FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

.Due to awful "spring" weather, I stayed home because it hailed, rained, stormed, everything to make you feeling spring ! Fortunately there is the Television and the computer, because everything was done in the house. My friends were still on holidays so it was a lazy day !

I had to go to the pharmacy because I ran out of medication for my pulmonary problems It turned out that with all the troubles with Mr G's accident, I had forgotten that I had absolutely to go to the lung doctor because I also needed a test and an authorisation to be reimbursed for the medication which would cost over 100 € without the health insurance !



My cat Arthur had watering eyes and looked not good, so I went to the vet ! What an adventure ! The so brave, cute and social cat suddenly was transformed in a furious mini tiger, we couldn't even take him out of the carrier, he growled and hissed had all crocks out and the claws too.



Finally with a stick through the hole of the carrier, the vet pushed Arthur in a corner to give him an antibiotic shot ! She couldn't do anything else without an anaesthesia and he is already 18 years old ! We hope that the antibiotic helps for his eyes. On the way home he sat behind in the car, looked out of the window and nearly waved at the children, who watched him, the white cat from other cars. At home he was again the sweet cat ! I never thought I would be afraid of Arthur !



After a one month break from aqua gym I was surprised that I could still do all exercises without any problems. We were almost all there and had also a lot of fun

We also had our painting class again and after that, Nicole, Myriam and I went to the Asian restaurant. The two others who usually come with us couldn't they had the runs, apparently a virus runs through the population because I heard of several cases



We had a very nice meal and it was so much that all three asked for a doggy bag ! So for tomorrow we have already our supper ! A thunderstorm came and we quickly returned home.

I am still very tired and without any energy, I have to force myself to do at least the most important things, like paying invoices. Mr. G. calls me every day 3 times and wants to come home. It's useless to tell him that it is not my decision but the one of the doctors and his doctor told me that he is far from being ready to go home ! So he complains and complains and will not understand that it would be irresponsible and dangerous to let him go. He can't stay up for long and if he falls I am unable to pick him up and no insurance would pay eventual damages.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday when I looked in the mirror, I thought that I looked like a witch, with my hair too long and hanging around. Decision made, I hurried to my hairdresser, who takes clients without appointment. Of course on a Monday there are not a lot of women going to the hairdresser, because they rather go on a Friday to be beautiful during the weekend. I was lucky I only had to wait for 30 min. Then I felt much better and returned home to finish my Christmas decoration.




We met for the last time this year for Scrabble and it was Myriam's turn. She had just a little decoration inside as she celebrates at her daughter's but she had a nice garland on her tree in front of the house.



Here we are coming out, leading Mireille who is half blind but always wins the Scrabble !!

Waterloo city had invited it's seniors to a Christmas celebration, with a cabaret show followed by a reception with Champagne and snacks.



The city hall from outside



and inside. It was very nice and we met a lot of people we knew. We are all getting old together. Some are already missing, but that's life.

Somebody from "my" hotel in Egypt has sent me this beautiful picture of my holiday love "Oscar" the camel in full parade outfit, with its owner.



Isn't he beautiful ? I had never thought I would miss a camel !! The owner is the son of a farmer who stands in front of the hotel with Daddy's camel and people pay a Euro (that's now the money in fashion, no dollars or British pounds anymore) for photos. Guests also bring appels, oranges and bananas for the camel. This guy is clever, with the money he earns and I think it's quite a lot he pays his studies at university ! A nice and interesting student job !! And on top, he improves his English !

The British people who since years are coming to this hotel were quite upset about this Brexit idea, now nobody wants their pounds anymore and they had to change it into Euros or Egyptian pounds. Nobody really knows if they can travel as before without filling in tons of papers.

It was the last day before Christmas holidays and instead of painting we had a little Christmas party.
Everybody had brought something for the buffet and finally we really had more than enough !



The nearly empty table was filled with delicious snacks and cakes. We had a lot of fun.

Before I went on holidays I had made a "pouring painting" and had left it in our class.



Now after a little more than 3 weeks it was dry and I took it home and hung it up in our living room.

After the party I invited a few girls for a coffee at home. And we continued our chats. Now it will be more then 2 weeks that we won't see each other.

To all of you !

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FRIDAY's FAVORITE FIVE - FIVE ON FRIDAY

1.



I was still "jailed" with my limited movements due to my sprained ankle and had to stay home. Fortunately TV and Computer exists, otherwise I had to do as before, read books after books, which I like too.

2. The weather was according to my mood, grey and humid and it rained ! But I could walk a bit better so I went to buy a special support for my ankle and did a bit of window shopping but inside the shops not to get wet. Unfortunately I found nothing, I had needed something to cheer me up !

3.


As I couldn't go out, I took pictures inside the house, mostly of my cats, they are always good models. Especially when they sleep and you think they haven't moved, but suddenly the tail is on the other side. Or they run away before you had time to push the button.

4. For the first time I went out and to Nicole, there I could sit on the sofa. Her kitchen is completely finished now and looks beautiful. So beautiful that I forgot to take a picture.  We chatted the whole afternoon and Charlie as usual played the clown.



5. As always we enjoyed our painting course very much.



I have started a new painting (in the middle below) the one on the right I still have to think over if I have to add something or not. Painting and creating makes hungry so we decided to go to "our" Chinese restaurant




There was Nicole besides our teacher, then Chantal and I. Helene was half cut off. The meal as usual was delicious and for our husbands and one son we took a "take away" along, so nobody had too cook in the evening !

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. The sunny weather continued so in the afternoon, I cleaned a bit the entrance, my cat Arthur loves to dig in the bark for his personal needs and then I have the bark all over the white tiles.



He then was so kind and bring a mouse in the house, to show it to me and play with, I wanted to save the mouse, but unfortunately it didn't work and he disappeared with the mouse in our garden.

2. I had spent the afternoon on Nicole's terrace sunbathing, but well dressed the air was cool and Charlie was happy with his bone I had brought him.



3. When I returned home I heard in the radio that a search was made in the Brussels' municipality Forêt or (Forest in Flemish) I thought that's nothing new they do it all the time, so why make such a fuss now about a search.

When I arrived home Mr. G. watched TV, he wanted to see his usual program but instead he saw policemen with black masks, soldiers, etc it looked like a movie ! We then were informed that when the police wanted to get into the apartment, somebody started to shoot. 4 policemen had some scratches and were taken to hospital, but not for long and one of the occupants of the apartment had been killed. That was the short version ! But unfortunately then the show started on TV, for 3 hours (we changed channel before) they were dramatizing the whole event. They repeated and repeated and each time the event became more colorful and more dramatic.

The world now knows another part of Brussels, not Molenbeek anymore but now also Forest. I thought if I only would listen or watch TV I would think that whole Brussels is in terrorist war ! It really looked so dangerous.

My cleaning lady who lives there, told me another story. Of course she had heard the police arriving, people going on the street to see what happened, they all chatted about the event, finally taking place life and not in the movies. But that was it. Of course the TV interviewed only people who were afraid. It's unbelievable, a simple story which probably would have taken two lines in the Newspapers is blown up by the press like a balloon,  as they thought it was related to the Paris attacks, they of course had to dramatize ! Business is business. Happy things are too boring and the quote of TV watchers would drop !

4. Our dear Oscar the lawn mower robot needed a check up, meanwhile it is already 3 years old. The shop where I had bought it doesn't exist anymore but I found one near Ilona's. We went to the shop and  afterwards we had coffee and discussed about making a trip together around the UK and Ireland.

5. In our painting class we made  quite some fun about the dramatized events in Forest, everybody complained about the TV report exaggeration and that all had changed to other channels or just switched off the TV. As there are still two men on the run, we thought about checking the retirement home where we have our class, if eventual they are not hiding in some old lady's room.



I started a new painting and in the afternoon I drove my neighbor to the hospital for her monthly eye shot.

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. During aqua gym while we were hopping around in the pool, we complained that more and more things are falling into pieces or are not working anymore. So we had no light in one shower, the ventilation had broken down, the shower tube had a hole etc. But the worst thing was the banister at the pool, and what had to happen happened, when the first one wanted to get out of the water it broke and she fell back and the thing dropped with a loud bang on the tiles. The poor "girl" got a shock, and we had some difficulties to get her out with only one handrail still standing as she was rather round and heavy and stiff like a broom. Finally we managed pulling and pushing which caused a lot of laughter !

2. I had to drive Mr. G. to a specialized hospital for a pet scan. He had lost a lot of weight and his doctor wanted to have him checked to see if there was something wrong. I dropped him off and left, as the whole procedure lasted more than 2 h.

3. As I was not far from Brussels' most posh area, the Ave. Louise, I thought I will go there, I hadn't been there since at least 30 years !



Except the Gallery I didn't recognize anything. The whole area had changed. There were now pedestrian areas and little streets with one restaurant besides the other ! It was packed with people and as it was so warm, they all had their lunch outside. I had two wraps there, walked a little around and then returned to pick up Mr. G.

4. My son with wife and grandson was on his way back home from Southern France, where they had spent a week of holidays. He called and told us that he would stop to say hello.



Toby's first action was asking for his toys which were in our guest room. Mr. G. helped him to carry up the box. Of course when you haven't seen something for a long time it looks like new. So he was very busy to play with all the little cars and airplanes.



Nonno and Nonna played a bit too !

Finally they decided to stay for supper. Fortunately I had pizzas and a plate of pasta for Toby in the freezer ! It was so unusually warm for mid-September that we could sit outside until they left for Amsterdam around 7 pm. I hadn't seen Toby since July and he had changed again. He had grown and speaks a lot in Dutch, which we have difficulties to understand, but he also makes an effort to say some words in French. Besides speaking French with his father, i.e the father speaks and the son replies in Dutch, he hasn't much opportunity to learn speaking French.



But language is not a barrier or at least shouldn't be, and he ate his watermelon with pleasure !

5. We have our new teacher in my painting class, I know her very well, she was in our class 2 years ago. She is actually very good and suits us perfectly.



I finished my last painting and have to look for inspiration for a new one !

Mr. G. got the results of his pet scan and was pleased that he has nothing ! 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

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1. The days are coming and going and it seems to me that a week is just like a pearl necklace,  each day looks the same ! Even my activities, like each Monday going to aqua gym in the morning and then having a cup of tea together and chatting, which of course has different themes. Lots of people have the flew or a cold and the City's babysitter service is fully booked as the babies are sick have to stay at home while the parents have to go to work. Not everybody has a grandma at disposal.

2. Now we are 3 to go to Yoga, Dominique as usual but my other neighbor Vivi has decided to join in and she likes it very much. I booked my trip around the UK and now I got the confirmation and it's done ! The rest of the day I was looking at pictures of all places we will visit !





Preparing a trip is nearly as much fun then doing it !

3. My friend Nicole had internet connection troubles with her laptop, and as she has no internet at home she always goes to the internet service organized by the city with 9 computers to be used by the citizens who don't have a computer or don't have Internet. But she wanted to use her own computer. I picked her up and we had lunch together in our little Greek restaurant and afterwards she came with me to fix her internet connection. It turned out that a piece was broken and she had to buy a USB key for WiFi.

4. Although our house is not a castle, some people loose their orientation sense and always end up in my storage room instead of the toilet. While I was taking off my shoes in the basement she went upstairs, and found herself nose to nose with brooms, vacuum cleaner, handbags etc instead of the toilet, and on her left Mr. G. was snoring sleeping peacefully in his bed for his afternoon nap. Poor Nicole got a shock returned to the kitchen and then we burst out in laughter !

5. No birthday to celebrate this time in my painting course, but our coffee break was as cheerful as usual



One of my classmates took these pictures while we were working very hard !

On my way back it started to snow again, but it didn't last it's not cold enough. No regret ! I have really enough of snow and winter.



I stopped at my pet food store and said hello to Cookie, the parrot of the shop's owner. He greeted me with loud whistles and was very intrigued by my camera. On the last picture I just had time to go one step back he wanted to bite in my camera ! He is a very funny boy !