Thursday 16th February 2017

Thursday

Leuven day.

Once a month I have to travel to Leuven for a meeting. In fact, several colleagues all have to, and sit round a table and discuss things. So since work began here in Oostende, I just travel from here instead of coming over on the Eurostar, and for the past few months, Manu has given us a lift from here to Leuven saving us the issue of getting a train.

Manu is at the same hotel as I, so we meet in the breakfast bear at half seven, then drive in the Manumobile to the office for a couple of hours work, before we then, along with Chris, get back in the car and drive to Leuven. Let me say now, this is not a chore. Manu puts some tunes on so we can sing along, we make jokes and funny observations, and so the time goes quick. In fact we all realised that these days are coming to an end soon, and we might look on days such as this, fondly.

We soon drove into fog, causing us to slow down, but after Gent it cleared, only for there to be roadworks so we got jammed up for half an hour. Still, music played, we sang and laughed.

We arrived an hour early, so I could take a short trip to the cathedral in Leuven, I have been wanting to do this for many months but had put it off, but now chances were running out, so, armed with the camera and two lenses, I rush round the chancel, now called The Treasury, which is packed with Flemish Art, a precursor to Gothic, and all is wonderful, just not enough time to see everything.

In the main part of the church, the pews are dominated by the most extraordinary pulpit, showing a rock with two trees growing out the top, it seems to be carved from a single piece of wood, and is crazy bonkers. But glorious. It is covered with cherubs and squirrels, which is nice.

But onto the meeting.

And once over, we retire to The Capital for beer and venting. We have two beers each, then Chris and I realise we have time for a third before we have to walk to the station to catch the half six train back to Oostende. The record shop had just closed, thus meaning I saved several Euros, and we walked on.

We get seats on the train, and soon fall into a slumber as the express zooms to Brussels, then rattles between the tree city centre stations, before heading into the night to Gent and Bruges and finally into Oostende.

A colleague had arrived that evening from Denmark, so we arrange to meet in Den Artiest, a taxi to Chris and I from the station, dropping us at the door. Jesper was waiting and waving as we entered, so we join him at the table and in having another beer.

We all ordered steak, fries and more beer, and all is well with the world. Almost. But then it is half nine, I have to be up in seven hours, and am shattered.

Phew rock and roll.

On the way back to the hotel, the strap on my work bag broke, rounding off a fine day, leaving me to seethe as I walk into the night.