A very Belgian Christmas

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On Christmas Eve I jumped on a train to Belgium and met Sarah, Luke and Luke's BFF and his fiance in Brugge.

As usual, the Dutch trains delayed everything. A train that was supposed to take me straight to Antwerp became a train that only took me to the border, to a town called Roosendaal, and then I had to change to an ancient Belgian train to Antwerp and then I missed my connection and then had to wait an hour to travel to Brugge.

I had quite the relaxing, easy and lovely Christmas weekend with them.

I truly had a cosy Christmas day without going wild with the drinking, or shenanigans.

We had a champagne breakfast, followed by a long walk around the old town (everything was pretty shut but we enjoyed the wandering anyway) then headed into the centre for mulled wine and Flemish coffees at the Christmas market.

Mel bought some brownies from the patisserie around the corner from the hotel and then the ladies had an impromptu high tea infront of a (gas) fire.

Very civilised. Just like the little town.

A night of irony

I gate crashed my friend Amanda's office Christmas party last night.

Well, to be honest, it wasn't just me. It was me and all my friends.

They had an "Awful Christmas jumper" dress up theme.

I wore a new jacket which was kind of woolly. When I walked in, someone Amanda works with said "Ha ha, nice ironic jacket."

My friend and I just looked at each other, in full knowledge this is something I seriously wear normally.

They had karaoke happening, and for every song you sung, you got a free shot.

I sang the Backstreet boys at about 1am, as a duet with another guy.

A group of Swedish girls came up to me after I had jumped off stage and sunk my shot.

"That was the best - Our cheeks are cramping from laughing so hard at you guys!!!"

We rocked that stage.

I wish someone had told me

I wish someone had told me taking the first step doesn't mean you're 100% committed.

Or even 25% for that matter.

I mean, I know I often do that. But that doesn't mean anyone else is allowed to do it.

Hopeless adult

09:49 am, 9 Dec
Me

"Dawg, I went to the ATM this morning to get my new cleaner some $$. It was out of order. So I had to raid the piggy bank. 15 EU in coins. ( Plenty of 5 cent coins included) I am such a hopeless adult. "


10:47, 9 Dec
Friend

"I don't agree. You adapted admirably to an unforseen situation. Thinking on your feet. Bravo!"

Perfection

Memories of a beautiful dry and warm Autumn day, strolling and shopping with my sister and brother in the Nine Streets district, when they came to visit.

Retrospective #11 - Little ol Lille

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After Paris, I went to Lille, in the north of France.

I fell in love with this little city.

My friend Marianne and I had my first couchsurfing experience there with a fantastic host. The next day we went to an exhibition at the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art (LaM) which was very inspiring. She went back to Amsterdam and then the next part of my french adventure was on.

I met up with an old friend I haven't really seen since highschool. Shan was in France, wrapping up a stint as a cellar hand and living in L'tain Hermitage with her boyfriend.

We rented bikes and cycled around the cobblestoned lanes of Vieux Lille. We drank Belgian beer and met locals and they took us out with them.

Shan and I talked a lot about what life has been like since we saw each other last and what things were like when we were in highschool.

We also went vintage shopping together....

What fun.

Retrospective #10 - Ooooh la la

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I went to Paris with my sister and brother in November when they came to visit. I loooooved it. I'm not sure anyone could hate Paris. How the hell could you?

I was getting so ridiculously french while I was there. I had a glass of champagne before every meal as an apertif, bought red lipstick and wore high heels every day.

I accompanied my sister shopping, and in turn took them to the European photography museum and went to a cool little tea house. We also ate some kickass Vietnamese and Japanese food, and had a totally luxe 3 Michelin star lunch at Hotel Le Bristol where the pre G20 summit meetings were being held and we saw Gordon Brown. I sat up straight, wore a skirt and ate 9 courses for lunch.

I also had a sneaky lunch of escargots and french onion soup by myself!

These are some highlights from the mobile phone. I took my Fish eye camera but most of the photos are real duds.

The Chosen one - street art in Paris

OMG. Macarons and other assorted cavity inducing perfections at Pierre Herme.
I had a citrus tart for breakfast and I was not ashamed.


Escargots

The 11 Commandments of living in Paris

Garden of Luxembourg

Garden of Luxembourg

Garden of Luxembourg

Playing peekaboo with the Eiffel Tower

Dream come true

Technically speaking

L.O: Did you just say that?

Me: What?

L.O: You had the opposite of a "gang bang" at your house today?

Me: Yes, that's what I said.

L.O: What does that even mean?

Me: We were hungover so we all had a little nap side by side on the floor of my living room.

L.O: How many of you?

Me: I don't know... four? You know, because it was so damn innocent, almost like Sunday version of a kindergarden nap time.

L.O's boyfriend: Actually, the opposite of a gang bang would technically be reading the Financial Times, alone.