Music in the blood

When the summer arrives in Belgium (Liége) it seems like all the musicians have to go out and party. There is one music festival after another here as soon as it's June.

I'm not complaining of course! I think it's wonderful! Right up my street!

But it's quite exhausting for a girl of my age! These guys don't get going until about 10pm when other normal people are just settling down to a quiet night and tucking themselves into bed! I hate to miss the action...particularly when I'm a spectator of great talent.

It starts with a music festival with musicians playing in little and big venues all over the town for a long weekend. That's all free! Then there's a Gaulish village (Village Gaulois) beside the Cathedral where the square is completely taken over with delices from France (and of course local produce!) and on the stage every night, some local artist or group entertain the masses! It's fantastic! Towards the end of this event, in a village just outside the town, is a festival of Country and American music where everyone just gets down and boogies....bluegrass, country, Dylan, Springstein, etc with square dance lessons and plenty of space to do your own thing. When the sun shines (which it did most of the time this year/and last...it's fantastic!) With only a couple of days of rest, it all starts again in another little town on the edge of the Ardennes (about 30km from Liege) near the Francochamps race course - Spa - and this is the Francofolies festival of music. The name says it all - all French music permitted. And there is such a variety it's amazing. The whole town is taken over for 5 days so I wonder how anyone who lives there gets any rest. Just as this festival finishes, the Jazz festival starts in the region, again held in lots of different venues with even a conference hall being taken over for the jazz people to sell and share their wares and accessories.

Apart from all these festivals, there is a basic music industry here where every week night and weekend there is a concert or jam session in a choice of dozens of places...restaurants, clubs, bars, piano bars, concert halls, conference centres, hotels...etc. There is no excuse for anyone to be bored.....if they enjoy live music.

And I'm very fortunate to have met some of the best musicians here, who have subsequently become famous in their own right, playing for the bigger, internationally famous stars. Some of these guys are now solid friends, even though they know that my expertise on the strings isn't that great...I appreciate their sounds!

Its a city that really grooves.....wouldn't you say? That's why I always looked exhausted!

Happy Memories

This is quite funny really. I was looking through a magazine the other day (won't tell which one) and I saw this advert for an exclusive holiday resort in Jamaica! Doesn't sound amusing I know, but wait! When I was 20 I went there with my brother and his girlfriend for a week!! Talk about being a gooseberry!! Actually, it was really great! Wonderful beaches, food, weather, games, etc...and even a few nice "single" blokes! BUT just look at the price now for a week!!! It's incredible! Thanks bro!

Trousers down

There must be something in the air at the moment....everyone's (slight exaggeration) trousers are falling down. It just that some things happen at one moment, and then not for years!

I went to the theatre on Sunday evening to see a little Russian comedy because a friend of mine was in it. During the show, a quite serious moment, a rather large man was chatting to his on-stage wife when his expression dramatically changed, he looked down to watch his trousers falling down to his ankles. Of course, he bent down and quickly pulled them up, and tried to carry on with his discours, but we, the audience, were howling with laughter, and he just couldn't continue. These hysterics lasted for about 20 minutes, tears streaming down everyone's faces. It was evidently very difficult to get going again, but they managed eventually. It was probably the high-light of the show!

Then today as I was waiting for my bus, a man walked past me, talking to himself (which made me look at him) but when he had passed, I noticed his trousers had fallen down and his bum was completely exposed! Another lady at the bus stop and I couldn't help ourselves from giggling uncontrollably! Of course that's terribly silly, but it's not often you see a bare bum out on a main road!! Strangely, he didn't seem to notice it until he had gone about 10 metres but then promptly pulled up his trousers...a little too far...get the image? Yuk!

They say things come in threes, so I wonder what's going to happen next! Hope it's not me! (It's not me in the photo!!)

Keeping up to date Across the World

I'm learning, very slowly, how to do this blog...from the example of my nephew's in New Zealand...he's really got it sussed! His blog is fantastic, but then again, he has a great camera, a dad who can show him how to download photos and a teacher who is a computer genius! That's what I'm missing, but I'm doing my best! I've copied a couple of photos from his blog of himself and his aunt (my sister in law) because I don't have many photos saved in my computer just to remind me who got me into this lark! They'd gone out for a day's fishing and as you can see, got lucky! Elliott is a little star and seems to be interested and up for everything and anything, even his chores! What a joy to be with. Unfortunately, he lives on the other side of the world to me! Humph!

Musical weekend

I've just had the most wonderful musical weekend...and all totally unplanned. My baby's best friend, Jerry, is learning to play the guitar and his teacher, Charlie, decided to have a "display" of his students' progress in a little concert in a school class on Saturday. All the students played a solo they'd learnt and then a duet or trio, with Charlie. Little did I know that Charlie was a dad at my baby's primary school, so I actually know him, and half a dozen of the other students. So when had finished his piece, I just couldn't get up and leave, as many of the others did...I had to wait and see the other students. The level achieved after 2 or 3 years is incredible and extremely enjoyable to listen to...we even got to sing along with a few Beatle songs!
Then in the evening I was invited to dinner by the parents, Thierry and Jessie, of one of my private English students. We ate a delicious meal and I was then whisked off to a private music club were Thierry plays the harmonica. A harmonica teacher and his daughter have renovated the downstairs of their house into several "session" rooms which house pianos, guitars, drums, percussion instruments and of course, a bar! They serve chilli con carne for those who are hungry and drinks for those who are a little dry in the throat. I hadn't brought my guitar with me, but it wasn't necessary as there were a few "spare" lying around. We were having a fantastic jamming session, completely letting our hair down when the No. 1 harmonica player in Belgium, Thierry Croman, arrived with his wife, to promote his latest CD. He promptly sat down with us, pulled out his harmonica and joined in the reverie! It was awsome! I can now say that I played guitar with Croman!!! Mind you, after 3 hours of playing, I had/have blisters on the tips of my fingers...but it was well worth it!
I even got an invitation from the owners to go back in July for their "garden party" session! How's that for integration! I just love it. You can see why I still live here! The last time I had a night like this was in New Zealand "en famille" where we all played some instrument or another and sang our little hearts out til the wee small hours. That was equally brilliant! Bring it on!

Wonderful reading

I'm having a great time with my new books ordered from Amazon in the UK. I discovered Bill Bryson at my brother's house in New Zealand at Christmas and devoured it...he was travelling across the mountain range from Georgia to New England and it was rivotting. Now I'm reading about his travels across Europe, and it's so enlightening. He sees things so acutely when I take these for granted and he's able to get the most out of every experience, whether good or bad. I suppose that's why he's a writer and I'm not! Fortunately I can see where he's coming from and I suppose that's why I find his writing so intriguing. Thank goodness I bought two of his books, and I'll probably re-read them in a couple of years just to enjoy the experience all over again. Isn't it strange that a travel book, which is essentially what it is, makes me roar with laughter? But it can get very embarrassing when I'm sat on the bus, surrounded by the usual rabble who've probably not read a book in their lives. Sounds harsh, but most of the passengers are in-mates at the local psychiatric hospital!! So I suppose me giggling in my seat is the norm for them and I don't look so out of place!

Todays Affirmations

My life gets better all the time....

Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself.....

I can release the past and forgive everyone....

I choose to experience the sweetness of life....

I lovingly and joyously accept my sexuality....

I only desire that which is for my highest good.....!

Mad and Militant

I'm getting mad and taking action now! It's been a long month and it's only the 15th! These are the things I've had to put up with since the beginning of the month, believe it or not: -

• I've got neighbours who have their TV turned up to max until after 4am and fight continuously creating a terrible atmosphere even in my own home;
• I've had no hot water since the 2nd because a piece has been missing from our communal boiler room;
• some nutters lit a fire in the communal garbage room and nearly burnt the place down;
• my radiators have decided not to work...again;
• I have to clean spit of my front door every other day, and have to walk through it in the corridor...really disgusting;
• my basement storage room has been broken into and cleaned out - even down to my Christmas decorations and paint brushes;
• my mail is being stolen from my mailbox on a regular basis.

So, I'm writing a lengthy letter to the powers that be, and my lawyer, with the intention of meeting with those people who can do something about this. I've already met with several of my long suffering neighbours and we're going to get the ball rolling. I just hope that my French holds out and I don't get stuck on the legal jargon...that's why I need my lawyer!

Oh! How life would be simple if we didn't have to put up with the scummy people around us. And for your information, these scum are Belgian, white and educated!!! But with absolutely no respect for anyone or anything! That's so obvious and terribly sad!

Back to school

Well, that was a fun day! After teaching two of my regular students, I was passing the school where I used to teach and there was a huge crowd hanging around outside so I went in to see what was going on. It was their open day and the kids had organised a caberet for later on...so I stayed to see the action. It was great...I met up with my old colleagues, parents of the students I used to teach and of course, the kids themselves, all grown up and almost unrecognisable to me. Because I teach English, the kids always speak to me in English and it's super to see that they have improved dramatically since I last saw them. What a lovely afternoon.

Great Night Out

Well that was a fantastic evening....what incredible music! Pure, raw jazz! I haven't got the photos here but will post them when I do. Daniel Romeo plays the bass guitar...no! He makes love with his bass guitar! I've never seen anything like it. He has a saxophonist, trumpetist, trombonist, drummer, keyboard player and rock guitarist in his group. The drummer normally plays for Maurane...a phenomenal Belgian singer...and the guitarist has played for her too. These are real professionals. My friend in the group is the guitarist and he just adores playing with this bunch of geniuses! Daniel writes all his own stuff and will be bringing out a DVD next month...bring it on!! They play every Tuesday night in the same place and it's always packed...with men! Plenty of pickings for those of us in heat!!! I'll be back!

Busy days

Isn't it strange that some days are completely mad and others pass by without any activity at all. I can spend days without any news from anyone or have any particular activity going on, and then others when I just don't stop from morning until night! I suppose the quiet days are for recuperating. And I certainly need those days otherwise I'd be completely pooped 24/7! This evening I've been invited to a concert in Brussels where a friend is playing in the group. He's a professional guitarist and has had plenty of success. A group of us from the town are going up to see him play and then have a "do" afterwards before coming home, probably very late! Bring it on. But then tomorrow morning I've got to be up early to go for my weekly swim with another friend...I can't let her down, cos it's the only real exercise I get. I think it'll be a relaxed swim this week, but at least I'll be using my muscles. Here's to a great night out on the town.

Being a mum

It's great to be a mum and when the kids become teenagers we realise that it's not an easy task. But it was our choice to have them. My son and I have a rocky relationship but I've discovered that the honesty I have always practiced with him is a very worthwhile investment. If I hadn't been honest with him when he was younger, my dishonesty would be biting me in the bottom now. It means that he can be honest with me (about important matters) and neither of us ever feel really let down by each other. Saying sorry to our kids is also something very important: when we should. Feeling unjustly treated is very demoralising for anyone, especially for our kids when they totally trust our judgement and decisions. Letting them make their own mistakes is very difficult sometimes but necessary. It gives them the practice for when the decisions become more important as they grow older. Seeing the consequences of their decisions will help them to be more confident about making the right ones. All I do as a mum, is the training for my son to become a responsible and respectable man. He will always need my love and if he knows that my love is always there for him, he will feel confident to love himself and others in turn. I may not love everything he does, but I will always love my child. He has to know this, at every moment, every day.

Todays Affirmations

People love to be with me and I love to be with people......

Love, joy, peace and gratitude are always within me and just a breath away......

It is my birthright to share in the abundance and prosperity of this world......

I am deeply grateful for everything I have.....

All the wisdom of the universe resides within me......

Positive Thinking

I had a chance meeting with a friend the other weekend who introduced me to the group of people she was with. One of them has a little "tea room" in the town which has only been open for a couple of months. Unlike other similar establishments, they are interested in promoting holistic and alternative therapies...and why not, I hear you say! Whilst drinking my delicious jasmine tea, the owner proferred me a book written by an American woman called Louise L. Hay. She is mad about self-imposed positive affirmations which can turn your life around. Apparently, according to Louise, every ailment is caused by our negative emotions...fear, guilt, anger, jealousy, hate, etc... So what we have to do is tell ourselves, over and over, an affirmation opposite this negative emotion..."I forgive myself"...."I can do it"....etc. She even cured herself of cancer by doing this. She's in her eighties now! Every day, on her website, she gives an affirmation, and these are worth collecting, and repeating to ourselves...even if they don't touch our own personal weakness. Anything positive in our lives can only do good. You should try it! Her site is www.louisehay.com. Here's to a better more positive life!

London Visit

I was very lucky to be invited to London to visit a friend for a couple of days after Easter. It was great to get the Eurotunnel and be there in only three and a half hours from leaving home. We went to see the show "Dancing in the streets" in the West End - it was really great and had us up dancing in the very old theatre. We went to some lovely restaurants and as usual, I ate too much. I stayed in a nice hotel on Finchley Road and the breakfasts were super!
I had the opportunity to meet another friend I used to work with and we went for a walk in Hyde Park. These are photos of me in the park and on the Serpentine - the lake in the middle of the park. We hired a pedalo and used up some calories by peddling up and down, fighting against the currents. It was a lovely day and it was great to see a friend I hadn't seen for over 10 years!

One thing I was really suprised about...after one day walking around the city, my hair, skin and clothes were filthy. Thank goodness there was a great shower in the hotel room. Unfortunately the hairdrier wasn't up to much, but hey! That's life. I look forward to my next trip.

Birthday Blues

Another year has come and gone and I've not got that much to show for it..apart from a fantastic trip to NZ. In fact, my birthday was also a bit of a flop...probably my fault as I didn't actually tell anyone about it until it was too late. Even my baby forgot, so I wasn't treated any differently than any other normal day. Maybe at my age I should really start to realise that it's not that important. But it's the only day in the year that's special to me. I have to wait another 5 years until the BIG one and I probably won't have any energy to do anything then. But at least a select few remembered and sent me cards, which were very, very much appreciated. Maybe I'll leave them up until next year!!! That'd be sad, wouldn't it! Hopefully, this year will be a bit more upbeat. But that'll be up to me, I guess. Off my butt and out there "doing it" myself!! Hey ho!!

Great Listening

I thought I'd mention what I listen to every weekday...Irish Radio. It's very entertaining and interesting. The show I listen to in the morning (or later from the list of "listen back") is Gerry Ryan's. He's funny and often has very good interviews and topics. If you want to listen too...it's gerryryan@rte.ie. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Choices

My experience at the police yesterday made me think over the many bad decisions I've made in my life. Since being in Belgium, I've frequented the lowest forms of mankind niavely, and realise I haven't really looked closely at who my friends are/were. Thankfully, since becoming sick, I've taken myself out of circulation and therefore have had time to reflect. In many ways this is a good thing, but it means that I've been on my own for over 4 years. As they say here "better alone than in bad company"! I've been in some strange situations with some strange people, and the only reason is because I didn't really "see" what I was doing or who they were. I was even married to one of these people. Only after "getting out" do I realise how psychologically unwell this person is. My mother could see it, from the first time she met him, but as they say "love is blind" and I was certainly very blind. No more. I'll probably end up on my own, because of these mistakes in the past, and that's OK. I'd rather be alone and comfortable than with someone who abuses me or makes me feel less then I am. It's such a treat to meet young women who "know" what they want, but more importantly, know what they "don't" want! I didn't get much guidance as a young person in any ways of the world so I probably ended up here because of that. But I'm a big girl now and it's not an excuse anymore. Your life is in your hands, and you've only got one, so don't screw it up by making big bad mistakes...again and again.

Homocide

I spent a very strange and difficult morning yesterday at the police department of homocide. Unfortunately, several years ago, I dated a guy who wasn't a saint!! Who is. Mind you, he was a bit of a lad and seemed to have several people from his past who were "looking" for him. I didn't know about this and about 2 months after we finished our relationship, he was shot dead outside his house. As the cops haven't yet found the perpetrator, they've got to wind things up and are digging for as much information as a last effort. Of course, I couldn't help them because I didn't know anything. But it wasn't easy going over the 9 months we were together. We had had a great time together, very normal and very sweet but he started going "off the rails" and I didn't know what was happening so I ended it! But these decisions in life (bad ones) often come back to haunt you. Anyway, it doesn't look like they're going to find their man, so it'll probably go into the "unsolved" drawer. Moral of the story...don't play with fire...you'll get burned.

Sicky

Well, that didn't go well! St Patrick's day was a disaster for me..as was the whole weekend!!! I got a tummy bug and spent the whole time (til Monday evening) vomiting. Loverly!! I had to contact my friends to say I couldn't join them in the afternoon for the concert in the Irish pub and then my baby had to go to the scout party by himself...on the train. He joined his friends and didn't get to bed until after 4am!!! So at least HE had a good night!!! So roll on next year. At least I have my computer to allow me to keep in touch when I'm out of circulation, except for the toilet bowl!! Yuck! It's one way to lose weight but not the best!

St Patrick's Day 2007

Isn't it great...another St. Patrick's celebration in Belgium, and boy, do they know how to do it. It's amazing how much it's taken off here! I'm stunned. Mind you, there are plenty of Irish pubs and lots of Irish people here so I guess we demand that this day is special!! Riverdance and everything Michael Flatly has done for the Irish culture has certainly helped to make it public!
This year, however, I'm not doing the mad thing I normally do - going out with my Anglophile friends to take some of the black stuff! I'll be going to a Scouts/Guides evening at a village hall in the country and will probably be drinking some awful vinegar wine and eating vol-au-vonts!! But in the afternoon....I'll be watching the Irish rugby team beating the **** out of the Italians with some Belgians, Irish, English and - yes - Italians!! And win the Six Nations! Of course, I'll be able to have a little black one! But I've got to keep it cool cos I'm with my baby at the match and then in the evening. So now, I've got to sort through my wardrobe for something green to wear tomorrow! I can't let the side down.

The boy

Finally I've found a lovely photo of my baby. He's grown up a bit since this was taken, and if you don't think he's gorgeous, it's cos you're not his mum!! He's been wonderful since he was born, apart from the occasional misadventure which goes with being a kid! I'm going to have to get the cable needed to transfer photos from the camera to the PC. Getting them printed onto disc is expensive and time consuming. Then I could have lots of recent photos of him looking even better...my little man!!

Boarding School Success

After all that work and stress...my baby is finally in boarding school and seems to be really happy. It must be so different for him but it's what he wanted and I think it'll be so good for him. It'll cost more, but hey! anything valuable in life isn't free. He'll have to learn to respect other people's space and try to find his own and how to be with others most of the time. I know it means that when he comes home he'll want to be on his own as much as possible...but that's OK. Hopefully he'll learn to look after his own stuff...otherwise it'll get nicked or broken. But he'll learn that pretty quickly, I'm sure. I'm just so relieved he's safe and where he wants to be.

Elliott's blogging

This blogging is a wonderful idea...not because anyone reads this but because I can read my nephew's blog over in New Zealand. I can see what he's doing at school and we can keep in touch through the blog, whereas he wouldn't normally write to me. Mind you, he did send me a mail, but that was because he saw I'd made comments on his blog! It's called http://moturoa.blogspot.com and it's really interesting how much they do. More than our primary schools do here in Europe!

Friends

It's only when you spend time with your friends that you realise that life is worth living...until the next time you can see them. What energy you put into your friendship comes straight back in bucket loads. When you can be yourself and they love you for it...that makes all the difference. Letting them be themselves allows you to love them more. Pericles said "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. This is my lovely friend, Aissa. She's from Mali but is French. She's adorable, clever, tender and has a beautiful spirit...but...I don't see half enough of her, even though we live in the same town. I'm going to have to make changes there. Starting tomorrow!

Hassles!

Why is it that I can't have one full week without any hassles? Last week was super hyper stress-filled! My ex took me to court to try to get custody of my baby but went mad in front of the judge and didn't get anything he'd asked for. And my baby stood up to him for the first time and got everything he'd wanted. Then my ex went off to lick his wounds and didn't resurface until his mummy told him he should call my baby, to make the peace. Why can't she just see that her son is a waste of space - my baby can! Of course he loves his dad, but so did I once!! He soon changed that! Now my baby feels he should go to visit his dad this weekend even though he's aware that it could be dangerous. I'm impotent because legally they're meant to spend every other weekend together! Hells Bells!!

Fairy Tale

The Second Shortest Fairy Story is pretty much the same from the girl's perspective...basically she could do what she wanted without having to rinse stubble out of the sink, put DOWN the toilet seat or iron his never ending laundry, particularly his shirts. Sheer bliss!

International Alphabet Lesson

It's going to be Friday tomorrow and I've no idea where this week went!! I've done what I normally do during the week but because I didn't go out a lot to spend time with my friends, or go to the cinema, it's like I've done nothing with the time but it's just disappeared...and I've still got so much to do before the weekend arrives...I'll just have to get up earlier tomorrow. I did something useful today though...I'm kinda happy to have been able to pass on something I learnt during my rather interesting life...the international phonetic alphabet. A little kid I help with English just loves anything to do with aircraft so I enhanced his vocabulary...Alpha...Bravo...Charlie...Delta, etc. It's probably the most interesting lesson he's had since he started learning English! And fun for me. Thanks to the UK Defence Procurement Office at the British Embassy in Washington...who employed me for a few years when I was a young thing...way back then!

Black and White

I used to think this photo made me look good, but I realise that I look knackered. I was taking a lot of medication back then and that night at Aissa's party, I was feeling sick. I'm going to have to start looking for pictures of my baby - he's much easier on the eye. I'd probably have something to write about if I had him in front of me. Looking forward to St Patrick's day on Saturday 17th!! Should be a good day...my baby will be with me, all in green (if I have my way!) Top o' the mornin'!

Getting Started

I still haven't gotten into this blogging...takes a lot of time, doesn't it? And although I've got lots of time in the mornings, I'm not inspired until the afternoon to write about what's happening. And then I don't have time to sit here and write. I've also gotta sort out my photo archives and how I go about getting more pictures relevant to what's going on. Keep cool, calm and collected. No need to stress about something that should be fun! Hey ho!

Introduction

It's always hard to start on a blank page, but I have to write something. I never imagined I'd get into blogging but it's a great idea...if you've got something interesting to share. I'm sure I must have, if I think hard enough. Mind you, who on earth would want to read it...I guess I can always use it as a diary, if nothing else.

This is a picture of me taken at the jazz festival near Nelson in New Zealand in January 2007. It was so hot, but we were soothed by the delicious local wine and wonderful music. Happy memories.