Wild Wood

Given that the weather has been so good lately, we have been spending any spare time we can find (in between Roman holidays, zinnekes, birthdays, family get-togethers in the Belgian countryside, not forgetting work), trying to get a grip of the wilderness that is our back garden. Remember this, back in April?

A number of scrapes, blisters and sunburnt shoulders later, we have now:

Hacked down the wood (elders, sycamores and 10-foot brambles) and piled it neatly - to use as fuel for sauna? to build some kind of elaborate frame for sweet peas? a wigwam?

Built a man-sized pile of compost…

Extracted a large pile of old rubbish…

… and fifty eight old bottles. The sort of thing people more creative than I could use to make some quirky, stylish creation bringing colour and light into their homes. Until I work out what that would be, they’ll just sit here on the window ledge looking scenic.

So this is what it looks like now. Very much sunnier without the canopy of weed. Not quite ready for croquet, but getting there.

I Need a Dollar

(Aloe Blacc, 2010)

Progress.  No, I am not talking about the election results.

I mean the number of small but significant steps we have taken this week:

1. The house is now insured. Lightening, gas explosions, tidal waves: we have no fear.

2. We have a mortgage. We have become one of them. You know, those people you sometimes hear droning on about how low rates are these days, in fact we got quite a good fixed rate of 3.9%, which we combined 50/50 with an annual variable, starting at 2.39%, but in Belgium the law says it can only ever increase by 1% a year, and can never more than double in the lifetime of the loan, don’t you know… yawn….

3. Now this IS exciting: we have an architect. In fact three. The fabulous Vincent and his team, masters at bringing light and space into old Brussels town houses while preserving their original character. Have a look at the ‘Henry’ and ‘Potagère’ projects for an idea of the kind of glass / balcony / light well / garden extension which we quite like. He is going to prepare an ‘esquisse’ (detailed plans) and then, well, we’ll have to see. Very, very provisionally, we are looking at this sort of timing: Plans this summer; Submit planning application in the autumn; Start works in spring 2011; Move in before Christmas 2011. Let’s hope that is not too optimistic…

All in all, it was a long week. Thankfully tomorrow is the weekend, so we can put aside the paperwork and get back to clearing the garden. Bliss.