FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The week started with a terrible heat 32°, I had closed windows and curtains in the morning so when I came back from our game and getting together my room was nice and cool. We should play scrabble but that didn't work, because nobody except two me and another one were scrabble players and somehow it blocked us, it was more like a game of words, no points were counted. We got ice cream and hang out on the terrace. There was no wind and it was as if we sat in an oven.

The next day it was the same and I started to feel very unwell in the morning, it was hard to breath for me, nevertheless, we all met at 3 o'clock to play a game, but in the end we were just hanging around and were too lazy for anything! You could cool down in our huge restaurant because it had air conditioning and the severely disabled people from the 4th floor were seated there in wheelchairs. We seldom see them,  because some of the residents are afraid or disgusted by their view.

We also celebrated the birthday of the residents born in July. Gilberte celebrated her 101 birthday and I (a young girl) 81. We both got a standing ovation, she because she has remained so young despite her old age, and I because I am always "cheerful" and everybody can come to me to settle their problems and I am also the "bridge" between the staff and the residents, when it comes to a misunderstanding.

We got back to normal temperatures and I tried to get my energy back, I had to go out to pick up my identity card. Driving went well, it was nice and cool in the car, and not as humid as outside. 

The lady who sat behind the counter asked me how I liked life in the castle because her mother was looking for a retirement home. I could only say positive things and that I am very satisfied and feel really at home. She was happy about that and wanted to come with her mother for a visit. Maybe I can do some publicity for our castle! But I think that there is no room for newcomers. At the moment many of the personnel are on summer vacation and there is a lack of staff. Students replace their mothers who are nurses or employed in the castle and we help out and let the nurses spend more time looking after the helpless people on the 4th floor.

I thought that it was my last identity card, but since it was "only" valid for 10 years, the woman told me that there were still 91 year oldies who drove in their cars younger once back and forth, for the municipality, and that I could do that too ! Normally the municipality  employees aren't as friendly as this one, but somehow it cheered me up.

Suddenly I thought I would drive a little around in my cool car, and landed in the Indian shop, which I visited so often since years and where I have bought so many birthday or Christmas gifts, or I went just there when I had the blues because it doesn't look like a shop inside, but rather like a private Indian home.

It is so quiet and calming inside, you can have a cup of Indian tea and look at the beautiful things. I was amazed that the shop was still there, I thought it hadn't survived the Covid. But it was there, even nicer than before and I took some photos, just like I used to do in the past. Then I drove home in an excellent mood and sat on the terrace with the others to chat !

 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOGEPODGE JULY 30

1. What is a childhood habit or preference you will never outgrow? 

I don't have any childhood habit or preferences, because mine are completely different

2. Did you know July is beans month? What's your favorite bean? Your favorite recipe that HO for beans? When it comes to chili are you team beans or team no beans?  

Yes I like beans, but not when it is hot !  Team beans or no team beans I don't understand and Google explains it as collecting funds for cancer (?) then my answer is No

3. Some historical figures have a tag line after their name, something like 'the brave' or 'the wise' or 'the mad'...what would your tag line be? Explain why?  

I think my tag line would be "The always happy one".   

When I am in company, I probably give that impression. Someone once called me “the party girl.” That may have been real in the past, but now that Rick is gone I am just a seemingly good actress.

4. The way to my heart is

 5.  The calendar rolls into August this week, but before we go give us four adjectives that describe your July. 

 Very  bad weather, much rain, 

 almost felt like winter 

 We were rarely able to go for a walk in our beautiful park 

 Had a lot of fun at our party games

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I just came back from our birthday party which we celebrated for all residents born in July. That was my birthday month too. I didn't like the music, was all very old French chansons, and I though the singer should have looked at our birth dates and sing something when we were young.. My example is always Gilberte who is 101 years old and picked up papers the singer dropped without any difficulties, while besides her sat Philip who is a youngster of 70 !

I thought it would be wonderful to age like her, (sitting on the left, besides the rude Philip !) She sees well, hears well and walks well and has all cups in her cupboard ! She is my example !
 

Gilberte is 101 years old, has a lot of humor still can walk an pour her coffee, she is just amazing,

she reads a lot and has no TV ! 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

This little guy represents Brussels, there are a lot of stories about him, and everybody pretends that his version is the right one. He is very often dressed depending on what is happening in the world. He was dressed as Elvis Presley and also like the Pope, as Michael Jackson, or as a soldier.

Here is an explanation of the famous Manneken Pis, it was created in 1388, and is one of the most representative and popular symbols of Brussels. 

The Manneken Pis is a small statue of fifty centimeters which represents a cheeky little boy who has pissed on a fire and therefore avoided that the city was destroyed. The little boy is located in the old part of the Belgian capital, next to the Grand-Place. 

Given the importance of the statuette, armies attempted to steal it several times, until an ex-prisoner seized it. The inhabitants of Brussels were so dismayed that in 1619 a copy replaced it until today.

Manneken-Pis has over 1000 costumes ! And he regularly receives new ones. It is the only statue in the world to have such a wardrobe and to be dressed more than 130 days a year. 

On the "Grand Place" of Brussels, is "his" museum, where you can see all his costumes.

 

 

 

 more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JULY 27

 

Rosie sees the trolley with the lunch !

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

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WEEKEND

On Saturday it was cloudy but warm, so that was OK. I washed my hair and groomed myself like Rosie does every day, except her claws, while I did my nails too.

Just before I wanted to join the others for a Basket Ball game, I got a phone call from Carrefour (shopping mall) that I had to pick up my parcel. That made me angry, they always had delivered my parcels to my new address and now 8 month later the post made a mistake and had crossed out my new address that was on the parcel and had written the old address on it. I quickly jumped in my car and picked up my parcel, and then I joined the others who were playing basket ball ! 

That was really very funny. Of course even when the basket was close to my nose I never made it to get the ball in ! After the game we had our coffee and cake, and chatted. The new resident told us that she is an alcoholic since her husband died. We still don't know if it was 2 or 3 years or the day before yesterday ! Each time I see her she can't find the keyhole of her door and I open it for her. Two days ago, she went early morning naked to our 101-year-old Gilberte, who kicked her out with humor. She found her too skinny and that's true, she is very skinny ! That's what she told us. Of course we had to laugh but actually it's sad!

On Sunday it was beautiful  weather, blue sky and sunshine, perfect weather for our archery ! That was really very funny! It looked so simple, and we all knew how to hold the bow, but when we tried to shoot it almost always went wrong. One shot the arrow into the window where it got stuck on its plunger. Then one shot herself in the face and no one knew how she did it. How we laughed! And what a miracle, I won I had the most points and I thought I always missed the target !

Afterwards we all got chocolate ice cream or pistachio ice cream. A few visitors also came to watch us and one man said he felt like he was in a kindergarten! But that's how it was!

We had a really nice weekend where no one was bored.