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The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1?4 Years Old
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1?4 Years Old | Hendrik Groen
104 posts | 72 read | 3 reading | 138 to read
** THE INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON ** 'There are many laughs in this book but it's so much more than just a comedy. It's a story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen' John Boyne, author of international bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 'Another year and I still don't like old people. Me? I am 83 years old.' Hendrik Groen may be old, but he is far from dead and isn't planning to be buried any time soon. Granted, his daily strolls are getting shorter because his legs are no longer willing and he had to visit his doctor more than he'd like. Technically speaking he is ... elderly. But surely there is more to life at his age than weak tea and potted geraniums? Hendrik sets out to write an expos: a year in the life of his care home in Amsterdam, revealing all its ups and downs - not least his new endeavour the anarchic Old-But-Not Dead Club. And when Eefje moves in - the woman Hendrik has always longed for - he polishes his shoes (and his teeth), grooms what's left of his hair and attempts to make something of the life he has left, with hilarious, tender and devastating consequences. The indomitable Hendrik Groen - Holland's unlikeliest hero - has become a cultural phenomenon in his native Netherlands and now he and his famously anonymous creator are conquering the globe. A major Dutch bestseller, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen will not only delight older readers with its wit and relevance, but will charm and inspire those who have years to go before their own expiry date. Praise for The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1?4 Years Old 'Hendrik Groen's account of daily life in a care home for the elderly pulled me in with its self-deprecating humour, finely drawn characters and frank accounting of the trials of old age. Behind Hendrik's light touch and grumpy-old-man persona is a story with a great deal of heart, and some important themes. Hendrik effortlessly incorporates the politics of aged care, from funding to euthanasia, into his personal story and offers his own acerbic insights. Anyone who has a friend or relative in a nursing home or retirement village, or who hopes to grow old with dignity themselves, will find much to reflect on' Graeme Simsion, international bestselling author of The Rosie Project 'Funny, tragic and sometimes heart rending' Het Parool 'Hendrik Groen is a heart-warming hero' Trouw 'With pungent phrasing Groen takes down life in a retirement home. Both charming and hilarious'****Leeuwarder Courant 'Hendrik Groen is king. My mother (78) suffers from dementia. Doesn't read a newspaper or magazine anymore, only old photo albums can grab her attention for longer than 5 minutes. Hendrik Groen made her laugh out loud' Ray Kluun, author of Love Life 'The tears came streaming down my face. From laughing so hard. I couldn't stop grinning for three days'Ouderenjournaal 'Never a dull moment with my new BFF Hendrik Groen' Read Shop, Hedel 'It reminded me of a combination between The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Wonderful! Shame it's finished already' Arjen Broers, Bookshop Bruna 'Heart-warming, funny and poignant. It's about all aspects of life. EVERYBODY should read this' Bookshop Stevens
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Ddzmini
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1) an apple
2) the tagged book
Thank you for the tag @Deblovestoread
If you haven‘t played and are tagged below play along

Librarybelle Thanks for the tag! 3mo
NatalieR Thanks for the tag! 😊 3mo
MonicaLoves2Read Thanks for the tag! 3mo
See All 6 Comments
JessClark78 Thanks for the tag! 3mo
Meshell1313 Oh fun! Thanks for the tag! 3mo
Ddzmini @Librarybelle @NatalieR @Monica5 @JessClark78 @Meshell1313 your welcome sometimes it‘s fun to play these 🤗 3mo
27 likes6 comments
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BooksPlz
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Pickpick

Diaper, dribbling applesauce, dementia - it‘s all included in Hendrik‘s day in an Amsterdam old folks home! Along with mobility scooter races, wine tastings, cooking lessons, and fun excursions by the Old But Not Dead exclusive group of Hendrik & 7 close friends. It‘s an honest, delightful look at the joys & sorrows of growing old. I loved it - but maybe that‘s because I just had a high-number BD! Long live Hendrik!

PhyllisH I loved this book.😊 3y
2 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

I‘m struggling with how to rate this book, a (fictional) diary of a year in the life of a man in a Dutch care home. On one hand, there‘s elder visibility, a focus on the importance of friendships and maintaining interests, and a recognition of the immediacy of death. On the other, it‘s slow to the point of boring in places and there‘s some unnecessary fat shaming. I‘ll give it a low pick for bringing forward the need to understand elderly people.

BarbaraBB This book is very popular in the Netherlands but I haven‘t read it. I didn‘t know it has been translated and can imagine it‘s not a great read. 4y
Librarybelle Nice review! 4y
Librariana Your reviews are always *chef's kiss* (I'm trying to find the emoji for this sentiment!) Anywhosies! 😊 They're always very much on point. 4y
Hooked_on_books @Librariana Aw shucks, you‘re making me blush! ☺️ 4y
43 likes5 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Well, I managed to squeeze in a second bingo for November #bookspinbingo just under the wire! 🎉 I haven‘t decided yet how to rate the book, though, so I‘m going to noodle on it a bit more before posting my review.

I can‘t wait for December‘s number draw!

AmyG Great job! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Great month!!! 4y
34 likes2 comments
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anwade88
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Mehso-so

Such mixed feelings on this one.

It kind of gives you the premise of an Ove-ish story with lots of humor and warmth. The parts that are like that are delightful—I laughed out loud so many times.

But then it also had this strong thread of hopelessness that progressively got stronger as the book went on. Which might have been fine, if I wasn‘t expecting a feel-good humorous read.

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anwade88
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I just can‘t get enough of the fish tank escapades 😂🤣😂

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anwade88
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anwade88
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FeatherV
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Pickpick

I LOVED this book. The way he is so honest about everything. His comments about my generation not sitting and actively listening really hit home, and between that and the obvious lessons of “slow down” from quarantine have made me rethink how I respond to life...highly highly recommend. For more of my thoughts on this incredible novel see https://heartandsoulbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/close-your-eyes-press-play-and-ju...

5 likes1 stack add
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royallyregan93
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Only on page 5 and I adore it already!!!

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morgan_krahn
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Front porch audiobooking 🥰☀️

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morgan_krahn
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Starting this one at work today 😷 🎧

Booksnchill Love this narration by Derek Jacobi! 5y
61 likes1 comment
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FeatherV
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That Saturday feel when rather than cleaning you curl up with a book and a pot of chai tea. I‘m thoroughly enjoying this book, it‘s a lovely reminder to be grateful for the life we have....especially stuck in our houses #bookworm📚 #teatime☕️ #weekends

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FeatherV
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On today's episode of how to avoid a panic attack, I'm letting my kid play video games and burying myself in a new book

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Echo
Mehso-so

This is such a sweet book. Precious, precocious, and honest. It was a feel good read.

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JoyBlue
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Pickpick

Loved the funny bits—you know, the ones that elicit a snort! 😂

54 likes1 stack add
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suvata
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Mehso-so

83-1/4 year old Hendrik is quite a character and his diary is very funny. I have a feeling that this book will appeal more to people over 60. Young people will just not be able to relate to the deteriorating mind and body that Hendrick lives with. Anyone over 60 is probably starting to feel some of his pain. On one hand it‘s a pretty hilarious book but, on the other hand, it‘s a little wake up call and a little disconcerting.

Ddzmini But I thought it was hilarious 😆 🤣🤣🤣 5y
suvata @Ddzmini I have to admit it was pretty funny. I couldn‘t stop laughing about the fish tank saga. 5y
Ddzmini @suvata I know I read this and thought that so@e of the things the group does is really necessary when I get to that age in about 30 years 🙌🏽🤣🤣🤣 5y
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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yvo_about_books
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Pickpick

There was just something about this book that made me think about A Man Called Ove (one of my all time favorites) and I just HAD to read it. Hendrik does have that Ove vibe and this book made me both laugh and cry!!

4,5/5 stars.

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Howard_L
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Panpan

I had very much looked forward to this book but was disappointed and didn‘t find it funny. I can see how some would but I didn‘t. I didn‘t like the diary format and, with a few exceptions, such as, “The Book Thief”, usually don‘t. The main character seemed rather flat and wasn‘t particularly likable, not unlikable, just not likable. Maybe a future attempt at the book would produce a different result but for now there is too much more to read.

45 likes1 stack add
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Patchshank
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It might be one of my favorites. I'm excited to know a sequel is coming out in January and I have already pre-ordered it.

Kitty looked super sweet, but then moved when I tried to take a picture. Every time...

53 likes1 stack add
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Tineke
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1. The secret diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old. It was so funny.
2. Tinus or Tien
3. I dive right in. But I love a good salad.
4. Tomorrow: studying + go to a second hand store to look for clothes + adopt a houseplant. Sunday: Europe's biggest bookfestival in Deventer, the Netherlands.
5. Es ist Freitag (German), c'est vendredi (French), It is freed (Frisian), Het is vrijdag (dutch), It's friday (English). #friyayintro

@howjessreads

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eraderneely
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Just started this for book club. I‘ve been terrible and haven‘t finished the last 2 in time for the meetings, so I really want to get this done. Send me all the reader concentration vibes!

rockpools You can do it! 5y
Cathythoughts Yes !!!! You can do it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
squirrelbrain I‘m concentrating hard on your behalf! 5y
Patchshank I started that book, but I'm in the process of moving so I'm not sure where it is. It seems like a funny and easy read. I'm sure you'll be able to get through it just fine. 💪💪💪 You got this! 5y
22 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Allthebookclubs
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It has mixed reviews here, I understand why though. It was a little slow starting off but it was so easy to become invested in the characters. I felt like I knew them and grew to like them by the end of the book. The goings on in a “old folks home” in Amsterdam isn‘t comedic gold, but Groen is charmingly witty. Book 24 of 2019

BookishMeanderings I really enjoyed this one too 6y
7 likes1 comment
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SmartBookaholicsIncBookstore

I'm starting this bad boy tonight or tmrw!

36 likes1 stack add
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Allthebookclubs
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I‘ve been sitting at the hospital for a few hours, waiting to pick up a friend from surgery. I wasn‘t impressed with the last memoir book I read (it was quite raunchy) and this one started slow but I‘m really enjoying it!!!

2 likes1 stack add
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dgingo
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#BookHaul (Book socks and book gifts for others not pictured.) #MoreBooks #NeverEnough 📖📚

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SweetAngst
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I've recently been using the Echo Dot to play my Audibles in addition to using my phone over Bluetooth while I drive... But I have a sneaking suspicion that Amazon isn't synching my times properly. 😒

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DoonTheGoon
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Mehso-so

Finished this one up last night... and despite the Litsy love for this one I'm only giving it a "so-so". Hendrik is a fun narrator, but amid the occasional LOL moments I found this book to be a bit boring. I didn't expect much in the way of plot... but I did expect more in the way of heart.
For those that intend to read this: perhaps consider reading it daily (as the format is dated journal entries), and live the story through a whole year.

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DoonTheGoon
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When you and your book's main character share the same sentiments about clowns. 😂

BookishMarginalia Hi! Please check your email from last week with your #CupidGoesPostal match and reply to it so I know you‘re all set! (It might be in the junk mail.) 6y
DoonTheGoon @BookishMarginalia I got it! Will reply now - and you were totally right... it went to my Junk folder. 😜 6y
BookishMarginalia Yey! Glad you found it! 6y
25 likes3 comments
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DoonTheGoon
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A little over a third finished with this one... It's enjoyable but somehow very... slow? It's got it's moments but I must admit that I've considered bailing on it. It's got a lot of Litsy love - so I'm gonna stick with it for now!

SkeletonKey Almost got this from the library, let us know if it picks up! 6y
23 likes1 comment
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Bookish_AF
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I needed to share these glorious bookish gifts, courtesy of @Nerdfins !

Delicious local chocolate! Ravenclaw socks! New BOOK! And what is probably the greatest Funko ever created: from the 25th Anniversary Jurassic Park collection - I present injured Ian Malcolm 😂

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Awesome gifts! 💚❤ 6y
35 likes1 comment
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DoonTheGoon
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After a couple hours' drive, I'm officially home for the holiday. Reading by the tree until I fall asleep.
Merry Christmas to all my friends here on Litsy, I hope your day is merry and bright. ♡

LazyDays ⛄💗⛄💗⛄ 6y
33 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DoonTheGoon
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Starting something new - I need something to break up the reading of "Voices from Chernobyl" because it's making me too sad. This looks like it might be funny with a lot of heart. :)

scowler1 I loved this book so much I told my wife to send a copy to her Dad on his birthday. I forgot how old he's getting. He was traumatized by it! Oops.🙄 6y
DoonTheGoon @scowler1 Whoopsie! It's the thought that counts right!? 😋 6y
33 likes2 comments
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Ddzmini
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Book: The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
Author: Steven Erikson
Movie: Sabrina (1995)
Food: Strawberry‘s 🍓yum yum 😋
#ManicMonday #letterS @JoScho

JoScho 🧡🧡🧡 6y
robinb 🍓🍓🍓🍓❤️❤️❤️❤️ 6y
59 likes2 comments
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edennugget
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oh how I wish I pushed that coffee to the left a little...
chocolate banana porridge + book ❤️

Lauram I think it looks great! 6y
edennugget @Lauram haha, thank you! 🙈 6y
2 likes2 comments
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Aimeesue
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Funny, of course, as cantankerous old man novels tend to be, but very straightforward about the issues we all will confront as we age. I, for one, will be getting a mobility scooter.

30 likes3 stack adds
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Ddzmini
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This is going on my favorite books list loved it. I‘m wondering if there is a second book out there of his??? Really loved it great book@to@read overall 😋😍📖

80 likes4 stack adds
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Mshookquilts
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Pickpick

Sometimes humorous, but always very human.

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Ddzmini
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I am enjoying this book so much and think about the future and what it will bring. Hope we have some fun like Hendrik 🤣🤣🤣

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Ddzmini
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Debating which to read next 👀😳📚📖😋

Libby1 I liked Hendrik. 😊 6y
bookcollecter As an animal lover my biased opinion is the Pullman book 🐦 6y
80 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MelissaSue81
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Mehso-so

I had heard this book was great for people who loved “A Man Called Ove”. I am one of those people. However, while some obvious parallels are there, I don‘t think this was anywhere close to as good. While I did grow attached to Hendrik and his friends, they are lovely, endearing characters, there was just so much sadness. I didn‘t feel uplifted by this book (even though it tries to end on an uplifting note).. I felt discouraged.

thereadingowlvina Thanks for the review! I almost bought this book 😁 6y
LoverofLit I love Ove and his curmudgeonly soul 💙 6y
74 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MelissaSue81
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Hendrik just dropped some truth quite appropriate for the day (if anyone is unfamiliar, this book was originally written in the Netherlands).

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MelissaSue81
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Read this bit and thought of this incident that happened at the nursing home that is next to my work. He tried to shoot an orderly, but missed and hit the wall, thankfully. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Burghbookaddict Who let grandpa take his piece to the nursing home with him?! 6y
53 likes1 comment
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MelissaSue81
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This book has SUCH good Litsy reviews and I really want to love it.. and seriously there are some laugh out loud funny parts so far.. but it‘s just not capturing my attention where I want to keep reading. I‘ll probably finish it because I have a few days invested but I hope it picks up a bit.

61 likes1 stack add
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Nerdfins
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Getting some reading in while waiting to be seen by my doctor. I‘ve been dealing with migraines multiple times a week since February and I‘ve had enough. 😞

Reviewsbylola I hope you can get some relief. 🙏🏻 6y
bnp Good luck! 6y
DoonTheGoon I hope you found relief - I had a similar issue and it turned out to be early warnings of a stroke. Be well!!! 6y
8 likes4 comments
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Nerdfins
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There are two elderly sweethearts in this photo. Loki would not agree that she‘s old though, just wiser and with a few more white hairs. #catsoflitsy

ReadingVampire Awe 😻😻😻 6y
Libby1 😻 6y
13 likes2 comments
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Nerdfins
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Today‘s work snack is brownie batter hummus with pretzel chips. I doubt they‘d serve that in Hendrik‘s retirement home. Which is sad since this is so good! It‘s like I‘m eating a chocolate covered pretzel. #food

6 likes1 stack add
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Nerdfins
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Loki was a less-than-cooperative book model today. #catsoflitsy

11 likes1 stack add