Brussels III
We lived in a beautiful flat which was luxurious for two when we arrived and rather cramped for five when we left. It was round the corner from my previous flat in Brussels. I often passed it with the children thinking that I never imagined when I lived there that I would some day be strolling past the building with my children. That is very inelegantly expressed but you know what I’m trying to say here; life is weird.
I started my blog in that flat so it is obviously of great significance – also very well documented.
I think we really have left Brussels for the last time. Our memories can be constantly refreshed by the truckload of coffee table books about Belgium of which we are now the proud owners. When you leave a country forever, your friends and your colleagues give you coffee table books. Even when it’s the third time you leave forever.
I’m quite relieved that I have nearly reached the end of my list as I am very depressed by the lack of comments. No, it’s not like I’m begging you, really.
At least when you left Brussels you got coffee books about Belgium. Mine were about Egypt and the Lebanon, but this may say more about the people who gave them. I did however get coffee mugs with Belgian-themed “funnies” on them, which are mildly amusing. And you clearly weren’t begging.
I have read all of your posts on past homes and enjoyed them, but just didn’t feel I could chip in with an “oh, yes, I lived there too” sort of comment never having lived in Dublin, Brussels, Rome etc….
I have often thought about returning to Belgium, and then haven’t – sort of the reverse upside down version of your actual returns and departures, and while my friends never gave me coffee table books – I do have a lot of manneken pis corkscrews, odd mugs and Belgian cookbooks to remind of the home that’s not quite home anymore.
Am just feeling a bit lame that I have lived within a 50 mile radius (and mostly within a 20 mile radius) for all of my life other than the first six months.
I like your ‘where I lived stories’. They make me want to visit!
I was just too idle to comment but I’ve very much enjoyed reading these.
I love you all. My internet friends.
The problem is, you write such complete things, it’s hard to find a space to chip in.
(that’s meant to be a compliment btw).
Try insulting greens and Americans again. That always works
… and I got outaged out of Nablo and then spend an unspecifiable time in the nether world (as opposed to the Netherlands) of Yves le Foll hospital at my husband’s bedside and rather lost the will to blog at all, but I have enjoyed catching up. Please don’t stop, you’re nearly there…
Sorry I have not been commenting … just reading in occasional large bursts (SLOW Internet connection).
And I will go ahead and publish this comment before Liam turns off the computer again. We are with my brother-in-law and his wife, who have of lack of necessity not babyproofed their office, hence the computer tower is on the floor. People do that?!
I know someone else who left Brussels forever and came back twice. Maybe he’s working on the 3d time.
PS Begging seems fairly effective.