On Monday the coffee arrived so late, that I just wanted to call the kitchen and ask whether they had forgotten me, in this moment the coffee came. When I went to the reception around midday, I found out that I had missed a big excitement, a resident packed his suitcase and somehow managed to escape the secure unit on the 4th floor. How he did that will probably remain a mystery forever. The entire staff and other people searched the house and the park and finally found him on the quay at the train station! The Station is only a 10-minute walk away, and he probably hasn't forgotten that.
The rest of the week we had each day another activity to do, starting with baking Halloween cookies, fortunately I had to go to the health insurance, and just arrived for the coffee where we could try the self baked cookies. They tasted real good. (because I hadn't participated)
They made fun of myself, I pretended that I had baked the cookies alone !
We still have 4 contributions to make to the competition with the other residencies, and since what we are supposed to do is so stupid that I'm no longer taking part. We are not in kindergarten anymore. The last game was to hit the table with a soup spoon in a certain rhythm, of course ! Only a few very well-behaved and disciplined people took part, the others joked. Finally Kim and Elinor also stopped because they didn't think that it was appropriate either. Then we just listened to “our” music and dug up memories.
We have a very nice bar, which was closed the whole summer when all visitors needed it badly. Now that it is autumn and winter moves in, there was a big inauguration of the bar with a long speech of the coordinating doctor. Nobody could understand him, because he had a whispering voice and didn't articulate. Most of the residents took a nap or looked around or disappeared into the restroom.
Twice our Gilberte (101 yrs) asked him to speak louder and better, but he did that for 2 minutes and then continued to speak for himself. Luckily afterwards, countless champagne bottles were opened and beautiful music from the 60s was played, people were dancing and there was a great atmosphere. Now the bar is open, but there is nothing to drink and no bartender!
And to end the week we went to a very nice restaurant. It had a a large stage with a red curtain, which is why the restaurant was called "Le rideau Rouge, the red curtain". Once a week there is a menu for the seniors, with an orchestra that played very well. With the meal there was as much red and white wine as you wanted and my neighbor enjoyed it and got very red cheeks. She also danced a lot! It was also so nice to see the 100 year old lady dancing and the others finding their youth again !
The menu : Aperitif, 1. course : Carpaccio or Calamari, 2. meat or salmon with Belgian fries and salad, 3. Ice raspery or profiterole with chocolate sauce and coffee. For me they even made a real Espresso.
I can only say we were more then full ! This excursion brought us even more together and we all were in a very cheerful mood, it was as if they fear of dead had completely disappeared and that it was still time to have fun and enjoy life.
I thought that first photo was very strange, with it looking like you had been baking.
ReplyDeleteThey will learn gradually that the old(er) are not to be taken lightly. It's rude and insulting to be treated like little children.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've had a lovely meal out.