FRIDAY's FAV FIVE

The summer weather had come back and the week started with a very hot Monday ! It was even so hot that we couldn't sit outside we had to stay inside the curtains closed. Our Scrabble game was cancelled, as Myriam had called that she had a terrible kidney attack which was very painful and that she couldn't come. One was in France to help her brother to move their mom in a retirement home and  C had troubles with her eldest son who was sick ! So Nicole and talked about what wearing when her head would be bald from the chemio therapy and I had found lots of very nice wiggs on Internet. Finally we had a lot of fun with all the wiggs which were on offer and had a nice afternoon. It was the first time her daughter had left her alone to go with her daughter to the sea. This girl is an angel ! As the doctor had said that Nicole could go home if somebody is there 24 hours, her daughter didn't hesitate a second and took mum home. She doesn't work for the moment so she has time but still it does her good to have a break.  I babysitted Nicole with pleasure.

Meanwhile Myriam's condition had worsened and she had to go to hospital. She called her daughter and asked her to drive her to the emergency, but her daughter had guests and no time for her mother !! Finally it was Nicole's daughter, with all the troubles she had with her own mother drove her to the hospital. In the evening I called the hospital and they told me that she was just taken into the operating room ! 

The next day, she called me at 11 am and asked if I could pick her up, she was already allowed to go home. She had called her daughter, but she didn't answer, then she sent a message that she had no time because she and her husband watched how solar panels were put on their roof ! Imagine ! So I drove to the hospital and found Myriam in a very good shape, she felt a bit tired and said she would go to bed. I wanted to do some shopping for her but she didn't need anything, so I helped her with her bag and she went inside She was very sad and upset about the behaviour of her daughter, who preferred to watch the installation of solar panels instead of taking care of her mother. It was good that I didn't know the street number, I was so furious that I would have driven there to tell her what I think !

It was still very warm in the evening when it was getting dark so that I took my computer outside and did my work there. Rosie sat inside on her cat tower and watched what I was doing.

 

 

 

 

 

.

The next morning at 8 am a moving company arrived and had to go on our terrace to move the furniture of our neighbours who moved out. Of course they had told us before, but we are the only access to the next apartment. Anyway it didn't bother us at all, the people were very nice and everything they had moved to make space they put in place once the work done.

When I looked out of the window I saw my cats in a meeting in a corner, they had put them there because they were afraid to break them. 

As usual we went to the "Dolce Vita" this time we were only three, and they joked that poor girl goes out with two old handicapped ladies ! And as usual the lunch was very good !

 

After lunch I sold my car ! It went very quick. A friend had recommended me a dealer and when I called and told him that I have a Hybrid car for sale, he was so interested that he wanted to come immediately and look at it. Finally we agreed on the price (through the phone) I haggled a bit and got 200 € less and when I arrived in the garage he immediately made an invoice, and immediately transferred the money to our account ! And then he drove me home and we chatted the whole way about Waterloo and how it had changed. He had bought the car for his wife ! 

 

Each year I make a collage of Grandson Toby, and this year it should be the same. I asked my son for 8 or 10 photos, new once, and of course I got at least 25 ! 

 

Above is the old collage still framed and the new one

And here it is : edition Summer 2020 !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

The moving week has arrived and as I had now bought everything I needed, we had our first Scrabble during the lockdown, as we are allowed to receive more then 4 guests.

In the beginning we kept our masks, but it became quickly uncomfortable because we all mumbled under our masks and had to speak louder and also if we wanted to drink we always had to lift the masks. So after a while we took them off. Anyway we had all been very careful and the worst is over. This time I lost ! But it was so much joy that we had our old routine back.



On Tuesday 9th we met with the owner and a specialist who checked the apartment whether there was no damage. Then we got the keys.

The building is so secured that it is probably impossible to break in. Everywhere I first have to hold a badge to a device and then I can unlock the door. When we tried to get the first load out of the car we didn't find the elevator and then it was the wrong one and we stood there with suitcases and caddies and red faces. But finally we found the way back to our apartment. The building is not very big has only 4 floors and 2 apartments per floor. But for the first time everything seems to be like a maze.

Fortunately I had the girls who really helped me very much especially Myriam who can carry heavy things !

The next day the weather was beautiful, I had wrapped my little cats from my cat collection in toilet paper sheets and filled a whole suitcase. They had all been in our showcase. There was also other stuff and finally a suitcase and a caddy was full. Practical is that you don't have to carry them because they are on wheels.

But before we brought them into the apartment, we went to the restaurant where we had been the last time before the lockdown. That was on March 12th and we were locked up on the 13th. It was wonderful we could sit outside and with the palm trees it looked as if we were not in Brussels but on the Cote d'Azur!



The food was delicious and everybody happy to finally be able to eat outside !



Then we went to my new castle, which K hadn't seen yet and finally stayed there on the terrace in the sunshine and relaxed. I had brought our garden chairs over, but forgotten to buy a bottle of champagne so we just drank water. That's for the next time.

Fortunately I am not in a hurry, because now I feel that I am not the youngest one anymore and that I have slowed down. But this doesn't matter, it takes the time it needs. Anyway I have 3 or 4 months to empty the house, but I want to do it as quick as possible !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

Phase 3

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JUNE 6

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

********

WEEKEND

Something very unusual happened in our garden ! I looked out of the window and saw a strange dog. First I thought it was a German Shepherd, but as Rosie the cat didn't move and watched him I started to doubt. Suddenly the "dog" showed its face and I realized that it was a fox ! That had never happened in my area ! 



Unfortunately I couldn't take a picture of his face, he just turned his head around.
Probably due to the lockdown he discovers other territories ! Maybe next time I will see an elephant in my garden ! Nothing surprises me anymore !

I had to buy a new Television and a vacuum cleaner, the only things which had to be renewed for the new apartment. Although it was now Saturday I thought I will try as on Friday I only could buy the washing machine, because they didn't have the TV I wanted.



Always keep distance of 1.5 m please ! This was written everywhere



when I saw all these people lined up and the red and white striped ribbons, it made me think of cattle or sheep which have to follow the lines, either to be killed to to be sheared.
 
It took all my energy to buy a new TV and a new vacuum cleaner ! I returned to my car I didn't have the courage to line up there and wait for hours.

Instead I tried another shop ! Same thing and then one which I don't like at all and which is mostly more expensive too, but there were only 4 people standing and I tried. I followed the others keeping distance and wearing my mask, then I cleaned my hands in the shop and waited until a salesman came to ask what I wanted. Of course no TV all sold out but at least I got the vacuum cleaner ! Then I had to line up at the check out and waited that they had put the carton in my car. That was enough ! What a loss of time.

As all cafes are still closed I went to cafe Nicole who was glad to see me and had my coffee with her. She too hates to go shopping for the moment because it's just a nightmare.



Isis kept us company.

On Sunday we were invited by a friend living in Nivelles the next big town, as now we are allowed to travel inside the country. There is not much to travel as it is so small, you drive 200 km in all directions and you will be in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.

We talked about my forthcoming move and I got some good advices. the afternoon went by very quickly and we had to drive home.

Next week will be very busy when we get the keys of the apartment and can start to bring things over, it's only 3 km far. We will put them in suitcases with wheels so it will be very easy, and probably my friends will all help. Then it is more fun too !

Phase 3

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Our moving date comes closer and closer and I spend my days between paper work, blogging, and to relax visit a friend.

Now that we are more free and the lockdown rules have changed a bit, we started Scrabbeling again ! What a pleasure. Only one was missing she was not feeling well.

A miracle happened I was second ! And I had never played since March 13 when the lockdown started ! 

Poor Mr. G is a nervous wreck and no help at all, on the contrary. He doesn't like when his routine is disturbed like a lot of seniors (to be polite)

Before we get the keys to the apartment, an inventory is made to see that nothing is broken. For this I needed household insurance and a special account with the amount of two months' rent as a guarantee for any damage that we could cause !

In normal times that wouldn't be a problem, but in lockdown times everything becomes a problem.

No way to see people in person everything has to be done by phone and confirmed by email. Each time you call a number in my case it was our bank,  you get a robot on the phone who asks you to push button nr 1 for French, n°2 for Flemish, n°3  investments etc etc bla bla. After having listened to the whole menu, what I was asking for wasn't mentioned. I called our agency and asked for an appointment. Without appointment they just do nothing. Now the problem was that I should do it per phone. I told the lady that I had done that already and what I needed was not listed.


Everywhere you go you have to wash your hands !! Even at the bank !

As I had to pick up a new bank card, I thought I will ask her in person. She was very reluctant, because the appointment was only for the bank card,  so I changed my tactics and said that I didn't understand anything, that I was 77 and didn't hear well and had no idea about computers. Suddenly everything was possible ! (Seniors are supposed to have a lot of money to invest in the bank in Belgium) she did what I asked for in no time and of course proposed me if ever I had money to invest, that they were there !!

My cleaning lady is incredible ! I had asked her to empty the furniture of an entire room, wardrobe, shelf, desk and a dresser and put the content in suitcases. One hour later she called me to have a look and to my surprise it was all done ! Wonderful, at this speed it will be quickly done.

To downwind a bit we had our lockdown meeting at Nicole's and for once it was raining since a long time. We spent a nice afternoon.

Phase 3

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

MAGIC WOULD BE .....

When our house was ready freshly new built and we finally could move in it was in 1975. We were just starting our thirties, had a 2 1/2 year old little boy, worked the whole day and  moved with a friend's little truck on an April 2nd and it snowed !

We had no steps to get in the house, somehow I had forgotten that they were not included in the price so Mr. G. had put some wooden boxes together and we lifted our guests into the house.  We had no garden, it was just the earth they had shuffled out to make the basement. This summer it was very hot and I had put an old carpet in front of the living window so that we had a patio ! Some peopled called us "posh" because we had a carpet in our garden. At least our little boy could play.

Time flew by and exactly 45 years later we thought it was about time to leave our house. It had all become too much for us. Steps and garden made us troubles, Mr. G. wanted to stay, I was fed up and wanted to leave. I am not attached to bricks or a house my memories I have in my heart. Finally he also agreed because it became more and more difficult for him to walk up and down the steps and no way to do anything in the garden.

The first apartment I saw I fell in love with and thanks to the Coronavirus we got it. It had been empty on April 1 and the lockdown had started and visits were suspended. As soon as estate agents were allowed to work again, we signed the contract.

Today two moving company's agents came to make an estimate for the move

And now it would be magic if I could close my eyes fall asleep in our house and wake up in our new apartment, with everything in place, enjoying our first cup of coffee there in the morning !


From here

to here

And when the lockdown is lifted we hopefully can enjoy the beautiful view !



Linking to Linda G. Hills One liner Wednesday Magic