Who in their right mind would go on holiday in Belgium? My friend Nikki was right to ask the question as to why we were spending 10 precious days in Northern Europe when we could have been in southern Italy or somewhere gorgeous. Well, when you have friends as cool as Monica & DDA (not to mention the adorable Nikki too) with their new baby Ume (Japanese for ‘plum’), when you love Trappist beers as much as I do, and when the best tea shops in Europe await you in Brussels, its easy to figure out why it was far from beardworthy for us to jump on the Eurostar.
What a great trip! First holiday with baby L.… he loved it, and was so chirpy and in great form for the whole time. He’s such a darling – we’re loving having him around more than you would believe.
I’m glad the response has been so good to posting Angels In Drag for free – great feedback, and encourages me to press on with the new record, which is coming along well. I’m going to be slaughtered catching up on some web projects this week, but Jules and I will get back in the swing of things next week. Its sounding really great, though very different to what I had ever thought I would do… so as an antidote I am also working on a groove record, trying to rescue some stuff I was working on with Leo Abrahams last year that never really got finished. I’m going to have some fun with that. And it will be free too.
Lordy – I spent some serious money on tea in Brussels. Way over a hundred quid… some beautiful stuff in a shop Leo had directed me to called L’Univers du thé and and I revisited my old favourite La septième tasse on Rue du Bailli – a great shop, and one I always go a bit OTT in. Magic. I had to reorganise the shelves in the kitchen cupboards to make room. I have had to divide them up into sections – India and Sri Lanka (black and green teas), Chinese – semi-fermented, green, black, aromatic and white teas, Japan – green teas / matcha and a rare Japanese red tea… then I have a Rooibos section and herbal / infusions and tisanes. God I am such a beard these days. Nah. I just like tea.
Tea and rusty guitars, like I said. Bye for now.