WEEKEND REVIEW APRIL 8

This weekend we had a weather just like out of a fairy tail ! It was nearly summer temperature and at one time the thermometer rose to 25° !! Very unusual for April.

Each year there is the "Floralia Brussels" in the park of the castle "Chateau de Grand Bigard" I had always missed it for I don't remember what reason, but this year I went. It was the second day of the opening and it was just beautiful.



For two hours I walked through the park and admired the different flower beds.  There were tulips in the woods and so many colors ! An orchestra walked through the park and filled it with hunter music.

After my two hours I sat down and chatted a bit with the other people, before I returned home, rather exhausted. I will write an special post about this beautiful exhibition.



It hadn't been on the Brussels' Midi Market since a very long time, and decided to go there and maybe make a bargain. And I did ! I found two bathing suits Italian models, very chic and very cheap !

I also bought a bag because I had forgotten mine at home and a roasted chicken with vegetables. Once home I put the chicken quickly in a cupboard, because of my house thief, cat Arthur.



But he smelled the chicken in the bag and desperately climbed in the bag to check if there was not at least a crumb of chicken left ! He got part of it from Mr. G. of course in the evening.

We finished this nice weekend at the emergency service in our hospital ! Mr. G. scratching his back, had found something strange which he couldn't see and showed it to me. I am not quickly impressed by bloody injuries, but what I saw here I had never seen in my life. Part of his back was fire red and covered with black blisters ! I thought he had the pest which of course was nonsense. Anyway as it looked so horrible I drove him to the hospital although he felt nothing, no itches, no pain. There the doctor told him that he had the shingles  ! He has to take antibiotics and I have to disinfect his back. Strange is that it doesn't bother him at all. Besides the fact that he is very tired he has no other symptoms.

This ended our weekend the chicken was very good and Arthur happy !

WEEKEND REVIEW

On Saturday morning I took out the bread of the bread machine and it looked like a pancake ! Unusable, it was hard like a stone. I had noticed lately that the machine didn't do it's job correctly anymore.



A decision was quickly taken ! I bought a new one a little bigger than the old one, because I had to bake nearly every day as Mr. G. is a big break consumer. He eats bread with everything as they do in Italy. In a restaurant you will always get bread, olive oil and salt, to eat before the meal arrives. I tried it out in the afternoon, and while I was chatting in Ilona's garden, the bread baked and when I came home I was very happy with the result ! It was just perfect and tasted very good.



I also trimmed some bushes growing in our rock garden into a more round shape. Of course Arthur had to supervise my work !

On Sunday morning I went to the Brussels Midi Market to buy some shirts for Mr. G and for a friend, unfortunately I didn't find the one's I wanted.



While I had a coffee on the terrace, I saw this gentleman drinking a huge glass of beer together with 3 glasses of wine. I hope he returned home safely. The market was full of people, the sun was shining, but the temperatures were rather cool !



In the afternoon Mr. G's friend came for a visit and Arthur as always was happy that we had a visitor. He only was disappointed,  that he hadn't put on leather shoes, because Arthur loves to sharpen his claws on them. The friend knows that and now he always comes with basket shoes !

MY WEEKEND OF MAY 17

As the sun was shining I had no excuse anymore to avoid garden work ! Most of my friends love to work in their yard, and it is a hobby and a relaxation to them. For me it is a chore I don't like at all, but have to do it.





Under the watchful eyes of my cat Arthur, I pulled out weeds and planted a new Hortensia at our entrance. The one which stood there for 36 years and which had bloomed each year, suddenly died and Mr. G. had to take it out. I hope the new one will grow the same way !

My neighbor saw me working and came out and we started to chat. I told her about my adventures in Normandy, as I hadn't seen her yet since I came back. As it lasted and lasted her daughter brought her a camping chair and I sat on the steps. We had a nice pow how and people who walked by laughed when they saw us. When finally she crossed the street and went home with her chair, I wasn't up for continuing, gathered my things and put them in the Garage. Then I made myself a coffee and took a sunbath in the garden. Mr. G. sunshine or rain, always prefers to stay inside.



And while I was staying peacefully at home Brussels center was completely closed to cars. There was the Belgian Pride Color parade, for the equality of homosexuals. About 45.000 people were on the streets watching the parade and even our prime minister who is also homosexual was there. In some African countries but also in Russia they are still persecuted and killed.

On Sunday morning I went to the midi market in Brussels.



There were lots of people of all countries. They enjoyed a glass of wine or beer on the terrace of "my" café. The lady next to me had put her handbag on the floor just besides a little wall and when she wanted to leave the handbag was gone ! A pickpocket had stolen it.  The poor woman had all her money and bank cards in her purse and of course was very upset. Nobody could understand how it disappeared we hadn't noticed anything suspicious. There is no chance to get the purse back !

On my way back in the bus an elderly lady admired my scarf which I had knotted around my head. She wanted to know how I do it ! As she had bought a scarf on the market, I showed her how to put it around her head, fold it and knot it. The whole bus watched and I got an applause !



The afternoon I spent in our garden. Mr. G. was rather surprised to find a carton with legs underneath sitting in the chair and took these pictures. I was busy to watch the "New Tricks" series on my Kindle !

MY WEEKEND OF APRIL APRIL 5

Punctually when I needed my computer badly to write and publish my posts, it gave up its soul ! Nothing to do, it wouldn't load anything and the screen remained black with some white scribbles on it. I screamed for help and Mr. G. came vintage style running to see what happened.

Then began the best show of the year. Unfortunately the invisible camera was not here. He tried repairing, by all means, helping himself with a wide vocabulary of not so very nice Italian words. Finally he called a friend, dismantled my whole computer, put it in a bag and disappeared.

Near a nervous breakdown, with a deep sigh of relief I took my little travel computer and ended my work in peace. Then I got a phone call, telling me that they had to take out everything and reinstall a new Window XP. Fortunately by coincidence, as if I had smelled the disaster, I had done a backup two days before ! At least nearly all my pictures where saved ! The next day I got my computer back and then began the second part of this event, which was even worse. Mr. G. had saved as much as he could of the files and folders etc and now had to reinstall the whole stuff. I would have liked to do it myself in my way, but of course he thought I was not able to do this which ended up in a nice verbal fight.



Fortunately our house is detached and we don't live in an apartment, I am sure the neighbors would have called the police, we both have quite some temperament. We are like two volcano with a spectacular eruption and immediately after there is nothing anymore.

The afternoon I went to Ilona, and while we took a sunbath and had some fresh homemade apple juice, I distressed and relaxed, it was really necessary !

Now my computer works very well, like new, but there are still some items missing and the worst thing is everything is written in French and I am not at all used to this technical vocabulary, after doing it in English for 7 years ! Now I have to "copier/coller" instead of "copy and paste" etc ! The worst is when it comes to settings !



Sunday morning while I answered my emails I had a nice street view, some people gathered in front of our house, probably some who did their Sunday walk and met by coincidence.



Then I took the bus and went to the midi market which was packed as usual, even the police was there, probably because of the many pick pockets who are working here.

We always had a large Moroccan community in Brussels, but I had never noticed so many women wearing a scarf. The best is when they also wear very short mini skirts ! Fashion is fashion and not always religion.



On my way back sitting in the bus I saw a large flock of pigeons flying over and over and then suddenly all landed on the roof of a hospital. It looked quite funny.



In the nearby park people started arriving with blankets and pick-nicks, enjoying the warm weather.

Behind me in the bus were 3 Japanese teenagers sitting and chatted. As I didn't understand a word I felt like sitting in a chicken coop for 45 min, and my head was exploding. Promptly I fell asleep while watching TV. 

In the afternoon, I still had things missing in my computer and suddenly Picasa in French ! I couldn't find the place from where I had to download my photos etc, etc.

Tomorrow is another day !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of February 23. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

Mr. G. has hearing problems. That wouldn't be a problem for me if he would wear his hearing aids when he switches on the TV. Each day it is the same story, we quarrel, because it is so loud for me that I think my neighbor on the other side of the street would also hear the News ! I don't want to start my day with hearing bombs and gun fires, screaming "Allah agbar" and other noises related to catastrophes, when I am sitting peacefully at my computer and write only because he doesn't want to wear these things. In his opinion he doesn't need them, and when he wears them he complains that everything is so loud. This is the logic of a man. 

A friend of my painting course has exactly the same problem, and solved it by buying a headset for her husband. Now he hears without disturbing the whole house and she can hear normally. The next day I bought a headset ! Saturday started with a Mr. G. who in his Italian way tried to fix the headset to the TV. After many Italian %µ&@" it finally worked, but not as we wanted, because with the headset on his ears he could hear perfectly but I didn't hear anything. The sound was cut off. He brought it back and bought another one, this time with explaining what we needed.



and here it is the savior of our marriage ! At least it should be, because the thing now, even loaded still doesn't work which puts Mr. G. in a very upset mood ! 



On Sunday morning when I opened the shutters I had this view ! I jumped back, forgot that I am supposed to be a Lady and pronounced a very bad word !  Does this snow last forever this year ??

Nonetheless, I had to go to the market in Brussels, because I had to meet my cigarette dealer supplier, to save more then half of the amount I would have to pay normally. My household budget appreciates.And I also wanted to escape the house while Mr. G. tried again to fix the headset.



Despite the snow the bus arrived in time and I had a nice view on the snowy landscape. I had completely forgotten how ugly a big city looks in dirty snow, only the green squares and parks were nice to see.

I had never seen the Brussels midi market so empty ! There were not even half of the stalls which are usually there. Fortunately I had nothing to buy, but found grapes for 2 Euros for 1 kg. That was more then a good price. Then I went over to the café where I usually meet my cigarette man. He was not there yet. But 6 women were standing  on the terrace singing chants in Spanish and reading out of a bible. I thought this market is really full of surprises.

I entered the café where he usually comes in and ordered a coffee. When I turned around I saw 4 policemen sitting at the neighbor table enjoying a glass of beer ! Goodness me,  I thought, he can't come with all this police around ! I wanted to ask them when they would leave, but refrained of doing it. I emptied my coffee and went outside. What did I see ? my cigarette man, chatting with other clients. He made me a sign to go to the terrace of the next café what I did and I bought the cigarettes just under the nose of two policemen standing outside.  I took my bag, made myself taller then I am already, put on my posh face and past ladylike the two policemen. Of course with all the drug dealers they have to handle, there is no time for cigarette smugglers. It made me laugh and I returned to the bus stop and went home. It was still snowing !

Mr. G. shook his head in despair, but only formally, he knows his adventures loving wife. And then they are mostly for him ! As long as I don't steal underwear in shops it's OK.

He spent the rest of the day with the handset and I hid in my room ! 

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of October 27. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.


It is unbelievable how the temperature went down ! Last weekend we could sit in the garden and had around 20°C (68 F) and more, while this Saturday morning it had frozen for the first time this year and the thermometer showed - 3°C (26 F) !! When I looked out of the window the cars in the street had all a white roof. I digged out my winter pullovers and jacket and went out shopping as if I would go to the northpole !



When I left the house in the evening to go with Dominique and Nicole to the theatre I left this still life behind me ! They all prefered to stay inside in the warmth.


The theatre is located in an old little town and is a converted farm. The lobby were drinks are served is here inside.



It looks very cosy. After the theater this place was full !

Before we went to see the play we had supper in the Theatre's restaurant.



It was full and the food delicious we had a "Tajine" and then a coffee. By then it was already time to cross the courtyard and to go inside the Theatre for which the barn had been converted. The seats and the stage were inside this barn which still had the old walls and the beams at the ceiling.





The piece was excellent it was a comedy from Sacha Guitry and we all had a lot of fun. The actors (only four) were really very good !

After the theatre we drove home, and I had to scratch off the ice on my windshield for fifteen minutes ! It was really very cold. Fortunately the streets weren't icy and we arrived safely home.

On Sunday morning the sun was shining again and the sky was deep blue. Nicole and I decided to take the bus and go to the Brussels' Midi Market. It was freezing cold, but in the sunshine we could even sit outside and have a coffee on the terrace of my usual little café where I meet my cigarette supplier ! Nicole bought fabric for curtains to an unbelievable cheap price, we also bought appels, peaches, oranges and grapes. The fruits are very fresh, they mostly come directly from Morocco. That's real bio or organic !

I also bought warm stockings, and a cute very warm pyjama and then loaded like donkies we took the bus home.

Later in the afternoon I went over to Dominique to wish her a happy birthday and we had a little chat together.
 


The market was crowded !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

This meme helps you to remember what you did on the weekend of 21 July.

As Saturday was the National Day in Belgium, there were lots of festivities going on everywhere ! Of course also in Waterloo. I went with Ilona to her mother who lives just in front of the place where the festivities took place. After a good chat and laughing, (her mother is 88 but in full shape !) we went to have a look what was going on.



This was supposed to be a country music show, but the dancers were as stiff as brooms and their faces were as if they had swallowed a glass of vinegar ! Poor Ilona who is a very good dancer and has the rhythm in her Hungarian blood, couldn't stand it so I just took these pictures and we continued our walk.



People had a lot of fun by sitting together and mostly drink the good Belgian beer. The mayor walked through the crowd and said hello to everybody he met.



There also were a lot of activities for children.

We didn't stay long and I returned home. The weather was nice and I could have mowed the lawn but on official holidays and Sundays, mowing is not allowed.



The grass is growing and growing and I wonder how I can mow all this !



Only Rosie and the other cats are happy to have such a huge salad field !



and of course after 3 weeks of non stop rain, the flowers rot away ...

On Sunday the sun finally came out and I took Nicole to the big Brussels Midi Market. She only had been once there and enjoyed it very much. This market is the second biggest one in Europe after Ventimiglia in Italy. It has up to 450 stalls of food, clothes, leather goods, household appliences etc.


Nicole searching in a mountain of T-shirts and pullovers

We walked through the stalls and were looking for bargains and enjoying the special atmosphere, not only it's very international, but also because of the locals. This is the place where you still can find the real Brussels' people speaking their special "French" which is a mixture between Flemish and French. On the picture above left, you see a typical Brussels' gentleman explaining something. This language is so rich and funny that only listening is a pleasure. These people too have a lot of humor. We sat there in the sun and drank a beer and then continued our walk. Nicole was spending some time at a stall with blouses and T-shirts for 1 € (1.21 $) ! She bought two ! The prices there are just unbelievable.

After two hours walking we were tired and took our bus back home.

Late afternoon a friend of Mr. G. came for a short visit, and the day ended with a crime story on TV

MY WORLD - Brussels Midi Market

More participants here

To my world also belongs my sunday walks to the Midi Market at the Brussels main station. Usually I only go there when the sun is shining. But this time I had to go in typical Belgian rainy weather. The UK is famous for its rainy weather, but Belgium is not better. For each sunny day we are extremely grateful ! This market is one of the biggest in Europe and has around 400 stands.

So here we are walking the the rain !



You have to lift the covers if you want to see the clothes to buy


This gentleman has something interesting in his nose


Bad weather or not, armed with ombrellas people do their shopping

Need some underwear ?

or roasted chicken wings, legs and other pieces


shoes


The famous Belgian wafles


Household appliances


handbags



flowers and plants


lots of fruits and vegetables


Bras


Morrocan clothes called Djellaba, very nice to wear at home when it is hot.


Roasted chicken


Enough to chase any vampire away,



and if after that you are tired you can rest here with a good Belgian beer