Somehow, without intention... without preparing for it all, I have been busy.
Monday, I interviewed the lovely singer/musician/yoga teacher, Luc Acke. Friday night, I had the pleasure of attending his sneak preview concert, the one where he and Spring Groove performed tracks from the album they're making together ... HOME.
I was interviewed by a student of journalism on Wednesday.
Wandered city streets for the photography workshop on Friday.
All the while, preparing for a massive dinner party/party on Saturday. Erik Rasmussen was in town and it seemed like a good idea to catch up with him, Paola and Simon, Cloe and Brian, pre-party. And so we did dinner.
There was this really fast turn-around, and we were ready as everyone started arriving for the party at 8pm. It was a good party. 10 nationalities, excellent people, intense conversations, and much laughter too.
My carriage turned back into a pumpkin around midnight and voila, I fell into this horrible cold that's going around. I've spent the last two days dozing and napping, only venturing out into that 'other world' called Facebook, when the notion of slowing down and stopping has become too much for me.
But this week has to be quieter, even I know that ... although the headache has gone, the cold remains. I might just chill out a few days more and make sure it goes. I play Missy Higgins and listen to the sea in her track, sure it has some kind of medicinal property. I wash dishes and do laundry quietly and slowly. It's okay.
Gert meanwhile, has been caught up in preparation for Belgium's local-body elections. Last night, the country watched as the Flemish Nationalists stormed to victory in Flanders, and so I'm curious.
Back in New Zealand in 2000/2001/2002 ... what was I studying
The European Union, of course ... via political anthropology classes with the author of this book, Douglas R Holmes. He was fascinating and we were lucky to have him for more than one paper down there at the bottom of the world.
So you can imagine, perhaps, I'm bemused to find myself in the centre of this nationalist victory here in Flanders. Other countries in Europe will surely be watching to see how it all plays out as Belgium begins to walk towards their national elections in two years ... with a nationalist government in power in the Flemish half of the country.
I shall observe with interest. But anyway, meet Luc and Spring, taken during their Friday performance ...
