FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. In a sudden energy attack, I took the opportunity to take all the curtains off, washed them and put them back. The winter dirt is gone and the curtains are bright white !

2. The sun had suddenly taken a decision and showed its nose ! It was still a little too cool to sit in our garden, but Nicole's terrace is wind protected and she asked me to come over for a first sunbath !



We still wore cardigans but it was so nice to sit outside, see the trees starting to bloom and the neighbor's garden the first flowers had been planted. Charlie also enjoyed the sunshine and listened to our conversation.

3. Mr. G. to my surprise had bought a "machine" to burn all weeds ! It's just great !



There is a very hot flame coming out and burns all weeds. You could sit in a chair and turn around and get rid of all weeds. Our gravel is now completely clean and cat Arthur was supervising the whole procedure.

4. It had been quite a long time I hadn't been at Ilona's, and again to enjoy the sunshine, we sat on her terrace in the sun.



She had her terrace transformed with a new flower bed and had a rack installed to stock her logs for her wood burner. Now it's easy for her to carry in the logs. It all looked very nice. We had a nice afternoon with a cup of tea !

5. The sun continued shining and I felt obliged to work a little bit in the garden ! For the first time this year Oscar the lawn mower robot was taken out of his winter bed and mowed the lawn while Mr. G continued with his flame thrower to kill the weeds.

I was fed up to see my empty flower pots and as it is still too cold to plant anything else but pansies



I decided to "plant" my fake flowers in the pots. Seen from the street they look real. Now the entrance looks nice and also my little graveyard in the back. I also cut the grass along the terrace where Oscar has difficulties to mow. After that I was exhausted and hid behind my computer to recuperate !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM 5 FRIDAY

1. On Monday I had more or less recuperated from our stressful weekend, and started my day with switching on my now French speaking computer, which took a long time to load. Meanwhile I had coffee, called the gardener to cut the bushes,



cleaned the hand prints which little hands had left on our French window and only then it finally was ready ! Loading pages for comments took hours and the whole thing was slower then a snail participating in a marathon. In short, my computer had decided to give up it's soul and was on his terminal breath.

2. I told Mr. G. that probably I would need a new computer. He immediately got out of his usual lethargy and started looking for a new one on Internet, a thing he never does when it comes to look up for anything else. That's my job. And he found one ! In our Carrefour supermarket on promotion. He showed me what he had selected and convinced me that Window 8.1 wouldn't bite me. I had heard around me that Window 8 was very difficult to use and 8.1 is the newest improved version. Now he pushed me to eat my lunch quickly so that we could go to the shop (as if it would run away). That's what we did and as he didn't know Window 8.1, I had to drop him off at the Computer center of Waterloo, where he works twice a week as a volonteer to help people learning how to work with a computer. There his collegue installed what I needed, my bookmarks and other stuff, when it was finished he called me to pick him up and half an hour later I had my new computer !



It is a HP, 17 inches screen. I took off my old snail, and Mr. G. connected the new computer. It worked perfectly ! It is so quick that I first had to get used to it, it was as switching from an oldtimer to a Ferrari ! Of course I still have to learn some things, but at least I can blog as usual and read my emails. I think we should buy a computer every day to make Mr. G. move ! Unfortunately I am not Mrs. Bill Gates.

3. I just took the time to go shopping for food, my fridge was as empty as our bank account, and then spend the rest of the day with my new toy, discovering more and more functions.

4. Nicole celebrated her 75th birthday and Ilona had invited us for this event. It was sunny and warm on her terrace and we had coffee and a birthday cake.

Nicole complained about back ache as she had moved arround her furniture and done far too much.



Ilona showed her some Yoga exercises which should help to get rid of the backache while dog Charlie wondered what his servant did on the floor. Of course we were laughing like 3 Kookaburras, I wonder what the neighbors thought, probably that we were a group of hysterical schoolgirls.

5. I had the good intention to work a little bit in the garden, but after having pulled out a few weeds, I thought I could do it tomorrow. My green thumb hurt. Therefore I spent the afternoon with my new toy work tool, discovering new things. I found a camera with all kind of possibilities,  and while Mr. G. watched what I was doing,



my computer took this picture, I swear we were not in this train !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM 5 FRIDAY

1. The week started rather bad ! I was in war with my new Window XP installation in French, the original was in English and the one who had translated these technical terms must have had some whiskies too much !



You really need a lot of phantasy to understand the translations ! Fortunately I know where the places are otherwise with a dictionary I would never have found out. "Settings" for example was translated by "parameter" ! On top of that Picasa went mad and exported my pictures to an unknown place called "Images of the administrator " (in French) instead to "My Pictures" and I had to call Mr. G. for help as he knows all these technical terms in French, which ended up in arguing again, because men and women have a different logic !

2. Our water softener had its yearly check up and the guy should come Tuesday afternoon, which meant that I was stuck home, because I didn't know when he would come ! And if you are not home you have to take another appointment which can be at a time in the blue moon ! Tuesday is also the only day in the week where Mr. G. doesn't stay home with his cats, but goes out to play "Whist" (a card game ) with a group of retirees. So I continued with my French Window XP and found other things which didn't work, I just could pull out all my hair, but the fact that my head is not made to be bald it's not round enough, I refrained. Finally the guy arrived at 4 pm, cleaned and worked on it for an hour, assisted by cat Arthur who loves mechanics. He sneaked around, put his nose in the utensil bag to check what was in there. Fortunately the guy loved cats and we had a long chat about cats !


Arthur sitting on my car and supervising the work !

3.Our son announced his visit with Toby, my grandson, for this weekend, and had suggested that I buy some Easter stuff, as we won't see them on Easter. As Easter is only at the end of the month I hadn't thought about that at all. I went shopping. I was in 3 shops and none had not even a Easter bunny or little baskets, there was nothing left anymore or not yet there ! I hope I still have some things in the basement as most of the Easter stuff I had brought to Amsterdam 2 years ago when we had celebrated Easter together. I found some little things to hide and I think that is the most important thing for a 3 year old kid. The poor thing is very allergic to nuts and all little chocolate eggs I found contained nuts or "may contain nuts"  ! My eyes burnt from reading all the labels ! Next time I take a magnifier glass with me.

4. I was invited by a friend whom I hadn't seen since at least 7 years, somehow we had lost contact. She had remembered me because she needed some support for her oldest cat who is now 19 years old.



Mother and son, the little one is the mother, the son is 18 !

When I arrived I saw a little cat very skinny and she weighs only 2 kgs ! She also has troubles to walk. I think it's only a question of days or maybe two weeks, with cats you never know, and it will be the end. She won't let her suffer and ask the vet to put her asleep when it is time. Then we had to catch up on what happened during all these years and how it was possible that we lost contact. We decided that this would never happen again and will see each other from now on regularly. She is Belgian and her husband is German and was delighted to speak German for once !

5.



Rain was announced for the whole day, and as usual when it should rain, the sun was shining as if payed for ! It had been quite cool and we arrived at Nicole's with thick pullovers ! But on her terrace it was so warm that we had to striptease off one layer after the other and Nicole had to give us sunhats ! We enjoyed a cool drink and had this beautiful view. Her neighbor beneath is a 82 year old lady who mows her rather big lawn alone she was just busy ! I was already tired when I only saw her !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM FIVE FRIDAY

1. Four years ago, Dominique's mother (now 91) had offered a GPS to Dominique for her birthday. Looking for a conservatory which she wants to annex to her living room, she suddenly remembered that she had a GPS, which she had never used, because the stores were all over in little towns mostly in Industrial zones. Of course she didn't find a single address, the GPS refused all streets and towns she put in. Finally she had to follow a 65 year old guy who showed her the way with his bicycle ! This event decided her to ask me how this thing works as I have the same.

We sat in her garden and I showed her how to use the GPS. She was so surprised what possibilities were in there and how easy it was, (when you know) to follow the directions. Her mother has 2 computers, a laptop and one with a tower plus a tablet and despite her respectable age, she handles them like a professional ! Her daughter still hasn't got it ! Mr. G. is asked for help almost once a week.

2.


Ilona and I went for a little shopping in Halle the little town where she lives. It's a cute old town in the Flemish part of Belgium and is quite famous because the church contains a Black Madonna, which attracts lots of tourists or pilgrims of course. After a nice ice cream we returned home and had a tea in her garden, taking a little sunbath.

3.


Part of the Catholic University (UCL) is located in one  of Brussels municipalities. It's a huge complex with a very beautiful park around. I decided to visit the one with modern sculptures which are exposed there and walked through the park taking pictures and talking to some students.

4. Poor Brussels was again in a traffic mess, but not so much as with Obama ! This time it was the Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also came with a far smaller escort.



Our Queen Mathilde looked very elegant in her different outfits, and people (mostly the Chinese living in Belgium) could see their president. Obama had been hidden from people on the street. Although he made a sympathetic and modern impression, nobody forgot the non existing  human rights in China !



Manifestations can not be forbidden in a Democracy, and some Chinese showed their disagreement with the Chinese human rights politics, but in a rather peaceful way. There was no incident at all.


5.



As it had rained so much during winter and temperatures were never really below 0°C the normally white tiles of our terrace was full of dark green spots, something like moss. So we cleaned together the terrace with the Karcher and now it looks white like snow again. We also washed the garden furniture and now we are ready to receive guests on our terrace. Probably it now will rain !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM FIVE FRIDAY

This week's edition will be different from my normal once, as I am on holidays in Tunisia and have described my days every day so far in the posts below. But for those who haven't followed I make a resume !

From day 1 to day 5, I got up around 8 am, went with my little computer to the morisco decorated room where I have internet connection and checked if my post was published. When finished I had my breakfast.



The dining room is always very nicely decorated.. Then I go back to my room, leave the computer there, take my Kindle, suncream etc and settle down on my beachbed at the swimming pool. There I start my daily work by taking sunbath, reading and chatting. Around noon I go swimming in the indoor pool, where I am always alone and have the huge swimming pool all for myself. At least the water is very warm and birds are chirping inside, they have built nests on the warm tubes or spots. Very cute.

Back to my room, I quickly change for lunch. Just throw a kaftan over my bathing suit.



The  animation program is just hanging besides the bar, where the shows take place. There is also a beautiful little inside garden with flower pots, rocks and pebbles. At 10.30 the bar opens and all beer, cocktail or other strong stuff drinkers are hurrying there to get their first glass followed by many others. The hotel does  "all inclusive" prices so they all drink a lot because it's free (or at least they payed already) One morning a guy made a mess because he asked for a Wodka at 8 am !!

During lunch and supper the girls from the animation team always ask me if they could sit at my table. Of course I am happy to have their company, these are such nice Tunisian girls who all speak perfectly French and I learn a lot about Tunisian modern women who are very much the same as we in our western world. I  also learn a lot about Tourist behavior ! Some are really a disaster !



Then I go back to "work". It's funny to see the Tunisians in thick winter jackets besides the sun hungry half naked tourists. 24°C for them is cold ! The cleaning women are cleaning the whole day the rubbish away which uneducated tourists leave behind !

After supper I go back to my little internet place and watch a little movie on my Kindle. So far I didn't like the shows, it's so noisy and I need rest.



I tried to take a picture of my place myself, as there was nobody and managed to take pictures of my nose, my shoes, half a face and my Kindle and the waterpipe.

Around 10 pm I am so tired from the sun and the fresh air and just doing nothing, that I fall into my bed and sleep like a baby.



The roommates spoil me, I found my bed like this yesterday evening. I think when I come back I have to ask Mr. G. to do the same for me ! I wonder how the swan will look like !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM 5 FRIDAY

1. On Monday I was feeling really burnt out, after this stressing weekend, I had no energy left. It was a long time that this didn't happen to me, but sometimes it's just too much. I hang around the whole day, forcing me to do at least something, but I just can't remember what I did. The only thing which was very nice was my aqua gym group, we had a lot of fun and I felt comforted, because I wasn't the only one feeling like this. Too much taking plus this awful winter, had its consequences on some of us.

2. Nicole came for a visit to pick up the little boot I had ordered for dog Charlie's wounded paw, unfortunately he thought it was a ball and wanted to play with it, it was impossible to put it on !



Finally we managed to put it on his paw, but then he turned around in circles to catch the boot ! Finally I put it back in the box and hid it in a closet. But Charlie is very stubborn so he sat in front of the French windows and barked for the boot ! We sat in the sunshine in our garden and tried to calm him down. He only stopped when Mr. G. arrived and played with him !

3. I started to check my summer clothes as on Sunday I fly to Tunisia to spend a week there just to disconnect from everything and enjoy sunshine and the beach. It will be rather a health cure then exciting holidays. I go alone, I think I have to find myself again. As years ago I suffered from depressions I don't want to get into this trap again.

4. My little travel computer didn't work properly anymore and that would have been a catastrophe for me as I continue blogging from Tunisia. Mr. G found the solution ! He took Window 7 out and put a new Window XP in  and now it works perfectly. The only trouble is I have now everything in French and am not yet used to all the words. But I think that's not a problem as everything else works perfectly and my computer is not like a snail anymore !

5. I didn't feel to attend my painting class, I would have to start a new picture and my head is empty I have no creative ideas. But it was the birthday party of my friend Chantal, so at least I went there for the birthday celebration.



Our grass had grown so high, that it was impossible to use Oscar the lawn mower robot. As I was out of work, Mr. G. tried to mow the lawn with our old lawn mower. He did one half on one day and the next day the rest. If you see the size of our yard, it really seems ridiculous, I helped a little too, but had to give up. Finally we managed it and now at least it's done. It had always rained and it had been impossible to mow the lawn it was like a sponge.


From Sunday on I will blog from here !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM 5 FRIDAY

1. Ever since I had moved my desk under the window, I became "Big Brother is watching you" only that in my case I am the big sister ! I never thought that so many people walk their kids and dogs through our little street !

They are mostly grandmas and grandpas with their grandchildren. Our house is always a long lasting stop.



The little children love my little cat statuettes and always pet them, especially the one sitting besides the letterbox. Sometimes I hear cries or even real tantrums when the naughty grandpas or mas want to drag them away.

While I took these pictures, I saw my neighbor with his new dog showing him to other neighbors. The dog is rather big and a mixture, 6 years old and he had got him from a shelter. At least for that he is a good man, because otherwise he is in war with almost everybody in the street !

2. Each time I go to my friend Dominique next door, cat Arthur thinks that I need a body guard and comes with me.



He walks me til the entrance, does his pedicure on the doormat and when the door opens he disappears. Dominique had asked me to help her with sorting out her photos on the computer, she had quite some difficulties.

3. Each time the sun shows its nose, I need to go out ! Dominique feels the same so we went for a walk through the neighborhood.



We were surprised to see so many plants already blooming and even had the opportunity to see a beautiful rainbow.

4. I visited Ilona, she wanted to show me her freshly painted living room. It looked like new !



I also brought her a cat carrier which Nicole doesn't need anymore and the cat settled in there immediately, apparently not knowing the use of this thing !

In the evening I went with Dominique and Nicole to the cinema and watched a hilarious movie, with the title "The super hypochondriac".  The title says it all ! Our bellies were hurting when we came out and had a little supper in an Italian restaurant. I was so hungry that I forgot to take pictures of this nice place in a very old house in a small street in Waterloo.

5. My son and grandson announced their visit for this weekend, so I had to go shopping and fill in the fridge for 2 and a little half men all with a good appetite !

Sunshine and nice weather have also their negative side, you suddenly realize that a lot of things are dirty ! Therefore after shopping I continued (and finished) to scrub the rest of the terrace and the long entrance to our garden with water and chlorid, and hope that the moss is all gone.



After that I was exhausted and collapsed behind my computer with a cup of coffee !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - RANDOM 5 FRIDAY

1. In my aqua gym group the shortest one measures 1.50 m (4.9) and the tallest 1.80 m (5.9ft) and of course the water level is the same. Therefore one has to stretch and stand on her tiptoes while the other has to bent her legs so that only the necks and heads appear. We were doing an exercise and as both were close to the spot where the water gets deeper, suddenly the little one disappeared and was pulled out by the tall one, which of course made the whole class burst out in laughter.

After aqua gym I went with Dominique for a sandwich in "La Brioche", it should have been a short lunch, but as usual we met some other women there who updated us on the last happenings in Waterloo. They have a lot of choice in sandwiches and I had one with goat cheese, which lay between a slice of white and a slice of dark bread and was served with a good portion of mixed salad.

2. My new desk panel has to be painted and Ilona proposed to do it for me, as I am better in painting cats then painting walls or panels. When I arrived she was busy with washing her ceiling and the walls in a sudden attack of energy and activity, and we had our tea in the middle of buckets, sponges, and covered furniture. We chatted for a while then I returned home and she to her work, and when I arrived I looked at our walls and ceilings and thought maybe one day I will have such an attack too, but I doubt it very much. Fortunately it is not necessary either (yet) !

3.


Our Philips Senseo coffee machine is slowly giving up its soul, after not even two years. Of course I can't find the guarantee anymore which would still have covered a repair. Instead of two black water lines coming out of the machine, it now tinkles slowly like a source in the desert through the coffee pad and fills only half of the cup. I googled for help. We followed all advices to repair the machine. At the end I came to the conclusion that the best advice a guy had given was, to buy a new one, while the old one is in repair and when the new one is out of work to take the old repaired one and so forth. I won't buy a new one, I wait until there is no tinkle coming out anymore ! Meanwhile we push the button twice, to fill in a whole cup. If only I had known before that these machines don't last very long !

4. I went to Nicole to bring her dog Charlie's towel she had forgotten in my car. When I arrived at her house all windows were open and the door too, and the whole apartment stank of cold smoke. She had roasted two pieces of chicken in a pot, was interrupted by her neighbor who invited her for a glass of champagne, stayed there for an hour and had completely forgotten her chicken on the stove. When she came back she couldn't even see poor Charlie through the smoke !


Smoked Charlie

The pot was red and there was nothing left from the chicken, not even a little piece, it had been completely "incinerated" ! Dog Charlie took it easy, he hadn't even coughed but had run outside to get some fresh air. Nevertheless we had our coffee and got used to the still smelly room.

5. My cleaning lady probably thought I didn't have enough cats in my of about 450 cats collection and offered me a bunch of 6 ceramic cats !



after having looked through the whole house to find a space for them, I don't want to offend her by putting them in a drawer, I finally found a little space in the staircase leading to the guest room.

As usual when my friend Dominique goes on holidays we inherit her two budgies. They sit now in the guest room, the door well closed, otherwise they would be a nice meal for our cats !



When she brought them over, Rosie was just sitting on the stairs and made eyes like saucers ! The budgies are very cheerful and therefore very loud and the house is filled with their chirping. Cat Arthur sits in front of the door and rakes his brain how to get in ! Fortunately he does it only for a couple of days then he had understood, that there was no way to get into the room.

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