It seems the typical bad Brussels' weather has settled in. It's so dark and grey outside...
Have been a bit sick since Friday, I guess it caugt up with me. It's not the flu though, I don't think so. And it doesn't seem like an infection either... Just my tonsils are a little sensitive... but I am already taking some medicine (though not antibiotics) and will be back in full health very soon...
It's 14.25 and I just want to sleep....
Monday, 23 November 2009
Sunday, 22 November 2009
The Prodigy live (videos)
Here are a couple videos I made during the Prodigy concert.
Copyright recordings, music and lyrics reproduced with the kind permission of Take Me To The Hospital/Cooking Vinyl - for original performances by The Prodigy, check-out the official channel at www.youtube.com/prodigychannel.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
The Prodigy at Forest National/Vorst Nationaal
Awesome concert!!!
Always very difficult to take pictures during a Prodigy concert. Too many blinking lights.
Always very difficult to take pictures during a Prodigy concert. Too many blinking lights.
Day 42
Just came home from the cinema, saw New Moon. Loved it!! It was, in terms of the film itself, so much better than Twilight. Kudos, Mr. Weitz!!
Of course they made a couple changes, but they worked out just fine for me.
Last night, Prodigy!!! So great! They are such a great live band. Definitely one of the best concerts of the year. Will upload pics and videos soon.
Off to a proper update now :)
Of course they made a couple changes, but they worked out just fine for me.
Last night, Prodigy!!! So great! They are such a great live band. Definitely one of the best concerts of the year. Will upload pics and videos soon.
Off to a proper update now :)
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Day 41
This post will mainly be about me complaining about things, so don't read further if you are not in the mood for that kind of thing.
So....
Lucky me... last night, I am siting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, playing my favourite game ever, World of Warcraft. These days it's difficult to actually find some time to play, so I was enjoying being able to be online. My housemate comes home with her baby (yes, she has a two month old baby), who was crying, and my instintive reaction was to get up and help her with the buggy. As I did so, I held my lappy, but I did not hold the external harddrive plugged to it... When I put down the lappy, the external disc hit the floor. Long story short, the goddamn thing is broken and no more game for me, because the big game folder (almost 20Gbs) was saved on the external drive and not on my laptop. Gladly I did not have a lot of important data on it or else I would be screaming now.
Two days ago I went to the cinema for the first time, to watch 2012 at UGC. When I was getting my ticket, I asked (yes, again) when the tickets for New Moon would be available and was told: Wednesday. So, today, I take some time off my lunch break to go to UGC get my tickets for tomorrow (there will be a premier tonight, they will play Twilight at 10pm and New Moon after, but I have the Prodigy concert, so can't make it), queue for full 10 minutes for the lady to then tell me there is something wrong with the computer and they are only able to sell tickets for today and not for tomorrow. Will have to go tomorrow again, early, to get tickets.
What is it with technology and me these days?...
Will write a proper blog update soon, hopefully.
P.S.: I was playing on the sofa, because there is no wireless, only cable connection, only in the living room and none of the cables I have are long enough to be able to put the laptop on the dinning room table...
So....
Lucky me... last night, I am siting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, playing my favourite game ever, World of Warcraft. These days it's difficult to actually find some time to play, so I was enjoying being able to be online. My housemate comes home with her baby (yes, she has a two month old baby), who was crying, and my instintive reaction was to get up and help her with the buggy. As I did so, I held my lappy, but I did not hold the external harddrive plugged to it... When I put down the lappy, the external disc hit the floor. Long story short, the goddamn thing is broken and no more game for me, because the big game folder (almost 20Gbs) was saved on the external drive and not on my laptop. Gladly I did not have a lot of important data on it or else I would be screaming now.
Two days ago I went to the cinema for the first time, to watch 2012 at UGC. When I was getting my ticket, I asked (yes, again) when the tickets for New Moon would be available and was told: Wednesday. So, today, I take some time off my lunch break to go to UGC get my tickets for tomorrow (there will be a premier tonight, they will play Twilight at 10pm and New Moon after, but I have the Prodigy concert, so can't make it), queue for full 10 minutes for the lady to then tell me there is something wrong with the computer and they are only able to sell tickets for today and not for tomorrow. Will have to go tomorrow again, early, to get tickets.
What is it with technology and me these days?...
Will write a proper blog update soon, hopefully.
P.S.: I was playing on the sofa, because there is no wireless, only cable connection, only in the living room and none of the cables I have are long enough to be able to put the laptop on the dinning room table...
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Day 31
Sunday, 8th of November - it's now a month since I arrived in Brussels.
One down, 4 to go.
Oh time, don't go too fast.
One down, 4 to go.
Oh time, don't go too fast.
Day 30
Saturday - getting up at.... 7.30 in the morning!! There's an organised trip to Gent, only half and hour train trip from here. It's cold...
I met a whole bunch of Portuguese ladies, with whom I ended up spending most of the day.
Our trip included a guided tour and it was nice to walk around. The main problem was that it was raining all the time and really cold!! And I realised I forgot my gloves at my friend's house (lol).
Our guide was a nice and witty old lady (it was her birthday, she told us in the end). She started the tour in the place where there's the Cathedral and the big town tower and explained to us why early in the Middle Ages a city-state like Gent would need such a tower (not only to spot unfriendly incoming people, but also as a sign of the city's prosperity and power).
Then she took us in the Cathedral and asked why there is only ONE cathedral in every city and why is it called like that. In case you don't know (I actually did know and was the person answering her question), the name cathedral comes from the Latin word cathedra, which can mean chair or throne and was the place where the bishop would sit (had his residence). She showed us around and explained all about a painting (that I don't remember the name of the author), being what we saw not the original, but a copy. The original can be visited in the same church, but in a separate room and you have to pay for it. One of the most important aspects of that painting, was that it introduced the third dimension, perspective. Also, under the church, in the "crypts", you could see old (I think Early) Medieval paintings on the walls and ceiling, that apparently where covered for some hundred years, until they were "rediscovered" and today are shown to public, looking like they used to look, all those hundred years ago.
Skipping a little, she also told us about a funny pub in town, I think close to the Socialist building but not sure, where you have a max, a beer that is a little over one liter; so people won't steal the nice glasses, if you want to have a drink, you need to give one of your shoes, which will stay up on a basket, until you finish drinking and want to leave. Call it a safe deposit. I didn't go there, but I wish I had though. A mate who did go said the beer costs about 9€ (but, hey, it's a huge beer, hehe).
We saw also the old port and old warehouses and she recommended us to have a typical dish called waterzooi, which can be made of half a chicken (!) or also fish - the chicken version was definitely more appealing to me at the time - and is basically a stew, with potatoes and several other vegetables. I really wanted to have that for lunch, because it's supposed to be a very consistent meal and it was so uncomfortable outside, but when we started checking the prices, we ended up having lunch at the Lunch Garden...
Altogether, it was a nice trip. I am sure it is a lovely place to be when the weather is nicer and you can just sit outside comfortably and enjoy the view.
(pics will come soon)
I met a whole bunch of Portuguese ladies, with whom I ended up spending most of the day.
Our trip included a guided tour and it was nice to walk around. The main problem was that it was raining all the time and really cold!! And I realised I forgot my gloves at my friend's house (lol).
Our guide was a nice and witty old lady (it was her birthday, she told us in the end). She started the tour in the place where there's the Cathedral and the big town tower and explained to us why early in the Middle Ages a city-state like Gent would need such a tower (not only to spot unfriendly incoming people, but also as a sign of the city's prosperity and power).
Then she took us in the Cathedral and asked why there is only ONE cathedral in every city and why is it called like that. In case you don't know (I actually did know and was the person answering her question), the name cathedral comes from the Latin word cathedra, which can mean chair or throne and was the place where the bishop would sit (had his residence). She showed us around and explained all about a painting (that I don't remember the name of the author), being what we saw not the original, but a copy. The original can be visited in the same church, but in a separate room and you have to pay for it. One of the most important aspects of that painting, was that it introduced the third dimension, perspective. Also, under the church, in the "crypts", you could see old (I think Early) Medieval paintings on the walls and ceiling, that apparently where covered for some hundred years, until they were "rediscovered" and today are shown to public, looking like they used to look, all those hundred years ago.
Skipping a little, she also told us about a funny pub in town, I think close to the Socialist building but not sure, where you have a max, a beer that is a little over one liter; so people won't steal the nice glasses, if you want to have a drink, you need to give one of your shoes, which will stay up on a basket, until you finish drinking and want to leave. Call it a safe deposit. I didn't go there, but I wish I had though. A mate who did go said the beer costs about 9€ (but, hey, it's a huge beer, hehe).
We saw also the old port and old warehouses and she recommended us to have a typical dish called waterzooi, which can be made of half a chicken (!) or also fish - the chicken version was definitely more appealing to me at the time - and is basically a stew, with potatoes and several other vegetables. I really wanted to have that for lunch, because it's supposed to be a very consistent meal and it was so uncomfortable outside, but when we started checking the prices, we ended up having lunch at the Lunch Garden...
Altogether, it was a nice trip. I am sure it is a lovely place to be when the weather is nicer and you can just sit outside comfortably and enjoy the view.
(pics will come soon)
Friday, 6 November 2009
Day 29
Wow, day 29 already... It's almost been a month since I arrived here.
The last few days have been more or less quiet.
Things at work were not very challenging this week, but I am sure it will be better soon.
Sometimes I think to myself and I realise that I am not yet really aware that I am in Brussels, working at this institution. A couple weeks ago I thought "in two weeks time it will probably dawn on me" or something of the likes but... nope. I guess, when it's finished and done, maybe then I will believe it all.
Yesterday I went to a little birthday get together at one of the most amazing apartments I have been to since I am here. I met quite some German people, but also a Nigerian fellow. It was really interesting to talk to him about our experiences living in Germany and how we agree in certain aspects about life and people there (yes, I am not alone! haha).
Tomorrow there will an organised day trip to Gent, so I hope I can make a couple good pictures and post them here.
On a last note: I have not yet registered at the Comune here in Brussels and, after the stories I keep hearing from one of the persons I share office with, I don't think I will. These Belgians are crazy - so says my friend A. and I subscribe :)
The last few days have been more or less quiet.
Things at work were not very challenging this week, but I am sure it will be better soon.
Sometimes I think to myself and I realise that I am not yet really aware that I am in Brussels, working at this institution. A couple weeks ago I thought "in two weeks time it will probably dawn on me" or something of the likes but... nope. I guess, when it's finished and done, maybe then I will believe it all.
Yesterday I went to a little birthday get together at one of the most amazing apartments I have been to since I am here. I met quite some German people, but also a Nigerian fellow. It was really interesting to talk to him about our experiences living in Germany and how we agree in certain aspects about life and people there (yes, I am not alone! haha).
Tomorrow there will an organised day trip to Gent, so I hope I can make a couple good pictures and post them here.
On a last note: I have not yet registered at the Comune here in Brussels and, after the stories I keep hearing from one of the persons I share office with, I don't think I will. These Belgians are crazy - so says my friend A. and I subscribe :)
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Day 24
Another week has already passed.... Amazing how time flies!
At work, I finally started doing things, some of them rather challenging (had a meeting with people speaking French for over two hours and had to take notes, so I could write the minutes....).
Part of the week was also revolving around the Prodigy concert and the whole "to get or not to get tickets". On Tuesday I tried to check online if there were still tickets available, but the official website (www.sherpa.be) stated pas disponible. So I walked (on high heels.. big mistake) around the centre, to go to two places that I knew should be selling tickets and they told me "sorry, it's sold out". The disappointment... On Wednesday I decided to check again online and... disponible again!! I decided to make phone calls to confirm if that was right and they told me there were still very few tickets on reserve. I decided to buy the tickets, but then they didn't take my type of credit card.... Because this had been planned with my friend A., she said she could use her card. "All fine", we thought. But when she tried to order the tickets from work, for some reason, the website was blocked! When she finally arrived home, the site said there were no more tickets again... Still, there was some hope, because I had found someone selling two tickets on eBay and we ended up buying those online. Now we are waiting for them to arrive with the mail, to check if they are for real - If they are, then we made a really good deal.
On Thursday it was the birthday of the Italian girl I had gone with to that first party. We started drinking at 6pm and partied until after midnight. I had SO much fun! In the end, we went (back) to a pub (Old Oak) where there was a Eurotrash Halloween Metal Party. It was great! Happy birthday again, piccola.
However, I don' think I should be going out during the week very often! :) I didn't have a hangover on Friday, was actually feeling really good and motivated in the morning, but still, going out when you have work to finish and hand in might not be the best idea. Was still good fun though.
Last night, saturday, I went with the Italian girl and a friend of hers to a very interesting pub. They have over 2000 beers!!! We tried to taste as much different beers as possible and, unfortunately... two of them were REALLY bad! But now we know :)
At work, I finally started doing things, some of them rather challenging (had a meeting with people speaking French for over two hours and had to take notes, so I could write the minutes....).
Part of the week was also revolving around the Prodigy concert and the whole "to get or not to get tickets". On Tuesday I tried to check online if there were still tickets available, but the official website (www.sherpa.be) stated pas disponible. So I walked (on high heels.. big mistake) around the centre, to go to two places that I knew should be selling tickets and they told me "sorry, it's sold out". The disappointment... On Wednesday I decided to check again online and... disponible again!! I decided to make phone calls to confirm if that was right and they told me there were still very few tickets on reserve. I decided to buy the tickets, but then they didn't take my type of credit card.... Because this had been planned with my friend A., she said she could use her card. "All fine", we thought. But when she tried to order the tickets from work, for some reason, the website was blocked! When she finally arrived home, the site said there were no more tickets again... Still, there was some hope, because I had found someone selling two tickets on eBay and we ended up buying those online. Now we are waiting for them to arrive with the mail, to check if they are for real - If they are, then we made a really good deal.
On Thursday it was the birthday of the Italian girl I had gone with to that first party. We started drinking at 6pm and partied until after midnight. I had SO much fun! In the end, we went (back) to a pub (Old Oak) where there was a Eurotrash Halloween Metal Party. It was great! Happy birthday again, piccola.
However, I don' think I should be going out during the week very often! :) I didn't have a hangover on Friday, was actually feeling really good and motivated in the morning, but still, going out when you have work to finish and hand in might not be the best idea. Was still good fun though.
Last night, saturday, I went with the Italian girl and a friend of hers to a very interesting pub. They have over 2000 beers!!! We tried to taste as much different beers as possible and, unfortunately... two of them were REALLY bad! But now we know :)
(that's actually a glass of beer)
We also had tequilla :)
And... to finish this lovely post, I will show you a picture of something I found out in the kitchen in the place I have been living. The place had an odd smell when I went to live there and I keep finding the reasons why (another one were rotten things in the fridge). So, here it goes....
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