FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I think Belgium has the largest strike-minded population! The week started with a general strike. (again) We didn't notice anything because only two of the staff were on strike. I don't even know who it was!

My friend Laure visited me, we hadn't seen each other in a long time, but we had spoken on the phone. Her husband had been dead for two years now, and it was a sad day for her. Luckily, she had to drive her teenage grandchildren back and forth, as all public transport was also on strike, this kept her busy !

Anyway, we had a lovely afternoon and told each other how lucky we were that these strikes  didn't happen when we were young. 

The sunny weather continued but it was cold ! While I ate my breakfast, my coffee mug was standing on a little side table besides my sofa. Cat Rosie watched what I was eating and let her tail hang in my coffee. She was very offended when she had to dry her tail I think she didn't like the taste of coffee.

Wednesday the sunshine had warmed up the temperatures and after lunch I first walked a bit in the park, and then I sat down an hour  and scrabbled. It was really warm. 

When I joined the others inside, the program was a relaxing gymnastic and then a walk around the park. I didn't participate because I had it done already. While we enjoyed our coffee laughed and chatted, our  Director joined us and she was happy that we all seemed so cheerful. She is a very nice lady.

For the first time this year on April 3 (quite unusual) we did our gymnastic in the park on the freshly mowed lawn and then our two animators carried the coffee, waffels and muffins on the grass 

Gymnastic outside for the first time this year !

 

and as you see we had a wonderful time ! It's amazing what sunshine does with people, we were all in an excellent mood. If the weather would last until autumn, I think I stay here and don't think about traveling ! I can take sunbaths where I want in this huge park.  µ

Since the beginning of the year, everyone has been crying because it kept raining. Now we've had a month without rain and the sun shines every now and then, and now the farmers are going crazy because of the drought! 

We were happy about the second day we were able to spend outside in the park. It was really a lot of fun. The 16-year-olds trainees, who help us get on really well with the grandmothers and sometimes you don't know who is sillier, the older ones or the younger ones. Those who weren't allowed outside stood at the windows and watched us. This time we did a combination of Thai Chi, yoga, and Pilates and had to laugh so much when we looked at each other. Even the 100 year old Jeannie did her best and was quite good when she had to lift her legs. And so ended the week and we had to say good bye to our 6 trainees it was their last day, Monday school starts again for them. They were so happy here that they didn't want to leave, one thing they have learned that oldies are not always boring but can be very funny ! And we have learned that the youngsters are not all so bad as some people think !

There also was a 6 year old great great child ! Who was proud to do the exercises with us.

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE APRIL 4

 

1. No foolin'! April is here. What's one fun thing on your April calendar? 

I don't see anything special, except Easter which had been very nice here last year. 

2. It's often said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted'...what's the last thing you wasted money on? 

I'm not one of those people who throws their money away. In fact, I always make sure I pay the lowest price for something, which might mean I have to look in several shops. But I'm retired, I have time after all.

I bought something I wouldn't say that I wasted my money on, but honestly I don't know why I bought it. It was shortly after I moved in and I saw on Internet a grey cat which reminded me our Max, a darling cat who shared our life for 17 years, and as I had the blues this day, I just ordered it. And now it sits on my bed.

The real one

 

3. April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person may be you're married to one? If so, what's the last thing you DIY-ed. If you're not a DIY-er what's the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete?

While hanging a picture frame, I almost hit my hand and then hit the nail, which bent and fell out. A huge hole appeared. So I gave up. No wonder I'm so left-handed when it comes to this kind of thing, because my Rick had two golden hands and could do anything, or almost. I had to ask our handyman to do it for me !

4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

No, I don't eat lamb anymore,  since I saw a sheep giving birth in a field from close up and the little one tried to get up straight away, that was so impressive and cute, that I swore to myself to never eat a lamb again.

5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way ? Explain.

I can't really judge that myself.  But what I've heard and noticed is, that even if I stand in a corner like a statue, people see me and start talking. They tell me that I do everything in another way then a "normal" person, and still reach my target. No I certainly don't fit in a stereotype. I almost always do the opposite of what I am supposed to do when someone tells me to do something.

 and I am always ready for adventures ....

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

It's the sun's fault that I'm not thinking about a serious matter. No, I see the dust motes dancing in the sunbeams that shine through the two huge windows into my room. And what does that result in? I suddenly see dust I've never seen before dancing in the sunbeams! So, with a sigh, I picked up my Swiffer and let the dust fly somewhere else. 

The cleaning girl comes tomorrow anyway! And the sun doesn't shine every day. When it rains I don't see it, which is an advantage too. Anyway 

My new glasses can see every speck of dust. That's why I don't wear them.