more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.
1. Our summer weather this week is rather strange, rainy and cold in the mornings, sunshine and warm in the afternoon ! I did some shopping in the rain, but could sit outside in the garden with my little computer and enjoy the sunny weather in the afternoon.
2.
I went with Dominique and another friend for lunch in our favorite Asian restaurant, where we could sit outside. They have a beautiful garden and it's unbelievable that just behind the busy main street, there is such a quiet and green spot.
3. On July 3, the Belgians had a big surprise. I was sitting in the car when I heard that our King would abdicate for health reasons. That had never happened in Belgium !
So I watched the King's speach on my computer, and then the prime minister and saw all our clowns of the government standing there like in front of a grave !
People gathered at the grids of the Royal Palace with the Belgian flag, but there were also some Flemish extremist who claimed a Republic, but they were quickly chased away by the others ! Then the King left the palace, waving to the crowd.
4.
During our painting class we had a big discussion about the new King Philippe (age 53). Now the date is fixed when the abdication of the actual King and the intronisation of the new King will take place. They choose the Belgian National Day which is on July 21. The opinions are quiet mixed, some think he is too awkward and shy, the others think that he will be good and efficient. Anyway he has a very intelligent and beautiful wife and was not too shy to have 4 children. The eldest Elisabeth will be the future Queen, she is 12 years old. I don't know if this event inspired our paintings, but nobody worked a lot ! The coffee break became long and longer !
Although the school year is finished, we have decided to continue our class during the summer holidays and meet each Thursday without our teacher.
5. We had our bushes and hedge cut and for the first time were not happy at all with our gardener's work. I don't know if he became suddenly cross eyed, but the hedge looks like a roller coaster or almost.
It's a lovely family and he will make a good king.
ReplyDeleteDoing your art work sounds like a great idea.
Wish I could do something. Maybe one of these days I will lol
Hi Gattina .. they look a lovely family and I'm sure a quiet King will think - but quite a change and shock for all Belgians though ..
ReplyDelete21st July will be a sad and happy day .. and if the old King is ill - it does seem a sensible decision ..
Happy very sunny weekend - Hilary
I love to hear news of your Royal family. I see the oldest child of the new king is next in line for the throne. the law in the U.K has just been changed I think to allow Kate's
ReplyDeletefirst child if a daughter to claim the throne.
Your Royal family looks very beautiful. It's a good thing that in most European monarchies the law is changed so that the eldest child is heir to the throne.
ReplyDeleteI hope king AlbertII will enjoy his well deserved pension, like Queen Beatrix. Our future monarch will be princess Amalia.Well anyway I shall not be there when it happens, I hope.
I wish Belgium a happy, peaceful time with the new king. I shall be watching TV!
Wil, ABCW Team.
The news of the abdication has not been reported here. More pressure on our queen to abdicate.
ReplyDeleteWhat was reported here was a restaurant in Brussels that is a platform lifted up by a crane and you dine up in the air.
The new King is good looking and I like this lovely Royal family.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I can watch this significant event of Belgium on the net.
Sounds like it was a shock! The new king is quite handsome, though! ;)
ReplyDeleteDoes the king in Belgium have any power?
We've had some mixed weather, too - thankfully not as much rain as predicted.
ReplyDeleteI hope all the political changes are good ones!
That's neat that your class is continuing to meet!
It has been raining so much here!! It is hot too. I am ready for cooler and dryer weather.
ReplyDeleteVery sad about the King,but may be this one will do good also. His family looks lovely!!
The Asian restaurant looks really nice!!
Perhaps he was inspired by Queen Beatrix? The King to be looks like a very nice and kind man and you never know how things turn out. Besides, it's not like in the old days where the King had power!
ReplyDeleteWell he certainly has a nice looking family. At least the hedge will grow and perhaps next year he will do a better job.
ReplyDeleteMonarchy stuff is interesting. Canada still is connected with Britan's monarchy and there is always some who would like to do away with that connection.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are getting some sunshine. We are this week too and it's been wonderful.
Sorry to hear about your roller-coaster hedges. That is NOT a good look.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to find those out-of-the-way green spots especially to dine in. Yumm for Asian food. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it. lol
Hope your week has more sunshine than rain!