We have the first plans drawn up for our new kitchen.  Unfortulately these people can’t fit us in until January, so I am still shopping around to find someone who is available in July. We are going with a small-sized dishwasher, and a half-sized oven that is somehow also a microwave even though it is filled with metal. To maximise our bench space we will have a two-burner oven and a single sink that can be covered with a chopping board. We will have lighting under and on top of the wall cabinets to brighten up the area as much as possible.

We’d really like to have the renovations completed before our stream of visitors increases. Who knew that living in the heart of Europe would mean that we would have so many lovely people coming to visit us? It certainly makes us feel less lonely to know that we are going to have friends and family coming to visit. I just hope that they can both shower and eat while they are staying here.

It is hard to believe that I am at the stage where I am thinking about home renovations. How did I suddenly become so grown up? To me I still feel like I am playing The Sims rather than designing a new kitchen. It is actually quite a challenge – very small, with a door at both ends, it measures 3.8m (12.5′) by 1.8m (6.0′), and currently looks like this:

Somehow we have to keep the microwave, sink and stove, add more light, more storage, an oven, a dishwasher, and a large fridge into this space. I don’t quite know how we’re going to manage it. I am talking to some kitchen renovation experts tomorrow to see what we can come up with. I am bringing these images for inspiration. We want something that maximises the space, is easy to clean, and is bright and simple. I will be interested to see their ideas, and I’m really excited to finally have a home of our own with which we can play.

Photos from dailymail, get Turner, and OutinHome.

The Belgians certainly know how to bring out the best in a holiday. Weeks before Easter, the chocolatiers crafted their displays, full of rabbits and chickens and eggs. As we have four chocolate shops on my block alone, there were many treats to admire as I walked through Leuven. I eagerly pondered and anticipated my purchases. Will I get the chick in a hot air balloon? Or the hen complete with nest and fruit filled eggs? Perhaps the fish stuffed with truffles? Or the tri-coloured rabbit with the long floppy ears? Easter Saturday suddenly arrived, filled with chores and activities. It was around 4:30pm before I even had time to think about our supplies for the next day. I walked to Neuhaus. Sold out. Leonidas. Sold out. Tartofu. Closed. Arjuco. Sold out. Giving up, I had resorted to the supermarket. All I could find there was a broken dark chocolate shoe, and some dinosaur-shaped cookies. All seemed lost. Then, as I was walking home, my eyes wandered to Raets–Putseys, the upscale chocolatier that I had never permitted myself to enter. I decided that desperate times called for desperate measures. I walked through the door, and saw that my worries were over. The shelves were full of delicious looking animals in all styles of chocolate. The line was long, but this gave me time to find the perfect companions for Adrian and myself. For Adrian, I chose a dark chocolate standing rabbit holding hands with a little girl. For myself, a milk chocolate furtive squirrel clasping a nut. The shop keeper carefully decorated them with yellow and green ribbons and presented them to me, all ready to be enjoyed the next day.

So on Easter Sunday, all was right with the world, as we both had a superb Belgian chocolate animal to devour, and they were delicious.

I couldn’t quite believe it, the first time I noticed at lunch. Over there as well. And on that guy opposite me. I did a quick visual survey of the cafeteria. At my work, over 70% of the men wear cuff-links in their shirts. Every day. Just like that. In Australia, I have never seen them worn outside very formal occasions. But here, in Europe, they are displayed nonchalantly by most men as a staple of their business wardrobe.

Photo by hopkinsii