FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Now it's already June, which means half of 2025 is gone and besides in March where it should be still cold we had the weather of June. At first, when people talked about climate change, I always thought it was a joke, but unfortunately, it seems to be true.

We couldn't play outside all week because it was far too cold, or warm, and far too windy. Nevertheless, we had a great week.On Monday, I had to move my car to another spot because there were so many trucks in our parking lot with new beds and furniture. We all had to zigzag, and the wheelchairs had a hard time getting through. During the morning I found three residents who were lost and didn't know in which floor or room they had to go. Since I didn't understand a word they were trying to tell me as they have their own language and some get very angry when you don't understand them, I took them all when I found them  to the nurse's office. 

Because I'd lost so much weight, my watch kept slipping up and down my arm. So I drove to the Swatch store and asked them to shorten the strap. I had to wait half an hour, which I used to walk around and see how many boutiques have closed and are replaced by others. 

 

Then sat in a little café and had a nice ice cream, called Straciatella which I love. And for the first time in a very long time, I thought I'd found my old life again.

On Thursday we had a nice surprise, we had the visit of teenagers from 13 to 17 years, who all live together in a house, because the child protection service took them away from their parents because they severely neglected their children. These parents were criminals and had ended up in prison, alcoholics, or abused their children. These children were so polite and friendly and felt so comfortable with us grandmas that they didn't want to leave. 

We played games together, old against young, and then we ate cake and had a coffee or a drink. They helped set the table, pushed the wheelchairs around and laughed their heads off when oldies counted pranks from their childhood. Even our 102-year-old Gilberte came and was admired by the youngsters. It was a very nice afternoon. Later I thought what a life these pour children had in the past, and how nice they were now. They even told us about their plans for the future and what they want to be when adult. 

And I mostly know rather spoiled brats.

Here we are young and old all together playing and having fun. I think this was a very good idea for both parties.

We have 3 newcomers, one couple she has started Alzheimer and was crying while she had to leave her two cats at home. I tried to comfort her, but without success. It takes time, but she can't take care of her cats here, and her husband sits in a wheelchair. The 3rd one is a lady younger then I and we liked each other immediately. She seems to be very cheerful and told me that she preferred to live here with us, be because she is loosing her short-term memory and she thought it's better to move into our castle and enjoy it now, as sooner or later she will end here. 

Anyway Rosie and I are happy here, it was a good choice
 

 

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE JUNE 4

 1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up? 

In the past, we always celebrated birthdays with cake, candles and gifts. But getting older we celebrated less and less, still with a cake and a gift, then we went in a nice restaurant as celebration and only celebrated the birthday of my grandson. But now he doesn't want a gift anymore, but money to buy something which he loves. Anyway in all these new computer games I am lost.

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses...what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct? Elaborate. 

Of course I love red roses, but I am the opposite of somebody who is seeing the world through colored glasses, 

I am definitely not someone who sees the world through rose-colored glasses. I see the world and people as they are, either black, gray, or pink. Rose-colored glasses are only for romantic moments.

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day...will you celebrate? What's something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese

We don't have a Cheese day, but I personally love cheese more then meat. The whole year I eat cheese of  all kinds, from Swiss fondue in winter and Mozarella cheese together with Proscuitto crudo. 

 

4. 'tis the season...any weddings on your June calendar? What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? 

There are no weddings in view for me at least, but a lot of funerals. No, nothing comes into my mind when I hear the word "wedding". I just think, living together or being married is the same today, at least here, the partner has the same rights then a spouse. But when I was 22 I thought it's maybe time to decide if I will marry or not. The answer came from alone one year later, one evening when I met Rick. I think we didn't say a special word. But the same evening we moved in together in my apartment, and one year later we married, and we stayed together 54 years until he died. 

 

In 1971 in front of the Gran Canyon
 

5. What are you most looking forward to this June? 

 

A beautiful weather with blue sky, warm temperatures, and if it has to rain, only during the night ! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We have 3 new comers, a man in a wheelchair, whom we all first took for a woman. He had very thick grey hair, I thought it is impossible for a over 80 year old to have so many and thick hairs, that it could only be a wig ! But no, the hairs were real and he could give me half of them and still would have enough. The two others were a couple, he had "written" on his face "Don't you dare to talk to me" which of course inspired me to ask him when they arrived and suddenly we knew from where he came, what he had done professionally etc. etc. while his little wife cried. I tried to comfort her, but it didn't really work. She had to give away her two cats and missed them terribly. I felt terribly sorry for her, but unfortunately, she was in the early stages of one of the most serious diseases, Alzheimer's, and wouldn't have been able to care for the cats. Her husband was in a wheelchair and wasn't much help. It kind of ruined my day.

 

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

When we visited the Doudaine Park, our animator was followed by these two geese (or ducks) we were not sure if it was love or the icecream he held in his hand. It looked so funny when they walked behind him !

 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MAY 31

 

These are Pookie and Kim, my Londoner cats, I inherited from my son. I don't know if they meow in French now !

 

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

************ 

  

WEEKEND

Ever since the renovations started in our castle, we have some very funny incidents which,  honestly are not funny at all. While we were having our coffee, suddenly a man appeared dressed like Adam but without the leaf appeared in all his glory !

Nobody was especially surprised, except perhaps me, because it had never happened since I am here. A nurse scolded him gently and led him back. The man said friendly good bye and disappeared with the nurse.  Hopefully in two weeks the section for the severely brain damaged residents will be finished and closed with a code. Meanwhile we can just help. But there are some people who are afraid of them and are not happy at all. I was "used", I had seen the same in the home where Rick was.

This night I heard someone screaming, but that happens, people dream. I didn't move,  because Rick did it when he was ill. The screams didn't stop but I could suddenly hear "help ....". So I jumped out of my bed, followed the cries for help and heard that they were coming from the opposite room . It was a woman who had fallen in the restroom and the bell didn't seem to be working. I promised to get her help and found a night nurse. I didn't feel like going back into the room and certainly not into the toilet it didn't smell like roses, the poor nurses see a lot of human misery! I went back to bed and fell asleep straight away, even though Rosie thought it was time to play with her mice. 

 

On Sunday we had cloudy, but warm weather and could sit outside. Our Italian Mamma had her birthday and her eldest son had invited the whole family which was composed of around 60 people. Although most of them didn't speak Italian anymore because it was the 4th generation, and they were Belgians now, but the blood remained Italian they made a lot of noise. I felt like I was on vacation when we visited Ricks family in Italy, everyone was talking loudly and no one was listening, and the talking hands were moving at full speed. I could speak Italian to some and was happy that I hadn't forgotten, it all came back. Rina was so happy to have her whole family around her and I spent an excellent afternoon.

 

Rina with two of her granddaughters. Fortunately our restaurant (ex ball room) was big enough for the residents and all the guests