WRITER CRAMPS (Main): 16/06/2024

22 Jun 2024

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday it rained as usual, what else could I expect ! If you walk on the grass it's like walking on a big sponge ! In the afternoon a magician was supposed to come, he arrived half an hour late, unfortunately he couldn't magic away the rain or the heavy traffic.

It was a very young man or at least he looked as if he was 16 with Harry Potter glasses on his nose.

He made some tricks with cards, let disappear things, but he definitively wasn't a David Copperfield ! He did his best and we watched with interest, but for most of us it was a "déjà vu".

When they had their mass, I went to the part of Waterloo where I had the apartment and went to a shop which I can't find near the castle. As I was already in the area, I called my ex neighbor Nicole (another one) and asked if I could see her for a moment. She was happy to see me and told it to the other neighbor who also came over and we chatted together the whole afternoon. Now they are both in their 80 and still live alone in these big apartments. But both have family here who helps when they need them. They are not alone like I was. I returned home and was happy to find my cozy room, it has become my retreat when I want to be alone, without being alone.

What is so nice that every day we have an activity in the afternoon. Meanwhile we become more and more even the oldest are there 99 and sometimes 100 years old ! They love games with finding words, there are a lot ! This time we played one which is called "Hangman" (le pendu). You have to find a word and each time you choose a letter which is not in the word you have to add something on the Hangman, a head, eyes, nose etc

These games are very much appreciated and we always laugh a lot. Sometimes an outside game is foreseen but then it rains and Kim our animator has to be very creative ! We should play mini golf, but as it rained we played in the restaurant, inside "golf". A box served as a gate and a cup stood in the middle. The golfer now had to shoot the ball into the cup. I managed 4 out of 5 balls and one who shot off blindly, all 5 balls! Was she happy !

The second animator is a girl and started on Monday. She is very nice and physically the opposite from Amandine who has started in another residence. Amandine was a beauty, dark hair and eyes, Eleonor is light blonde and has blue eyes.

Here we had to pull out a piece of wood without the tower collapsing! It wasn't easy, but I did it!

For the moment this simple life is doing me a lot of good. After all, I have to recover from almost 5 years of stress and poor health. In the morning I work on my blog and answer emails, then I'm served lunch, I prefer to eat in my room and not yet in the restaurant, and then, if it doesn't rain, I go for a walk in the park. The doctor recommended this to me, I don't like doing it but I force myself to do it. And in the afternoon we play games together or I go shopping or visit old friends. I'm slowly feeling better, but I am still not completely comfortable in my skin. It's only 2 years, that Rick is gone and I still have to learn that now I am alone. I am here now since November and I think I made progresses.

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

19 Jun 2024

HODGEPODGE JUNE 20

1. It's National Splurge Day...what's something you might splurge on today? What have you splurged on recently?

Apparently I am on strike this day, because I have nothing to splurge, since a few months it's raining and cold and I prefer to stay in my "castle" and not to go out ! It's actually good for my wallet, but there is always Internet ! Danger ! But honestly I am too lazy to surf the online shops !

2. Do you have a beach bag? What's in it? Is a trip to the beach on your summer bucket list? Do you have a summer bucket list?

Of course I have a beach bag ! What's in it ? NOTHING ! Although the coast is not far only 100 km, but the weather is so cold that you can only walk along the beach dressed for an expedition to the North Pole.

Unfortunately nobody knows when summer will finally move into Belgium, therefore no bucket list is necessary !

3. What's a song that makes you think of a summer past? What comes to mind when you hear it? What memories does it stir up for you?

No song reminds me of summer, the last 4 years I've had so many worries that I couldn't even think of songs!

Even in normal times in the past, or when I was a young girl, I loved music but not one song which would remind me summer holidays !

4. Sushi-yay or nay? Have you actually tried it? If you love it what's your go-to order?

A big YES ! I love Sushi and Rick loved them too ! On special occasions he always asked to order a Sushi meal, and when we went out it was either for real Italian food in a special restaurant or we ordered a plate of Sushi, a huge portion of all kind, Rick had a good appetite !

Sushi supper with a friend

5. I own a ridiculous amount of

Cat figurines, which some people find probably ridiculous. My grandson counted nearly 500 when I lived in the apartment, but I had far more in our house. I sold them or gave them away, and now in my "castle" I have kept a little collection !

6. Insert your own random thought here.

For the moment I have no special thoughts, I just live my "castle" life. I have a new neighbor, a friendly lady, very skinny who once was certainly a beauty, still is ! But I don't know her yet, but she seems to me a little exuberant and is a bit strange. I will see in a few weeks, she told me that her husband died 3 days ago, which seems impossible, or maybe she is still under shock.

I also wonder how long this winter weather will last, maybe we switch with Australia, and have our summer in winter and winter in Summer. Then we also could make a barbecue in the warm sunshine ! Who knows !