AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MAY 11

 A farmer's market

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

 

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WEEKEND

Saturday we had such a wonderful weather that a lot of "children" suddenly remembered that they had a parent in this residence with the beautiful park. Therefore we had a lot of visitors sharing our huge terrace. 

We enjoyed the sunshine walked around from time to time had our coffee and discussed the evolution of women rights over the years ! Especially that a married woman had no right to have a bank account in her name until  1965 ! She also was not allowed to work without the permission of her husband. I never noticed this because I was already working and had an account before I got married. To get married you had to have the permission of your father until you were 25 years old. Fortunately I was, The discussion was quite animated and suddenly it became cool and we went inside ! 

Women have to vote to avoid wars
 

On Sunday there were some white clouds in the blue sky, but it was still warm, even warmer then on Saturday. I went out immediately after lunch and sat on the terrace a few people had the same idea and as it was Mother's day this day, slowly slowly lots of visitors of all ages came visiting their mothers. We were all together and young and old talked together, Pauline told the story of her 45 years in the Belgian Congo, which the others found very interesting. On a table stood coffee, tea and different juices, wafels and muffins for the visitors. Suddenly around 4 pm the sky became black and from far we heard thunder rolling ! We all hurried inside, and just made it not to get wet. 

I expected my friend Laure who became also widow recently, and we talked about the complicated succession laws and taxes and about the fact that in London some houses are standing on King's ground and you have to buy a lease for for X years depending if there is still one or not. We gave up to understand, her son bought an apartment in London in the posh part at the Thames ! I forgot the name.We spent a nice afternoon together while outside the thunder made some noise from far and it rained. Fortunately little Rosie is not afraid of a thunderstorm.

 

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 LAST WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of May 7. You never know if you need an alibi ! If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

On Saturday I went to Brussels center, because I knew that there was quiet a lot of animation going on. I wanted to take the opportunity to exercise with my new little Sony camera, as my old one fell of the car and the screen broke.





First I went to the Grand'Place where a "Scarecrow" Exposition took place. Of course I visited this exposition and will write about it in another post. I tried the "Panorama" mode for the first time, it's not yet perfect, but the result is not too bad either.



Going through the Gallery near the Grand'Place, I saw a very beautiful entrance and thought it was a Nightclub or something like that. At the entrance were two huge acquariums and the light was dim. Believe it or not it was a public Toilet (!!!) When I went in there I saw Madame Wee wee sitting there and asking for 0.50 cents ! What a nice attraction for tourist's natural needs !



On the Grand'Place in Brussel's City hall a marriage was such celebrated so I had a quick look on that too.



Outside the Grand'Place on the Place Sablon a photo shooting was going on, which of course I watched too for a while and also shot some pictures.

Being still a cheerful temporary widow, in the evening I rented a movie which should have been a French commedy with Catherine Deneuve, it was so stupid, that I regretted my good old "Midsummer murders" !

Sunday morning I went to the Waterloo market and bought myself a Thai meal, in order not to cook on Mother's Day.



The afternoon I spent with Ilona and a bottle of Champagne to celebrate Mother's day, she was so happy that her daughter had come to visit her, which was the first time after 8 years ! There was some misunderstanding between them which is settled now. I had got a phone call from my son, he had to represent his little son for the first Mother's Day of his mom in Amsterdam. Secretely I had expected some flowers, but apparently sons are less sensible than daughters because Ilona all she got was an sms from her son ! So I can't complain. We had a very nice Mother's day afternoon in the sun.

MY FIRST MOTHER's DAY

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in most of the European countries except in France, UK , Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Norway who celebrate earlier or later.

Yesterday I stumbled over a post where a young mother described her first Mother's day experience, which of course she had expected to be very romantic, as the baby was only 3 months old. She thought about some flowers, a little gift or something special from her husband as the child could hardly make something for mom at school or go in a shop and buy something ....

What she got was an electric toothbrush ! and her husband was very surprised that she wasn't very happy about this romantic gift.

This reminded me my very first Mother's day. At that time my son was 9 months old and also a little to small to celebrate his mom. So I thought he would be represented by his father and this would be a special day with a bouquet of flowers and maybe an invitation to go to the restaurant, but nothing happened. It was like all Sundays. When I told him my disappointment and when he saw the flowers I had bought for my Mother for Mother's Day, he really was surprised. He knew for himself that he was a proud Dad since 9 months but had completely forgotten that his wife had become a mom.

What did he do ? He opened the fridge took out a carton with fresh strawberries he had bought the day before and offered them to me as my first Mother's day gift. I was so furious and disappointed that I don't even remember what I did. I only know that he ate the strawberries himself.

At least he had got me something ! My father never offered anything to my mother that day, he said, that she was not his mother !

SHOW & TELL FRIDAY

More participants here

Just after Mother's day it is easy to show something new, which is my case.



I was invited to a nice restaurant and here is my little table neighbor Camille, my son's godchild. I had a sorbet as dessert, and grilled salmon before that.



On Mother's day I found this little basket with two red roses



and this cute (and special) cat for my cat collection ! I felt really spoiled.

In Belgium, Holland and Germany you only celebrate your own mother and not all mothers of the world as I realized when I got more than 23 good wishes for mother's day from all over the world !