WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

When we visited the Doudaine Park, our animator was followed by these two geese (or ducks) we were not sure if it was love or the icecream he held in his hand. It looked so funny when they walked behind him !

 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

HODGEPODGE OCTOBER 10

 1. Thursday is National Walk To A Park Day. I know these celebratory days are mostly made up, but some are fun to think about. Do you live close enough to a park to walk to one on Thursday? Will you? The most famous park in the world is Central Park located in NYC. Have you ever been to Central Park? What did you think? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to see? 

A funny question for me, as I live in a 200 year old castle with an enormous park around ! Therefore I can go whenever I want not around the park that's too big, but at least a part of it. It is very beautiful and so peaceful, everybody can find a little space for him or herself to be alone.

The park and my son playing with his dog. The dog loves to come for a visit, she has a lot of space to run around !

Yes I have seen a part of Central Park when we were in NY, quite a long time ago.

2. Something you've done recently that turned out to be a 'walk in the park'? 

As soon as I put my feet on the terrace and do a few steps I am in the park ! There are benches and also picnic tables. 

3. Can you parallel park? Do you have to do this often where you live? 

Probably not necessary because there is a parking in front of the castle entrance and if ever it is full, there is no problem to park in the street. 

4. The colors of fall...red, brown, russet, golden bronze, golden yellow, purplish red, light tan, crimson, orange red, and scarlet. Are these colors you like to wear? Is this your season in terms of color? What about your home? Would we see these tones in your home decorating? 

Red, golden yellow, purplish red, crimson, orange red, are colors I would wear, brown doesn't suit me and the others I don't like particularly.

5. What part of history do you find most interesting? Elaborate. 

The history of the castle ! The Chateau Chenois has been part of the history of Waterloo since 1835 when the Raucq family lived there, who owned a chemical factory. In 1919 the castle was acquired by the Annonciades Sisters, and transformations and additions to the existing building were undertaken and today the castle is as shown below

 

The castle without transformations

and when the nuns had bought the castle they added the convent, transformed the greenhouse into a dining room, extended the building to the left and so it looks seen from the park today. It became a Retirement home when a French company bought the whole estate.

Of course the nuns also built some religious statues, like here a Madonna in a Grotto. Vandals had tried to demolish it but fortunately were interrupted ! And sometimes when you look  between the shrubs and things covered with ivy,  you can find a little angel or other religious items.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I notice more and more that many people and even our two entertainers are unable to  put themselves in the shoes of an old person. Especially men. So our entertainer suggested a bowling game ! When I look at my roommates, who are sometimes so petite that you can blow them over, aim at the keys with a 5 kg metal ball with big holes in their hands, I had to laugh. I then described to him what it would be like and he ran away laughing. The son of an almost 100-year-old lady booked her in our excursion, which meant sitting in a  bus, the wheelchair out of reach and a five-course meal, plus a show, The poor thing told me that now she cannot sleep anymore. The son had paid and didn't listen when I tried to explain him, I gave up.. I only hope everything goes well. there are many examples where people are asked to do something that they can no longer do because the people who decide, have no fantasy to imagine being in their place. 

ROYAL PALACE IN BRUSSELS

In Brussels'center is the Royal Palace where every morning at 9 the King arrives with his staff. We call it his office, because living he does a bit outside but still Brussels in the Chateau de Laeken.

The Palace

There are no colorful guards in front of the castle, because King Baudouin the uncle of our current King Philip has taken off these guards because he was sorry for them standing there (mostly for tourists) in the too cold winter and too warm  summer. The tourists didn't find it so nice. But King Philip had a big heart for everybody

In the Park Royal a lot of festivities are taken place, and on National Day the King and his family participate. The whole summer time an orchestra is playing here.

On the other side of the park royale are the government offices

A statue of the first Belgian King

more participants here

FRIDAY's FAVORITE FIVES

We wanted to start the week as usual with our Scrabble game, but due to the confinement only my two friends Nicole and Myriam met at Nicole's because the others couldn't come, one lived too far, and the second found it to dangerous as she has diabetes  so we were the three of us to share a cake and drink a coffee and sat on the terrace as it was so warm in the sun. Finally we didn't scrabble at all, we were far too lazy !



Although it was still cool we enjoyed the view on the blooming trees and green shrubs.

Myriam and Nicole did a little walk around the garden, while I was watching them from the terrace, because for me the wind was too cold.


I kept company to little Isis who also enjoyed the view sitting on the wall and then on her cat tower. Ever since she slipped and fell down one floor, Nicole has put a grid on the wall but I am sure that poor Isis won't try to jump down again, she was very shocked when Nicole picked her up.

Despite the lockup I had to do some shopping and did it in the afternoon again, because I knew that in the morning everybody rushes to do their shopping.



It was a real pleasure there were no people in the store or maybe a few but I didn't see them the shelves were filled up again and I could buy what I needed.

The next day I was a good girl and stayed the whole day home, we had started a group on Whatsapp with our Scrabble members and as we are all confined at home, we had fun with Whatsapp. We even discovered that we could talk to each other, four persons at the same time. So another day went by, with some more deaths and some more infected people.

And the sun continued to shine and I had the feeling that the ceiling was falling on my head. The same happened to Myriam and Nicole and we decided to do a little walk again



There is a little park just besides Myriam's house as we are not allowed to go further then your own part of the city. Suddenly we saw a police car coming who chased the two young women away who sat there peacefully in the grass and ate a sandwich. I am sure that somebody from the houses around had called them, because in this area you seldom see a policeman. Some people are really disgusting. They hadn't done any harm. The two policemen went away after a few minutes and as they laughed I thought that's good for those who had called them !

We returned to Myriam and sat in the warm sunshine at her swimming pool and thought how lucky we were not to live in the city in a high rise building ! We were almost feeling like holidays. Of course we also keep the required distance, there was enough room for the three of us.

Otherwise each day is the same you can't go far unless you have to drive to  work, but then you have to have a document if ever a police control stops you.

Slowly slowly this vicious virus is arriving in all countries of the world and nobody knows how long this lockup will last !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. For the first time this year it was warm and sunny, the ideal weather for a little walk.



My neighbor Dominique and I went to the little park in Waterloo and walked around the pond, watching the ducks and swans. But no little flower was seen yet.

2. I drove along the Waterloo battle field to take pictures of the farms which had gone into history



Most of them were ready for the bicentenary of the battle.

3. The Waterloo city had asked for volunteers to help the huge amount of tourists who will come to celebrate the bicentenary of the battle in June, and to show them around. So I went to the City hall and put my name on the list. There will be enough English speaking people as we have a big English speaking community, but German is more seldom.

4. Nicole had invited Dominique and me for an afternoon chat. We wanted to sit outside on her terrace, as 17° were announced, but finally the temperature decided to disagree with the weatherman and it was far too cold ! So we had a glass together and chatted inside.

5. The Waterloo city organises a "Route of Artists" in October, which means that all artists are asked to expose their works in special rooms or at home. The public is then invited to follow the route and visit the artists. Our group exposes in our usual class, but for publicity purposes we had to paint or draw a very small square which should represent the style of the painter.



This was very difficult for me as I am used to big canvas and I had to paint on carton paper. Finally I managed and painted half of a cat head. 25 participants do the same and then they will be glued on one big canvas ! I am really curious to see the result !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

MY WEEKEND OF MAY 31

On Saturday I went to the charity shop for battered women. Outside the shop I saw dog Charlie sitting there waiting for his mistress. I asked him what he is doing there when Nicole came out of the shop. She had brought a load of books and tableware for the shop. As the sun had come out and just in front of the shop is a big park, we decided to go there for a walk.

I think I haven't been in so many parks for walks in the last 5 years then during my whole married life ! Mr. G. hates to walk in parks and only did it reluctantly when our son was a little boy. And even then I had to pull him out of the house. Some people think that I am a widow, but I reassure them that it is not the case, it's only because my better half prefers to stay home !



In the park were some sport equipments and Nicole and I tried some out.



Then we watched some ladies playing "Swing Golf" it's a golf play but with colored balls and different golf clubs. It's played in some parks with existing holes and little flags. When Charlie saw the little red ball he ran off and caught it ! Now we were 5 to try to convince him to give the ball back ! We had no cookies to get his mouth open and take the ball. Finally a lady threw a second ball for him which he also wanted to take, let drop the other one and after 3 trials we finally managed to get the ball and give it back to the ladies. Fortunately they all found it very funny and we laughed and laughed !



A little further in the woods some young men were preparing a barbecue ! Also something for Charlie who smelled the meat ! We had to pull him away from the plate and the young men laughed and invited us for the barbecue. We declined this friendly offer it was 3 pm and we really weren't hungry. Charlie wasn't happy. We ended the nice walk with a drink on Nicole's terrace.



I bought a wireless lamp for our terrace if ever we sit outside when it is dark. It first has to be charged on electricity, but then you can charge it by turning a handle like a dynamo. Very practical in case of a electricity break down !

Sunday morning I went for a little walk through the market in the next little town,



I didn't want to buy anything but then came home with a cute little purse, perfect for travels ! It is compact but has enough room for all my stuff.



I love to watch the weekly report about the Royals in Europe on TV on Sundays, that's part of my romantic soul. At least it's not about wars or murders but something cheerful and relaxing to watch. This time they showed our new King participating in the  "20 km of Brussels", which celebrated its 35th anniversary. It had started in 1980, there are participants from all over the world (race history). He wore a blue T-shirt and was very brave, while the Queen and their 4 children watched Daddy running. They are very close to the population.

I continued to read my book on my Kindle in the garden, but after a while had to return into the house it became too cold.

Tomorrow starts another week !

MY WEEKEND OF MAY 24

Nicole and I decided to go for a walk into a park I had never been before. I will write about it in another post.



The sun was shining and it was just so relaxing to walk around the little lake and then had a drink in the restaurant.


Mr. G. had asked his friend on the Waterloo market for a big bone for Charlie. We ended the afternoon on Nicole's terrace with a happy Charlie ! He had smelled immediately what I had in my hands and took the whole package with the paper so quickly that I had no time to unwrap it.

On Sunday was a big birthday party for Ilona's mother who celebrated her 90th birthday !



Her daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughter had prepared a buffet with all kind of salads and the great grandsons did a wonderful barbecue. In Ilona's garden 6 big tables were dressed, we all had a lot of fun. Ilona's family is quite big there were about 40 people !



Here are the 5 generations, Ilona's mother, and from left to right, her  great granddaughter, her granddaughter with the great great grandaughter and Ilona. I think it becomes very rare that you can take a picture of 5 generations ! My grandson is only a year older then Ilona's great granddaughter !

She went from table to table to speak with everybody and then sat down and ate her barbecue with appetite and had several glasses of Champagne and red wine ! She really doesn't look her age, and is feeling fit and young, she still lives alone in her apartment, does her shopping and cooks and when travels are organized by the city for seniors she is always with us ! 3 years ago she went on a tour with her friend through Israel, Jordan, and Egypt ! It is nice to age like her ! 

UCL BRUSSELS, UNIVERSITY PARK

At a stone's throw from the center of Brussels, Brussels Woluwe site takes a rural aspect. The University ground contains 52 hectares including 4 green spaces, academic buildings, clinics, shops and housing, it is an amazing village in the middle of the city.

The Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (University clinics of St. Lucas), which are also on this ground is dedicated to health sciences. Pedestrian zone, it offers 26,000 people who attend every day - students, researchers, doctors and patients of clinics - a breath in the hustle and bustle of the European capital.

The grounds of the UCL is not left in the field of cultural openness and relaxation. Research institutes that are implanted drain researchers of all nationalities. Students weave a network of solidarity and animation to the project and student associations organize conferences, concerts, exhibitions, etc..



This photo shows gives you an overview of the whole complex.



There are quite a lot of buildings



A direct subway line from Brussels'center to the campus



Several little restaurants and shops



The Stella Artois (Belgian Beer) sign, just besides the indications to the different buildings



At the entrance of the park is a huge medical herbs plantation, plants which are also used for researches



A long way through the park leads to the University buildings





Students and teachers are enjoying the quietness of the park, for studies, relaxing,  a sunbath or just some chatting.



There are also sculptures exposed from various international artists. Honestly they didn't really attract me and the titles were rather strange. I wished I could see the artist life who created his selfportrait !