Just over
12 years ago, these two girls were born a couple of hours apart. The one, a couple of days after her due date, the
other, two & ½ weeks before her due
date.
It is quite
a funny story. I was on the phone with Noreen on the Monday, listening to her
bemoan the fact that she was still pregnant. Only, I interrupted her every once
in a while to deal with my ‘braxton hicks’. She sat on the other side of the
phone timing my ‘braxton hicks’ which were coming a steady 10 minutes apart and
suggested that I get myself to the hospital. 'Why?' I asked, 'I’m not due for ages
yet'.
Anyway,
long story short. On Thursday evening her husband Jan rang us say that Alannah
had been born only to find a message on their answering machine telling him
that Cat had been born.
We moved
back to South Africa when Cat was about 5 months old and then moved back to
Belgium the Christmas after her 4th birthday. So, since their 5th
birthday the girls have had a combined birthday party. This year was the first
year that they didn’t have one.
To make up
for this we had a girls day in Brussels yesterday. Lunch at the Hard Rock where
they got free ice cream. Followed by walking around down town Brussels.
Cat
& I took them to go and check out the peeing statues which Alannah has
never seen before.
 |
| The Manneken-Pis, the Jeanneke-Pis and the canine Zinneke pis |
It was also car free day in Brussels. Once a year the entire city is car free (cept for the free busses and a small number for taxis). Everyone takes to the streets on their bicycles, roller-blades or just walking.
There were all kinds of stands up all around town handing out free stuff... there was a free spin class outside of the Central station, marching bands and girls handing out free hugs etc, etc …
 |
| Free hugs and a spin class ... all on offer just outside Central station |
 |
| Car free street |
 |
| One of the Pilgrims shells which marks the route the pilgrims took to Santiago de Compostela in Spain |
 |
| Husband came home early? - one of the many comic strip mural paintings which can be found all around Brussels |
Despite the
moody/sulky start to the day (Cat) it turned out great and both girls had loads
of fun. I can’t believe how big they are getting.
Ha! I love that mural in the last picture. I didn't see that one when I was there! :) And the Mannekin Pis has one of his outfits on!
ReplyDeleteI love the collage of the girls. I had a friend like that - we were best friends from first grade until we graduated high school and did EVERYTHING together. I feel kind of sad that because we move so often, Lex has never been able to have a friend for that long.
It's so cool that you and your friend had babies at the same time and they are friends as well. I love that! I also love those peeing statues. Haha! And the fact that you have car-free weekend. That is really awesome! I wish more cities did that! What a fun day!!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that they can celebrate every year together and what a story you and Noreen have :)
ReplyDelete