Come on baby in our dreams, we can live our misbehaviour

Thought I should make a quick note - we are off this weekend for a surprise pre-easter weekend! I have booked something, and Tom has no idea what it is (despite discovering that we will be somewhere in the Ardennes...

Somehow, I always manage to leave something lying around for him to discover. Typical. Will post some pickies up next week.

PS - have updated my song of the week... one which has been made famous by its beautiful cover, but I am quite a fan of the original as well...

Les Lacs du Connemara

Last night, we were at the wedding of Tom's cousin, Nele De Pauw. We went, preparing ourselves for all the questions, and family judgement, but ended up having a wonderful time, being dragged off the dancefloor at 4am to go home (tom reluctantly headed off to work this morning at 9am...) Have tried to upload a little video I made of one of the belgian traditions, but it never quite worked, so I have settled for this link instead...

click here

and stay tuned
:)

Some Silly Willies

Ok - just for fun I thought I would put in some photos from the quiz - and of course our prizes!











First, we have Wim. Very happy with his prize.












Then Hans - won a cooler box - but didn't realise all the goodies it came with! Now him and annemie have all the crap they need for their baby (which is set to make an appearance in June...)












And last, but not least - Tommy had a fluo pink toy - which was actually something another lady had her eye on (???!!!) and he kindly surrendered it to her!

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Well that day has finally arrived: The day where I have found ONE form of physical activity in which I am better than Tom! So praise the lord - I am slightly good at sport!

We went wall-climbing today (since there is a shortage of cliffs/hills/rocks/any sort of non-man-made elevations in Flanders) and had a really great time! We met up with Els, and found and indoor climbing hall in Antwerp and made our ways there.




Will definitely head back soon...

Ch-ch-ch-chaaanges

Time to un-somberise the mood of the last blog... As you see, I have a firm grasp of the English language now that I am studying another. I often find myself making up words to fit the moment. Why not?

So the insurance money for Gust I came through yesterday, and since we made a €200 profit out of our accident, we decided that it was time to go shopping - but instead of sticking to a budget - we decided that we should just go all out. Now we are poor again, but have enough material possessions to give ourselves a quick instant high for the next month or so until we complain about our lack of items again. As per normal - way too much was spent on books/CDs. It seems that we can't NOT buy CDs and books. But when life is music and education - then what better to spend our extra 'centjes' than these two items? Now Tom is the proud owner of a Gilles Peterson CD (very nice - if you haven't heard him - have a little listen) and another Flemish group disguised as South Americans (quite good apparently) and I am the owner of a cheapy best of David Bowie and the new Shins (have put a snippet of their single at the bottom of our webpage).

Off to a quiz tonight - organised by my inlaws yearly, and Tom is reading the paper catching up on what has happened this week, while I am hoping to help out on the 'music' category. We have managed to rope 12 people into coming, so since this makes two full teams, I am imagining some 'friendly' competition. It should all go well - as long as the team I am on wins!

Have attached some photos... Went swimming with the Flies family last week - and couldn't resist some photos of Natalie.

You're my medicine, open up and let me in

Nothing sweeter than hearing Ben Harper soulfully covering the classic Marvin Gaye number, Sexual Healing. Perfect weekend anthem...

Today was the funeral. Yesterday was the wake. Many tears fell which will no longer come back, but the stocks have been replenished for the next event - hopefully something which makes us laugh so hard, it is beyond making a sound. I had only met Nonkel Erik once - at that stage he was already severly damaged by the horrible degenerative dementia/alzheimers, yet he still looked quite well so there was no need to fear the worst. It had been a year or so since the previous time Tom visited, and the downhill slide had been apparently freakishly rapid. From someone who forgot what he wanted to say, to a dear, not-so-old man who was unable to walk anymore and only able to communicate with his eyes. A healthy, very fit and active, fresh-fish small business owner, who thought the world of his family (where the feeling was equally given in return) is no longer, and it has affected the Matheus extended family heavily.

Ironically enough, we have a wedding (on the other side of the family) within two weeks, so I am hoping that this event will use the newly replenished tear reserves, and nothing so tragic as what we have seen this weekend.

Tot de volgende keer, nonkel Erik. Ik hoop dat ik met u in het volgende leven op een terasje iets kunnen gaan drinken en hopelijk zie jij dat Tom heeft zijn trien gevonden. Santé.

Erik De Troyer 1 Sep 1939 - 4 Mar 2007

Yours is the first face that I saw, I think I was blind before I met you

Well I managed to escape our blogging till now. With the absence of Ingrid, I'll write about the weekend. it actually is a bit of self-help. it was a really emotional weekend. We went to see Little children on the weekend. Not the best movie but I saw Kate Winslett and Jennifer Connolly so can't complain too much. We also went for Japanees. that was the first time ever and it was delicious. But I will not choose to eat raw fish 7 days a week. But had a great time with our "token gay friends" Jan en Philippe. Sunday started on a bit of a downfall. My favourite uncle has died in the course of the morning. He was sick for a while now but it is still a shock and sad. I hereby want to thank Ingi in public for being the best girlfriend ever and supporting me. The sad thing was that there wasn't much we could do in the day. So we went ot my parents to talk a bit. He was the one where I spent my summers and helped out in his fishstore. Saying it like that feels like a cheesy real-like movie.
On Sunday evening, despite not looking forward I went to the watch the soccer anyway. My favourite team, beerschot, trashed one of the title candidates who are now lost for the championship. I was really emotional but it's weird how close happiness and sadness are to one another. I can only wish I have a life like him where I enjoy every second of it!
Well I hope the next one is filled with better news but writing about it always helps me so you can charge me for psych help!

I'm going to polish my husbands Oscar while he rummages around in my basement

For those of you who like a little Ricky Gervais humour... enjoy