THE RIGHT SENSE OF ORIENTATION

Where normal people have a sense of orientation, I must have something else, it's like the countries where the cars drive on the right side and others where they drive on the left.

I often  do the opposite of what I should do, but really not on purpose, it just happens. So it can happen that I might have the best intentions but am completely wrong.

Everybody says that I am a good driver the only fault I have is that I mix up right with left and the other way around. Even my 9 year old grandson when he sits besides me does not only tell me "turn right" but also points his finger in this direction, because he knows his grandma's difficulties in turning into the right direction.

The best and most sophisticated GPS (satnav or whatever it is called) always tells me the right direction but if I don't look on the screen I would not turn left when she says left, but right and when she says turn right you can count on me that I turn left.

This has brought me some unwanted adventures, which in the very moment I didn't appreciate, but which today make me laugh.

Once I was invited by a friend, she gave me the address, I put it in my GPS and started to drive. I followed the instructions but didn't look on the screen. It was a strange area, certainly not one where people lived, but where they usually are buried after their death. I had taken the wrong direction on a very long street which led from Waterloo to Brussels over 15 km and I had landed in front of a graveyard and not in front of my friend's house. Later I heard that this cemetery is very famous, because all the VIPs of Belgium where buried there, and beautiful statues decorated the graves. Through the grids I saw some, and it was confirmed that I wasn't in the yard of my friend. I called her that I would be late because I had landed at the Ixelles cemetery and she must have shaken her head because she said how the heck did you arrive there ? I don't know.

I never drive without my GPS even when I know the road by heart, because with my steady mixing up of left and right I once landed in the middle of two fields on a small cobbled farm lane, and the cows who were happy about this unexpected company all came to my car and looked through the windows. There was a fence on both sides so there couldn't get into my car, but I tell you a cow head is real big when it looks at you through the window.

Another time I wanted to go home, took the wrong direction and almost landed at the sea, which is 150 km from Brussels. Fortunately I realized that I was on the wrong line when I read the city names.

I could go on for hours, with all the adventures I had, but I think each time it happened I wrote it down in this blog.









Linkingt to Linda G. Hills SOCS-ght

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. Aqua gym was very hard this time, so that I fell asleep when I started to watch "Escape to the country" and the escaping was long over when I suddenly realized that I had slept ! I belong to the people who when they sleep in the afternoon, feel like if they had a hangover, so I did nothing except escaping to the country on the screen.

2. The GPS which Nicole has gotten for Christmas from her son is still not working properly. He apparently had chosen the most simple one, knowing his mother, but it seems that simple can be complicated. After Mr. G. had tried (then the battery was empty), her cousin, her daughter without any result, it still started from somewhere in Brussels, I met her for a coffee in the Lunch Garden which has free internet and with the help of YouTube where a guy explained the whole thing, I  tried to find out what was wrong. Of course the battery was not fully charged and I had to give up. Now I told Nicole to buy a charger ! We finally stayed there the rest of the afternoon with our tablets and Charlie as usual had a lot of success.

3. Chantal came over to spend the night in our house before her departure to Toronto to take care of her son. She lives  in the next bigger town, which is rather far to drive to the Brussels airport and it also was easier for me because we had to leave very early the next morning. So we had a nice evening together.

4.



Brussels the hellhole

Despite the worrying Mr. Trump about our safety and thinks that we are living "in hellhole in Brussels" the airport looked very peaceful and I didn't even see one policeman or soldier. Mr. Trump must know Brussels very well as he had been here more than 20 years ago and never ever since, but he must have been recently in hell because he knows hellholes so well. I would rather put him in a madhouse. He destroys  the last good opinion about Americans in the whole world ! How is that possible to believe in such a guy ??


Brussels' airport.

I walked with Chantal to the check in and pulled the suitcase, as she had to walk on two crutches. Once rid of the suitcase she was taken care of by the service for handicapped persons, but before we had coffee and a croissant together. Then I waved good bye and drove home.

There was a lot of traffic on the road to the hellhole !

5. I hadn't wished a happy New Year to Ilona's mother who will be 92 this year. She still lives in her flat, cooks, goes shopping meets with friends and is in perfect health ! An example how to get old !
Ilona came too and we had coffee and cake together and spent a very nice afternoon. Her mother is quite a very humorful lady !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. I started the week with shopping for us and for Dominique, who can't move due to her backache. It was awfully cold for a middle of June we only had 10°C (50F) during the day with on top a cold wind ! Nevertheless the grass grows and I had to mow the lawn, fortunately Oscar the robot did it for me, he doesn't mind temperatures or wind. I didn't know that this thing is so strong, I had put a chair upside down to protect a piece of lawn, and suddenly when I looked out of the window I saw the chair moving to and fro with the robot underneath. I should have taken a picture because it looked so funny, but I rather ran outside to lift up the chair and free the lawn mower before it broke !

2. When I wasn't feeling well I didn't mind to stay inside, but now I start to feel like a prisoner. So after some household scores and blogwork I went to my Indian House (store), just to escape, I always feel on holidays there. Other women had the same idea and sat in the corner around a tea table and had Indian tea. I joined in and we chatted a bit. Then I walked around to see if there were new things and of course couldn't resist to buy two necklaces which were on sale !

3. On my way back from aqua gym, a street was closed. Unfortunately I had left Madame GPS at home for an update ! To find the way home should have been very easy, but not for me ! I followed my instinct and did a sightseeing tour through Waterloo in places I didn't even know that they existed. After 15 min (which is usually the time I need to arrive at home) I thought I do the other way around and when my instinct tells me to go left, I go right. Indeed that helped and suddenly I was in front of the station ! From there I knew the way home. Mr. G. who wondered why I was so late, asked me where I have been and I had to admit that I had no idea ! It didn't surprise him at all, he was only too happy that I didn't end up at the sea front which is 100 km far from here. From now on I will always take my GPS with me, even if I just go to the shop around the corner or across the street to my neighbor !

4. Being both fed up staying home all the time, Dominique and I decided to go out for a little lunch together. She can walk a little and it is OK for her to sit. Only standing hurts. We choose "La Pomme" (the Apple), a kind of Pub which has excellent salads, spare ribs and steaks. No baked potato unfortunately! The food was excellent, we had a funny waiter and laughed a lot. Satisfied with our little excursion we drove home and she could lay down again.



The weather was warm enough for me to install my "office" outside. The carton helps to keep the light away and I can see the screen normally.

5. Each year when the schools end, Waterloo city organizes a trip for their seniors. This time we went to Lille in France. At 7.15 we had to be at the parking place where 4 buses waited for us. 



Our first stop was in Lessines to visit the old hospital "Notre Dame à la Rose"  which dates from the 13 century.



Better not to be sick at that time, the instruments were horrible and when you see the syringes there certainly would be less drug addicts !



Then we stopped in the middle of the countryside at a very beautiful restaurant, surrounded by a huge park, llamas, alpacas, and horses. Ideal for wedding receptions or other celebrations.



The menu too was very good, the starter was "foie gras", followed by "turkey à la normande" and vanilla ice cream.

Then we continued our way to Lille in France. Unfortunately it started to rain and when we arrived in Lille it rained so much that we went into a shopping center instead of visiting the city. There at least we stayed dry.



So I didn't see very much of Lille, but enough to wish to go back there when the sun is shining. It looks like a nice town, especially the old center.

Then we returned home and we all agreed, we had a wonderful day !

RECALCULATING ....

For our new front yard I needed some more plants for my exactly 11 pots. There is one nice garden center at the other end from Brussels, but with the highway it usually takes me not even 30 min to get there.

This time I had less luck. I didn't take my usual way but asked Madame GPS for a shorter one. She guided me on the same way but then suddenly told me to leave the highway. Which I did of course. Then suddenly I didn't hear her anymore and there was no km indicated when I had to turn left or right. I stopped to see what was the matter and why she was suddenly voiceless. I didn't see anything wrong and continued my way, at least I thought that I was in the right direction. Suddenly Madame GPS 's screen indicated that there was no battery anymore and she died !

Unladylike a pronounced a few words and plugged her in correctly, which apparently I hadn't done before. Suddenly she came back to life again, found her voice and then the nightmare started : "Recalculating" ... I changed direction and came back the same way. "Turn right" she said, there were works going on, I had to take another street "Recalculating" she repeated, I waited until she was finished with her calculations and went on. Works again. "Recalculating" ... and so joyfully I turned around and around until finally after 1 1/2 h (ONE AND A HALF) hour I finally stopped in front of the shop. In 10 min I had selected my plants and rushed back to the car. I wanted to call Mr. G. just to tell him that I would be later but of course I had left my mobile phone in the plug to be recharged ! Apparently I was in war with modern lifestyle this day !

Normally she also should know where works are going on but I hadn't read the instructions correctly, it is my new Madame GPS which I got for my birthday.

For the way back I thought I take my usual way, at least there would be no surprises. Wrong ! The road was closed ... works ! recalculating ... works, recalculating ... etc. until finally after again 1 1/2 h again she said : Arriving at home on right !

I was exhausted. Next time I buy my flowers in Paris or London that goes quicker !

GRANDMAS AND COMPUTERS ???

During the whole week I did my market study to find a new Madame GPS, as I want to divorce from the old one and find a younger model. (Equality for women !) Since she had conducted me amongst cows, to the wrong airport and other strange places, I lost all confidence and decided to buy a new one, and for that my forthcoming birthday was ideal !

Mr. G. and son D. got the instruction to share the costs for a new Madame GPS for me. Finally I found one which fulfils all my wishes, and also a shop where it was 30 € cheaper !

Today I went to the shop to buy my new GPS. When the shopowner saw me entering his shop, he made a face as if he couldn't believe that such a grandma dared to enter his kingdom.

A women my age is not supposed to know anything about computers or internet or anything close to it. In some way he is right, because amongst my friends only very few use internet and don't really know what a computer is, except that it bites.

He took the GPS from the shelf, put it on the cash desk and ask me to pay. I told him that first I had a few questions concerning map updates with the computer. He rolled his eyes invisibly to the ceiling, probably expecting a lot of stupid questions. But when I started to speak and told him what I had done so far googling through the net to get all informations about all Garmin GPSs, his eyes almost popped out of his head. To some questions he didn't even know the answers and I had to explain them to him. As he only knew the things in French, but Garmin is in English and the French translation rather bad, he quickly realized that I don't have to be in my 30th to have some know how and that there are also exceptions in grandmas. I think for Grandpas he would have accepted these facts more easily.

Finally he was so startled that his whole world collapsed because apparently women are not that stupid as he thought. Now he didn't want to let me go ! When I arrived he was in a hurry to get rid of me, now it was the opposite. He even asked me questions ! Of course from computers itself I don't know anything or very little, but when it comes to Internet and everything which comes with it, I can hold the position.

At the end he offered his services if ever I had a problem with my GPS and even held the door open so a could walk out (head up !) !

Now I have to wait until July 8th to become a proud owner of my new Madame GPS, and I hope that she will be a responsible adult and not a teenager in puberty who sends me amongst the cows again !







Modern times !

WHERE IS THE AIRPORT ?

Usually it should be very easy to go to the small airport Charleroi Brussels South where only Charter flights are landing and where I had to pick up Mr. G. coming back from his holidays with his sister In Italy. But not for me !

My getting old Madame Garmin GPS got suddenly lost when the highway was closed for works and recalculated in all directions. As I had no other choice and am unable to read a map I followed her instructions and got the impression to turn around in cercles with all her recalculating, because in my excitement and anger, I mixed up left with right, as always do when I don't pay attention.


Finally I arrived at an airport looking like place, where I had taken my flight to Marseille a month ago. As the entrance was closed with a barrier and only a few cars standing on the parking, I found this very strange but in my excitement I thought that it probably was the back of the airport building ! Fortunately there was a bell ! I rang and a friendly male voice answered "Yes ?" I told him that I wanted to pick up my husband but couldn't get in because of the closed barrier and that I am already late.


My Caterpillar "airport"

He laughed and said that I wasn't at the airport at all but at the entrance of the big Caterpillar company and that I should make a U-turn, go to the first roundabout and then to the second and then I would see the airport. I had no time to feel stupid, turned around and listened to Madame GPS' "recalculating" voice.

Of course she didn't know anything about roundabouts and therefore couldn't give me other instructions as "recalculating" ! I got more and more angry and almost threw her out of the window ! Finally I saw the sign to the airport and although she insisted to direct me elsewhere I followed the sign and found a freezing Mr. G. waiting there (his plane was in advance) he came from 25°C (77 F) and it was just 11° (52 F) here.



and the real one !

In fact they had built a new airport that's why my senior Madame GPS wanted to take me to the old one of course because she didn't know the new one ! At least this time she didn't take me to the cows.

Of course I could update her, but it is so expensive compared to buying a new one, that it is probably wiser to think about a new one as a birthday gift !

FUN MONDAY - GADGETS

Wendishness, our host this week proposes following theme :

This week it’s all about gadgets! I would like to know what gadgets you can’t live without and those you could get rid of. It doesn’t matter what part of your life or house they dwell in, whether it’s the kitchen, your desk, shed or any other place but what works well for you and what doesn’t ?

What I would have considered as "Gadgets" when I was working, had a child to raise (the husband is still there) and a household, are not at all "Gadgets" to me in my today's life as a retired person.

It just would be like considering a hearing aid or a guide dog as a gadget.

Since I fill in my days with blogging, photo hunting and other nice occupations, I absolutely need my little "baby" computer when I travel. It has the size of a book, allows me to get on Internet and also to download my pictures and publish a post even when I am not at home.




my travel computer



and of course my window to the world, a "normal" one for home. If I hadn't this I would die of boredom.



Second very important "gadget" is my GPS ! When I was working I didn't need one, because my car found the way to the office alone. When we travelled Mr. G. used to drive and I became stupid. When I retired and wanted to go with my car to different places I always got lost. It came to a point that I didn't want to drive anymore except for shopping and on the streets I knew by heart. Since I have my GPS I feel free like a bird ! I can go everywhere I want to and it always brings me there safely. Today I couldn't imagine my life without a GPS.



Of course the mobile phone is also a very nice "gadget" which makes me available wherever I am and I also can call for help in case I find myself in the middle of the woods without petrol or a flat tire.




And last but not least my microwave ! what would I do without it ? It even bakes and grills and heats up everything when I am too lazy to cook.

These "gadgets" are really essential to me. I couldn't imagine my life without them. All other stuff is apparently useless, because nothing else comes into my mind, unless a camera and a TV is considered as gadgets.

Unfortunately a lot of women my age are still living as if there were 30, with the same appliances. They are afraid of a micro wave, because of unvisible rays, a mobile phone because it's too difficult to handle and they have lived their whole life without it, not to speak about a computer (!!!) this engine bites and a GPS ? why ? they can read a map. I am unable to read a map, I never now where I am.