19 Jan 2018

SKYWATCH FRIDAY - FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - FIVE ON FRIDAY







For about 10 min we had sunshine for the 1st time since one month ! 




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Skywatch Friday


1. As usual we started the week with our brain training = scrabble. You can see on their faces how concentrated they were. Although I often play scrabble on my smartphone, where I now win from time to time, in real I am nearly always the last one. It was the blue Monday and outside it stormed and rained, awful !



2. I went to my friend Bunny (she was born on Easter) because she had learned the Chinese foot reflexology, and I wanted to try it out because I have no energy and I am very nervous.

She did it very professional and I have to say after 45 min I had almost fallen asleep and really felt good. Amazing better then all pills !! In two weeks she will do it again, because that's the laps of time you need. Otherwise it is too much.


3.

Nicole and I had discovered a new little café which is very cute and the furniture is mixed with old and new. They have cake and coffee and tea and even scones ! I asked the lady who does all baking herself where she gets the clotted cream, because I have never found it in any shop or supermarket except in an English one. She told me she did it herself. I was a little surprised and asked how she made that, and she told me she takes cream and adds a bit of lemon juice !! Next time I will try it out !

4.



We were not many in our painting class. Outside a storm was going on and I almost blew away when I got out of my car.

5.



Impossible to go out, there is a terrible storm blowing over Belgium, causing even one dead so far. Fortunately in our region the wind is less strong then in other parts especially at the coast where the wind blew at 100 km/h. Nicole's garden chair blow over the terrace wall and fell down in the neighbor's garden !! So far there is nothing in our street.




more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.




17 Jan 2018

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE



Grandson Toby


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1. What keeps you blogging?

I love writing. I have written all my life since I learned it, and when I discovered by pure coincidence Blogs, I immediately started one, first writing adventures of my cats.  But that was not enough I had also others things to write and I started this blog. It became a hobby for me a nice occupation when there is nothing else to do, or better,  a good excuse for when there is something to do !!

2. Some people like to travel in the winter months. Do you enjoy the beach in winter? According to Southern Living the best U.S. beach towns to visit this winter are-

St Simons Island (Georgia), Hilton Head (South Carolina), Bald Head Island (North Carolina), Seaside (Florida), Bay St. Louis (Mississippi), Cape San Blas (Florida), South Padre Island (Texas), Folly Beach (South Carolina), Chincoteague (Virginia), Duck Key (Florida), Nags Head (North Carolina), and Fairhope (Alabama)

Have you been to any of the towns listed (in any season)? Which on the list appeals to you most this winter?
If I could I would stay at least 2 month in Egypt in my second home hotel. For the moment I always go end November for 2 weeks. There is never rain and the sun is shining. I have no breathing difficulties which I have when the weather is too humid.

It would never come into my mind to spend winter holidays in the States,  too far and too complicated now ! I have visited the States in the 80/90th when my aunt still lived in Madison and have seen quite a lot : Madison to Orlando Florida
Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida
Back over Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee (Memphis), Missouri, Illinois, Madison Wi
New York to Madison.
New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts (Cape Code, Hyannis, Boston), New York (Syracuse, Niagara Falls (on 4 July but in Canada), Michigan, Madison Wi
Back over Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsilvania, New Jersey


3. What's a song you're embarrassed to know all the lyrics to? Are you really embarrassed or do just think you should be?
I usually only keep the first words in my mind the rest I forget, so I am not embarrassed  anyway I am never embarrassed or I can't remember.

4. When you were a kid what's something you thought would be fantastic as an adult, but now that you're an adult you realize it's not all that fantastic?
I wanted to be a filmstar, sitting in a luxury car and waving to the crowd. Now I see the truth and  I think it's better not to have such a public life !

5. Share a quote you hope will inspire you in 2018.



I think this suits me best

6. Insert your own random thought here.


I just wonder how the foot reflexology works and if it really efficient ? I will go this afternoon to a friend who had learned this kind of massage.
















16 Jan 2018

BRUSSELS CENTER - PEDESTRIAN ZONE

After our visit of the Pompeii exhibition we walked along the new pedestrian zone which is expanded from 28 to 50 hectares and now includes a large part of the Boulevard Anspach, the Place de Brouckère, the Place de la Bourse and the Place Fontainas. The project includes the construction of more than 3000 m² of green space, a system that allows rainwater to be absorbed so that a large part of the water that is used for the green spaces in the pedestrian zone comes from a sustainable and environmentally-friendly source, seats with graffiti-resistant paint, more drinking water fountains, more intelligent trash cans, more energy saving thanks to public lighting with LED lamps and 1,000 parking spaces for bicycles ! (not for me) I hope there will be a bit more for disabled people, because it was rather difficult to find a parking place for Chantal who has to walk with crutches.

With all these projects underway the government hopes to improve public health by reducing air pollution, noise and stress as a result of the excessive traffic that is often unnecessary. To bring a more pleasant atmosphere into the city by investing in cultural activities and events. To decorate the city through the redevelopment of public space by rebuilding real squares, by renovating the facades of remarkable buildings and harmonizing the various shop fronts. Meanwhile real nice and funny graffiti hide the renovations.



There was a band playing and a lot of people listening









A long part of the Boulevard Anspach is now free from cars. You can walk in the middle of the street, but we didn't because we also looked at the shops.











And everywhere where they worked were panels with real nice Graffiti, some modern some out of comic books.  There are much more of course, but it was getting dark and we returned home.





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15 Jan 2018

MACRO MONDAY - WEEKEND JANUARY 14



My hibiscus plant is blooming




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Poor people who have to work the whole week and on weekends the weather is bad. I made the laundry and put the bedsheets over the radiators to dry



Arthur loves to smell the fresh sheets and for a little nap the place is nice and warm. He didn't mind about the company.

As I couldn't go out, I did some filing in my computer and saved the 2017 pictures on my external  disk. Meanwhile Mr. G. took his bath and later when he returned into the bathroom he



found Arthur sleeping in it ! Crazy cat !



When Mr. G. watches his Quiz shows in the afternoon, I often watch a movie on my little computer. Arthur on my nap, doesn't mind that I take his back for a table.



And late afternoon when normally the non existing sun goes down I saw blue sky !! The first blue sky in at least 3 weeks if not more. I ran outside and took these pictures they will become history !

On Sunday I went with Chantal and another friend to Brussels. We wanted to see the exhibition about Pompeii.



It was very interesting (I will report in an extra post) but we were a bit disappointed we thought it was much bigger, the entrance fee even for seniors was very expensive for what it was.
But we didn't regret to have it seen.

After the exhibition we were thirsty and we went for a drink in the "Fallstaff" brasserie. It was built in 1886 in art deco style.



You can drink the Belgian beer here and also eat the typical Belgian dishes.




When we came out the day just ended and we could still see the Christmas decoration which certainly had been very beautiful. There were also some singers on the street.

We had all three spent a very nice afternoon.

14 Jan 2018

CAMERA CRITTERS - SHADOW SHOTS





Rosie


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Mrs Longleg




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