FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM FIVE FRIDAY

1. Four years ago, Dominique's mother (now 91) had offered a GPS to Dominique for her birthday. Looking for a conservatory which she wants to annex to her living room, she suddenly remembered that she had a GPS, which she had never used, because the stores were all over in little towns mostly in Industrial zones. Of course she didn't find a single address, the GPS refused all streets and towns she put in. Finally she had to follow a 65 year old guy who showed her the way with his bicycle ! This event decided her to ask me how this thing works as I have the same.

We sat in her garden and I showed her how to use the GPS. She was so surprised what possibilities were in there and how easy it was, (when you know) to follow the directions. Her mother has 2 computers, a laptop and one with a tower plus a tablet and despite her respectable age, she handles them like a professional ! Her daughter still hasn't got it ! Mr. G. is asked for help almost once a week.

2.


Ilona and I went for a little shopping in Halle the little town where she lives. It's a cute old town in the Flemish part of Belgium and is quite famous because the church contains a Black Madonna, which attracts lots of tourists or pilgrims of course. After a nice ice cream we returned home and had a tea in her garden, taking a little sunbath.

3.


Part of the Catholic University (UCL) is located in one  of Brussels municipalities. It's a huge complex with a very beautiful park around. I decided to visit the one with modern sculptures which are exposed there and walked through the park taking pictures and talking to some students.

4. Poor Brussels was again in a traffic mess, but not so much as with Obama ! This time it was the Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also came with a far smaller escort.



Our Queen Mathilde looked very elegant in her different outfits, and people (mostly the Chinese living in Belgium) could see their president. Obama had been hidden from people on the street. Although he made a sympathetic and modern impression, nobody forgot the non existing  human rights in China !



Manifestations can not be forbidden in a Democracy, and some Chinese showed their disagreement with the Chinese human rights politics, but in a rather peaceful way. There was no incident at all.


5.



As it had rained so much during winter and temperatures were never really below 0°C the normally white tiles of our terrace was full of dark green spots, something like moss. So we cleaned together the terrace with the Karcher and now it looks white like snow again. We also washed the garden furniture and now we are ready to receive guests on our terrace. Probably it now will rain !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

and

More participants here at A rural Journal.

THE TIME IT TAKES TO SEW A BUTTON ON A SHIRT

Mr. G asked me to sew a button on his shirt. Of course, as a good spouse  I told him, that I would do it right away !!

But then :

The phone rang and my girlfriend, reported about the funerals of an aunt and the last very emotional love story of her 19 year old grand daughter. One and a half hour later I knew everything I had absolutely to know.

As I already had the phone in my hand I called my neighbor to ask her if she needed gravel for her entrance, after the gravel we spoke about her eldest son and his kids, 45 min later I finally put the phone down and had a red ear.

As I had my painting class the next day, putting my painting stuff together was an absolute priority, I checked on colors and canvas. No canvas anymore. I took my my car and drove to the Art shop to buy one.

Since I was already in town, I did some window shopping and met a woman whom I hadn't seen for ages, we had been at Art School together. We sat down together in a Café and had a drink, updating each other since we had met for the last time. This took almost 2 h and then refilled with news we both went home..

On the street I met my other neighbor. As it was rather cool to stay outside, she proposed to go inside. The last updating on the happenings in the neighborhood took one hour and a half.

Now it was already late and I had to prepare supper. This took me 10 min. After supper, watching the News and a crime story on TV, it was time to go to bed.

The button was still not sewed on the shirt and days flew by

After 3 weeks Mr. G. asked me about his shirt and if I had sewed on the button. Unfortunately I had to admit that I had completely forgotten about it and I would do it right away.

Now I sit here and write and realize the button is still not on the shirt !

I promise, after "Publish" I will do it right away ....

(certainly to be continued .... )

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday
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SPRING IN MY WORLD

I did a little walk through my neighborhood, as the weather was so warm and the sun shining. I love spring, it's my favorite season when everything blooms or starts blooming and the trees start to become green again.





Some of the Magnolia trees were still in full bloom while others already started to loose their blooms



Fall leaves are still on the ground, but spring comes through !










Even tulips are out, which is usually far too early






Spring really cheers me up !

MY WEEKEND OF MARCH 29

On Saturday morning we had wonderful sunshine and warm weather so Ilona and I decided to go to Ostend at the Belgian coast where Nicole stayed in her flat. Fortunately there was not the usual weekend traffic jam on the highway to the coast, and we were already there at 10.30 am.



Charlie greeted us with a waving tail and then probably thought we would stay there and sit and he could rest in peace. Unfortunately after an early lunch we decided to walk along the beachfront. He got up reluctantly and trotted to the lift. As soon as he was in the very small lift he laid down and we three vintage girls had to squeeze in a corner.Charlie is rather lazy when it comes to walking.

As soon as we got out of the building and he saw the kids with their skateboards, the bikes and other beach vehicles he growled at everybody moving and was in a bad mood. We had to pull him a bit, although we walked quite slowly.



After a little walk along the sea, where the little beach huts were starting to be built up, we sat down on the bench and enjoyed the sunshine. Charlie faked to be exhausted and sat down. No growling anymore. He was admired by everybody.



When Nicole bought him an ice cream he was in heaven.



After that we went to "his" café and we had a coffee and a Brussels' waffel with whipped cream. (of which he also got his share). Time flew by so quickly and it was time to return home. We had spent a lovely day.

On Sunday I did nothing special, I blogged and did the laundry.



Arthur did the survey of my work and observed our street like Google street view. This night we had changed to summer time but one hour doesn't bother me, and the cats neither.



Spring has moved in and there are the first signs in our garden.



and my son sent me a picture of Toby's first real bicycle !