One night to be confused, one night to speed up truth

Just when I decide to write about the weekend - I realise that it is already half way through the week... why does time just continue to fall into a continuüm where I feel like I'm constantly behind? Don't worry - it isn't one of those complaining type messages... just a touch on philosophy while I get on with it...

We started out the weekend with cooking a dinner for Annemie and Hans (since we have eaten enough of their food in the past...) - thanks once again Kelly for your recipe for squidgy chocolate cake - we can never keep it more than 24 hours! Soooo absolutely delicious! So, I had a good cooking effort, followed by a shocking clean-up - but all was worth it. Am getting into the board-game atmosphere too...(instead of the good ol' days of going for a good boogie)!

Saturday took us to Michael and Annelies' - my Australian comrad here (one of the only countries we haven't taken over in droves...) who is now returning with his fiancée to Melbourne. So we went to see them before they head off - I really hope to see you both again once we finally head back! Then Tom will have a Belgian comrad (something I think he missed a little in oz).

Then, Sunday took us on 'baby-bezoek' (baby visit) to Stef and Koen (and Willemtje of course!) - so while Tom nursed Willem for most of the morning, I was able to inform Stef on all gossip, and everything went harmoniusly (for once...). Poor Gust was suffering though... on those fast roads, with a split in the muffler, everyone in Belgium could hear us coming! Nevertheless, we reached our destination, without too much smoke.

Yesterday, I visited another colleague who had just given birth (baby named Mette - quite nice and unique...) - so counting Annemie, that is 3 colleagues with babies (even if one is still incubating). If I count Kelly Chan, that is 4... Something is definitely in this european water - good thing I drink wine instead eh?!

PS Gust has officially left our lives - we expect to hold a ceremony for him once the insurance money comes through. So - goodbye lovely old man. Pretty soon though, Gust twee comes into our lives... stay tuned!

PPS - just a link below for what has happened on this side of the world today...

Belgian News of the Day (English)

Belgisch Nieuws van the Dag (Nederlands)

Het lijkt op een huis met een dak erop...

Just a sweet line from the the latest cutey song of the week here... I will try to write it - if you are interested, I will translate it below...

Mama kijk eens hier in de W Ceeeeee,
Kijk, ik heb gepoeped er zijn er twee,
Het lijkt op een huis met een dak erop
Ja, dat is mooi, trek je broek maar op.

Link to the Cute Song

If you click on the link, then in the right window, click on the link "trek je broek maar...) the song will start... Now for the translation:

Mummy come and look here in the toilet,
Look I have done a poo, and there are two,
It looks like a house with a roof on top,
Yes, that is nice, now pull your pants up.

Perhaps I am a little bit of a kiddy, but I just think the style of music is quite schlager-esque, and quite Belgian/Hollandish/German!

Happy Carnival, Birthday, Chinese New Year, and Brazililan Street Parade

Firstly for my beautiful little sister,
Happy birthday to you
You live in a zoo,
you look like a monkey
and you smell like one too.

Love you Emme - hope you had a beautiful 24th birthday, and that you find a place to live soon. For those of you who don't know, Em has just arrived home after a 6 week trek through south east asia (with her dux uni colleage, Lisa - the incredibly tall girl in the photo) and is back just in time to start full time work (after many a long year at uni) in west-end. But, they have nowhere to live (at this moment), and the prices to rent are apparently disgustingly high. But - em, glad you wrote yourself off - nice to see you haven't lost your touch!

But the 18th of February seemed to have a special meaning in all continents today: Most importantly, in Belgium - Carnival (a bit like the Rocky show, with the same sort of crowd...). Because carnival is held in the home town of Tom's mother, I always feel obliged to go, but ended up going for a walk in the big park of Antwerp instead. So.... next year, maybe I will take a visit to Aalst to see everyone with, and without teeth, and men dressed as women (de vuile janetten - literally translated as the dirty poofs). We also noticed that huge festivals in Rio De Janiero, Naples, and Germany. But, I think the biggest of all, was of course the Chinese New Year. So, now that you are 24, Emme, you also share your Chinese horoscope with this year: The Pig - I just felt that it was necessary to share that you have the symbol of the pig, while I have the symbol of the cute monkey! Nice sister that I am!

I hope this 18th of February was a nice one for all out there. We have just finished the most wonderful, relaxing weekend - no stress from uni now that we have both flown through with shining colours. Dunno when the next weekend like this one will occur!