SUNDAY SELECTION # 509

2020 is indeed an awful year, for the first time in history, at least I think so, the whole world from top to bottom is a victim of the same virus and we are all sitting in the same boat. From ennimies over terrorists to friends the Corona has taken us all.

The worst this year for me is that I can't go to Egypt as I used to do each year for 2 weeks, to get a maximum of sunshine, at the red sea, while at home it was the worst month of the year, November, where it's humid and cold and depressing. Not only I miss sunshine the sandy beach and the blue very warm and salty water but also my big love ..... Oscar the camel !

It was standing with its owner in front of the hotel and the tourists payed him to have a picture taken with them and Oscar. But apparently I was a special tourist to Oscar, because we became friends, he was really happy when he saw me and of course about the apple and piece of bread I brought him every day. I also started to talk to the owner who told me that he studied in Cairo's university and in reality Oscar belonged to his father. The young student had found out that dressing up like a farmer's  boy with a camel he could easily make money with the tourists. Oscar observed us chatting and suddenly put his big head on my shoulder ! Fortunately I have always loved camels and I petted this big head and admired his long eye lashes and wasn't afraid at all !

Oscar my holiday  love

He has quite a big head !

His owner asked me if I wanted to sit on Oscar's back and make a little tour! He didn't have to ask me twice !!

Oscar kneeled down and I was proud that I could climb on him quiet easily ! At my age it is not really an evidence !

And then he stood up and I was sitting high up on Oscars back and we walked along the street ! I had the impression to sit in a boat or in a rocking chair ! 

It was not the first time that I rode on a camel it was at least the 4th time, but I never rode on a horse !!

Next time I should try an elephant !

In these lockdown times at least you have time to dream !!

More participants here at Elephant's Child

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Another Corona lockdown week went by and now I have to write down each day if I have done something special or if something special happened in my daily routine. All days seem to be the same and go by so quickly !

Our footnails had become long and as pedicures are allowed to work, I had called mine for Monday. I have known her through our Facebook city page and she is a medical pedicure. Besides that she also is a chatterbox and I am now updated about all important things which happened in our town. 

She had her phone besides her because she has an autistic son and has always to be available. That is often very difficult. This time she was 5 minutes late at school with him and he didn't want to go inside because five minutes are five minutes late and not 9 am sharp ! There was nothing to be done. She had to bring him back home. He lives after the clock and everything has to be in its place and not a millimeter further.

The next day when I got up and opened the curtains, the houses and skeleton like trees were hidden behind a thick fog wall ! By the time I had prepared my Blog posts it cleared up and the fog became a grey sky. This announced a Television day, and internet window shopping ! Of course in between long telephone chats with friends !

As usual our 3 girl group met this time at Myriam's and she had prepared the scrabble game ! Both Nicole and I were not that enthusiastic about playing, but we did and it was good for us to do something else than sit in an armchair and chat. 

We admired the swimming pool which she had cleaned for the winter and to break eventual ice, there were empty plastic bottles swimming in the water. It's a lot of work to clean and prepare a pool for the winter !!

The only day in the week when I get up at 7 am is Thursday, because my cleaning woman comes and I have to open the door. And this is also the only day I assist to sun rises. This time it was again beautiful ! I became a real skywatcher in this apartment !

Here is the view I have while sitting on the sofa and drinking my coffee ! Could be worse ! I am really lucky !

As we meet every two days, the two of them came to me this time. Our mayor's assistant died of the Coronavirus yesterday evening, after 5 weeks of intensive care. Although I didn't like the man at all, we had worked together when Waterloo celebrated the bicentenary of the Waterloo battle, I certainly didn't wish him such a terrible dead. 

He also was a history writer specialized in Napoleon's life and has written several books about him. He was still quite young, at least too young to die, he was only 57 years old. There will be certainly a lot of funeral ceremonies with restricted number of people as he was quite a well known man.

Still, we had a nice afternoon, the sun was shining through the windows and we talked about the next government meeting where it will be decided if the shops are allowed to open for Christmas and also the rules for December. Anyway the three of us are prepared to celebrate Christmas alone without our children. For me it would be the first time ever since Toby was born, but my first Whatsapp Christmas Eve ! 

The only one who leads a happy life without any worries, enjoying the sunshine, is little Rosie. Lockdown or not, she anyway never goes out !

  

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

HODGEPODGE

1. It's Thanksgiving week in the US of A so let's talk turkey. And by turkey I mean the elephant in the room because it's still 2020 and our blogs are a record of sorts of the times in which we live.  

In Europe, precisely in Belgium where I live, we don't have a Thanksgiving day, because most of our ancestors didn't take the Mayflower to America to eat a turkey. My family used to eat a turkey on Christmas day. I had to google to know why I should have an elephant in my room, now I know more or less, in fact the big elephant in my case was our moving from a house into an apartment between two lockdowns ! 

I think the year 2020 will enter in all history books, it had never happened that the whole world was locked in and was walking around with a mask ! The masks were mostly worn by bankrobbers or surgeons in hospital at normal times. 

Do you live in a state (or if you're outside the US, a country) that's instituted restrictions on the size of gatherings in your own home? What do we think about this? (keep it classy folks)

Yes my country is under curfew and lockdown ! All shops are closed which are not essential. I don't know who has decided what was essential or not, but personally I think a hairdresser is essential? as well as shoes and  underpants. in Supermarkets these things are covered with plastic !

I also don't understand why a carwash is closed when you sit alone in your car surrounded by brushes with soap and water ! We are allowed to invite one person per houshold, if it is a couple the other person should stay outside in the cold, which is a rule not respected by most of the people.

2. Let's move in a cheerier direction. Will there be corn on your holiday dinner menu? How so? Cornbread-corn pudding-corn chips and dip-cornbread dressing/stuffing-corn chowder-or regular canned, frozen or fresh corn in a bowl...which of the 'corns’ listed is your favorite? 

For this question I can only answer NO. I don't know anybody who eats something made out of corn besides the cattle here in Belgium.  Maybe there are people who do,  but it would be very unusual.

3. What is there a cornucopia of in your home, job, or life currently? 

I would say no, in this lockdown period  no cornucopia at all.

4. Have you ever quit something (such as a habit, a food, a time-sucker, a relationship) cold turkey? Is there something you need to quit cold turkey? 

Yes, I have long time ago, like boyfriends, alcohol and cigarettes. So now I am a good girl !

5. Share a favorite verse, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to gratitude. 

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it "  .....

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Above all I wish to return to normal life again and that our lockdown is lifted for Christmas ! That's now 9 month with a little break in between that we have no freedom anymore and more and more people get depressed. It's time to change this at least for Christmas ! 

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Fashion show in the Corroy le chateau castle (previous post)

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

MY CORONA TRAVELS - CORROY LE CHATEAU MEDIVIAL CASTLE - BELGIUM

Amongst the many Castles and Fortresses in Belgium, there is one medivial castle located in Corroy le Chateau. I visited it a few years ago because there was a medivial fest in the park with a fashion show from this time ! But I only show you the castle, the festivities this year are of course cancelled du to the Coronavirus ! The Castle was built around 1270 by Count Philippe de Vianden,  in the plains of Wallonia, it is still today in perfect condition and is one of the most beautiful examples of princely medieval architecture.

It was, indeed, never sold, simply passed down by direct affiliation. The Marquis de Trazegnies, descendants of the architect and heirs to the Orbais, Brabant, Vianden, Sponheim, Bavière and Nassau families, now live there. 

This pentagonal-shaped property, with its 4 corner towers, features stunning interiors from the 18th and 19 th century as well as many art works. 

Unfortunately it was not allowed to go inside you only could see the castle and the beautiful park around ! 

and the fashion show

More about the castle in my blog COUNTRIES & CITIES

more participants here

°AWWW Monday - WEEKEND November 21

 I have to wear a mask to protect myself !! 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

Weekend 

Saturday when I woke up the sky was gray and it seemed humid and cold outside. I would have liked to stay in bed, but finally got up for coffee and decided to do some shopping in the afternoon. 

I read some posts and then we had lunch and by the time I had watched my little crime story on TV it started to rain and rain !

Mr. G. played cards on his computer and I did some photo researches and some Internet window shopping, without ordering something. I changed my mind and stayed home in the warmth and was really tired in the evening ! Apparently doing nothing makes tired !

On Sunday it was the same but our lockdown group of three should meet in the afternoon, which we did, and we were hanging around and talked about everything and nothing, but it was good to spend the afternoon together and not to stay alone, there is always something to chat about.

Mr. G. didn't feel well and slept most of the day. We also talked about Christmas and that it will probably fall into the water, well, what should we do? We will see next Friday our chiefs will decide.

 

 

 

This was my very exciting Weekend !