Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Neighbours
Our Russian neighbours have visited us to see Mylène.
During the weekend that opa & oma were there, Saturday night, around 21:30, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and there was Lilly, together with her six year old son Georg. As usual she did not wait for me to invite them in, and stepped inside immediately. She told me that Georg has been waiting the whole week, and now wanted to see Mylène. Difficult situation ... Mylène had just had her crying hours, and was about to fall asleep. Shiqi was comforting her in the bedroom. And exactly at that moment, they wanted to see Mylène. In the end, I decided to let them in and take a look at the baby: Georg had saved some money for Mylène, and so had his brothers and sisters ... I could not send him home like that, and disappoint him. Good decision; Georg was quiet and was very excited and happy to see Mylène.
Lilly was already in the living room, talking with my parents, or rather, with my mother, as my father had pretended not to understand German and had retreated to the sofa to study the video camera.
Well, the discussion did not last very long. After finishing her lemonade, Lilly decided it was time for them to go home again. Unexpectedly quickly actually.
Later that night, the doorbell rang again. Guess who that was? Lilly of course. Not in front of our door this time, but downstairs, outside. She asked me "Can you come downstairs". I replied "What for?" She said "I cannot tell you. Please come down". I replied "What for, Lilly?" Then, as she came closer to the intercom, she whispered "Could you please bring me to the disco?"
Many of you will probably laugh right now, while reading this. Actually, this is not an uncommon situation. Every now and then, she asks me to bring her to the disco in the city center, which I usually do, unless I already drank something. It's a bit of a win-win-situation: I bring her to the disco every now and then, and she sends her kids upstairs to bring us cookies or cake. And besides, it's a small favour, and what are neighbours for after all ;-)
This time, however, I did not feel like driving her to the disco. Partly because I already drank something, but mostly because of her persistence in ringing the doorbell so late at night, while Mylène was sleeping. Next time again.
Perhaps the neighbours had discussed with each other, that it was time to visit us, because the next day, on Sunday evening, the doorbell rang again. The Mrs. of three other families in our house came to bring us something for Mylène. I was just comforting my little girl (she was not willing to go to bed and was complaining about that a bit) as they came in. They brought some very cute baby clothes. They staid shortly for a cup of coffee, and left again. I think you can call it a courtesy visit. But nevertheless, very nice of them.
They must have discussed the issue with each other, because the next day, on Monday evening, the doorbell rang again. Victor, Lilly's wife, had come up to bring us some cake (well ... I think he really wanted to see Mylène, and used the cake for an alibi). I invited him in and asked if he wanted to see Mylène. His eyes were shining and he was smiling from ear to ear when I showed him my little girl. How proud I was!!
Victor is a very nice guy, and even though we hardly ever talk, it's always nice to drink a glass of wine with him and chatter a bit.
We chattered a bit longer, and after a while, somebody knocked on the door softly. It was Lilly, who was wondering what her husband was doing here so long. She asked me whether she had been quiet enough, and I said yes and invited her in.
Shiqi talked a bit with Lilly, and I talked a bit more with Victor. It was quite nice, but around ten, Shiqi was starving, and asked whether our neighbours had eaten yet. They got the point, wished us a nice evening and left.
In the past few days we talked with our neighbours more than we have during the past three years.
There are six appartments in our building. Four families have paid us a visit now. Only our direct neighbours have not, yet. Will the doorbell ring again tonight?
During the weekend that opa & oma were there, Saturday night, around 21:30, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and there was Lilly, together with her six year old son Georg. As usual she did not wait for me to invite them in, and stepped inside immediately. She told me that Georg has been waiting the whole week, and now wanted to see Mylène. Difficult situation ... Mylène had just had her crying hours, and was about to fall asleep. Shiqi was comforting her in the bedroom. And exactly at that moment, they wanted to see Mylène. In the end, I decided to let them in and take a look at the baby: Georg had saved some money for Mylène, and so had his brothers and sisters ... I could not send him home like that, and disappoint him. Good decision; Georg was quiet and was very excited and happy to see Mylène.
Lilly was already in the living room, talking with my parents, or rather, with my mother, as my father had pretended not to understand German and had retreated to the sofa to study the video camera.
Well, the discussion did not last very long. After finishing her lemonade, Lilly decided it was time for them to go home again. Unexpectedly quickly actually.
Later that night, the doorbell rang again. Guess who that was? Lilly of course. Not in front of our door this time, but downstairs, outside. She asked me "Can you come downstairs". I replied "What for?" She said "I cannot tell you. Please come down". I replied "What for, Lilly?" Then, as she came closer to the intercom, she whispered "Could you please bring me to the disco?"
Many of you will probably laugh right now, while reading this. Actually, this is not an uncommon situation. Every now and then, she asks me to bring her to the disco in the city center, which I usually do, unless I already drank something. It's a bit of a win-win-situation: I bring her to the disco every now and then, and she sends her kids upstairs to bring us cookies or cake. And besides, it's a small favour, and what are neighbours for after all ;-)
This time, however, I did not feel like driving her to the disco. Partly because I already drank something, but mostly because of her persistence in ringing the doorbell so late at night, while Mylène was sleeping. Next time again.
Perhaps the neighbours had discussed with each other, that it was time to visit us, because the next day, on Sunday evening, the doorbell rang again. The Mrs. of three other families in our house came to bring us something for Mylène. I was just comforting my little girl (she was not willing to go to bed and was complaining about that a bit) as they came in. They brought some very cute baby clothes. They staid shortly for a cup of coffee, and left again. I think you can call it a courtesy visit. But nevertheless, very nice of them.
They must have discussed the issue with each other, because the next day, on Monday evening, the doorbell rang again. Victor, Lilly's wife, had come up to bring us some cake (well ... I think he really wanted to see Mylène, and used the cake for an alibi). I invited him in and asked if he wanted to see Mylène. His eyes were shining and he was smiling from ear to ear when I showed him my little girl. How proud I was!!
Victor is a very nice guy, and even though we hardly ever talk, it's always nice to drink a glass of wine with him and chatter a bit.
We chattered a bit longer, and after a while, somebody knocked on the door softly. It was Lilly, who was wondering what her husband was doing here so long. She asked me whether she had been quiet enough, and I said yes and invited her in.
Shiqi talked a bit with Lilly, and I talked a bit more with Victor. It was quite nice, but around ten, Shiqi was starving, and asked whether our neighbours had eaten yet. They got the point, wished us a nice evening and left.
In the past few days we talked with our neighbours more than we have during the past three years.
There are six appartments in our building. Four families have paid us a visit now. Only our direct neighbours have not, yet. Will the doorbell ring again tonight?
