FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Monday was probably the last time we could play scrabble outside ! It was like a summer day and little Isis was watching the birds besids the lamb. After scrabble we had to decide which of the two paintings should be chosen to represent our group in the City Hall exhibition, as all Waterloo painters participate in this contest. It's called "Artist course" and after the vernissage in the City Hall, the painters expose where they want. Our group will expose in our usual painting place.

After long discussions it was decided  that my painting should represent the group



It's this pouring painting, and probably it was Isis the cat who had the last word. Of course I was happy and also a bit proud, it's a long time that I haven't done something nice.

One of my friends had her birthday and had invited us for champagne, coffee and cake.



We were six and had a very cheerful afternoon. One took this picture of Mireille and myself as we are now the new "presidents" of the group together with the animator of course. The former president is now 85 and had done this for 25 years ! Now she will be only pupil and has no responsibilities anymore ! We had to split her job in two now with Internet, Facebook pages and  blogs, it became necessary. I took over all the publicity and artistic things the blog and Facebook writing, photo shooting etc, and Myriam will do the accounting and secretary work. So we needed a picture of the two of us to put it in the next circular mail.

We had our painting course and as I am into the pouring technique now I did two.



here they are, but I don't know at all what will come out when they are dry ! That's always a surprise.
We got 3 new members and two old once who came back, now that a "fresh" wind blows through the class !

In aqua gym we also have one couple more and these were the first "victims" of the not yet "Brexit". Instead of waiting until the show is over and a decision is taken to stay in the EU or go out, they had become Belgians together with more then 3000 other ex British citizen. They live in Waterloo since 45 years the children were brought up and went to school here, so they don't want to go back to the UK as they also have a beautiful house here. And as all the other UK citizen in all European countries they can't understand what has happened and only find one sad excuse the ignorance of the common people ! Now they can visit their family in the UK as Belgians !

Maybe they will wake up with the Thomas Cook bomb which also touches modest families, it went bankrupt because nobody wanted to invest in the UK under these circumstances. 20.000 employees lost their jobs. How sad.

Normally I always go in November to Egypt with Thomas Cook Belgium. This time I don't know why I haven't booked ! Lucky me ! My friend Chantal lost her advance, although it was said that there is a special insurance for such cases in Belgium, but with so many people to reimburse, who knows when she will get her money back. No Egypt in November for me, I wait until the storm is over and take another travel agency or book on my own.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I started the week with a miracle ! I won the Scrabble game for the first time ! I mostly had been the last one ! As usual we had a lot of fun.

I am so fed up with our furniture which I look at since 50 years !! Nicole gave me a good idea  to paint some pieces white. That's what I did, it had been brown, now it is white and looks far better.



That's a start ! Now I will paint another one and then get rid of this TV furniture, which nobody wants because today's TV screens are too big. Even free, no one has answered on my advertising !

Our little group of 6 were invited to a Moroccan afternoon with a little snack, which finally lasted until 9 pm, and I still wonder what a normal meal would be if this is considered as "a little snack" !




Khadija had prepared all these goodies herself. What a work ! In the first row are the starters and the main plate. Last row the deserts and the tea which was served the Moroccan way.



Usually I never drink mint tea, I even hate the taste, but here I tried, it had a very special taste as she had added clove powder and orange extract ! It tasted delicious.



But before we started the tea ceremony she let us choose a Caftan which we put on and we found ourselves very pretty ! It is so interesting to exchange different cultures and traditions. She doesn't wear a scarf btw and is Belgian since more then 20 years and has managed to put two cultures together in full harmony.



In our painting class (officially still closed for school holidays until September 1st) we continued with our pouring ! It looked like a Kindergarten and we behaved as such, what fun to mix colours  together and pour them on a canvas ! You never know the result !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

After my discovery that now I am not afraid of horses anymore, telling to everybody who did or did not want to hear my "adventure" I spent a quiet Monday at home, looking out into the sunshine,



together with my cats and bitched about the cold wind which held me back to go out. A stalker looked at me from the outside, sitting on the neighbor's garden shed.

Fortunately somebody invented computers to keep me busy  !

My cleaning lady had broken the tube of the vacuum cleaner and I thought I had to buy a new one, because often the repair costs are almost the same then a new one. My neighbor heard my complaints that again I had to spend money on a stupid thing, gave me the address of a little repair shop who also has spare parts and they had a tube which went perfectly on the machine ! Was I lucky, another money saved for my round trip through another part of Eastern countries, to complete the one I had done last year.

We had a very difficult Scrabble game, all letters were sitting in one corner ! We gave up before the last round.



Our game was accompagnied by the loud snoring of dog Tosca, which made us laugh. But when it came to coffee time, she suddenly joined us at the table. But well educated she didn't steal anything, but her eyes made us melt and of course she got a part. She is all black so it's difficult to take a picture of her face.

We were nearly all present in our painting class there were only 3 missing !



For the moment we are at least five, painting cats. In the past it was only me. Everybody has her own style so there is no confusion. One had started to paint a bear, but whatever she does and corrects again and again, the bear looks like her departed dog, a Golden Retriever. This is a case for Mr. Freud. As usual we tried to change the world and had a nice time.




We had returned to the Morrocan restaurant, this time with a Morrocan girl who is also in our painting class. So we could ask her if the kitchen is the real Morrocan or if it's adapted to the country. She was delighted, it was also delicious in her eyes and it was so funny when the cook and his wife came out and they talked together in Arabic and stated that they came all from Rabat the capital of Morrocco ! They talked about people and shops and we thought the world is really small. She is a very nice girl, grandma of 4 and perfectly integrated. Her sons had married Belgians and she had worked in a security company for years. She and her whole family are Belgians and a perfect example that not all Morrocans are terrorists ! I think we stayed 3 hours in the restaurant we nearly felt like on holidays !

And this was another week towards spring and summer !!

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

After days of announcing snow and the catastrophes we could expect it started snowing finally on Monday !



The front view of our house at noon and the next morning the same with the view on our garden.
I had no desire to go out and preferred to stay home and work on my computer and at the same time like a maintenance women of a building, watching the street ! Besides some dog walkers I didn't see anything interesting, nobody fell or slided.




It doesn't disturb me to drive in snow even when the streets are not cleaned, but when I arrived at my aqua gym, we were only 6 people instead of 12 the others had preferred to stay home. I have to say that Belgium is not used to snow so it's always a mess on the streets because they have not enough equipments to cover the all streets. The building where we have our gym looked beautiful in the snow.

The new bathing suit I had bought last week was a bit narrow, and as I am in my "sweet phase", which means that I eat more chocolats, I thought maybe I have put on weight. I stepped on my balance, and the balance was kind to me, I only had one kg more, and that is still in my tolerance zone, my alarm starts to ring when I have difficulties with closing my jeans. Normally I never use the balance only when the alarm is ringing.





We met at Myriam's for our scrabble, I don't know what happened, maybe it was the snow, but we were all very distracted and laughed and chatted more then thinking about a word. The result was that the game lasted over our coffee time so we stopped counted our points, I was third that sounds better then nearly the last one.

As it is below 0° C I took the opportunity and defrosted our freezer. The few things which were still inside I put in a plastic bag and in our garden. Now it's done and I wait that the little light becomes green and I can put back the food I had put in the garden. I also have to fill it in again, so I have to shop this afternoon.

Our freezer is an old thing, but still working, the new once of course defrost themselves !

The weatherman said that it won't snow again, but the cold weather remains, which makes me think that perhaps a snow storm is arriving ! They get it always or mostly wrong !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I started the week by looking out of the window to make my program for the day,





and when I saw this, I only wanted to make one program : hide and sleep until spring comes ! Just as my cats !



I pulled myself together and thought that is a day to sort out the photos on my computer. And that's what I did ! At least in the evening I had the feeling that I had worked hard the whole day !

The weather didn't get any better, but this time I didn't bother because we had our scrabble day. Instead of 4 we were 5 and it went more quick. I didn't loose I was just before the last one !
Unfortunately I forgot to ask one of my companionship to take a picture of me and the huge black dog Tosca, who, when I made a Yoga demonstration on the floor thought it was a new game and wanted to do the same. He jumped around me and pushed me with his wet nose, the girls laughed their heads off, and that's why there is no picture. I have to say that the dog has about the same size as me !

For aqua gym I badly needed a bathing costume, my old one had become like a bag around me. Nothing is better then going to the shopping center because the shop I had found on internet was also there. With a friend who also needed a bathing costume, we went there, had a nice lunch and both found the right costume, so we were very happy. Sales was still going on until the end of the month and now as the end is near, there is sales on sales ! I didn't need anything and didn't see anything which would have attracted me, but she found a very nice pullover.

Then we returned home in the rain of course.



Here we are in full action in our painting class, it seems that we have an epidemic outbreak of cats, I had always been the only one painting cats and now half of my companionship is painting cats !!

As usual we had a nice time and after class 4 of us went to the Carrefour Lunchgarden and had lunch there. A rather extended lunch because we arrived around 12 and left at 3 pm !

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Rules

Just jot "Companionship

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The week started again with grey and cold weather,  and  I thought I would need another warm polar suit so that I could change, but going out and walking from shop to shop and maybe get a flu, made me hesitate but then I found the solution, I went to the shopping center where I had all shops and it was warm and I also could have a coffee.

Of course I didn't find what I was looking for, there were polar suits but only in animal shape, as cat, bear or as unicorn ! Although I am not a shy person I thought it wouldn't be so appropriate for a vintage lady to open the door as cat, bear or unicorn with ears and one horn and tails !



When I came back I googled for such a suit found a very nice one without an animal face cap and tail.

A friend had invited me to see her Christmas decoration, as she does it real artistically and each year in another colour. This year it was in pink. It certainly had been a lot of work and looked beautiful.



We had our weekly scrabble this time at Nicole's and had a lot of fun with her little cat Isis.



Isis thinks she should help in the household and each night pulls out Nicole's pullovers and carries them from the bedroom into the living room ! Poor Nicole each morning has to laugh and puts them back ! Now Isis has also started to nearly open the drawers of the bedside table, but so far only manages to pull out some pieces. I think in a short time she will learn to open drawers !



After having checked my camera, she settled down on my purse ! I am sure it was because it smelled so good my cats ! Isis has the most beautiful crosseyed eyes !!




Mireille had really funny letters for her game that's why I took a photo. To make a word with 5 O's and one L is rather difficult. Nevertheless she won again and I was lost ! The fruit cake was delicious and despite the awful weather we had a very nice afternoon.

During my painting lesson I tried again a "pouring" painting,  I don't know what I have done but it went completely wrong. My table was full of different colors and looked like a modern painting itself. It took me half an hour to clean up everything ! And with that I forgot to take a picture of this disaster !!

And another week flew by !

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flu, flew

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Only too quick the weekend was over ! On Monday Toby went to school and the parents to work. I kept the house, I wanted to go window shopping nearby, but it was so cold and windy that I preferred to stay home and worked a bit on my little travel computer and got angry because different things didn't work and I have absolutely  to have that arranged before I fly to Egypt end of the month.

At 3.30 pm I picked up Toby from the day care. He told me that his school was too far for me to walk but his day care very close to the house. Very cute of him. He goes by bike, but one of the parents always go with him. Driving your child to school I thought it was by car, but no ever since he bikes, its per bike. The parents go to work by bike too ! Everybody in this area does so.

Punctually I was at the day care which was very nice and had a big football (soccer) ground in front. The door was open and nobody there, so I had time to look around and see the very well furnished rooms with modern games. Finally I saw a girl who was cleaning up plates and she came out with me to call Toby who was busy with his football game ! This area is so secure that there is no danger to let the kids play outside alone. Only I could have stolen some nice games inside .... nobody saw me and I saw nobody. Strange.



Then we walked home. The way is very nice across the canals and there is only one big main street which is dangerous. Once this street crossed, I gave Toby the keys and told him to ride home as old grandma was so slow. He was very kind looked always behind to see if I follow and then when he arrived he opened the door put the alarm off and I saw his head stretching out to look for me. I was really touched that he took so much care of me, finally it was as if he was babysitting me and not the other way around.

We spent the rest of the day choosing something to ask Father Christmas and watched a bit TV then the parents arrived.

The next day I had to get up very early because I had to take the Bus to Brussels and I had to be at the bus station at 8 am.



The bus arrived punctual I said good bye to the canals and watched the cars, all people going to work.



I left behind my nightmare !

Mr. G. picked me up at the Waterloo station and then went playing cards and I went to Nicole to play Scrabble. We made one game, ate two cakes and I told them my weekend in Amsterdam.



In my painting class I tried again a "Pouring" painting and when I saw the result I was very satisfied ! I was the first one to be surprised ! You never know what is coming out.

After painting class we went to the Lunch Garden and had lunch there. Then we went home to do our shopping or household scores.

In the evening I went with Monique to the cinema, she wanted to see "The wife". I was a bit hesitating because women who give up everything they love only because they marry, I just can't understand.



But it turned out that it was a beautiful film very well performed and I can only recommend it.

I had seen an advertising on internet for glasses to wear when it is dark. As I am blind like a mole when I drive and are blinded by headlights, I ordered them just to see how it worked ! And I am delighted ! I can see now so clearly it's amazing. Even the strongest headlight doesn't bother me anymore and I can see people and side streets which I couldn't see before ! I always avoided to drive in the dark. But now in winter I have too so I am happy to see like an eagle, and don't see trees where there are none !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

PHOTO MEMES ARE here




The warm weather continued also this week, unfortunately with a lot of thunderstorms and flooding in some parts of Belgium. Fortunately in my part of the city there was nothing besides the noise and buckets of water of course, but never for very long.

Mostly dogs but also cats suffer terribly from these weather because they get hysterical with the thunder. So far my cats ignore the noise, I think they are used to it by now.

My friend and I are still busy with this dammit Russian Visa request. Forums and helplines are full of people who have the same problem. The password you have to give is not accepted. They want a numeric symbol and an alphabetical symbol. I googled to know what this is exactly, and it's just our numbers and the letters ab. Maybe because they have the Cyrillic alphabet The Russian alphabet
А а Б б В в Г г Д д Е е Ё ё Ж ж З з И и Й й it doesn't work.



We have all requested documents. And also two passport pictures where you look like "wanted" because you are not allowed to smile ! We all look awful just like criminals !

We decided to go to the Visa center and ask to fill in the form. Another day lost, not completely because my friend and I after many attempts had still time for a drink.

For the moment as two of my scrabble girls are still on holidays, we scrabble on Wednesdays or Thursdays. We had real holiday weather and could scrabble outside on the terrace, it was almost hot ! Ilona was there too, so we were four and this time she lost. I was second from the end.




Each year at the end of the school year our city organizes a trip for seniors. We were 3 buses and went to Compiegne where the first world war armistice was signed. We had a lot of fun in the bus as you can see, visited Napoleon's castle, and of course the site where the armistice was signed.

In between we had a wonderful meal.


in this beautiful restaurant, with a huge park around. We were four, Myriam took the picture, Monique, Nicole and I.


It's always very well organized. And we enjoyed our excursions very much. 

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SKYWATCH FRIDAY - FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - FIVE ON FRIDAY

For about 10 min we had sunshine for the 1st time since one month ! 

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Skywatch Friday

1. As usual we started the week with our brain training = scrabble. You can see on their faces how concentrated they were. Although I often play scrabble on my smartphone, where I now win from time to time, in real I am nearly always the last one. It was the blue Monday and outside it stormed and rained, awful !

2. I went to my friend Bunny (she was born on Easter) because she had learned the Chinese foot reflexology, and I wanted to try it out because I have no energy and I am very nervous.

She did it very professional and I have to say after 45 min I had almost fallen asleep and really felt good. Amazing better then all pills !! In two weeks she will do it again, because that's the laps of time you need. Otherwise it is too much.

3.

Nicole and I had discovered a new little café which is very cute and the furniture is mixed with old and new. They have cake and coffee and tea and even scones ! I asked the lady who does all baking herself where she gets the clotted cream, because I have never found it in any shop or supermarket except in an English one. She told me she did it herself. I was a little surprised and asked how she made that, and she told me she takes cream and adds a bit of lemon juice !! Next time I will try it out !

4.



We were not many in our painting class. Outside a storm was going on and I almost blew away when I got out of my car.

5.



Impossible to go out, there is a terrible storm blowing over Belgium, causing even one dead so far. Fortunately in our region the wind is less strong then in other parts especially at the coast where the wind blew at 100 km/h. Nicole's garden chair blow over the terrace wall and fell down in the neighbor's garden !! So far there is nothing in our street.

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