WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of September 13 . If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

The departure day had arrived and we cleaned our rooms, loaded our luggage and off we went direction Reims, which I had chosen for a stop before we returned to Brussels. I thought there would be a lot to see and as we had time to spend it seemed a good idea.



We had our picnic on the motorway and our car seemed like a toy car between the huge trucks ! To stretch our bodies we did some Yoga exercises much to the fun of the truck drivers. But that didn't bother us at all. Then it started to rain and as I was more familiar with my GPS, I drove most of the time. First it was OK but then started a heavy rain and we arrived rather late in Reims, far too tired to visit the town.



Fortunately just besides our little hotel was a Turkish restaurant, where we had an excellent meal. The owner absolutely wanted to be on the picture and the whole atmosphere in this little snack was very familiar and funny and we had a relaxing meal. In the rain we returned back to our hotel and fell in our beds.



The next day we wanted to explore Reims, but it still rained. We first looked for a place for breakfast and found a very old beautiful Café, nicely decorated and quiet old. It had already belonged to the owners Grandma, and he wasn't the youngest one. It was very elegant too and we had coffee and croissants.



Then we visited the cathedral. I had heard so much about it, that I was disappointed when I saw it in real. From outside it looks very impressive but the inside is rather poor. I liked the smiling angel. There was no explanation either so I count on Wikipedia to explain me a little more of what I have seen (or rather not).



These two memorial plaques in front of the Cathedral were interesting, it was the French and German reconciliation after WW2 signed by General de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer on my birthday the 8 juillet ! Only it was in 1962.

As it was impossible to stroll through the city in this rain, we decided to take a sightseeing tour. We had to wait for an hour for the bus, because it's not yet well organized.



Instead of waiting in the rain we visited the library which was all in art deco and really beautiful. Very interesting too, with beautiful books decorated with semi precious stones.



The bus finally arrived, it was quiet small and took us through the city. The things to see were very spread over the whole town and with the help of headphones we got explanations, only the trees were not cut so that we didn't see a lot but green wet leaves. But at least the city hall and the Champagne manufacturers which you can visit and taste the Champagne. Not for free of course.



After the tour we were hungry and a bit disappointed and we looked for a restaurant, and the first we saw was a Pub !! It was very nice and we didn't hesitate a second and went inside. The food was very good (I had Fish & chips) and the decoration very beautiful too.

After lunch we drove the last 300 km home, that means I drove while the two others fell asleep and I had the impression to drive a funeral car with two corpses in it. But later they woke up ! Dominique drove the last piece until home. Nicole was greeted with joy by her dog, and I only by Mr. G. the cats had disappeared. We all felt a little sad that our wonderful holidays and our life together had ended too.

On Sunday I only went to the market and spend the rest of the day sorting out my pictures (there are a lot !) and of course it rained ....

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of August 17 . If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

The weekend was wonderful until Sunday, when I had to take Claudie to the station and she returned to France.

We went to Villers la Ville an ancient Cistercian abbey located near the town of Villers-la-Ville in the Brabant province of Belgium. Founded in 1146, the abbey was abandoned in 1796. The site today contents only the ruins. (I wrote about this abbey here).
 


We walked around and through these beautiful historical site, took a lot of pictures



There was a group of young students who played a game in the ruins, and we watched them and found them also a little everywhere. They had hidden little papers in between the stones to continue their play.



To rest our hurting legs we had a drink in the ancient mill, which is now a restaurant. Claudie loved to try out all the different Belgian beers and this one she loved really very much it was raspberry beer.
On the way back we stopped at Nicole's and stayed for a while with her on her patio.

The next day it rained ! We hoped that the rain would stop, but unfortunately it didn't.



We finally stopped at the The Église Notre Dame du Sablon (Church of Our Lady of Sablon). It is a pretty Late Gothic church, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, Notre Dame du Sablon is noted for its four-fold gallery with brightly colored stained-glass windows (illuminated from the inside at night), which makes a striking contrast with the gray-white Gothic arches and walls.
Also worth seeing are the two baroque chapels decorated with funeral symbols in white marble.

On the "Place du Sablon" is an important antique market each Sunday. But this time there was also a music festival going on, so we had music, ate the good Belgian chips in a paper box and had a drink in an old Brasserie. Unfortunately now they keep the outside of the buildings but the inside had again been changed in black and white modern furniture and looked like a Sushi Shop. Instead of keeping the old cozy wooden furniture !

On the way back we stopped at Ilona's and had a coffee together. 



Quiet tired in the evenings after supper, we were watching little crime stories on TV. My cats were also very happy about her visit !

On Sunday morning I went with her to the South station and while she took the train, I made my shopping on the market.

The 5 days  flew by so quickly !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of August 17 . If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

Saturday I woke up full of energy and plans ! I opened the stores and my heart sank ! It was grey and didn't look very inviting to go to Brussels and visit the “Floraliëntime”, a major international plant and flower arrangement event in Brussels City Hall and at Brussels’ Grand Place.


Pictures stolen from the web

Impossible to go there in this rain. I looked at the Webcam of the Grand'Place and saw only a few people walking there with umbrellas. No way to take pictures. I dropped the idea and thought I can go on Sunday.

In the afternoon it cleared up and the sun came out. I went to Nicole, we hadn't seen each other since mid July, as our holidays had crossed, so we had a lot to chat. She had been in Budapest and had loved the city.



We sat on her terrace in the sunshine and Charlie brought me his new toy, a pink rapid.

Sunday morning it was even worse it poured !



 I saw a waterfall coming from Dominique's roof. The cats waited under the pergola in the hope it would stop. But it didn't.

My young neighbor couple had a baby girl 2 month ago, and I hadn't seen her yet. I waited that the rain would stop and crossed the street. They have a little boy 5 months older then my grandson, he proudly showed me his little sister. His mom is also a cat lover and has two cats. They were sitting besides her while she fed the baby. Apparently after some difficulties at the beginning, the cats got used to the presence of a whirling around toddler. He is also very kind to them. We chatted a bit about what is in fashion now to bring up children because lots of things which were not good when I had a little boy are good now, like walking barefoot on a flat surface. I had been told that it would cause flat feet, now they say the opposite.

 Of course the little boy promptly fell off the sofa and hit his head against the table, she picked him up, comforted him, took out a box where she keeps "special" sweets against "booboos" only !  Apparently they were very efficient, because after having eaten one, he stopped crying and continued to play with his farm.  I found that a very good idea.

Meanwhile it was 5 pm and the sun had come out, and suddenly from 15°C the temperature raised to 25°, no wonder that people catch colds ! When I came home I had to change my pullover against a T-shirt and could blog on the terrace !

I only hope we will have nice weather when my friend Claudie arrives on Tuesday from the South of France !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of July 20 . If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

This weekend was very special, because Belgium celebrated its National Day as usual on July 21, but this time there was also the abdication of King Albert II and the enthrownement of his son Philip. All on the same day.

We had over 30° (86 F) and it was quiet hot.



So Ilona  and I decided to go into a park near Brussels which has also a huge swimming pool and is surrounded by trees, so we could lay in the shade. Ilona tried to get some colors while drying her bathsuit. I prefereed not go into the water, because I am still under antibiotics. We had a real nice afternoon !

On Sunday morning I watched the Royal celebrations.



It started at 9 am with a "Te Deum" (mass) in the St. Gudule church, where royal weddings and funerals are always celebrated. This time it was the enthrownement of the new King. The whole royal family was present (except the little children, the new King has 4) Above you see the "old" King and Queen and the once to be, Philip and Mathilde. The church was packed with government members and no one else ! No royal guests at all, which was rather disappointing.  I saw the old King laughing in the church I thought he is certainly happy to retire and enjoy his hobbies.

After the church they were driven to the parliament where the abdication and enthrownment took place.



For the first time since I "know" Philip, he wasn't shy, not a sleeping pill, but a completely other man, very cool and he swore on the constitution without any hesitation in his voice as if he would do that every day.




After the ceremony they were driving in an open car to the Royal Palace and waved from the balcony to the crowd.

Of course my friends and I hadn't the courage to go to Brussels in this heat and preferred to celebrate in
Waterloo.



In the Waterloo park everything was ready for the National Day and to celebrate the royal events. We went there for a drink and listened to the different bands which were performing. There was also a tea dance.. From Rock to Pop over Glen Miller we heard everything.

Of course we discussed the dresses of the two Queens, and had all the same opinion. Green didn't suit Queen Paola, it gave her a green face, and the white winter dress of Mathilde looked a little old fashioned.  We sat there in the shade under a tree and discussed and laughed and had a very nice afternoon. If you live so long in a little town as I do here in Waterloo since 38 years, you know a lot of people too, so finally we were a whole group sitting at a table. The mayor and some other members of the municipalty greeted us and we joked together.

Tonight there will be a big firework in Brussels, but also here in Waterloo, maybe I can see a little bit from our house because I am too lazy to go out at 11 pm, although I could go to my friend who has a balcony just there were the firework will take place. I pity the poor dogs who live there !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of June 29. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

When I opened the stores on Saturday, instead of light and bright sunshine, it was grey and dark and the rain dribbled on the roof ! I just wanted to return "under cover". Instead I got up, and was in a real bad mood ! After having done such interesting things like putting the laundry in the washing machine, I started blogging which brought me into other countries were people complained about the heat and that they couldn't go outside either and even had to wear masks because of haze.

I had to take an umbrella when I went out for some window shopping, where it was dry at least.

Of course when you look for something, you never find it. Which was my case. When I came home Mr. G. had just finished watching his Formular 1, and seemed happy about the results.  I returned to my computer and googled for something to do this week. There was strictly nothing besides outside activities, but visiting things in the rain is not really my cup of tea.



From computer I switched over to TV, but before I folded the dammit laundry.

On Sunday it seemed to be better and a miracle happened the sun came out ! I did a little walk through the market in the neighbor town found an open shoe shop (shops are closed on Sundays) and followed David Bowie's song to put red shoes on, but for that I had to buy them first, which I did. This made me feeling better.



In the afternoon, Ilona who had been in the same mood as I decided to go for a walk in the Gaasbeek park and it was really nice. The wood smelled so good after all this rain, the castle looked beautiful, and there were quiet a lot of people.

After an hour walking through the park, we were thirsty and went to the Tavern located opposite the castle. As neighbors we had



Alpacas, which are new and I saw them for the first time. The "hippie" on the bottom right, cheered us really up !



Then we watched the peacock, courting a cute peacock girl, unfortunately without success, she chased him away !

Refreshed and happy we returned home.  Mr. G. had been in Silverstone UK for the Formular 1 again and was also satisfied with his afternoon. He doesn't like to walk !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of May 18. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

Feeling much better and nearly "normal" (if that is possible) after my Bronchitis, I finally had the courage to do the laundry so that everything is clean for my round trip through the UK. The whole week I just couldn't do anything. I also filled in the fridge for Mr. G. and bought him enough different pasta plates to heat up in the micro wave while I am gone.

As the sun came out in the afternoon, I could even work a little in the garden. I also prepared my little notebook which I take along on my trip, so that I can write everyday what I have seen, as a sort of diary.

My friend whom I know since I was 8 arrived in Brussels with her 15 people family to celebrate her 70th birthday, and she called me that they had difficulties to arrive at the Hotel because in Brussels center the "Gay Parade" was going on with around 80.000 people ! 

On Sunday morning I went to their Hotel, to meet her mother ! Meanwhile she is 90 and of course we wanted to see each other. She had known me so well as a little girl. I was more often at her house then at home, because it was such a lovely funny family and my friend had a little sister and a baby brother which of course was very interesting for me !

They all stayed in the Hotel Metropole which was built in 1895. It was the best and most luxury hotel in Brussels and many celebrities stayed there, like the Shah of Iran, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, the Crown Prince of Spain and many other royalties. A few American presidents, Johnson, Eisenhower and Hoover where also amongst the guests. Placido Domingo and even Einstein liked this hotel.  It was also the hotel where famous actors stayed.

Of course it had been renovated and refurbished inside, but it still looks the same as it was shown in some movies amongst them a James Bond.  



The entrance Hall is full of marble and mirrors and the light quiet dim, so that my pictures are not the best.



And then I met the woman whom I know for such a long time. Her character hasn't changed a a bit and she was still the same. We had a lovely time together, digging out old childhood adventures, talking about my parents and old neighbors, while having a cup of tea in the beautiful lounge. Time flew by so quickly and after two hours I returned home from my excursion into the past.

In the evening we went to Brussels to join the whole family for the Birthday supper. The restaurant was near the Grand'Place just at corner of the Queen's Gallery.



It was a very cozy place



The meal was great very good French kitchen, with seafood or Capaccio as starter and then fish or roasted duck as main course, then cheese and "Sorbet" ice cream. We laughed a lot and had a lot to tell, I had seen her 3 children last time maybe 20 years ago, and besides her oldest grandchildren (25 and 21) I had never seen the youngest ones of 7, 8 and 2.



And here we are celebrating her birthday and we remembered that we celebrated our birthday for the first time when we both were 8 !!



Great Grandma despite her 90 years enjoyed the meal and participated at all conversations. As the way to the hotel was a little long for her on the cobbled streets, she sat in a wheelchair which normally she doesn't need. Her youngest great grandson was pleased that his great grandma was also sitting in a buggy  ! The oldest great grandsons took over wheelchair and buggy and made a race through the Gallery with both of them. That was so funny we laughed to tears !

It really had been a wonderful birthday celebration.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of May 11. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.


(42.8 F !)

When I woke up on Saturday and looked at the temperatures, I depressed ! On top of these wonderful spring temperatures it was raining cats and dogs outside !

I had a morning skype chat with Ilona and we were both not in the mood to do anything special on such an awful day. I throw the laundry in the machine and then went shopping, my fridge and freezer were empty like my wallet,  and the worst I had no catfood anymore.

After that, I felt exhausted and comforted myself with some little murders in my favorite crime series on TV and the rest of the day I spent with making photo collages and put things together for my forthcoming roundtrip through the UK.



In the middle of the night when I went to the bathroom I got a shock, I thought Mr. G. was standing there, but it only was his bathrobe, which I had washed and hanged on the door frame ! I had to laugh about myself.

On Sunday was Mother's day, which nobody could miss, as everywhere I saw advertising to celebrate Mothers. I even got a card in my supermarket, as if I was the mother of all employees. I also got a lot of wishes through comments, although I am only mother to one son. It really has become a big business !

When I was a child, I made a gift for my mother at school (terrible things) which she bravely used for a few days, and then I didn't see them anymore ! My father never thought about offering her something, because he said that she is not his mother but his wife. When she returned to Germany, I sent her flowers through Fleurope.



My kitchen had a Mother's Day look, I had to make my coffee myself and serve breakfast to the cats, who refused to open their food cans themselves and disappeared when they had eaten. I folded the laundry put everything away and returned to my Blogwork.  I had to put the heating on and this in May, otherwise I would have turned into an ice cube.



Despite the rain, I had go to the Garden center to buy some more bark for our front yard. For once I had to wait for a "strong" man to lift up 2 x 40 kgs bags and put them in my car. When I was younger and wore mini skirts men were quicker ! Now I have to find somebody to unload them ! I will stalk some male neighbors for this purpose.

While I was waiting in the shop my son called me to wish a happy Mother's Day. He enjoyed warm weather and sunshine in Italy ! But honestly I wasn't jealous, I know this place too well !

My oldest friend, (I know her from when we were both 8 years old) lives near Cologne but wants to celebrate her 70th birthday in Brussels, where she has the best memories of her Teenage life. We not only where neighbors in Germany but in Brussels too. She returned to Germany and I stayed here, but nothing broke our friendship. She comes with a whole court of 17 people in total, from Mother, siblings to children and grandchildren !  This will be next weekend and I certainly will serve as guide to those who don't know Brussels.



In my favorite Indian shop I found a beautiful necklace in semi precious stones and a black varnish box decorated with nacre for this special day. I love the gift bags made by Indian women and the gift bag made by street children.

I ended the day in company of Inspector Barnaby (the nephew) in Midsomer and together with Dominique, who had come over, assisted to some murders. I think it's quiet amazing that there are still some population left !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of May 4. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

Saturday morning I escaped Mr. G's travel fever,  he makes me think that he goes on a expedition to the moon, instead of going simply to Amsterdam by train and from their with son and grandson by plane to Italy on holidays ! But for somebody who isn't used to trains and trams and buses (which he has to take) it becomes a gigantic worry ! How can a man change that much ? He never cared before about travelling !



In the afternoon while he took a nap (he hadn't slept during the night) I started with my garden work !
I went to the garden center a little outside Waterloo, where I always buy my plants for the flower pots and the garden. There were so many people there, that I forgot to take pictures, choose around 40 petunias and begonias and some earth and returned home !

I still cannot understand that lots of people love garden work and even do it as a hobby ! For me it is an awful chore I have to do once a year, unless I would move to an apartment ! After having put nearly 26 plants in the pots, I had enough and stopped !

Then started the big comedy in the Italian way (I don't need to go to a theater) while I gathered all his stuff  he packed his suitcase ! Finally it was done and I was exhausted and collapsed behind my computer to rest !

On Sunday morning we drove to the Bus station and I went with Mr. G. to the Midi Station



I don't have to explain anything about this picture, it shows it all !



After having left him in the station, I went for a walk through the market ! The sun was shining lots of people there, and I had a well earned drink in a café sitting in the sunshine and chatting with other people !



We have a big community of Moroccans living in Brussels. Most of them were already born here and I wonder if they ever had been in Morocco !  I noticed that since wearing scarfs at school is not allowed anymore,  there are more and more Moroccan women wearing scarfs and long dresses, what they haven't done before. They liked to dress like Europeans. I have been several times in Morocco and never seen so many women in this clothing, they were even wearing mini skirts  in big towns ! I doubt very much that they are all muslims ! It seems rather like a protest to me !



The park around the old tower of the city wall was full of people who lay on blankets on the grass and enjoyed the sunshine.



I like riding in the bus, because it takes me through old Brussels municipalities, where fortunately the old houses are still standing and haven't been demolished in the 60th as so many beautiful mansions in the center of Brussels.



I also saw a group of scouts entering the Bois de la Cambre which is a huge park with woods in Brussels.

After lunch I continued my garden work !



After a couple of hours I was KO and happy that I run out of plants !

I took a nice relaxing bath and without looking at the watch I ate my supper ! My life as a "merry widow" has started !



I look like Arthur after this weekend !