Extra Crucial

 

Just back from the annual VSO Rwanda reunion in Belgium.

Every year, usually for Valentine's Weekend, Cathryn and I get in the car and head to Torhout to see Lies, Kassim and baby Noah.

This is the last year we'll be going to Torhout as they're moving to Bruges next month (yes, we love that film too!). Bit of a bummer as we've only just managed to memorise the route!

Had a wonderful time. Caught the ferry late Friday evening and arrived just gone midnight. Lazy Saturday playing belated Santa to Noah's Rasta Mouse obsession.

Irey mon, me feelin' da situation be all extra crucial and ting.

Perfect programming for a wee rasta baby! 

He now has the bag, the DVD and the talking toy. And we have the theme tune stuck in our heads!

Lies was crocheting shawls and knitting socks whilst all of this was going on. She's so talented.

 

In the evening, the boys stayed home and we headed into Bruges to a lovely Italian restaurant for big bowls of pasta and plenty to drink.

 

That last one is me being a bit sad. I thought the car park was brilliant! Look - it has lights that show you where the spaces are, and blue ones for disabled spaces. Isn't that clever?

Err... yes, anyway...

Another highlight of our trips to Torhout is the local supermarket. It's way better than supermarkets in the UK because they feed you! Not just little samples, but entire trays and, this time, a guy with a wok!

Wee tipple? Don't mind if I do...

Pesto flavoured crisps - nomnomnom

Salted macadamia nuts

Little bit of fruit to balance it out

Fresh cooked shrimps in dressing to finish

This is also a special supermarket because it's where Co-Pilot Percy Rabbit came from. They appear to be cloning him...

On the Sunday we took a slightly hungover amble into town to eat pancakes at a lovely music bar called Roots. Whilst Lies opted for coffee, Cathryn for the slightly adventurous 'gunpowder tea', I was back on the boozer with a large glass of glühwein (mulled wine), which certainly helped to ward off the winter chill.

It was a lovely weekend, though a 500 mile round-trip is a little exhausting. The boat over was packed with school kids off on half term holidays, but the day ferry back on the Monday was practically empty.

Managed to get some kip. Dropped Cathryn off in Forest Hill, rocking in to the Beastie Boys' Intergalactic - awesome blast from the past. Then battled my way out through central London, by which time I was clinging to Smooth Radio and a giant bag of peanut M&Ms for sheer sanity.

(London - I love you, but you are an arse.)

I was supposed to be heading up to Edinburgh today, but rearranged for Friday. Need to do some sleeping between now and then. Really looking forward to it, though. Ruairí is coming over from Dublin on 26th and we have a wedding to plan!

More on that later.