FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The week started as usual with our Scrabble, this time it should have been my turn, but I had just prepared the living for Mr. G's coming home and I brought my English specialities to Myriam. We wanted to sit outside but it became so cool in the afternoon, really strange, warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon, it should be the other way around.

The fudge cake, the scones with sour creme and blueberry jam disappeared in no time, only a bit of fudge was left ! This time I was 3rd out of 5 so it was not so bad. It was my last day alone in the house since 9 weeks !

You are not allowed to leave a hospital in the morning, no, they release you only at 2 pm, because then they can add one day more on the invoice !

Punctually at 2 I was there to pick him up.



He was already waiting since 10 am and couldn't get away quick enough ! I got the impression as if a prisoner from a jail was finally released after 20 years !

The cats greeted him especially Arthur who, as you can see immediately got back to his old habits, asking for food ! Rosie just smelled to check if it was really him. We were both very tired, he physically, I more intellectually, because I have got so many papers for different services, the nurse, the kinesitherapy girl, our house doctor, the health insurance etc etc ! I thought I throw everything on the table and look at all the paper stuff next morning when I was fresh again !

The next day the kinesitherapy girl came to continue the exercises with him, and I was surprised how good he can walk even without a cane or crutches. I had been worried that he would go down the rather narrow stairs to our basement, but the girl told me that if he is careful he can. He even is allowed to drive. But so far it's me his driver. Then came the male nurse and helped him to shower and dress.

After having driven him to our house doctor, who has all the informations about the surgery etc, I got another bunch of papers, but everything was OK with him. I needed a break, dropped him off at home for a nap, and joined Nicole and Myriam for lunch in "our " Asiatic restaurant. They have a beautiful garden and as it was warm we could eat outside. I downwinded my nerves a bit, because it is very exhausting paying attention to a 78 year old "toddler" by telling him all the time don't do this don't do that, because he wants to jump around like a flea !

I brought him a take away plate from the restaurant, which he loved.

Now I feel like 100 years old, all the stress is coming out and makes me feel so exhausted.




I need the key !!

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - ESCAPES FROM HOSPITAL

more participants here
and Image-in-ing

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Escapes from Hospital

Yesterday I picked up Mr. G. from the rehabilitation center where he had stayed for a two months. This time he was there, because he had broken his hip falling out of the bed.

Fortunately the center was 20 km far from home and he couldn't walk, because I remember well the first time he had a surgery, as soon as he felt better he wanted to go home and called me that he would leave the hospital. I was a bit surprised that he already could go home but got my car and drove immediately to the hospital. And who was walking there on the street ? Mr. G. in his pyjama ! This was at the very beginning of our marriage. I don't remember very well what happened next, but I suppose that it was a big fight and a return to the hospital, to get officially released.

Over the years in my memories it became a joke, which from time to time we told friends when the conversation turned about hospitalisation. Only I never had thought it would happen again. The second time he was already in his 60th and had a carotid surgery. After a few days he called me that he could come home. Suddenly I remembered the story of years ago and asked if he had asked the doctor, apparently everything, at least paper wise was OK. I told him to wait for me at the reception.
I arrived, and what saw I walking in the street, Mr. G. with his little suitcase but without coat in the middle of the winter ! I was very angry he had done it again, but this time with the permission of the doctor.

Therefore when I called him each morning during his stay and he complained that he wanted to come home I was relieved that also technically he couldn't !!

Sometimes it is easier to watch over a 5 year old boy than over a vintage man ! At least the 5 year old listens to you even with protests, the old one doesn't listen and does what he wants ! I hope next time I don't have to write that he fell down in the basement because he tried to walk on our narrow steps !!

After all I could write a book


Linking to One Liner Wednesday

A OLD PART OF WATERLOO AND GENAPPE A VILLAGE

When we went to the flea market in one of the oldest part of Waterloo, for the first time I paid attention to the architecture.



The solar panels were fixed on the side of the house, normally they are always on the roof !



There were even family crests built over the house doors



Here live the real Waterloo people from generation to generation, now it's surrounded of modern houses and has become a city since a year or so, before Waterloo was still considered as a village. Unfortunately  the cows were slowly and to my big regret replaced by humans and the open fields shrunk !

Not far from Waterloo is Genappe, which is still a village with mostly farms still from the time of the Waterloo battle. On June 16, Wellington stayed here in this little Village and spent a night in the "Auberge du Roi d'Espagne" (King of Spain's hostel). Therefore Genappe too, became a historical place.



Here is the Auberge where Wellington spent the night



The church stems from  1433 and over the years was so damaged that it had to be restored in 1707, 1708, 1721 and 1808. The current church was inaugurated on November 1, 1842.



In front of the church was an old graveyard, which apparently had been cleaned very recently, because it looked like new ! But they were very old when I read the names and dates on the graves.



Here is the market place in the city center, with a soldier and his rifle looking out of the window !



I liked this house because of it's closed wooden balcony.


The biggest "café" was this one where you could have a drink but inside and on the second floor it was also a restaurant.



Unfortunately it was cool and the shops all closed because it was Sunday so the market place looked rather empty.

more participants here

WEEKEND MAY 18 - AWWWW MONDAY

Accidents



Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

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Once again the weather changed and I woke up hearing drops falling ! Not cats and dogs, but still a lousy weather. So we had to change our plans and went to a "junk sale" and village fest in one area of Waterloo, which once had been the part where posh people lived.

Now they are still the oldest generation of  people from Waterloo, born here since generations. It was a lot of fun because people are very open and cheerful.

We didn't find anything in all that junk, it's still unbelievable what stuff people try to sell, more for fun I guess, because you got things nearly for nothing.

I admired the architecture of the old houses and then we went to "La Pomme" (the apple) a pub like café and had a drink there.




On Sunday it was even worse, it was warm but very humid and an unhealthy weather.  Myriam, Nicole and I drove to Genappe, which once also belonged to the various villages which were on the Waterloo battle field.




A "200" year old soldier pointed his rifle on us.



The village had organized a "Vide Dressing" which means like "empty your wardrobe" ! There were very expensive brand name clothes for very cheap prices for sale. Unfortunately the sizes were far too small for the three of us. I didn't find anything, but Nicole and Myriam found handbags from Gucci and another one, I don't remember for 3 € a real bargain !



The cat of the house watched us leaving



We were thirsty and sat outside on the terrace of a café on the town square, and had a nice time.

Tomorrow I will have to do a big shopping and prepare everything for Mr. G's homecoming on Tuesday !