FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The weather changed again and summer seems far away ! Fortunately we have our games in the afternoon and that's always a nice distraction. This time we did a memory game, glasses containing a little colored ball were lined up and you had to keep in mind in which order they were standing. Then the box was turned around and you had to tell in which order the glasses stood. I was quite good, when it comes to colors I keep them in mind, so I won each time !

It was really fun, because some were completely colorblind !

My friend Laure had returned from Norway and was thrilled by the beautiful landscapes and the fact that the sun was still shining at 1 a.m. if it wasn't hidden behind the clouds, because unfortunately the poor girl had bad weather. The pictures I saw reminded me of the Scottish Highlands and I thought I didn't need to go to Norway, I've already seen Sweden, Denmark and Finland, the northern countries of Europe.

I had been interviewed by an employee for the local Newspaper and I have got a copy. You can see my picture where I look like a monk besides the 100 year old resident. She is the oldest and I had the funniest story how I found the castle and I am also amongst the youngest. Both of us will have their birthday now in July, she 101 and I 81 ! I nearly feel like a teenager ! 

We played bowling inside, in our huge restaurant under the beautiful crystal chandeliers, of course not with real balls but with light plastic balls. I won twice ! I thought this is very "posh" to play bowling under crystal chandeliers ! 

One afternoon the sun dared to come out for a few hours and we took the opportunity to play "petanque" on the lawn. It was very windy and I was feeling cold, so I played once, nearly killed Elinor our new animator and went inside to warm me up ! The others also wanted to go inside 19° was a bit too cold for the elderly. 

On the last day of the week our Manager invited us for a "Good Bye" drink, because he is leaving, he will be the General Manager of the whole group of these residences. Of course we would have preferred that he would stay, but fortunately his assistant a very kind young lady will replace him, she has the same ideas of a senior residence and the well being of the residents. We were all pleased to hear that, it's always better to take a person we know then a stranger. After a glass of Champagne (Italian, Pro Secco) I went in my room for lunch. On the picture below one of our physiotherapists, came to show us his 4 month old daughter. Was he proud !! It was really cute to see all the grandmas or great great grandmas admiring the baby !

I stayed home the rest of the week, I am so fed up to always wear winter clothes ! When it was hot for three days, I realized that I have no clothes for real hot weather and I ordered a few blouses on Internet. As soon as this was done, the weather changed and I had to wear warm clothes again and now my new "feathers" are hanging in my wardrobe !

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE JULY 2

 1. It's a big week in the US of A as we celebrate Independence Day. Do you have any special plans? How will you mark the day? BBQ? pool-lake-beach time? fireworks? homemade ice cream? If you're not an American you can tell us what's happening in your corner of the world on Thursday.

Nothing special, we don't celebrate an Independence Day, as we have always been independent, except of course the once who sailed to America because or they were very poor, or they were politically persecuted or they married an American just as my aunt my mother's sister in 1950. 

2. What's your favorite 'All-American' dessert? 

That's a very difficult question ! All the deserts I like I find them in the UK or in Germany ! I am not a desert fan, but I like chocolate and blueberry muffins, which I had discovered in Madison/Wisc in 1971 when we made a tour around 8 or 9 States with my aunt. Years later I found muffins also in Belgium and other European countries.. especially the UK.

Blueberry 

Chocolate

3. Does that patriotic feeling come easily to you, or are you having to work for it more these days? What's something that makes you proud to be a citizen of your country?  

I have no patriotic feelings it's impossible for me, I feel European but that doesn't not yet exist as a one single country with different States, like  the USA. 

I am born in Germany, have a German passport, but never lived there as an adult. Since 1959 I live in Belgium, married an Italian, our son is Italian and German and married a Dutch Girl. My Grandson is German and Dutch. Therefore I am not patriotic at all !

4. Your favorite 'patriotic' movie? Favorite patriotic song? 

No patriotic song, except I know one in Italian, because of my husband who loved it like most of the Italians, they are very patriotic. If you meet one Italian in a dessert, in half an our all Italians being there get together ! That's really funny. The Germans when they hear speaking German they run away.

5. One simple pleasure on your July 'bucket list'? 

Enjoying sunshine ! It rains since months and I don't want to become a fish !

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am still thinking about traveling, there are days I feel like before Rick's passing and all the moves and then there are days where after ten steps I am breathless. What should I do, of course I would take a special insurance, so this is for the moment in my mind. July and August are usually too hot in the Southern countries, but with this moody weather it can well be that it is hot in the North and cold in the South !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Australia

USA

China

 India

Sand sculptures Exposition in Bruges Belgium ! What an amazing artwork !

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JUNE 29

Supper together with his servant !

Arthur loved toddlers ! Quite seldom for a cat !

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

 

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Saturday Rosie was right again, she hadn't washed herself behind her ears, which means it wouldn't rain, despite the weatherman's forecast ! It was warm just the right temperature and the sun was shining. 

 

We gathered on the terrace to play cards and a girl brought us ice cream ! on top of juices, coffee and fruits or cookies, was really nice !

There is a "well kept" secret running through the corridors, our manager will leave us for another job, but still for the same company. Meanwhile it will be his assistant, a very funny and nice woman. For me she could remain Manager forever. So everybody knows, but nobody should know ! That's often with well kept secrets ! 

Today is Saturday and our park is wet ! It had poured the whole night, accompanied by a loud thunderstorm. Fortunately Rosie wasn't bothered and continued to sleep. I stuffed my earplugs back into my ears and did the same.

This morning we got an official letter on our breakfast tray, informing us officially that our manager will leave to become director of the entire group of these retirement homes. That's a nice promotion for him ! And for us it's good too because he still can keep an eye on our wellbeing. 

We played a game where we had to kill 4 wolves or were killed by the wolf, of course I was the first victim ! 5 visitors participated too and we really had a lot of fun and laughed our heads off ! Then it started to rain a bit and  we returned inside. 

My son and grandson were in Brighton and London over the weekend, my son wanted to check if everything was OK with his house and it was. In Brighton they stayed with a friend and D. showed his son where he had learned to dive and attended a Diving school. Toby as usual was happy with the English Breakfast which was just enough for him and he also had fish and chips which made me jealous !

In Brighton Toby had his hair cut !! and they spent the whole day there. Now I have to get used to the new hairdo, it's quite a difference !

Then they went to London to look at the house, and then drove to Gatwick for the airplane to Amsterdam.

I finished this post, waited for my supper and watched TV.