In the morning I take The Boy out for as long as possible. Mainly because I cannot tolerate four and a half hours each morning playing with brightly-coloured toddler-toys. But also because the Parc de Woluwe is absolutely massive and we can explore at will. After this morning's fowl-feeding with the swans getting a little cheeky and pecking my elbow, we set off over the hill. In one swept glance I saw tufty red squirrels and bright green parakeets. While The Boy slept, I walked and walked round the lakes, and was just so happy. Passed the Tram Museum on the way back and, accompanying child or not, I am
definitely going there.
Early for babysitting tonight I sat in Parc Leopold, the hindquarters of the European Parliament just in sight, as more (or maybe the same) parakeets partied in the trees. I ate a huge bag of Lays crisps as they swooped like coked-up Disney cartoons. The air started looking milky and the pale lamps round the lake all came on together. By now my lips were burned by the salt but I kept eating.
Brussels is not an instantly seductive city. It's more like the mate you hang out with for a while before realising that you
really like them. I
really like Brussels.
