FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Our lousy weather continues and lots of residents caught a cold, now that I finished my bronchitis, what do I do, I put a mask on. I don't like it but it's better then another bronchitis. 

Fortunately we played a very funny game. A piece of paper was stuck on your front, and everybody could read it, but not you. You had to ask if it was a human an animal or an object. On my front was written "camel" It took me quite some time to find it out and I could even deliver the proof. 

 and then I thought I was 73 at that time, and never thought about my age.  

On Tuesday I wanted to buy my fruits, but it rained and it was cold, so I preferred to finish my Kiwis and hoped for the next day without rain.

There I had a surprise, my fridge didn't work properly and I had asked for a technician, because the fridge was still under  guarantee. 

At an ungodly hour, the phone rang. I was still peacefully asleep. A man announced that he would be there in 20 minutes with a new refrigerator. It was 8 a.m. I jumped out of bed, threw on my clothes, quickly combed my hair, and looked out into the hallway. 

The new fridge

And there it was, the new one ! I quickly emptied the old one and the young man took the old away and put the new one instead. Now I had to wait for 3 hours before I could use it.

In the afternoon we played Bingo, everybody likes it and it was fun. Only Mimmi who suffers from dementia, wasn't asleep this time, but was loudly singing Spanish love songs, from Julio Inglesias and worse. She's a skinny little thing and usually makes us laugh, but when she starts to sing, we could strangle her. Finally, I'd had enough and took her in her wheelchair to the door of the head nurse, who's a real dragon and whom I always call the witch. We argue constantly; she's already taken blood samples and gone to the wrong room, which I, of course, reported. Now she's very friendly to me (she's probably just waiting to stab me in the back). After 10 minutes, she reappeared with loudly singing Mimmi and wanted to leave her with us. We told her that Mimmi is welcome but only when she doesn't sing because we can't concentrate. The red haired witch became also red in her face  and shouted I don't know what, but the problem was solved by itself, Mimmi stopped singing and fell asleep . Fortunately at the end of the month she is retiring.

The air was bad and I quickly breathless. So I  bought what I had to buy and it seemed to me that although I always buy the same things each time it is more expensive. Fruits become a luxury, so what I do, I don't buy "local" like apples, pears, or plums, I buy what's cheaper and tastes better: kiwis, pomegranates, tangerines, and mangoes. Strangely enough, they come from far away and are cheaper than what grows here. Politics again. Some residents think that I am exotic, they don't know these fruits, and I thanked my late Rick who has introduced me to all these "strange" fruits. 

Now January is gone by and we still didn't have a real winter. Winter is there where nobody needs it like the poor people in Ukraine. Without heating and electricity they have to survive to - 30°) !

Today we played "right or wrong" . That was really very interesting, for example, I learned that hippos cannot swim, but instead run just below the surface of the water to quickly snatch a deer or other animal and thus have a good meal.

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE JANUARY 29

 1. I live in the south so we're pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you're having today affect your mood in some way?

In the South the weather is always nice and sunny, rain is something rather seldom in some places. While here in the North of Europe it's cold grey and rainy, we seldom have very cold temperatures and seldom hot weather. In the last years it has changed a bit, probably due to the climate change.  

2.  Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?  

In my kitchen I didn't use a lot of cabbage, besides for Sauerkraut no other recipe comes into my mind. We preferred the Italian kitchen and I never found cabbage in an Italian recipe, I am sure there are some, but I don't know them. 

3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood? Or maybe your children's childhood? What's a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own? 

That's the first time in my life that I see such a doll. It probably didn't exist, I haven't seen it in Germany, Italy or Belgium. 

My dolls rather looked like this one. Unfortunately I don't have them anymore, because my dear mother without asking me has given them to my 2 year old son, with the result that they were so damaged, that I had to throw them away !! I still can't forget it !

4. Something you've spent a lot of time doing lately? 

 

Since a few weeks I always got a pop up to upgrade my "old" Firefox to the new one.. I know each time I update something it gets complicated. This time I don't know what I have done with my fingers but suddenly it started to download the new version. The same thing happened to me with Whatsapp, so I was really spending a lot of time to understand and to be able to use it ! My helper is not there anymore, so I only can count on myself and that takes time ! I will become a specialist ! 

5. Somehow it's the last week of January...sum up your month in just three sentences. 

Bad weather, lack of energy, a boring week 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Now that I'm feeling better, I'm at odds with myself. I have so many things I want to do, but unfortunately my body isn't cooperating; I'm constantly tired! But I can't sleep during the day either, because then I don't sleep at night, much to Rosie the cat's delight.

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

John Lennon's home

 

 

During my trip around the UK, we stopped in Liverpool to see a little bit of the Beatles. We went into the museum, and also in the "The Tavern" where they started their career. It was so loud that I went out, but my friend stayed a bit and danced with the others !

I was a bit surprised to see John Lennon's house, where he grew up. I had always heard that it was in a poor neighborhood, but that wasn't true at all; the area wasn't poor at all, and his house looked nice too!

more participants here and Image-in-ing 

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JANUARY 24

Leia, my grand dog's first snow !

Charley the best dog of the world, was my big love

 Cookie a friend's little dog 

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND 

After having written my post, I tidied up my room a bit, then Pauline came to visit, and before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Since the sun was shining so beautifully, I thought I'd try a short walk again. This time it went better, and I was able to complete the route I had planned. Then it was already 3 o'clock, and time for our game.

Unfortunately, there was a staff shortage, and our activity coordinator had to help out on the 4th floor, where the patients who were most severely ill residents. Normally, I take over then, and we play Uno or Bingo. But I didn't feel strong enough to do that, so we sat around a round table, drank coffee, and chatted. That was quite nice, too.

On Sunday it was grey and foggy and I felt very tired. I still have my Christmas decoration laying in a corner but didn't feel strong enough to put them away. Fortunately in the afternoon we had a very nice game and on top Isabel came with Inaja, and as both like to play with us, they stayed the whole afternoon and had quite a lot of fun. That's so nice, visitors are always welcomed and invited to participate with us at the end we all had our coffee and wafels.

And here is some good advice for the coming week:

 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

My bronchitis, which loved me so much stayed for almost two weeks, is now finally leaving me. 

On Tuesday, I was supposed to have a blood test. At 7 a.m., all the lights in my room were suddenly switched on, and a male nurse wheeled his squeaky cart into my room and informed me that he was going to draw my blood. I held out my arm, and he fiddled with his cart for a while. Finally, he found what he needed, but unfortunately not my vein, with which I have never had any trouble before. So he took my hand. I felt a slight stitch, but it didn't really hurt. Then he took a whole roll of bandages and wrapped it around my hand. I told him not to use the whole roll, my hand looked like a boxer's, but he didn't have any scissors. I offered him my scissors, but he refused and kept wrapping. Then he fiddled with his cart again and wheeled the squeaky thing out. I yelled to turn off the lights and close the door. Then I wanted to continue to sleep, but with my boxer hand it was impossible. 

When I woke up I had this nice Halloween hand !

                                         

 Now, at the end of the week I have blue fingers added. Countless times I am asked, "what did you do to   your hand ?" 

The worst was, that the test had to be repeated the next day, because the nice colored one was not right. This time I had the "Queen" blood taker and didn't feel anything and nobody could see anything either. No worries, I am still alive ! 

I tried a little round in our park again, but the air must have been very bad, although the sun was shining and I had to return and remain inside. 

The glass cover of my lamp over the bed was broken and I have got new ones, they are much prettier then the old once. Our "man for everything" did a very good job and as he was already there, I also asked him to connect my  luminosity therapy lamp. My doctor recommended it because we don't have enough light.

 

In countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, these lamps are standard in every household. You sit in front of it for half an hour and soak up some vitamin B. It won't give you a tan, but it's good for your health.

For the moment there are a lot of changes here, as floor 4 has started to be transformed and floor 3 is done. Therefore people had to change rooms, the fugitives, and the brain damaged and we see them not so much anymore. 

Little Rosie has put on some weight, which makes me happy as she goes towards 20 years now ! 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE JANUARY 22

1.Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk...which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter? 

No, there was not enough snow, I used to love a snowy walk, but now at my antique age, it could be dangerous.  

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let's jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn't doing this, but many are and we're going to be part of the fun. 

This will be difficult, I had a very busy year in 2016 and I only have this blog. I try to do a resume of what I did the whole year !

3. What's a trend you hope disappears in this new year? 

 

  

 

 

 

 The orange trend 

4. 'They' say there's a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds? 

I thought it was a Bar, but now Google told me that it is a kind of biscuits. It looks familiar but not the name.

5.  A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well...which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

6. I think I am a frozen lake, I have no energy, I think I wait until the lake melts and I can breath again. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Right now, I'm watching videos on YouTube of countries I would love to visit in the future. But I don't know if my health will allow it. So, I'm staying put in my cozy Alcatraz and do virtual trips.

When I was looking through pictures from 10 years ago, I was horrified to discover that my grandson was half his size and looked more like me than his grandfather. Now it's the other way around!

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Public transport in the South of Morocco 

 Here is Dominique choosing a carpet

A few years ago I made a trip around the South of Morocco. It was the second time I had been there, the first time we visited the Imperial cities in the North.

Of course we had to visit a carpet factory, the bus driver had an agreement with the carpet  a carpet dealer, hoping to sell as many carpets as possible. The carpets were beautifully handwoven and significantly cheaper than in Europe. I already knew from my previous trips that you have to haggle hard, and the salesmen know exactly who to target to sell a carpet for the highest possible price. I only had to shake my head once, and they left me alone. Unfortunately, my friend Dominique was the perfect target. Although I tried to talk her out of buying the carpet, the salesman somehow managed to separate us and of course, Dominique didn't dare say no or haggle, she paid full price. At least the carpet was very beautiful,  and she hung it on her living room wall. 

I admired the salesman, he was better than a magician, he had chosen the right victim.

more participants here and Image-in-ing 

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND

 

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND  

On Saturday I was about 90% ready to go to the theater, I really wanted to. All week I'd been hoping I could go on Saturday. On Friday I was feeling better, so I watched my roommates play for an hour. I wore a mask, though. That went pretty well.  

And then a phone call came on Saturday, my friend's cat who had been very sick and was hospitalized, went out when she came back home and hadn't come back ever since. My friend was very worried which I could fully understand and I told her that we should not go because she wouldn't enjoy it and honestly I thought, the cat did it on purpose because I had not fully recovered. My friend was relieved that I didn't insist to go, but she knew that I a also a cat ma. So we decided that I go over to her and wait for the royal cat together.  

The cat and I arrived nearly at the same time, she in the conservatory and I at the entrance door. Was my friend happy ! The ungrateful cat disappeared immediately somewhere in the house,  no loving greeting, no meow, nothing. My friend was worried because her cat hasn't eaten for 3 days and she had to give her antibiotics. 

The dear cat didn't reappear, but at least she was in the house. She was offended that she had been taken to the vet. We spent a pleasant afternoon complaining not about men, but about all the cats we have had throughout our lives. It was quite fun, and we forgot all about the theater. We can go again next month.

 

On Sunday the sun was shining and it felt like spring was in the air. It was almost 12°C, quite warm for January. I bundled up and wanted to take a short walk in our park, but after only half a round, I had to sit down on a bench and wait until my breathing returned to normal. It was so pleasantly warm, though, that I stayed and played Scrabble on my smartphone.

 

Then I joined the others, but there were only six of them, including Solange's daughter, whom I've known since moving here and who is just as funny as her mother. So it turned out to be a nice afternoon after all, but then I was tired. I'm feeling better, and I hope to be completely healthy again next week.

 

 

 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday I didn't feel any better, in fact, I felt worse. So I called my doctor, who came the very next day. She examined me thoroughly and diagnosed me with bronchitis. It's much worse when you have chronic bronchitis like I do. The medications I was taking were all fine, so I was just supposed to rest and wait for it to pass.

I couldn't really move around much anyway, or do anything physically at all, because I would immediately get out of breath.

So I don't have much to tell. I spent my days feeling lousy, watched TV took my medication and from time to time watched the snowflakes. 

After 3 days the snow was gone, the temperature became nearly spring, and of course it was very humid.

Three of my friends came to see me and asked if they could help, but I needed nothing. Fortunately. 

Three days snow, it looked very beautiful

The last time my son visited, he took a picture of our black and white wedding photo, the original from 1969. I didn't think anything about it and was quite surprised when I got our wedding photo back, but this time in color, with a background as if it had been taken yesterday. Of course, I was very pleased and saw what can be done with a photo. My eyes were closed on the original photo, now they were open, and there were other little things that improved the picture. 

Now I saw for the first time what his work was on a personal photo. I have seen huge posters for Nike, Coca-Cola, or Heineken, but I didn't notice what had been improved on the original image. That's his job.

 

I hope next week I will be fresh like a rose again ! 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.