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.   

                                                        

 

 

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

                                                
    

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.