Festive period visitors

While Christmas Day itself was pretty quiet, the post Xmas period was a little more sociable. Shane blessed us with a visit, arriving Boxing Day night and staying till New Year's Day. Esther, Jeroen and young Tessa also came to stay, driving down from Utrecht on the Wednesday and staying till Friday.

Tessa, now 10 months (i think?) was a little delight - VERY easy going. Even kept a grin will being cuddled by Uncle Shane. We attempted a bit of cultural activity - a visit to the Horta Museum and the EU headquarters - which didn't quite come to pass. But we did manage some very fine pizza.

New Year's Eve turned into a bloody shambles of course. From our initial research it seemed like a general freeform approach may not work, and that there were limited places to just kind of hang out. THere were fireworks in the city which attracted people to Grand Place, but tended to be family groups and pickpockets. Seemed like most people engaged in smaller affairs, booking in for one of the overpriced set menus at a restaurant, or doing something at home.

Having no idea, not caring too much about having a huge one, and not wanting to spend too much money, we were glad when a girl on Jamie's netball team said she'd found an Italian place with a decently priced menu and a fave pub was around the corner which we wouldn't have probs getting in to before 12. A couple of her friends from London were joining her.

I'm not too sure how the dinner plans went astray... but we thought a booking had been made, but hadn't, so most places were either full or closed. We ended up in a little Asian joint where we had to split into two tables at either end of the room. The pub/nightclub place was ok but distinctly lacked a New Years vibe. Was all a bit strange. Not even a proper countdown around the place or champagne corks and kissing... except for a gaggle of girls on the dancefloor who went through the motions. Having very little smoking tolerance at the best of times, and ten times worse while pregnant, we didn't extend the evening till the wee hours (i drove, and Jamie and Shane had option of staying but decided against).