WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 8 - MACRO MONDAY

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This weekend we had visitors ! Son and grandson wanted to say hello, which is real nice, but the truth for their coming, was the birthday of my son's godchild. And as the 12 year old girl has a younger brother, the same age as Toby, of course they wanted to be together as much as possible. Because not only the fathers are best friends since school years but also now their sons.

As it is more interesting to sleep with a little friend, and for the fathers there is no limit to enjoy some  wine without paying attention to the quantity because they don't have to drive they spend the night there.  ! And for Toby it's also far more interesting to play with his friend then staying with old Grandma and Grandpa. At his age I would have done the same.

So we enjoyed a short visit, but better that than nothing. They arrived past 1 pm and I got a



a beautiful bouquet.

Before we started lunch, Toby had a look at what I had made for him to remember a "fond of travelling" grandma.



During my travel through the northern countries I had bought a magnet of each city, except Amsterdam, there I didn't have this idea yet. When I was home again I found in a shop a framed piece of metal. I put my itinerary in the middle. The magnets were all in a plastic bag and he took them all out and placed them there were they should be. For his 7 1/2 years I was really amazed that he was so interested to which countries the cities belonged. I was happy that he liked my idea.

After lunch, he played foot. Nobody ever has played football (soccer) in my or Mr. G's family. 



but Toby has become a real football fan and also plays in a club in Amsterdam. Here he was a bit upset because the ball had landed in our animal cemetary, but I told him that the cats, one dog, a hedgehog and a guinea pig wouldn't mind that the ball had fallen on their head.



Then came a family picture session ! For once Mr. G. kept his eyes open and smiled which is really a miracle, usually on all photos he has his eyes closed, or when they are open he looks angry. This time both went well !!

Only too soon they had to leave for the birthday party and we were alone again. I had the blues a bit and for once Mr. G. agreed to go out and eat in a restaurant. Of course in a self service and very time limited. As soon as he had finished he wanted to go home. Which we did.

The next day, I went to my son's friends home, we wanted to go all together to the flea market in the nearby little town. Just as we had in Waterloo last week. Mr. G. was tired and remained home.



Aren't they cute in their football (soccer) outfit ? Although Benji is 6 month older then Toby they have the same size. Toby told me that he as to grow 14 cm (5.5 inches) to reach the same size as his mummy ! I found that very cute a little more and he will reach my size too ! 



Then we all went to the flea market, (above is Benji's mom) whom I know since a very long time, still from when my son lived in London and his friend had fallen in love with her.



The boys had fun and looked at the "Gilles" in their costumes wearing clogs and stamping on the street which made quite some noise together with drums.



Then they tried to play a game. They bought two huge bags of popcorn, which they offered generously to us adults.

We were sitting on the terrace of a Brasserie and watched what was going on.



They found a reading corner, but Toby hasn't learned to read in French but he speaks it very well, his mothertongue is Dutch.





Only too soon we had to leave because both wanted to say good bye to Mr. G.

We chatted a bit and called a friend in Italy.  Then they left. It will probably not be before end October when I see them again.

WEEKEND REVIEW SEPTEMBER 10

Our peaceful vintage life was interrupted this weekend by the visit of son and grandson ! They arrived late Friday evening from Amsterdam



Our cat Arthur loves Toby and showed how happy he was by chasing his tail !



Mr. G. had won some money playing Whist and had given it to Toby. He of course wanted to buy another Lego (he could open a shop by now) and of course a very complicated one for age 8 - 18 and he will be 6 in November. But assembling it took no time, Suddenly it was finished !




That's the piece he assembled !



As the weather was so nice he played with Dad football (soccer) in the garden.

After lunch we went to the Waterloo park  where the yearly farmer's fest took place. There were lots of activities for children and Toby had to try them out !







First jumping around to his hearts content,




Then climbing, the elder once could climb up high in the trees



Observing with interest how a llama did a poo, I also learned something, didn't know that it was like a rapid poo,



Then he brushed he Poney,



and before we left a very friendly policewoman, sat him on her motorbike ! Was he proud !

Then I returned home and they both went to a birthday party to my son's friend, where they stayed over night, as otherwise son couldn't drink the good beer or wine !

On Sunday they came back for lunch. The weather was bad and it rained !  While our son made a little siesta, Toby also to rest a bit watched Television




with Nonna



and of course with Arthur, always present.



The new lego models had to watch too.

Originally it had been foreseen to go to a Medieval Festival, but with the rain, we preferred to stay home. 

Only too soon it was time for them to return home to Amsterdam.

And we returned to our vintage life ! 

WEEKEND REVIEW September 5

This weekend we had the visit of our son and grandson. We hadn't seen Toby life since April, only on Skype and I was surprised that he had grown so much ! He is not yet 5 but has the size of a 7 - 8 years old boy. They arrived Friday late evening.



Next morning we had breakfast watched by cat Arthur who always hopes that something falls from the table !



Mr. G had bought a garage for Toby and the three generations were busy to assemble the whole thing. This took quite some time. After lunch they went visiting some friends and we watched TV a bit.



In the evening we went to a restaurant, which had delicious mussels, that was perfect for me the men had steaks and Toby as all children Spaghetti ! I had taken a drawing book and colored pencils with me, so the waiting time didn't seem too long.



I gave him one shell and he ate his spaghetti with the shell which of course was a lot of fun !

On Sunday morning it was cold and rainy, no way to play in our garden.  But there is the "Kid's factory" a covered playground nearby. So the three of us went there. But before we had to fill in his "Friend's book" !



Mum, Dad and friends had put their photo in there and had filled in a questionary. I found the one of my son, and he found long forgotten school friends in it.



In the Kid's factory, Toby had a lot of fun !



He had an ice cream and we a coffee while he was running and playing around.



In the afternoon the three generations watched Formular 1 and I answered comments ! Then it was time for them to return to Amsterdam, Toby has to go to bed early, tomorrow school starts again.

We rested for the rest of the day, and all cats showed up again,  Besides Arthur they are not so keen on visitors !

WEEKEND REVIEW MAY 16

Our usual quiet weekends this time it was rather eventful ! We were invited all together for a barbecue  to my son's best friend who has a little boy same age as our four year old grandson.



They had a lot of fun in the garden, while our son was busy to get the fire on. It's strange, houses burn down without any reason and very quick, but a barbecue takes ages to get ready !

While we the adults had our meal in the dining room, the kids ate in the kitchen.



The ice cream was especially good ! Toby licked out his bowl until it was so clean you didn't even have to put it in the dishwasher.



While we chatted and had also a lot of fun, the kids watched TV.

The next evening I went to the theater together with two friends, and left the 2 and a half men alone. It was my season ticket and I didn't want to miss the play.



In front of the theater two cats were sleeping. The play was very funny it was the story of a young woman who had an awful vulgar vocabulary and she wanted to learn everything to be able to study in University. The professor who was a very posh gentleman tried his best, with the result that at the end the girl talked like him and he spoke like the girl at the beginning. It really was hilarious.



The next morning Toby played with cat Arthur on the terrace



Before they left to return home to Amsterdam, we wanted to make an "official" picture : Grandparents with Grandson. The result was this ! Or Mr. G. had his mouth open or he had his eyes closed. My son told him to close his mouth several times and finally Toby had enough of posing and started to make the clown. What a photo session ! At least it looks natural !

After they had left, we spent the rest of the day recuperating from this eventful and funny weekend !

MY WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 14

Over the weekend we had the visit of our son and grandson Toby now 4 years old.



When they arrived Toby was so tired that he was asleep and didn't even wake up. His dad put him to bed right away. But the next morning he was in full shape again and rediscovered his toys which I keep for him at home. Cat Arthur of course had to play too !



His Nonno (grandpa) had bought him a Playmobile and the 3 generations tried to put the motor cycles together.



In the afternoon we went to the Museum of Science in Brussels. What a great place and so very well adapted for little children too. Toby was not so much impressed by the huge dinosaurs skeletons, but more in the virtual version.



He wrote his name and played with a dinosaur which imitated his movements. That was really funny, because once he stood up he roared, Toby found this very funny and we had some difficulties to draw him away !



But then he discovered other educative games and a sandbox where you could dig to find bones !
I enjoyed this museum very much and have to go back there to see everything more in details and not just the part interesting for little kids.




In the evening the men nibbled at least 40 Grisinis watching Tom and Jerry !



On Sunday morning we made a little walk through the Waterloo market, the sun was shining, we were lucky.

After lunch they returned home to Amsterdam, and we fell on our sofas recuperating, to find our way back into our little "still life" as retirees !

MY WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 18

We had our son and grandson here over the weekend. They arrived Friday evening from Amsterdam.



After breakfast, he started to play with the new little cars with an adequate carpet Mr. G. had bought for him, this kept him very busy for a while.

When both men decided to go shopping, he didn't want to go with them and preferred to stay with me.



He discovered the little vacuum cleaner I keep in the kitchen and started to vacuum the whole house, especially Mr. G's bed, which apparently seemed very dirty to him. I never had such a good little helper !

The sun was shining and it was a real summer day and very warm. Amazing for mid October ! We had 24°C (77 F)!



So he could play outside and hadn't forgotten the croquet set I kept in the shed. The tricycle I had bought for him, he didn't like apparently. The croquet game didn't last long as Dad wanted to show him how to really play and he just wanted to shoot the balls. Amazing is, that he put everything back in the bag and tried to carry it in the shed again. His father at the same age would have left everything there were it was !

The little tractor I had bought him, on which he had driven around since he was 2 (now he will be 4 in November) had become far too small but he tried hard to squeeze on the seat and drove around.

When his Dad came back from his shopping, 



What a wonderful surprise, he had bought at big bike ! Was he happy !



In the afternoon we decided to go to the Domain of Huizingen which also has a huge playground for kids. Feeding little goats, making 4 turns on the carousel and having an icecream,



He did some jumping while my son and I watched him "flying". Then we returned home.

I had my theater play in the evening, and went with Ilona and Nicole. It was a very funny play and and we liked it very much. Before we had our supper in the Theater restaurant. The 3 men meanwhile also went out eating. When I came back I found Mr. G. for once not in bed but still up, together with my son and his friend around some glasses of wine and in a very joyful mood ! I went to bed and Mr. G. too, I don't know for how long the two friends celebrated with their glasses sitting outside in the garden !

The next morning, as all little kids do, they get up far too early for the parents, especially when they had celebrated the night before. My son half asleep, handed me over Toby and returned to bed ! It's nice to be for a while without  parental duties !

Toby speaks only Dutch but he understands most of what I say in French. During his breakfast  the words he didn't know I made a little drawing for example a bone, when I told him that dog Charlie eats big bones. That was a lot of fun. After that I put him in front of the TV with his breakfast and he watched Tom & Jerry. The good thing is that grandparents have no educative duties so exceptions are greatly appreciated !




After breakfast and Toby had cleaned his new bike, we took a breeze of fresh air in the Waterloo park. For once Mr. G came with us ! Toby drove and played like a Star, with his two body guards, one of them slightly tired and I as his photographer.

Time flew by and they left after lunch. The rest of the day we spent resting and recovered from this nice interruption of our daily routine as a vintage couple !