Monday, September 22, 2014

Girls day out / Belated birthday celebration

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.

3 comments:

  1. 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!

    I 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.

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  2. 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!!

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  3. How cool that they can celebrate every year together and what a story you and Noreen have :)

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