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MY WORLD

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My world today is here in A cruise around the Garda Lake. Please click on the link.

FUN MONDAY - Summers in Belgium

Janice asks us : Since the Lazy Hazy Days of summer are upon you now, tell us what activities you enjoy doing outside and how do you stay cool. Share some photos of both if you wish.

Living in Belgium this question seems to me like a dream. The last years where everybody is complaining about "Global Warming" we should complain about "Local Cooling". After a week or two of unusual hot weather 32° C (90F) (where I was in Italy) we dropped down now to 16°C (61 F) which is more like an Australian winter and of course it rains.

The average summer temperatures, when summer is so kind to show up its nose, is around 25°C (77F) and with that you don't need something special to stay cool.

But when it is hot, then inside the country it's almost unbearable, because it's sticky with no wind. What I do then, is opening all the windows early morning and try to make drafts to cool the whole house, then close the shutters and leave the windows a little open. That's the way they do in Italy and it works to keep the house "cool". 6 years ago I bought an air conditioner on wheels for the living room, because it was so hot, we exactly used it twice, because the next day, the temperature dropped to the half !

Outside activities are limited, a little work in the garden when it doesn't rain. When it's nice at the coast, I sometimes take the train and go to Ostende at the sea. There at least you get some air when it is hot.


Brussels' market in summer !



The same here in Waterloo



I could sit here even when it rains but



16°C (61 F) is a little too cool !



The sky is grey, but the grass is green



The cats don't go out and are laying around



and I had to put a little heater in my room ! (Instead of an air conditioner !)

Long live Belgium's summers ! Even in my archives I couldn't find an appropriate summer photo !

WEEKLY WINNERS - Wood Carving

More participants here at Sarcastic Mom Weekly winners

On our way to Italy we spent one night in a little hotel in Bavaria. Just in front of it I found this shop and factory where artists carved all kind of sculptures in wood ! Just have a look at these masterpieces !







a fountain



big statues



smaller once



even tigers



beautiful hand carved furniture



a special bar









look at this special table behind the two statues





and even a big slide with father Christmas, almost man sized

SMILEY SATURDAY - CHOUCHOU

Each year when our neighbours are going on holidays, Mr. Gattino feeds the cat named Chouchou. (pronounce shoe shoe). This means darling, sweetheart, etc. in short a nickname normally used for a husband, wife or children. Everybody can be Chou or Chou chou even a cat.

A friend of ours calls every house member Chou. His wife, his son his granddaughter and even the dog. I am sure if a mouse would move in he would name it Chou too. So it well could be possible that when he calls "Chou" that his wife, son, granddaughter and dog all appear on the doormat at the same time. After he became widow, three weeks later he had another female "chou". I have to admit that this man has a strong lack of imagination.

Now every morning and every evening Mr. Gattino crosses the street and calls "Chouchou". To his big surprise last time a window was opened at the other's neighbour's house and a female voice said "Yes, I am here !" It was our neighbor's daughter. The real Chouchou appeared too of course.



Chou chou

SHOW & TELL

More participants are here at Kelly's

Wednesday was my birthday so I have to show you the gifts I got. We had already celebrated with our friends in Italy so we didn't do anything special this day. And here they are :



From my son I got a wall clock, now hanging over the door in our living room,



from Mr. Gattino this big wooden cat, which now stands in the entry hall.



a hand painted little cat from my friend in Italy



a white ceramic cat from another



and two little magnetic cat

And I am sure there are still some more to come ! I think I am a very easy person to choose a gift for.