WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 1968

1969

  

 

2018

gift from our son

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

WEEKEND REVIEW FEBRUARY 20

We wanted to try out one of the old restaurants which are still standing at the beginning of the road to the Lion's mount.



The site looked dreary, no living soul around besides us and Charlie,  some cars on the parking space probably belonged to the staff of the new built restaurant. What a difference to the site before the renovation, the cafés and restaurants which had been demolished were always busy especially on weekends.



So we ended up in the "Estaminet de Joséphine" which had a warm feeling decoration, but unfortunately the lunch we got was not very good. It had been a steak, with salad and French fries, the salad was 2 leaves, the fries too fried and the steak stemmed from an old cow. I got one piece stuck in my throat and couldn't breeze anymore, I thought my last minutes I would spent in this historical place, but Nicole slapped me on the back and the piece decided to go up and my life was saved.



One friend of my painting class got married after 28 years of common life. The ceremony in the city hall was so funny we all laughed so much. The groom had forgotten the jacket of his suit and also the tie, so a friend ran over to his house nearby and borrowed him a jacket, which was slightly too large, but nobody cared.

Some young people had an excellent idea, they opened a "day care" for dogs ! Of course Nicole wanted to visit it and we went to the opening.



There were so many people there with their dogs of all sizes ! But the big once had their own space and the little once were apart. Charlie had a lot of fun and the dogs played all together, there was not one who got aggressive ! Charlie flirted with a Dalmatian lady. After a while he had enough and we went home. I think it's not a bad idea at all, some dogs just can stand to be alone the whole day when their owners are working.

Sunday afternoon Mr. G. went with me to Ilona to upgrade her computer from Window 7 to Window 10 ! It took 2 1/2  only to download and then all the rest ! Ilona and I meanwhile chatted and from time to time she looked what he had done, and then finally after another 2 h everything was up to date and she was very happy ! He had done the same with mine and I have to say I have only noticed very few changes compared to my Window 8.1, but besides Internet using and emails I don't do very much with a computer ! It's mostly my typewriter for my blogs and photo storage.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of August 17 . If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.

The highlight of the weekend was our son's wedding in Amsterdam !



I had used all my imagination to make a nice envelope for the wedding gift basket.

The trip to Amsterdam went smooth and we were already there around 11 am. We first stopped at my son's for a coffee, took his friend from Switzerland along and went to the Bed and Breakfast where they had booked in all friends with kids coming from abroad.



We had a beautiful huge room all in wood !

As the parking fees in Amsterdam are so expensive we all decided to take a taxi. The owner called for 3, no van was available. And then the nightmare began. All streets to Amsterdam center were blocked by a huge traffic jam because two bridges were closed for work. We all thought we would never make it, but we arrived finally with only 5 min late for the ceremony which should have begun at 3 pm. As the others had the same problem, even the groom and the bride, we recovered from being nervous wrecks !



And then began a big surprise for all of us. Nobody had ever attended to such a funny, cool wedding ceremony. The female marriage registrar greeted us on the street and comforted us that it didn't matter at all that we were a little late. Groom and bride made their entrance and we were sitting all around, the kids waving with balloons and the adults joking ! Toby their son had decided to sit besides his parents, but then preferred to sit on grandma's lap.



Then the wedding registrar started her official speech and took one little girl on her lap, because the little one had decided so ! Of course that made us all laugh again. Toby handed the wedding bands over to his parents and did a real good job.



The book was signed and the joyful ceremony was over and the new weds drove away to a restaurant at a habour where the wedding reception took place. Toby waved to the crowd. We drove together with Marieken's mother and her partner to the reception, the others followed by taxi.



The place was beautiful and called "The lighthouse" very close to the sea. After drinks and snacks we had a wonderful barbecue. Toby had taken his shoes off so I had given him mine, but he only did a few steps before he stepped out !

Then started the speeches ! Marieken's mother had prepared a nice long speech, but unfortunately there was no microphone so we could hardly hear her and she held it in Dutch because she said her English wasn't good enough, and the majority didn't understand a word. They started to whisper and talk to each other which was understandable but it was rather sad  because she certainly had put a lot of effort to make this speech.

I hadn't prepared any speech, I also had no intention  to make one, but then suddenly I thought why not, after all he is only marrying once, so I also made a short speech, with my loudest voice, which worked rather well, as I am used to speak loud, being married to an Italian with an Opera voice.  Then the Marieken's wedding witnesses made a speech too this time in English, but also hardly understandable for the once staying behind. After that Dario's best friend talked and then Dario himself.

Then everybody was hungry and "attacked" the buffet !



They had hired a girl who entertained the children, there were certainly about 15 or more from 2 years to 12 ! All speaking different languages, French, Dutch, and English, but no problem with communication !



and here we are the proud parents with the freshly married couple !



My son's godmother had come with us and above you see the gift box. The Swiss friend had brought an enormous bottle of sparkling wine, with a label with their names ! Very special !



The evening began



and the couple opened the dancing part of the wedding. Even Mr. G. gathered his old bones and we danced too ! But only once with me. After that I continued to dance, with the result that my legs still hurt a little today ! His friend from preschool (they were both 3) mixed the music and did the disc jokey. Little Ollie, who had sat on the registrar's lap slept peacefully besides him despite the loud music, she probably was tired having married a young couple !

We left around 11 pm quiet tired and returned to our Bed and Breakfast, while the young people celebrated until 1 am and some of them even in another place until 3 am ! I know that because at that time somebody had sneaked into our room, looking for his wife ! Of  course they looked a little withered when they showed up for the brunch the next morning !



When I got up I was already expected by Dookie the dog who wanted to play. It was a wonderful sunny morning and we had the whole Bed & Breakfast for us.



The kids were playing and jumping around and at 11 am the young couple arrived for the brunch. Toby wanted to share his croissant with the dog, but Dookie misunderstood and ate it all !



Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture when we were all around the table. It was such a huge room and there was also a big kitchen. We had such a lot of fun and childhood memories were shared.

I can only say it was the perfect marriage !

ROYAL AND ANOTHER WEDDING

Yesterday I attended the Royal Wedding in London and as you can see I had an excellent vue on the whole event !



I could see them from so close, the place I choose was just the best !



I sat on our sofa and took the pictures from our TV. With a nice cup of tea I watched from the beginning til the end, although I have to admit that when boring people showed up or when the music played I dusted our living room. Household duties first.

A few weeks ago I thought I take the Eurostar and go to see it life, but then I thought I would I see more at TV although I missed the atmosphere on the streets.

But it also brought back memories



I was in the same situation nearly 42 years ago, of course there were less people, I didn't stand on a balcony to wave to the crowd and instead of a carriage we sat in a black limousine.

But I think the feelings at this special day are the same for everybody, rich or poor. Royal or not.

WEEKLY WINNERS - A wedding

More participants here at Sarcastic Mom Weekly winners

In my age I am mostly invited to funerals. But this time it was a marriage ! Two years ago a young couple had bought a house in our street, the owners had moved into a flat, they were too old to keep the house.

To my and all other neighbour's surprise we suddenly were invited to their wedding !


The wedding took place in the church "St. François d'Assise" in Waterloo, which I had never seen.



A little girl and a little boy should walk in front of the couple carrying two white baloons.



The little boy refused and cried and sobbed until the little girl took both baloons and walked alone in front of the couple. We all laughed, he showed already that marriage was nothing for him !



the inside of the church had beautiful windows





the happy couple



Greating everybody in front of the church



They had arrived in this little car and it also took them to



this old farm which had been modernized and transformed into a restaurant with a big reception for weddings or other celebrations.


and I was happy too ! outside I discovered the first signs of spring !!