WRITER CRAMPS (Main)

OUR WORLD

2012-02-14T06:08:00.001+01:00

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The Domain of Huizingen (Brussels) read more here

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

2012-02-13T06:00:00.001+01:00

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of February 11, 2012.

Mostly staying inside we still have temperatures down to - 15 (2F) ! On Saturday Mr. G had difficulties to get is car started so he brought it to a garage to be repaired and we had to share my car for 3 days ! And as it is so often, if at normal times we don't need our cars at the same moment, when we only have one, then suddenly we absolutely have to go at the same time to another place.

I went visiting together with a classmate from my painting group a friend who had just been informed that she has lung and spinal column cancer ! She is only 54 and such a nice and friendly person. She is always there when somebody needs help. We went there to cheer her up and make her laugh, with cat stories, she has herself 4 cats and is a cat lover and she was so happy to have some company who didn't pity her, because she hates it. We only talked about the cancer when she started to mention it, and I thought it's always the same, the bad persons live 100 years and the good once leave far too early. And she had just become a grandma for the second time. Hopefully the chimeo therapy will help.

Dominique and I have planned to make a roundtrip through Tunesia beginning of June, so I had picked up a brochure at my travel agency and we selected the one who takes us all around Tunesia during 8 days, and then we want to add 3 days in a good hotel to rest from the trip. We spent a nice afternoon choosing hotels and dates and it was so nice to already dream of holidays !

The sun had disappeared Sunday late afternoon, and I think there is snow in the air. It hadn't snowed since 10 days. After supper with the burning open fire we watched a German speaking Inspector Barnaby !

The cats were sleeping everywhere in the house, with this cold, they don't like to go out either.

Coming back from shopping I took this picture of a freezing Napoleon !

NOT YET FROZEN BUT COMING SOON

2012-02-12T06:00:00.001+01:00

I heard in the News tonight that we have the coldest winter since 70 years in Belgium, - 15 °C or less (2 F) and in some parts even worse. According to the weatherman there is still no global warming in view ! Apparently this phenomenon belongs to the past.

Usually I am a rather positive person, but now I start to think that in a few days or weeks we may look like these ice sculptures I had seen 2 years ago in Bruges.

This is me, I had put on some winter fat before I froze

two of my cats froze while asking for treats,

Mr. G froze while drinking a beer

our bar froze too, except the bottles

and our chairs look now like this. Very refreshing when you sit on them.

So if in the next days you don't hear from me then I am frozen.

THE RIGHT ANGLE

2012-02-11T06:00:00.000+01:00

I got this per email from a friend. See, if you are in the right angle, you can make perfect pictures !

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000+01:00

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. The cold weather continues, we still have up to - 15° (2 F) or less during the nights and the days are not much better. So far only 3 people died of the cold in Belgium, one old person in her flat, another on her way home, and a third one who had Alzheimer fell in a canal. Fortunately the homeless have at least a warm bed over night, and there are rooms where they can stay during the day and they also get warm food and drinks. This is also available for those who don't have enough money to heat their home !

2. When I go out I feel as if I have doubled my volume with all these layers of clothes ! After my "warming up" in Acqua Gym, I went to a store to buy me a warmer hat, I feared loosing my ears. I also needed some warm jogging trousers for Yoga.

my Eskimo (?) hat, at least warm !

3. After Yoga with my warm trousers, I went with Dominique to her 89 year old mother, who lives in a little flat in a private retirement home. Very beautiful ! She had brought her own furniture but not too much so her living room looked real cosy. We chatted over an hour, she loves her computer and keeps herself updated on Internet ! She looks great and doesn't seem her age at all. We had a nice time with her.

4.

As the the sun was shining Ilona and I went for a walk through a huge park in Brussels, it was cold but also very beautiful. I made quiet a lot of pictures, which I will show in a later post.

5. We weren't a lot in our painting class, for some it was too cold to go outside, I had started a new painting, but run out of ideas, I think my brain starts freezing too !

WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN ?

2012-02-09T06:00:00.001+01:00

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

So many things were written about love, so I thought I don't have to rake my brain I just add my opinion, as others found it for me instead :

Love the heart that hurts you, but never hurt the heart that loves you. For that I am not a good person at all, if somebody hurts my heart, I don't love him, and I am afraid I certainly hurt hearts who loved me !

There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread. I don't know but when I am hungry I prefer bread to love !

A man is not where he lives, but where he loves. Hey, I am against mistresses !

Love is blind ! I wear glasses !

Make love not war ! was always my device

Love is the only gold. I have my doubts when I see a 20 year old marrying an 80 year old millionaire

I agree more with international proverbs :

- One who loves the vase loves also what is inside.
African Proverb

- In order to really love someone you must love him as though he was going to die tomorrow.
Arabian Proverb

- Where there is love there is no darkness.
Burundi Proverb from Burundi

- Love and let the world know, hate in silence.
Egyptian Proverb

- When one is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow.
Ethiopian Proverb

- The first love letters are written with the eyes.
French Proverb

- The heart that loves is always young.
Greek Proverb

- Love is like fog -- there is no mountain on which it does not rest.
Hawaiian Proverb

- It is love that makes the impossible possible.
Indian Proverb

- Love rules without rules.
Italian Proverb

- Where there is love, there is peace.
Myanmar Proverb

- A heart in love with beauty never grows old.
Turkish Proverb

And when you still don't know what Love is, I can't help you !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2012-02-08T06:00:00.003+01:00

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Bio/Organic Cognac (excellent for cirrosis, die healthy !)

OUR WORLD

2012-02-07T05:26:00.001+01:00

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In my part of our world a cold wave settled in and it's hard for us because we are not used to so low temperatures (- 11 til - 20°C, 12 F - more than 0 F) and many people are not equipped for that either.

That's why I thought to show you a warmer place, the room where I have my painting classes. It's the festivity room in the public retirement home of Waterloo, where all special events take place like celebrating birthdays of the 100 years old, parties, dancing lessons, card playing etc.

our painting class

During the year and for each season this big room is always nicely decorated.

But what a surprise when I arrived last week !

I entered a "Saloon"

besides the door, a boozed Cowboy was sitting. I first got a shock I thought he was real.

On the other side were "Reward" pictures, with the heads of the responsible employees of the home. Unfortunately no amount was asked for them, they didn't know what "reward" meant !

Inside on a wall, the famous Lucky Luke the cowboy "who shoots faster than his shadow", (created by the Belgian cartoonist Morris) looked down at me.

The walls were all decorated with old pictures from the "good old Far West"

Even Buffalo Bill

and Billy the Kid

Of course in a saloon the bar can't be missing, the bottles were cut out of magazines, very well done. This was the decoration for the oldies, I think it's so nice to help them to still enjoy life.
I had been told that the oldest one who danced, was 100 years old and still flirted with the 80/90th girls ! That gives hope !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000+01:00

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of February 4, 2012.

On Saturday my friend Nicole from my painting group had asked me if I would like to do a walk with her and Charly her dog and then have cake and tea in her flat.

The sun was shining although it was freezing cold (- 9° C, 15 F) but warmly dressed it was a pleasure !

Charly loves the snow ! Nicole lives in a flat, but it's like a house, each flat has a separate house door, then a little entrance hall and then a few steps leading into the appartment. Although it looks as if the houses had two floors each appartment has only one, it's a real strange construction and difficult to explain. The living room has such a high ceiling like in very old houses but it is not flat but pointy ! Her selfmade cake was delicious and the tea too !

Charly immediately brought me a piece of wood, but then prefered to nibble on it himself, he probably feared for my teeth.

Sunday morning I went to the Waterloo market to buy our Thai plate (chicken with noodles), the stands were protected against the cold by red tents. Looked rather funny. Despite the cold there were quiet a lot of people who had the same idea, to buy supper for Sunday evening.

In the afternoon I went over to Dominique and took these pictures of our "white house" from her office, where I helped her with a computer problem.

our street

cat Arthur trying camouflage in the snow.

and the weekend ended with Miss Marple, together with Dominique our neighbor !

This year our fireplace works every evening !!

FROZEN

2012-02-05T06:00:00.001+01:00

As each year (or nearly) it is the coldest winter this time we are really freezing ! This afternoon - 12 °C (10 F) in Brussels and - 20° C in the Ardennes, it's really too much.

My brain is frozen too, I suffer in silence ... (next time I complain about the rain again, I promise)

Sitting close to the open fire to warm up, if I could I would sit in the fire

Before we went to bed I opened the window to get some fresh air in, it snowed

Arthur tried the snow but then prefered to come in and use the litter box !

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE !

2012-02-04T06:00:00.001+01:00

We haven't got a postcard "From Russia with love" but immediately their temperatures ! In Brussels we reached - 11°C (12 F) in the Ardennes - 20°C (less than 0 F, my converter refused to go further down).

So when Ilona arrived in this winterly outfit in our painting class, we all laughed, but not for long because the next day

it snowed too. And if it continues like that, I will send you an S.O.S. to dig me out !!

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

2012-02-03T06:00:00.001+01:00

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. On January 31st was the last day of winter "Sales" in Belgium. We only have sales twice a year, one in summer one in winter. So as it was the last day the shops did "sales" on Sales which meant up to (or rather down to) 70 % of the original price. No wonder that everything is so expensive if they still earn something with a 70 % reduction. I thought I'll have a look in my shoeshop and I found what I was looking for since quiet some time,

a pair of little red boots real cute ! I didn't hesitate for one moment, tried them, they fitted, bought them and went home happily ! Rosie agreed to give a little special touch to the picture.

2. The left front wheel of my car was loosing air and I had to get the wheel repaired. As it took 45 min and it was freezing cold (- 6°C, 20 F) with a strong wind, I did some shopping and when I came back the car still wasn't ready. So I put my heavy shopping bag on a pile of stuff and walked through the shop to look at all gadgets which are sold for cars. Meanwhile my car was finished, I payed and went to pick up my car. Suddenly I realized that I had forgotten my shopping bag, went back to pick it up and it had disappeared. In fact the whole pile of stuff which had been in this corner had disappeared too ! I asked and was informed that my bag was in the garbadge, because I had put it in their bin ! A young man went out looked in the bin and came back with my bag ! I can tell you everybody laughed ! These things can only happen to me !

3. For my Yoga classes I badly needed a fleece jacket. I found a very nice red one still on "Sale" bought it and when I came home I thought that I should have bought two because they are so comfortable, light and warm.

4. After Yoga classes the next day I went back to the store to buy a white one but as "Sales" were over I had to pay the full price ! Only 3 € difference but still !

5. Mr. G's collegue in Computer classes, told him "I found your wife on Internet"

and gave him this picture. It was taken by a Waterloo Artist and published under "Waterloo Artists" what an honnor !

EVER MET A KLEPTOMANIAC ?

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000+01:00

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

Wikipedia explains that Kleptomania is an irresistible urge to steal items of trivial value. People with this disorder are compelled to steal things, generally, but not limited to, objects of little or no significant value. Some kleptomaniacs may not even be aware that they have committed the theft (more about kleptomania here)

Long ago when we had often supper invitations or cocktail parties, we were invited by a collegue of Mr. G. for a cocktail party. There were several couples I don't remember, but one was really special. Before they arrived our friend told us to be careful because the wife of P. was a kleptomaniac. I had never heard about this disease, and he explained me, that Nicole stole little things in each house where they were invited. She stole and her husband brought the things back the next day. I found this really funny at that time, because I imagined myself stealing spoons or figurines or whatever and Mr. G. bringing them back the next morning.

This time she stole 2 silver spoons and a little silver plate, which P brought back the same evening, because he had checked his Nicole's purse and had found these things.

She was a very sympathic and beautiful woman, had a lot of charm and nobody ever would have believed that she was a kleptomaniac.

We met her often at suppers, parties or cocktails and I really liked her. And each time it was the same. She stole little things, and once even a perl necklace, and her husband brought all back wherever they were invited. Finally I did like the others, I found it normal, she was like that and that was it.

Fortunately she never stole in a shop only when she was with friends. Hard to explain such a behavior, she consulted psycologists and psychiatrists on her own wish, because she knew what was "wrong" with her, but nobody could help her. So she accepted her disease together with her husband and was even able to make jokes about it !

She was the first and only Kleptomane I ever met. Once in our house she stole a little "bonbonnière" in ceramic (A small, ornate box ) without any value and I hadn't even noticed that it was missing. Next day I got it back from her husband with a twinkle in his eye ! Today I wonder if he didn't find it exciting that he had a "thief" as wife !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2012-02-01T06:00:00.001+01:00

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Bush beer on tap

typical Sunday morning in Brussels, playing cards in a Tavern (Café)

OUR WORLD - Theatre

2012-01-31T06:00:00.001+01:00

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A different part of my world in our world is going to the theatre especially in winter time.

This time I saw the play The 39 steps which also had been adapted as a film by Hitchcock.

The Theatre called "Le Public" is in Brussels, and because of the lack of parking spaces in front of the theatre a shuttle picked us up outside a car park.

The entrance

Once inside you have the opportunity to have a glass at the bar or a supper in the restaurant, because you have to go through both on your way to the Theatre hall. I had never been in such a cosy Theatre. Of course you can also eat and drink after the play.

Pictures of actors were hanging on the walls.

Behind this nice painting was the cloakroom

The entrance to the theatre room

where the decorations for the different plays were standing just there. You can see a pile of suitcases on the left.

The stage was in the middle and we spectators were sitting all around. The seats were not numbered and I was lucky that we had catched a seat in the last row, because at least we had a nice overlook on the whole stage. The once sitting in the first row had to turn their heads all the time to follow the actions !

The room had a curved ceiling and was supported by metallic columns fortunately not too large so that they didn't disturb the view.

a shot of the play

and the 4 actors who kept our attention for 2 h !!

It was a very pleasant evening !

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000+01:00

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of January 14, 2012.

Although I nearly always start with a the weather report, which might be boring, but at least next year I can compare ! I am about sure that last year we had a lot of snow and sunshine at this time.

On Saturday a miracle happened and the sun came out, so I "jumped" in my car to go photo hunting. When I am really photo hunting for a special theme, I like to be alone. I was looking for "twigs" (for my next week's Saturday's Photo Hunting theme) When I made the theme list I didn't think about sunshine or not ! My camera filled with twig pictures, I stopped in an electro store and bought a thermometer for my room which is wireless and shows me the inside and outside temperatures. Now I know exactly when I have to have cold and when I should be warm.

In the afternoon I went to my neighbor Vivi who had her 73rd birthday (how time flies by, we know each other when we were respectively 33 and 38 years old !) She has got a WII from her daughter and granddaughter because they had decided that she should move a bit more. Unfortunately I couldn't try it out because they didn't have enough batteries. So she decided to invite us for a WII evening ! I am very curious, because I have never played with it. I have seen on TV that WIIs are installed more and more in retirement homes, to keep the residents active ! When I saw them having such a lot of fun, I found it a very good idea to keep oldies busy !

Coming soon for Mr. G !

On Sunday winter moved in and for the first time this year I had to take out my winter coat, gloves, scarf and a warm berret, to go to the market ! It was - 2°C (27 F) ! No sunshine but grey and wet.
I wouldn't have gone, but I needed bread and 2 portions of Tartiflette for supper. The guy who sells it does it himself and it is delicious.

The rest of the day I stayed home in the warmth of the hearth and sorted out my pictures !

THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS

2012-01-28T06:00:00.003+01:00

I have no time today (Sunday) to write a new post because we have to downsize for the reasons listed below and move into a smaller house.

I am visiting this house today, and I hope it is small enough !

******

Everybody knows that we live in a time of an economical crisis !

We have to eat rotten cheese

dried meat

drink very old wine

take our bath in the yard

and drive a roofless car !

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

2012-01-27T06:00:00.001+01:00

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. Now that I am old at least in my passport, I started to do sport ! I have never liked any sport at all, except dancing which is also a kind of sport. Now I go twice a week to sport activities ! Acqua Gym and Yoga. Apparently it's never too late and I love it.

2. I had made some pictures of my cats on tuesday evening more than a week ago by now and had taken my camera out of it's case. Ever since we are both looking for the red case which in reality is a little red wallet, Mr. G. went through the whole garbadge, looked in the fridge and other impossible places, my cleaning lady looked too, behind and under the furniture, with the result that it is still missing. It must be in the house as I had used it in the evening before I went to bed, but the big question is : Where ?? I wouldn't care that much, but in the wallet was also my spare battery and a friend's USB key with pictures on it ! We still hope that we will find it once in a blue moon.

3. I have been to the theatre with my friend and neighbor Dominique, it was really very nice because it was a quiet small one and only 4 actors who kept our attention for 2 h !

The stage was in the middle and the public sitting around. With little means they had made a very good performance.

4. When I arrived in our city's retirement home where we have our painting class in the big celebration room, I thought I was in the wrong place !

The Christmas decoration was gone and instead I found myself in a "Saloon" ! The whole place was decorated as a Saloon, a stuffed cowboy was sitting in front of the door and inside there were lots of old pictures hanging. Now I wonder if some of the old residents had been in the States and brought these pictures back to Belgium, or if they had been found on a flea market. It was really very nicely done and I am sure all the 80 to 100 years old residents will enjoy the new decoration, which was made with their help.

5. Nothing else special happened only the usual routine.

I LOVE TO WEAR JELLABAS

2012-01-26T06:00:00.001+01:00

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

The Jellaba, also called Djellaba or Kaftan refers to the Moroccan garment without hood

The origins of the Jellaba go back to the Ottoman Empire, as it was one of the finest Ottoman clothing worn by the elite. Like other garments, it has gone through changes over the years. Men and women wear Jellabas equally. They are also worn in Egypt.

Jellabas protect against the heat, the cold, the wind and the sand. It's a very comfortable garment and exists in different materials for warm and cold weather.

As a foreigner in Morocco or Egypt, you can wear any type of traditional clothing. It is perfectly acceptable and even well appreciated. In winter, a man can wear a woolen djellaba over his clothes to keep warm. And, if a woman has invited people over to celebrate a holiday, she can put on a Jellaba to receive her guests.

In Morocco, women wear it during special occasions like a wedding. The Jellaba is the basic garment of the bride on her wedding day. It is also worn under a takshita, which is another beautifully decorated gown with traditional, hand-made buttons on the front, wide sleeves and a thick belt worn around the waist (see picture below).

There are also very beautiful Jellabas with handmade broderie and semi precious stones, which are worn as evening garments.

My very first Jellaba I bought in Egypt on a cruise on the Nile.

It was thrown on board for the tourists to buy from Egyptians sitting in little boats. The money we put in a basket and let it down to the boat with a cord. I still wear it on special occasions when I am on holidays, it's the one with the long sleeves. The turquoise one is for summer when it's very warm.

They are so easy to wear on your bathsuit, when you have to go for lunch or supper in a hotel.
These once I also bought in Egypt, until I realized that I can find them in Brussels on the big Sunday market, because there are a many Morrocans who live here. The price is between 8 and 10 €, (13 $) so it's not worthwhile to buy them in Egypt or Morocco and to carry them home. It's about the same price.

Since I discovered the Jellaba, I also wear it at home instead of a dressing gown, these two once are for the winter and in velvet. The red one I bought in the UK in an Indian shop in 2007 ! It had been washed and washed and still looks nearly new !

At least if some unexpected visitors come in the morning they find me in an "evening dress" !

And when Claudie Commedia Land came for a week to Brussels, she also bought a Jellaba !

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000+01:00

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OUR WORLD - Troc

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000+01:00

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When in my part of our world it's raining (again), a nice place to visit and to see funny, strange or exotic decorations or furniture, is "Troc" which means "exchange" but it's rather a slang word.

When you have to empty an household for various reasons, because you move, or somebody died, you can put all things in this store to have it sold and of course they take a little commission.

Near Brussels is one of the "Troc" stores.

The entrance was full of mirrors of all kind and styles

a blue skeleton welcomed me. Unfortunately I forgot to look at the price. Maybe one of you wants to have it for your entry.

paintings, paintings, paintings, some good, some ridiculous, some funny and sometimes a real bargain.

This counts also for furniture tablewear or decorations

For everybody's taste there is something

Vases, masks, buddhas

an old radiator, a cooker and a vacuum cleaner

The frog made me laugh

lamps and also modern furniture

and if you need, an antique craddle is also available.

You can spend hours in there, sometimes I find a little thing to buy, but I have also bought some very nice furniture in the past, a real bargain.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001+01:00

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of January 14, 2012.

Once again we had a lousy weather during the weekend ! As it rained my friend Ilona and I decided to go to Ikea to make a little walk at least there it was warm and it didn't rain.

Ilona becomes great great grandma in April (we have the same age !!) and I am now grandma of 14 month old Toby, therefore we had a look at the Kid's section. Ilona didn't buy anything yet, because she is supersticious and thinks it is not good to buy something for a not yet born baby. I fell in love with wooden toys and bought this little wagon filled with cubes, so that he has something more to play with when he comes to visit us.

He can pull it and build houses or whatever with the cubes.

Skype is a great invention for far living grandparents to keep a contact with their grandchildren, but it is boring for such a little one only to see Mr. G. and my face.

To amuse him I bought this tiger and with my fingers opened and closed the mouth and held it in front of my face. He found this very amusing and laughed.

My fingers I had covered with these little figures, so we could have a "conversation".

We spent quiet some time at Ikea and I also bought a lamp for my desk. Then we went to Ilona's and had a nice cup of hot tea !

Next day it didn't rain. A friend of my painting group had asked me to go with her to the big Brussels "Midi Market" as she had never been there. It was very windy and therefore also quiet cold, but we were both warmly wrapped in our coats.

She couldn't believe the cheap prices and bought fabric to make curtains for her bedroom, for only 5 € /m (6.40 $) ! She could hardly believe it because usually for a good quality you pay more than the double in a store.

I bought 6 pairs of socks for Mr. G. for 3 € (3.88 $) !

and our supper for Sunday evening, roasted chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans.

She also bought 3 sweaters and warm socks. Before we took the train back to Waterloo, we had a cup of coffee in the station. Once again the train was 5 min late. When we all sat in the train, we were told to go from platform 21 to platform 15. Everybody got up carried his stuff down the escalator and up to platform 15. When we were all seated, we were told that the train would leave on platform 21, so we all went down and up again to platform 21 where we had come from. Nobody told us if this would be the right train and we all sat there, the doors closed and waited. No ticket controller or another station employee in view. After 20 min the train moved and then a voice told us that we were in the right train ! It's a real adventure to take a train in Belgium. Delays happen all the time for different reasons. I still don't know what happened, on Friday a man had thrown himself on the rails, I hope this time it wasn't another suicide !

NEW FIRST NAMES IN FASHION

2012-01-22T06:00:00.001+01:00

I read an article in our newspaper about new first names. So I thought, if ever you become a mom or a grandma in the near future and you have to choose a name for the baby to come, here are some nice examples of first names given by famous parents ! I don't know all these "famous people" but I start to doubt about their mental health !

Imagine you have to call your daughter or son from the 3rd floor or from the other side of the street :

Harper Seven (Beckham) H aaaaaa rrrr ppp eer S e v e n ! that sounds quiet ridiculous. And if these poor children have to learn to write their name at school .... Bluebell Madonna Halliwell ?? That's a long word to write for a little one.

Bluebell Madonna. (Ex Spice Girl Geri Halliwell)

Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo, Petal Blossom et Buddy Bear. (Jamie Oliver)

Bear Blu (Alicia Silverstone) will certainly be called blue bear

Mirabella Bunny… Brian Adams

Kal-El (Nicolas Cage)

Kingston James McGregor, and Zuma Nesta Rock. (Gavin Rosdale)

Dweezil, Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen, Moon Unit and Ahmet Emuukha Rodan (Frank Zappa)

Rumer Glenn, Tallulah Belle et Scout LaRue. (Bruce Willis, I thought he was a little more "normal")

Bronx Mowgli (Ashley Simpson)

Apple and Moses. (Gwyneth Paltrow)

Pilot Inspektor (Jason Lee)

Fifi Trixi Belle, Blossom Honey Peaches, Little Pixie (Bob Geldof)

But maybe you like these names, so you have some choice here.

EXCUSE LETTERS FROM PARENTS

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001+01:00

- My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.

- Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, and I had her shot.

- Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.

- John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

- Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

- Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

- Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

- Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.

- Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

- Sally won't be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.

- My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the Marines."

- Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well."

- Please excuse Susan, she has been sick and under the doctor.

- Mary was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever, and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night."

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

2012-01-20T06:00:00.001+01:00

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. A miracle happened, winter had moved in, it was cold with frost everywhere and the sun was shining ! What a changement to the last weeks with rain. After Acqua Gym, where we were in warm water and could look on frost white grass, I thought I make a little walk through the city center, but I had forgotten that all boutiques were closed on Mondays, because they are open on Saturdays. (A weekend has to have two days off) Only the bigger stores were open. Anyway there was nothing special in the windows so I returned home.

2. I did my weekly shopping to fill in the empty fridge. I also started Yoga classes again, it was the first time after 3 years, but with another group and in another location also organized and supported by the city for seniors. The room was much bigger and had a beautiful view on a green field, and the teacher a very friendly man. After Yoga we all went to the café which is located just besides the hall and had a drink together. It was real fun.

3. Of course I needed a new outfit for the Yoga so I went to look for some large and comfortable trousers, found the perfect one and with an old T-shirt I am now ready for next week.

4. When I woke up yesterday, it was again raining cats and dogs, the cold and sunny winter weather had gone. I wanted to do some photo hunting after painting classes, but it rained too much. Instead I spent the afternoon by sorting out and filing my photos in the computer.

5. I finally put away the last sign of Christmas which was my "season" basket, still full with the Christmas decoration and arranged it for the next few months, until I get fed up and do a new decoration.