A present from Mrs.Nightingale

The present I got today

I’ve been seeing Mrs. Nightingale for 6 months now.She is one of my regular cliënts that's registered in my home care service.I’ll be at her home every Wednesday morning from 9.00 to 11.30.

I was this morning not quite in my best shape. Perhaps because of overwork and less sleep in these last few weeks. And probably also the overdance on salsa floor last night.I felt pain and aches allover my body. I  was not fit, I felt tired, exhausted and sleepy. To be honest, I didn’t want to get out of bed and wished time stood still so that I could stay in my warm and cozy bed as long as I desired.But yet duty called and I persevered in my task.I woke up and went to see Mrs. Nightingale right on time.

Mrs. Nightingale is 85 and lives alone in a three-storey apartment in Bekkerveld district.It locates in a quite and a very good neighborhood.There is no lift but stairs in the apartment. She lives on the first floor and it takes about 6-7 staircases from ground to her residence. Well,that doesn’t sound any problem for any young fellows but for a very senoir like Mrs. Nightingale, it’s still very tough,though with help of a  stick. She therefore hardly goes out and spends a great deal of her time inside her home.

Mrs. Nightingale is a widow and ,like many other aged people in The Netherlands,lives far away from the relatives and rarely receives a visit. Actually she had 2 children,but her son has passed away 19 years ago with heart disease, now only daughter left and lives almost 150 miles away from Heerlen, in Dordrecht. Staying in touch between them is possible mainly by phone. Seemingly, I’ve recently become the only one who sees her regularly and more often than her own family.And without doubt, she rejoices the companionship I've brought about. Mrs.Nightingale will be truely pleased to have someone with her even if just a few hours a week.

I was at her door right on time this morning. As every Wednesday, she smiled when she opened the door for me and we greeted cheerfully our own way.

As maxican proverb says “conversation is food for the soul” and I ensure it.To start the dialogue after traditional greeting, I told Mrs.Nightingale frankly how I felt today.At the same time, I took a box of chocolate out of my handbag and handed to her gently.

“I’ve brought this for you” I said as smilling.

As a matter of fact, I brought her this as a little Christmas present cause today’s my last visit of 2013. Mrs.Nightingale will leave to see her daughter in Dordrect for 3 weeks from this upcoming weekend.And I will see her again next year.

“oh ! Thank you”  Mrs. Nightingale was glad and said “well, please sit down, I have something to show you”

My pencase,a clue of my favorite

Then she walked slowly with the stick to her room and came back with a  cadeau packed in the fabulous delighted blue Douglas giftbag. She handed the present to me and said “Look, I was in town and I brought this for you. I think you’ll like it.”

She sat down on the sofa opposite me and continued

“open it, maybe it’ll make you feel better” I unpacked it carefully and...Wow!

A pump bottle of liquid soap in leopard print. Oh my god ! How could she possibly know I like such a kind of print.I laughed surprisingly with a question mark on my face.

Mrs.Nightingale affirmed that I would like it. She revealed she saw my pencase on the other day and so was she confident that this would pretty much gratify me.At this point ,she had two rights.

At the first place, I liked this pump bottle a lot because of its leopard print. And secondly,I felt indeed a bit better with my condition.The joy and the laugh helped leessen the concentration of my exhaust. Like a magic,I started to regain some vitality. And I really appreciated both her thoughtfulness and the present itself. I gave her three Dutch custom kisses and warm hug as a huge thank.

“Thanks Mrs. Nightingale” I said heartily while huging her.

Then the dialogue of our today conversation went ahead...

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Christmas Market,Aachen 2013

From the garage  heading to Cathedral

The Westernmost city of Germany which one of the borders locates along some Limburg towns of the Netherlands, Aachen is about 19 kilometers from Heerlen.Driving there for me is so called “just around the cornor” and never have I a feeling of driving away from home but to the next-door town ,taking the highway E314 by car and I’ll be there within half an hour.

I drove to Aachen again today with my daughter in the afternoon after her school time. We wanted to see Christmas Market and to have “German sausages” as dinner before going home.

Quite busy evening at Christmas Market

It was a pleasant Friday the 13^th , I must say. It’s lovely,sunny and dry.I noticed while we were on road along Eurogress that Aachen this day was quite busy. Probably because it was rush hour. Everyone just left the office and heading home while some, like us, were bound for the same destination  “Christmas Market” in town.

There was congestion on the road but not so much that we had to sit too long nor to yawn in the traffic jam.I tried to get the closest garage to the market place for the parking lot and luckily,finally got one very fast at “Büchel”

Building at the cornor of Büchel Road

From the entrance of the garage, we turned to the right and kept right to “Körbergasse” where we came across colorful baskets lining along the front ground of the local shop.That made me think of  those same kind of goods from a Southern village of Thailand where the very skillful villagers weaving daily for their living. Honestly these hand-made wares are one of my favorites. And I have already many beautiful ones at home.So this time, I just made some lovely pictures before passing by and moved on to the Christmas Market.

As the Christmas Market there spread to the area around Aachen Cathedral too, my daughter had mentioned earlier that she would like to have pictures of Cathedral before dark. So we decided to walk through Münsterplatz firstly to allow her to make some pictures for her school assignment. And no sooner said than done, taking picture nowadays can be fast and easy.Afterwards we walked around that quater where most stands selling foods and beverages.

She sat on top of Glühwijn Roof

Seems Glühwijn was most popular drink of all overthere that evening.I don’t know exactly how it tastes but sure to say sweet and somewhat with herbs.It is very well-known that this alcoholic kind  of drink is served warm and most consumed especially in this period of the year.Don’t ask me for more details about the drink itself, you probably know better. Unfortunately I’m not the one who’s going to recommend this because I myself don’t drink and so I’d better skip to the next part.

Generally speaking, we all are longing to see lovely pretty things; there were lots of goods  that we see very often in local shops and those seen occasionally here. Products were varied, stands presented numerous types of goods ranging,for example, from ceramics, porcelains, wooden toys, knitwears, textiles to jewelry and ornaments. Also foods, bakeries and beverages. They were arranged nicely ,gracefully, alluring and very charming.

Chocolate Factory of all tools

One of the fastinating stands among many visitors that evening,I assumed,was the chocolate hut with  nameplate on storefront “schokoladenwerkzeug”, the chocolate factory of all tools.Having seen this before in Frankfurt last year, and now once again here,I had to admit producing chocolate is creative arts.But yet for me,they were only food for eyes. And some pictures of them would be worth remembering.

All these tools are made of chocolate

This camera is also chocolate

It goes without saying that we enjoyed the displays on the market a great deal.Please view those magnificent pictures via my links.You will realize how I really mean. Christmas Market in Aachen set 1 

Aachen itself is every attractive and has much to offer. For those who don’t come very often,when you are there,please take adventages to explore some other parts of the city rather than visiting Christmas Market only. Well, at least around this market aquare, there are not only interesting historical monuments but also entertainment lounges and cafés, shopping streets and restaurants, for instance.You’ve got to find more possiblities yourself beforehand. I assure you will definitely discover another paradise on earth there.



Light Decorations

After spending approximately an hour of zestful promenade that evening,we had satisfactorily made plenty of beautiful pictures. From the very huge market of today, I bought a very tiny Christmas decoration item in “present” form as a souvenir of a visit and my daughter bought some other little things in local shops back home.We were very delighted.

Another lovely stuff

At last,time for dinner,we strolled down steadily from Hall Town square back to Münsterplatz.As our stomachs were growling and we had promised each other in advance “German Sausages”for dinner, couldn’t wait for later.There was the simple,cozy sausages specialty that we had already in mind, in that neighborhood. It’s“HansWürsten”. So we didn’t waste any other second to doubt about and jumped into the restaurant and ready for “Bon Appetit”

See you again next time,
Take care,
Pari
By the way, Christmas Market in Aachen is held from 22 November till 23 December every year <3

Decoration on the ceiling in "HansWürsten"

"HansWürsten" menu

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You can view more pictures via these following links
 Christmas Market in Aachen set1
 Christmas Market in Aachen set2
 Christmas Market in Aachen set3

Goedmens’Christmas tree

My Thursday morning routine is to visit a lovely and friendly couple, up hill further on “Heesberg” where we all know as “Heerlerbaan”area in South Heerlen.

As usual, I will be arriving at their home, family Goedmens, a few minutes before nine. Recently,what has been happening already few times in these Winter months, one after another, is that once they open the door to welcome me into their cozy loving house, the sun turns up and shines through the doorway. In fact, for me, no matter which season we are in, the sun always shines in my homeheart and I always mention to the host that “I’m bringing you the sun”

So again today, after good morning greeting, Mrs.Goedmens,the one who frequently opens the door for me, made a delightful remark with this same question.

“Are you bringing the sun with you again today ?”  

We both laughed merrily whilst the door shut carefully and we found ourselves few seconds later standing in the livingroom where Mr.Goedmens was shooting his joyful smile awaiting mutual greet from the main table we always sit at coffee time.

I can see how happy the duo are to have me with them, not only today but every time I am there, the joviality and the glee evinced on their faces.The greeting,the conversation and the story that they want to tell are full of enthusiasm and excitement. And today they had something to show me, namely the Christmas tree that they just set up recently in the beginning of this week in the living room at the place where the laptop table was.

Mrs.Goedmens drew me with her introduction to their traditional decorated and lighted tree. I  saw little angels on every limbs. And so was I praising :

“Wow ! now I know where those beautiful & sweet little angels are ! “

Goedmens'Christmas Tree

The most precious ones

Mrs.Goesmens then pointed the most precious pieces, the most recent arrivals and those they’d got from their children and their guests respectively.I was admiring their piece of work gayly and took pictures for them with my cellphone.

One of those new arrivals

They are also new

Another little Christmas Tree on Cupboard

From one conversation to another, we can talk about different things and  of many topics. Mr. and Mrs.Goedmens are retired officers, both are on their ways to 80. They are living in their own house and still able to do lots of things by their own. My task is to visit, to make sure everything is fine with them and to see whether they need any type of help I can provide.

The one I like most

Today’s visit went well without any special request.What they complained most was that about their electric bikes,which adapters haven’t been working properly lately.And therefore they can’t use the bikes temporarily. I suggested them call the company so that the adapters will be repared or they’ll get the replacement on insurance coverage cost. They thus  rang and made appointment.

Those Chocolate Snowmen at Coffee Table

After three and a half hours, my time was up and my daily duties’re completes for today.Unfortunately I was not able to make them any happier with their bikes at that moment but still I saw the look of gladness when I promised to send them those pictures of their Christmas tree I made.And they will have more decorations to show me next week.

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