You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Watcha' Doing - 2023
That's funny, Odette. I remember my stepfather telling a similar story from when he visited Miami and Orlando. He does not speak English and it was also the first time the drove in highways, with so many exits, etc. He said they could see the hotel, but it took them many tries before taking the right exit. They actually stopped somewhere and a policeman explained what to do.
Since seeing the film "In Bruges" I've been wanting to visit. I'll make sure to see the holy cheese while I'm there 😂😂😂
I visited Bruges in April with my mom. We took a river cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium. Bruges and Amsterdam were the last two bucket list cities in Europe that my mom wanted to see.We were one of the many tourists visiting your beautiful city. lol
I think this is the record for the amount of us visiting one city!
Margo wrote: "Since seeing the film "In Bruges" I've been wanting to visit. I'll make sure to see the holy cheese while I'm there 😂😂😂"I was gifted the movie by my family when I knew I was headed over there. Important viewing lol
Odette wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote:In the distant past visited Belgium, but not Bruges, at end of a campervan tour of Europe.
After visiting Liege plan was to head towards Antwerp and then to coastal port t..."
Great guess Odette! Completely understand that feeling, just hoping your intuition will get you were you need to be.
I live in the city of roundabouts, so I do frequently loop them when I get confused in a new part of town. We prefer roundabouts here instead of traffic lights.
My dad is still in hospital, and now was tested positive for the flu. I think the meds they are giving him has him a bit confused. I facetimed him today and of course he could see himself as well as me on the screen.He asked, "What's that on my glasses?" and started brushing his glasses. I said that it was probably the reflection of the sun coming in the window.
He replied, "What are you talking about?" Oooookay.
My original plans were to go to see him at Christmas because my sister and some of her crew are planning on coming. But things weren't working out for the timing of things. I've done what works for me - booked flights for Dec 18th - 21st.
When I told him I was coming on those dates, he said, "That's a little more than a week away."
I'll chalk it up to a combination of the meds and that he probably didn't have his hearing aids in.
I'm sorry to hear that your dad got the flu now, on top of everything, Janice. People get more sensitive to everything the older they get, so things like meds, dehydration, etc, might affect them much more than they would affect us. A year ago my mother in law had an episode of confusion so severe we thought she was having a CVA. It was just high levels of glucose in her blood (that's when we knew she is diabetic). She is completely fine now. Maybe some adjustments in his medicine might help. Also consider that if because of the flu he has an stuffed nose, that means lower oxygenation adding to his confusion. (I'm sorry, it seems I felt like dusting my nursing degree this morning...)
Janice wrote:Janice, I am sorry to hear about your father. I hope that as he recovers from the flu things will settle down for him.
Oh I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, Janice. The flu is the last thing he needs!I understand trying to navigating the confusion. I also just think being in a hospital confuses everyone in terms of time. I found with my Dad back in the day he just also sometimes didn't drink, then being slightly dehydrated didn't help with the general weirdness of being in a hospital. As I can go 10 hours without drinking water at times (very bad idea), I cannot really judge.
I hope your trip is exactly what you both need. Hopefully makes you feel a bit better being close and spending time with him.
Sandra wrote: "(I'm sorry, it seems I felt like dusting my nursing degree this morning...)."LOL at least yours are useful. My dusty ones only teach you how to have opinions, and how to write a 3000 word essay in 5 hours before they are due!
Rusalka wrote: "One of my favourite travel stories is actually a Bruges story. We were outside your very famous church (which I am so astounded by as it doesn't look like a church, but a house to us untrained ey..."
Haha, that's a great story, Rusalka! Every time I'll pass by the church I'll be reminded of 'The Holy Block of Cheeses'. Did you know that one of the guards of this church, got really famous as a thriller author? He worked there before his break through. His books were based on settings in Bruges and there was a popular tv series made about the books. Sadly, the author passed away a few years ago due to cancer. His books were a step for people who didn't like to read much.
Odette wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote:In the distant past visited Belgium, but not Bruges, at end of a campervan tour of Europe.
After visiting Liege plan was to head towards Antwerp and then to coastal port t..."
Using paper maps, the horror that used to be! And yes, Antwerp is big and confusing in finding your way.
Peggy wrote: "Lol Odette!I think the French part of Belgium is still very French though, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the signs are still the same. When we were in the French part a few years ago we ha..."
There's a difference between 'French' from France and 'French' from Belgium, in speaking, nog in writing, but the signs are still the same. Near the border you've got the names in different languages, but not in Wallonia. (the other half of Belgium, Flanders to the North and Wallonia to the South).
Margo wrote: "Since seeing the film "In Bruges" I've been wanting to visit. I'll make sure to see the holy cheese while I'm there 😂😂😂"Everyone was crazy about the fact that Colin Farell was staying in Bruges! The movie was great :)
Rusalka wrote: "I think this is the record for the amount of us visiting one city!"I think we just need to set a date for everyone who wants to visit Bruges again, haha! There are some great bookstores, hint hint...
Janice wrote: "My dad is still in hospital, and now was tested positive for the flu. I think the meds they are giving him has him a bit confused. I facetimed him today and of course he could see himself as well a..."I hope your dad recovers fast from the flu, Janice. He's in good hands. Maybe the confusion is because the meds are very strong and it could be a side effect?
Sorry to hear about your dad, Janice. This morning, my cute and awesome grandma passed away :(
She would've been 97 next Saturday.
2 weeks ago, my aunt brought her to the hospital because she was looking a bit yellow. Turned out she had pancreatic cancer. I am so glad I had the week off so I could take a 10 hour train to see her one last time. After I went back home, she got way worse and then this morning went peacefully to reunite with my grandpa. I'll miss her so much :(
I came here to see if next year's challenge has been posted already so I can distract myself, otherwise I'll be going nuts
I'm really sorry for your loss, Fiona. I'm glad you got to see her before she departed.
I'm really sorry for your loss, Fiona. It was a good thing that you saw your grandmother before she passed away. Big hugs x
Fiona wrote:Sorry to hear of your loss. My father died round the same age, just before his 98th birthday. It is very hard when they have been in your lives for so long.
Saar The Book owl wrote: "The horrors of paper maps! Now can follow car on screen map and a voice will say 'in x metres, take 3rd exit off the round about"
Cannot believe that the signs are still the same, but with navigation systems, not all that necessary.
The difficulty is when driving from Wallonia (south) in a northerly direction. It is interesting that the spoken version of French is different, whereas the written language is the same.
Sandra wrote: "I'm sorry to hear that your dad got the flu now, on top of everything, Janice. People get more sensitive to everything the older they get, so things like meds, dehydration, etc, might affect them m..."Once a nurse..... I completely understand as I have many nurses in my family and friends. My sister, "the RN" as I call her, is monitoring very closely.
He has been on full time O2 since September, but they've changed him to a mask rather than the nose piece.
Fiona, I'm very sorry to hear that your grandmother passed away. Big hugs!
Quite a bit has been going on in this thread! A lot of you have been to Bruges. I've never had the pleasure of visiting, but would love to some day. It sounds beautiful. Saar, that would be a fabulous YLTO get-together. 😊
Rus, of course you would have the funniest story from your visit! I bet you are a hoot to travel with. :) And of course your chickens are inside 50% of the time now. They are beloved little sweeties. I'm surprised they haven't managed more than that.
Paper maps... I remember those days. I remember being an older teen and going on a day trip with a friend of mine. We took a wrong turn and headed north on a highway instead of south. We were in New Hampshire and supposed to be heading a few states south, I think maybe Rhode Island. We knew that we had to be on the highway for a long time so weren't really paying attention, just being chatty teen girls until we started to see signs for Canada! Then, we finally noticed where we were going and turned around and laughed about it the whole way home. My parents didn't find it nearly as humorous as we did.
Sandra, those hotel exits can be very confusing! Those and airports.
Rus, we are getting more and more roundabouts where I live. They seems to going in everywhere in my town.
Janice, I'm so sorry that your dad isn't doing well. I hope the confusion clears up when he is recovered from his flu and he recovers quickly.
Fiona, I'm so sorry for your loss of your grandma! Hugs!
Wow...that was a lot. A bit of roller coaster there.
So sorry to hear about your Gran, Fiona. Thinking of you and your family.
Thanks everyone 🤗I didn’t read all the messages before mine but I just read about a YLTO get together, now that sounds really fun!
@Fiona, so sorry for your loss. hugs,@Janice. I hope your dad will get better soon.
About the different French. I think itis about the same as the different English. Every country (and sometimes region) have their accent and colloquialisms. That's the fun of languages.
I think they stopped doing it but in the early 2000's, during the "semaine de la francophonie" (Francophone Week), they were doing a daily game. They were four teams, from Quebec, France, Belgium and Switzerland. Each team was presenting an expression without any explanation, and the other teams had to guess the meaning and put it in a sentence. It was hilarious.
Paper maps! We were in downtown Vancouver and I had the map. I told Jerry to turn, I turned the map. I took him in a complete circle that way. He was not amused.
Janice wrote: "Paper maps! We were in downtown Vancouver and I had the map. I told Jerry to turn, I turned the map. I took him in a complete circle that way. He was not amused."LOL!
Lol!I remember when we travelled in Australia with only paper maps. The outback roads were fine, but navigating Sydney or Melbourne was hell.
We picked up our car somewhere outside Sydney, or in a suburb. As it was our first time driving on the left and in such a big city, we wanted to drive around the city. Somehow I led us to the Harbour Tunnel..
And in Melbourne when we needed to go to the harbour I just couldn't manage. After a very long period of stress and arguments, Rob grabbed the map, looked for 5 seconds, and drove us straight to the harbour..
Final example: when Rob asked if he should turn left or right somewhere in a city, several times my answer was 'Left! Right! I don't know! BOTH!!'
I think it almost cost us our relationship, lol! It's been 16 years but he still talks about this ;-)
Fiona wrote: "Sorry to hear about your dad, Janice. This morning, my cute and awesome grandma passed away :(
She would've been 97 next Saturday.
2 weeks ago, my aunt brought her to the hospital because she was..."
So sorry to hear about your Grandma Fiona. Hugs
Janice, your poor dad is really going though the mill. It is good that you're able to spend some time with him.
Peggy wrote: "The outback roads were fine, but navigating Sydney or Melbourne was hell."Omg, those old street directories were like encyclopedias! I think I have one floating around in the tire space in my car from that time for Melbourne. They were impossible.
Peggy wrote: "Somehow I led us to the Harbour Tunnel.."
NOOOOOOOO! Never go to the tunnel!!!
Peggy wrote: "Final example: when Rob asked if he should turn left or right somewhere in a city, several times my answer was 'Left! Right! I don't know! BOTH!!'"
Was it a hook turn? Which is a uniquely Melbourne thing and freaks the rest of the country's inhabitants completely out. It's where you turn right, from the left lane. And as we drive on the left, this means you have to turn right across ALL lanes of traffic in all directions. It's insane and the worst thing about trams (the reason for this quirk). And is a cause of so many panic attacks and domestics.
Anyway, if it was a hook turn, you were right. Umm... correct.
Oh no! Haha. Seems those maps got the best of us all. We all have funny map stories.
Lol, your stories sound insane!
I’m sorry I haven’t been on here much but it’s been crazy at the Hatfield house but in a good way
Lol, don't think it was a hook turn (they sound scary!), just me completely freaking out and thinking if it's both the right answer must be included ;-)
Sorry to hear your dad has flu Janice. I hope it gets over it soon and the confusion goes.Sorry for your loss Fiona
Never been to Bruges before, I'd love to. I'm with you on the film Rusalka, essential viewing! It made me laugh a lot. Not seen it for ages, might have to dig it out.
Love the photo of your new chicks Rusalka! Very cute
Can't believe it is Christmas so soon. This last month has gone so quickly. I've worked away quite a bit. I had the hypnosis convention a few weeks back and that went really well. So excited about the whole thing. I got to meet Derren Brown and have some hypnosis chats with him which was great. One of the other organisers of the convention interviewed him and it was really interesting to listen to. I went out and bought all his books on happiness but in true fashion of late, I read the first page of one and they are now on my shelf, not being read. I have just taken on an extra day at a clinic in Bristol for seeing clients so things have picked up nicely. Looking forward to some time off over Christmas though.
Thanks Margo and Sarah. It's been a week since Dad was tested for the flu and the nurses say he's eating better, not coughing as much, and seems to be more alert. But when my brother said something about the flu the other day, Dad knew nothing about it. As far as he's concerned, he never had it, and said that nobody tells him anything.
Peggy, you've certainly had some challenges with maps. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some relationships that came out a bit torn up.When we landed in Munich, we rented a car at the airport. They gave us a map that had been photocopied a few times. It was barely legible. Needless to say, we were totally lost within minutes and had to stop at a service station where, thankfully they spoke English, sold us a pristine map, and gave amazingly perfect directions to get to our hotel.
I'm glad your dad is feeling better! I'm very good with google maps by the way! Even without the navigation option. I just need that blue dot that shows me where I am ;-)
The only concern I have about Google Maps is that the directions are in metric. I still have a mix of standard distance to meters. When I'm told to turn in 500 meters, I wonder how far that it. If I miss my turn, or turn too soon, Google will recalibrate and will eventually get me there.
This blend of distance is like my Russian German grandparents, whose language was a mix of German and English.
Oh, you can't adjust it in settings? I never considered that.I'm very bad estimating distances, but luckily the blue line shows exactly where to go.
I haven't checked about whether you can adjust that or not. I just remember getting turned around in Edmonton at a nucleus of intersections. But, I finally got to my destination.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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I think the French part of Belgium is still very French though, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the signs are still the same. When we were in the French part a few years ago we had to be very aware of the French names of the places we wanted to visit. Maybe some signs have both languages (especially near borders) but not all I think.