To the left... no no.. to the right... pppffff

Photo Cathy Van de Moortele

The plan was to visit Palace La Bahia and Palace El-Badi. Piece of cake, if you have a street map and some common sense, one would think. The map includes street names. Very helpful, if you would also find signs with the street names on the walls. Which we didn't see, obviously. So we walked and walked and took narrow streets, that appeared to be dead end streets (yes, the locals warned us about the dead ends, but we were convinced they only wanted to attract our attention to sell us carpets or jewelry..). It's unbelievable how many little alleys Marrakech has.  And they all look pretty much the same. In the end, you see a point of recognition and you are happy to be back into the "world". No high heels in Marrakech, just loafers, shorts and tank tops. And a bottle of water. Or two. Because water is expensive if you are in need. The salesmen know you need that water, because they can tell you are dehydrated and extremely thirsty. So they offer you their best price, you agree and set that bottle on your lips and then they charge you extra. You can't return the bottle, since you drank half of it already, so you have to open your wallet again and provide them with the extra change. That's just how it goes up here. By now, we know a bit more what the prices are and where to buy or not to buy.

Photo Cathy Van de Moortele

We had an excellent breakfast on the roof terrace in the morning, so lunch needn't be that extended. Hubby had some freshly baked Danish rolls - the 10 Dirham a piece ended up in 2 Dirham as soon as we tried to leave the bakery - while I tried a warm piece of gözleme. Very strange, since gözleme is Turkish. I assume they call it something else over here, but it was exactly the same thing.

We enjoyed a lazy afternoon in the sun - yes, still over 45°C - on the roof terrace. The iPad gave me a warning to cool it down, if that's enough of a symptom of how hot this place is. No need to wear my insulin pump for several hours. Even without, I had some lows. I must really buy fresh dates, since those are much healthier and tastier than melted, warm candy.

Photo Cathy Van de Moortele

A night out in town was the plan for the evening. Maybe some sightseeing on Djemaa El Fna. There's so much activity going on in the streets, we just have to sit down somewhere and enjoy the atmosphere..

Café des Epices was relaxing. Enjoying the silence of the night, on the roof of the restaurant, overlooking the soukhs over a tuna and chicken sandwich and a cold diet coke.. what more could we wish for..

Relais du silence

There is no better way to describe the silence of this hotel. The difference with the outside world is absolutely noticeable. The only noise we hear in this place, is the chirping of the finches. As soon as you close the main door behind you though, your ears have to adapt to the immense noise and chaos of the Marrakech streets. Dozens of motorcycles, horse carriages, pedestrians and taxi's crossing the same roads. It is a shocking experience and the decadence of the hotel versus the real street life, brings you down to Earth..

We had our breakfast on the sun roof. Breakfast in La Sultana is breakfast à la carte. A wide range of wonderful dishes to choose from. Where hubby chose to have French toast, scrambled eggs, Danish rolls, I opted for the more Moroccan breakfast of berber bread, harcha bread rolls, tahini toast, pistachio yogurt and Moroccan pancakes with freshly squeezed carrot/orange juice. What a delight to sit outside and enjoy a tasty breakfast with far more carbohydrates than my body can handle...

Discussing the plans of today, we realized there were no obligations. We were free to pick what we wanted to do. The plan was to go visit the beautiful gardens, so we took a glance at our map and decided it was no big deal to walk all the way up to the garden - which we obviously didn't find. The first catch of the day, were new sunglasses for me, since I broke my American pair. For the price of 30 MAD (about 3 euros), I was a happy girl and my eyes got rest from the burning heat that blurred my vision. In the end, we stranded in the Medina Djemaa El Fna again. Looking pretty familiar, but then again, there are so many narrow streets, that we got lost. Not that it mattered, because there is so much to see. There was the fish monger - we could smell his merchandise a couple of streets before we found him. He kept pouring fresh water over his fish, that was displayed in his warm counter. He kept a close eye on my camera, so I would not photograph him nor his shop, so I didn't even give it a try. His friend the butcher was a bit more lazy, so the snapshot was taken before he could take a breath. The meat didn't look appealing at all, especially because the guts were hanging out of the carcass.. The flies didn't mind that smelly scenery, but it made my stomach twirl. This strengthens my idea of eating no meat in Marrakech.

Going in a local tea house, once again we were surprised by the size of this former Minister's House. It was huge and so silent! We were served chicken kebabs on rice and Couscous aux 7 légumes, which we truly enjoyed. It filled our stomachs, before we headed back to the hotel to take a nap.
The pool was fairly cold, compared to the temperatures we have experienced here. Moving up a couple of stair to the sunroof, there was a smaller basin to drench our bodies in. It was like we had rented the place all for ourselves. Nobody else thought it was a good idea to spend some time on the lounge beds, reading a book and sipping our Mojito and non-alcoholic Sahara cocktail (almond milk, ground almonds, raisins and dates mixed to a delicious creamy shake). Do you think we'll get a nice tan after all?

We took a short walk outside, before we climbed up to the sunroof for dinner (okay, we took the elevator - don't overdo it). It was dark by then - the staff eats between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM for it's Ramadan, remember? - so they lit candles and we were given small flash lights to read the menu. The international cooks make this place a bit more expensive, but the food was definitely worth the cost. Hubby has his slow-cooked beef shank with baked potatoes (no greens??) while I enjoyed the scallops and king prawns with crushed potatoes and grilled veggies. No, we should not have drunk wine or asked for dessert, but the willpower lost to our greediness. My sweet pastilla filled with light cream and toasted slivers of almond satisfied my taste buds. Hubby endeavored his dish of sweets with a shot of espresso. Time to pay the bill and go back to our little palace to settle for the night..

Very impressive

The flight to Marrakech took us no longer than 3 hours and 15 min. Amazing if you know you're in a different continent after all. At arrival, the temperature was as high as 47°C. It hit us in the face, when we descended from the plane. We asked the hotel manager to come pick us up at the airport and we were delighted to see this perfectly dressed chauffeur waiting for us. He knew our names and he guided us outside the airport to the car. That is, a spotless Chrysler, air conditioned, cool drinks ready to hand out. Never before had we been welcomed like this in any country. The ride to the hotel was brief (approximately 15 min) but informative. The driver showed us some interesting spots and was very modest and polite. By the time we had arrived in the Kasbah, the chaos was complete. It was so crowded and noisy, it looked like a movie scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The chauffeur had to park his car to make space for a family grieving over a lost family member. They carried their beloved one on a stretcher on their shoulder. The streets were dusty and dirty and we had no idea where we were headed to. The chauffeur called the manager to let her know we were on our way, so when the car parked, a team of no less than 3 men awaited us to carry our luggage inside. Once again, they greeted us by our full names and led us to the front door, away from the noise and the chaos of the Kasbah. The minute the copper doors opened, an oasis of silence calmed us down. Miss Saida welcomed us and Mr Khalid showed us to one of the sitting areas, where we got fresh water and hot mint tea, to wash away the Moroccan home made pastries. We couldn't do much more than look around and enjoy the scenery and the silence of this place. What a difference from what happens just outside this gate..

Mr Khalid showed us around, so we could see the 5 Riads of this hotel. Our room - Cameleon - is located on the first floor, right next to the pool. Some people were sitting on the deck, enjoying each other's company, but there was not a sound to be heard. No music, no voices, no nothing..

The room is exquisite. We have visited good hotels before, but this one beats it all. I think we're going to have a very relaxing time over here. How could we not..

Miss Saida was a bit overwhelmed by our idea of visiting the town without at least a map. She made sure she knew what we looked like, just in case we got lost and she needed to give the police a description. I don't know it that was a joke or not, but she insisted on giving us a street map and showing us the way to Djemaa el Fna. Because that's where we were headed too. The sun was not to be seen, but the streets were very hot and dusty. The place was crowded with mopeds, carriages, cars, pedestrians,.. there were plenty of merchants with fresh fruit, dried fruit (those plump dates looked very appealing), harira soup and hard boiled eggs (it is the last week of Ramadan). We had dinner on a panoramic terrace: Moroccan salad, Moroccan tajine for the husband and tajine végétale for me and a platter of honeydew melon for dessert. It was cheap, filling and good.

It was a short walk back to the hotel, where we could relax and take a well deserved shower. Day one was a success.

Lemon Chiffon or Haitian Vanilla?

Photo Lana Joos

We didn't have any fancy name for our wedding cake. Nobody asked how luscious the filling should be or what topping we wanted to spread on top of the cake. Did I worry about that? Absolutely not. Our wedding was simple and basic but we didn't need an expensive wedding party to celebrate our marriage. The only thing that was important, is that we were able to invite the people that really mattered. It didn't matter the wedding cost was still too high for our budget. After all, we paid whatever debt we had and we were proud that we didn't need anybody else to jump in for us. In that way, we were able to choose whatever we wanted for our wedding. And that did not include silver plates or relatives we had never seen before.

Do you honestly think exquisite Lemon Chiffon pies make marriages a better deal? Our guests didn't mind the fact that we had a huge BBQ for dinner, in some local parish hall. After all, they came to see us and have a good time together and that's exactly what they got.

Happy 17th Anniversary Hubby.. 

Quite remarkable

The more reviews I read about La Sultana, the more I long for this trip. It sounds very exciting, relaxing, welcoming, inviting.. So many people that spread the word on their fabulous stay in this hotel. After having read the Wiki information on Marrakech, we could do with some good news. Apparently, the Marrakech locals are not that honest when it comes to money. They like to rip you off and empty your pockets as soon as they get the chance. Offering you the best price ever and then charge you more in the end. I was not looking forward to such a kind of treatment. I don't like it when you pay 480 MAD for something that costs no more than 40 MAD. We are not very good at bargaining, so we'd better not even go there. The locals will immediately know we are tourists and easy targets. But we have done our research and are aware of the prices. We hope to get some help from the hotel management in booking excursions and taxis. That would be very helpful. I'm glad their shuttle service will come pick us up at the airport. The cost is higher than expected, but getting ripped off by a local taxi driver at the arrival is too much. We want to get to La Sultana in one piece, without bargaining or making a fuss. We hear the staff is very helpful and willing to bend backwards if they could. I have seen pictures of the rooms at the hotel and I believe we won't be disappointed..

It's about time to get the suitcases stowed away in the trunk of the car. I hope we have packed whatever we need. It will be hot in Marrakech - 40°C is not a temperature we are used to. Maybe this time I will use sunscreen after all.. Let's keep our fingers crossed that my insulin will survive the heat and that my insulin pump will not refuse action. My nurse provided me with insulin pens, just in case.. but I truly hope I won't need them. Our mini bar will be stacked with diet coke - that's another bonus of this hotel. I'm looking forward to strolling around the Medina, to smell the food and spices, to inspect the leather "maroquinerie", to take as many pictures as possible..

There is free wifi throughout the complete hotel, if you know what I mean. Yes, we'll keep you posted. I hope to upload some pictures every now and then, and let you know about our adventures..

Girls, we will miss you.. you will be in our minds. Hope to talk to you on Skype every now and then. Be good and keep safe...

Last night, when we were young

Photo Cathy Van de Moortele

My employer is a witty guy. For a number of times, he has called me "old", since to him,  "old" is 40+. He had no idea at first how old I am, so when I asked him if he thought I was old, he shook his head and said: no, I am talking about people who are at least 40 years old.. Right.. He was pretty embarrassed when I told him I'm turning 41 this month. Ever since, it's been our joke. He keeps reminding me of my age, but it doesn't bother me at all. I have no issues growing older.

Cleaning up the clutter in our house, I ran across two stuffed animals that were very dear to me as a child. A small golden teddy bear and a bigger sized bunny. They have been best friends for many, many years. When I go through my photo album (I have only one), I can see them in the crib I spent my baby time in. Maybe someone gave them to me for my birth? I don't know. But I still have them and I'm not going to dump them. They don't have a name. They are over 40 years old now. THEY are OLD. I'm not. We share the same age, but they look older than I do. They do! don't they?

Are you receiving me?

How important it is, to talk to one another. To share your stories, to talk about what you did that day. You know, the usual chitchat. It's so obvious, that we sometimes skip the talking and assume the other knows what's going on in your life. It is so important though, to stay connected emotionally. It makes the bond stronger, if you are aware of what's going on in your partner's life, head and heart.

Learning how to communicate, is interesting to say the least. It takes time and energy, but I'm sure it is worth the effort. There are tips to follow and traps to avoid, as long as you keep in mind what you are trying to achieve in the end.

There's always room for improvement

When my nurse asked me to enter this clinical study, I didn't hesitate one bit. There's always room for improvement and I'm happy with the people that are willing to devote their time to diabetes and diabetes treatment. After all, they are the ones who come up with new treatments to make our life with D better. So why not participate and help them gather information?

This clinical study is on the importance of keeping close contact with your diabetesteam. Is it helpful to email your numbers to your nurse? Do you expect them to respond within a certain period of time? What's reasonable for you? Within the hour? Within a day of that same week? What do you expect from your team? Do you make your own adjustments or do you need a hand from your nurse? Does close contact help in getting better numbers?

I need to have my blood work done this afternoon. That's part of the study. I don't mind, although I have this minor suspicion my HbA1c will be slightly higher than last time's. I have had quite some highs and even more lows and those fluctuations don't do me any good. They wear me out to the point that you drag yourself through the day. My nurse has offered her help, but there's not much she can do right now. I have kept my diary for the week and I must admit there's no constant in my numbers. There's no pattern, no line to follow. So maybe I should just forget about this week's diary. We're leaving for Morocco soon and things will be completely different there as well. The heat will lower my BG, I will sleep late and eat differently. Not really a good moment to make alterations worthwhile, I would say. I'll keep poking my fingers 8 times a day and make adjustments if my BG is too high. I will eat 26 biscuits if that's what's necessary to keep going. Things will come back to normal, eventually. Because that's what they always do..

Toi qui rit comme un ange

You have a beautiful smile. You don't make much sound when you smile, but that's okay. Your eyes shine and glow and that broad smile says it all. This afternoon, we cuddled on the couch. Not your own couch you are used to, but a couch in an apartment close to the beach. That's where you will spend your vacation with your family for a week. I will come visit you for two days, so your parents and brother can do other activities. Taking naps is what you need during the day. I love to have you in my lap and make you fall asleep. Making soothing sounds, stroking the tip of your nose  with my index, holding both of your hands, so you can relax and dream your dreams. I wonder what you dream about. While you are sleeping, you hold on to your pacifier, making those little noises that are so typically you. Your little feet meet each other at the foot soles, crossing your legs in my lap. I love the weight of your body against mine, your cheek against my cheek. I try to relax and we breathe together in the same cadence. I'm glad I can give you some love and warmth and you do the same for me. You have the most loving parents ever. They would give their life for you. They do more for you than one could expect. How could they not give you the best? You don't deserve any less. You ask nothing in return. It's just that the love that you give, reaches so many hearts and those hearts send you back all of their love. What a treasure you are..

Very low profile

I was at a dinner party, when the subject came to speeding tickets, parking tickets, tickets in general. We all had our own stories to tell and it surprised me to hear I was by far the only one in the crowd who liked to drive a bit quicker than allowed. I haven't had any tickets lately - touch wood, will you? - and I would like to keep it that way. It made me remember though, to take a look at my driver's licence, to see if that had not expired yet. Us diabetics need to renew our licence every 3 - 5 years. Therefore, we need to see our specialist and he has to give his permission. He is responsible for his patients and their driving skills. It's up to us to make sure our blood glucose is in the normal range, so we don't endanger others and ourselves. We have to keep in mind that our licence expires some day, because nobody will notify you. Driving with a licence that has expired, is serious business. It means the police may confiscate your vehicle. Just like that.

You probably know by now, my licence had expired. For 17 days, to be exact. Hmhm.. not a very good move I must admit. I had my picture taken that week and I went to the town hall to apply for a new document. My specialist had given his permission, so I expected no problems at all. Didn't I? I should have known better. Murphy's law.. When the town hall clerk called me (in fact, she called my husband first, since she had his number and not mine), she asked me to contact my doctor and demand a new document. Somehow, the wrong category had been ticked, meaning I could now drive a car AND a motorcycle! How exciting! As if.. Hello??? I'm not going to ride a motor cycle! Why couldn't she just erase that option? Because she couldn't. Because she did not have the power to do so. I truly hate it when that happens. What a hassle over nothing.. Stress that we don't need. I wanted things to be solved as soon as possible, so I called my helpline. She's an angel. I knew she would fix that for me and that's exactly what she did. In the meantime, I kept very low profile. Stuck to the speed limits. Didn't risk any parking ticket. Didn't cross any line at all.

My new licence is crisp and clean and it's kept safe in a brandnew plastic folder. For the next 3 years, I may drive my car. That is till further notice. Because you never know with diabetes. I'd better take good care of myself, so my licence will never be refused or taken away.

Good old fashion fun

It's great to have friends over. So I didn't mind the message you sent me: "Mom, is it okay if both my girlfriends stay over tonight? They would bring their tent and we would sleep in the backyard.
P.S. They would love to try out your cooking skills!"

I had to hurry up and get the preps done for dinner. I had something in mind, but as usual my plans changed just a little bit. Adding more and more side dishes to the original plan, I had some more errands to run. Your friends took the bus over to our place and the three of you were so happy to see each other. It had been a while, I must say. There was summer camp for you and then your friends went abroad with their parents. It won't be too long before school starts and both your friends will take different subjects. It's a shame they will no longer be in your class, but that doesn't mean you can no longer be friends.

I loved the smile on all of those faces and the chitchatting in the house. Daddy had to help out with the tent, but he shouldn't have. It started to rain and you stayed in your room. One of the girls fell asleep right away, for she had slept no more than 2 hours the night before, coming home from France. But you and your other friend couldn't stop chatting. I heard it was 4:30 AM before your heads touched your pillows.. zzzzzz

Over a cup of coffee

The Diabetesforum is nearly open for 5 years. Over the years, many diabetics have come out of the closet to  find peers and make new friends. They have introduced themselves in the hope to meet up with others who experience the same things. Apparently it's not always that obvious for some to open up to others. To acknowledge they have a chronic disease. To talk about their fears, their anxieties, their concern. Some people just don't want anybody else to know they have diabetes.

Nearly one year ago, I met a lady who has been a diabetic for over 25 years. She had never ever met another diabetic before. I was astounded.. how is that possible? I mean, I have met so many diabetics by now. It's not that we're hiding some place. Okay, the word DIABETIC is not written on our foreheads. It's not that our disease is visible to others. If you are willing to open up though, there's absolutely a way to meet other diabetics and share stories.

I always find it exciting to meet new diabetics. To hear their story and to comfort them if they would have any sorrows. Seeing the relief in their eyes when you share cell phone numbers, so they can call you if they feel like talking to someone or ask their questions. It's a relief to tell someone - who knows what you are talking about - your BG has risen to 425 mg/dl and you're unable to bring it down. They know the crappy feeling and the despair, the unquenchable thirst, the sick feeling to your stomach. You don't have to explain it to them. And nobody tells you to stop whining about a disease you can't change.

You're lucky if you have a family that supports you and helps out when the diabetes is taking over. They do the best they can to listen to you and help you cope. In the end though, they can give their best shot, it will never be like being understood by a peer diabetic. Just because it's our disease.

Leave your house and go for a walk. Ask a fellow diabetic to meet you somewhere over a cup of coffee. Talk to one another and share stories. It'll do you good. There's no need to hide or pretend you're completely healthy. Because you're not. Healthy, I mean. Even though your diabetes may be well controlled, you will always have a chronic disease you should bear in mind.

You don't have to let the whole world know about your condition. You don't have to talk about diabetes every day. But whenever you feel the need to talk, it's good to know there are people out there who are willing to help out and give you a shoulder to lean on.

Second hand

Sometimes your house starts to live a life of its own. It fills up with things nobody wants but which are too good to be thrown away. You keep stacking away toys and books and clothes in all different sizes (but your own size) and your rooms are just filled with piles up till the ceiling. Hate it when that happens..
But what do you do to prevent it? I hear you have to throw something out whenever you buy something new. But hey, come on! I couldn't throw out a pair of shoes whenever I buy a new pair! could you??? So no, I'm not going to get rid of any shoes. Or maybe the 7 pair of sneakers that I never wear? They just sit there, in case I might feel the irresistible urge to start to run - something that is obviously not going to happen, ever!
I could get rid of those. The best deal would be, if I could trade them for something I could use. High heels for instance. That would be a good idea! But the thing is: I don't know anyone who has the exact same shoe size as mine, willing to trade high heels for sneakers.. So I guess I'm stuck with 7 pairs of runners for the rest of my life, staring at me as if they want to say: you are so lazy..
Of course I could take photographs of my shoes and sell them on the Internet. That's an option as well. There are some more items that could be sold that way: toys, books, stuffed animals, dolls, clothes that are worn but not worn-out. A whole room could be filled with things that need to go.
At the end of October, there is this jumble sale in our village. I could rent some space and sit there all day, waiting for some victims to stop by and buy some stuff. If only I would be interested in doing something like that. I don't like to visit jumble sales, imagine me sitting there and making a complete fool of myself.
If I wanted to get rid of the junk, I needed to come up with another solution..
I asked around a bit and apparently, there are some people who are interested in freeing our house of the clutter. They are willing to come over and liberate us from whatever we no longer need. I'm so excited about this whole thing! Finally a clutter free house! Can't wait!

Tickle my taste buds

People often think that vegetarian meals are boring and tasteless. I'm not a vegetarian by choice. It's just that I don't need that much meat. In fact, when I think of it, I could do without. I like my veggies and fruit and legumes. There are plenty of choices to make wonderful vegetarian meals without lacking flavor.
The thing I don't like about the vegetarian way of life, is the way meat is being replaced by similar looking products, like veggie burgers, veggies sausages.. If I want to have a burger, I want it to taste like beef. My sausages need to be filled with tasteful mince meat, no replacements. To me, I see no value in including veggie burgers in my diet. They taste like cardboard.. I eat plenty of greens, so why have some burger filled with things I don't like and breaded so you can fry them and turn them into soggy, fatty and unhealthy burgers?

Like I have said before, I always try to find new produce or taste different flavors. Sometimes you need to take a shopping trip to stores you have never visited, mainly organic food stores. They have products you won't find anywhere else. How about edamame beans? I couldn't find them anywhere, until my sister-in-law pointed me out this organic food store in Bruges. I put it on my to do list. Need to complete that grocery list, to make sure my pantry has everything I need to cook my vegetarian meals...

• a quality tahin, to make hummus
• good oil
• lemons or limes
• garbanzo beans in a tin
• white beans in a tin
• fresh ginger root
• tomatoes
• tomato paste
• celery
• fresh spinach
• onions (white, red, green, spring onions, shallots, ..)
• garlic
• bell peppers in all colors
• lentils
• white rice
• quinoa
• eggs
• parmesan
• cheddar cheese
• edamame beans
• chuka wakame
• dried seaweed
• sushi rice

Let's talk about

you and me.

us.

Let's listen to

you and me.

us.

Let's hug.

you and me.

us.

Let's kiss.

you and me.

us.

WTF!?

Where is The Food??????

Photo Lana Joos

That's what my two impatient whippets seem to say, when they sit by the cupboard that holds their pellets. They know the exact hour they are supposed to be fed: 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM. We're not always home around feeding time. That's when they sit outside in their larger kennel. They know they have water and pellets available, but they won't have any until we get home. They are our treasures..

You're getting there

Photo Lana Joos

Taking care of two young boys - one has Asperger's syndrome -  you make some babysit money. The boys' parents own a small restaurant. That night, only one of the boys was at home and all of a sudden, the other one could spend some time with a friend, so you had nothing to do. The parents asked you to help out in the bar, cleaning up and rinsing glasses. Your eyes lit up right away. It was a step up for you and a welcome change. Apparently you did real well and the owner of the restaurant asked you of you would be willing to help out in the future? Of course you would!

I told you about the jobs I did when I was your age. One of my jobs was working in a restaurant. There was room for 50 guests. Marianne was the cook and her husband Sonny supervised the restaurant. It was my job to serve the guests, to make the drinks in the bar, help out in the kitchen, clean up the bar and do the dishes when the guests had gone home. I had to vacuum the restaurant late at night, change the linen on the tables and polish the wine glasses before I put them back next to the clean plates. At midnight, after my shift, I would kick out my high heels to walk home on my nylons, rubbing my sore feet. My back would hurt from running around all night, carrying 3 plates at once and washing copper pans in the kitchen. It was a hard life and it didn't pay much, but it gave me independence and freedom and that's all I needed.

I'm proud of you. It's rewarding to see that you are willing to work and build up experience. It will make you stronger and you will appreciate the money you earn. Go for it. Pull up those sleeves and make the best of it.

Give me your hand and I will hold it

Last night, we dropped of our youngest child at the restaurant, where she takes care of two young boys. The weather was still nice and we decided to sit outside on the deck and have a glass of wine. The place wasn't crowded and we were relaxed. Some appetizers were ordered and we enjoyed a night by ourselves. It had been too long since the two of us took the time to have conversations over a glass of wine. Why don't we make it a habit, to take the time as a couple to do things together? Some grown up time? Would you like that?

Don't reprimand me

Some time ago, I blogged about how people try to interfere when you have diabetes. They always seem to know someone who has "severe" diabetes (do they mean yours is not severe?) or who has lost his limbs or sight due to diabetes. They tell you what you can't have or do and saying it, they indulge a huge piece of cake covered in icing. They tell you to exercise while sitting in their lazy chair themselves. Not being familiar with diabetes, they pretend to know more of the subject than you do. Until you talk about carbohydrates, ketoacidosis, glycaemic index or glucagon. That's when they stop babbling and when their mouth drops open. You tell them your disease is not called "the sugar" but Type 1 diabetes. You inform them that you didn't do anything wrong but you got it nevertheless. It's not contagious: anyone could get it. Yes, even you, who is telling me all about what I'm not supposed to do. I wonder what it would feel like to you, if you got diabetes and I would tell you what to do. Would you appreciate my interfering with the way you treat your diabetes? Don't think so. Think twice before you reprimand someone else. We do the best we can.

I don't know what to say..

What can I say, other than I'm sorry?

A plan!

July 23 1992. Twenty years ago.. The day I crossed the ocean and started a life of my own..

On my way to Portland, Oregon, I was taking a deep breath on that huge airplane, thinking about what I had got myself into. Making the decision to go live abroad for 13 months, is not something you do overnight. It took me several months of preparation and hard work, to earn the money and pluck up courage for this major adventure. Without any help but an add in a local newspaper (no Internet back then), I found Au Pair Homestay USA in Overijse. This was the organization that would help me live my dream. How friendly and kind they were and the information they gave me was making my heart tick even faster. Meeting up with former au pairs, was so exciting, that I wanted that July 23rd to be there asap.

Once I was given the documents and files on my au pair family, the dream started. I was going to Portland, Oregon!!! My host family had a 3 yo girl, by the name of Natalie Scott. They lived on Southwest Brae Mar Court, on top of a hill, seeing out over downtown Portland. Looking through the pictures they had sent me, I realized this dream was really going to be reality in no time. I had to finish College first and make sure my grades were good. I was a good student though I didn't foresee any problems of that manner. It was good to discuss my plans with one of my teachers. He knew exactly what I wanted to do and he gave me his full support. I graduated and packed my bags, leaving the student behind and welcoming the adult I had become.

Meeting up with the other girls at Brussels Airport was thrilling. I was surprised though, to see so many of them in tears. Why were they crying? They were about to experience the best year of their life? They were hugging their parents and handkerchiefs were wet with tears. My family stood there. We didn't hug. We didn't cry. I was very impatient and couldn't wait to hop on that plane and leave. The relationship with my parents was not of that order, that we were so close we couldn't miss one another. I must even admit it was a relief to get out of the house and become independent. Too many rules and not enough love, made me run off. By the time I got on that plane, Belgium left my head to make room for the US. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made. It sure changed my life dramatically.. My childhood was over. I was ready to live my own life..

A good friend

is someone who knows all about you and loves you nevertheless.. How many good friends do you have?

Bedtime reading

Some people like to read a book in bed, before they turn off the light and close their eyes. But how about reading your friend's messages on Facebook before you head off to bed? Isn't that the modern version of bedtime reading? I like to check the statuses of my friends on Facebook at night. We like to chat and tell one another about our day. It's rather addictive to check Facebook. You keep pushing that refresh button to see if anything has changed. Isn't that silly? On the other hand, you get in touch with people that you never would have talked to without FB. For instance, other diabetics, who live all over the world. I like to read about their way of diabetes treatment and how they motivate each other.
I need to find the balance between bedtime reading books and bedtime reading facebook. How easy the days were, when we were young and facebook was not even in sight..

What a difference!

You were counting down the days. Today, around 8:00 AM, your orthodontist is going to free you from your braces. Your eyes are sparkling and your hands are sweaty to see the outcome. What a relief it will be, to let your tongue touch your smooth teeth. I'm sure the orthodontist will clean your teeth thoroughly before she will hand you the mirror to check out your new mouth. Smile sweetie! Congrats for not giving up. It took you a while to get those wonderful teeth, but it was definitely worth the effort. Keep brushing!

مرحبا بكم في مراكش

We couldn't decide whether we would book a vacation or not. Thinking of going back to Florida, one of the girls protested that she wanted to go some place else. A place where she could visit historical sites and learn about the country. On the other hand, daughter number two was more than willing to go to Florida. She mainly wants to shop and lie down by the pool... Hmmm what a dilemma... I'm not entitled to take a break yet, since I just started working again. Hubby worked hard all year round and he's desperately looking forward to some time off and a vacation abroad. Arrgghhh!!! We need help!

We decided the kids would go to summer camp and the oldest daughter is starting her first summer job in August. Maybe we could go to Florida around Christmas? Or to Indiana? How about Bali? Darn.. if only all of us could agree on a destination and a set a date?

My in-laws would like to come to Florida with us. They talk Easter vacation 2013. That was the plan. Until Lana told us her class was planning a schooltrip to Italy around Easter. And Eva just announced that she would like to go to Durbuy to take courses so she could become a monitor for summer camps. So the Easter vacation is a no-go as well.

At work, we discussed the schedule for August. My employer and his family have planned another break, meaning I would be off August 10 - August 20th. So the idea started to grow in my head, that maybe, just maybe, we could escape from our rainy country and enjoy some sun some place else? I have always wanted to go back to Morocco. Not Agadir this time, but Marrakech. I would love to stroll around the Medina and enjoy the Moroccan cuisine. Just bed and breakfast and no children around. It's been a very long time since mom and dad went away all by themselves. The girls will be very disappointed, but we'll make it up. I'd better schedule care for the whippets as well. Arthur can stay at home, but the dogs would be better of at Fiefoerniek's to go play with their whippie friends.

I'm looking forward to the Arabic sounds, the music, the food, the sun, the atmosphere and some quality time with my husband. La Sultana looks very appealing and luxurious to us... Can't wait to go..

Un poco di pepe

Florentines

Cooking and baking is such a rewarding hobby. I'm so grateful to have a well equipped kitchen, full of all the appliances I could wish for. I spend quite some time discovering new recipes, completing my cooking blog, trying out different flavors. There is a never ending source of recipes on the Internet. Just try the search engine machines and surprise yourself. People who say: I have no idea what to cook, have not discovered these sites yet. I don't have enough days in a month to try out all of those new recipes. That's why I prepare several dishes a day and so many menus a month. I learn so

much from trying out and although I have not taken any classes, I feel my experience is grower bigger by the day. I love to improve my produce knowledge. Always looking out for new products, I don't hesitate to enter foreign supermarkets and explore what they have.

 It's good to hear my children recognize different spices in the food I cook. How often do they enter the kitchen, saying: it smells of this or that... because they recognize the herbs I use. They know what dim sums are, they know the difference between cilantro and parsley and if I ask them to hand me over the baking soda, they know exactly where to find it. Is it common for teens to have smoked salmon blini's or home made crab ravioli? Probably not.. at least, that's what their friends tell me. They are used to having mashed potatoes, sausages and applesauce. Nothing wrong with the Flemish cuisine, trust me. But there's so much more to discover. Get your peppermill ready for un poco di pepe on top of that wonderful tomato bruschetta. Really, give it a try. It is so satisfying..

Cilantro lemon chicken

Chorizo baked potatoes egg sunny side up

Chicken Enchilada

A smitten kitten

You are coming home today... It's been too long. Not hearing anything from you was really weird. I'm not used to not talking to you and you couldn't even bring your cell phone along. That was a hard one. Not only for us, but also for your boyfriend..

Last night, I was just typing a note for him, to ask if he wanted to join me to come pick you up at the railway station. All of a sudden, the door bell rang. Not expecting anyone, I opened the door and to my surprise, your sweetheart stood on the sidewalk. He asked me if it were okay if he would pick you up at the train station. That was so sweet of him! I could've hugged him! I told him about the message I was sending him an instant ago. What a coincidence! 

Of course he can pick you up. He is so in love with you.. and you will be so happy to see him. I'm sure you will want to take a shower, but he'll take you to MacDonald's first. That's what he promised and I just know you will be very happy to go. I hope to see the two of you somewhere in the afternoon. He's more than welcome, you know that. It'll be good to have you home honeybun xx

Salt 'n Pepper

I'm proud to announce to you the opening of Salt 'n Pepper, the best Indian Restaurant in Ghent. My friend and her husband are the new owners of this place, that serves the Indian Mughlai Cuisine. All dishes are prepared on the spot and are super fresh. The chef integrates a special variety of herbs and spices. The ingredients of the Mughlai Cuisine are carefully selected. We talk cayenne pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and garlic, to name a few. Indian food is good for you. It has plenty of vegetables and fresh herbs to tickle your taste buds.

papadum

Starting with the typical Indian home made roasted fennel papadums is just wow! Not to be compared to the store bought version: absolutely not edible. Dip your papadums (they could be compared to very thin crackers) in the accompanied sauces or chutneys.

samosa

We tried the samosa's to experience the street life of India. Apparently every streetcorner in India has samosa stands, just like we have our French Frie places. These deepfried triangles contain  minced meat and an exquisite pallet of flavor.
We asked for the vegetarian version, just for the hang of it. We got two and I wanted to ask some more, but we had other dishes coming up.
My friend had Matar Gosht, a lamb stew with peas, onions and tomatoes. The smell of turmeric, cumin and nutmeg was overwhelming. I even dared to pick a piece of lamb, although I am not a lamb lover. I must say: the meat was very tender. I still prefer vegetarian dishes, but the lamb was sweet. A side dish of white rice came with the stew.

Durbari Aloo

My favorite dish of Bombay Potatoes is called Durbari Aloo (aloo meaning: potatoes) in Salt 'n Pepper. It's a tasteful dish of baked potatoes,
tomatoes, mustard seeds, onions, ginger, cumin, coriander and fenugreek leaves.  It was rather spicy - a bit too spicy for me - so next time I'll ask to tone the spices down a bit. But I loved it! I dipped my freshly baked Naan bread (baked right there on the spot in a authentic Tandoori oven) in the sauce of the Durbari Aloo and I truly tasted India. My rice pilau was moist and a great side dish.
I wish I could have had yellow Pakistani mango for dessert. I will tip the owner about serving this delicious Pakistani fruit in his restaurant. It's just so sweet by nature and totally different from the more common green/red mangoes we know.
It was a wonderful visit. I hope to go back soon and have some more Indian Chai to quench my thirst after a delicious meal.

Une belle histoire

Hot legs

I was discussing the difference in food culture between America and our small country. My American friends were appalled by the fact that we eat horse meat, frog legs, squab,.. I even fooled you for a moment, Paula,  telling you we prepared chicken pot pie with peacock instead of chicken. Just kidding, my friend! We would never eat peacock! Go figure! But yes, we have horse meat and squab and even frog legs. You told me you had never heard of anyone eating frog legs. A couple of days later, I saw a documentary on the Hairy Bikers in Arkansas. They went "frog gigging", meaning they went hunting for frogs to eat them. They would use a spear  with 3 or 4 barbed tines, to catch the frogs. A flashlight shone into the eyes of the frog, would make them daze, making it easier for the hunter to gig it. The popping sound it made when the spear was dug into the frog, was absolutely gross. I have no idea how our frogs our caught. I don't even know where our frog legs come from. Maybe China?

The way those Hairy Bikers prepared their frog legs though, looked very tasty. They would roll them in flour, shake of any excess, dip them in buttermilk and then cover them with Japanese panko bread crumbs. Once that preparation was done, the frog legs were fried in hot oil and then dipped in spicy BBQ sauce, just like they would do with chicken wings. Trust me, frog meat is very tender and tastes somewhere between chicken and fish. Just like crocodile meat. In New Orleans, it's pretty common to have crocodile for dinner. We have it in our supermarket on special occasions, but it's not exactly something I would pick. I have tried it when I was in New Orleans and it tasted pretty good, but not that good that I would prefer it over a juicy steak.

One day, Paula, I'll bring my family to the Hook Ranch. I promise you: we won't bother your frogs. They can live happily every after. They look much better with their legs attached to their body..

Please don't cry

What age is a fitted age to look after someone else's children? I'm not sure. Remembering my first babysitting years, there were different children I used to look after. Some were toddlers, others were teens. The first night I looked after someone's child, I was only 13 myself. The parents had asked if I had done this before. I nodded - and I lied.. for I had never looked after anyone.. The child was not even a child. It was a 2 month old baby. So tiny, so fragile. It was endearing to hold this little creature and cuddle it. It felt a bit awkward to be in someone else's house and hear all of those different sounds. But I sat myself down on the couch with this little cutie and I enjoyed "motherhood". The fun didn't last long though. Little baby woke up and started to cry. First a soft sound, a bearable sound that I could hush down. When the crying started to go up, I stood up, held the baby against my shoulder and walked around a bit, not knowing why it was crying. Was it discomfort? Did it feel ill? Was the baby longing for its mommy? I didn't know and the idea that the baby couldn't tell me about its grief, scared me. A bottle of milk was sitting on the counter, but I had no idea how to warm it up or how to feed a baby.. I tried to heat the bottle on the stove, in a pan of water. I tasted the milk and it was too hot, so the baby had to wait just a little longer. How would I know you had to hold the bottle up high for the milk to flow out?? The baby went ballistic for the milk didn't come out of the bottle nipple. I started to cry along and was in total despair, for not being able to comfort nor feed this child that was trusted to me. So I called my mom and she came over and showed me how to...

You have been looking after these 4 children for a while now. You're only 15 and the family lives only a few steps away from our house. Little Marie is only 5 months old and she's the cutest baby ever. Well, that's what you keep on saying. She was a little less cute the night she woke up and screamed her lungs out for half an hour. You panicked for Marie woke up her brother Cyriel and all of a sudden you had to take care of a baby in tears and a toddler who wanted his mommy. If only mommy had taken her cell phone along, but it was ringing in the kitchen when you tried to call her in despair. Luckily daddy had his cell phone on him, but how unfortunate that he didn't hear it ring.. You had no idea why Marie was crying so loud. She had been fed and her diaper didn't need to be changed. For 1.5 hours she had been sleeping and all of a sudden she woke up, stretching and kicking her legs like crazy. There was not much you could do to comfort her or make her feel at ease. She didn't want her pacifier either. That's when I got your phone call. You were crying along with the baby and I recognized the despair. So I hopped into my clothes and came to help you. The front door was open by the time I got there and you were more than ready to hand over this cute little girl. Her little face was red and in tears and so was yours. I calmed you down and held the baby, but she was inconsolable. I checked her diaper and her temperature. She was not having a fever but the way she was kicking her legs and making fists, made me assume she was having stomach ache. You told me she had had meds after her bottle, for she has cramps every now and then. We tried to give her some water to drink, for she was exhausted by then. She drank but it was not enough to calm her down. After another 15 minutes I decided to give her some pain relief. You were comforting Cyriel in the other couch who was crying for his mommy. You were very unhappy with the whole situation and I had a hard time calming you down as well. When I started to hum rock-a-bye-baby, Marie seemed to relax a little. I hummed this lullaby at least 30 times in a row, rocking her back and forth in my arms, holding her pacifier and streaking her eyes with her favorite cuddle. Her medication started to work as well and finally she fell asleep. Not for long, because we heard the car park in front of the house. Cyriel woke up as soon as he heard his parents come home. Little Marie opened her eyes and was more than happy to see her daddy. What a night... I hope it didn't scare you in that manner that you would be afraid to go back another time. You did what you had to do. Children cry you know. They are not always happy and cheerful. And sometimes you need help. That's okay sweetheart. You did the right thing. I'm proud of you!

I love your smile

Photo Lana Joos

Your mom chose Hubby as your godfather. He was very proud that she had asked him and he looked forward to being a good godfather. Someone you could count on. Someone who would be there for you whenever you needed him. You're 12 now. Ready to go to Highschool. That comes with a family party, this afternoon. We will all be there, except for Lana, who is still in summer camp. But she'll be thinking of you. It will be your special day and everybody you love will be there to celebrate you. We love you kiddo. You are special to us as a godson but also as a nephew for our girls. When we have you over at our house, we have fun and we do things together. I never heard you protest to come stay with us and sleep over.
In September, you will be going to your new school. Last year, you were the oldest in school. This year, you'll be the youngest again. It will be strange to make new friends, have different teachers and different subjects. But as always: you'll do just fine. It might be frightening in the beginning and it will take you some time to adjust, but it's a good thing you are not shy. It's easy for you to mingle and make new friends. You're an outgoing personality.
It's a pleasure to hear you laugh. Most of the times, when you laugh, tears roll down your cheeks. It's a catching smile and we can't but laugh along. Keep that humor with you. It makes life a whole lot more fun.
Your godfather is going to take you to the Euro Space Center. Just the two of you. How about that? I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun.

Because I know you

The thing between you and me, is that we are so much alike. We look alike and we tend to have similar experiences. I recognize so many situations. I was 15 once, looooooooooooong time ago. But I remember being a teen wasn't easy. Trying to find your own identity, you try out different things. You want to be challenged. You want to be popular and do things others are afraid to do. But I know you, because I know me and I remember what life was like at your age.

There was a basket full of cigarettes in a cabinet up front in our house. The basket was long and made out of  brown rattan. It held like 8 different brands of cigarettes. Those cigarettes were not my parents', since they didn't smoke. They were not ours, since we were not supposed to smoke. We even hated cigarettes or the smoke they produced. It would sting our eyes and it would make us cough. My dad bought them for visitors, so he could offer them a smoke when they felt the need. Back in those days, that was common and very acceptable. 

You like to hang out in the park with your friends. We let you, because we think it's important for teens to socialize and have a good time. We trust you to behave and make the right choices. Last time I picked you up though, you had too much gum in your mouth and your face was all red. You looked out of the window all the way home and you didn't say much. I had suspicions you had been smoking, but I waved that presumption away. You hate cigarettes as much as I do. You say it smells bad and it's bad for your health. So I trusted you and I put away the thought of you smoking...

I had no friends who smoked. So nobody tempted me or dared me to try it out. It's just that one day, I was home alone and I needed something from the cabinet. Closing the cabinet door, the corner of my eye caught the rattan basket full of cigs. I don't know why, but I thought it would be kinda exciting to try out one cigarette. That green box of Saint-Michelle looked the most appealing to me. I had no idea how I would light that cigarette, but I grabbed some matches on the way to the backyard. 

I was emptying your baggage when you came home from camp. There was so much laundry to do and I held your backpack upside down to make everything fall out. To my surprise, a lighter fell out on the floor. For an instance, my heart stopped. I was not wrong. My intuition had not failed on me.. I was so disappointed.. Why??? You're such a clever girl.. you are popular, you have so many friends. Why do you try something this stupid? How many did you have already? Are you still smoking? Who's providing you? Do you use your allowance to buy the things you need?

I was pretty nervous. First I tried to light a match and light the cigarette, by just holding it in my hand. Obviously that wasn't working.. I remembered seeing my grandma smoke. She had the cig in her mouth when she lit it, so that's what I tried. It worked! And it tasted awful.. I spit out what I had just tasted in my mouth. But maybe the second try would taste better? I didn't get the chance, because my mom came home and called for me. I freaked out! I buried the cigarette, together with the matches and I promised myself never to be this stupid again. I couldn't stop smelling my fingers and my heartbeat went up by the minute. My mom came outside to look for me and I was terrified she would notice...

I confronted you with the lighter. The tone of your skin changed into a deep purple. You didn't look at me, but you said you didn't want to talk about it. Bad luck. I'm your mom. You don't decide whether you want to talk about this or not. In the end, you admitted you had tried smoking. But you refused to tell me why the lighter was in your backpack. I'm disappointed... I really am. Right there and then, I wished you would not look after me that well..

What's the catch?

Summer Sales! Not a period of the year I look forward to. I hate crowds of people, rushing into shops and grabbing in clothes to get that one favorite piece. How they push each other aside, how their armpits smell sweaty of excitement and how they mess the clothes up without any embarrassment. The long lines of people, waiting to try on their latest catch.. ugh.. I really hate it.

My friend and I planned a shopping day in Holland though. We have the same taste, same size and we pick the same brands of clothes. We only visit one shop, no more. Our favorite place to be, is The Sting. It's a great store! We have three brands we tend to buy. No need to fit the clothes, since we know the brands and sizes by heart. My wardrobe is now exclusively reserved for these outfits. I'm so happy to have found this shop and it's always a pleasure to go there and enjoy their clothes. Now leave me alone, because I have some clothes to put away and rearrange my dressroom.

Comfortable in my own skin

 All pictures were taken by Lana Joos

Rise in size

You may be very proud of yourself! For the first time, you have crossed the ocean. It's the first time you took an airplane. And all of that all by yourself. I'm pretty sure your intestines protested quite a bit when the plane took off, but in an instant a smile will have appeared on your face with joy, for the adventure has finally started.

The Hooks let me know that they would wait for you at the bagage claim. I'm glad someone is out there to pick you up. It will be another 1 hour drive to the Hook Ranch in La Porte, Indiana and you will be exhausted by the time you get there. It was a long flight after all. But you did it! And there were no problems at all. So there was no need to feel anxious about it. Your vacation just started. What a great reward for the end of this school year. Half a year ago, there were no plans of that order. And now you are in the US, looking forward to a whole lot of fun.

Keep in touch every now and then, okay? We are all anxious to hear about your stories and yes, we want to see pictures!

On the road

It's your turn. You're leaving for summer camp too. Your sister has been gone for a couple of days. The house will be empty and quiet (and clutter free too) without you girls. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be with you. Daddy has tuned up your bicycle so it's all ready to bring you to your destination. It will be a very long ride, 116 km to be exact. That is, by car. The actual bicycle ride will be around 155 km. Your bottom will be very sore by the time you get there, but you will persevere. It's not in your nature to give up and nag over things you can't change.
We got you a new backpack. A real one! A good one and you will take good care of it. You are good at packing your things all by yourself. I'm sure the goodies and candy won't be forgotten.

We'll write you kiddo. And if others are willing to do the same, just grab a pen and a piece of paper and send Lana some news:

VZW KLJ-Eel - Den Bouw
Chiro Ekyrpak - Lana JOOS
Eelstraat 4
2380 Ravels - Eel

Be who you wanna be

My yesterday post was there for a reason. I didn't always feel like loving myself for who I was. Because for a long time, I didn't like the person I saw in the mirror. That person made me sad and disappointed. It was not the person I wanted to see and I couldn't embrace that image. It's hard, you know, if you are no longer able to love yourself. It's like you have become someone else and you are not able to find the other you. Sometimes you have to let go of images you had of yourself. Because we all age and we all change. But this image was not an image I wanted to have of me. I didn't long for the person I was years before. I just wanted to be happy with who I was and that had been too long.

Now, 2 years later, I can say that I no longer avoid mirrors. I'm outgoing again and I don't fear fitting rooms any more. Now it feels okay to rub my body with lotion. It's no longer scary to undress and see myself naked. There are signs of the time, but those signs don't bother me any more. I know where I come from and I know what I've been through to be where I am now. It's been a struggle and it wasn't easy, but I don't regret having done what I've done. It's comforting to feel good about myself. I'm not perfect, but that was never my goal. I wanted to be the best person I could be. And I'm getting there.. I'm getting there.

Be your own best friend

If you want to love somebody else, you need to love yourself first. Do you love yourself? Or do you find that selfish? I don't.. find it selfish, I mean. I do love myself. I learned that lesson a few years ago. It is important you know. To love yourself. Take good care of you, before you are able to care care of someone else. Pamper yourself. In no particular order:
Go to the hairdresser more often than planned.

• Take a foam bath.
• Have a manicure or a pedicure (or both if that makes you feel better).
• Spend too much money on a glamourous outfit without an occasion to wear it.
• Create an occasion to wear that fabulous outfit.
• Shave your legs until they are extremely silky smooth (my male readers may skip this one).
• Get a turbo tan.
• Laugh your heart out over nothing.
• Get advice from a stylist and change your look completely.
• Have an expensive Latte with extra milk foam and hazelnut flavor at Starbuck's and enjoy it with your eyes closed.
• Shoes. Buy new shoes. One pair. Two pairs. Maybe three. Four if you're desperate. Shoes always do the trick.
• Rearrange your wardrobe. Throw out everything you haven't worn in the last year. The emptiness of your dressroom will make you feel a whole lot lighter.
• Throw out your scale and don't bring it back inside.
• Buy a doorsize mirror and admire yourself. Praise your good points and forget about the minor ones. Tell yourself you look real nice.
• Yes, it's okay to get a new purse. Doesn't matter you have 15 already. That one has a totally different color, really.
• Have your car washed by hand. Interior can be done as well. Ask for an oriental fragrance.
• Smile at yourself!
• Give yourself a pat on the shoulder and tell yourself you're doing pretty well.
• Call a good friend and arrange a pleasant outing.
• Sit on a terrace and enjoy a glass of cold Chardonnay, reading your latest eBook.
• Take the dogs for a walk and enjoy their happiness for taking them out.
• Don't do this all in one day.

They're here!!!

5:00 PM It's getting pretty hectic around here now. One hour to go before the guests arrive. I need to hop in to that shower and find the right outfit. Rearranging the food plan in my head, I can check off most things on my to do list. That velvety vanilla ice cream cannot be made ahead. It needs to be soft and creamy. The table has been set, the dishes are put away and the wine is cold. I think I'm ready. Hubby is sweeping the terrace one more time. The dogs have been fed and are taking a nap in their bench. One daughter is having the time of her life in summer camp and the other is enjoying her first two day festival in Bruges. I hope our friends will have an empty stomach when they get here. Because I have prepared quite some goodies. It's great to have people over and tickle their taste buds.
6:00 PM Time to hug the friends and enjoy their happy faces.
6:15 PM Champagne and appetizers
ciabatta bruschetta with Southern style tomatoes
 surprising popsicles
prawn tempura and sweet chili sauce
oxtail soup and veal meat balls
home made grissini with truffle tapenade
6:45 PM Time for the entrees! There's a choice between: pork cheek stew with baked apple cubes crab cakes with home made tartar sauce home made breadrolls
7:15 PM Medallions of pork tenderloin, a mixture of fine vegetables, romanesco, black pepper sauce, pommes parisienne with rosemary or baked potato and sour cream
8:00 PM Dessert! Coming up: home made vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Can't forget the double cream!
8:30 PM Coffee and tea freshly baked double chocolate chip cookies madelein cakes panna cotta and cuberdon advocat In between there will be laughter and good conversation. There will be time to hug and enjoy each others company. It's been tooooooooooooo long.

Just smile and be happy

Photo by Lana Joos

You're all set. You packed your bags last night, all by yourself, like you have done for years. Totally excited about this summer camp, you sent your last facebook messages for this week. In Durbuy there will be no Internet. So used to that way of communicating, but now you will have to go back to basics: just talk to each other, without a computerscreen or keyboard. Your world will be a bit more narrow than you are used to, but that's more than okay. Old friends, new friends, friends to be.. plenty of fun and hopefully some sun to brighten up the days.

Have fun sweetie pie. Enjoy your summer camp, have a ball and meet up with peers. There will be so many stories to tell and I'm looking forward to hearing them. See you in a week!

PS If you would like to make her happy with a written letter or a more modern email:


La Petite Merveille
Eva Joos
Rue comte Th. D’Ursel 51
6940 DURBUY
or
info@lpmforkids.be (write her name where the subject should come)

The past has gone

A new age has made its entry. You can finish that book and put it aside for a while. A new book is waiting for you to pick it up and start reading it.
You are probably on your way to your new job now. I wonder if you play a certain CD in your car or if you just turn on the radio. I don't think you play no music on your way to work. I try to imagine your work outfit for this first day. I hope you did what you thought was suited and I hope you feel comfortable in whatever you are wearing. There's no need to stress out. Your new boss has a blank canvas. You have a blank canvas. Those blank canvases are waiting to be painted on. Make your first streak. It may be a careful one, with shaky hands, but you will paint. Have faith in who you are and what you do. Because it's the best you can do. I'll be thinking of you. I hope to hear from you tonight. My fingers are crossed.

Taken advantage of

There's not much I regret in life. Some things I could have handled better, that is correct. We are all humans and we all deserve respect. I like to do things for my friends and make them feel well and at ease. Do I expect something in return? No, I really don't. Giving without expecting anything back, is more than satisfying. Up till a certain point I must say. When I start to feel that people take the friendship for granted or when they start taking advantage of me, cracks start to show in our bond, no matter how close we used to be. I just can't stand it when people do that. I don't talk about single occasions, but numerous situations. They can no longer be excused. I'm not stupid, you know. I wait and see and I evaluate. I give people multiple chances to pull themselves together. But if that is not sufficient I need to protect myself and walk away.. Sometimes with pain in my heart, because we are all blessed with a unique personality. I have been abused just once too often. I'm done. To me, it's a point of no return. The damage has been done and I have been more than patient and forgiving. It doesn't mean you are a bad person. You are just no longer a person I want to share my life with. I wish you all the best and I hope life lessons have been learned..

It all went wrong

This Saturday we are having friends over for dinner. It's been a while since we last met up, so it will be fun to enjoy each other's company. If only I had not had this awful dream..

I needed to get some final groceries to prepare the meals I had in mind. I was in a rush an I could not find my shopping list. So I decided to leave the house without the list. I knew what I wanted to make, so how hard could it be to race around the store, retrieving the products I needed?
I was doing real well and I was on schedule. The table had been set earlier that day. The champagne was getting cold in the fridge and my dessert was looking great. No sweat!
Our friends arrived and I was calm as a cucumber. No stress at all. Why should I stress out? I mean, come on, these are my friends after all. So we served drinks and appetizers and I was getting ready for the entrees. There was a choice of fish or meat and my friends had given me their preferences in advance. I opened the fridge to take out the fish.. where did the fish go??? I checked the other fridge, but I couldn't find it anywhere! Panic! Breathe, breathe.. I could hear Hubby laugh and chat with our guests, while I was dying in my kitchen.. My sugar level dropped instantly and..

That's when I woke up, to treat my low. It was only Sunday night. I had not done any shopping yet and I had plenty of time left before the weekend. But my heart pounded like a mad man's heart. Just chill.. I'll do just fine. I'm prepared and nothing of that manner will happen, right? Right?

It was nice in time and place..

but it's time for a change. Our bedroom used to be the bedroom of the girls. I'm talking a long time ago, at least 10 years, I would say. Nothing has changed since, except for the shelves I built to display my shoes. There was a separate area for the sunbed, but that same sunbed died some years ago. We got rid of it, but not of the separate area. Maybe that should go to. I'm sure anyone with some common sense would admit lila and pink are not appropriate for a parents' room. The wall to wall carpet might have been flattering back then, but it's faded and worn out. I would like to freshen up the room and give it a more adult look and feel to it. It needs a decorative wallpaper on the wall our bed is placed against. The rest of the room could do with a good coating of paint. I would like to make the room come alive with a huge green plant next to a black leatherlook man's chair. That could become a nice place to relax and read a book. I want the TV out of the room, since it's of no use to any of us. We would keep the night stands, maybe. A large mirror would be great too. It's always a bonus to check yourself out if you are getting ready for a night out. We can keep the blinds and the curtains, but we could try to sell the antique desk. It truly is a beautiful piece and I know you would rather keep it, but we have no destination for it. Sometimes it is better to let go of something old and replace it with something more contemporarily. A bright and expensive looking chandelier could become la pièce de résistance in our new bedroom. New bed linen and tons of pillows will finish it all off. At least, that's how it goes on Make Over TV shows..

Now all we need is our youngest daughter to come up with a design. She is creative and she has splendid ideas when it comes to decorating. Did I mention this will be your birthday present? After all, one deserves an adult bedroom at the age of 45. Happy Birthday Hubby!

Simple comme bonjour

There are certain days my mother-in-law expects all of her children and their spouses to bring her grandchildren to the parental house. We never question those invitations. We just try to be there, out of respect and because hanging out with the crew is always pleasant. This time is no different. Every first weekend of July, we have cake and pies and cookies in Eastshop. Originally the event was the fair. A couple of years ago, there was not much left of the fair, but the tradition continues and we still get together. It's not easy to motivate everybody and it's possible one or two can't make it. But the major part of the family will be there to enjoy the company and the goodies. I'm grateful for my mother-in-law's energy and patience with all of us. It is of no effort to her to have around 20 people over and feed them. It's what she likes to do and it's a good way to keep the family together.
See you this afternoon! I'll bring the home baked cookies and pies. You bring your enthusiasm okay?