AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND FEB 29

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WEEKEND FEBRUARY 29

As usual in the last 4 or 5 weeks we had storm and rain always on weekends and this one was not different. A little less wind but still rain. I wonder from where all this water comes !



It is a real joy to turn on TV when you get up ! Besides the raindrops against the windows the bad weather is confirmed by the TV station which makes it even worse. 3 raindrops become pouring rain.

Then comes the Coronavirus, that's the favourite subject to talk about. Nothing else happens in the world anymore except the wandering virus and the statistics per country which increases and make people worry more and more.






Of course they tell you not to panic,  but they are real panic makers and it varies from TV station to TV station. No other disease counts anymore Corona is the tip of the top !

Instead of critisizing foreign fashion, it turns out that in times of need they are the most efficient clothes to protect you against the virus !  Covered like this you can go out as usual and do your shopping or sit in an overcrowded bus, you risk nothing.



An other advantage is, you don't even have to wear a dress underneath, comb your hair or put on make up !

In the afternoon I hoped the rain and wind would stop and I could go to the Grand'Place in Brussels and watch the carnival parade.



Of course it didn't stop. I turned on the Grand Place webcam and saw a few ants running over the screen and a mini procession of maybe 15 people. Otherwise the place was empty, I just cut out the part where some people were.
Instead of freezing and getting wet, I remained in my sofa and watched Vera



a serie which I like very much. So the day went by and I had done nothing, which is nice from time to time.

On Sunday Chantal had her birthday and had invited our Scrabble group and two other girls. She had prepared a delicious meal, a wok prepared chicken with rice. Before we had an aperitif with various snacks.

We spent a very nice afternoon, mostly laughing which was very good for all of us, time flew by and at 6 pm we said good bye and returned to Waterloo.



Instead of each buying something we had put our money together and had bought this beautiful buddha !



She can put it inside or outside just as she wishes, and dog Sheena liked it also very much, maybe she will become a buddhist now.

WEEKEND NOVEMBER 17

This weekend I spent in Amsterdam, to celebrate my grandson's 8th birthday !




The living room was nicely decorated and the preparation for the buffet started. The house in Amsterdam is a bit strange, because you can look from the living into the kitchen, which is very practical because you also can see into the pots !



First thing on Saturday morning (very early) he unpacked his gifts ! The tip of the top was a Nitendo football (soccer) game for which he had saved money for a long time and the amount missing was added by his parents. So the other gifts had to wait a bit to get his attention !



The happy birthday boy with his favorite gift !



In the afternoon the family and my DIL's best friends arrived with their children.  Toby tries to blow out the candle and his two cousins are watching. It was very difficult ! We had a nice afternoon, it had been a long time I hadn't seen my DIL's family so we had quite a lot to chat ! Too quick the afternoon was over and they all left around 6.30 pm. Of course I was full with all the good things I had eaten and nobody was hungry for supper !

On Sunday morning the weather was sunny and cold so we didn't do anything special in the morning.
After lunch, Toby was invited to another birthday. My DIL had some work to do for her office so my son took me to the cinema !



First I had a little lunch and ate these delicious little fishes just like you eat chips ! Unfortunately I couldn't find out yet how they are called. We were in a cute little town Hilversum, and did also a little window shopping, I even found a nice pullover in black with "diamonds" and three cats for New Year !



Then we saw this movie, I had always wished to see ever since it came out, but nobody of my friends were interested to see this film. So I was very happy that my son did and after he had bought a huge bag of popcorn and 2 bottles of water, we settled down in our seats. Unfortunately we were in the 3rd or 4th row, so I had first to get used to it, I had the impression to nearly be amongst the actors.

I liked the film very much ! I didn't know that Freddy loved cats so much that each cat had her own room ! Now I appreciate him even more. He had not an easy life at that time being homosexual. I really felt sad for him.

The trouble for me was, I didn't like the actor who played Freddy. First he didn't look like him at all and certainly not so handsome. I don't talk about his interpretation but physically they could have found a more twin like one ! The whole movie long I was afraid that his false teeth would fall out, but it probably was because I was sitting so close to the screen.

Anyway the film was great, I enjoyed it very much ! When we came home Toby was back from his birthday too. We spent the evening together and then he had to go to bed because there is school on Monday !

WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 22

Saturday I was invited together with my three other friends to Monique's Birthday.



After she had packed out all her gifts, we sat at the nicely laid table and had cheese and rhubarb cake.

Of course we chatted the whole afternoon and suddenly it was 7pm and we all had to go home. Outside it was raining cats and dogs so it had been a very nice afternoon.

On Sunday we all wanted to go to the farmer's feast in the park of Waterloo, but due to the awful windy weather and rain, it had been cancelled. The weather forecast had even announced a storm and the parks and woods in Brussels were closed, but nothing happened besides a not so strong wind.



Sitting in the warmth while outside it rains !



Instead Nicole invited us and Monique brought the rest of the cake we hadn't eaten the day before. The rain was beating against the windows and to make the room more cosy Nicole had put a CD on which faked an open fire. Here she adds a log  ! Cat Isis cross eyed into the flames, she had never seen that.  When I think that Nicole next year will celebrate her 80 birthday, I think she could make publicity in how to age well, without doing nothing special !

It had been a nice weekend although we had to stay inside and couldn't do anything very special besides chatting of course !

WEEKEND APRIL 14

The gardener came with 10 packages of bark to cover the piece of garden on the side of the house. He first he cleaned the ground and made it even, then he covered it with a tarpaulin, so that no weeds could grow. And then he put the bark.



Now I just have to put my cat statues and a flower pot and it will look great. At least something done. The do it yourself time is unfortunately over. For me all this would have been too heavy and Mr. G. with his arthritis is handicapped too. Fortunately the guy was very honest in his price and I am sure it will not be the last time I have to call him. I found him through Facebook ! Sometimes Facebook is good !

Mr. G. had his 77 birthday and we celebrated with a chocolate mousse cake.



Of course Bunny celebrated with us as they are born on the same day and the same year ! We had a very nice afternoon and the cake was delicious.



While we were watching the News, suddenly a thunderstorm arrived and it hailed terribly. Our terrace and the garden looked as if it had snowed. We had no damages but in Waterloo there was also flooding, restaurants and streets and the fire service had a lot to do.



My hibiscus plant honnored us with another flower, it's always one at the time looks beautiful, but only lasts one day.



My cleaning lady had crocheted a bed cover for me some time ago, and now for Mr. G's birthday she
had crocheted this one. Of course cat Arthur had to inaugurate the cover. Isn't it pretty. 



My seven year old grandson Toby had made a painting in the style of the painter Keith Haring  at school. It had such a success that it is used in merchandising and printed on mugs, table sets, etc.

You can imagine that we are very proud. My DIL helped of course, she also has an artistic talent.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1.The week started "nicely", not only the temperatures had dropped and it was rather cool, but also driving out of a parking space I hit a car ! I got out to see the damage and the driver who was a more than vintage got out too. He made a grumpy and angry face. I looked at his front wing where I had hit him and saw nothing. The wife got out too.

There was a tiny little scratch you almost needed a magnifier to see it. The wife and I agreed, that a  repair was not worthwhile but the old guy insisted to make an official statement for the insurance because he wanted the whole wing replaced ! No wonder that the insurance companies increase their prices this was really an abuse. But I filled in the papers, made pictures to be sure that he didn't get other "accidents" because he told me proudly that it was already the third time that it happened to him. I wonder why, he drove far too quick ! The wife whispered to me, "another day without car" poor thing. My car had nothing at all, so I said good bye and left.

2. The bushes along our entrance had a lot of twigs which grew over so I cut them off and now the entrance is clean again.

3. It rained the whole day and it was cold, not a time to go out at all. It was half of the temperatures we had just the week before.

4. Dominique came over with her papers to fill in the tax form via Internet with Mr. G's help. Unfortunately she had forgotten her pin code and had to go to the city hall to get it back !

I went to do some shopping for my birthday party.

5. I feared for my birthday party which I wanted to do on the terrace, but it was gray and cold in the morning. Fortunately around 2 pm the sun came out and I could dress the table outside. I also have a terrace heater which I switched on when they all arrived. So it was nice and warm.



and here we are, my closest friends. First we had coffee with a Tiramisu and then switched over to Champagne, 3 bottles were emptied during the afternoon and we had a lot of fun. Mr. G. after the Tiramisu escaped and came only back for a glass and then escaped again.



Of course the guest of honor was Charlie who as usual made us laugh. He is a very good dog and lay or under the table or in the grass and never asked for a treat !

We had a real nice afternoon and the last once left at nearly 7 pm. During the evening I felt strange as if I had caught a cold. I hope it will be better because we have to go to Amsterdam to celebrate my birthday with my son and family.

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

MY WEEKEND OF JANUARY 24

On Saturday morning when I opened the shutters, the world had become white over night !



When I looked through the windows of our house I saw that there was quite a lot of snow. It had been announced, but probably nobody had thought that it would snow that much !



As usual the responsible authority wasn't prepared, which caused a terrible traffic jam on the highways and in the city. There were many accidents and people had to wait for hours in their cars.



It was the same at Brussels South airport, all flights had to be cancelled and the travellers were stuck for 4 h ! Everybody complained that there had nothing been done to prevent this chaos.

And as sudden as it had come, the snow melted around noon, and when I drove to Ilona's the streets were normal. I had thought that maybe I wouldn't be able to drive. We spent a nice afternoon together in front of her stove and watched the flames.

Sunday we were invited to our neighbor's birthday.



I know her since we moved here in 1975 ! Her daughters used to play and babysit our son. We had a lot of fun as the picture shows. A friend (the one with the glasses on his head) is 82 and  was born and had lived in Waterloo ever since. He told us so many stories about this little village where everybody knew everybody, when it wasn't yet a tourist place and has now become a city. The Lion hill was a place to play and the Wellington museum was not really a museum because you could go inside and children tried out Wellington's bed !

We spent a very nice afternoon.

MY WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 8

Another busy weekend ! My son and family had arrived to celebrate Toby's 4th birthday with us. It wasn't really his birthday as it is on November 17th only, but this day he will celebrate with his Dutch family.



He was quite surprised when he saw all the gifts on the breakfast table ! With unwrapping he was as quick as a weasel !



He loved the Lego Duplo planes and also the Birthday cake set with which he can play in his kitchen. Toby loves to cook !



Considering that we live near the Waterloo battle field, our living room looked like a battle field too !

After lunch we went with him and his parents to the Autoworld museum in Brussels. What a fun for a little boy, but for the old once too !



Father and son walking through the exhibition. The sun was shining and afterwards we went for a little walk through the park surrounding the Cinquantenaire Arch



Mr. G. visit or not didn't want to miss his Formular 1 ! The only sport he is watching on TV. Arthur watched too, and Toby tried out the headset.

After a pasta with chicken supper, (which child doesn't love pasta) where the big and the little men ate like horses, the day was over and he went to bed. We didn't stay up long either, we both were tired, at our vintage age we don't have the strength anymore as we had even 10 years ago ! The parents had been invited at friends.

On Sunday a big birthday party in a place called "Kid's factory" had been organized by my son.



One of his best friends arrived with his family to show us his new Porsche ! He was so proud of his new toy ! His son is half a year older than Toby, and it seems that they are big friends too.



We all drove to the place where a nice birthday table had been put up.



Before the kids started their celebration, we met with my son's friends and their families and had a lot of fun ! I sat together with their wives and we had a lot to chat !


Then we went to the birthday table and the big cake arrived ! Toby's mum cut the cake and it disappeared in no time !



Toby got a lot of gifts, now he can open a shop ! We all had a real nice time and at 4 pm we all left. We went home and they packed their stuff to drive back to Amsterdam. Toby wanted to stay with us, but then followed his parents to the car and off they went.

Mr. G. fell on the sofa to watch the Formular 1 again and recovered from the noise of certainly around 100 kids who had climbed and played all together on the different games ! There were other birthday parties going on too ! Fortunately the noise hadn't bothered me at all, and I chilled out behind my computer ! The cats were happy that our visitors were gone, except Arthur who missed Toby to play with ! He even went with him to the car !

MY WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 1

Our Aqua Gym group had decided to celebrate the New Year by having lunch together.



When we had all arrived in an Italian Restaurant, we had to laugh, because we didn't recognize our teacher, sitting at the end of the table, with long hairs and dressed ! We were used to see her in her bathing suit and hairs up ! It was nice to meet out of the water and all dry for once. The food which should be Italian wasn't very good, and therefore also very expensive and I was really disappointed.



I should have been served a plate like this, called conchilgioni (shells) but they were so dry, hard and a bit burnt, that I suspect them to have an agreement with a dentist and get commission on each broken tooth !



After lunch I went to my friend Chantal, and we chatted the whole afternoon, she had got a tablet for Christmas and was just learning how to use it. One of her dogs always wants to sleep "under cover", it really looked very funny !



We were invited to the 75th birthday of my neighbor (on the left), whom we know since we moved in our house in 1975. Her daughters used to play with our son, and now she has a granddaughter of 18 ! Time flies by ! We enjoyed the Champagne and the delicious cakes very much and dug out old childhood memories when our kids were little and did a lot of naughty things which made us laugh today.



On Sunday the sun was shining and we had a beautiful but cold weather. It itched in my feet to go for a walk, but Mr. G. had never liked to walk so I thought a dog is a better company. Nicole just had her daughter's dog at home, so we decided to go to a park nearby with the two dogs. It was a lot of fun and we were not the only once with the same idea, there were lots of families and people with dogs and kids playing around. We had a drink on the terrace of the restaurant which is there it was so packed that we could hardly find a place. We waited for a waiter who didn't show up, until I suddenly thought maybe they do it now the English way and went inside where a long queue of people were standing, who ordered their drinks and took them outside. That is very unusual for Belgium and lots of other people were sitting outside  waiting, until I told them that it had become a self service now.



When we were home again, Nicole had to take care of Charlie's paw, he had a surgery, a claw had grown inside his paw and she had to disinfect the wound. He was so brave and left his paw in the pot with the disinfection product and said nothing when she put a sock on his paw. The front paw needed one too, there he had a little infection. I thought he looked very posh now !