neighbor had to continue and then her neighbor at the end  we had made a very funny story without any sense ! From eating an apple we ended on a graveyard ! 

Then our two oldies who are always talking about wars in which they never participated or suffered, but if you listen to them you think they were both soldiers. And each day it is the same and then they start to fight. We always laugh because it is too funny. 

They are like two fighting cocks, one as round as a ball and the other as big as a beanpole. I have to admit, though, that when they're not talking about wars, we say three words, and then they start, and we have fun. So far they haven’t noticed that we do it on purpose.

Rosie gets a bit stiff to jump on the sofa !

  

 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Nothing special happened this week, besides one resident who walks a lot fell on the grass was white like a blanket but wanted to continue to play. The nurse gave her a tranquilizer and after a short time she was normal again, the girl is 98 ! 

I have to laugh about myself when I mention the age of my cohabitants or even my age, I had never thought about this. What I notice is that all the  once in their 80 and 90 are behaving like teenager, laugh a lot and tell stories of their youth. 

We had very nice weather so it was perfect when my son came visiting me with the whole family on their way back from France where they spent their holidays, stopped 3 days in Paris and then half a day here. Unfortunately the photographers of the family (my son and I) forgot to take pictures so I only have a few. We pic nicked on our terrace, instead of going to a restaurant or eating in our restaurant. He bought delicious salmon salads with all kind of vegetables, rice or couscous, the drinks I had in my fridge and the cutlery was given to him by the girl in the kitchen. Leia the dog was happy, it is the only place where she can ran around as the park is so big and she cannot get out. 

She likes to say hello to everybody and everybody is happy to have the attention of a friendly dog. 

My DIL and I continue to shrink, "little" Toby has nearly reached the height of his father (2m) and they were the attraction of the whole residence ! 

 Father and son (14)

 

 

Leia overlooking her property

 

 

 

One of our castle cats !  

My artistic birthday card ! The A is the Eiffel tower

 

 

My son celebrated his birthday and I found these practical bike gloves 

Rosie became a bit stiff to jump on the sofa !

 

 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE

1. What's worth standing in line for? 

I try to avoid standing in line, I hate that. If possible I buy tickets online. 

That's what I did when I visited the Buckingham palace, where a km long line of people stood or sat and I walked straight through to the entrance, where I had to sit down until the once which were inside got out and then we were let in. Wonderful system ! After the rather disappointing palace, I had a coffee in a special "Buckingham" cup and a delicious piece of cake. Then I wandered around in the park which was beautiful. 

2. Tell us about a favorite food related memory. 

Once I was in Paris to help a friend to set up her new apartment. Her mother then invited us to dinner at the most famous brasserie in Paris, dated from the end of the 19th century in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The Brasserie Lipp, with its superb Art Nouveau decor, is still a true star. This restaurant, adorned with large mirrors surrounded by ceramics painted with floral motifs, is also a favorite among the world of politics and literature. From Proust to Hemingway, countless celebrities have visited here, which surely explains why this establishment is known throughout the world. I had heard of it too, but that was it. To thank me that I had helped her daughter, she ordered for me a dish of sauerkraut with oysters ! I've never eaten sauerkraut with oysters, I didn't even know it existed. Honestly, I don't remember if it was good or not. In any case, the price must have been exorbitant !

3. What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming?

Sitting at the beach watching and listening to the waves of the sea 

 

 4. Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child? 

Now nothing anymore, but until we were a family I was excited as I was when I was a child, and that was Christmas. 

5. To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school? high school? college if you attended college? 

With only one from Germany we know each other since 1951, went to school in Germany and then in Brussels. All the others have disappeared, the last of my best friends was in April.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My son and family came for a short visit on their way back from France where they spent their holidays. 

 

Little mum with her two giants 

For the first time Toby and I had a nice conversation together, his parents were shopping. He asked me what I did do when I finished school, because he has only two years more and then school is finished, unless he wants to go to university then it's one year more. I told him the same what I had told my son, the most important thing is to love what he is doing, and have joy with his job and of course earn good money. He was satisfied with my answer and happy that I didn't insist on University. Fortunately his parents don't push him either. Now he thinks to go into his fathers steps which means working for publicity posters, and he told me that the last week of his summer holidays he wants to work in his father's studio. I found that a very good idea and of course approved. But as he is so young (14) I told him to take off a year and travel to see something of the world. When the parents can afford it I think it is a good idea, later he has to study, to work and earn money and is not so free like now. 

When they left, he hugged me a little more then usual ! 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Exhibition of the Bounty replica which was used for the movie. You could see and visit the ship in Ostende (Belgium)

war ship in Marseille (France)

 

Tourist ship in Istambul (Turkey)

Sanary (France)

Sanary (France)

If you travel a lot and visit ports you will of course see a lot of ships. For me the Bounty was the most interesting ship.

  

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AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND AUGUST 16

 

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WEEKEND 

Saturday I felt so tired, as if I had run around the globe. Unfortunately that was not the case and my entry in the Guinness Book of records has to wait. 

Instead after having tried my first painting since 7 years, I joined the others for coffee. It was perfect outside, not too hot and not too cold, so we stayed there the whole afternoon until the kitchen staff called us for supper ! That was the first time that we were late. 

On Sunday morning I nearly became a criminal, I slept and a new helper woke me up to ask where she should put the tray. Before I exploded, I faked to sleep and fell in sleep again, fortunately. 

When I had my breakfast it was just 9 am so it was perfect and as the sun was shining I thought it will be a nice day. For lunch we had roasted chicken, salad with croquettes, and then ice cream. For starters, there was goat cheese with honey sauce. So far so good. But then one misfortune followed another. 

Suddenly, the window burst open, knocking a vase to the floor, which turned into a puzzle. Luckily, the cleaning lady was there and cleaned everything away. Then my (computer) mouse fell into my glass of beer. I don't know how I managed that, of course it drowned, and I had to bury it in the bin. 

Fortunately it was time to join the others for a ball game. I didn't play I just watched and made photos while a red ball that matched my T-shirt and trousers flew at my head. At least I still have my brain.

Suddenly I heard a terrible scream, Solange my 98 year old friend had fallen despite her walker. Before I arrived, two nurses had already picked her up, but she was in terrible shock, yet she wanted to sit with us. She was as white as a bed sheet and was talking nonsense. Normally, she's completely normal.

And to close the day, we had no Internet and the Television didn't work, which was a catastrophe for all those who wanted to see Putin and Trump, and I wanted to write this post !

Now it's late and I try not to fall in or out of my bed ! Rosie sings already operas because I am late with her supper. Fortunately the walls are more then 200 years old and thick. Nobody can hear my little Witney Houston.