HODGEPODGE OCTOBER 24

1. Monday was National Apple Day...did you eat an apple or enjoy something made with apples on Monday? Do you like apples? Do you prefer your apples raw, baked, or in cider? Do you have a favorite variety of apple? 

I didn't know that it was "Apple day", anyway there was a time in my life where I ate 2 to 4 apples per day for at least a year or more, now I don't like apples anymore only cooked as dessert. 

2. Do you think there's any truth to the saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. Of the following healthy habits which do you find easiest to incorporate into your life and which is the most difficult for you to adopt-

adequate sleep, a balanced diet, plenty of water, eat breakfast, don't smoke, exercise, limit alcohol,  include fruits and vegetables in your diet, manage stress, limit screen time

I followed an apple diet because I had put on weight, which was quite unusual for me. On top I also believed that an apple per day would keep the doctor away. I don't know if it's true, but a part from a cold I never had a serious disease. I only notice that people like the Stones, Beatles, and a lot of actors are still amongst us in their 80/90, and they certainly didn't live healthy especially in their youth (famous people/age-group/80-89)! It was also the time of different drugs which you could consume just as you wished, there was no law yet. And everybody smoked like a chimney no smokers were not well seen. Finally those who had not a healthy life at all, live longer then those who pay attention on everything and eat ORGANIC ! Unfortunately we don't have yet a 100 year old organic person, to check.

3. Who taught you how to drive? Do you enjoy driving? Would you rather be the driver or the passenger?  Do you have a favorite scenic drive near you?

When I was 18 or 19 I wanted to learn to drive. I wanted to be independent and go wherever I wanted to go. In Belgium no driver schools or driver license existed. You learned with family or friends, my father had hired a guy who had transformed his car into a driver school car. I didn't want to learn to drive with my father, I think we would have killed each other. With this young driving teacher. I learned quite quickly and then I bought a used car and was happy to drive around. I think I was the only girl this age who drove a car and who owned one and had bought it with my own money. The reason for my luck, was the fact that besides German (my mother tongue) I also had made a diploma for business correspondence in English and French. (later came Italian) and had a very good salary.

4. What small habit has had a big impact on your life ? 

I would say the habit to talk to people in their language. That gives a completely different relationship to others..

5. Tell us about something nice that happened to you recently. 

It's not really nice, but the fire alarm went on at 2 am and lasted 4 hours, finally I had enough after 2 h of this awful noise and where nobody did something concrete and the two night nurses were running around like headless dogs and didn't know exactly what they had to do, I suddenly exploded and called the firefighters, who came quickly. Unfortunately they couldn't turn off the alarm either, but at least they called a specialist. The fact that they thanked me sincerely, was nice !

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Since the fire alarm I thought how much my life has changed. It is not unhappy it is completely different. I have new friends and I also like my "work" here as  "coordinator" between the residents and the personal, as most of these old ladies don't dare to say something they come to me ! It doesn't bother me at all, they are so touching.