FRIDAY'S FAVE FIVE

On Monday I found on my breakfast tray a note that we would be without electricity from 1 pm til 5 pm ! Doesn't matter I will go shopping and take Jeanine along. She was quite happy, as she seldom went into Waterloo center and had never left Belgium ! 

We walked around bought some beauty things and then had a very good coffee in a new Snack Bar. When we came back the electricity came back too ! This way I found a new parking place and can see my car from my window, the building behind was a sort of crèche for men with senile dementia, who spent the day there while their wives of family were working. Now it's empty and serves as storage room.

We were informed that there were cases of gastroenteritis and that we had to eat in our rooms and there were no activities. It wasn't a problem for me; I always eat in my room anyway and go to the restaurant for coffee. And as always, when one person sits there, the others come too, so it was actually very nice. The next few days were bad, not for me. I visited a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, who had lost 30 kg after her husband died last year. She is in her late 60s but can hardly walk because she weighed 160 kg, a bit much for her poor knees. The 30 kg were definitely good for her, but I have to admit I didn't notice at all 

We had a lot to talk so the afternoon passed quickly. When I came back the people had started to complain they were missing our get together in the restaurant and also our activities. As they often complain to me I informed our two entertainers, who weren't happy either because they had to do other things like office work.

The doors of infected residents look like this. A joker had taken the notice from my neighbor and had stuck it on my door ! When I wanted to go out a nurse stopped me and told me that I have to stay in my room. I hadn't seen the notice yet and got angry, but then I saw that I was victim of a joke ! That gave me  a good idea, I thought during night I take all notices off and stick them at the door of the manager ! But finally I thought that would be a to big confusion !

Therefore I have nothing special to report except I spent the next day the whole afternoon with Laure and we decided to go to the cinema next week !  

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE MARCH 12

 

1. March 15th is known as The Ides of March, the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C....have you ever been to Rome? If so what did you love most about the city? If not, is this a place you'd like to visit? 

I had never heard about the Ides of March, not even in German, now I know (I googled) " Beware the Ides of March" is one of the most famous quotes from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The meaning of the "Ides of March" is March 15th, the day on which Julius Caesar was assassinated (both in reality and in the play).

But that doesn't make me any wiser, nothing special has ever happened to me on March 15th. At least I can't remember it.

We, Rick and I have made the tour of Italy and I have been very often there, because his family lived at the Garda Lake. The only important city we have never visited was Rome ! He wanted to stay there more days then just one, but we had no time the family wanted to see us, then he didn't like the Vatican, in short, he was not interested at all ! And now I wouldn't go there without him. 

2. 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' What project/activity/improvement (of any kind) do you have going on right now to which this saying might be applied? 

Nothing !  I had 54 years of building Rome in a day ! Then it was not possible or necessary anymore ! My travel partner died. 

3. Let's do a little this or that with some Italian foods... 

The Italian kitchen is delicious and very healthy. In contrast to the French cuisine, which is too fatty and hides a lot of things under wonderful sauces.

Caprese salad or Prosciutto with melon?  I love Prosciutto with melon !

Bruschetta or Antipasto?  Antipasto means starter and there are so many ! Prosciutto with melon is a starter. Maybe in the States the Italian has become a bit different, Rick told me so when he ordered something in Italian and got a completely different plate !

Antipasti

lasagne or ravioli ? I think Ravioli filled with pesto

bolognese or Carbonara? Bolognese !

Risotto or gnocchi? I like gnocchi with all kind of sauces

Gnocchi

tiramisu~gelato~cannoli? Tiramisu ! (which means "pull me down" !)

 Classical Italian Tiramisu, there are lots of recipes

4. Of the colors red, white, and green which would I find most prevalent in your home? Which one do you think is most flattering to you in terms of your wardrobe? Have you ever had your colors done? Is that something you'd be interested in doing ? 

I love red, have many clothes in red and it suits me well. Yes I have my color done otherwise I would be grey by now, I prefer my blond which I had since I was 18, why should I change at 81, if you read like the arabs do !

5. Life would be boring without  Friendly and cheerful people, TV, theater, fests.

6. Insert your own random thought here

Since I am here I have observed the residents and noticed that the farmers' wives who only looked after the children, the animals and the fields now have a lot of money because they sold their land. but have no hobbies and don't read. Unfortunately almost all of them left school at 14 and know nothing except farms.

This means that if we don't have any activities they are bored to death. We try to keep them busy with little jobs in the park, folding napkins or some even with paper. They are not interested in anything, don't read and don't do crosswords or puzzles. Luckily we have the television, but if we have a breakdown like yesterday then it is a disaster for these poor women. They are all in their 90th, I think the generations later that won't happen or only a bit. 

Still a lot of land for sale, I hope not too soon !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Scary skies

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MARCH 8

 

Of course these little birds are not mine, but they were on holidays in our guestroom. My cats had to see them, but besides looking they didn't move ! Nobody stretched out a paw and the birds didn't seem afraid

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

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The global warming was in full action on Saturday ! We had  19 °C (66 F). Of course in the sun it was really hot and we took off our jackets. 

Therefore I was happy that just on this day my son and grandson plus Leia (the dog) came for a visit ! 

First we went to the restaurant where they had the best steaks ! And for the first time this year we could eat outside on the terrace. Of course the restaurant was full ! Then we returned to "my" castle which made dog Leia happy because there she can ran around and catch her ball, the space is enormous.    

Since we had the gastritis epidemic, we had to stay outside or in our rooms. Of course a few were outside and Toby played chess with a retired doctor, and Leia played with the dog of Kim our animator. We had a very nice afternoon and at 5 they drove back to Amsterdam. Leia didn't want to get in the car at all.

 

Here is the nearly whole family together, Toby's mum was missing, she had to work. 

Here am I, the little "Nonna" besides her 14 year old grandson !

When they were gone I thought I will have a new problem, because from far they look like twins, only the hairs are different and fortunately they wore two different colored T- shirts !

On Sunday the weather was the same, but a bit cool to go outside in the morning, but at least it was again a sunny day.  

Because of this gastritis epidemic, we all had to eat in our rooms, and the food was not good at all. We all complained because we had to eat the same stuff as the sick people, but we didn't have anything ! 

Of course, there were no activities either. We were 9  who got together for a walk around our park. Then we sat down in the warm sun and chatted. When it got a bit chilly, we went into the restaurant where we got coffee and cookies. Somehow it was strange to see only 9 people in this huge room.

At half past four we went to our rooms. Somehow it was a strange day!

Supper was a diet again, 2 slices of bread and a slice of ham. Luckily I had cheese and fruits and wasn't hungry ! Tomorrow we should all be healthy and eat normally again! I don't know who had read that in the stars. In any case, I won't eat a diet anymore as long as I'm healthy. It felt like it was with the Covid, because the nurses were wearing masks! Why should that help, washing hands is more important!