HODGEPODGE NOVEMBER 20

 1. What was your favorite part about growing up in your hometown ?  

I grew up in Bonn which had been the capital of Germany from 1949 until 1990 when after the fall of the wall Berlin became the capital again. What I loved ? My freedom, we could ran around outside the whole day, inspect the ruins (Bonn was to 80 % destroyed) and the basements, found old toys and nobody payed attention, the parents had enough to do to find food and built up their houses.

 2. Do you prefer 'material' gifts or 'experience' gifts? If you answered experience, tell us about one you've received and truly enjoyed. 

Without hesitation I prefer experience gifts ! I prefer a contribution to a long travel or a beauty salon, or a musical everything which is adventurous. 

3. Is brown a color featured prominently in your home decor? Your wardrobe? What's a favorite brown thing you own? Of the brown foods listed here which one is your favorite and/or most often consumed... brown sugar, brown rice, pretzels, coffee, dates, cloves, German chocolate cake, whole wheat bread?

Brown is a boring color and refers to not very clean things. I never would wear brown, furniture has to have a natural color and not dark. As food I would prefer pretzels and coffee but black one. 

4. Which 'Charlie Brown' character do you relate to most? If you're not sure, you can take a fun quick quiz by clicking here-Which Charlie Brown Character Are You?  or the one found here-Charlie Brown Quiz. I got the same answer on both. 

I only know the name "Charlie Brown" but have never read something and don't know at all its personality. But the result of the Quiz was quite right 

5. What's a favorite item you've purchased this year? 

I had to buy so many things for my room and for my life here in "my" castle that I really don't know what. First I had to buy clothes because the ones I had were far too warm, the rooms are all heated to at least 24°C which in a normal household would be far too much and cost a fortune. I was not angry, that I had to change my clothes, I enjoyed the fact to have new feathers ! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have one thought which makes me really angry and allergic against Christmas ! We are just in the middle of November and lots of shops and shopping malls are already decorated for Christmas ! I am sure that when Christmas is finally there, I can't rock around the Christmas tree anymore. I will start with Easter bunnies, when I put the Christmas decoration away !

 

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND NOVEMBER 16

 

 In contrast to the human race, the males of ducks are more beautiful than the females! This is scientifically decided ! The last picture must be a men's outing.

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

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WEEKEND

I had taken an appointment at a car wash because I wanted a clean car to go through the technical control, we have to make all two years and now that I have to change the license plate still on Rick's name to my name ! Again tons of paper. As my car was not white anymore but rather grey and looked like a bin, I thought it's better to go there with a clean car. Of course with my catastrophic sense of orientation I landed on the other end of the city despite the fact that had looked on Google map and also had my GPS on in my car. My appointment was at 2 pm and I was on time and went through the car wash, which was a very modern one and made a new car out of my old ! When I got out a man was standing there and asked me if it was not me who had taken an appointment at 2 pm ? I said yes and added that I had already told that I had changed my mind and the inside was not needed. 

 It turned out that it was the man from the car wash besides the one where I went through, I hadn't seen it and went through the wrong one. What an idea to built two car wash side by side ! The guy was not very happy but I told him he should have given me the name of his car wash and then I hurried home.

I just arrived in time when they started a bowling game with soft keys and balls. I missed all keys, I couldn't get used to these foam balls and keys ! Fortunately they are soft, otherwise I would have killed some people ! 

On Sunday morning I was in war with my new bank account. I wanted to order food for little Rosie, but couldn't pay with a QR code. Before I exploded, I gave up and will call my bank on Monday and ask what happened.

Starving Rosie

In the afternoon we did something for our health .... Tai Chi ! For once I was the best thanks to my daily Yoga. And while we did our exercises the pedicure came and took care of the feet of one resident. That was really funny ! Especially with the oriental music ! 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Monday was again a funeral weather, humid, grey, cold ! My lung complained about the humidity and told me to stay inside, which I did. In the afternoon we played a nice game, to find the capitals from all countries outside Europe. That wasn't easy at all especially concerning the African countries and South American's too. 

From time to time I found a capital, but maybe only three, while our nearly 100 year old and André a man of 98, they found them ALL ! Amazing, we had to make an effort to keep our mouths closed. Or did you know that the capital of Belize is Belmopan ?? If I could be like that if ever I reach the 100 years, but that's impossible, because I didn't like Geography and mostly dozed during the class.

The next day too, we made an interesting game, it was to test our memory. Cards were laying on  the table and we had to pick out one put it back and the next had to try to find the same design. Here I was a bit better. One of our classmates had found her husband dead in his bed at 4 am, he had been a doctor and had given his body to science, so he was immediately picked up and taken to the hospital. The family never saw him again because the organs were removed immediately. 

Solange his wife took it easy, he was 97 years old and not at all anymore the man she was married to for 70 years. She was happy with us and participated in the game. Her two daughters were relieved to see her like that and thanked us that we made her laugh ! 

I managed to do my shopping when I had no breathing problems, fortunately, because the next day it was terrible I hardly could dress myself and walk a few steps. But I managed to join the others in the afternoon, slowly, slowly and then I fell on a chair and only moved my brain and tried to find out the opposite word of for example "high"-"deep" etc.

One of our group was a farmer's wife and was not very much in a school, 

and while we played she had found a job she likes when it is too rainy outside, she folds mountains of napkins and is happy with that !

Now it goes quick, the trees loose their leaves and the view becomes sad each day a bit more.

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE NOVEMBER 14

1. What's something you think is under appreciated. Explain. 

I would say some artists, some are real good but don't know the right people.

2. As winter approaches how do you stay productive? 

 I don't want to stay productive, I just let it go and wait for better times.

3. What's a popular food you don't like?

 Peanut butter, already the smell disturb me

4. What do you think is more interesting-art or history? Elaborate. 

 I think you can't compare art with history. Art needs creativity, which some people have others not. Art also has its history. 

 The other History is the past made by humans, and you can't change it.  I like both. I used to paint and loved to read history books.

5. What advice would you give to someone half your age?

To enjoy life as much as you can, but honestly I don't like to give advises unless somebody asks me for one.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had believed that the paper mountain concerning Rick's passing had disappeared as it is now more then two years ago, but no, the police had checked my license plate and stated that it still was on Rick's name ! it almost seemed to me as if he had been my chauffeur! What had happened ? The car was in my name, I paid the insurance and taxes, but the sleeping busy officials forgot to put the license plate in my name too.

In Belgium, the wife keeps her maiden name from birth to death, so I have to get a new license plate now, otherwise I have to pay a fine and all that because everything went haywire during the Corona period. Of course that made me very furious and upset. Now I can drive my car around to hand in the papers to the different services ! Why make things easy if you can make them complicated ???

 

  

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Belgium, the land of beer 

Why is beer associated with Belgium? Belgian beer is listed as a World Heritage property. Nearly 1500 different beers are produced in the country using different fermentation methods: from Pils, Abbey beers, Seasons beers, Trappist beers, Old Flemish browns, to the most elaborate Lambic and Gueuzes, 

Belgium has a wealth of styles and a rare creativity. Beer is an integral part of Belgium's history. It was the drink of the monks, who mastered its production and know-how, enabling them to drink beverages purified from the diseases that devastated Europe in past centuries. This activity also enabled them to keep their community alive over the centuries. Some monasteries continue to produce their beers within their community, the famous Trappist beers such as Westmalle, Rochefort or Chimay. 

As early as the Middle Ages, many farms produced beer in winter, to quench the thirst of all their farm workers in summer. This beer is the origin of the Seasons beers. These farms continued to brew and thus became real brewing institutions, such as the Dupont brewery founded in 1759, the Dubuisson brewery founded in 1769 and the Du Bocq brewery founded in 1858. Many historic breweries continue to brew according to the same traditional recipes, transmitted from generation to generation, sometimes for 5 generations. 

In addition to these secular breweries, there are new brewers who work every day on new recipes and try something new. Beer is much more than a festive consumer product in Belgium. It is certainly drunk in the evening or as an aperitif, but also increasingly at the table. Each dish has its own beer or beers. In short, beer is consumed in Belgium as nowhere else in the world. A Belgian drinks 74 liters of beer a year, or one glass a day. (Certainly more then one glass !)  Every Belgian beer has its own story that is told around a good dinner. No wonder Belgium is considered the land of beer! 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND NOVEMBER 9

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND 

Just the day when Laure and I had booked a theater play, I could do a few steps and then I was breathless. Fortunately the play was really funny and well played. Fortunately I didn't cough like an old cow, and also my breathing was OK. But in the audience was a man with a device that nobody could guess. It made from time to time a noise like a sneezing elephant and so loud that we couldn't understand the words of the actors. We tried to find out who made this noise, but saw nothing. It's sad for the person but you shouldn't go into a theater with such a breathing device. 

On Sunday my son with wife and son came for a short visit, which was very nice, they came at noon, we had a wonderful lunch in a cute little Italian restaurant

 

in the Italian restaurant

and then remained in my room, while Leila the dog was running around in the park. Apparently she recognizes the park immediately when the car is approaching and then she has the fun of her life. Unfortunately there was no animation this Sunday, what nobody could understand and was quite disappointed. But we had a coffee and chatted together and then it was time for them to leave. But before we returned to my room and this time Rosie opened an eye looked at the dog and closed it, while the dog had understood that she has to keep distance and finally also closed the eyes, to take some force again to run around in the park, then they returned to Amsterdam.

compared to last year there are far more leaves on the trees and they are still green !

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The week started with typical November weather, cold, wet, grey, really mood lifting ! Fortunately we had our activity in the afternoon, we played a fun game, we had to smell at potty and find out what was in it.

That could be a mint smell or a special perfume or baked bread. After the third person who hadn't smelled anything, we finally looked at the expiry date and no wonder no one smelled anything, the potties were almost 10 years old and completely odorless! Of course that caused a big laughter and we continued talking and discussing other games.

I had changed my bank and had done something wrong when I tried to put the app in my smartphone. My card was blocked for 24 h. Fortunately I had another card and could do my shopping and pick up my medication at the pharmacy. When I came back I called the bank and asked what mistake I had done, it was really stupid, I had mixed up the code ! Now it works. 

As I was in the city center I thought I could say hello to my old neighbors. Which I did. They have the same apartment as I had before and there were no news at all, they are the only two who see each other every day, the others are working. In my "old" apartment lives a young couple, but they have never seen them ! It's the use to live 20 years side by side without knowing each other ! Crazy. I was happy when I returned into my castle found my friends in their coffee circle, laughing and chatting. I joined the company and finished my afternoon with them. 

The next day a movie was on the program. I didn't like the fact that it was a cartoon, after all, I didn't have any grandchildren with me who would be happy. It was an ancient Mexican film and so stupid that after 15 minutes I quietly sneaked out and went to my room. At four I was there again. Apparently no one liked the film, most of them didn't understand a thing, the others fell asleep and some did what I had done and came back for coffee. Finally Kim stopped the film after he also noticed that no one was watching anymore. The whole film should last 2 hours !! Apparently movies don't work that well, because or they are too difficult to understand or too childish and then it's difficult when you are 90 to concentrate on a movie which lasts so long. 

We still were locked in because of the awful weather, nevertheless we played Golf !! That was really funny and the balls flew in all directions, seldom in the hole ! 

"room" Golf

 Our nearly 100 year old won ! Was she proud ! I managed two balls and was second, probably I have to wait another 20 years for the 4th ball ! 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE NOVEMBER 7

1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? 

 It may sound a bit pretentious, but all good things I take for granted !

2. What's the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

That's a difficult question, because I never dress classical so for some people I only have bold clothes.

3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. 

If we were all the same that would be boring each person is an individual with his own opinions. And that would be the key of getting along ! I wouldn't like if all my friends and families have the same interests or values. 

4. November 6 is National Nacho Day...do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? 

I had to google to find out what Nacho means. Never heard of it and of course never ate one.

5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.?  If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you'd like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice?

We only passed through and to me it looked like all other big cities in the States. My favorite city however is Chicago ! This city is an architectural wonder with the gold decorated skyscrapers. I have heard that a future architect should go to Chicago at least once.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

When I saw the News this morning 

I only hope for my American friends that he is right ! I have some doubts about it, but I don't live in America.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

 

Spiders make me hysterical, I would scream and leave the room like a flash even with my antique bones, but I have to admit that they are great artists and their webs are real art work. I wonder if a human could do the same work !

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND NOVEMBER 2

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND 

Now we really have November weather, humid, cold, grey everything you wish to escape into a warm country. The morning went quickly by, with blogging, photos, and looking for ideas for forthcoming birthdays and Christmas. Of course I found nothing. 

In the afternoon we had to find capitals of different countries, and Jeannie the nearly 100 year old, found all except one, because the name had changed ! The other who is 102 years old, doesn't participate each day, because she finds our games often too childish, which makes me laugh !

 

On Sunday afternoon it was like being in a fancy fair ! Not only our group was there, but also visitors, grandchildren, children and families. We played a game called "Massacre" where we had to knock over the cans with two throws. The ball flew into all directions and sometimes it even hit the cans. 

The best was our 100 year old, who knocked over all the cans with one throw! In addition to our laughter and chatting, there was a birthday party. Solange was celebrating her 98th birthday and her extended family came. Solange had forgotten her birthday, although she was reminded of it just before the guests arrived, but Solange was still busy taking her afternoon nap. There was an atmosphere in our restaurant like in a banquet hal.

This afternoon we were not in a retirement home, but rather in a "mad" house. Everybody had a lot of fun and the eldest suddenly became young ! I was really tired when I returned to my room, but happy that it had been such a cheerful afternoon.

 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I am still not completely rid of my bronchitis and sometimes wake up because of my own breathing noise which sounds like a walrus with a cold. Of course that takes all my energy but at least I participate in our games in the afternoon. 

As there was a day off because of "All Saint's day" there was a terrible traffic to all cemetery in the country because it is the use to clean the graves and put flowers on it. At least once a year ! Only a few of our group were missing and Kim our animator had the good (?) idea to make a Quiz with Saints. Now, I am protestant and we have no saints and the others didn't know them, but we found at least one ! the Saint of Brussels ! There was no saint for our dear Waterloo. Our ignorance and the fantasy some residents had, made that the afternoon was really very funny. 

I had to go to the bank and choose the day when the birthdays of the month are celebrated, because the last months the singers had been awful (at least for me) The bank was full as if you get your money for free, so I changed my bankcard number on the cash machine and quickly returned home. 

The singer still sang with full heart, but to my surprise not bad at all and she even tried to make the audience laugh ! Then it was coffee time and we talked about ..... Trump ! Our nearly 100 year old Jeannie, had a very special opinion about him, which made laugh the whole group. 

The weather is humid and I didn't want to go out but I had to buy my fruits. When I got back we started a game called "throw decapitated heads"! That sounds pretty babaric but it was very funny. It was a miracle that our glasses didn't break and the heads didn't end up in our faces, but everyone still hit the target. The heads were soft balls with scratch and had two ears and two eyes. You throw and they should stick on the target 

 

We got 5 heads each, and I throw 4 which remained on the target. 

Two "Inspectors" from the company came and controlled if everything is OK in our castle, but when they saw how much fun the residents had, they were really pleased. In the past year from 8 participants we are now 20 or more, and if at the beginning everybody made a face like that :😑now it's more like that😄!! 

The goal of this retirement home company is to make people having fun and feel useful. And that works very well ! One works in the park from morning to evening pulling out weeds, another folds the napkins and is very enthusiastic about it and some clean the tables after our coffee chat. We help clean up as much as we can (I'm particularly lazy) but I take the photos for the monthly newspaper. That's also something. 

 And I am still the mediator between management and residents, or simply have an open ear for concerns about the "bad" children who never come, even though that's not the case. 

The week ended with a quiz, one question was "which item brings luck"?

a) a calf's head

b) a pig's trotter  

c) a horseshoe 

Chantal's hearing is getting worse, and she answered "calf's head" which of course caused a loud laugh from everyone.

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE OCTOBER 31

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I try to recover from my recent cold, which takes a lot of time and all my energy. I feel like a dead/alive which fits for Halloween, and my face has the same colors !

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of ? 

More air ! Because of my chronic bronchitis, I quickly become breathless and that's frustrating because everything always has to happen quickly for me.

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

It's not so long that Halloween arrived in Belgium, but now it is here too. Especially in shop decoration ! We didn't celebrate Halloween because it was not known and in my son's school nobody knew about it.

This year in my "castle" we have decorated the entrance and the restaurant, and also baked some cookies, but for most of the 90 or more years old had never heard of it. 

Some are even angry about this new "invention" because the day after is "All Saints day" (Belgium is a catholic country) and the families visit the cemetery and put flowers on the graves and then the family which hasn't seen each other for a year get together for lunch, or coffee. So Halloween with these scary outfits and skeletons doesn't really work. The younger generation is more open in this respect and also don't go at that very day to visit graves.

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

 It was a chocolate waffle, and there is no first or last thing I made, which called for chocolate. I am retired !

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

For me it's weekend the whole year long ! I make plans and then I make others, I travel or I travel not, it's just like I feel (or don't feel) since Rick's passing and my move into the "castle" I make a lot of plans but stay always home. I am a bit reluctant too, to leave little Rosie alone (she wouldn't be alone) it's just an excuse I guess. I think I haven't found my way yet !

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  µ

I only have one thought! I wish I could hibernate in a warm cave and crawl out in spring!