Day 258: The hustle to Brussels

09/04/2022

Welcome to our coincidental European Special Fensoms in Kilts 100th blog post. Where has that time gone?

At the start of the week, the ‘twin toddlers’ were out and about checking out Glasgow’s shops.

Eloise always enjoys bath time with Lachlan which is lovely, but sometimes tricky in the timing department.

The kids were excited for another IKEA trip as Super Mum continued trying to organise the kids stuffed toy collection.

You cannot go shopping without a treat, Eloise knew just the spot. Luckily she saved the lemon one for Dad, a nice surprise as we picked him up from work today. Much better service than ScotRail.

Making our way around shopping centres is fairly quick as Eloise always has her eyes peeled for the next ride.

Lauren and Muzza Bizza have done a bad bad thing, introducing us to Blondie hot cross buns.

Thursday morning, Lachnado refused to be fed and decided he was an independent baby.

Eloise then caught up with her besties at Gymboree before following the leader to coffee and cakes.

Eloise was very excited when she got home to show Dad her new flip flops (UK) or thongs (Roo land). She was so excited that they came along with us on the afternoon walk. It was a bit cool, Eloise suddenly decided she liked the look of Lachlan’s Batmobile footmuff. Poor Lachlan.

In the evening there was a loud scream. Eloise had gone to play with her new flip flops (UK) or thongs (Roo land) but she had lost one. Oh no, Eloise was panicking so we all rushed out to retrace our steps.

Luckily we found it near the Bearsden Bath House. On our walk, she was upset she could not stop off for a play, we powered on as we were trying to get them both to have a nap. Perhaps it was her plan all along? Going to have to watch this one.

We headed to ASDA to pick up some snacks in preparation for this weekend’s trip. It looks like we are heading into BBQ season. We will have to get a big one, so we can show the Scots what a sausage sizzle is, we have been asked a few times. “So it is just like a hotdog, but with bread? Why don’t you just have a hotdog?”

Thursday an “elusive white kangaroo a sight for sore eyes on outback Queensland station”

Further south, “SA sets new record number of COVID cases, as daily caseload hits 6,000 for first time”. I would provide an update for this side of the world, but no one really knows.

Friday was a strange sunny, snowy, hailing day, a bit of everything. Eloise has transformed this week. Her energy levels have gone through the roof. Her favourite activity is jumping off the couch, sometimes landing awfully close to Lachlan, who finds it hilarious. Lachlan is trying to copy her jumping before he can even stand properly. The playground does not tire her out anymore, we now have to run to the playground too.

Super Mum also got a new doo. Her hair is almost shorter than Eloise’s now.

When we got home it was time to pack. Liam hates packing. At least these two can turn anything into an entertaining series of events.

On Thursday, “dominant Matildas [left] it late to snatch 2-1 win over New Zealand in Townsville”.

This morning was an early start as Eloise finished the packing and we drove to the Flying Scot where we caught a shuttle bus to Glasgow Airport. In Eloise’s words, it was “new home day” and she was excited to show off her new transportation mask.

After 257 days we were heading into Europe. There was a scary start when Foxie had to be separated from Eloise to go through the airport scanner. We then had a short delay, it sounds like it could have been a lot worse with “long delays and queues are expected to continue this weekend as holiday-makers try to get away for the Easter break. Airlines have cancelled more than 100 flights a day due to staff shortages”. It is not just mayhem in the UK and Europe, with “grim news for Aussies flying during Easter holidays”. We managed to pick up some cheap Ryanair tickets and Eloise and Lachlan jumped on board their sixth and fourth flights respectively.

After taxiing past a USAF Osprey we were up, up and away from sunny Glasgow and out of the UK. Eloise had her very own seat this time, well she did last time too, but now she is over two years old she actually had to sit in it. Lachlan was upset that he could not meet and greet everybody who walked past him while boarding.

A short while later we landed at Brussels South Charleroi Airport and picked up the shredded travel cot from the bag carousel, you don’t happen to have that receipt Becca? We then walked through border force security without anyone asking for any COVID-19 documentation. They must have got BoJo’s memo that the pandemic is over.

It was onto another shuttle bus and into the land of chocolate, Belgian chocolate, Brussels. Car, bus, plane, bus, Eloise was one happy girl. Lachlan was just trying to grab everybody he could see, it looked like he cheered up a few people’s day. They had both travelled exceptionally well and despite the initial delay, it went surprisingly smoothly. Touch wood. It was a final and according to Google direct bus ride into Brussels, the kids had had enough by this stage, fair enough. They had not managed a cheeky nap on the plane like DAD!

We reconstructed the Batmobile and then failed to transfer the two sleeping children. No Travelodge in Belgium, so it was Hotel ibis Brussels Centre Gare Midi, that is a mouthful. When we arrived, Lachnado was glad to start tearing around the place.

We dropped off our stuff and went to checkout the city and find dinner, we needed to stretch our legs. This was the first time that either of the kids had been in a non-English dominant speaking country. Lachnado was concerned about how he would communicate. Hopefully, the Belgians are fluent in hand flapping and raspberries. “Most people expect to hear Dutch or French in Belgium, but what surprises many is that the country has not two, but three official languages… Dutch, French and German”. The centre of the city was very nice, we made our way to the Grand-Place, which was exceptionally nice.

The Grand Place (French, pronounced [ɡʁɑ̃ plas]; “Grand Square”) is the central square of Brussels, Belgium… The Grand Place’s construction began in the 11th century and was largely complete by the 17th. In 1695, during the Nine Years’ War, most of the square was destroyed during the bombardment of Brussels by French troops. Only the facade and the tower of the Town Hall, which served as a target for the artillery, and some stone walls resisted the incendiary balls… Nowadays, the Grand Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It is also considered one of the world’s most beautiful squares, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

As we were walking about it felt like we had jumped back into our 2018 Europe holiday. However, this time the team had doubled.

Liam could only recognise enough French to remember how bad he was at French in year 8. There was one thing he was sure of though. We had definitely picked the right place to visit in the run-up to Easter. It was hard to find dinner because everywhere just sold chocolate, Belgian chocolate.

On the quest for dinner, we finally found some amazing noodles. Just what we all needed after a long day of travelling.

We then headed back to the hotel it was 20:30. The sun is back to playing its tricks again. Well almost Eloise had to burn off some more energy first

In great news “Adelaide Crows win third AFLW premiership with 13-point victory over Melbourne… Adelaide have become the first team to win three AFLW premierships, holding off a late surge from Melbourne to win the grand final by 13 points”. Unfortunately, Aunty Becca is recovering from her successful ACL surgery this week and was not able to pass the prematch medical.