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What happened this week ? Not much besides Monday which was Christmas day and I described it in the post below.

I didn't do much the next day I felt like a bear of whom you had interrupted the winter sleep. But I had to go outside pick up Ilona who had had put winter tires on her car and had to wait until it was finished. As Nicole lives around the corner we went to her and over coffee we chatted about our family Christmas experiences and came to the conclusion that it is rather difficult when you are getting older, apparently children have difficulties to get used to it. From Ilona I got this cute little purse for beach or little walks, it has just the right size for the important things like phone and wallet and bank cards



When I looked in the mirror the next morning I thought just a stick was missing and I looked like a broom with a face. I pulled myself together and went to the hairdresser.  I don't know why but I made the whole saloon laugh and so we all had a good time. And while we discussed about Christmas, the too much eating etc the girl cut and cut and cut and I didn't stop her I hadn't realized. But there are still some hairs left and Mr. G. and my friends like the new cut only I have to get used to it but anyway it will grow again !


Not the best selfie ...

And while we discussed about two policemen from whom a real bad person had taken a picture while they carried a Christmas bag during working hours.  He had put the photo on Facebook and later it went through the press. Fortunately the majority of the people took it with humour and defended the two brave guys. The best comments were " they protected a shop and took the opportunity to buy something for their wives", and "why are you complaining, they only did their job and checked the bags if there were no explosives in it.



It almost became a political scandal but finally the good sense won, and they got no problems. They were also supported by most of the population. I mean these guys do a hard job anyway always on the street watching if there is not a little terrorist around. Don't forget Trump has said that Brussels is a hell hole !

The next day my Swatch watch (sounds good) didn't work anymore. I supposed it was the battery. I took it off couldn't do anything and put it on again, with the result that during shopping  I lost my watch and found it again besides my car, looking like this !



The glass completely broken ! I don't know yet if it is worthwhile to repair it otherwise I have to buy a new one,  Mr. G. said it is better to buy a new one and it would be a belayed Christmas gift !

This will probably be the last post of the year 2017 ! So I wish you all

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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Grandson discovers Egypt and a mummy !


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As there is a holiday break for Wednesday's hodgepodge, I take the opportunity to write for myself and those who are interested to read about our Christmas celebration.

We  celebrated here in Waterloo/Brussels, the German way on Christmas Eve, which means Father Christmas came through the chimney while we got dressed for the aperitif !



Fortunately he didn't get stuck with all the gifts he brought !



There was a happy little boy when he discovered all the boxes !



I have got this cute cat which is a piggy bank for my travels. And there was even a "starter" in it. The Trump looking like rider is Mr. Muscles which Toby had put on it. This thing was amazing you could pull arms and legs in all directions I thought it is an ideal gift for stressed people !



They also brought me this beautiful Christmas bouquet.



Then we had a light supper and I went to bed because I still suffer from the sequels of my flu.

When I woke up around midnight, Mr. G. told me that the 3 had gone to the hotel, because apparently in our guest room where until this day or rather night they had always slept, Toby couldn't sleep because he coughed, he is allergic to cats ! (having a grandson allergic to cats that just takes the bisquit) Strange is that the whole afternoon and evening he was completely normal. Maybe it's the fact that they were 3 in the room normally my DIL prefers to stay in Amsterdam, as she doesn't speak French and not everybody English I can understand that it's boring for her.



On Christmas day we had a wonderful lunch. Our friend Monique whose son is a wholesaler for seafood and fish,  had brought too much to his mother. She called me if we would like a lobster and some salmon. Of course I didn't say no !! It was absolutely delicious !



Now 7 year old Toby is very much interested in Egypt, ever since he got a book from his other Grandma "Dummie the mummy". Therefore I had brought from Egypt all kind of things, piramides, camels, gods etc. Even a sarcophagi with a mummy in it and a card with the Egyptian alphabet. I suggested to write "Merry Christmas"  not believing that he could, but he did ! He even added "to Tom" to his friend in Amsterdam, because the father was Egyptian !



On Christmas day we were all invited at my son's best friend, and as both sons became best friends too and are both the same age, it was a lot of fun ! Toby inspects the butterfly on Camille's pullover !



We had a raclette and all a very good appetite. That's fun to eat, everybody cooks his stuff himself and as desert we had the traditional "buche de Noël", or Yule Log.

I don't know what I have done, but I miss a lot of pictures on my photo camera. I think it's getting old.

So one year's end celebration is over, comes the next on Sunday.

My friend Ilona also had the flu while I was in Egypt and she told me that it takes at least 2 weeks to feel "normal" again. So I have to wait another week !

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1. The flu apparently was over, but I felt very weak to go from one room to the other was as if I had done  100 km ! And still no Christmas decoration, it was about time. My moral was plummeted !

Fortunately Mr. G. who had always disliked to do the shopping, now apparently likes it, or maybe he has no choice so I make a list and off he goes. Unfortunately he doesn't read so instead of buying my face cleaner he bought humid toilet paper, because the package looks similar. Now you know with what I have to clean my face !

2.



Finally I pulled myself together and spread balls, angels, father Christmas, garlands etc all over the living room and in the entrance. Then I was exhausted for the rest of the day, but it was made !



Outside Mr. G. had put up the two reindeer which illuminate our frontyard, unfortunately one has lost the lights around his head so we have one headless reindeer when it gets dark.

3.


Each year our city invites the seniors to a concert followed by a drink.

This year it was  Jacques Brel "a Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson". (Wikipedia)



Jacques died in 1978 ago, but his songs are still in fashion. The man who sang like him, was fantastic, if you closed your eyes you could hear the real Jacques. I hesitated to go, but I so much wanted to. As I was sitting, and had no effort to do it was OK, but I didn't go to the reception too many people and I couldn't sit. So I went home. Nicole told me that I hadn't missed anything.

4. Feeling a little stronger in the mornings I went to Aqua gym and it really did me good. I even managed to follow the exercises because in the water you feel as light as a feather and when you get out as heavy as an elephant.

5. We had our yearly Christmas celebration in our painting class. First I thought I couldn't go, but then I decided to go to take pictures, because I am also responsible for the Facebook page and then go home.



Everybody had brought something to eat and we had a lot of fun I just sat on a chair once my duty done, so I could stay a little longer. Then I left. I will see them again in January. Another year ends.

The rest of the day I spent in my recliner recuperating !

to all of you

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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

For all floors and restaurants etc.



Christmas items in the whole hotel in Egypt and a beautiful tree

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1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

Unfortunately I didn't find any expected or unexpected magic or delight this holiday season.
For me personally Christmas has become a chore I have to go through. Too many pain and tears last year. I had to learn that Christmas has changed. The beautiful Christmas of my past as child and young mother don't exist anymore. It took me a long time to understand. And many people are in the same case, amongst my friends too. 

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

I have no special favorite type of holiday gatherings, I enjoy birthdays, New Year, or just occasional gatherings without any reason.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment) 'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

I don't know who deserves the title, I haven't followed this story. I only know that when I started working in 1963 sexual harassment was "normal" some women even accepted to go further in their career. I personally would be a rich woman if I would have reported to the police. Sounds a bit pretentious, but I always defended myself, with my sharp tongue, a slap in the face, my knee or with a high spike heel ! At that time nobody would have listened to me anyway.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate

I can't complain, it was a nice year, concerning travels, I enjoyed my tour around Ireland, and then my holidays in Egypt and in the meantime I visited friends for a few days. I also enjoy my scrabble and painting group, and was happy to "babysit" my grandson for the first time after 6 years  for a few days !

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

Good bye anyway I won't see you again !

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Despite my flu and being so weak, I finally managed to decorate our living room for Christmas, but there are still some things to organize and buy and thinking of all that I feel I would be in front of the Mount Everest and had to climb up to the peak. When you are not in your normal state everything becomes a problem. I make an elephant out of a mosquito !




No Christmas  tree this year

EDEN HILLS PHOTO HUNT - WEEKEND REFLECTION

1. Starts with X
2. craft
3. growing




X-mas tree. The personal of my hotel in Egypt has a lot of fun to decorate it !



Beautiful craft work with fruits and vegetables



Inner yard of the hotel, fresh plants growing

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Christmas tree reflecting in a ceiling mirror



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Only blue sky available at the red sea in Egypt

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We enjoyed our second week of holidays and I can't really number the days as they are the same like a pearl in a pearl necklace.



While we were there the hotel was repainted, and we all thought under what condition these workers are doing their job, without any security, the whole day long in this heat and they also worked during the night, but they were so discrete that we were not disturbed at all and they were always in a very good mood, laughing and joking.




Of course our day started with a breakfast as you wished. You could eat, whatever you wanted, from continental breakfast to the English breakfast, warm, cold everything was there. I loved these cookies they were so light and not sweet at all.



Then we started our work on the beach. The windscreens protected us from the wind, as it was always blowing a bit and they also served us as "wardrobe" it looked like a Arabian Souk around us.

We had some funny incidents like a bottle of oil in Nicole's beach bag which she hadn't closed completely and all the content was oily ! We tried to save a maximum, but the bag she could throw away! There was always happening something to her. Our French friend we had met last year and who had joined us from France, still fought with the mosquitos and was dressed from head to feet, and she always had her mosquito repellent thing with her, but there was nothing to do, the mosquitos only loved her and not us. I haven't even seen one !



When we had taken enough sunshine we had the sea at our feet for cooling down. Chantal and Nicole snorkeled to watch the colorful fishes. I don't like water in my face and watched them.



Before the sun went down, we had a drink at the swimming pool where the water was heated and it was just wonderful to swim in there.



For our health we ate a lot of fresh and delicious vegetables which were so nicely represented !



We also had an Arabian night, with a beautiful decoration and as usual excellent food.



On our last evening we asked somebody to take a picture of us 4 in front of the beautiful Christmas tree.





The whole hotel was decorated and everybody enjoyed it. The Egyptians as well as us Europeans. This time there were no Russians, Mr. Putin still doesn't let them fly to Egypt because of the airplane  crash of last year. I have to say I didn't miss them at all and my friends neither.

Then came the day of our departure and we were picked up by a bus at 2 pm. which took us to the airport.




We stopped at several hotels, and here a Father Christmas was repaired he had lost his hand !



Arriving at the airport, there was no wheelchair for my friend and I was feeling bad with my starting flew. Finally we got one and had to wait for the plane for a little more than an hour. The plane was just a year old and looked beautiful, Brussels Airlines had bought these new once and we travelled with the one which showed the Belgian painter Margritte.  For the first time the once who suffer with their ears had nothing, nobody not even one baby cried ! They were all very surprised and we supposed that something had been done with the air pressure.

Arrived in Brussels we had to wait more than an hour for our luggages. They had 3 days of a terrible mess at the airport due to bad weather and were still busy sorting out luggages from all countries.

At 2 am I finally reached my bed and now I have to take care of my flew !

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