Killing calves

My husband claims my killing calves drew his attention when he first met me. He thought I was a sports fanatic and that maybe I loved to go biking. Because that's what my calves told him..

That is so funny, since I'm not sporty at all. Maybe my calves are a result of walking on high heels for over 20 years? I don't know. I surely don't do anything - except for shaving them silky smooth and treating them with body lotion - to make them look appealing. Although my legs are a bit short (I'm not tall either), I do like my legs so yes, you will often see me wear dresses or skirts. The time hasn't been that good this year, so my legs still need to get a tan, but I'm sure the Florida sun will solve that issue.

Sorry hun, you'll have to ride that bike all by yourself. Or invite our sister-in-law, she's looking for a partner to ride bikes together!

I forgot to breathe..

This series of pictures is my favorite. Honestly, I don't know where your friend got the inspiration, but she surely did a great job! Look at the strength of the picture, come on! The little hairs in the back of my neck stood up. I would really like to have them all printed and framed. It's an extraordinary collection Lana. I'm so proud of you!

Photo taken by Helen Almey

I save the day

It must have been 1985. I was in High School at the time. Roberto Jacketti and the Scooters was a Dutch group and they were popular back then, trust me. I had this brilliant idea to contact the group and ask them to come play their music in our school. I was so excited and couldn't wait to tell my friends about it!

It didn't take long before the group wrote me back (no email in those days!). They agreed to come to Ieper and perform in our school: for free! Ha! Really, come on! Who would do that??? I asked some friends to help me organize this great event and contacted the principal. He thought it were a very good plan to let them come perform in the last week of that school year.

Too bad I never heard them sing.. For some reason (don't ask me what reason - I don't even know the reason), my mother told me I was not going. I was devastated and nobody understood. Both the class teacher and the principal called my mother to persuade her to change her mind. But that's not the kind of person she is. She had made up her mind that I wouldn't have a wonderful afternoon with my friends.. She didn't save the day. I never forgot.

I save the day...

I'm totally zen

What's the perfect way to give yourself total relaxation?
A massage?
A long walk along a pristine beach? Classical music or a romantic movie?

I'm not very good at relaxing. Some years ago, I signed up for a number of relaxation classes. The silence in the room freaked me out in advance. I wanted to hear some music instead of that deadly silence. But that was not going to happen. I heard nothing but my own breath and that could not give me any relaxation.

Comfort food makes me zen. Honestly.. Having spent time near my stove before I sink down in a chair to enjoy that one perfect meal. Total relaxation! I keep some recipes handy for these moments. How about a comforting apple crumble?

what do we need:

• 4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 50 grams of real butter
• 50 grams of sugar
• 80 grams of plain flour
• 80 grams of cold butter, cut into pieces
• 80 grams of demerara sugar

what do we do:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Heat a pan on the stove. Melt the butter and bake the apple slices until nearly done.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the fruit and let it simmer for a while, until the apples caramelize.
• Fill 4 ovenproof bowls with the apple slices and press well.
• Mix the flour with the butter and the sugar until you get fine crumbs that look like sand.
• Divide the crumble over the 4 bowls and make sure all of the fruit is covered with crumble.
• Bake the apple crumble for 25 min or until golden.
• Serve plain, with vanilla ice cream or clotted cream.
• Dive in!

A road untraveled

Photo by Eva Joos

Not even a full month difference in age, these two beautiful young girls should be growing up in similar circumstances. They are young, pretty, intelligent and articulate. They have friends, they socialize, they like boys, music and movies. There's one big difference: one has diabetes, the other doesn't..

It doesn't show that one girl has diabetes. There's no warning sign around her neck or anything. If you don't know, you wouldn't tell. But it's there. It won't go away either, since it's a chronic disease.

I got to meet this one girl and her mom this year. It breaks my heart to know that this girl - that is so similar to our 16 yo daughter - was given this stupid disease. She didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't her fault nor the fault of her family. Just like that, her pancreas decided it no longer wanted to produce insulin. Our daughter has a pancreas that is doing just fine. I'm happy for her. It's no joy to have diabetes, especially not if you're 16. You just wanna fit in and be like all the other 16 year olds. You don't want to have any "condition" or be "unique in some way".

She's doing great, despite the diabetes. She's a responsible young lady. Due to her medical condition, she has to be very aware of what she eats, whether she works out or not, what time she goes to bed and what time she wakes up. Her life will no longer be like it was before she was diagnosed. I'm proud of her though. I'm proud of the way she copes and how she keeps going. Of course, every now and then she hates the insulin pens and she curses the diabetes. Her tears won't make D go away, but they will relieve the hurt.

Both our daughters have met this girl and her mom. I'm glad they have. Our girls take their health for granted. Not all children have that same good health. Some kids struggle. But then again: they persevere and they take good care of themselves and despite their deficiency they have a bright future ahead of them. Because they are brave and they don't give up.

Sixteen year old girls are supposed to have fun in life and shouldn't have to worry about anything. They shouldn't take their health for granted. We only have one body and we should take good care of it. Honor that body and don't ruin it. Be grateful for your health. It's a gift.

You think?

There is not one single day without me getting on that scale. I'm getting better at it though. I used to step on the scale several times a day: when I got right out of bed, after I went to the bathroom, after breakfast, when I finished showering..

Why is that number on the scale so important to us, women? Is it the pressure from society? Is it a lack of self-esteem? Is it health issue related?

Maybe we should just trash that scale. Seriously. It might do us good and we might get rid of the frustration the scale brings us too often.

I really like the idea of this scale. If only it would exist, I would treat myself on a similar balance. It's so much nicer to us than the ones we're used to.
I hear skinny women do the balance gimmick too. You know: weighing themselves several times a day. Some because they think they're not thin enough yet. Others because they are dying to gain some weight and it won't stick to their bones.  It seems we think in numbers at all times. Maybe we should just be happy with who we are and what we look like, to a certain extend. Only if your (mental) health is at stake, one should consider dieting. I hear about these young girls - some as young as 9 - that start cutting back on the cals. That's very troublesome.. Young girls shouldn't have to worry about their weight or appearance. If they start dieting at such a young age, their metabolism gets disturbed heavily. It's a never ending story.. You really don't want your daughters to go through such an ordeal.

I think I'm gonna promise myself not to get on that scale on a daily basis. How about no more than 2 times a week?

The reason why

For about 6 months, I took care of you and your (at the time) 4 siblings. There were two of us, two au pairs, to take care of you all.
There was your oldest brother, a very bright kid and very responsible. He was eager to learn and he always got good grades. Your sister just started primary school and reading and writing was what she liked to do best. She was a very pretty girl with long, black, shiny hair. I loved to read to her when she was ready to go to bed. This brother and sister were very good at playing the piano together, dressed in their best outfits.
The next in line was another boy. A bit more shy but at the same time full of life and sometimes mischief. Not meant in a bad way, he was just a little boy who liked to have fun and fool around. He loved to play in his room and the two of us had long conversations.
Then there was you. You had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. I still have your pictures. All of you children had special names, but yours I had never heard before. You were a special little boy, only 3 at the time. You liked to cuddle and I always thought you would break many hearts because the girls would fall for you by the dozen.. You liked to sit in my lap and we would sing songs together.
Your baby sister just learned how to walk. She was the little princess of the house and we all liked to pamper her.
I got to know my husband and I got pregnant. I left your house. Later, I learned you got another baby sister. There were 6 of you then. A beautiful family in a house like a castle..

I heard the awful news just the other day. It hit me in the face. It was so surreal. You decided you no longer wanted to remain in this world. What happened that life wasn't worth living any more? Why, sweet little boy.. why? I assume you had your reasons and maybe life wasn't that good for you as people thought. I hear you had so many friends. They will all miss you. So will your family. You will always remain one of 6. To me, you will always be that little boy with the bright eyes and the wonderful smile. RIP Augustin. I hope you will find the tranquillity you needed so desperately..

MOF MOF

Minimum of fuss, maximum of flavor. That's how Antonio Carluccio would name this pesto sauce. It's so easy to make and it comes in real handy. Toss it with home made cappellini, spread it on thick slices of ciabatta as an appetizer or use it to cover your gnocchi. It's so good and it can't be compared to store bought pesto. Just give it a try. It's a no fail recipe.

what do we need:

• 1 bunch of basil or rocket
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 30 grams of pine nuts
• a generous dash of salt
• 50 ml of olive oil
• 60 grams of parmigianno reggiano 

what do we do:

• Remove the stalks and just keep the leaves. Chop them roughly.
• Get your blender out of its box and throw in the basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt. 
• Blend. 
• Add most of the oil through the opening of your operating blender.
• Open the blender, add the cheese and some more oil.
• Blend again.
• Done!

This pesto is ready to use or can be frozen. I like to freeze it in single servings. Great for a fast one person meal.

Pitch perfect

This is my favorite dish of the month: Asian steak salad. It's just pitch perfect! Just try it. I'm sure you won't regret the effort.

what do we need:

• 2 sirloin steaks
• 4 baked potatoes, quartered (not peeled)
• 2 boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
• a small tin of lima beans, drained
• 2 tablespoons of cashew nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• mixed greens
• 2 spring onions, chopped diagonally
• 1 onion, divided in rings
• oil
• marinade for the steak:
• 2 tablespoons of sweet-and-sour sauce
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• a few drops of hot sauce
• dressing for the salad:
• a piece of fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon of liquid honey
• a few drops of hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons of orange juice
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of oil

what do we do:

• Use a meat hammer to flatten the steaks.
• Marinate the beef for 15 minutes.
• Dress your plates with salad, cashew nuts, egg, potatoes, lima beans. 
• Sprinkle the dressing over your salad.
• Grill the beef shortly in a hot pan.
• Cut the meat in wide strips and drape them over the salad.
• Fry the onions in some oil and top the beef with the onions.
• Sprinkle with spring onion.

You look first class!

We drove from Bruges - an unexpected visit to your orthodontist - to Antwerp in no time. We wanted to do some shopping first. Eva needed new jeans and I was thrilled that it didn't take all day to find the pair she had set her eyes on.. We grabbed an Asian lunch in the mall and shopped some more. We had to keep in mind that we're leaving for Florida in two weeks, so we had to make sure we have some money left to spend abroad!

In the afternoon we had a beauty appointment in a wellness center in Antwerp. It was a treat for my little girl.. She deserved this arrangement after a year of studying and working hard in school. She was really excited to get pampered. She first got a foot rub and peeling to help her relax. The facial was her favorite though. Her skin looked so smooth and soft after the massage and oil treatment. Time to wash and blow dry her hair, before someone else took over and gave her a subtile make-up, adapted to her age. I could tell my little girl was happy. And that's all that mattered.. She looked first class!

Nighttime lows

Low blood sugars don't bother me too much during the daytime. They get solved rapidly and they don't make me feel too crappy. Nighttime lows though, are not that pleasant. Some are worse than others and some really freak me out. If I experience a 25 mg/dl during the day, I still function and do whatever I need to do. The other night I had a stupid 51 mg/dl, but the symptoms were so different. Sweat drops crawled down my spine, my face was pale and my lips were stinging. I had a hard time to focus and although I keep coke and cookies on my night stand, I decided they weren't good enough so I had to find my way out of the bedroom (that alone was hard enough) and stumble down the stairs. I felt like sh*t although 51 mg/dl is not even that low. I managed to find the right amount of cookies I needed to solve that hypo and started munching on them right away. Just having some juice or coke would've been much more efficient, but at the time, that's not something that crossed my mind. Your mind isn't working real well while experiencing a hypoglycemia. Crawling back upstairs, with my hands full of wrappers and cookies, my eyes had a hard time to focus. Those legs felt like rubber bands and at a certain time, I feared falling down the stairs. At a slow pace I moved on and I took my time to get back to my room. Those cookies tasted like heaven and I could feel life come back into my veins. My heart was still pounding way too fast and that's not normal for 51 mg/dl lows. Strange..

The 124 mg/dl morning reading surprised me though. After that abundance of cookies (I didn't eat the wrappers, but I know I had gobbled way too many carbs...), that is an odd number. I would've expected a reading of at least 250 mg/dl. So maybe that 51 mg/dl was only a sign of a blood sugar that was dropping really fast. Don't mess with me, body of mine. I don't like you!

Appetitoso

I was surprised when you called me. Not because you never call me - we do call each other quite often - but because you wanted to invite me to have lunch with you. What did you expect? That I'd say no to a wonderful lunch with an exceptional lady? Not!

I had no idea where you would take me, but I knew it would be a nice place. I normally don't like surprises, but I sure liked yours! Belga Queen Ghent was a very good choice! Despite the autumn weather, we could sit outside and enjoy our excellent three course meal. I was real happy to be there with you. Perfect scenery, great company and delicious food. Thanks for the invitation. You rock!

Because I'm crazy

Children and dogs can be compared to a certain degree. Especially if it comes to mischief on rainy days. Do you remember how your children behaved when it was rainy outside? Exactly! It was like they had had a humongous sugar boost, leading to overexcitement, hyper behavior and crazy circumstances..

The whippets are just like kids in bad weather.. They can't keep themselves busy. They want to go outside and then again maybe not. Or just for one minute.. or 10 minutes. Racing through the house like madmen, leaving a trail of wet paws on the floor. Throwing themselves on the couch, barking at one another and making foolish movements. They are just hilarious but very exhausting..

But hey.. don't we all suffer on rainy days? We are grumpier than usual and we have no energy. That's why I have my weekly dose of vitamin D. But I'm not sure whether the dogs need vitamins or not. They look pretty normal and healthy and their fur is shiny and silky smooth. I just know they prefer the sun to warm their bones up to the point where their brain starts to cook. That's when they crawl back inside to find a cool spot. They are so lethargic after their sun bath. A totally different situation of what we can observe at this instant..

A culinary masterpiece

I couldn't help it, but this message almost made me burst into tears. That was just too funny.

This friend and I both like to cook and we have the same values when it comes to good food. So we send each other recipes and ideas and we love to discuss food and food magazines. When he sent me this link "a culinary masterpiece", I was thrilled to open it and enjoy the pleasure of an extraordinary recipe. He sure made me laugh..

It is a fun idea to do with kids though. Well, that is small kids. Mine are too big for this kind of fun. They would give me that "are you kidding me?" look and I wouldn't blame them.

So buddy: thanks for making me smile. It worked!

Slip sliding away

You girls are so funny! Not that rainy days are the best days ever, but little Inthe is crazy about racing around in the pouring rain. So I couldn't deprive them from going outside for a quick walk around the soccer field. Rebba isn't a big fan of cloudy days and rain is a real turn off. But she didn't want to let Inthe go by herself, so she put on her leash too and she came along.

It was hilarious to see Inthe race around the field with a flat soccer ball in her mouth. She went bananas! Rebba was standing under the roof, looking for shelter. But then again, she felt like stretching her legs too. So we encouraged her until she found the guts to get out there and make some wonderful slidings. I should have brought the camera, to make brilliant pictures of the grass flying in the air and the splattering water coming out of the soil.

Racing around in muddy fields leads to taking a bath afterwards. The girls are not very fond of taking a bath, but nevertheless, they undergo it. I spread an old towel in the tub, before I fill it with warm water. It keeps them from slipping away. No slidings in the bath tub, thank you. You do seem to like the shampoo part and me rubbing your dirty bellies. I have to be real fast to dry you off, before you start shaking your body from head to tail. You smell wonderful girls! And your fur is all shiny again!

An offer I can't refuse

Although I had already done my preparations for dinner, I was happy with your suggestion to go out to dinner last night. Both girls are in summer camp and it's nice to have some private time together. I put the preparations in the fridge for the next day and chose another outfit: my new polka dot dress. After all, if you're invited to a date, you try to look your best huh?

Hubby must have read my mind, since he suggested we'd go out for mussels. I really like mussels, although I don't want to have them that often. Just once or twice a year. I like my mussels pure. No fuss, no cream or alcohol. Just mussels. I skipped on the French fries and bread as well. Because I really wanted to taste what we came for: luscious seafood. And I truly enjoyed my dinner. It felt good to have a date with my husband, especially because he had taken the initiative. Too bad he had the early shift this morning, so we had to end our evening.. Nine more days at work and then: time for vacation!!!

I'm gonna pack my bags

It's your turn, cupcake! Your bags are packed and daddy checked your bike to make sure you'll make a safe trip to your destination in Limburg. You and your friends will ride 170 km in 2 days. What a shame it's still pouring out there.. I hope you'll be able to keep yourself warm. There are spare clothes in your backpack and enough snacks and drinks for 2 days. You wanted a chicken curry pasta for lunch and some bread rolls for later on. You do need your munchies!

Your sister isn't home yet and now you're gone too. It'll be quiet around the house. But not for too long. Sweetie pie will be back tomorrow by noon and she'll have a lot to tell. Don't forget to memorize your stories too, huh?

I'm sure you and your friends will have a blast. You always do. You have been looking forward to this summer camp for weeks and it's finally there! Enjoy sweetie!!!!!

Chirolokalen Overpelt Centrum
Chiro Ekyrpak - Lana Joos
Ravotterkespad 2
3900 Overpelt
Belgium

Photo by Eva Joos

When will Cupid strike?

Sweet little Inthe... We won't be able to let you run without a leash in the meadow for a while.. You're on heat. There may be potential lovers around the corner, waiting to seduce you. I'm sure you would be very willing to mate, but we have decided you will never be a mommy. Meaning you can't date or find a mate. Does your tummy hurt? You lay down on the couch, looking at us with that special puppy look and then you cry. It's heart breaking. That's when we wrap you in your favorite blanket, so you can take a nap.

Let's hope your period will be over soon. At least, before we leave for Florida. Because in your dog hotel, there are too many handsome male whippets. We just can't take the risk. Around the house, you wear your special black undies, but they wouldn't keep a male dog away.

We'll pamper you sweetheart, don't worry. You're in good hands.

That's who I am

Photo by Lana Joos

It's so good to see you happy.. You look radiant and loved and very elegant. Is it the age or has something happened lately?

You sometimes worry about getting older and getting more wrinkles. But you know what? The wrinkles don't matter, neither does aging. You are still you, only wiser by the year.

I like to hang out with you. There's always something to talk about and there's not one encounter where we don't burst into tears - caused by pranking jokes or just telling stories.

Happy Birthday SiL! You rock!

There's no place like home..

but it's great to take a break every now and then.

We're getting ready for our next holiday in Florida. This time, Hubby and the kids will join me. We're really looking forward to this vacation. Hubby has worked real hard all year and he's so longing for some time off. I'm making plans for the 14 days we're going to spend abroad. Booking the trip, arranging a rental car (I picked out a wonderful Chrysler - after all, we're in the States, right?), planning our outings, getting our passports and ESTA forms, making reservations at the pet hotels for the whippets and the cat,.. There's still so much to do!

This time, our stay in Florida will be a little bit different from the stay I had in January of this year. This time will be more of a family vacation instead of a vacation with grown up friends. We won't go out three times a day to grab food. I'm sure we'll do breakfast in the apartment, a light lunch on the road and a home cooked dinner at night. We'll definitely go out for breakfast once or twice during our stay, no doubt about that. But I'm sure the girls will enjoy breakfast on the deck a lot more.

We'll do a lot of shopping in the several malls in the Kissimmee area. There's a lot to see in the neighborhood as well. A trip to Cape Canaveral to please dad, combined with a visit to Cocoa Beach to make the girls happy. One of the girls wants to go to Disney, the other one only wants to visit Universal Studios, so we'll have to make up our minds somehow. We'll pay Old Town another visit, because I do want my family to experience the atmosphere of that special Saturday Night amongst cars from the fifties and their owners.

I'm looking forward to sitting by the pool and enjoy the view over the lake. There's no place like home... and Kissimmee is starting to feel like a second home..

Splish Splash

I just read this text on how men take a shower and I couldn't do anything else but roll over the floor and laugh. This is just too much, but so true!

How men take a shower..

Sit on the side of your bed, strip off your clothes and drop them right by your feet.
Step over that pile of clothes and stroll to the bathroom, a towel tied around your waist.
If you accidently happen to cross your wife in the hallway, drop the towel and shake your private parts.
Look at your male appearance in the mirror. Rub your Humpty Dumpty belly like it's your biggest achievement.
Pull in that abdomen to see if you've already developed some chest muscles (not).
Turn on the water.
Don't look for a wash cloth, since you don't use any.
Wash and rinse your body in 5 minutes.
Wash and rinse your private parts in 15 minutes.
Wash your bum.
Shampoo your hair and skip the conditioner.
Make a shampoo mohawk.
Open the shower door, admire yourself and giggle.
Rinse yourself.
Get out of the shower, look for a towel and smell it. If the smell is bearable: dry yourself and drop the wet towel on the floor.
Step over the wet towel and go back to your bedroom.
If you cross your wife in the hallway, shake your private parts.
Roll over your bed to dry off your back..

Bicycle Race

I still can't believe I signed up for a bicycle ride with my diabetes friends... O lord.. You all know I hate bikes, but this time, the love for my friends is more important than the displeasure riding a bike gives me.
I'm not even going to try to put my bike in the trunk of the car. I'll rent one. That might be safer as well, since my bike is being used for spare parts for everybody else's bike.

There will be around 10 people I guess. It'll be good to see my friends and have a chitchat. That is, if I can still catch my breath.. Is there enough time left to reconsider my registration for this totally out of your mind bicycle race???

Bye bye for a little while

We're all a little nervous this morning. Last night, you packed the last items since today, you're leaving for summer camp. You haven't slept much. Too much excitement, I guess? You will meet up with your friends in Bruges around noon, where all of you will take the bus to Durbuy. Last year, you went to that same summer camp and you loved it! This year will be different. It will also be the moment where you and your schoolfriends will enjoy each other's company for the last time. Most kids have chosen different schools for September. It will be a special week for all of you.

I'm glad I have the chance to bring you to the meeting point. It would be a whole lot more difficult if I would be working. We'll go out for lunch first, before I drop you off at the bus stop. Your bags weigh like you put rocks in them! Sweetheart, come on, 7 pairs of shoes??? You're such a girly girl..

Don't forget to brush your teeth! I'm sure you'll have more candy than you can handle, but that's part of the fun. You picked out your favorite treats at the store and you're looking forward to sharing them with your friends.

The weather is less exciting.. You were really unhappy, since you planned on wearing shorts and skirts and little dresses. Instead, you had to bring sweaters and pants and socks. I'm sure there will be rain cheque activities planned. They won't let you do death rides in the pouring rain. I hope..

Have fun!!! We'll miss you!!! xxx

La Petite Merveille
t.a.v. Eva JOOS
Rue comte Th. D'Ursel 51
6940 DURBUY

Photo by Lana Joos

Mise-en-place

There's probably not one cooking show on TV that I don't watch. I love those programs! It's a whole lot of fun and entertainment comes along with it. But I also learn a lot from the candidates and their chefs. How to properly use a cook's knife for example. Or kitchen terminology like chiffonade. I knew the technique, but the name was new to me.

Mise-en-place is a lot of work, but it makes cooking so much easier. By the time you really have to start the cooking part, you're totally zen and at ease. I like to chop vegetables and herbs and get ready to cook. Sorting out the spices and the needy ingredients, will keep you from a last minute rush to the store. It is hateful once you're cooking, to realize you're out of cream or eggs. Some things can be left out or substituted, but mostly it will just aggravate and disappoint you, for not having read the recipe properly in advance. I'm not used to following a recipe to the T, but I do try to use most of the star ingredients. I mean, you can't make a proper béarnaise sauce without tarragon, can you?

Worst cooks in America is the show I've been watching lately. I really feel bad for those grown ups, that simply don't have a clue of what cooking is about. They either never tried it or they dislike it or I don't know what their excuse is, but life is so much easier if you know how to cook simple, healthy meals in little time. It doesn't take 2 hours in the kitchen to prepare a decent meal, as many people think. Going out for take away is probably stealing more time from you than cooking your own meal. It all comes to organization, planning and having ingredients in your pantry and fridge. I dare you: what are you going to cook today?

High Tea

I believe the English cuisine not to be the best, but their High Tea can surely please me. The atmosphere, the gestures, the special treats.. there's something that really makes me tick.

Something I make on a regular basis, must be English muffins. They cannot be compared to American muffins (a sort of moist cupcake) at all. They are a type of flat bread, roasted in a dry non-stick pan and split and toasted when you are ready to eat them. I normally make a bunch of 24 English muffins and I keep them in the freezer. Whenever we feel like having one, you just split them open and pop'm in the toaster. Spread some home made lemon curd (another favorite High Tea treat) on top and enjoy!

Lana likes to make scones, although she prefers baked goods that don't need that much time to prepare. When I feel like it, I try to make crumpets or even biscuits. Maybe it's a good idea to invite some ladies for a special High Tea!

Na fiesj moesh kele

Languages are wonderful. So many sounds to enjoy, so many words to learn how to pronounce. A language that has always drawn my attention, is Arabic. I know I will take Arabic classes one day! It's great to be able to say some phrases if you're in some islamic country.

A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping with a friend in Holland. Two Arabic men were in a fierce discussion and they were all wired up. I took a look at them, and said: na fiesj moesh kele - meaning: no problem! and I kept going. They went silent right away, turned their heads, looked at me and laughed. They yelled back: na fiesj moesh kele! It warmed my heart to see their smile and they completely forgot what their discussion was about.

I have an Egyptian restaurant in my neighborhood, where I can practice my Arabic vocabulary. They love to hear me talk and every time I frequent the restaurant, the owner and his family teach me some new words. It's a pleasant pastime.

A red flag

If they would hang up red flags in the beginning of the streets that have shoe shops, it would keep me from buying more shoes.. Honestly! I can't grasp how women can enter a shoe shop without buying any shoes? How do they do that? I mean: what's the fun? Window shopping is not in my dictionary. If I shop, I shop well. Every month, I buy at least one pair of shoes. Mostly high heels. I do own some flat shoes, but I hardly ever wear them. My youngest daughter taught me to keep some ballerinas in my oversized purse, for emergencies only. And that was a good idea. Since I like to shop in Bruges and since cobble stones are not very comfortable to walk on, I do need an extra pair of shoes, to prevent my feet from getting blisters. Diabetics need to take very good care of their feet and my podiatrist warned me about the effect of wearing high heels for such a long period of time.  It's just that I'm so short.. I need those high heels to feel feminine and a bit taller. They make your legs look longer and high heels stretch your calves. They may not be the most comfortable shoes, but they sure make a woman look more attractive..

A couple of years ago, I decided I needed a decent shoe rack. Not one store bought rack could please me and was appropriate to display my shoe collection. So I decided to make my own. It took me no more than 2 hours to draw a plan, go to the timber shop and order the boards and screws I needed. That afternoon, I built my own shoe rack and it came out a whole lot better than I had presumed. The rack holds about 40 pairs of shoes and boots. It's time to build a second rack, matching the first. I had to get rid of quite some pairs since my feet seem to have shrunk. Depending on the discounts I can get, my shoe size ranges from 39 over 40 to 41. My feet tend to swell in the afternoon so by the evening I might need a larger size.

Maybe I should ask the girls to photograph my most favorite shoes. That would be a fun idea! I'm sure they would love that. The more I think of it, the more I get convinced that I need to draw out that second shoe rack.. because I feel the need to check out the sales at my favorite shoe shops..

This is letting go

Photo by Eva Joos

You are so happy! It's wonderful to see the happiness in your eyes.. You and your boyfriend get along real well and I can tell he makes you laugh. He's a fun guy to hang out with and I like to see the two of you have a good time. You even introduced him to your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. He's very welcome at any time.

You're growing up so fast now. Us parents have to let go every day. That's okay. Every now and then, we will step back and let you grow and move on. It will make you a responsible and undependable young woman, who will know what she wants in this world. It gives us a good feeling to see you go through that episode to adulthood and to witness your progress. Enjoy! xx

Morning breath

I'm so sorry sweetheart, but you have a terrible morning breath.. And not only in the morning unfortunately. I don't know how to solve this. Do you have stomach problems or maybe a bad tooth? We'll have the doctor take a look at it. You reach over to give me a kiss and it really repulses me. I don't want to pull back, but it makes my stomach twirl. Maybe you should change your diet? It's not that you are a big fan of garlic or smelly cheese or anything. Okay, you don't brush your teeth, I know. That would help a lot, but I've never brushed someone else's teeth. It's kinda weird to do so.
You eat well and I don't hear you groan so I guess it's not a bad tooth after all. It surely doesn't bother you (maybe because you can't smell it!).. I still love you Rebba, even with morning breath.

Not at any price

All the time I hear this same line: you'd better work out. I hate sports! Not at any price will I go to the gym or start to run or dance Zumba. Go ahead, feel free and enjoy yourselves. I'm not going. Period.

It's a shame I don't like sports, I know that. It would make things a lot easier if I would be more of the sporty type. It would keep me in shape and healthy. It's just so boring! I know there are many different kinds of sports and yes, maybe I should try something else. It's just not going to happen, trust me. Working out doesn't give me that rush you people talk about. It doesn't give me any highs. I'm just drop dead after a work out and all I want to do is lay down and cry and be left alone. It leaves me with back pain, sore muscles, crazy bloodsugars and an overall crappy feeling. Nothing wonderful about that.. 

So maybe people need to be a bit more understanding, that not everyone is fitted to do sports. I know I'm not the only one out there. Feel free to do whatever you want, but just let me be the non-sporty type.

PB

I know Belgians are not that fond of peanut butter, but I am, together with the Dutch and the Americans. Peanut butter is nutritious and tasty and I use it on a regular basis. As a dip with apple slices or to make a stirfry sauce creamy. Or just on a piece of toast, with or without jelly. My favorite PB is JIF, the creamy type. Over here, it's not that easy to get it. There's one store in Antwerp where I can buy silky JIF. So I stick to the Dutch brand Calvé, that is a lot chunkier and less smooth. But it'll do.

This summer, during our stay in Kissimmee, Florida, I'm sure I'll have my portion of peanut butter. One of the girls is a PB fan too, the other one refuses to try it. She's more of the chocolate spread type, I guess.

Both whippets are huge peanut butter fans. They get to lick out the empty jars. They're plastic, not glass, so they are safe to play with. They drag the jar into their kennel and for some time, you hear no whippets in the house. They are very quiet while they enjoy their special treat.

I don't want to do anything

What a great day we had yesterday! The weather forecast promised a good time, so in the afternoon we decided to go to the beach. The whippets were not invited. Too hot for them, so we gave them a special treat, a bowl of fresh water and the shadow of their outer kennel.

Since we live that close to Holland, we always go to their beaches. Only half an hour away, peanuts! We packed the car with beach seats, towels, goodies and drinks, new magazines and books to read. The girls were all set in their teeny bikinis and off we went.

We parked the car in a meadow near Palm Beach. That's the name of the beach we stranded on. As we had expected: it was a beach for people who like to run around naked.. Not our cup of tea. The girls protested so we kept on walking until we found a strip of sand where people were wearing tank tops and swimwear. It didn't take us long to fall down and get settled. Time flew by and I nearly finished my book on World War II. We left the kids by themselves to go for grown up coffee in the Beach House. That Jamaican coffee was really good and very relaxing.

It's great to be home and be able to go do things with the family whenever we feel like it. I'm sure the girls enjoyed their day out as well. Hubby planned on working in the garden, but he was glad he joined us after all.

Later that evening, we sat outside on the deck and we played cards. We had a blast! It had been too long since we last played a board game together. That glass of South African Chardonnay was refreshing, after a warm sunny day..

Think outside the box

Flemish people are pretty particular about their food. They like their plate to look as so: boiled potatoes, a nice piece of meat, gravy and some vegetables. It's not always easy to convince them to try a different cuisine for that matter. They don't want to miss out on their potatoes and they are not happy if you skip the meat. Just don't overfeed them on the veggies, because that's the part they like the least.

Am I a real Flemish woman? I mean, I really don't like the traditional Flemish kitchen. I love a more exotic touch to my food and I don't mind to make sacrifices if it comes to meat or potatoes. I do like my greens though.

There are plenty of substitutes for meat, although that's not a word I would voluntarily use. I don't feel the need to substitute my meat. It's not that I'm a vegetarian. I'm more of a flexitarian, meaning I do eat meat, but only when I feel like it. I prefer legumes over meat. How about some lovely kidney beans or wax beans? Lentils and chickpeas? They have so much flavor and no fat. They are very nutritious and yes, they contain quite some calories, but they are healthy and filling. A favorite legume recipe of mine, is hummus. I like to make my own. It's not that difficult and it's so satisfying to make your own chickpea puree. Because that's exactly what it is.

What do we need:

• a can of chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans), drained (save the liquid though)
• 80 ml tahini (sesame paste)
• 60 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• a pinch of salt
• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 15 ml good olive oil
• a pinch of paprika
• parsley, freshly minced

What do we do:

• Blend the chickpeas with the tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Add some of the juice until you reach the desired consistency.
• Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl.
• Drizzle the oil over the hummus. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.
• Serve with (pita) bread and crudites.

There's nothing you can't be

My little girl is growing up so fast.. Sometimes I still see her as the little girl she once was, but then again, I have to let go of that phantasy and come back to Earth, to see the beautiful young woman she has become.

You have changed so much in the last two years. Being in boarding school, we didn't see that much of each other as I wanted to. I'm sure we missed out on a lot of your activities and we didn't always know what kept you going.

You showed me one of your blogs you're keeping. I was truly stunned.. Wow girlie! You are truly amazing! Congratulations! There's nothing you can't be! I had a great time reading your blog and I will be a follower from now on. I'm proud of you! You are very versatile and your talents are worth mentioning: drawing, designing clothes, making great pictures, being a fashionista and a good friend..
I'm so happy to read you and the fact that you let me in to your blog world, means a lot to me. Keep it up sweetie. You're doing a great job! xxx

Photo by Eva Joos

Dog 'O' Nine Tails

I got to know Lisa Rees on Facebook. Just like us, she adores greyhounds, whippets and all sighthounds. Since she has a webshop, I had already purchased some phone charms with little whippet heads as decoration.

Last week, I ordered two new collars and matching leashes for Rebba and Inthe. They are custom made by Lisa and I must say: she does a very good job! You get to pick the fabric and the width and I asked for matching leashes and to my surprise, not even one week later, the martingales (that's how you call those greyhound collars) and the leashes got here.

The dogs went frantic over their new gadgets and they were ready to go for a walk right there on the spot. I'm real happy with the handmade martingales. The dogs will look their best!

Take a look at Lisa's webshop. Or make her your friend on Facebook: Dog 'O' Nine Tails Store. She's truly amazing!

Changing overnight

Last night, you were just 43 and this morning you turned 44. Just like that! Isn't that strange, that in a snap of your finger, you age one year?

Too bad you have to work today. Keeping that in mind, we treated you in a restaurant this Thursday. Just the 4 of us. You said you didn't want a birthday party. Maybe when you're 50. But not just yet.

You were a little surprised when we handed over your birthday present. The three of us thought it would be nice to get you a new car for your birthday. But since that is a pretty personal gift, we gave you a certificate to pick out your own car. You spend quite some time in your car, driving to Brussels to go to work and although your car is still in good shape, you wouldn't mind trading it in for a newer example. I'm pretty sure you'll stick within the same brand, since BMW is your favorite. You'll make a good choice, no doubt. Although you say that you really don't need a new car, we'll join you to the carshop and help you make the best choice.

Happy Birthday Hubby! Happy Birthday Daddy!

C'est magnifique!

Finally, school's out! The girls did great and studied well for their exams. It's time to relax now and enjoy the upcoming holidays. The schoolbooks of this year need to be returned and new books have to be ordered. Both girls had to decide what they were going to do in September. Lana chose Economics and Modern Languages and we think that was a very wise choice. She's doing so well in school and she's a good student. She's not sure yet about the far ahead future, but she's working on that.
Eva is ready to attend a different school. She'll miss her boarding school and her friends for sure, but she'll get over it. She's a loving girl and she'll get new friends in no time. She and her sister will be riding their bikes to the same school now. Not that they will see a whole lot of each other, since it's a very big school and there are 3000 students, compared to the 340 Eva was used to. Eva has made the best choice for her too: Humane Science will be very interesting for her and I'm convinced she will love the different classes.

I'm looking forward to this summer vacation and to a wonderful time with the family. Congratulations girls! You did real well. We're proud of you!

A match made in heaven

Photo by Lana Joos

The two of you are something different. Rebba turned 5 and Inthe will be 2 years old by the end of this year. Nevertheless, it's like you have always been together. You cling to one another so much and you're inseparable. Inthe knows Rebba is the leader and she has to listen to her. It's very interesting to see them communicate. How Rebba teaches her and scolds her when she's not behaving.

Inthe is still very playful. Rebba is more the observing type. But still, Rebba is the stronger one. Inthe cannot win during a race along the beach. Inthe is smart though.. I'll tell you why..

It always starts with a simple neck to neck walk.
Then, all of a sudden, they look at each other and I believe I see a little nod in their heads. That's when the race starts. Normally they race their hearts out, until Rebba signals it's time to race back. At least, that's how Rebba wants to run the race.
Inthe is not very good at losing though.. So she figured out her own plan. She races behind Rebba and right before Rebba signals to go back, Inthe silently turns around and starts to race the other way. It's so funny to watch! Once Rebba realizes little Inthe has gone back, she moves faster than lighting, leaving a crying Inthe behind. It's a neck to neck race, but on most occasions, it's still Rebba who wins. It upsets Inthe, because she wants to win every race. I'm sure Rebba wouldn't mind, but she wants to train Inthe to run faster I guess. She's smart, our Rebba. And she's a wonderful teacher. The two of them are a match made in heaven.

I want to ride my bicycle

A number of years ago - it must have been on Mother's Day - hubby bought me my very own bicycle. He was thrilled by the idea of his wife riding a bike and leaving her car in front of the house..

Well.. at least that was the plan. I'm not very good at hiding my responses to what's happening. I had a very hard time putting on my happy face. Wasn't too sure whether hubby got the message, but his excitement didn't convince me. I just don't like to ride a bicycle. They're a pain in the.. butt! Literally!

But I behaved and we decided to go for a ride. The kids got their bikes, hubby was waiting on his and I took a deep sigh before I climbed my spic and span new bicycle. By the time I got the bike from the terrace all the way through the hallway and up to the front door, I was done with it.. Bikes are so not me.. I prefer 4 wheeled vehicles. I like to sit inside my vehicle, not on some hard saddle. But I wanted to give it a go. You never know what happens, right?

The kids loved the ride and so did their dad. I was not impressed though.. So what?? I don't like bikes! Period! I don't like bikers who think the roads are designed for them. I don't like groups of bikers in the pouring rain. I hate flat tires and non-working lights. Don't even think about those bright yellow vests you're supposed to wear to get noticed in traffic. Sorry hubby, bikes and your wife are not a good match.

My top 10 dishes

I often ask people what their most favorite dishes are. Just out of curiosity. I like to cook and I love to try out new recipes. Maybe I should make a cookbook that contains nothing but favorite dishes of my friends. Wouldn't that be thrilling? Some people write down their favorite recipes on little sheets of paper. Those written recipe notes get dirty and in the end they get lost. If we would make a cookbook, we would safekeep all of these recipes.

I'm ready to let you know my top 10 dishes of the moment:

• buttermilk mash, wax beans with shallots and a home made dressing, poached egg
• chili con carne (yep, beans again)
• pasta all'arrabiata
• goat cheese salad
• quiche lorraine
• Chinese dim sum
• foie gras
• orange chicken and stirfried veggies
• Vietnamese spring rolls
• artichokes with a mustard dressing

Let me know if you want to share one of those meals with me. I'm ready!

Chat 'n Chew

Going out for dinner is always a pleasure, especially in good company. It's something we really like to do: having a chat over a well presented plate of delicious food. The clock ticks away time, but we don't keep an eye on it. Because good times are not supposed to end.

There's this show on TV, called Dinner Date. A single person tries to find his ideal date. Five candidates make their own personal 3 course meal in the hope the single person will pick them. Without having seen anything but the menus, the single person gets to choose 3 favorite dates. He then gets invited into their homes for a romantic dinner date. Some can cook, others are wonderful hosts and sometimes there's no click at all.
At the end of the week, the single person gets to pick his favorite date, based on the cooking skills, the romance and the overall impression of the night. All 3 candidates are supposed to dress up for a night out, but only one gets the chance for a second date, in a romantic restaurant. The other 2 get TV dinners delivered to their houses.

What a great concept! It seems like a lovely way to meet new people. Maybe people should do this in real life too! It would be a challenge. I suppose married people don't do dinner dates?

Sharing happiness

They claim it's all about the little things. An early sunbeam peaking through the curtains. The spontaneous laughter of a baby when you make those silly oochiekoochy noises. A full stomach after a with love prepared meal. That old postcard you found in the attic - it must have been ages since you kissed the boy who wrote it at the age of 14. You know.. the little things.

But what exactly is happiness? Is it constant? Does it last forever? How could you describe it? Happiness is when you start asking yourself: what's keeping me?

When people ask you: are you happy? How can you honestly answer that question? I mean, you can't be happy all the time, can you? Wouldn't it be so exhausting to be happy all the time? So predictable? I believe happiness is something you need to work on. Try to do your best without overreacting. Being happy is not something one can demand. 

I like to share happiness. It's so overwhelming to make other people happy, to reflect your happiness on them. I like happy attitudes and happy people to surround me with. Because being around happy people brightens your own life. It gives you energy and a true boost. Be happy! Start with small steps. Enjoy the little things in life..

Joy oh joy

It's amazing how much joy you bring into my life. I always look forward to getting up in the morning, so we can have our cuddles. It's like we haven't seen one another for a year or two! All the excitement when you see me! You jump all over me and the look in your eyes is touching. So we cuddle on the couch and we kiss and embrace each other. The moment you and your friend lie down again, is another moment of joy. Because I know how happy the two of you are.. You are best friends and I fear the day we'll have to let go of one of you. The other will be devastated. You cling like Siamese twins, always on top of each other and like shadows you move around the house.

Whippets are my favorite dog breed. They are so clever and sweet and loving. We're buddies and I'm so happy Rebba and Inthe came to live with us. They picked us as their people family and we don't regret their choice. From the love they give us, I can tell they are happy too.. They are part of our family..

Progress

About 50 years ago, the first insulin pump came to life. It was huge news and a big improvement for diabetics all over the world. Of course, the device was that huge, you had to wear it on your back. But it was a start...

Over the years, insulin pumps have shrunk in size but grown larger in possibilities. It's the most accurate way to replace a pancreas that's no longer producing insulin. Every couple of minutes, the insulin pump gives our body little amounts of insulin. Insulin is a hormone we can't live without. We wouldn't live very long if we had no insulin available.

My pump is very precious to me. The first pump I got was a Deltec Cozmo, in 2006. I really loved that pump and it was pretty emotional the day the company decided to stop making insulin pumps. We had to give back our pumps to get a pump that wasn't on my wish list.. I had no choice though.. The other option was going back to syringes and that was not even an option to me.
I used that second pump - Paradigm 722 - for just one year. It was a good pump since it did what it was supposed to do: deliver insulin. But to me, it felt like I had to give in and loose the options I had with my Cozmo pump. So no, it was no improvement to me.

Wearing sensors with the Paradigm, was the only thing that excited me. It came in handy and it taught me a lot about the way my body reacts/or doesn't react to insulin. Sensors are not covered by our medical insurance, so it's not very profitable for us, since they cost around € 45 a piece. You can keep them for 3 - 5 days if you're lucky. It takes a couple of months of fulltime practice to get to know the method and how to interpret the signals the sensors give.

Last year, I changed hospitals and finally I got the insulin pump I had longed for: the Accu-Chek Combo. It's a great pump and it gives me so much freedom. It's attached to my body 24/7 but that's okay. In fact, it's become a part of my body. That's how I see it. Don't mess with my pump if you don't want to get in trouble!!! I'm very protective of my pump and I like to wear it in a special ZIPPS pocket, so it's always close to my body. Every now and then I pimp my pump and I buy new methods to keep it safe. It sure looks a whole lot better than that first insulin pump. Thank goodness..

Delectable

Photo by Lana Joos

Aren't they picture perfect? Trust me, these tarts are just delectable! Crunchy puff pastry, tangy double cream and ruby red and luscious raspberries.. My idea of a great dessert.

I read the recipe on someone's food blog and instantly, I decided I wanted to make my own. I had some puff pastry in my fridge, that was waiting for me to start on that quiche I had planned on making. What the heck.. who cares for quiche if you can have these beauties instead?

There's always double cream in the fridge as well and lemons are just a necessity around the kitchen. The other day I had a day out with a friend and we strolled around the farmer's market. That's where we got those plump raspberries. They were a true bargain. Only 4 euros for 1 kg of delicious red diamonds!!

I think the tarts turned out real well. Too bad Lana's stomach wasn't feeling well (her gastritis is still bugging her), so she only took the picture and didn't have any.
I promised her I would make them again one day. Because they're so easy to make and the result is just superb!

A personal touch

Spending time at the hairdresser is not exactly my idea of a fun afternoon. But that opinion changed when I met my new hairdresser a couple of months ago. He's not just some hairdresser. He's a personal hairdresser, meaning, you're his only client at the time. He's all yours and completely there for you. Pampering your hair, having a chit chat outside on his deck in the sun, while your hair is gradually changing into the different color he put on earlier. He knows what you drink and is so thoughtful to walk you to the car under an umbrella if it's pouring out there. I like that personal touch. I like to be pampered. I like to hang out with my hairdresser. We laugh and we don't stress. It makes the time at the hairdresser a whole lot more fun.. That's why my visits to the salon have become more relaxing and something to look forward to.

Things ain't never as bad as they may seem

Last night, I was asked to speak about My life with diabetes. I love to give these lectures. It's not stressful at all and I can do what I like to do: share my experience and inform others on the subject.

It was a diverse group of 30 people. When I asked if there were other diabetics in the room, 7 people raised their hand. That was impressive. They were all type 2 diabetics, but that's okay. I gave them the chance to tell their experience too and that was a good idea. People do have the urge to share their own story and to have the feeling that someone is actually listening to them. Diabetes is so much more than injecting insulin or paying attention to our food intake. Once again, my lecture taught me so much about life and diabetes and how to deal with both. It was good to let the public know about diabetes but at the same time show them that diabetes is not the end of the world. They could tell I take good care of myself and after 9 years of diabetes I still haven't got any complications. It was hopeful to them. Some people came to me after the lecture and told me they were going to have their bloodwork done, for diabetes runs in the family. That's a mission accomplished for me. Of course I keep my fingers crossed for these people, that the outcome of the bloodwork will be good. But if they do happen to have diabetes, I wish them all the best and I hope they will find the courage to deal with it in the best way possible.

If you're interested in a lecture on diabetes for your organization, do feel free to contact me. We'll work something out.

What a mess...

I'm sure you already know how I like to spend time in my kitchen. I'm a very, very messy cook though. I do not clean up in between dishes, leaving the countertop as a total disaster. I wish it were different and I would love to find a way to leave the kitchen a bit tidier. The rule in this house is that whoever cooks, doesn't do the dishes. So I feel sorry for the people who have to tidy up after my cooking. It doesn't sound right.

Sometimes I fill the sink with soapy, hot water so I can put some utensils and pots in there and leave them to soak. That helps, but I forget to do so too often. It's a problem I need to work on. Most of the time, my stove has 6 pots sitting on it to prepare different dishes. The oven works many hours and then there are the side dishes that don't need cooking. I love to prepare several kinds of vegetables at the same time as well as start on meals for the upcoming days. That's probably one of the reasons why at times, the kitchen is a very hectic place.

I'll work on it. I will.

Smile

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by..
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just..

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just..

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by..
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
you'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just smile..

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just smile..

Are we looking in the same direction?

Photo by Lana Joos

It's so important for children that their parents are looking in the same direction. They know from a distance if mom and dad say different things. Raising children is not easy. It takes a lot of love and communication and involvement. Maybe that involvement is the biggest part. If you have no idea what your children's life looks like, then how can you ever bond?

I like to know what my children do and who their friends are. Because it's important to me. Because they matter. They are growing up so fast and their childhood will be over before we realize it. It's always good to know their friends. It says a lot about your children. We can learn from their friendships.

It must be really difficult if the parents have major issues about educating their offspring. If one nose looks in one direction and the other nose faces just the other way, that's where things go wrong. Children need stability and clarity. Structure is important, as is love and being nurtured. If both mom and dad can give their child all the love they deserve - without putting their child on a pedestal - , they will grow up to be responsible young people. Dare to be vulnerable, dare to love your children and don't be afraid to tell them they're being loved..

I gave you my heart

I must have lost track of time, since I don't remember how long ago we met. Because time flies by when we're together. There's so much to talk about and I love to discuss with you. You're a wise man and you know a lot about everything. Life experience and a deep joy in life is what's so appealing about you. There's a true friendship between us and I gave you my heart, my friend. I truly value our friendship and I accuse you of doing the same. There's not much we can't talk about and I know how important friendship is to you.

Today is your birthday. Remembering last year's birthday in London, it brings me back in time to indulge those memories. Think about the Indian cabs you rented and our journey through London. That was freaking awesome!

Tonight we will all be together at someone else's party. I'm glad we'll see you, so I can give you your birthday kisses. It will be a wonderful year, since you're working on an extra future for you and you're doing absolutely great. Looking forward to many more outings...!

Anguish

I don't know what to think of it.. It worries me. It's not that I don't trust you, but I don't know the other person. It just doesn't feel right. Tonight is not going to be a night I'm looking forward to. Voices from the past have come back.. I'm too stressed out. My blood glucosemeter is telling the exact same turmoil: numbers in the 300 - 400 range are far from normal. But that's how the last week has been..
It hurts. A lot.

You're too much

I always look forward to your private messages. You should see the broad smile on my face when I read them. You're too funny! To the point where I think: this is too much. It's so hilarious to read those conversations. We don't need much to understand one another. There are too many interests we share and we are somewhere on the same level, although you are sooooooooooo young compared to me!

You have a wonderful family of your own and you're a very good husband to your wife and a devoted daddy to the three little piglets. Although you don't sleep much, you help out wherever you can in the household and with the kids. Working a fulltime job, you still find the time to entertain your friends on www.diabetesforum.be and you have become a well respected member in no time.

I'm glad I got the chance to meet you twice so far. I really like your humor and the way you stroll through life. Our bond is something different. Thanks for your friendship!

Run for your life!

It must have been around 8:30 AM when I heard the two of you bark like crazy! Immediately I jumped out of bed (it was a lazy Sunday morning) and opened the doors before I headed to the kitchen to let you out of your kennels. At the speed you raced outside, I thought you had to pee very urgently! But that was not the case. In a flash, both of you were near the shed, where a black cat was hiding. You chased him around the backyard, making a whole lot of noise. I tried to calm you down, but the barking and the meowing was horrendous. Our own tomcat Arthur jumped in the fight as well, trying to defend the other cat - which he hates on other occasions - by jumping on the whippets and making his tail as fat as a squirrel's tail.
The poor black cat ran for his life. His little heart must have been pounding in his body and he's probably licking his wounds now, hiding in the shrubs.

I don't know how you knew this cat was hiding in the shed? Are you psychic or what?

The way I see it

It must have been around my diabetes diagnosis - I had my 9th diaversary yesterday - that I started to wear glasses. I can't remember the actual date, but I remember it was related to diabetes. I've had 3 pairs of glasses by now and I didn't really mind wearing them. But lately they've started to bother me. So I consulted Dr Google and I bought my first contact lenses.

What a pain to put those little soft pieces of rubberlike material into your eyes. Shoot! I had no idea it was going to be so much hassle. I can't say it was painful, but it's no big joke either. The lens kept sticking to my finger, my eyes were all wet and itchy and I'm not the most patient person in the world. Hubby and Lana tried to help out, but that didn't work either. I decided I had to do it myself!

On the Internet, I found a video on how to put in soft lenses. I watched it several times before I gave it another go. What a nuisance! The reviews on the Net also said that it can take over an hour the first time.. great.. But hey! About 18 minutes later, my lenses had reached their exact destination and I came back to the world of the sighted! Awesome! Let's hope things will go a bit smoother the upcoming days.

I owe it all to you

I wouldn't be living the life I'm living, if it wasn't for you.. You respect me for who I am. Not one time have you put pressure on me to get a job. Your income makes it possible for me to stay at home and take care of the children and the house. But you wouldn't keep me from working either. It's not like I haven't worked in the past. At a certain time, I had a fulltime and a parttime job. In between jobs, I came home to prepare supper, before I rushed to the other job. That was okay with you too. Whatever I prefer, is good for you.

I don't have a job right now, but that doesn't mean I'm not busy. My schedule is full of activities and charity. I like to help out where I can. It is as important to me to be there for the girls as it is to earn a salary.  Life is short. We have to make the most of it. We have to do what we do best. I'm pretty happy with the life I'm leading. And I know I owe it all to you..

Happy Father's Day! The girls are lucky to have you as their daddy.

Lethal

It really startles me how most dietitians still haven't got an update on diabetes treatment. The numerous times I hear that diabetics can't have more than 3 meals a day, are not allowed to eat tropical fruit or can't have sugar... It is sad, really. It's like they enjoy restricting our meal plans..  Bananas for example. Never ever eat a banana if you're a diabetic! It will skyrocket your blood glucose, as will grapes, mango, passion fruit or pineapple. Hello???? Get a life! We are allowed to have any kind of fruit. We can have snacks in between meals, just like non-diabetics. And yes.. we can have sugar! Not only if we are going through a hypoglycemic episode, but just because it tastes a whole lot better than the sugarless copy.

A dietitian announced a cooking class for diabetics. What did you think? Of course I took the classes! Just out of curiosity, because I really wanted to know what the guidelines would be. It was really sad, to hear that things still had not changed. The teacher was not a fan of counting carbohydrates but she was thrilled to let us know how lethal mangoes were to diabetics. Shoot... I told her I planned on eating a mango salad the following day. Maybe it was a good idea to eat it in front of my diabetes nurse, in the hospital? Just in case I might collapse and die? Come on, get real. I know perfectly well how to cover those sugars. Medication is no longer what it used to be and diabetics are not stupid. We know how to deal with our life and we know sugar is not the forbidden fruit. It's all about carbohydrates and learning how to adapt your meds to the foods you eat.

I feel like having some fresh pineapple now. Topped with banana and mango. Although I'm not an ice cream lover, I might even consider to have a scoop of home made vanilla ice cream to go with that. And I won't forget the colorful sprinkles! You bet, I'll enjoy that dessert and my blood glucose will not go way out of line. If you feel like it, come join me. That is if you don't fear this massacre...

Pigeonhole

Around the age of 15, I first heard about the word "pigeonhole" and for some kind of reason, it struck me. It was a word I wanted to remember because it says so much.

A pigeon is a type of bird and a pigeon hole is a very small hole made in a piece of wood for pigeons to stay in. This hole is only slightly bigger than the pigeon, so the pigeon has little room to move.
If you pigeonhole someone, it means that you make too many generalizations about that person based on a stereotype. It's not really nice to pigeonhole someone. It means you are oblivious to that person and you base your opinion on the overall belief. For example: it's a stereotype that computer experts are nerds and they don't socialize in real life. There's no need to have these prejudices. It would be nicer to get to know the person behind the computer expert and let that person be whoever he is.

Another type of people that is being pigeonholed: singles.. Why do people assume that single people are lonely without exception? Do you need a partner to be happy in life? Why do people assume that singles can't be happy on their own? Why do families always have to be mom, dad and the children? There are so many other ways of life and why should one form be better than the other.. There are quite a few singles out there. Not all of them are single by choice. There are so many reasons why people are single. As many as why people get married or have roommates. What is it to you, to know why someone is single? It's not really helpful to comment on someone else's lifestyle, whether that lifestyle is a choice or just a fact.

I know people can be harsh and they don't always have good intentions. Does it make them feel better about themselves when they pigeonhole others? I don't know. I think they may be shortsighted, but I won't make that a statement, since I don't want to pigeonhole them..

A little bird told me...

After having spent 2 years in Bruges, you're coming home again. Of course you were home every week-end, but still, you weren't here during the week. We did miss you, sweety pie! It took us some time to adjust after you left for boarding school the first year. But we managed. We did talk to each other on the phone every night and it was good to hear your voice. It made sure we still knew what was going on in your life and you knew what we did at home.

A little bird told me it's time to adjust again. At the end of June, you will graduate from your boarding school. It'll be emotional for you, to say goodbye to your teachers and friends and I'm sure you will be missed. But at the same time, you will be looking forward to going to a different school and get to know different people.

We'll have to work out a new schedule, to get everybody up and going in the morning. Your sister is used to being all by herself before she heads off to school. She's not much of a morning person and she rather spends some quiet alone time when she wakes up.
You have been used to sleeping with a friend in the same room. You don't mind some chatter in the morning and you need some time to get ready. We'll manage sweety pie. We'll work something out.

We'll do some more hugging again. I really missed that while you were away. There's plenty of time to make up. I'm very proud of you, for having done so well in boarding school. After all, you had to grow up a bit faster and take good care of yourself without mom or dad nagging you. Do you remember you told us about the advantages of boarding school when you asked our permission to attend this school? Do you? Responsibility, independence, great school results, bonding with peers, scheduled study time. And it's been all of that and a whole lot more. You got to know yourself better. You're two years older and wiser now. I envy you, for having had the chance to attend a wonderful boarding school. You sure didn't let us down.

Welcome home, sweety pie. Let's have some mommy-daughter time!

Everything and more

I love my days out with friends.. Yesterday was great! We had planned a special day in Holland, full of friendship, chit chat, lunch, shopping, sun. Man, how I enjoy those outings. It's a great way to load up your batteries and return home full of fresh energy. But that's not what I did. I had a second date in the evening, with my D-friends. Some new people planned on coming over to the Diabetescafé and that was awesome. It's good to see the group grow and meet new people. The group is so diverse, but that's okay! It makes it so much more interesting. We sure had a good laugh and a great time..

I came home late and I was exhausted but fulfilled. I feel blessed for the friends that I have and the good feeling they bring me. My feet were sore and my throat felt dry, but a good's night rest and a warm heart made it all better.

PS I'm so happy with my new shoes and outfits!

Hunting for hare

At top speed, you raced down the meadow, leaped over barbed wire and jumped over two ditches. My whistling didn't make you come back. Rebba was beside me and I put on her leash as soon as possible, to prevent her from following you. Darn you, little Inthe! You were not supposed to run off and chase that hare! It was too tempting not to do it, so you ran like you had never run before. I could barely follow you and I lost sight of you rapidly. Clouds of dust and dirt told me where you were. I was afraid to call you back. What if you would race back towards me and wouldn't notice the barbed wire? I feared the barbed wire would tear open your chest. What was I supposed to do? The hare ran for its life and you kept going. I called your name, I whistled several times, but you paid no attention to me whatsoever. My heart was pounding in my chest. I really thought you wouldn't come back before you could show me the prey you were chasing.

I turned on my heels and left the meadow in the other direction. That's when you spotted me. You were distracted and you let the hare go out of your sight, racing back towards me. I yelled at you, to make you slow down, so you would not get hurt once you approached the barbed wire. You jumped over the ditch and the wire and jumped all over me. I put on your leash right away and that's when I calmed down. Inthe, you scared the heck out of me! I hope the hare didn't get a heart attack.. because I nearly did.

The search for ingredients

Strolling around different food stores and specialty shops always brings me joy. The other week I overheard my friend say: there's nothing you don't already have in your kitchen! But you know, there's always this one cookie cutter I fancy or a spicy rub that would go well with the chicken breasts in the fridge. A new whisk, a funny egg separator or some foreign product I haven't tasted yet. It's a way of discovering new things and broaden my culinary horizon. I get all excited in those shops and the way home always seems too long. I can hardly wait to unpack my groceries and sort it all out in the cabinets. There's this special foreign cuisine shelf where I like to keep my Asian, Moroccan, Italian and Indian ingredients. Man, I can't wait to discover another specialty shop.
I would love to go to London and do nothing else than explore those little food stores. Preferably by myself, so I don't feel rushed and I don't keep up the others. Because there's no fun for people who don't share that same passion. It excites and relaxes me at the same time. Life's good!

Worried

We (okay, hubby most of the time) walk our dogs on the soccer court in our town. There's plenty of grass for the whippets to run their hearts out and they have the time of their life playing around.

The other day, I walked them at night, instead of in the morning. Two little girls were playing in the adjacent playground. They were watching the dogs and I could tell they were very interested. One of the girls came to me and she asked me - in a very polite way - if she and her friend could play with the dogs. They were only 8 years old. One little girl had its origin in Poland, while her friend came from the Philippines. They introduced themselves and talked openly about their home and their family. They came to live in the neighborhood about 2 years ago. The dogs enjoyed their two new friends and it was great to see them race around the soccer field, trying to catch ball with the girls.

But you know what startled me? At first, the older sister of the Polish girl, was in the playground too. She went home without taking the little ones with her. I stayed on the soccer field for like half an hour and they didn't go home until I left. I asked them several times if their mommy wouldn't be upset if they stayed late? They nodded their heads and they kept racing with the dogs.

I found it troublesome.. What if I had had bad intentions? What if I were some malicious man, interested in little girls? These two girls were so naive and unsuspecting. They came to talk to me, they walked with me and they told me their names. They were easy targets.. What a shame I have to think like this. Would I have thought the same 30 years ago? Probably not. But these days, kidnappers and child molesters are everywhere. It's a scary thought, that someone might take these two precious little girls. They had no sense of what could happen to them if they ran into a predator.. I hope they came home safely..

The point of no return

It's there! The point of no return! There's not much I can do about it. For so many years, I was happy it didn't happen to me. My peers and my younger friends had faced the issue already, but it was still new to me. I always told myself I wouldn't mind it entering my life. But since I faced the truth? I don't know. It kinda changed everything.. even though it's not that big a deal. But still.. you know? Pride.. call it vanity, if you wish. I'm sure nobody else was aware of the issue, but it was pretty obvious to me! Really..

I called my hairdresser right away. The only thing I had to say to him, was: it's there.. it has happened. Right away he scheduled an appointment for me. He reassured me that he knew what to do. I'm confident he will solve it. Then why do I keep running back to the mirror, to check those grey (did I actually call it by its name???) hairs?

Chop chop!

Hurry up! Move it! Jallah jallah!

I'm sure you recognize some of these lines to say the least. How often have we heard these sentences while growing up?
Kids can no longer be kids these days. Always in a hurry. Always stressing out. They leave their house as babies in their pajamas to be dropped off at daycare. Their teeny baby friends are awaiting them to spend the day together, while mom and dad race off to give their best shot at work. Later that day, towards the evening hours, the same movie is being played but in the opposite direction. Babies need to be picked up to hurry home, where their bottle is ready to be heated. A nice warm but quick bath helps the child relax before it is being put down to sleep. The parents are getting ready to do their household chores, while the little one holds its blanky and pacifier, its eye lids getting heavier and heavier, until baby is ready to doze off. Mom and dad fall down in their chairs, using their last energy to discuss their day and organize the agenda of the upcoming week.

Nowadays parents have a tough life. Although they no longer raise a household of 10 children, there's so much more pressure. Both parents need to work fulltime if they want to keep up with the Joneses. They need to make so many sacrifices if they want to keep those two cars, a yearly vacation abroad, dinner parties with friends, membership cards to the gym, .. I hear my friends complain about burn-outs, bore-outs, difficult children, terrible bosses and envious colleagues. They are not happy with the situation. They feel like they don't perform their best at work, because their heart is with their offspring. But is the solution to keep moms home with the kids again? Probably not.. It has been such a struggle for women to get education and decent jobs. They have every right to have a good job and feel the fulfillment and appreciation you feel as an employee. Not all women are fitted to live their lives as stay at home moms. They are of no use to their children if they are unhappy without an outdoor job and a salary that makes life more convenient.

Why is there no option for women to raise their children as a paid, fulltime job? Daycare centers keep waiting lists - you need to make reservations on that list by the time you get pregnant, to make sure your child-to-be will be in good hands once you go back to work. How stressful is that? Would women prefer to raise their kids themselves if they were paid to stay home? Or would they miss the grown-up contact?
What do you think? What would you do?

What's best for the child? I don't know. All children are different. Some children need more attention and affection than other children. Some parents prefer to spend quality time with their kids over quantity time. Happy parents make happy children. So whatever will be your choice, make sure it's a choice well considered and not an obligation. And remember: you always have the chance to think things over. Even parents are allowed to make mistakes..

Have no fear

This one's for you, my friend. Face your fears. Cross the bridge when you reach it. You'll be just fine, don't worry. You're stronger than you think. Don't let others bring you down. It doesn't matter what they think or say. You remain you and they will always be who they are. Don't forget nobody can bring you down if you don't allow that to happen. So keep your head up high, straighten those shoulders and face the world. I'm proud of you.