Today is Sunday time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week . I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly@caffeinatedreviewer .
Also today will be a mostly if not only post about private life!
In my private life
Well since two weeks, many things happened!
First we got huge floods in Belgium. The likes we had never seen and pictures are really shocking!
The first floods happened the week of 12 to 15 th of July.
Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerlands were hit.
You can read an article here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57858826
Lucky for us, as we are living on a hill, we had no damages. But we got instructed to stay in our homes and not move at all. This was of course the day I had planned to go back to the office for the first time in nearly seventeen months…
No luck as the train traffic was stopped in the whole south of the country.
As we hadn’t been hit, we went to vacation as planned in Normandy (read further about it below).
We should have come back home today, on Sunday.
But in the night of Friday to Saturday, I had a bad feeling and urged my husband to go home one day sooner.
Yesterday, two hours after we arrived back home, a thunderstorm happened and …65 litres of water fell from the sky! That’s nearly two months of water in 40 minutes!
And here below are the pictures and movie about what happened in my town and other towns yet again!
..
This time we were scared as the sewers in our street could not absorb the water anymore and we were nearly flooded! The sink, the toilet made awful noises like boiling water. My daughter was extremely stressed.
We witnessed horrified as the water went up to our doorstep, just to stop 2 cm short of it. It then went around our home and rushed down the hill flooding the streets below as you can see in that video!
If you still don’t believe in climate change, it’s just hopeless!
Now between these two floods, as I mentioned, we went to Normandy!
For six days we had a splendid weather. 87°F (31°C) with marine breeze. Lots of sun and we stayed in a gorgeous house, part of an ancient farm dating back more than 100 years ago.
It was in a small hamlet, in the countryside, very peaceful! No noises except the birds.
We were also in the middle of every interesting spot to visit if you are fans of WWII like we are my husband and I!
We visited the American cemetery (see picture).
That cemetery is beautiful and very peaceful. You could sit on a bank and read a book amidst the white crosses.
We went to Juno Beach to have a guided tour of the bunkers with a Canadian guide.
We also visited Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Sainte Mère l’Eglise, and many other places and museums. We’ll never be grateful enough for the courage these soldiers demonstrated. They enrolled freely to fight for freedom. I would never have dared set foot on these beaches under fire of the enemy!
COVID wise it was very safe as every museum and restaurant was only opened to people fully vaccinated wearing masks. Sanitizers were also everywhere.
Also I chose Normandy as it’s not very far from where we leave (about 500km) and would not have overcrowded beaches!
Look below at the picture of the beach 😀
Compared with the south of France it’s deserted!
And we met interesting people! Most of our stay the other people renting the second room was a French woman and her young son. She was an …English teacher and we hit it off right away!
The last day, it was an American woman from Delaware traveling with her three teenagers. She was so happy to meet people talking English and we were very pleased to chat with her.
Also all along, alone with my husband for the first time since our honeymoon while on holiday we had an amazing time, laughing so hard that my husband spit his water in the car as he was laughing too hard!!!
It was a much needed break, the first time we went out of our house in seventeen months!
I am stopping here as obviously I didn’t post on the blog…
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Climate change is devastating the planet! I’m sorry you had to deal with this horrible flooding, but happy you had a lovely vacation. Beautiful pictures!
Those floodings were so awful, though I’m happy to hear you got through them with no damages. And that you got to enjoy a nice vacation in Normandy!
Yes they were awful Lindsey! I hope you were not flooded!
Oh my that flooding! I’m so glad you weren’t affected worse! Normandy looks amazing though- I love that pic.
Thank you Greg and Normandy is beautiful!
Oh my goodness that is absolutely terrifying! I’m so sorry that happened to your area but I’m beyond thankful you are okay, hugs, hugs, hugs! And I’m so happy you and your husband were able to get away. Alone time is so special and it’s just the best thing ever ♥!
And Jen I hope you are safe with the fires!!
Thank goodness for living on a hill. So glad you didn’t get any damage and that you were able to go on your trip, which sounds so wonderful.
Yes our trip was amazing!
I’m very relieved that you weren’t innundated – but watching that video, the force of the water is terrifying. Anyone caught in it wouldn’t have stood a chance:((. And on the positive side, it sounds like you had the loveliest of holidays. It’s a long time since I’ve been to Normandy – but I recall some wonderful seaside holidays as a girl. So I’m delighted you had such a great time – fingers crossed you don’t suffer any more of those torrential downpours, Sophie! Have a peaceful week.
Thank you so much! I hope we are finally safe!
I very much hope you are now safe from anymore downpours, too!!! I know it sounds as if Oscar is unrealistically perfect – and like the rest of us, he can have his edges and his off days. But during that 10 days, he was so very mature and helpful, given that I’m still far from my shiny best.
So scary Sophie, hope the floods have gone for good now. So glad you had a great holiday, there’s nothing like a great break away x
I hope the floods are gone too Caro!
Oh, I love Normandy, it’s so beautiful, and I’m glad that between the deluges and horror of flooding that you managed to get away with your husband. I’m glad you’re all safe, and it’s a terrible tragedy unfolding with the weather across the planet and still, no one is willing to do anything. 🙁
I know Alex! That’s so disheartening!
I’ve been seeing the flooding on the news and it’s shocking how bad it is. Thank goodness your home is safe but it was certainly too close for comfort! I’m glad you were able to get away for some much needed down time together. I love laughing like that with my husband. Such a great feeling to still have that connection and know there’s no one else you’d rather laugh and have fun with. 🙂
Yes after nearly 27 years together and we still laugh!
I was wondering if you got hit, but I saw you were posting, so I thought you were at least ok. Very fortunate you live on a hill. My great uncle is buried out there in France. He was a para trooper in WWII. Survived storming Normandy, but got in the middle of a domestic dispute and was fatally stabbed.
OMG that’s so sad to die in the middle of a domestic dispute. But he was a hero Sam. Just landing on these beaches and fighting for freedom was incredibly courageous.
We found out many years later how he died when one of his friends contacted my grandmother and sent pictures of his grave over there.
So happy you and hubby had a wonderful vacation, Sophie. Also relieved you’re safe from all that crazy flooding. So scary!
Yes it was scary!
I am so glad you had an amazing vacation!!
But I am so sorry for the flood and the bad weather! It was scary!! Glad that you were safe!!
Thank you Susy!
Saw the coverage of the floods, glad you were safe! Glad I live on a hill as well!
Thank you Mogsy!
Thank God you are preserved
Yes!
Thank goodness you and your house are fine. That video is frightening indeed. I’m glad you enjoyed your vacation in Normandy even if you did come home one day early.
Yes Kim I am very lucky!
Gosh the flooding has been so tragic! That video is intense! But, I am glad you had a nice vacation. I visited Normandy a few years ago and fell in love!! Seeing the historic monuments and battle grounds was humbling and that part of the country is just stunningly beautiful. I want to retire to Saint Malo when the time comes!
Normandy is gorgeous indeed Samantha!
The flooding across Europe looks terrifying! I hope you and your family are all okay. Looks like you had a lovely vacation too though.
I did thank you!
Wow, the flood is so scary! Flashfloods are so dangerous, I’m glad your house wasn’t affected. And your trip to Normandy sounds amazing. I went to Normandy many years ago during a trip to France, and it was a great trip.
Normandy is amazing Tammy!!