Okay, this post has absolutely nothing to do with xylophones.  I just wanted to type the word.  *giggle*  Come on, when was the last time you typed it?  Try  it.  Xylophone.  It's fun! 

I hate to admit this but I had to look up Xenophobe.  Really, I did.  I can't believe you all knew what it meant and I didn't!  I'm not that dumb, am I? Well, sometimes......  hehe  Anyhow, for those of you like me, who don't know, here's the definition from an online dictionary.  A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.  So, now you know!  :)

I wouldn't say I have a fear of foreigners.   I'm afraid of lots of things, but not foreigners.  Certainly not Belgians.  Should I be?  LOL.  Tell me the truth now!   Mum, you honestly think I've been xenophobic since I was a little girl?  Really?  Wow.  I had no idea!  I will confess what I am afraid of.  Terrified really.  Ready for it?  Xylophones.  LOL.  Is there a word for that? 

Anyhow, this book is awesome!  (Big thanks to B for sending it to me!) I've learned so much!  Here are some of my favourite parts:

~ french(ed) fries are cut to the size of ladies pinky finger and fried twice to make them extra crispy (can't wait to try them!)  With Mayonaisse!
~  Belgians devote every Saturday to fastidiously cleaning their homes.  Hey!  That's just like me.  I knew there was a reason I liked those Belgians!  (Although I wouldn't say I was fastidious about it!)
~ Belgians eat 8 kgs of chocolate a year and apparently the chocolates are VERY affordable  (I could be in trouble! hehe)
~ everyone kisses each other when they meet.  Three times.  Even the grizzled old men kiss each other.   (What about the cute young men?  LOL) 
~ There's flemish and walloons and one is french and one is dutch.....and I kinda got confused after that

That's all for now.  I can't give it all away, can I?  If you need more information the book will be available for rent (hehe) after I return on April 5.  Cost?  A Belgian chocolate, of course!

Oh, I have a question, my resident Belgian residents.   You know those outdoor cafe restaurants, where people sit and have coffee or a meal?  First, will they be open when I am there?  IE:  Do people sit outside even when it's not full summer?  Second, what is the protocol?  Do you just pick an empty table/chair and sit and the man comes to serve you?  Or do you go inside, put your order, and then you go out and side at the table of your choice?  How does it work?  I don't want to look like a dummy........I want to be confident.  And I"m so not.  LOL.   So, please, tell me the rules! 

And, I think that's about enough for tonight, don't you?  It's almost bedtime and I'm sleepy.  Until tomorrow, my friends.  I leave you with this, cause I think it's funny.   And I read in the Xenophobe book that Belgians like eels.  I'll pass on that, thank you.  ;) 

T.
xxx

I must be the most unphotogenic person in the world.  Ugh.  Sheesh, I don't look good in pictures.  I don't look that great in real life, but it seems to be amplified in photographs about 100%.  LOL.  However, I did not let that stop me!  I needed a passport photo, and so I got one.  Well, two.  You need two when you send in your application.  Twice the ugly.  Yay.  :P  

Anyhooooo, the man at the place was very lovely and for the bargain price of $20, he took my photo.  It's really a miracle I didn't break the camera, but it survived.  hehehe   I suppose it's tolerable, the image, but it looks so different from the current passport photo, I wonder that I'm the same person.  Actually, no, I'm not.  The old picture was taken in 2007.  I wasn't in a good place in 2007.  And it just got worse and worse until I crashed and burned at the end of 2008.    I'm totally different now.  In a better way.   But that's a story for a another blog.   Back to the picture.  

You know how the style was at that time?  Everyone had to have straight hair.  When you have really curly hair, it's a bit of challenge.  Every day I took a flat iron to my head.  Burned myself a few times too.  LOL..  It took hours and eventually it got to be too much.  One day I saw on Oprah that we need to just appreciate the hair we have and not fight it so much.  So I stopped fighting it.  It was a losing battle.  Now, it's just a crazy wild mess, and everyone says "Oh, I wish I had hair like that."    Betcha don't. :P   ANYHOW, thankfully my curly hair looked as good as it could have yesterday, so the passport picture was.......okay.  For a passport picture.  Of an unphotogenic person. 

Did you know that for a price, you can get just about anything?  Yep.  It's true.  So, I toddled off to the passport office this morning, with my pictures in hand and my application all ready to go.  Hoping I would get a lovely agent who would take pity on my and help me get what I needed by the time I leave in 11 days.  Turns out I didn't need a lovely agent.  I just needed to regular processing fee of $87 plus an extra $30 as a convenience fee.  And for $117, the price is right.  I should have a new passport by March 21.  YAY!    

So, needless to say it takes a bit of the stress off, but I won't feel completely good about it until I have that new passport in my hand.  I could have cried when the agent cut the corners of my existing documents, rendering them invalid.  YIKES!  Now I really can't go anywhere.   Hurry up, March 21.  You can't get here soon enough! 

Tomorrow's blog?  Well..........Anyone know what a Xenophobe is?  Stay tuned to find out!  :) 

T.
xx

I brought my passport to work today so I could copy the information and leave it here in Canada with someone responsible, just in case mine was stolen or something.  Someone responsible?  LOL. My parents.  That's who will have it.  I guess they're responsible.  LOL.  (You are, aren't you, J & F?) 

Anyhow, I got to chatting with one of the women I work with, and she mentioned to me........"You know about the six month rule, don't you?"   Um, no.  What six month rule?  Does anyone know the six month rule?  Apparently, your passport has to be valid for six months AFTER you return from your trip.  Really?  Am I the only one who doesn't know this?  I had NO idea.  None.  And mine expires in July.   That's only four months.  So, Houston, We Have a Problem!!   

Needless to say, something thudded in my stomach!  Yikes.  I'm leaving in 12 days!!  It takes 6 weeks to get a new passport!   I called Immigration and spoke to a very helpful lady.  Well, helpful if you consider having the six month rule validated to be helpful.  Yes, ma'am, you need to get your passport renewed.  WHAT?   AI YI YI!   

Once, a long time ago, my awful boss needed his passport renewed in 36 hours so he could to Poland.  It was literally expiring the day he was departing.  I will never forget it.  It was about -40C and blizzarding.  Very nasty weather.  And he called me, from the comfort of his bathrobe, to inform me that he wasn't coming to work and that I needed to go to the passport office for him to get his passport renewed.  Can you believe it?  Well, I could.  You had to know this guy.  Anyhow, I bundled up and out I went into the blizzard, cursing and swearing under my breath that he was making me do this.   I was a block of ice by the time I arrived - eight freezing cold city blocks later (which I had to walk outside!)   BRRRRRR.    I had all his info with me, a letter from him authorizing me to do this, and of course, my personal credit card.  Because back then they didn't trust me enough to have a company card.   $150 and 24 hours later, Mr. Boss had his new passport.  And T was still attempting to get rid of the frost-bite in her foot.  :P   Do you think he said thank you?  Well.......I'll let you decide. :P

Anyhow, despite the fact that Houston has a problem, I do know money fixes everything.   So, I've gone today to get the photos.  Tomorrow I will go to the immigration office.   With my debit card.  hehe   Hopefully by next Tuesday, I'll have a passport, or I could be in some serious trouble! 

So, that is the update for today; twelve days from departure.  Never a dull moment with me, is there?  :P

T.
xx

It's March 11.  In my head, I'm leaving for Belgium in about five or six weeks.  Loads of time, right?  Of course it is.  Except, I'm leaving in two weeks.  TWO WEEKS!  How is this even possible?  Two weeks?  I think I could be in some trouble here.  There's far, far too much to do and a whole lot to get sorted out.  Wow.  Two weeks.

True to my warped psyche, I have many moments of interal freaking out, thinking 'What in the heck am I doing?'  But, it's too late to turn back and so I must press forward.  I actually started a list - I'm on page two already! - but I think I will feel better when I start crossing some of the to-do's off the list.  This upcoming week needs to be highly productive because I don't want to be running like a chicken in the two days before I go.  That would just stress me out more.  So, in line with that, I'm putting the call out for travel tips.  Essential things to bring, ways to pack lightly, smart behaviour and practicality.  Believe it or not, despite my rambling, I am pretty clear-headed with this stuff, but I'm sure some of you have some great ideas that I haven't encountered before.  So?  Anyone?  (Buehler, Buehler?  Class?  Anyone?)  Yes, yes, another movie quote.  LOL.  And no, I don't mean Urs Buhler.  :P

So, photocopy all important documents (IE: passport, credit cards, insurance cards) and leave a copy with someone and bring a copy with me; just in case I'm pick-pocketed or robbed.   Speaking of that, I know there a lot of pick pockets in Europe.  Aside from the usual - be alert and don't go to shady areas after dark - any tips for ensuring that I'm not a victim?  I've heard people going to extremes and wearing a money belt, etc. etc.  I'm not prepared to do that.  Forget it.  I'm not turning my back and rummaging around under my shirt if I want to buy a bottle of water!  Can you imagine?  LOL.  What's WRONG with that woman?  hehe 

What else?  Four pairs of jeans is enough, si?  One pair of black trousers.  One black skirt.  Divo dress.  A fresh shirt for each day.  And maybe a spare or two.  2 cardigans.  2 pj's.  Let's not go to the unmentionables, because Papa Fred reads, but obviously I'm bringing unmentionables.  :P   Then there's the jacket issues.  And the shoes.  Always the shoes.  Still I'm in a quandry about the shoes.  Sigh.    I'll keep you posted how I work that out.     So, anyhow, that's enough clothes right?  Not too many, but just the right amount for a 10 day trip?  I think so.  And it covers all possible events that I may need to attend.  Events?  LOL.  I didn't know I was attending events, but I guess I am.  Every day is an event, right?  :)))) 

Now, my troubles.  I'm concerned.  I have a problem with my pelvis/hip.  Its a chronic injury.  Both are rotated, which sets off a bunch of other problems I won't bore you with.  Usually it's managable and it's been okay for a while now, with regular maintenance at the orthopedic doctor who has really been helping me.  Except, I've done something to myself this week - not sure what and either is the doc - and I'm completely freaking out because I am totally crippled up.  I have to be able to walk - lots - by the time I leave or what will have been the point of going all the way over there.  Imagine, sitting alone in my B&B thinking.....I can't go out because I can't walk more than two blocks before I'm crying in pain?  (Yes, it is that painful sometimes.)  How depressing, right?  So, the doc has been awesome, but fixing it means other stuff hurts while my body adjusts.  Ugh.  Its' so frustrating and becoming worrisome.   And it also plays into the shoe issue, because obviously anything uncomfortable (and nice looking) is probably out of the question to ensure I am as mobile as I can be.  So.......   I'm just moaning about this, I don't expect anyone to fix it.  But it's weighing on my mind.  It could be tricky getting around and since I'm not an elderly grandmother I don't want to be walking like one.   You know, there's probably some elderly grandmother's who are far more mobile than I am at the moment.  Wow.   

Okay, moan, moan, moan.  Enough.  It is what it is; I have to deal with it as best I can.   I must start blogging more as we draw closer to departure, but I really dont' know what to blog about.  LOL.  You wouldn't think that wasn't possible given how much I ramble, but.....*giggle*.  

So, in parting, I leave you with this.  A friend brought this back from Jamaica for me.  Isn't he hysterical?   Maybe I should throw him my bag for moments when I need a chuckle (and am crying in the public toilet :P)   Maybe I need to throw Carlos in my bag instead.  He might provide a little more courage than Mr. Rasafarian.  :P

Till next time, Brew-Meisters.

T.
xx

Isn't it though?  Life is better in Pink!  (Okay, that's kind of purple-y, but there wasn't a nice pink to pick from!)  Anyhow, I can't tell you how much this made me smile!  And to think that two little girls, aged 4 & 6, knew I would love it so they got it for me!  They have the most excellent taste!   :)   

So, what is it with us women?  This need we have to get more stuff?  Especially when we're going on a trip?  I literally have closets full of clothes.  Closets and closets.  And yet, today, I was compelled to go out in some rather inclement weather (okay, just cause I'm T and I like to ramble and enjoy weird trivia, that phrase made me think of a song lyric from the mid 1950's and I just need to put it out there.  Does anyone know what song this is from?  Bonus points if you know who sang it.  Here goes:  "Maybe the plane took off late, or they may have run into some inclement weather and had to alter their course.  I went outside and I watched the beacon light as it whipped through the dark ebony skies, as if it were searching for........."  Seriously, if you know that song lyric, without a Google search (be honest!), GOLD STAR for you!  And an honourable mention!)  Now, back on point.......  (wow, I ramble!)

So, the weather was awful, but I had to go out anyway to shop for clothes for Belgium.  Why?  The things I have already are perfectly nice.  I have loads to pick from.  No one I am going to meet or encounter would know whether what I'm wearing is old or new; it matters to absolutely no one.  But I had to go shopping.  (I have to go shopping now - movie quote.  Anyone know it?  :P)    I was in one of those moods.........you know when you go shopping for something specific and you can never find it?  I just knew it was going to be a day like that.  Given my mood and the weather and that I was going for specific items.......it just didn't feel like it was going to be a good trip.  But it was!  

I won't bore you with all the ins and outs of it (I've probably bored you enough by now!), but I was looking for a new pair of jeans, maybe a tshirt or two, and if I got lucky and the price was right.....a concert dress.  I found some jeans - two pairs actually.   Both on the sale rack; because I am all about sales!  So, for $25 each, I thought that's not bad for $50+ jeans.   Sold.  Turns out they were marked down extra and were only $17!   DEAL!   I also got a nice pair of yoga pants for the flight, since its so long and overnight, I want to be comfortable.   They weren't on that great of a sale, but I made up for it with the jeans savings, so I was okay with that.  I picked up a skirt too - for work - because it was only $7.  Regular $55.  Deal!   Are you seeing a pattern here?  I'm cheap!  LOL.   

But, the coup de gras (Is that the right term?  I think so......) was the dress!  I got a dress today!  A cocktail one.  Yes, yes, yet another movie quote!  From the same movie as above!  I just can't help myself, what can I say?  And you know you love it!  :P   Anyhoo.........I tried on several.  Saving the one I liked the best for last.  And I truly beleived that it wouldn't look nice or fit properly, but I saved it anyhow.  And guess what?  Besides two small alterations I can do myself.........perfect!  And different.  And the price was right!  Can't beat $30 for a $250 dress, right?  Except......Except......when I went to pay.........it was $10!!!!   $10!!!! (Yes, that needed to be in pink!  Because $10 is great, but everything is better in pink!  :)  )  STEAL!  

I felt like I was getting the deal of the century!  Although I did get a fancy dress once for $5.  But I wasn't going to complain about $10.  No way.  No how.  No complaining!  I probably would have paid $50 and been okay with it.  But $10?  Awesome right?   Uh-huh Uh-huh!    Wanna see a picture?   Oh, but what if you don't like it?  It is a bit different.   And it's silver.  Odd colour, really.  But it looks so nice, really it does!  Mum even said it was flattering, and believe me, she'd say if it wasn't!  Okay, here it is.  What do you think?  It's hard to get the whole effect, hanging on a hanger like that (don't worry Dad, I didn't scratch that door you just painted for me!)ut you can at least see the structure and the detail.  For $10!!!!! 

So, now I am thinking accessories and shoes and etcetera, etcetera.  I need something bold.  I want red, but Mum says it needs hot pink (LOL, of course it needs hot pink!) or purple or an electric blue or something.  I'll see what I can find!  Oh ya, and I'm wondering about my hair too.  Big and full and 60's sexy?  (Think Adele style)  Or pinned up into a french roll with some whispies?  Too much to think about!   

And that brings us to the end of the Deals and Steals blog post.  :)  Ladies (and Dad, since I think you are the only man reading this - hehe)  thanks so much for popping in and leaving your thoughts.  I'm so glad you're having as much fun with it as I am.  Because it is fun, isn't it?  Can you imagine when I actually start travelling?   May the force be with you all, because seriously.......we could be in some serious trouble.  :P  

T.
xxxx

So.........I guess musing about all the negative 'what if's' isn't such a good idea, is it?  Okay, T will try to stay away from that from now until.........a new batch of nerves kicks in.  I must admit, something has shifted this week and I am getting a little excited.  Can you believe it?  Me?  Who doesn't get excited about anything is a little bit excited about my trip?    I say that's amazing!  Or maybe I am just high on.......NO! not the Dutch Coffee Houses (who do you think I am! :P )...........I was about to say Diet Coke.  :)    DCH or DC?  You make up your own mind.  LOL  (Wow, I am silly at the moment!)

Anyhow, I have a million questions.  Questions, questions, questions.  If anyone knows the answers, please leave a comment.  This is stuff they don't tell you on Trip Advisor!  First up:  B&B Etiquette.   I've never stayed at a B&B; although I am super excited about the one I'm staying at.  It's so beautiful!   Giant bed, balcony overlooking a tree lined street, wood floors, claw foot bathtub. (Yes, I will post pictures!) But I don't know the etiquette.  For example, here in North America, when you stay in a hotel (a hotel, not a B&B) it is customary to leave a tip every day for the cleaning staff.   Does one do that at a B&B as well?  Or is it considered rude?  Or maybe you just leave a tip at the end of your stay?  I have no idea.  Also, do you make your bed?  Or do you expect the proprieter to do it?  Seems a bit lazy to me - expecting the host/hostess to make your bed when you could very well do it yourself in about 10 seconds, but is that part of the service you pay for when you're at a B&B?  Again, no idea.  Obviously the towels, etc get changed every day, but the rest of it?   Dunno.   Will you help me out, please, if you do know?  

Question Two also revolves around tipping.   I read somewhere that you only tip in Europe if the service at the restaurant is good.  Is this true?  Because in North America, its customary to tip 15% regardless.  The wait staff relies on tips since the hourly wage is not usually very good.  But in Europe?  Again, I have no idea.  What is the standard?  And if you do tip, what percentage is acceptable?  15% like in Canada?  

Question Three.  The train system.  I was googling about the trains today.  I am so confused.  Very, very confused.  Is there an inter-city train system in Brussels, plus a national train system (to get to Antwerp for example?  Oh and that makes me think of a secondary question:  Is Anterwp the same place as Antwerpen?), plus a third train system if I want to go out of the country (to Paris, for example)?  Is there really that many train systems?  How do you figure it all out?  I'm pretty smart, but seriously, I think this could just about do me in.  While we're on the topic of trains........is it worthwhile to get some kind of rail pass?  Is that cheaper?  How exactly does it work?   I need a one way to Antwerp, return to Paris, return to Leuven and a one way from Leuven.  Does that warrant getting a rail pass?  I need to be economical with some things, if I can, and I think rail travel will be one of them.  But then again, maybe I am not travelling enough by rail to justify a pass.  I don't know!!!!!  I'm sooooooooooo confused!  HELP! 

Okay, I won't bore you with any more questions today, but I will tell you about my dream.  Do you want to read about my dream? (What's your dream? Anyone know the movie quote that's from?) (Skip ahead if you don't want to read about the dream :P)   I dreamed I was leaving on my trip.  And the British Airways jet was parked out in the middle of a field; surrounded by tents and pathways and hippies.  It was sort of like Woodstock, only without the music and the mud.  I was in endless, endless lineups, twisting and turning and I couldn't figure out why there were no bathroom facilities for all the people in the line.  Including me.   They kept announcing that the plane was leaving, but I was no where near being able to board; and I really really had to to go the loo.  So, I was dancing in the line up, to distract myself, and wondering why I decided to go to Belgium since they obviously weren't civilized and didn't have any toilets.  Finally, finally.........the line snaked around to an outhouse.  I was disgusted.  One outhouse for all these people.  They couldn't even be bothered to build flush toilets for their passengers?  Really?  So, I was complaining to someone behind me, and then of course I woke up.    Guess what?   It was 2 am, and I really did need to use the loo.    I'm almost scared to know how you are all going to analyze that one.  LOL 

Okay, that is enough pointless ramblings from me.  Hope you enjoyed this upbeat, question filled episode of What's Brewin.  And yes Dad, I will phone you momentarily to tell you a new blog is up, since you ask me every day about it!  :)    See you soon, Brew-Meisters!  (What do you think of that name?)  

T. 
xxx

PS:  I won a coffee on Tim's 'Roll up the Rim' contest!  Yay me!  (But I think I've had enough caffeine today, don't you?) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here I am again.  :)  Just popping in with a picture of Antwerp or Antwerpen or Anvers (take your pick and why does it have so many names?  More questions! )  This is the train station.  Thanks Chris!  It's so magnificent.  We don't have things like this in Canada.  

I must admit, I didn't expect to be back in here so soon.  I didn't expect eight comments on my silly little blog or 100 people to read it.  Who are you?  And I sure didn't expect my parents to log a comment!  Look at the two of you!  I am so proud of you for figuring out how to leave a comment!   (Even though I had to walk you through it on the phone!  LOL)  I'm very impressed.  Really!  Bravo! 

Okay, so Chris and Birgit........do you know what you started with that comment about Dutch Coffee Houses?  I honestly thought it was a brothel.  I did!  :)  But the moment I typed it into Google.......out came the truth!  Dutch Coffee Houses are.......well, am I allowed to say this?  Well, I can't imagine why not.  Because I'm sure half the world doesn't know.  This would educate them; like it educated me!  Although, according to Papa Brewin, he was very well aware of what they were.  How exactly do you know that, Dad?  Hmmmm? 

Anyhow, for those who may be in search of some, well, certain mostly illegal grasses that are rolled up in paper and smoked; a Dutch Coffee House might be the place for you.  I didn't read far enough along to determine if other types of..........well, drugs.......are available at these places.   I just know I won't be going to one!  I think the Belgian Coffee Houses sound nicer; real coffee and cakes.   Although, I'm already too fluffy as it is; I don't really need to eat any cakes.  :P  But if it 's cakes or grasses; well, I'm going to take the cakes.  Every single time!  :) :) :) 

So, there you have it.  Dutch Coffee Houses.  Learned something new today, didn't you?  Thanks to my Belgian girls.  If I can get it worked out; I'll bring you some really good coffee from Canada.  Tim's!   Tim's yummy yummy coffee.   :)

Now, the current dilemma for the trip is whether or not I should purchase a tablet to bring along with me, or if I should just bring my laptop.  I can't seem to post a new blog post from my iTouch, so I need to come up with Plan B.  Suggestions are most welcome.  I need to do some research.   And what else would you like to read about?  I could, in theory, post something every couple days, but I would probably bore you all to tears with my rambling.........as Mama Brewin said:  You just talked nonesense in Post One and rambled about nothing.   LOL.   Okay, Mum.  :P  

Anyhow, what are you interested it?  Trip preparations?  Dilemma's?  Tablet confusion?  Pre-trip shopping?  I might need some wardrobe and footwear advice.  I am stressing over that already.   I need comfy shoes for walking, dressy shoes for fancy restaurant visits and of course THE CONCERT!!  But I also have to walk to and from the train in my dress shoes, and I don't do so well with that, so I might need to bring my big red Carlos bag with me and hide the dressy shoes in him until I get the the venue, and then change from the comfy shoes.........SEE?  Shoe stress!!  And yes, this is really how my brain works.  Round and round and round.  And in the end, I'll bring five pairs and only wear two.  So.........shoe stress.   LOL.   Coupled with my horrible problem of over-packing, I could be in some serious trouble!  

So, I'll leave you all to stew about that for a while.   Any advice or thoughts, of course they are gladly welcome.  :)   I'm having so much fun with the blog, readers.  SOOOOOO much fun!  Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to hearing from you!   

T.
xx

What's Brewin.  Well, at first glance of that coffee cup - or first read of the title - you might think this is a blog about good coffee.  Or maybe beer.  Brewin' Coffee.  Brewin' Beer.  Get it?   Ha.  Of course you do.  But it's not about either!  At least I don't think it will be.  That's not to say you won't find mention of a decent cup of coffee if I happen to find one during my travels.   This is, I think, at least for now, the beginning, going to be a travel blog.  Whoever thought I would write a travel blog?  Not me!  But here we are.  Why, you may ask?  Why a travel blog and why call it What's Brewin?  Well......

First, the What's Brewin part.  Its just a clever play on  words that's all.  Brewin's my name.  Last name, not first.  Obviously.  Ha.  My dream was always to have a coffee shop named What's Brewin, but since it's impractical and not very likely to happen at this point in my life.....the genius of the clever play on words needs to be
used somewhere, doesn't it? What's Brewin blog it is.  Can't let a good name go
to waste now, can I?

Now, the travel part.  Well, if you would have told me I would be taking a trip alone to Europe a year ago, I would not have believed you.  I would have laughed and shaken my head and said no way.  And yet, here we are.  Wow.  So, considering that I am travelling alone and people will be worried about me - at least I hope they will be and you know who you are - and, I think there will be friends who will be interested in what I'm getting up to over there in Europe......the idea of a blog just seemed so much easier than sending mass emails out to people every day.  A blog just seemed......funner.  And yes, that is a word, by the way.  A me word.  Funner.

So, here's my idea for going forward.  There are pages to this blog.  The first one, as you can see, is......What's Brewin in Belgium.  I'll add any posts about Belgium onto the page.  I hope it works.  Since I haven't really tested it out yet, I'm not sure it will.  But one can hope.  And I will tweak as we go along.   I don't travel a lot, but usually go somewhere once a year, so my thought was to add a page for each trip. Make sense?  So, for example, maybe next year I'll go to......Oh, New York, let's say.  (That's not a bad idea, actually, must look into that!).  So the page would say, What's Brewin.....In New York.   Get it?  Got it?  Good.  I so hope it makes sense. But for today, for February 2012, we'll start small.  With Belgium.  And see how it goes. 

So, there you have it.  A travel blog called What's Brewin.  It could turn into anything.  It could be nothing and die out and fizzle.  I don't know.  But I'm going to give it a whirl.  Hope you come along.  And have fun.  And maybe smile at my crazy way of explaining things. And of course......you must leave a comment!  Especially while I'm travelling, so I can be close to my friends while I'm away and know they're thinking about me like I'm thinking about them.   Hmmmmmm, I hope this blog site lets you leave comments.  I should have checked that out!   Let's assume it does.  Okay?  Okay. 

And this, I guess, is the end of Post One.  Check back now and again. I may have some random thoughts as I begin preparing for this trip.   I wonder if they should go on the Belgium page or here on the home page.  Hmmmmmmm.......

As you can see, I'm terrible at making up mind!   I'll leave you with that, my friends. I need to come up with a name for you all.   Brewin's........   Brewin's what?  Hmmmmm........  More things to think about! 

T.
xxx

PS:  You might wonder about the picture.  Well.......It's Carlos.  He's a handsome man.  And since I had this picture, and he was holding a coffee cup, and the blog is called What's Brewin.........I just had to use it now, didn't I?  Uh-huh, Uh-huh.