Rein's Cookumentaries and other Stuff

and fell for the Lolkatz meme… I wonder what the kids will think of it

my first try-outs – just give me your thoughts

You never know what life is going to throw your way. You don’t always need to come out of the house for it, but sometimes it helps.

Yesterday we went to a Christmas Market of a local school – a good friend of the girls went there and wanted to show her old school and show off her mum and all the splendid things she made for the fair. It was really impressive and I spent way too much money, but as it was artful, decorative and all for a good cause, who am I to grumble? The most astonishing thing though, when we were browsing through the books I heard a voice I recognised immediately, although I hadn’t heard it for over 25 years, I turned round and the profile hit me – a guy I went to university with all those years ago! Luckily he recognised me too because I was stinking jealous, I can tell you that – that guy was still looking as hot as he did 25 years ago! If he didn’t see it in my dropped-jaw-face then, he will know now, as I gave him one of my moo-cards to pick up the thread of then. All above board though – he’s one of the lucky ones – husband and father of a great family: 7 kids, I still can’t get over it, 2 is more than enough for me! But it made me decide to get out of this chair and away from this machine a bit more and get some excercise – that quarter of a century has certainly snuck up on me lately

That was yesterday. Today I receive a mail from a friend: one of our good friends had been admitted to hospital with a colon infection yesterday evening. He died this morning at 2 am. It would have been his 53rd birthday on December 9. We wil be burying him this Friday, December 1. All of you who read this – spare a moment, a thought for him and the family he leaves behind. And cherish your life and your loved ones – you never know what life will throw at you…

Done and dusted

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

You can hardly see anything happened – give the sun another hour and it will just be a memory…

Well, it did make my blog go off with a bang

After cleaning the street, they even watered the replaced plants…

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

They cleaned the whole bit where they worked so as not to leave any mud, for safety reasons. The even watered the plants they replanted – don’t know if they’re going to grow again, but it certainly is the thought that counts

IMG_7776

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

Uploading the big stone saw – I kept well out of reach!

They’re almost done – packing up their stuff after a morning hard work…

Lunchbreak

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

There was loads of exciting bits inbetween – just go and check in Flickr – otherwise you will have to scroll until you’re blue in the face

And yes, I did bring them some drinks inbetween – poor guys – can’t have them completely dehydrated!

A big lorry with a small bulldozer just came round for a look-see. They will have to break up the street and remove a bit of the hedge too, to check if there isn’t any subsidence. As our side of the street still has water, he advised me to better stock up a few buckets to be on the safe side. It could well be we’re without water later on

I’ll keep you posted!

sand – the crack in the street is where the ‘springs’ were

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

And as our house was just across, they probably didn’t want to take any chances – luckily we don’t have a cellar, so no worries after all…

You can find the rest of the pics on Flickr

mess

Originally uploaded by Reinhilde.

This was what was left after the police, fire brigade and PIDPA (water works) went – after getting me out of bed at 3.25 in the morning because a water pipe burst just in front of my door. There were pretty little bubbling wells – but I didn’t take any pics then as I didn’t want to make a spectacle of myself with about 15 guys milling around

We’re having this heatwave – very unsettling – so I don’t sleep much at night. But this night I did. Until 3.25 in the morning. Frantic ringing at the door. I wake up – almost – think I’m dreaming, turn over, but the ringing continues… I go and check at the kids’ bedroom window – that’s in the front. Good grief! Police, Fire Brigade – red and blue and orange lights flashing – 2 combis, 1 fire engine – the works…
So I stumble downstairs – yes I’m wearing my Winnie-the-Pooh baggy T-shirt – and open the door, still half asleep.
“Good morning Madam, sorry to disturb you, but the waterworks have burst a pipe just in front of your door and it’s looking serious. Can we check the cellar?” Me:”eh? Wha’? * blink, blink* I haven’t got a cellar!” “Oh, that’s allright then, no worries!” Me again:”Hey, you know what? When I lived in London we had a flood when the river broke her banks and they came to get me out of bed – at the same time!!!”

Yes, that’s right – it was the same ungodly hour, believe it or not! But this time it wasn’t Halloween, nor was it that serious. Just a load of mud it seems now, washed away from underneath the bushes at the other side of the street…

And no, I didn’t take any pictures. It’s pitch dark outside anyway, it’s raining (finally!) and I wasn’t going to go outside making a spectacle of myself with 10, 15 guys milling around So you just have to imagine it Maybe in a few hours, when it’s light. But probably everything will be sorted then already. The water company is working on it as I type. Police and Fire Brigade have gone. Maybe I will get some sleep still, otherwise I’ll nap during the day. Luckily it’s holidays and the kids are in London, so they don’t need to worry neither

Right – who said anything about upheavel? I should have kept my big mouth shut