Diesel Price Falls in Belgium

I saw diesel today at Jet in Hasselt on offer for 1,041 € compared to 1,077 a few days ago and 1,18 in early November.

People complain when fuel prices rise so I thought I would show gratitude for a fall in the price.

Large Nursery Classes

The new year is a time when some nursery children attend school for the first time as "kleuters". The budget has risen from 5 to 15 million Euros but still some schools see unacceptably large class sizes. The aim is to split classes of 26 children or more but this is not always possible. An added burden for the teacher is that many of these children will still be wearing nappies so much of her time is taken up in accompanying children to the lavatory.

The rule used to be that eleven extra children gave more budget for extra teaching hours. That has been reduced to two new children and there are enough teachers looking for jobs. As usual it is just a question of funding.

The problem is always greatest in the spring term as some kleuters only attend during the colder months then stay at home from Easter onwards until they reach obligatory school attendance age.

Article in Het Belang van Limburg

Brussels Christmas Market

We visited the Christmas market in Brussels yesterday and suggest you don't miss it. There is a large Christmas tree and live nativity scene on the Grand Place with real sheep. The Town hall is lit up in the dark accompanied by music.



The Christmas market is around the Bourse so buy some traditional items and enjoy some Gluhwein or hot chocolate while you walk round. When you have finished, I recommend a drink and maybe something to eat in my favourite bar, Falstaff, in rue Henri Maus, next to the Bourse.

British Vision Art Exhibition in Gent

We visited the British Vision exhibition in Gent for 3 hours and can recommend a viewing. It runs until 13 January.

‘British Vision’ is an overview of two centuries of British art, representing every major artist, including William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, George Stubbs, William Blake, John Constable, Joseph Mallord William Turner, David Hockney, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Stanley Spencer, Graham Sutherland, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and photographer Bill Brandt.
John Constable's Flatford Mill

The exhibition brings together over three hundred works of art from public and private collections throughout Britain, in addition to loans from major collections in Europe and the United States of America.

The selection contains oil paintings, watercolours, prints, drawings, sculpture, books and photographs. These works illustrate two important features typical of British art from the mid-18th to the mid-20th century: a real talent for observing daily reality and landscape on the one hand, and a fascination with the visionary on the other hand.

Museum of Fine Arts, F.Scribedreef 1 - Citadelpark, 9000 Ghent - Belgium
Tuesday until Sunday: from 10am until 6pm. On Wednesday until 9pm. Closed on Monday,
December 25th and January 1st. t+32 (0)9 240 07 00

Entrance is 9€ for adults, free for children under 12 and the 3 € audio guide (E-NL-F-D) is recommended. Travel by rail on a shopping biljet for 7€ in December and January, children go free. See www.nmbs.be for details.

Chimay Beer and Cheese

I have just enjoyed a Chimay Rood bier, 7% strong, and Chimay cheese sandwich with some sweet mango chutney.

Chimay is one of the authentic Trappist beers from Belgium which means that the beer was brewed within the walls of an existing trappist monastery under the control of the trappist community. A major part of the sales revenue is used by the monks to support charitable works.

To enjoy a Chimay beer, you need the chalice-shaped glass to fully experience the aromas and the flavour.

Chimay Rood gives a silky taste on the tongue and a slight touch of bitterness towards the end. It should be drunk between 10º and 12º C.

Carrefour are selling a gift pack with one bottle each of Chimay Rood, Blauw and Tripel plus a glass.

Michael Jackson book - Great Beers of Belgium

Crossover Crosswalk paint Hasselt Zebra Crossings

A Hasselt resident who arranged for 19 zebra crossings in Hasselt to be painted in fun designs was ordered by the judge on Tuesday to restore them to their original state as they break traffic rules ("inbreuk op het wegverkeerreglement").

Whilst many local people found the designs of art project Crossover Crosswalk original and fun, the judge found that children were looking at the designs rather than concentrating on the traffic.

For each day that the zebra crossings are not restored to their original black and white, a fine of 100,000 € is due. The projectleader, a lawyer, also has to pay legal costs of 123.95 €.

Read here about the English woman who tried to bring Christmas cheer to her road crossings

Lunch Garden meal deal

Steak and chips is the favourite meal in Belgium.

Lunch Garden are offering a great meal deal:
- Steak et frites
- saladbar
- chocolate mousse

all for €9.95 instead of €12.95.

You can't get much more Belgian than that meal. Smaakelijk eten. Bon appetit.