HODGEPODGE SEPTEMBER 12

 

1. When the Hodgepodge lands on September 11th I want to acknowledge that. Will you purposely pause to remember, pray, or attend any sort of ceremony on 9/11? Share any thoughts or memories you'd like to share about this day.

Some people in Europe will certainly remember this day, because they lost a relative, a friend or a work colleague who have been killed. Of course it was mentioned in all Newspapers and TV.

2. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents? What's something you learned from a grandparent? 

I have learned everything for life from my maternal grandma because she brought me up until I was 6 years old. Later I didn't see her very often because she lived 600 km away, as an adult I hadn't any contact with my paternal grandparents, they had died. 

3. What's your go-to breakfast?   

For about 51 years I only had a cup of coffee, when I  had to eat something I now have "Müsli" which consists of oat flakes and dried fruits. I also add a fresh kiwi.

4. Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photos. 

I have so many photos at least 7 or 8 thousand if not more, from family and travels but also from participating in photography international groups. 

This collage is my favorite, it represents my husband all over the 54 years we were married, and then he passed away

5. This week Friday lands on the 13th. Are you superstitious in any way? Do you like scary movies, and if so what's your favorite ? 

I am not at all superstitious, I would play in a casino and hope to win, I lived for 20 years with a black cat and I always walk through a ladder. I love crime stories but with a touch of humor. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I think why do I still see through a veil and sometimes feel dizzy. Tonight I finally found the reason, it's a sleeping pill that the doctor prescribed to me and that my body doesn't want. It doesn't like medication at all !  I then asked my doctor not to prescribe me new things, I just don't support them. That's already the second medication. I lived so far for 81 years and intend to add some years more !

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEEKEND

 

This is the Valley of the Kings and the tourist craze that takes place in front of the entrances to the tombs. I visited it twice, once in 2002 with Rick and my aunt's neighbors from the States,  and then years later with two friends.

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

HAPPY TUESDAY

 

 

More participants with HAPPY TUESDAY

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND SEPT 7

 

 Kitten Arthur when he arrived in our home

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

 

 

********* 

 

WEEKEND 

I spent a nice weekend despite the fact that I was still suffering from withdrawal symptoms because I  stopped taking cortisone and then wondered why I felt so bad. I was hoping that when my son and grandson arrived on Saturday I would feel better, but I still had blurry eyes and felt dizzy at times. 

They arrived at noon, with dog Leia and when they entered my room, cat and dog looked at each other, Rosie made huge eyes but remained in her basket and Leia must have thought that this cat must be a family member and lay down. That was the first time they were in the same room and it went very well.

Of course for the dog our park is ideal for running around and chasing her ball ! Then Dario my son picked up 2 or 3 hamburgers or cheeseburger each,  they both have a very good appetite. They sat at our picnic table in the park and they swallowed the hamburgers in no time, I had already eaten. 

They played in the park until 3 pm, time to sit on the terrace and playing a game with all the others. The weather was wonderful, and we were 21 oldies to play. Toby likes to play with all the grandmas and likes them in general, he served them cookies and Dario set the tables with cups and then poured the coffee. Of course everyone was impressed by the two giants (2 m and 1,95 m) and I was happy because they were so nice. Even Leia visited all the laps and got some cookie pieces.

Everybody was happy with the dogs, there was another one on visit and both got a lot of cuddles ! 

The afternoon went by very quickly, and at 5.30 pm they left, because they were invited for a barbecue at Dario's best friend.  

I was quite dizzy after they left, had supper and at 8 pm I was exhausted and went to bed.

 

 These are Rosie's eyes when she saw Leia 

 

In the picture posing like the organ pipes,  and sitting at the table for first our game and then coffee. On the picture below right, Leia enters my room and looks at my grandson and Rosie. 

Sunday the temperature dropped by 10°C it rained and there was a strong wind. I was still feeling badly, but at 3pm I went playing  a game that translated was named “hang on the gallows”. You had to find a word and each time you didn't find it a gallows was drawn. 

After having assured my little Italian lady (94)  that her parents are still alive and in good health and that they are waiting for her, I returned to my room. If you don't agree with her she gets very angry and then starts to cry. So I play the game and then she remains calm and forgets. 

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This week went by so fast ! I had to call the doctor, because I had something strange ! When I realized that after taking my medication for the lungs, which contained cortisone was the reason of all skin troubles and  weight increase, I stopped taking it. The result was  like withdrawal symptoms I had read. It was terrible, I had no idea that cortisone was so dangerous ! 

So for three days I couldn't take part in anything and just hung in my armchair. When I felt a little better, I sat down with the others, but couldn't play. 

 

They had to blow the ball over the water until the last glass 

one stopped because she almost spitted out her dentures as she said. We all laughed but I thought the game was not really for the old ladies some approaching 100 years. But our animators are young and have difficulties sometimes to realize that although the old ladies make an effort because they don't dare to say anything, but later they complain to me.

Today I'm feeling a little better, but I'm still not "normal". My doctor asked for a blood sample and the next morning a nurse came and stuck a needle into my arm. Poor girl, my blood gushed out of the tiny hole, all over her hand, onto my bedside table, onto her blouse and onto the floor! It looked like a pig had been slaughtered in my room ! Poor girl had to clean the mess and told me that she had never had a case like me, I believed her.

Now I have to wait for the results. Nothing else happened this week.

 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE SEPTEMBER 4

 

1. Something you're working on currently ?  

I'm trying to copy my pictures that are on Photobucket to my computer. After 17 years they now want me to pay ! And I didn't use it since at least 8 years !

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

My first job was in a company that produced subtitles for films. I was supposed to just translate, but I did everything, so to speak. Telephone, writing letters, customer contact and trade fairs. I learned a lot there.

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

The first company I worked for often held exhibitions at trade fairs. I always had to go along with them to translate from French into German. I loved the exhibitions it was fun and in the evenings going out into night clubs !

I never had a job where I had to wear an uniform, and I never worked at night.

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

I have never baked in my life and cooking I gave up since I am a widow. Now I get nice meals here in my "Castle".

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September ? 

Nothing special, maybe the weather, that it continues to be so warm and that the sun is shining, I love to stroll around in our park.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I wonder how long I will have to suffer from my cortisone poisoning. I had to stop taking a medication, but I didn't know that I would suffer withdrawal symptoms. It's awful I feel dizzy and have ants in my legs !

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

The Jardin Majorelle of Yves St. Laurent in Marrakech (Morocco)

In 1924, the French painter Jacques Majorelle acquired land located on the edge of the Palmeraie of Marrakech, where he built a villa and laid out a garden. 

In 1947, Majorelle opened his garden to the public. In 1980, the late Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent became owners of this legendary garden and kept it open to the public. After the death of YSL because of a brain cancer the "Jardin Majorelle" belongs to a foundation. I have visited Marrakech and seen the garden which was just beautiful.

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday I participated for the first time in our games, I felt still a bit weak from my cold, but much better. The weather was wonderful, very warm and sunny but with a little wind so that we all could gather on the terrace. It seems to me that we are more and more residents participating in our games. 

When I looked out of my window I saw 4 little trucks and an army of gardeners who the whole day spruced up the park. The result was great and the freshly mowed lawn smelled delicious. 

On Tuesday we were asked to gather in the restaurant and the new manager was introduced to us. We were all a bit suspicious, and then very relieved when a young woman introduced herself and was very friendly and likable. In any case, I am sure that she will maintain the family spirit.

Once again I represented those who don't dare to say anything, many behave as if they were still at school and are afraid of the teacher ! Those are mostly 90 years old or more. The younger once are different, the schools had changed and were not all catholic as before.

So I said what needed to be improved, and then she laughed and told me that everything was already on her list. I left together with some others, satisfied with this first meeting. 

I didn't go out at all, because it was so nice staying here and recover. I felt like on holidays. During the week we played with flying disks and to my surprise I was not so bad. 

We also had a Yoga session, and I was surprised how the participants, who were no longer very young, were so agile and enjoyed doing the exercises. To make it even more real, our animators lit incense sticks and played relaxing music. He even brought an Indian gong with him. What was missing was a joint, those who remembered the hippie times laughed, the others didn't know what I was talking about.

And when the time is over, we gather on the terrace and have our afternoon coffee with cake, fruits, and cookies. 

I became friend with one of our cleaning women, who works here since 20 years ! She came from Rwanda and is married and has two children. They always wanted to get married in Rwanda and had prepared a wedding with 200 guests. I have seen the video, what a wedding ! and I got a picture of her in all her beauty as a bride. 

Isn't she pretty ? 

To finish the week, I finally did my little shopping, as I couldn't go out due to my cold and bought some fruits. When I came back I saw my old ladies shooting with a toy gun on colored plastic cups !! and they had a lot of fun ! The best was a 95 year old lady who almost always achieved her goal, as if she had done nothing else in her entire life, although she worked as a doctor's assistant with her husband, who was a doctor and had raised 4 children at the same time ! She was very proud of her performance !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE AUGUST 29

1. What is one cliche you think is nonsense? What's one you think holds truth? 

 

It was said in the past to always wear clean underwear in case you have an accident and they have to carry you into a hospital ! Probably it was to inform people to change underwear (sometimes). 

I don't know what cliché holds the truth.

2. What's the last thing you broke and how did it happen?

It probably was my computer mouse, I can't think of something else. But I regularly have to buy a mouse because they just fall on the ground and break. I have always one in reserve. I can't use the touch pad, the use just doesn't go into my head.

3. Are you a fan of s'mores? Have you had a s'more this summer? Last thing you ate that you wanted to ask for 's'more of'? 

Never heard of s'mores, but thanks to Google now I know. Besides in England nobody eats that,  it's a far too sweet toast in Europe. Marshmellows are not well know even by children and if, they usually don't like them.

4. A mode of transportation you've never tried? Will you someday? 

  Not a horse, but a camel !

Besides a moped and a horse, I have tried them all during my life I think.  Unfortunately for the horse I am too old now and when I was young I was afraid of horses ! Now not at all anymore, I love them.

5. Believe it or not, next week's Hodgepodge lands in a brand new month. What's your happiest memory from the month we're bidding adieu? 

 Nothing special my life, is like a pearl necklace, each and every day the same "pearl" !

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Since an army of gardeners have invaded our park, the smell of the freshly mowed lawn makes me feel on holidays and not to regret that I didn't travel this year. 

They came with 4 trucks

 

and in the evening I can hear the swans, geese, birds, making a lot of noise while "singing" in the dawn, they are swimming on the lake in Waterloo Park, which is directly adjacent to ours, separated only by bushes and a fence. 

When I wake up in the morning the crows make a huge racket because they are fighting over a piece of bread, which my roommates throw into the park ! It's almost like the Hitchkock movie. Then I let my thoughts wander and make plans for the day. It's nice to be on permanent holidays and it's warm and the sun is shining !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

a thirsty camel in Morocco 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND AUGUST 24

 Mum and Dad Swan lead their kids through the tourists laying on the beach of the Garda Lake in Italy

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

 ******

On Saturday it became very hot approaching 30°C, with a very strong wind which blow us nearly away while we were all sitting on the terrace and had a lot of fun, we laughed a lot and with our coffee we had wafels and everybody had a good appetite.

On Sunday the temperature had dropped again during night and it was rather cold and we couldn't sit outside ! No wonder that you catch a cold easily. One resident had fallen asleep in the sunshine on a bank and her face and decolté was red like lobster and the skin was burnt ! Of course it hurt a lot, hopefully she will feel better tomorrow. 

This time we had to find synonyms and then we were served a "merveilleux" with our café.

 

We can't say that we are starving here ! Fortunately I haven't put on weight but some others who probably didn't eat anymore alone in their apartments, look far better now.

The star of this afternoon, as so often, was our little Italian  woman, Rina, who always got everything wrong because her hearing aid doesn't work well. The funniest words come out. And every afternoon at four o'clock, she starts telling us that she has 5 children, lives in Waterloo and who can drive her home because it's time to feet them. We have to be careful not to contradict her otherwise she will get really angry. But she has lot of humor and is happy when we laugh at her. Otherwise she is completely normal during the day.

And another week will start tomorrow, my cold has disappeared I only still cough a bit.