FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

As usual when I looked out of the window I saw a dark grey sky, and bare branches! I would have preferred to stay in bed, but my little pest Rosie meowed softly behind my head at intervals, so that I was always waiting for the next meow. Finally, as always, I gave in, "hopped" out of bed to go to the bathroom, followed by the pest. When I had filled her bowl, she looked at me, turned around and went back to her basket! I almost became a cat murderer. The whole castle is being renovated and you can hear the drills and hammers all day long! Luckily not so much in my room, I play loud music and then I don't hear anything. Unfortunately I didn't hear the knock on my door neither when I was wearing Eva's costume and wanted to get a sweater out of the closet. Fortunately I could stop the person in time ! I think I will put a sign on my door "Please don't disturb before 10.30 h ! In the afternoons we all get together and have our games and coffee. It's always very funny, and nice when the weather is so bad outside. I wonder where all this water comes from ? My grandma had told me that it came from crying angels ! That must be millions of angels crying to produce such an amount of water !

I am sorry, but I have to stop, I lost my whole text, I don't know how, suddenly half of the page had disappeared. Anyway there was nothing special happening this week, maybe the couple next door don't hide anymore that they drink a lot of wine and beer, instead of hiding the bottles they put them outside the door. In the morning I see then 2 bottles of red wine and 6 bottles of very strong beer. From time to time they fight, I can hear them, but otherwise they don't disturb anybody so it's their problem. The other neighbor drinks too, even more, no beer but at least 2 bottles of red wine and during lunch in the restaurant 2 carafes ! She is 86 years old and she told me that she became alcoholic when her husband died, she is 86 and I think if that makes her happy why not ! 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I started the week with an appointment at the dermatologist, for that I had to wait for two months ! It was more then necessary as the cortisone had left a lot of damages on my skin. It was the first time I met her, my usual dermatologist had retired. She was very friendly and I hope she did a good job. I just came back for our coffee time. 

The mass problem has been solved, those who wanted to attend mass went, the others gathered in our restaurant and played UNO. After that was coffee time and those who had gone to mass were angry because there was no priest ! Instead a woman from a catholic organization tried to hold the mass, but the old generation didn't appreciate that it was a woman. It's about time that the catholic church gets modernized ! In Belgium there is only one religion : catholic.

I got a message from my optician that my new glasses were ready, and in the afternoon I picked them up. When I arrived at my car and wanted to start the engine, the motor was on strike. I was angry because I had promised to attend the competition game with the other retirement homes. 

 

New glasses

 

It wasn't the battery, it was the shift ! I had left it on E the first gear instead on N neutral, and it doesn't move. It's an automatic car. I tried to force and put it on N but apparently I wasn't strong enough the engine didn't start. I tried to push the lever to N, but it didn't work. Reluctantly I called my car towing service and listened angrily to the entire menu until I finally landed at the right service.

Luckily the towing service came pretty quickly. I saw the young man's face and told him that I could immediately see what he was thinking, another old grandma who knows nothing about cars. He had to laugh and got into the car, pushed the lever to N and the engine started immediately! We both had to laugh and chatted for a while, he filled out his form and disappeared and so did I.

When I arrived I thought I would be in a festival, not of Taylor Swift, but of all Hits of the 60/70 and the residents were dancing to the music and then formed a farandol ! I had never seen them so cheerful, even those in wheelchairs rocked to Elvis' music. There were all the French singing stars and everybody was thinking what had happened in their lives when this or that song was in the Hit Parade. The visitors who arrived made eyes like my little cat Rosie when she sees a dog ! 

This afternoon was a full success. Behind that was me, because I had given a list of famous 60/70 songs to Kim our animator because I was fed up to listen to old songs of the 30th,  the poor boy had been wrong in a generation! Can happen when you're in your late 20s. I had never thought that the music would have such a success !

Each morning before lunch I do my "jogging" through the long corridors of the castle ! There are so many, so far I only managed the first floor, from one end to the other ! It takes me about 10 min and then I go back ! At least here I am not depending on the weather ! I still have to discover 3 other floors !  

long, long corridors

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The week started with a terrible heat, impossible to play a game together outside. So they gathered all in our air conditioned restaurant. I don't know what I had, but after 10 min I had to go outside, I thought I would suffocate. I went outside, and looked for a chair in the huge park under a tree, in the shade where it was a little windy. There the heat was bearable and the air smelled so nice. A little later a few others came to join me.

The next day it was a bit cooler so we were all outside, or nearly because a part of us had gone with the animators to the cinema.

I didn't go, I wasn't interested in the film and it was also too expensive, because they had to rent a bus because of the wheelchairs. The cinema was also a huge thing in the neighboring town, and not in our cozy cinema in Waterloo. 

The next day we waited in vain for our animators - they had disappeared. Finally I called and they told me that they were both sick, but we hadn't been notified. I thought that's what happens when you go to such a huge cinema. The next day there was a Covid alert. I still don't understand why  test someone with a cold for Covid. We have all been vaccinated 3 or 4 times. So everyone had to eat in their room, which didn't bother me at all since I always eat in my room. But it was a mess amongst the personnel, and I tried to help a bit, at least that way we had our coffee and cookies on the terrace ! I just went into the kitchen and asked. 

But then we all should stay in our rooms, that's ridiculous, with this huge park outside ? After lunch I sat in the park like I had done the day before and enjoyed the good air it smelled lovely. Little by little the others came too and we finally sat on the terrace with visitors and had a nice afternoon. 

I had to go for a check up to my lung doctor, and the result was good, my general condition had improved and so had my breathing. Now I have to take the medication again that I had been taking for a long time.

My son sent me pictures of his vacation on Lake Garda, this time in the south and not in the north where his Dad is from. I got a little homesick and thought of all the holidays I and Rick had spent at this lake with at that time little Dario ! Now it's him who still loves to go to "our" lake with his family. 

Son and family 

For the first time in my life I will stay at home, I think it is better for me, because with all the troubles you could have with strikes, climate, and being stuck in an airport or my train will be cancelled, I have not the nerves going through that ! I am better here to lick my wounds and become completely healthy !

There are so many places to just sit or even lay down, without seeing a human being, but only birds and cats !

Rosie agrees with me, she even left her basket and slept on a cushion besides me on the sofa ! 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I had sworn to myself that I would make a note in my calender of what we have done each day during the week. I have started with Monday and then I forgot. 

We still have the 3 girls as trainees and they had to "use" us for their practical exam.

The girl on the left choose a word game, which was very nice only she spoke with a little accent but really very little for the short time she is in Belgium, she is a Brazilian. Half of the residents don't hear very well or nearly not at all, and the others not used to any accent couldn't understand. Therefore used to all accents and to the opera voice of Rick I shouted the question for everybody and the girl was very thankful. 

The next day was the turn of another who had prepared little garlands and we should make flowers out of them. I was a bit reluctant because it's something to do with patience which I don't have. But I was very surprised that I made a real nice yellow flower which you can see in the vase. It was amazing what the very old residents could do ! We always have a lot of fun when we tease each other afterwards when we take our coffee together. 

On Thursday I had an appointment for my car, just for a check up. It was always standing in a garage and here now in open air, which in one sense is very practical, it is always clean the daily rain washes it thoroughly and it looks always white and clean ! The car had nothing everything was OK, so that's one good thing. As usual it rained again, it hasn't stopped since two weeks now. Or it rains in the morning and stops in the afternoon, or it is the opposite. Anyway to not forget how a blue sky and the sun look, I have to go through my albums !

Son and grandson should come this weekend because I hadn't seen on the poster that the egg hunting was on the 6th for the residents and family and on Easter Sunday for the schools, the kids come in our park or rooms to collect chocolate eggs. As it is the first time for me I hadn't payed attention and my son either, because he hadn't looked at the date but on the hour when it takes place (good excuse !) So they will come next weekend to hunt eggs and I have little works, like hanging up 3 paintings. Finally it's good, because the weather is so miserable, I wonder how the kids can look for the eggs, probably they have to go through the whole castle ! There is room enough ! I don't even have an Easter egg or an Easter bunny in my room, now that they are not coming I don't have the energy to decorate. Rosie doesn't care anyway ! 

I had finally the opportunity to take pictures of the brave man who comes twice a day morning and evening to feed our not so homeless cats !

Here he comes with two big bags and the first cat is already there !

He fills in the bowls

 pets them and goes away, the baby in the corner is my son, when he was my son and not a man !
 

 

 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Monday honored us with a rain, wind and dark clouds, a weather to remain in bed. I tidied up my room, and then I watched TV and read Blogposts.  Later in the afternoon I went to the restaurant for a coffee and found some others who had the same idea and then we played UNO again, because we all like this game and for once I won ! A miracle !

The next day I finally went to the Charity Shop with the two bags full of pullovers, T-shirts and other things which I would never need here because it is too warm everywhere and it only takes space, which I needed for the "replacements" I bought ! Now I have new feathers ! I also bought games for us when no entertainment is organized so that my roommates don't get bored! I found 5 decks of cards for €5, you can be generous for that price ! In a normal shop you wouldn't even get one game for the same amount. When I came back with the cards they were all very happy and wanted to try out one game, but it was too late.

My ancient neighbors had asked me to come one afternoon, which I did and they told me that the owner of my apartment had put a poster in front of the building that it was for rent ! I wonder then when he had done all the renovations which he claims me to pay ! I had told him I just give him back the 2 month rent which were blocked in my bank as guarantee for eventual damages. He had written me miles of emails and threatened to take me to court but I didn't give in, I hadn't broken anything, how ? Living alone with a little cat ? I swear I had no elephant living with me who could justify the invented damages.  

I wrote this to him,  and so far he hasn't contacted me again.  My neighbors then told me, the apartment was already rented ! I found this really outrageous. He really takes me for an old stupid woman. I don't move, he will see. 

This is the only thing which could bother me, but meanwhile I only laugh. Despite the bad weather I feel good and the afternoons with our games are always very funny and we laugh a lot. 

But at 5 pm I return into my room and then eat my supper in peace in front of the TV. Sometimes I think, especially in the morning, that I'm just on vacation here and will be going back home soon, and then I remember that I'm home!

Rosie's favorite view !
 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

It's still grey and not very mood lifting ! In the morning I did my blogging and in the afternoon we celebrated the birthdays of all who are born in January. This time they had hired a singer who imitated all famous French singers like Charles Aznavour, and Adamo, the others are probably not known except maybe in the French speaking part of Canada. 

Of course we had coffee and cake and some danced, the nicest couple was a lady of maybe 1.65 and the black nurse of 1.90 m

They had a lot of  success.

It was time for the hairdresser and between two showers I went and usually you get the latest news there. For the moment the farmers are on strike for once in all European countries, which causes a mess on the streets, highways and even airplanes, because the people can't arrive on time. 

My poor hairdresser a young woman took 4 hours to arrive at work, usually not even 1/2 an hour. Everywhere these enormous tractors drove in snail speed and nobody except a bike could overtake them.

I agree with them, but they should drive into the parliament or the politicians private houses and block them and not us the poor people, we always have to pay the bill. The politicians take a helicopter  and off they go .... to the beach (?) Anyway they have to eat too, and now everywhere the shops and supermarkets have big holes in their shelves, because they don't get their goods. I saw it when I wanted to buy hooks to hang up my paintings !

Here I see nothing but cat Rosie's TV

Wednesday we did a game you had to draw something and the others had to find out what it was. That was hilarious, because we all did "modern" art, and sometimes it was difficult to find out what it was.

After coffee and cake and chatting I returned, I prefer to take my meals in my room.

In France and Belgium it's the use to celebrate Epiphany which is a catholic holiday. Very thin pancakes (crepes) are made in families, schools and even offices. 

you put whatever you want on them, sugar, jelly, honey, Nutella and make a roll. I like them with brown sugar. As we were too many, Amandine reduced them to pancakes, which of course you couldn't roll up.

A pancake device made 7 at once which were quickly gone. For once my 100 year old friend complained, the "crepes" were too small and too thick  ! That her mother did them differently. We all laughed and believed her.

And so the week went buy, I had to go to the health insurance to drop a paper in the mailbox, and of course I had forgotten it at home. As I was a little worried to meet all the tractors, they had crossed Waterloo too on their way to Brussels, I returned home. 

I also had sorted out the thick pullovers and only kept two cardigans because it's so warm here that I would cook. Fortunately I can order what  I need on Internet so I don't need to carry the stuff.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Now that I feel better, I decided to go to the restaurant and join the others. When I arrived all tables were occupied and finally I ended up with 3 ladies. One couldn't see, only a little bit through a hole in her eye, waiting for a surgery. The second was a little funny lady, she had forgotten her hearing aids and I had to scream, but she was full of humor and made me laugh. I couldn't believe that she was nearly100 years old a few months missing, but all her brain was 20 ! An example to follow. 

The rest of the day I spent with computer and TV, and little Rosie was watching the birds outside.

She almost caused me a heart attack, I woke up at 3 am, the room was full of light people were speaking loud and it took me a few minutes to understand that Rosie had walked on the remote control of the TV !

Rosie's bird watching place !

The next day I went again to the restaurant, but before I had to give a paper at the reception and of course got lost in this enormous castle. But I also could see other rooms, because the doors were open, and also parts I hadn't seen yet.

I had less luck this time with the people at my table, there was a man hanging in a wheelchair and sleeping deeply. His wife told me that he doesn't eat anymore and that he sleeps all the time and she is bored and said it would be better that he wouldn't wake up anymore. I agreed. Soon or later it will happen, I think, it will be rather soon. The other woman had also lived in Waterloo and we talked about the village it had been before and now a city with a lot of traffic. We both said how lucky we were in our castle with the huge park around, where nothing had changed. 

In the afternoon I was invited by my friend Laura and we chatted the whole afternoon. We know each other for such a long time since she married my Indian colleague in 1970. We lost contact for a bit, but now that her husband died shortly after Rick, the old friendship has blossomed again and we have both realized that friends we have known for a long time, have remained, while the others have disappeared or died for some reason.

I have also emptied my last bag and there are a few things missing. Fortunately they were all still in the living room, so it was not so dramatic ! 

On the 6th was Saint Niklaas day which is or rather was very much celebrated in Belgium, and especially in the elderly generation. So they were so happy to get a special breakfast with a chocolate St. Niklaas and 2 slices of raisin bread called "cramik". Some of them were happy like little children

 

Each day at 3 pm there are games or other things to keep us busy. One afternoon we decorated  the first of three Christmas trees ! The others followed the next days.

We had a lot of fun especially when a ball fell on the floor and those who still could run picked it up.

and here is nr. 2 ! In the restaurant

and here is our Restaurant.

We have also made a game with finding words, to keep our brains fit ! Was very interesting. So now I think when next week I give the keys to my landlord, I will jump to the ceiling for joy, and then I can finally settle in properly without any worries.

 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

This is the second week I am in my new home. and I have the impression that I don't want to leave my cozy room anymore. I still eat alone, lots of people make me tired.

I sleep really well when they let me! The first time, my room was lightened in the the middle of the night and I woke up and thought I was illuminated by headlights! A man was standing in front of my bed who I would have liked to jump at the throat. My door was looked and he got in with his key. I was furious and threw him out, not very politely, and he escaped just saying "I wanted to know if everything is OK" ! I told him so far it was but now not any more ! I am not in the Alzheimer section !

The second time I slept like a baby when the fire alarm went on so loud that those who were half dead are certainly dead by now. I went to the door and looked on the floor nobody there so I returned in my bed and cat Rosie too still with round eyes like an owl, The alarm continued for a while and then stopped and I fell asleep again. Not angry that I had to flee outside, because it was quite cold.

The manager came and asked if I like it here and I said yes except the man who nearly caused me a heart attack. He apologized because the man wasn't allowed into the room when the door was locked.  He was  new. Then he admired my room how nice it looked, petted Rosie and then continued his round.

My friend Laura did some shopping for me, I needed fruits and food for Rosie, and  she came here for the first time. She laughed when she entered the room, she said it looks exactly like in my apartment only the dining space is missing. She was surprised that it didn't look like a home or a hospital.

My clothes are still in the bags,

I started unpacking but it was such a mix of winter and summer things that I stopped after 10 minutes I was breathless. I'll wait until the weekend and if I still haven't done it then I'll ask for help.

 

 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

If you ask me what I did this week, the week seems like a day. Yesterday Monday today Friday. 

After all, I was very busy with my cat collection selling and the days just flew by. I lost most of my time on the phone with this damn new (Covid) telephone system, No.1 2,3, etc. At least it was worth it, every day someone came and picked up what he had chosen. 

Besides the things I had already sold,  I sold 3 cats from Thailand (I didn't know that) and two books about the 3rd Reich that I found and was scandalized at how many people were interested in this crap, but money is money. 

Tomorrow a lady from the Belgian Cat Shelter will come and pick up my paintings, free of charge of course, the money they get for them is for the abandoned cats. Even if a picture only brings in €10, it can raise a nice sum. 

Since I live in a building, I had to greet people at the mailboxes and not in the house. I didn't care, but these are the rules, neighbors are afraid that they will be robbed and murdered. I put the money under my mattress... The people were all quite young and talkative, so I had a lot of conversations and the days weren't boring at all. 

And so I will continue the next days too, in fact I was lucky, in my misfortune with my sprained ribs, I had to sit still and take painkillers anyway. I went to my doctor yesterday because my whole side hurt, but she confirmed nothing  is broken and that I had done the right thing.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Ever since I returned from my cruise I am not feeling well. The return flight which should have taken 2 h at the most, took finally 6 h waiting time and a stop in Frankfurt, Germany and we arrived at 1 am at home ! It took me nearly a week to recover from another cold, which I probably caught waiting in the airports. I think from now on I won't take a plane anymore only if it's impossible otherwise. I would rather take a train or a bus, I have time.

As it didn't get better I finally went to my Doctor. Now I have to go to a physiotherapist ! I am so fed up, I always had a very good health and wasn't sick before all my miseries happens. My Doctor, between the lines, told me that I am so fragile since Rieck's passing away, and I have to recover psychologically too. 

My friend Laura whose husband died a month ago came for a coffee and to admire my terrace.

She is in the same situation as I was last year, drowning in paperwork, despite a notary ! It's even worse because her husband was working for his own and not an employee. 

 My son had come for a day from Amsterdam and had cleaned the terrace and put a new carpet on it. I am very happy with the result ! As I once had complained that bottles are so heavy to carry, he did his shopping, and bought for me 6 crates of non-alcoholic beer and 3 with sparkling water. Now I have to drink certainly for a few months ! It was really nice of him. He is like his father or he buys not enough or for a whole army.

Even Rosie who during the whole winter didn't go out, loves the new "living room" and watches the birds from there.  My two neighbors came on Wednesday and as it was so warm, instead of buying a cake I had bought strawberries which tasted real good. But suddenly we had to carry everything inside as it started to rain. 

I am still struggling with my my papers to check and file and was looking for somebody to take care of this as I am not myself yet, I am afraid to make mistakes. Isabelle who solves all problems for me, proposed to do it for me and once everything is in order we will meet regularly and she will play my "secretary". Fortunately she checked my tax filing, because she found a paper in their which apparently I hadn't sent to the tax office to get quite  a lot of money back from Rick's last pension ! Maybe we will find more money !

When I wanted to take my car out of the garage I suddenly saw this car with a license plate painted in black and white strokes over the numbers. I hadn't noticed that before and thought, what the heck is that now, maybe a drug dealer who had hidden his goods here in our garage. 

 I informed the building administrator ! Maybe the car is stolen. Who knows. 

That was all what happened this week ! Aw yes I managed to take pictures from the Garda Lake, Rick's home on my television they are quite good, as if I had been there, but what it had changed !! I hardly recognized it; In 68 when I saw Torbole for the first time, it was a sleepy little village, and now it's known internationally for windsurf !!

 

 

As usual a cat never does what you want ! I only tried to make a nice selfie of the two of us !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

As Monday was the 1st of May which is labor day here, Dominique came on Monday and stayed until Tuesday evening. It was really nice, she is such a warm and caring person.We mostly talked about our Danube cruise and what clothes we should take along, as it can be very warm but also cold. I took my luggage list we checked to see if something was missing but all was OK.This is easy because you just have to follow the list and put the things in the suitcase.

I am still not feeling normal and am very distracted. I've been looking for something every day. But the worst thing is, that I think I did something and actually forgot. 

That happened to me with the bill for our cruise. I was firmly convinced that I had paid, but I had not ! Luckily they sent me an email and reminded me. My car paper history is also not settled yet. If I had known that you have to do so much paperwork to inherit your husband's car so that it was on my name, I should have said nothing at all and just keep on driving. 

I had to go to the doctor because I was still not walking normally  and she wanted to do a scan of my spine. The result was that I actually had nothing at all. I'm also beginning to believe that all of this isn't physical, it's psychological, I have a burn out, due to all I had to go through the last years, I have no more reserves. That's what my female doctor said. She prescribed me something which should help me.

Like every week, I visited Nicole again, she is still in the infirmary of the home. Until now she has only had physical ailments, but this time I have noticed that her brain is now on the wane. She told me things that were impossible or have happened for a long time. This lays also hard on my heart. 

Fortunately there are also cheerful things in my life, my son sent me pictures of his new puppy, 

Little Leia is a mixture of a Golden Retriever and another breed. She was really lucky to have found such a good home. The family adopted her from an animal shelter.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I started the week by looking for a cat sitter for Rosie, as my neighbor can't do it anymore she forgets to close the window and to clean the litter box I hope she didn't forget to feed Rosie ! Fortunately there is always dry food in a big bowl. 

From my advertising in Facebook for a kitty sitter,  I got 5 answers. With one lady I had an appointment at 5 pm, Before I went with a couple and another lady I knew from Facebook for a Chinese lunch. Unfortunately the lady talked so much and always the same that we hardly could put a word in the conversation of ..... diseases !

For the moment I have to force me to go out and I regretted that I had done it, because I didn't even enjoy the meal.

Once at home again,  the lady came to meet Rosie. A miracle happened, Rosie stayed in her basket and let herself be petted, then she started purring and licked the woman's hand! That was a good sign. Rosie is pretty difficult with other people. The lady's name was Cathrine and she was also a cat fan. So we liked each other immediately  and she will look after Rosie for the 12 days I am away and send Whatsapp pictures. 

One worry less. 

The next day I went to my doctor because I was walking like a drunk, at least that was my impression. Now I have to do a lumba scan, although I don't have any back pain, I just get breathless quickly. I probably got assembled wrong somehow. What does my back has to do with the lungs?

Nicole has disappeared, even her daughter doesn't know where she is, she has been taken to the hospital because she has terrible back pain. It is so sad. Why taking her to the hospital, instead of giving her painkillers, anyway it won't last long until she joins Rick. 

And to complete my black series, my coffee machine died too and I had to buy a new one. I just bought the same, Otherwise I was busy with my car papers, what paperwork, I am really fed up !

My neighbor also a Nicole, let Dominique use her parking space in the basement for the 12 days we are away, so her car doesn't have to stay on the street.

Yesterday we had a beautiful rainbow, and the cherry tree is now in full bloom

My blogfriend Andrew from Australia had forseen that Rosie would use the second floor in a few weeks and he was right  ! She really did, but it took her 2 years to dare to climb on the tree !!

 

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