Decision taken

A bit sooner than expected, we finally decided to sell the flat at the coast. In the course of the past two weeks, we got several phone calls from a real estate agency, who seemed very much interested in acquiring our flat to sell it. This is quite unusual. Normally it's the person selling who goes to the agency. 

We suspect something else is going on, and when we are right, the flat will soon be sold. Let me explain: in March, during the general meeting of owners (which is an obligation) a new owner suggested to 'top up' the building. It is now 7 stories high, but can go up to 10. When the general meeting agreed, they would not only build three new layers of flats, but also isolate the roof and the outside walls, and fix up the corridors and the hall. Remember, this building is from the 1960s. There was a lot of discussion and nothing was decided.

Since March, several flats in the building have been sold (and in a short time). We suspect that the ones who want to top up (who own a building company) are silently buying up as much as they can and thus raise their say-so in the general meeting. When you own half of the building, no one can stop you. 

So we finally decided to go ahead with the plans. If someone pays the asking (which is a lot higher than Christine has dreamed) we'll have a tidy sum to spend on travels and renovations at home. Because that's what's going to happen next. We'll fix up our house in Dendermonde as good as possible, so that we can live comfortably for the rest of our lives. 

We need new furniture in the living room and dining room, want to make dressings in the bedrooms, need to place new doors and windows in a material that needs practically no upkeep (pvc or aluminium), need to paint the outside walls front and back, want to change the bathroom... Also could use a new terrace.

So we heve some pretty exciting times ahead! And by the way, I'm feeling bit by bit better after my surgery and hope to be as before before the end of October.

Death of an icon

Yesterday afternoon we heard the news of Queen Elizabeth's passing away. She was the longest reigning queen in the world, and only Louis IX of France reigned a bit longer than she. 

I must admit I was not all that surprised. When Prince Philip died last year, I expected her to follow not much longer. They'd been together for ages, and it often happens with older couples that when one spouse dies, the other will soon follow. I remember seeing her so lost at the funeral, sitting there all on her own in the pew. And when I saw the last picture of the queen, meeting Liz Truss, I noticed how blue her hands were and how much weight she had lost. Not a good sign.

(Mind, if losing weight means coming death, I'm not in a good situation either. I need to gain weight urgently - but all my functions are still allright and I still have my strenght.)

Now the world has to get used to King Charles III. And Queen Camilla. The man is already 73, so he won't reign for ages, like his mother. I expect that the crown will be handed over to Prince William, just like it happened here in Belgium. When King Baudouin died, his brother Albert took the throne, but after some years he abdicated and handed over the crown to his son Filip 

All of us grew up with Elizabeth being the Queen of England and we learned how to sing 'God Save the Queen' at school, during our lessons of English. I know that song better (and also France's La Marseillaise) than our own 'O dierbaar België'. It will be getting used to having a king now. 

Slowly recovering

Yesterday was the first day after my surgery that I was able to leave the house for a walk. I must admit I felt a bit tired afterwards, though. Today, I've gone outside as well, doing some light shopping. I am forbidden to lift heavy objects for a while and also to exercise too much. 

It's now three weeks since the op. The surgeon said I should give it at least 6 weeks to make a full recovery. I'll be happy when that happens!

Curious, though, that a relative small op causes more problems than a major one! Five years ago, I underwent surgery because my right kidney (along with a big tumor) had to be removed. All went well, I spent a short week in the hospital, and when I went home I felt fine. 

Now I could go home the same day, but the aftereffects take a lot longer. 

It makes me less fit, quicker tired. That's the reason why I'm slacking up here in my blog. Hopefully all will get better in a week or two!