Briefly in Brussels

I’ve popped down to Brussels for the night. Have a full day meeting tomorrow that starts at 9 am, which is too early in terms of getting here in time from Stockholm. So I had to fly down tonight. Bummer, as I have so much to do, both at work and at home. The good thing is that there’s a tub, and I passed by a Lush for a “butter bomb” on my way here. I only have a shower at home, so I try to enjoy a bath whenever I’m in a hotel. Also – the chocolate and beer is divine. In my glass there is currently Leffe Bruin, and I have two bars of Galler chocolate in the fridge…yum!

Unfortunately I also have a very stuffed nose. The price you pay for crusing around town in your celebratory golden tights in spite of the cold weather, I suppose. Oh well, the team, MY team, is worth it!

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Chocolate makes the world go round

...and thank God for that! (I'd have many children if it could ;)).

It’s amazing how chocolate can instantly make you feel better, eh? I haven’t been feeling 100 % the last few days, and today my eyes felt sore, my throat’s a little red and swollen and my nose is a bit blocked. So what do I do first thing upon getting home? Wolf down the dark chocolate dipped cranberries of course. Each and every one of them. Because they’re practically good for you, right? All those antioxidants, and what have you. And I feel much better! Well, I will until the calories give me a feeling of guilt…

…and thank God for that! (I’d have many children if it could ;)).

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One night in Brussels

Moon above Grand Place

I just got in from the airport and my flight back from Brussels. Man, I love that city! Not so much the weather that is miserable more often than not, but the atmosphere, the beauty and…of course…the hundreds of chocolate shops and beer cafs – YUM!

The reason I go there several times each year is work, where I take part in the Sectoral Social Dialogue for Agriculture. It’s interesting and involves politics which I love. The set-up is that we meet in a big room that has a U-shaped table: the employers representatives sit on one side, and the trade unions on the other, with the chairman and Commission representative at the “head table”. There are interpreters to one side in small booths, and they can be glorious or absolute shite. Today it was unfortunately the latter.

Available lingos

Mmmmm…a little piece of heaven!

Every time we come to Bruxelles there’s a lightshow on of some sort

Christmas lights on GP/Grote Markt

Town Hall on Grand Place – SPECTACULAR!

Moon above Grand Place

Don’tyou just wanna eat them?! And I mean all three…

As many of you know we haven’t had much luck with our hotel bookings in the last year, so we’ve taken to really, and I mean REALLY, enjoy what other good things are on offer in this fine city, like chocolate, beer, chocolate, beer and oh, did I mention chocolate?

At the moment we’re debating whether the best chocolatier is Neuhaus or Godiva, and we’re working our way through their selection of pralines in order to come to an informed and well based decsion. I’m leaning towards Neuhaus, their Tentation beats even the white chocolate champagne truffle that Godiva has – imagine that!

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