WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Shopping in Coronavirus times !

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AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JUNE 6

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WEEKEND

Something very unusual happened in our garden ! I looked out of the window and saw a strange dog. First I thought it was a German Shepherd, but as Rosie the cat didn't move and watched him I started to doubt. Suddenly the "dog" showed its face and I realized that it was a fox ! That had never happened in my area ! 



Unfortunately I couldn't take a picture of his face, he just turned his head around.
Probably due to the lockdown he discovers other territories ! Maybe next time I will see an elephant in my garden ! Nothing surprises me anymore !

I had to buy a new Television and a vacuum cleaner, the only things which had to be renewed for the new apartment. Although it was now Saturday I thought I will try as on Friday I only could buy the washing machine, because they didn't have the TV I wanted.



Always keep distance of 1.5 m please ! This was written everywhere



when I saw all these people lined up and the red and white striped ribbons, it made me think of cattle or sheep which have to follow the lines, either to be killed to to be sheared.
 
It took all my energy to buy a new TV and a new vacuum cleaner ! I returned to my car I didn't have the courage to line up there and wait for hours.

Instead I tried another shop ! Same thing and then one which I don't like at all and which is mostly more expensive too, but there were only 4 people standing and I tried. I followed the others keeping distance and wearing my mask, then I cleaned my hands in the shop and waited until a salesman came to ask what I wanted. Of course no TV all sold out but at least I got the vacuum cleaner ! Then I had to line up at the check out and waited that they had put the carton in my car. That was enough ! What a loss of time.

As all cafes are still closed I went to cafe Nicole who was glad to see me and had my coffee with her. She too hates to go shopping for the moment because it's just a nightmare.



Isis kept us company.

On Sunday we were invited by a friend living in Nivelles the next big town, as now we are allowed to travel inside the country. There is not much to travel as it is so small, you drive 200 km in all directions and you will be in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.

We talked about my forthcoming move and I got some good advices. the afternoon went by very quickly and we had to drive home.

Next week will be very busy when we get the keys of the apartment and can start to bring things over, it's only 3 km far. We will put them in suitcases with wheels so it will be very easy, and probably my friends will all help. Then it is more fun too !

Phase 3

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JANUARY

Coucou ....



Smile ...




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WEEKEND

This was really a weekend for very old seniors or very lazy youngsters ! There was nothing special to do it rained it was windy it was wonderful.

Saturday morning we tried to hang the 3 paintings on the wall but without a nail, I had bought special hooks solid enough so it was indicated for several kgs which were stuck on the wall. Looked real nice. But during our TV movie we heard a bang and the first painting fell to the ground. A little later the second, only the third resisted. So I bought a double-sided adhesive tape and we did it with that, we will see tomorrow if they are still hanging !



The three who fell down.



In the afternoon I needed to go out, rain or not rain and found a jacket a real bargain on sale ! I hadn't bought anything yet. Of course on my way back, I had to stop at Nicole's to show her my new purchase, it was for men, but I didn't care, it looks good on me and she confirmed. Maybe it is for both sexes.

I found Nicole in a poor shape and had to go to the pharmacy for her because she had terrible backaches and could hardly move.



Together with little Isis we kept her company until the medication helped a bit.

On Sunday I heard the rain without looking out of the window, turned around for another round of sleep. Finally poor starving cat Arthur meowed so loud that he would have woken up a dead and I jumped out of the bed, stumbled over my own leg and landed on the floor. Fortunately I didn't break me anything and I could get up immediately it just hurt a bit.

After lunch I watched TV and prepared my CAT BLOG



Since two days and a lot of interruptions Mr. G. tries to find out how to stop the alarm on our weather station which rings ponctually at 12 ! He had set everything, date, time etc but also an alarm which rang at midnight. He managed to set it at 12 because we always woke up, but so far it still rings. As the outside temperature indicates -32°C which is possible at the northpole but not in Belgium, I think that thing doesn't work anymore.

I also prepared a birthday card and then the weekend was over !

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JANUARY 11

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WEEKEND



Imagine a slowly walking vintage lady in a bathrobe with a cup of coffee in her hand walking from her bed to the living room and fall on the relax of the sofa. There she thinks what to do today.


In her head is a looooong list of things to do, so long that she decided not even to start she would never have the time to finish all before noon. While thinking she sorted out a few pictures for the Blog post and by then it was noon. Outside it rained. She decided not to go out, but put on her training and prepared a few sandwiches for lunch and then she dropped again on the sofa. All this had costed so much energy that she was just able to watch a movie on TV.

After the movie, there was a bit Blog work to do and then another film to watch. And between the time it costed her to do all this she was thinking of the work she should do.

Suddenly the day was over, supper, TV, bed.

On Sunday our little group of 5 met in front of our house, we intended to go shopping in the Moroccan area of Brussels.



In fact it is a street where one Morrocan shop is besides the other and you feel on holidays. Only the sunshine was missing and of course the summer temperature. As usual I was the driver which doesn't disturb me at all, I like driving a car (not a horse carriage). We first had lunch in the same restaurant as usual called "Le Bienvenu" (the welcome) and had a plate with lentils and lamb. It was delicious.There are several spices in the lentils which gives them a special taste.



Then we started our shopping each of us had a list. I needed trousers, a pullover, bedsheets, the others almost the same plus spices and Nicole also bought a beautiful Caftan to wear at home. As the average price from all articles is 5 € we bought with pleasure ! So cheap ! Unbelievable. Loaded like donkeys we met in a café and had mint tea with Moroccan crepes,



they were covered with cream cheese and honey. I had never eaten such a crepe but it was really very good. We stayed there for a while and chatted and were happy about our bargains. Before it became completely dark we returned home.

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND NOVEMBER 10

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To do something special on Saturday I had looked through the list of the most special and famous  cafés, bars, or brasseries, in Brussels, because we wanted to go there.  I for my photos and my two friends by curiosity. And ....  I had discovered something for me (but for the others too) a café for cat lovers.

We were full of anticipation to have a coffee and a Brussels waffle in this cat café in company of about 10 cats. I don't know exactly.

There was a terrible traffic on Saturday but finally we managed to arrive there at 3.30 ! We had to ring at the door, so that somebody could open us and no cat could escape. A very friendly lady opened and told us that the cafe was full and there was no seats available anymore. We were very disappointed, stood there with long faces and decided to come back another day and then during the week and not on a weekend.



I just could take this photo from outside  and standing on the tip of my toes I looked through the window to see the cats. Indeed the place was full.

As I couldn't take any photos, I stole them from Internet to give you an idea how it looks like.



It must be really nice. We returned home and stopped in a beautiful "Art Deco" Brasserie, where in my disappointment I forgot to take pictures ! the Art work of the stained glasses was so nice ! We can always go back there in summer.

On Sunday as all shops are closed, we had the good idea to go in the only area in Brussels where the shops are open and it's a long street with one shop besides the other where you can buy everything from a nail to a wedding dress. I would say nearly all the shops were owned by Moroccans.

It took us half an hour to find a parking and then we went to "our" Moroccan restaurant. I had lentils with lamb, absolutely delicious. Then we started with our shopping. I needed trousers and a coat.



This gives you an idea of the "Rue de Brabant" where you can shop to your hearts content and with a nearly empty wallet.

The three others needed spices, pullovers, shoes and also trousers.

There are people from the Netherlands, France and Germany coming because the prices are unbelievable cheap, there are so many special clothes, and beautiful decoration stuff.  Of course it is an Arabic street with women wearing scarfs men sitting in front of their house and as the sun was shining it was almost as if we were in Morocco.

After two hours we had our shopping done and had a lot of fun with the shop owners, they are all so cheerful, no stress and so friendly. I found a red coat, exactly what I was looking for because I needed one for next Saturday when we celebrate our 50 wedding anniversary in the City Hall of Waterloo with the mayor.

We were all happy with what we had bought and returned home, but we stopped in a Bar on our way home to have a beer because we were really thirsty and in this street there is no alcohol at all.

It had been a very nice day. My friends were happy that I "dare" driving in Brussels, because they don't. There is indeed a lot of traffic and a lot of crazy drivers. But I like it.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

As the New year (post here) was celebrated on a Monday, for me the week started on a Tuesday with the impression that it was Monday and I only realized the difference when I looked around me and saw a dormitory



At 11 am still sleeping, Mr. G. and the cats ! I answered a few emails and then fell on the sofa and watched TV. I was not tired just very lazy. I also made a few phone calls for the New Year and that was it. At 9 pm we both went to bed. A few years ago we recovered more quickly !

On top all shops were closed for the 1st January and it was grey and wet outside, so the best place was anyway to stay inside.

On Tuesday I had a bit more of energy and made two new headers for my blogs.




That's something I like to do and time went by very quickly ! I also changed my profile picture and changed the usual cats to the camel Oscar.

Sales should start on January 3 and not before (otherwise you get a fine) so the streets were empty and only a few window shoppers were looking for the prices, to compare them with the sales prices the next day.

As I badly needed little boots, my old once fell into pieces, I went to the shoe shop and was told that I could get the "Sales" price if I buy two articles. But I didn't want two pairs of shoes. I told the girl that I would come back the next day, but she said, you can buy them now and take a pair of stockings or something little then you have two articles !



Good idea, I choose a black beret got on the two the "sales" discount and returned home. That way I avoid the mostly women "rush" on bargains, the crowd and the traffic !

Now that finally the year end's festivities are over I had enough of looking at my Christmas tree, the angels, garlands, father Christmas etc etc. Together with my cleaning lady we put everything away !



Now the room looked normal again and ready for my Scrabble girls, as it was my turn to receive them. 



For once I was second which was really surprising. Then we had coffee and cake and I showed my new beret and boots to my friends. They all liked the beret and wanted to buy one tomorrow. Myriam tried it on and it suited her very well. It was a very pleasant afternoon !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. This week was rather boring because I had to recover from this strange infection I caught heaven knows where and I still have to take the antibiotics which switched me to (very) slow motion ! What I did was dragging myself from computer to TV and the other way around.

2. Each time I saw me in a mirror I got a nervous breakdown. My hair had grown and I looked like a witch only the broom was missing. I called my hairdresser got an appointment and had my hair cut. With a new head and a better mood I returned home.

3. I had to buy litter for my cats because when it rains they fear for their botties and prefer to use the litter box instead of going outside. On my way back I stopped at Nicole's whose heating was just repaired, she had a leak of gas which could be very dangerous. We had a drink together and complained about the naughty weather.

4. My vacuum cleaner went on strike, the motor got hot and the cable too so before it exploded I brought it back to the shop. It was still under warranty  until October 9,  so it had chosen the right moment not to die on October 10 ! The salesman was very friendly he gave me a new one a more recent model for the same price and a new warranty too, so I am OK again for the next 2 years !
Normally a vacuum cleaner should last longer but if I get a new one every two years I certainly don't complain !!

5.


When I wanted to drive my car out of the garage, cat Arthur was sitting on the roof. He didn't move and I drove with him outside, he only jumped down (very offended) when I closed the garage door with the remote control.



In my painting class I started for the 3rd time a painting on the same canvas, but I think this time it will be the last ! I intend to finish this painting !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of June 29. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

When I opened the stores on Saturday, instead of light and bright sunshine, it was grey and dark and the rain dribbled on the roof ! I just wanted to return "under cover". Instead I got up, and was in a real bad mood ! After having done such interesting things like putting the laundry in the washing machine, I started blogging which brought me into other countries were people complained about the heat and that they couldn't go outside either and even had to wear masks because of haze.

I had to take an umbrella when I went out for some window shopping, where it was dry at least.

Of course when you look for something, you never find it. Which was my case. When I came home Mr. G. had just finished watching his Formular 1, and seemed happy about the results.  I returned to my computer and googled for something to do this week. There was strictly nothing besides outside activities, but visiting things in the rain is not really my cup of tea.



From computer I switched over to TV, but before I folded the dammit laundry.

On Sunday it seemed to be better and a miracle happened the sun came out ! I did a little walk through the market in the neighbor town found an open shoe shop (shops are closed on Sundays) and followed David Bowie's song to put red shoes on, but for that I had to buy them first, which I did. This made me feeling better.



In the afternoon, Ilona who had been in the same mood as I decided to go for a walk in the Gaasbeek park and it was really nice. The wood smelled so good after all this rain, the castle looked beautiful, and there were quiet a lot of people.

After an hour walking through the park, we were thirsty and went to the Tavern located opposite the castle. As neighbors we had



Alpacas, which are new and I saw them for the first time. The "hippie" on the bottom right, cheered us really up !



Then we watched the peacock, courting a cute peacock girl, unfortunately without success, she chased him away !

Refreshed and happy we returned home.  Mr. G. had been in Silverstone UK for the Formular 1 again and was also satisfied with his afternoon. He doesn't like to walk !