Yes there are big changes awaiting and it must be scary and exiting at the same time for you. But do it one thing at the time. Just concentrate on the studies and all the rest will fall in place. Distractions atre fine but you need to controle them. Make a study plan. Like study from that time to that time, then do something completely different to relax and clear the head and then study again from this time to that... If distractions come along during study time, ignore them completely, but do not study during distraction time either. ;)
Enough hot guys to pick from: Cullens, Quilleutes AND Volturi??? I must admit he's quite good looking. Haha
I'm really looking forward to the movie as well. Wonder if Jos will accompagny me again. He's not very into the Saga to put it mildly. But he is into me, so he might just go with me.
I hope you get to see the pic real soon too.
I suppose it isn't the right name for the procedure but that is what it's called over here. It is more like replacing the connection of the legbone to the hipbone. They put a steel pin in the fractured legbone and it has this ball at the end that fits into the hip. It is a very simple operation but ald people seldomn adjust to the operation the way mum seems to do. She is walking around again without help of the rollator and we even had a waltz together today. People are amazed to see her walking about as if nothing ever happened. I think a lot can be said for what memory does to people. Because mum doesn't realize she had an operation, she forgets to be cautious and just walks... I'm very proud of her.
Changing the house takes time. I want to do it properly and need to think things out before I go charging in. But I have time, it'll come.
The garden still needs a lot doing to it to get it all back in shape as well but it is getting there. Things have grown out of controle a bit but I'm putting them back in order slowly.
I have not read dad's letters yet. I'm kind of saving them for a special day.
I would not go looking for your parents love letters just yet. Better wait till they get special meaning like with my parent's letters. Just enjoy your parents whyle you have them around and do ask a lot of questions. If you find pictures ask them to write the dates and names on the back. I think it is a pity that there are pictures of people that I don't recognise and I have no one left that can tell me who they are.
The weekend with Jos was wonderfull again. Yesterday we worked in the garden and today we went for a long walk in a beautiful place near my home. The weather was cold but lovely and we had a lovely time. And this afternoon we visited mum and we left all the old folks singing old tunes and dancing together. It is lovely how mum seems to fit in allright.
Good luck with the studies. I know you will do just fine on the o'levels but just to help I'll keep you in my prayers.
Don't worry about tardines, i fully understand schoolwork comes first. The results are great! You really studied well. Hope the O'levels will be as good.
Pity no boys were alone at the resort. Meeting Cullen there would have been perfect. Oh no, wait a minute... didn't he marry Bella? You would'nt want a bigamist as boyfriend now would you? Better ask Carlisle if he has any more relatives that are single... or maybe he can create you one. haha.
Have you seen the trailer yet? It looks magnificent. I'm really looking forward to the next movie in the franchise.
I saw Water for Elephants last and was happily surprised. I really liked the movie. I have great hopes for Lautner's Abduction as well. The trailer looks exciting.
I was very stressed while writing the last mail. It was a frightening experience when mum broke her hip. But things have worked out for the best. She was in hospital for a forthnight and got a hip replacement. The operation went well but now she has to learn and walk with the new hip. That takes longer ofcourse. From the hospital she was transferred to the home> She now has permanent residence there and is getting used to it. I visit often because it is only around the corner from where I live. She is doing well physically but has really had a shocking degeneration mentally. She was allready pretty dement before but with the anaesthesia her brain lost even more connections. But she is happy enough and I am coming to accept it, she will never be mum again. She still recognises me and that is enough. She is whisteling again and in a few months she will be able to walk again with a rollater to steady her.
It was hard at first being totally alone in the house but I am getting used to it. I am also changing the place little by little. Getting rid of the ornaments mum loved and brightening the place up. Also I have to clear out cupboards and get rid of stuff we haven't used in donkey's years. I'll have a lot of work going to the skip with it.
Clearing out I came across some old letters by my dad and my grandmother. I am so pleased to have found them. It seems like a final chance to getting to know them. My dad died when I was 3 and my grandmother went 2 years later.
So that was good but most stuff is junk. Hope I find another hidden treasure somewhere but I doubt it.
Anyway, I'm off now to visit mum and in a couple of hours Jos will be here. I do love him more and more each time. I hope we soon find a way for him to come live with me. If only we could win the lottery. (But I guess we need to buy a ticket then, haha)
Have a great time and sleep a lot while you can. Take care!
Sorry i didn't answer sooner but things have taken a turn for the worse. Mum broke her hip and is in hospital. I am really worried about what is to happen when she gets dismissed from there because I am not sure I can cope with her Alzheimers and the new hipreplacement. I hope there will be a possibility to get her into a revalidationcenter where they know how to treat it. I am waiting on an answer from the social servises but it is weekend so it will probably be for next week. Luckely Jos is back. I really missed having him near when all that stuff was going on. Poor mum, she really didn't deserve that, she is such a sweet person.
I don't know if that is a very good regime you are taking with studies. Sleep is really essential to have a clear head and a good memory. 3 hours sleep is not enough. I really think you should reconsider. Study, get a good night sleep and revise. That is the right way to do it.
But the free e-book is good news ofcourse. ;)
I doubt hot showers make you sick over here. Haha. We've had a rotten summer so far. Rain, storms, cold... luckely we had a lovely spring. Last week a freak storm hit a music festival here in Belgium. Tent flew away, people were kneedeep in mud and worse of all: a podium collapsed and 5 people were killed and 10 badly wounded and still critical. Mostly young people ofcourse, they go to the festivals.
My village has escaped the worst so far and I hope it continues to do so.
For the moment though, the sun is out. Jos is out in the garden and I think I will go and play out a bit too. This afternoon we are visiting mum in hospital.
Hope that vampires are Cullen-style if you ever find them. haha
Do well on the rest of the exams and enjoy your little holiday in the isolated resort. (perfect place for finding vampires, eh?) Promise I'll write more next time.
Wow, do you celebrate Halloween for a whole month? Hope you have a great time!
I'll look out for black cats. We have all colours in the neighbourghood and yes, one of the cats is a totally black one. But it is more scared of me than I am of it. The black tomcat allways fights with the nextdoor tomcat. One daythey were having it out in a cat's singsong. ( you know how they sing to one another before they fight?) So I went outside. They both looked up to me but didn't run untill I imitated their song and they ran for their lives. it was so funny, haha.
My last weekend was great but allready a week away. Tomorrow Jos comes back and I'm really happy about that. Unfortunatly it will rain this weekend so we have not decided what we will do yet. Last week we did a lot of work in the garden and we still have to paint the windowsills and finish off the shed... loads to do but it needs to stay dry.
Anyway, I'll end here and whish you good luck with the rest of the exams. And congratulations on the essay.
I know she'll be fine in the home. It is a totally new building and is just around the corner from our homes. ( My sister's and mine, I mean) So we can walk over there and visit everyday and even more than once a day. The rooms are big and bright and very comfortable, the food is superb and so is the care.
I hope a room will be avalable real soon. It will be better for mum too because they organise activities there that I can't do over here. Maybe she won't be able to do these activities but just looking at the others would be more entertaining than sitting here every day. And yes, I would have my life back too. Free to go to a shop with my sister again. Not having to worry about mum every minute that I am away...
Soon, I pray...
I used to have much pain when I had my monthly periods too, so I can relate to what you are going through. It is especially hard when you have to study for exams. Unfortunatly there is little that can be done. The contraceptionpill helps lessen the pain but I know it is difficult for girls to get their parents to consent to getting them for their daughter. I never had that problem but still I didn't get the pill till I was 34. I don't believe pills are not bad for your health and, 'if you're life isn't at stake, don't take tablets' is my motto.
I was glad to finally get rid of the monthly pains when I got into menopause. I felt great! Still do. A lot of women complain about menopause but I welcomed it. So, it may be comforting to know that by the time you turn 50, you don't need to worry about those pains anymore. ( Just different ones, haha)
Yes, a quiz on vampire history or shapeshifter legends might get you topscores, but it wouldn't get you into college. I'm afraid. lol
No need to stress over exams. Just do the best you can and the results will be fine. Stress only eats away at your energy and blanks out data. I was allways too stressfull and forgot even the simpelest answers in the exam that way. As soon as I got out of the room i remembered what I should have written... So I think it is good that you do not stress out over exams, you'll get better results that way.
It is normal that you miss Jay and it will feel strange for a little while but life does go on. At least you know she has a good home adn you'll be able to see her again if you want to.
I wish it was as easy as pretending she was a child. It doesn't work that way, though. At least you can teach a child something and they learn things quickly. With mum she forgets what you have told her 2 minutes before. So I have to tell her the same thing the whole day long. It is frustrating. For example: Around 11.00 she starts talking about what she should make for lunch. I tell her I have it all under controle, but she continues till I start on the preparations. Then I cook and give her lunch. She eats it all, I clear the table and start on the dishes and she goes: what is for lunch? When will we eat? And then I tell her what we just had for lunch and she goes: That's what you had, I haven't had anything to eat the whole day... And she does this after every meal and every day. Another problem is washing her. She washes her hands about a million times a day and combs her hair even more, but when I try to wash all of her she gets mad. She would fight me physically when I try to get her clothes off in order to wash her back and get her into fresh clothes. And that is the same every day as well.
No, I can't pretend she is a child because I would not take that crap from a child. lol
I allways liked learning about different countries and still learn everyday. Maybe I do seem knowledgable but I guess that my age has a lot to do with that. You cannot have lived for 54 years and not know anything. I also love reading about different things and knowledge comes automaticly then.
Hope you wrote a great essay and get the scolarship without any problem. Yes, you are right to feel all grown up, soon you will be spreading your wings and leaving the nest. I guess that is why your mum found another place for Jay. I can understand that it is heartbreaking to see a loved pet go but you couldn't have taken her with you, could you? And it is great that you were able to visit with her. I suppose the change is as awful to her as it is to you but you both will get used to it. She will have lovely runs on the beach and get used to her new life and so will you... and both of you will remember all the good things about eachother and forget all the bad stuff. ;)
I see your point. At least at home you could interupt the marathon when you felt like it but not in the cinema. And then, a Twilight marathon is a few hours shorter than a Harry Potter marathon. Still a long time to stay awake though.
I'm off for a walk with Nina as soon as she wakes up. Hope it doesn't start raining again.
Yes, being a vampire for a long time can wear you down. Hence the dark shadows under their eyes. LOL
Lucky you running along the beach all afternoon! Over here we have had 2 good days in summer so far, for the rest it has been raining and cold. Our spring was much warmer than our summer. That is not so good for the poor kids that have to find things to do inside instead of being able to play out. That whilst when they were in school having exams it was really hot outside. It just isn't fair, is it?
Mums swolen foot is getting better every day. So no need for the doctor. Good news indeed.
I think my mum would have been like your grandmother a few years ago but not now. She doesn't do a thing anymore but does not realise it. She forgets as soon as she starts something. I let her do the dishes sometimes to keep her occupied but she has no idea how it is done anymore, so I have to do them again when she doesn't notice it. She also allways complanes about not getting any food all day. Even if she just finished a meal she askes when dinner will be ready... it is exasperating sometimes. And she keeps giving the cats foods like cake and bread and ofcourse they don't want it and then she gets cross with them.
It is great to see my niece's baby learn something new every day and remembering what she learned, but at the same rate my mum forgets everything she ever knew.
I am really getting fed up with this situation and hope that there will soon be a place available for mum at the home. Allthough I still feel bad about it, I do want my life back. I feel like a prisoner in my own house sometimes.
Writing and publishing is a lovely thing to aim for, but your parents are right. It is allways handy to have something to fall back on if you are having difficulties getting the job you are after. It is never wrong to bet on two horses, much more chamce at winning that way. And, knowing all about food is a very good base to get into publishing cookbooks and related stuff. So that is a plus.
But do continue to write, it is fun and you never know where it will get you. And get on the good side of the authors and such, you never know when you'll need someone on the "inside". ;)
I will watch HP soon. Over here they arranged a marathon of HP films last week. 26 hours of HP with the last part just after midnight of the 2nd day... they are absolutely mad! I once went for the showing of Twilight and New Moon once and thought that was quite long enough to be cooped up in a theatre. Fan or no fan.
You have a great weekend too! I'm off to bed now. ( skyped with Jos while I was typing this). It is now 10.00 p.m. Time for a quick shower and into bed. Nighty night, don't let the vampires bite! ;)
Bet you are sleeping by now. When you wrote, 1 hour ago, it was 7.45 p.m. here. It is now nearing 9.00 p.m. and I just put mum to bed and am getting ready to skype with Jos at 9.00. After that I am off to bed too. I am not a vampire yet, as you can tell. Mostly I am in bed around 10.30 p.m. Only in the weekends I stay awake a bit longer enjoying Jos' company.
Mum's leg seems to get better but, if by the end of the weekend there is no substantial lessening of swelling, I'll let the doctor come again. ( Still didn't get the bill for the last 4 visits...) I do take it very seriously but, it is a good sign, normally people are very ill when they have this bacteria and mum wasn't ill for one single day. Just had swollen feet and legs. I think that shows she is very healthy and has no problem resisting the invation with the help of penicilyn ofcourse. But I am staying on top of it, don't you worry.
Holland isn't all flat lands and windmills though. The 3 mills were only about 3 kilometers from where Jos lives in high buildings. The towns are filled with skyscrapers and they are still building like crazy. When I compare Belgian towns to Dutch towns ours look like villages... Very little high buildings over here. The river is really a canal where, with the help of the windmills, the water was kept from the grasslands. Because Holland is mostly below the level of the sea, they have allways had a love/hate relationship with water and learned to controle it a long time ago. Hence all the mills. But they still have lots of greenery too. We visited my friend (Whom I met on TTS) too. The picture in the tropical greenhouse is taken by her. She lives in Flevoland and it doesn't get more green than that. We had a lovely time and yes, we make eachother happy.
Never mind about tardiness, I know how busy you are.
I sent you some pictures of the windmills and two of us too. We did have a blast and saw a great deal.
Mum is still not recovered, her foot is still swollen after 3 weeks. It seems to get a bit better but if not, I will have to sent for the doctor once again. She never had anything like it before and I guess those sorts of bacteria do thrive better where there are a lot of old people together. It shouldn't happen but I guess it is hard to prevent it.
Don't know if Jos daughters are lucky to have me, lol, but I know they are happy to see their dad happy again. They saw him miserable with their mother for many years you see.
Your future does seem bright. I know you'll do well in your exams and will do even better in university, because there you will primarely study what you love. But, if the worst comes, you will have a future in the publishing business. seems a lot of authors want your opinions on their books. And, if you get to know a lot of them, then you can learn all about every aspect of the publishing business. And if you are in the publishing business, I know where to go to get my books published. lol
I have not seen Harry Potter yet... am a bit behind> I need to see the halfblood prince still...
I totally understand. I am looking forward to the last movies as well but dreading the end.... It is allways like that. When I read books I just read very fast so as to know the end but, when it is coming, I start reading slowly so as to make it last longer. I guess we are all the same that way. haha
Anyway, I'll end this and promise never to let you wait that long again. ;)
Hope you enjoyed sportsweek (hehehe) and lots of luck with the exams.
Sorry I answer so late but I had a marvellous 3 week vacation with my darling Jos. Mum stayed in the place she is going to live in when there is room. She liked it there but was so very pleased when I picked her up today. Her stay didn't go to plan because she got a little wound that got infected somehow. I came back the second week to see how it was going. It still isn't healed so I'll get the doctor down here again because her other leg is swelling up as well. That is beyond normal. Still, she doesn't seem bothered by it so it probably doesn't hurt and she is not ill either. I'll see if it gets better now she is back home and I can look after her. It was a bit of a damper on my, otherwise, fun holiday. Jos was very understanding and we spent a lot of time with mum in the second week but we also went and saw some museums. But the first and last week we spent in Holland and I had a lovely time. We visited two of his daughters as well and I feel very welcomed by them. They really like the fact that I seem to be making their dad happy. That is good news.
We visited museums in The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam but we also went to the seaside and park, visited his old neighbourghhood (didn't recognise anything from 37 years ago) and visited my friend from TTS.
On the last day we went for a long walk and shot some pictures of old windmills. You cannot visit Holland and not take photos of windmills, can you? haha
I had a really good time and I am sorry the 3 weeks are allready over. sigh!
I put mum to bed and am now waiting for Jos to get home and skype and then I'm going to my (lonely) bed. :(
So how was the book by the writer you met? Any good?
It is indeed fun to be able to read an (as yet) unpublished book. But don't let it interfere with your studies because they have to come first, eh?
What do you mean? Do you start school in the weekend? ;)
You'll be happy to be back with your friends, rising first thing in the morning and working your butt off getting good results. 1 goal: to get into the university of your choise doing what you love doing. What better insentive can you get?
A 27 year old uncle, how lucky you are... I have a 29 year old niece. haha (told you I was ancient!)
At least the plane didn't come down due to too much literature in your bags. I doubt anyone would accuse you of smuggling... books?! I think they would be looking for other substances than pure paper and ink.
Yes, books can be heavy. You are talking to somebody who has lifted books by the box full and that for 32 years.... (You should see my biceps) No, only joking. I do have a bad back though and I do partly blame heavy books for that.
Well, I think your aunt probably lives in a town in New Zealand and it is probably not deserted, but you get the drift, eh? You should talk to her and ask about Holland and New Zealand. It is always interesting to find out about the rest of the world. Why not send her a mail or letter?
Yeah... only six months and you enter the "big scary world". Just never forget your roots and your lovely little island. BUT ENJOY EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERYTHING!
And maybe there will be the odd vegetarian vampire doing a new course there. Though i doubt many vampires will choose your dreamcourses.
Did you get the link I sent you of the trailer of BD? It looks so lovely.
German food will do that to you LOL! It is pretty heavy and uses a lot of grease and fat. I'm glad Belgian food is a bitlighter although we too eat far too much.
Never mind about the prize, at least you got to go to the mainland for the quiz and it seems you spent your time wisely: in bookstores! haha
I did not know Taylor's University but I looked it up on google and you didn't lie: IT IS ENOURMOUS! but it looks very beautiful. Of course the people treated you like a grown-up. You are thinking of going to their university, I doubt they would scare you off. I will look up Culinology versus food science, I have absolutely no idea what the differences are. I'm so not interested in eating and cooking so I never looked into those possibilities. Then again, there were not many possibilities open to girls back in the 1970's. I am ancient, am I not? haha
Luckily I am good at Geology so I know Holland is Belgium's northern neighbourgh, just as tiny and even more overpopulated than we are. Drive for about 30 minutes and we're there... only, to get to where Jos lives takes 2 hours and my friend from TTS lives even further away... 4 hours or so. But it'll be a stressfree holiday, as you put it, and I am really ready for that. I am very much looking forward to that.
You are absolutely right, you are never too old to have fun and I intend to enjoy every minute of my holiday.
What a difference: from Holland to New Zealand. The country is about 50 times bigger but I bet there are about the same amount of people. From overpopulated to deserted. Wonder how your aunt feels about both countries?
Taking 8 books back to a plane can't be that difficult, can it? Leave some of your luggage behind or tie them to your head and pretend it is a new hat... so many possibilities. haha
But above all: enjoy your books! And take care! Love,
3 weeks of exams sounds like hell to me. haha I am so glad I'm not in school anymore. I really dreaded exams.
But, yours are over and you have a break now, and what do you do? Another exam! Except that you call it a quiz. EXAMS, BY ANY OTHER NAME, ARE STILL EXAMS! (only joking, haha)
I hope you did great on the quiz, a trip to China would be great, you could try your Chinese out on the natives and hope they understand you. haha
I'm sorry, your good mood from the mail seems to rub off on me. I'm really glad you are having so much fun and are more outgoing AND enjoying it. Good on you!
If you are going on college orientation, wouldn't there be other highschool students there doing the same? I hope you find a spot in the college of your dreams and do brilliantly. I have faith in you. ;)
Over here not much has changed except for the prospect of a holiday. I have managed to put mum up for a short stay in the home where she will, I hope, go to live in the near future. In 4 weeks time Jos and I would have a 3 week break that way. I hope mum will love it out there. I honestly think it will be great for her, like a stay in a super-de-luxe hotel. At least I hope she will enjoy it. I am looking forward to this break. I'm going up north to Holland with Jos, visit his family and go see a lot and then, afterward, we are spending some time alone over here as well, visiting friends and places and not having to worry about being back home by six to feed mum and put her to bed. It will be a fabulous holiday... the first in a very long while. I'm really looking forward to it.
Hope you don't have writerscramp after answering all your mails. Take care! And hope to hear from you soon.
Oh my, Natasha... you are an outdoor girl after all. ;)
It sounds as if you had the time of your life. You seem to have underestimated yourself.
You were not exactly all alone in that forest (200 kids????) but still, things going BOOO in the night and you not budging... that is something to be really proud of. I suppose the downpour wasn't too comfortable but I guess you will have great stories to tell your grandchildren someday. haha
I know what archery is and paintballs too but what is flying fox? Is that where you climb a hight and then come whizzing down on a rope?
I'm very proud of you and I will never again believe you when you say you are not cut out for outdoor sports.
(I guess you will not believe yourself anymore either.)
Good thing you didn't walk on the graveyard. 400 feet walking overhead would certainly have been able to "wake the dead". haha
Never mind not sleeping, you can catch up in class. haha
I totally believe you had F.U.N. Good on you!
I never had an experience like it. The only time I slept in a tent was when me and a friend went camping on Jersey ( An island in the English channel, part of Britain but closer to the coast of France.) It was hell. Sleeping in grass when you have hayfever is not advisable. I had about 20 hankies with me and had to wash them every morning so they would be dry for the day to come. I suffered and never repeated the experience. Give me a hotelroom anytime. (And loads of hayfever tablets)
I hope you do extremely well on the exams and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. (Quite hard to type, I can tell you.) ;)
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Hi there,
Yes there are big changes awaiting and it must be scary and exiting at the same time for you. But do it one thing at the time. Just concentrate on the studies and all the rest will fall in place. Distractions atre fine but you need to controle them. Make a study plan. Like study from that time to that time, then do something completely different to relax and clear the head and then study again from this time to that... If distractions come along during study time, ignore them completely, but do not study during distraction time either. ;)
Enough hot guys to pick from: Cullens, Quilleutes AND Volturi??? I must admit he's quite good looking. Haha
I'm really looking forward to the movie as well. Wonder if Jos will accompagny me again. He's not very into the Saga to put it mildly. But he is into me, so he might just go with me.
I hope you get to see the pic real soon too.
I suppose it isn't the right name for the procedure but that is what it's called over here. It is more like replacing the connection of the legbone to the hipbone. They put a steel pin in the fractured legbone and it has this ball at the end that fits into the hip. It is a very simple operation but ald people seldomn adjust to the operation the way mum seems to do. She is walking around again without help of the rollator and we even had a waltz together today. People are amazed to see her walking about as if nothing ever happened. I think a lot can be said for what memory does to people. Because mum doesn't realize she had an operation, she forgets to be cautious and just walks... I'm very proud of her.
Changing the house takes time. I want to do it properly and need to think things out before I go charging in. But I have time, it'll come.
The garden still needs a lot doing to it to get it all back in shape as well but it is getting there. Things have grown out of controle a bit but I'm putting them back in order slowly.
I have not read dad's letters yet. I'm kind of saving them for a special day.
I would not go looking for your parents love letters just yet. Better wait till they get special meaning like with my parent's letters. Just enjoy your parents whyle you have them around and do ask a lot of questions. If you find pictures ask them to write the dates and names on the back. I think it is a pity that there are pictures of people that I don't recognise and I have no one left that can tell me who they are.
The weekend with Jos was wonderfull again. Yesterday we worked in the garden and today we went for a long walk in a beautiful place near my home. The weather was cold but lovely and we had a lovely time. And this afternoon we visited mum and we left all the old folks singing old tunes and dancing together. It is lovely how mum seems to fit in allright.
Good luck with the studies. I know you will do just fine on the o'levels but just to help I'll keep you in my prayers.
Take care!
Love,
Patricia
Hi Natshane,
Don't worry about tardines, i fully understand schoolwork comes first. The results are great! You really studied well. Hope the O'levels will be as good.
Pity no boys were alone at the resort. Meeting Cullen there would have been perfect. Oh no, wait a minute... didn't he marry Bella? You would'nt want a bigamist as boyfriend now would you? Better ask Carlisle if he has any more relatives that are single... or maybe he can create you one. haha.
Have you seen the trailer yet? It looks magnificent. I'm really looking forward to the next movie in the franchise.
I saw Water for Elephants last and was happily surprised. I really liked the movie. I have great hopes for Lautner's Abduction as well. The trailer looks exciting.
I was very stressed while writing the last mail. It was a frightening experience when mum broke her hip. But things have worked out for the best. She was in hospital for a forthnight and got a hip replacement. The operation went well but now she has to learn and walk with the new hip. That takes longer ofcourse. From the hospital she was transferred to the home> She now has permanent residence there and is getting used to it. I visit often because it is only around the corner from where I live. She is doing well physically but has really had a shocking degeneration mentally. She was allready pretty dement before but with the anaesthesia her brain lost even more connections. But she is happy enough and I am coming to accept it, she will never be mum again. She still recognises me and that is enough. She is whisteling again and in a few months she will be able to walk again with a rollater to steady her.
It was hard at first being totally alone in the house but I am getting used to it. I am also changing the place little by little. Getting rid of the ornaments mum loved and brightening the place up. Also I have to clear out cupboards and get rid of stuff we haven't used in donkey's years. I'll have a lot of work going to the skip with it.
Clearing out I came across some old letters by my dad and my grandmother. I am so pleased to have found them. It seems like a final chance to getting to know them. My dad died when I was 3 and my grandmother went 2 years later.
So that was good but most stuff is junk. Hope I find another hidden treasure somewhere but I doubt it.
Anyway, I'm off now to visit mum and in a couple of hours Jos will be here. I do love him more and more each time. I hope we soon find a way for him to come live with me. If only we could win the lottery. (But I guess we need to buy a ticket then, haha)
Have a great time and sleep a lot while you can. Take care!
Love,
Patricia
Hello Natshane,
Sorry i didn't answer sooner but things have taken a turn for the worse. Mum broke her hip and is in hospital. I am really worried about what is to happen when she gets dismissed from there because I am not sure I can cope with her Alzheimers and the new hipreplacement. I hope there will be a possibility to get her into a revalidationcenter where they know how to treat it. I am waiting on an answer from the social servises but it is weekend so it will probably be for next week. Luckely Jos is back. I really missed having him near when all that stuff was going on. Poor mum, she really didn't deserve that, she is such a sweet person.
I don't know if that is a very good regime you are taking with studies. Sleep is really essential to have a clear head and a good memory. 3 hours sleep is not enough. I really think you should reconsider. Study, get a good night sleep and revise. That is the right way to do it.
But the free e-book is good news ofcourse. ;)
I doubt hot showers make you sick over here. Haha. We've had a rotten summer so far. Rain, storms, cold... luckely we had a lovely spring. Last week a freak storm hit a music festival here in Belgium. Tent flew away, people were kneedeep in mud and worse of all: a podium collapsed and 5 people were killed and 10 badly wounded and still critical. Mostly young people ofcourse, they go to the festivals.
My village has escaped the worst so far and I hope it continues to do so.
For the moment though, the sun is out. Jos is out in the garden and I think I will go and play out a bit too. This afternoon we are visiting mum in hospital.
Hope that vampires are Cullen-style if you ever find them. haha
Do well on the rest of the exams and enjoy your little holiday in the isolated resort. (perfect place for finding vampires, eh?) Promise I'll write more next time.
Patricia
Wow, do you celebrate Halloween for a whole month? Hope you have a great time!
I'll look out for black cats. We have all colours in the neighbourghood and yes, one of the cats is a totally black one. But it is more scared of me than I am of it. The black tomcat allways fights with the nextdoor tomcat. One daythey were having it out in a cat's singsong. ( you know how they sing to one another before they fight?) So I went outside. They both looked up to me but didn't run untill I imitated their song and they ran for their lives. it was so funny, haha.
My last weekend was great but allready a week away. Tomorrow Jos comes back and I'm really happy about that. Unfortunatly it will rain this weekend so we have not decided what we will do yet. Last week we did a lot of work in the garden and we still have to paint the windowsills and finish off the shed... loads to do but it needs to stay dry.
Anyway, I'll end here and whish you good luck with the rest of the exams. And congratulations on the essay.
Love,
Patricia
I know she'll be fine in the home. It is a totally new building and is just around the corner from our homes. ( My sister's and mine, I mean) So we can walk over there and visit everyday and even more than once a day. The rooms are big and bright and very comfortable, the food is superb and so is the care.
I hope a room will be avalable real soon. It will be better for mum too because they organise activities there that I can't do over here. Maybe she won't be able to do these activities but just looking at the others would be more entertaining than sitting here every day. And yes, I would have my life back too. Free to go to a shop with my sister again. Not having to worry about mum every minute that I am away...
Soon, I pray...
I used to have much pain when I had my monthly periods too, so I can relate to what you are going through. It is especially hard when you have to study for exams. Unfortunatly there is little that can be done. The contraceptionpill helps lessen the pain but I know it is difficult for girls to get their parents to consent to getting them for their daughter. I never had that problem but still I didn't get the pill till I was 34. I don't believe pills are not bad for your health and, 'if you're life isn't at stake, don't take tablets' is my motto.
I was glad to finally get rid of the monthly pains when I got into menopause. I felt great! Still do. A lot of women complain about menopause but I welcomed it. So, it may be comforting to know that by the time you turn 50, you don't need to worry about those pains anymore. ( Just different ones, haha)
Yes, a quiz on vampire history or shapeshifter legends might get you topscores, but it wouldn't get you into college. I'm afraid. lol
Hi sweety,
No need to stress over exams. Just do the best you can and the results will be fine. Stress only eats away at your energy and blanks out data. I was allways too stressfull and forgot even the simpelest answers in the exam that way. As soon as I got out of the room i remembered what I should have written... So I think it is good that you do not stress out over exams, you'll get better results that way.
It is normal that you miss Jay and it will feel strange for a little while but life does go on. At least you know she has a good home adn you'll be able to see her again if you want to.
I wish it was as easy as pretending she was a child. It doesn't work that way, though. At least you can teach a child something and they learn things quickly. With mum she forgets what you have told her 2 minutes before. So I have to tell her the same thing the whole day long. It is frustrating. For example: Around 11.00 she starts talking about what she should make for lunch. I tell her I have it all under controle, but she continues till I start on the preparations. Then I cook and give her lunch. She eats it all, I clear the table and start on the dishes and she goes: what is for lunch? When will we eat? And then I tell her what we just had for lunch and she goes: That's what you had, I haven't had anything to eat the whole day... And she does this after every meal and every day. Another problem is washing her. She washes her hands about a million times a day and combs her hair even more, but when I try to wash all of her she gets mad. She would fight me physically when I try to get her clothes off in order to wash her back and get her into fresh clothes. And that is the same every day as well.
No, I can't pretend she is a child because I would not take that crap from a child. lol
I allways liked learning about different countries and still learn everyday. Maybe I do seem knowledgable but I guess that my age has a lot to do with that. You cannot have lived for 54 years and not know anything. I also love reading about different things and knowledge comes automaticly then.
Hope you wrote a great essay and get the scolarship without any problem. Yes, you are right to feel all grown up, soon you will be spreading your wings and leaving the nest. I guess that is why your mum found another place for Jay. I can understand that it is heartbreaking to see a loved pet go but you couldn't have taken her with you, could you? And it is great that you were able to visit with her. I suppose the change is as awful to her as it is to you but you both will get used to it. She will have lovely runs on the beach and get used to her new life and so will you... and both of you will remember all the good things about eachother and forget all the bad stuff. ;)
I see your point. At least at home you could interupt the marathon when you felt like it but not in the cinema. And then, a Twilight marathon is a few hours shorter than a Harry Potter marathon. Still a long time to stay awake though.
I'm off for a walk with Nina as soon as she wakes up. Hope it doesn't start raining again.
Take care and write back soon!
Love,
patricia
Hi there,
Yes, being a vampire for a long time can wear you down. Hence the dark shadows under their eyes. LOL
Lucky you running along the beach all afternoon! Over here we have had 2 good days in summer so far, for the rest it has been raining and cold. Our spring was much warmer than our summer. That is not so good for the poor kids that have to find things to do inside instead of being able to play out. That whilst when they were in school having exams it was really hot outside. It just isn't fair, is it?
Mums swolen foot is getting better every day. So no need for the doctor. Good news indeed.
I think my mum would have been like your grandmother a few years ago but not now. She doesn't do a thing anymore but does not realise it. She forgets as soon as she starts something. I let her do the dishes sometimes to keep her occupied but she has no idea how it is done anymore, so I have to do them again when she doesn't notice it. She also allways complanes about not getting any food all day. Even if she just finished a meal she askes when dinner will be ready... it is exasperating sometimes. And she keeps giving the cats foods like cake and bread and ofcourse they don't want it and then she gets cross with them.
It is great to see my niece's baby learn something new every day and remembering what she learned, but at the same rate my mum forgets everything she ever knew.
I am really getting fed up with this situation and hope that there will soon be a place available for mum at the home. Allthough I still feel bad about it, I do want my life back. I feel like a prisoner in my own house sometimes.
Writing and publishing is a lovely thing to aim for, but your parents are right. It is allways handy to have something to fall back on if you are having difficulties getting the job you are after. It is never wrong to bet on two horses, much more chamce at winning that way. And, knowing all about food is a very good base to get into publishing cookbooks and related stuff. So that is a plus.
But do continue to write, it is fun and you never know where it will get you. And get on the good side of the authors and such, you never know when you'll need someone on the "inside". ;)
I will watch HP soon. Over here they arranged a marathon of HP films last week. 26 hours of HP with the last part just after midnight of the 2nd day... they are absolutely mad! I once went for the showing of Twilight and New Moon once and thought that was quite long enough to be cooped up in a theatre. Fan or no fan.
You have a great weekend too! I'm off to bed now. ( skyped with Jos while I was typing this). It is now 10.00 p.m. Time for a quick shower and into bed. Nighty night, don't let the vampires bite! ;)
Love,
Patricia
Bet you are sleeping by now. When you wrote, 1 hour ago, it was 7.45 p.m. here. It is now nearing 9.00 p.m. and I just put mum to bed and am getting ready to skype with Jos at 9.00. After that I am off to bed too. I am not a vampire yet, as you can tell. Mostly I am in bed around 10.30 p.m. Only in the weekends I stay awake a bit longer enjoying Jos' company.
Mum's leg seems to get better but, if by the end of the weekend there is no substantial lessening of swelling, I'll let the doctor come again. ( Still didn't get the bill for the last 4 visits...) I do take it very seriously but, it is a good sign, normally people are very ill when they have this bacteria and mum wasn't ill for one single day. Just had swollen feet and legs. I think that shows she is very healthy and has no problem resisting the invation with the help of penicilyn ofcourse. But I am staying on top of it, don't you worry.
Holland isn't all flat lands and windmills though. The 3 mills were only about 3 kilometers from where Jos lives in high buildings. The towns are filled with skyscrapers and they are still building like crazy. When I compare Belgian towns to Dutch towns ours look like villages... Very little high buildings over here. The river is really a canal where, with the help of the windmills, the water was kept from the grasslands. Because Holland is mostly below the level of the sea, they have allways had a love/hate relationship with water and learned to controle it a long time ago. Hence all the mills. But they still have lots of greenery too. We visited my friend (Whom I met on TTS) too. The picture in the tropical greenhouse is taken by her. She lives in Flevoland and it doesn't get more green than that. We had a lovely time and yes, we make eachother happy.
Never mind about tardiness, I know how busy you are.
I sent you some pictures of the windmills and two of us too. We did have a blast and saw a great deal.
Mum is still not recovered, her foot is still swollen after 3 weeks. It seems to get a bit better but if not, I will have to sent for the doctor once again. She never had anything like it before and I guess those sorts of bacteria do thrive better where there are a lot of old people together. It shouldn't happen but I guess it is hard to prevent it.
Don't know if Jos daughters are lucky to have me, lol, but I know they are happy to see their dad happy again. They saw him miserable with their mother for many years you see.
Your future does seem bright. I know you'll do well in your exams and will do even better in university, because there you will primarely study what you love. But, if the worst comes, you will have a future in the publishing business. seems a lot of authors want your opinions on their books. And, if you get to know a lot of them, then you can learn all about every aspect of the publishing business. And if you are in the publishing business, I know where to go to get my books published. lol
I have not seen Harry Potter yet... am a bit behind> I need to see the halfblood prince still...
Have a great time saturday!
Thank you for being there for me too!
Lots of love,
Patricia
I totally understand. I am looking forward to the last movies as well but dreading the end.... It is allways like that. When I read books I just read very fast so as to know the end but, when it is coming, I start reading slowly so as to make it last longer. I guess we are all the same that way. haha
Anyway, I'll end this and promise never to let you wait that long again. ;)
Hope you enjoyed sportsweek (hehehe) and lots of luck with the exams.
Bye for now,
Patricia
hello there,
Sorry I answer so late but I had a marvellous 3 week vacation with my darling Jos. Mum stayed in the place she is going to live in when there is room. She liked it there but was so very pleased when I picked her up today. Her stay didn't go to plan because she got a little wound that got infected somehow. I came back the second week to see how it was going. It still isn't healed so I'll get the doctor down here again because her other leg is swelling up as well. That is beyond normal. Still, she doesn't seem bothered by it so it probably doesn't hurt and she is not ill either. I'll see if it gets better now she is back home and I can look after her. It was a bit of a damper on my, otherwise, fun holiday. Jos was very understanding and we spent a lot of time with mum in the second week but we also went and saw some museums. But the first and last week we spent in Holland and I had a lovely time. We visited two of his daughters as well and I feel very welcomed by them. They really like the fact that I seem to be making their dad happy. That is good news.
We visited museums in The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam but we also went to the seaside and park, visited his old neighbourghhood (didn't recognise anything from 37 years ago) and visited my friend from TTS.
On the last day we went for a long walk and shot some pictures of old windmills. You cannot visit Holland and not take photos of windmills, can you? haha
I had a really good time and I am sorry the 3 weeks are allready over. sigh!
I put mum to bed and am now waiting for Jos to get home and skype and then I'm going to my (lonely) bed. :(
So how was the book by the writer you met? Any good?
It is indeed fun to be able to read an (as yet) unpublished book. But don't let it interfere with your studies because they have to come first, eh?
What do you mean? Do you start school in the weekend? ;)
You'll be happy to be back with your friends, rising first thing in the morning and working your butt off getting good results. 1 goal: to get into the university of your choise doing what you love doing. What better insentive can you get?
A 27 year old uncle, how lucky you are... I have a 29 year old niece. haha (told you I was ancient!)
At least the plane didn't come down due to too much literature in your bags. I doubt anyone would accuse you of smuggling... books?! I think they would be looking for other substances than pure paper and ink.
Yes, books can be heavy. You are talking to somebody who has lifted books by the box full and that for 32 years.... (You should see my biceps) No, only joking. I do have a bad back though and I do partly blame heavy books for that.
Well, I think your aunt probably lives in a town in New Zealand and it is probably not deserted, but you get the drift, eh? You should talk to her and ask about Holland and New Zealand. It is always interesting to find out about the rest of the world. Why not send her a mail or letter?
Yeah... only six months and you enter the "big scary world". Just never forget your roots and your lovely little island. BUT ENJOY EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERYTHING!
And maybe there will be the odd vegetarian vampire doing a new course there. Though i doubt many vampires will choose your dreamcourses.
Did you get the link I sent you of the trailer of BD? It looks so lovely.
Hope to hear from you soon again. Take care!
Love,
Patricia
Hello there,
German food will do that to you LOL! It is pretty heavy and uses a lot of grease and fat. I'm glad Belgian food is a bitlighter although we too eat far too much.
Never mind about the prize, at least you got to go to the mainland for the quiz and it seems you spent your time wisely: in bookstores! haha
I did not know Taylor's University but I looked it up on google and you didn't lie: IT IS ENOURMOUS! but it looks very beautiful. Of course the people treated you like a grown-up. You are thinking of going to their university, I doubt they would scare you off. I will look up Culinology versus food science, I have absolutely no idea what the differences are. I'm so not interested in eating and cooking so I never looked into those possibilities. Then again, there were not many possibilities open to girls back in the 1970's. I am ancient, am I not? haha
Luckily I am good at Geology so I know Holland is Belgium's northern neighbourgh, just as tiny and even more overpopulated than we are. Drive for about 30 minutes and we're there... only, to get to where Jos lives takes 2 hours and my friend from TTS lives even further away... 4 hours or so. But it'll be a stressfree holiday, as you put it, and I am really ready for that. I am very much looking forward to that.
You are absolutely right, you are never too old to have fun and I intend to enjoy every minute of my holiday.
What a difference: from Holland to New Zealand. The country is about 50 times bigger but I bet there are about the same amount of people. From overpopulated to deserted. Wonder how your aunt feels about both countries?
Taking 8 books back to a plane can't be that difficult, can it? Leave some of your luggage behind or tie them to your head and pretend it is a new hat... so many possibilities. haha
But above all: enjoy your books! And take care! Love,
Patricia
3 weeks of exams sounds like hell to me. haha I am so glad I'm not in school anymore. I really dreaded exams.
But, yours are over and you have a break now, and what do you do? Another exam! Except that you call it a quiz. EXAMS, BY ANY OTHER NAME, ARE STILL EXAMS! (only joking, haha)
I hope you did great on the quiz, a trip to China would be great, you could try your Chinese out on the natives and hope they understand you. haha
I'm sorry, your good mood from the mail seems to rub off on me. I'm really glad you are having so much fun and are more outgoing AND enjoying it. Good on you!
If you are going on college orientation, wouldn't there be other highschool students there doing the same? I hope you find a spot in the college of your dreams and do brilliantly. I have faith in you. ;)
Over here not much has changed except for the prospect of a holiday. I have managed to put mum up for a short stay in the home where she will, I hope, go to live in the near future. In 4 weeks time Jos and I would have a 3 week break that way. I hope mum will love it out there. I honestly think it will be great for her, like a stay in a super-de-luxe hotel. At least I hope she will enjoy it. I am looking forward to this break. I'm going up north to Holland with Jos, visit his family and go see a lot and then, afterward, we are spending some time alone over here as well, visiting friends and places and not having to worry about being back home by six to feed mum and put her to bed. It will be a fabulous holiday... the first in a very long while. I'm really looking forward to it.
Hope you don't have writerscramp after answering all your mails. Take care! And hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
Patricia
Oh my, Natasha... you are an outdoor girl after all. ;)
It sounds as if you had the time of your life. You seem to have underestimated yourself.
You were not exactly all alone in that forest (200 kids????) but still, things going BOOO in the night and you not budging... that is something to be really proud of. I suppose the downpour wasn't too comfortable but I guess you will have great stories to tell your grandchildren someday. haha
I know what archery is and paintballs too but what is flying fox? Is that where you climb a hight and then come whizzing down on a rope?
I'm very proud of you and I will never again believe you when you say you are not cut out for outdoor sports.
(I guess you will not believe yourself anymore either.)
Good thing you didn't walk on the graveyard. 400 feet walking overhead would certainly have been able to "wake the dead". haha
Never mind not sleeping, you can catch up in class. haha
I totally believe you had F.U.N. Good on you!
I never had an experience like it. The only time I slept in a tent was when me and a friend went camping on Jersey ( An island in the English channel, part of Britain but closer to the coast of France.) It was hell. Sleeping in grass when you have hayfever is not advisable. I had about 20 hankies with me and had to wash them every morning so they would be dry for the day to come. I suffered and never repeated the experience. Give me a hotelroom anytime. (And loads of hayfever tablets)
I hope you do extremely well on the exams and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. (Quite hard to type, I can tell you.) ;)
Take care! Write back soon!
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