November Thursday

• Peter's parents visited last weekend on route to Nice. We didn't do anything in particular except for having lunch at one of the brasseries around Place Dumon here in Stockel. On Sunday they went to a museum but we opted to wait for them at home as the weather was very interchanging, and it turned out to be a good decision because they were very disappointed with the museum visit. Turns out the Modern museum is not the size and kind it once was and all the items are in storage indefinitely. 
• We made use of the availability of babysitters last Friday and went to a surprise birthday party our friend J had put on for her husband C. He was really surprised and hadn't noticed that almost his whole office had sneaked out to get go their house before he did. J threw a surprise birthday party for C back in Sweden four years ago (that time I almost accidentally spoiled the surprise), so now we'll wait and see in which country the next surprise party will be a couple of years from now! 
• I have recovered completely from my breast infection and have had no new symptoms since last week even though I finished the antibiotics on Monday.  Fingers crossed I never get it again!  
• Isolde has been sick for a couple of days now with a cold and fever but seems to be getting better. Now Harald has a temperature though and is coughing a lot, but hopefully it's a quick thing for him too. Isolde missed school all week though, as Monday was a Belgian holiday (Armistice/Rememberance Day) and Friday is a teacher planning day, although we would probably have kept her home tomorrow anyway. 
• Last night Harald and I were over at P's for dinner (Peter and Isolde were invited too but had to stay at home due to Isolde's fever). Their friend A and daughter L were there too and all of us had a nice meal and chat. It's great having friends just next door! 
• We don't have any plans for the weekend, though I wouldn't mind checking out the Scandinavian shop in Waterloo or going to check out the members-only outlet near us, which P invited us to, but it depends on how the kids are doing.  We bought some lights for the balcony the other week so maybe we'll put them up already this weekend, even though Advent is a couple of weeks away.
• Remember I told you about all the dog poo in the streets? Today we had some in the entrance of our building when I returned from work, and someone had posted an angry note. Later this evening it had been cleaned but the note was still there, and I don't know if it was the actual culprit, the concierge or a neighbour who had cleaned it up. 
• I'm looking forward to my friend H coming to visit next weekend! 
• Brussels observation 1: Many people in Brussels put their rubbish out in the street for collection and when I walk to the metro/Isolde's school in the mornings I always see broken bags and rubbish spread out, after some animals (probably birds, but maybe also foxes or other smaller wild animals (rats??) have rummaged through them for food at night.  I guess it's convenient to have your rubbish picked up just outside the door, but not particularly pleasant for those of using sidewalks and pathways.
• Brussels observation 2: I have noticed that there seem to be few(er) overweight people here than in Sweden, which is generally quite healthy. They do love their chocolate here, including on bread in the morning, and children eat bisquits and drink chocolate (and there's even vanilla and chocolate formula!) at an early age.  While it doesn't seem to affect their waste, it can't be that great for their teeth though!