WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The view of Istanbul by day from the roof of our hotel

and by night

The swimming pool by night

It was pure coincidence that I found a small hotel in the middle of Istambul in Turkey. There were 3 floors and our room was on the top of the building. We could observe the daily life of the people who lived there, the windows were all open, we had a view over the not richest part of the city, but very interesting and even a swimming pool on the roof ! In the hotel were young and old guests from mostly UK and Germany who returned to this hotel for years.

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AWWWW- WEEKEND DECEMBER 28

 Charlie loved to roll in cow pat (his perfume from Dior)

 

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Saturday a miracle happened ! The sun was shining the whole day, but it was freezing cold.  Sun and cold lifts the mood ! So we had a nice question and answer game which we always like to do very much.

It's amazing that those who have lost their orientation sense completely and we have to bring them to their room have an excellent general knowledge and know things which I have to google for ! There is a man in a wheelchair because he is too big and his knees gave up to carry him, he knows all African cities from countries I never heard of ! Or most of us thought that the capital of the Netherlands would be Amsterdam, but it is Den Haag. 

There are a lot of us who have bronchitis or a cold, so we were only 12 to play instead of 20.

On Sunday we got the bad weather back and it was even freezing during night. I suddenly had an attack of energy and put all Christmas stuff in its box and tidied up the chest which I hadn't done since I moved in here over a year ago. I found old ball invitations from when I was 16  or something and also my diary which I started when I was 13 years old. Now I have to get rid of the junk I found in there. 

Yesterday I started cycling in our fitness room. I don't walk much, either because I can't or because it's raining again. I can't remember when I last rode a bike! It must have been over 25 years! I was surprised that it was quite easy for me, even though I had to pedal quite hard. After all, I pedaled 250 times yesterday and 350 today! I've told myself to do it every day now!

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This was a strange week, I had to look on my calendar each day to know which day we were ! The weather didn't help either, because each day when I looked out of the window I saw everything grey and the trees were hidden behind a grey veil. Fog! Every day ! Even the happiest person could become depressed. 

I didn't go out at all, this damp, wet weather was not good for the lungs. Luckily we always had a good time in the afternoons, Elinor and Kim were there every day, even on Christmas. On Christmas Eve I wanted to be alone and watched a film with Rosie, i.e. she slept and I watched the film and ate two kiwis and a mango. Then I went to bed and read. 

 

On Christmas Day we played a fun game, "Merry Christmas" was said in 39 languages ​​and we had to find out which country it was! Since I have heard so many languages ​​in my life, I won. On Friday I felt fine and was finally able to go shopping. Even the sun came out ! But the city was completely congested and it took me an hour to get home. Normally it takes 10 minutes and besides the fruits I needed I couldn't walk a bit around to see if there was a still a Christmas gift (for me) to buy !

Once there was a big agitation in the castle because a resident had disappeared. Everyone went looking for him because the poor man was suffering from Alzheimer's and normally couldn't go out. Finally a Sherlock Holmes nurse found the man in front of the station which is very close, where he was waiting for a certain train in shorts and a suitcase. He was brought home and luckily nothing happened to him not even a cold. Apart from that we had two ladies who had fallen down and both had black eyes. They looked as if they came out of a boxing ring. Not the same day, first one and then a few days later the other. 

And this was the last FFF this year, see you next year ! 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TATTOO OR NOT TATTOO

I have never payed attention to tattoos for the simple reason that it wasn't very well seen in Belgium or in Germany and a tattooed person was considered as rather vulgar.

So I was quiet surprised the first time I went to Egypt to see lots of British tourists more or less tattooed. It was the same for women and men, and they weren't the youngest once. They were all people like us, retired and stemming from the 60th/70th. When I asked why they all had these tattooes I have been told that it was very in fashion at hippie times end 60th and in the 70th in the UK and it was considered as very "in" ! I knew immediately who was British, because of the tattoos, no other tourists had them and ... they all regretted !

What probably looked nice when you are 20 doesn't have the same effect when you are in your 60th or 70th, put on some weight and lost your hair. Once a beautiful fresh little rose on an arm now looks rather faded, a snake has more wrinkles as usual and the once probably big and strong man who has  a "I love mom" tattoo on his shrunk muscles looks rather ridiculous.

Some women were a little upset because their husbands still had a heart with an arrow somewhere on their body, with a tattoo "Mary forever" but his wife's name was "Sue". You never know if it's forever !

Amongst my friends only one has a little rose tattooed on her shoulder, but even that, now looks rather ridiculous and she tries to hide it.

One thing is sure, when you are 20 you never think how you would look like at 80 ! and it is very hard to get rid of these "youth" memories.

Originally tattoos hadn't been a fashion and exists since the New Stone Age beginning about 9500 BC they were used to mark the tribes or communities, to which people belonged to.

Today, people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, sentimental/memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups, especially criminal gangs.

When I get into my third (or forth) puberty, maybe I will get a tattoo too, I only don't know yet what ?

 

 What about that ?

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND DECEMBER 21

 

Supper

 

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WEEKEND

On Saturday I expected my family to celebrate Christmas together. When they arrived dog Leia went to Rosie's basket to sniff if she was still there, Rosie opened an eye and then went to back to sleep. Leia turned around and did the same. The problem of dog/cat was solved. 

Then we went to a very nice restaurant which is famous for its meat quality. My son and grandson wanted to eat a good steak, while my DIL doesn't eat any meat but had a very good salmon dish. The building dates from the 18th century and is a restaurant since 1976.!!!

It is very cozy inside, has an open fire and a big garden, where you can sit in summer. We had a great meal and far too much, I had difficulties to finish my plate. Leia was very brave and lay under the table and slept.

Then we returned home and celebrated our Christmas. I had no Christmas tree, but had made a nice Christmas decoration.

I have got a special USB key which allows me to use it for my computer, my mobile and my tablet.

There was a little Christmas market in our restaurant and we made a walk through, but didn't buy anything. Poor Toby had probably eaten too much and didn't feel well, so he lay down for a while on my bed. 

At 5 pm they returned to Amsterdam, unfortunately in an awful weather, rain and wind but arrived safely home. Although we had celebrated a bit in advance, it was a nice Christmas day, the first different one in my new life.

Sunday was terrible, it was snowing and hailing at the same time! We played a kind of bowling and Litchi, our therapist's dog, let the people pamper him but didn't chase a ball.

Kim who is our "entertainer" and my son.

 

V

A very happy Christmas and a healthy good year without any problems !

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Unfortunately, I'm still suffering from this damp weather, I only feel good when I'm sitting  and not doing any physical moves.

Fortunately, we started the week with a very interesting quiz. It was about Christmas, how this holiday started, why and where, etc. It was very interesting and I was able to answer almost all questions, as I knew that celebrating Christmas originated in Germany and from there spread all over the world.

 The next day, cookies were baked and Christmas music played. That put me in the Christmas spirit, even though I only watched two people kneading the dough, no wonder they did it so well, both had a bakery!

Tomorrow I'll celebrate Christmas with my family, a bit early, but my DIL's family is spread out across Holland. I'll celebrate with my flatmates or alone. It depends on my mood.

I wish you 

 

 

                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE DECEMBER 19

1. What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year?

Improve my health (but how ?) and finally start my new life as a widow and enjoy life again.

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year?

A lot, because the sadder I am, the more I seem happy and funny and laugh all the time

3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety?

It's fun  ! Especially the pieces of paper that lie inside and predict the future. 

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? 

We, and now I try to wait until midnight, watch the fireworks if there are some.  We always used to celebrate with friends and it was always very funny. 

New Year, long ago, together with friends.

This year I don't know, probably I will buy some salmon or sushi and a bottle of champagne (without alcohol) and watch a movie. Maybe others will join me.

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? 

Ups, downs, lost 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This year during the Christmas season. I think about all the Christmases I have celebrated during my life. I think the best were those in England. We celebrated the first years of our marriage with my parents, but I have very bad memories of that. When they had passed away,  we changed the way we celebrated and it became fun. And now ? I don't care, I just want this time to be over as quickly as possible. Despite that I decorated my room and it looks very cozy and even though I was sick,  I found all the presents and they arrived on time.

 Rosie is a bit surprised she had never seen a mouse like that !

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Brussels Royal Palace

Once a year since 1965 the Royal Palace in Brussels is open to the public after the National Holiday on 21 July until end September. There is no entrance fee, it's for everybody. 

The last time I had been there must have been in 1966 and I could hardly remember a thing. This year you were allowed to take pictures without flash. 

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the King’s administrative residence and main workplace. Here in his office the King receives the representatives of political institutions, foreign guests (heads of state, ambassadors) and other guests. In addition to the office of the King and of the Queen, the Royal Palace plays host to the services of the King’s Household: the King’s Cabinet, the General Secretariat, the Civil List, the Military Household, the Protocol and the Queen’s Secretariat. The other members of the Royal Family also have an office at the Brussels Palace, where their staff work. The Palace comprises also prestige reception rooms where various activities of the King and the Royal Family are organized (work meetings and, receptions, concerts, lunches, etc.).

Last week I showed you the outside, here is what I saw inside !

The ceiling is covered with scarab wing cases.

The palace  was tastefully renovated by the previous Queen Paola and is a unique work of art. Light and simply beautiful.

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AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND DECEMBER 14

 

 

 

 

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I had hoped that I would be able to jump to the ceiling on Saturday,  because finally I got rid of all my diseases, but unfortunately I just made it a few meters and then I realized that I had to sit down and catch my breath. Another day locked inside because outside it rained again and it was also cold. 

Meanwhile the parcel with Toby's Santa Klaus gifts which should arrive before the 6th  has arrived and now I have to wait for the Christmas gifts. This weekend was the Christmas market of Waterloo, but thanks to my lungs I couldn't go ! Never mind, I have seen this market maybe not a thousand times but nearly. 

Hopefully tomorrow I can do some shopping, driving is no problem because I sit, but walking is another story ! 

My personal nurse checks me during the night, I am not thankful ! I would prefer to be checked during the day and sleep during night !

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This was really a very bad week for me ! I probably caught a cold  in the lovely restaurant last week. Anyway, on Monday my doctor came and prescribed me antibiotics and other things for bronchitis, and that combined with my chronic lung disease was terrible. I was wheezing so loudly that I couldn't sleep. Several of my friends had a cold and my friend of almost 100 years is in the hospital with pneumonia. I was cared for very lovingly, didn't have to worry about anything and someone from the staff often came to ask me how I was doing. I'm so glad I found such a nice home here. 

The new director, whom I called "The Phantom" because she was never seen unlike the previous one, was fired! I have to say that I was rather happy, she made such a mess here, amongst the staff. 

In any case, I always told the truth and said all of what I heard in a questionnaire. Now I have become the representative between staff, residents and management. 

For the first time I went today to participate in a Quiz which was very nice. As I was sit I felt normal, my "pump" didn't have to work and we all were in a good mood and laughed.

Cat Rosie felt that something was not as usual and unfortunately checked on me each hour. The noise which came out of my chest, worried her. So she stayed with me and watched that I didn't fall asleep ! 

Despite everything, I slowly, slowly decorated my room, because I can't do it all without Christmas decorations. This will be the second Christmas I'll be without Rick. But I have to learn to cope with my third phase of life as best as possible. 

 

 

 

 

                                       more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE DECEMBER

1. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

There is no little elf sneaking into my apartment, the only one who sneaks around during the night is my cat Rosie and distributes her fake mice all over the place. I wish she would do that during the day and not the night. 

My sneaking elf

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

As I am retired and live in "my" castle, I have no challenges anymore, but I had enough during my life ! The biggest challenge was that my parents came over Christmas and my mother wanted to change my whole house ! Christmas was always very stressing ! 

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

I never baked in my whole life and Christmas cookies I got from my mother who baked for a whole army, she loved baking and they were very good. I wasn't allowed to watch how she did it, I was in her way. I had no favorite shape.

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

Our Santa preferred a glass of Cognac on the open fire and 3 carrots for his donkey. Usually Rick took care of the cognac and I ate the carrots ! Nobody in our family drinks milk, we are all allergic !

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

"Rock around the Christmas tree"

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have no special thought, maybe with each year Christmas is less cozy and warm. I have decorated my room but without tree, because I have done it since I knew Rick and he loved my decoration and we always had a big tree. Now everything is different, no gifts anymore, under the tree because we have everything, my grandson prefers money he is saving for an electric bike. I just follow I have to look into the future and not back in the past, Rick is gone and my family celebrates in another way. Which is OK for me. The most important is being together.

 

past

 

present and future