FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist, but when I arrived at 3 pm it turned out that they had given me a wrong hour, so I have to go back. I took the opportunity and bought my fruits and things I needed and then I returned home, and joined the others on the terrace, which is enormous and has become our meeting point when the weather is nice. 

In fact there are a lot of visitors when the sun is shining. They take the opportunity to stay with their relatives in a beautiful park and participate in our games ! That's nice a very good mix of old and young without being organized.

 

I took one of the residents with me to a discount shop ! She had never seen one before, although she is only 7 years older then me ! I have noticed that most of the women here, are still living like my mother used to live, they prefer little shops (for a little chat) go to the butcher, to the fruit shop etc, because there was no choice at that time, the supermarkets didn't exist. I prefer one big store where I can find everything quick and in one shot ! I never wanted to loose my time with shopping ! She was so surprised about the prices that she was convinced that all goods were copies ! I had to explain to her that the prices are so low because they are overproductions that are bought by this shop. 

Now I have lived 65 years in Belgium and thought that I know the people, but here are some, I have never met so far. They only count on their children who have to bring fruits and other food, as if we would live in the bush ! 

As the country is so small, of course the family is around you, for them 20 km is very far ! I pity these poor "children", they have their adult live and also family ! But "mum"  would prefer to live with them, although many of them need a nurse and are in wheelchairs !

They have never traveled or seen another country, therefore their view is a bit limited ! Only the ones with Italian origin, are different, because they have a different character are open and usually funny.

I have bought a new fridge the one in my room was broken and also a very small one that looked like a big cube. Since they couldn't give me a larger one, I bought one and now I have room for ice cream too! 

We have a new one! At first I thought it was a woman with beautiful thick hair, but it was a man ! Tanned and with a pleasant face and very bright eyes. He sat folded in his wheelchair and watched us. He later told me that he is 99 years old and will be 100 in February! I almost fell out of my chair, 100 year olds were mostly women, this was the first man of that age I saw ! And in a very good shape ! He looked like an artist, or an old playboy. 

Yesterday I wanted to take a picture of him, but he stayed in his room. His daughter in law comes every afternoon to look after him, his son, her husband died a few years ago ! She is a nice woman full of humor and we talked a lot. He is still living alone in his apartment, and came here only the time she was on holidays, but she wants to convince him to stay with us permanently. I am sure he will stay, all people I know who were here for a months change their minds and remain.

On Friday morning when I got up I felt a bit  dizzy, I absolutely have to go to my doctor, there must be something wrong with me. I am not feeling "normal".   

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.