Whoops, Belgian national (French) broadcaster says Brexit is affecting the UK budget “We thought the Brits had buried Brexit, that they had filed it away with those errors you prefer to forget. But no, Brexit’s back, and it’s back because the bill has arrived…”

“The colours are too Flemish”. Such a Belgian news story

@tommckinney.bsky.social love the treecreeper song. My dad used to say that treecreepers only ever go up trees and nuthatches only ever come down. I see a nuthatch almost daily in my garden but the treecreeper much more rarely

Golly, a national strike in Belgium makes the headlines on the BBC! Can’t remember when that’s happened before. I guess because of possible disruption to Eurostar and flights.

I’ve been hearing people say ‘step foot’ a lot recently, whereas the correct expression is ‘set foot’. And it seems like I’m not the first to notice it

Evergreen (winter) weather forecast for Belgium

He could certainly sing

A lovely day for working outside this morning

Sabena confused by this water bowl being frozen, this may be the first time she’s experienced it

Happy birthday Björk, 60 today

Black cats are so difficult to photograph

While it’s a nice idea; the question of whether neanderthals and humans kissed is about as meaningful as debating whether Jesus laughed

Off to sing for the king…

I have to learn this (or at least the bass part) off by heart. I love the song but the lyrics, harmonies and rhythm are not easy to get

@tomchivers.bsky.social Thanks for the latest episode about the wood wide web. I always thought it was tosh and I’m glad there is science to back that up

Belgium playing an excellent match against Samoa, I just hope they can keep this tempo up for the whole match

Tiny snail invading my house (finger for scale only)

What perfect album came out the year you turned 16

Look carefully @sellingamirror.bsky.social

Interesting article: I wondering a similar study has been made of the parakeets which live in (and increasingly outside of) Brussels

Rehearsing for a special event

I’ve been singing a lovely setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by George Dyson. Only today did I find out he’s also well known for writing a manual on the use of grenades in trench warfare

This rain is really dirty: looks like my car’s had mud spattered all over it. Sahara dust or something else?

I’ve driven past this memorial several times on my way to work but never stopped before. George Parramore was a member of a US bomber crew: his plane was caught by German fighters while returning to England after a bombing raid. The crew bailed out but Parramore was killed. vredesporen.be/m102/

Weird to see one of my son’s ex-teammates playing for Belgium against Brazil in the rugby world cup qualifiers. Really hope Belgiums win this but they have a way to go

Het spectaculaire #noorderlicht van afgelopen nacht was zelfs te zien boven Brussel, ondanks de lichtvervuiling! Deze beelden zijn vastgelegd door de KMI webcam in Ukkel tussen 4u en 5u vanmorgen, 12/11. Vannacht opnieuw kansen!

If the sky is clear tonight there’s a good chance of seeing the aurora in N Europe. It was seen as far south as Lyon yesterday.

I really enjoyed this. Part history, part magical realism

I started singing in a choir at my local music académie in September: tonight I played piano to accompany them and even led a part of the rehearsal. I’m hoping to be director of the academy by summer 😇

Clearing out a cupboard, and found this 200-page booklet How To Find Information On the Internet dating from 2001. I expect it’s still relevant. Lesson 1; using Altavista…

I didn’t know this: ‘official’ buskers on the Brussels metro have to play an audition to STIB staff in order to get a licence

There’s an owl calling in my back garden and I love to hear it

A nice little chapel in Leuven for today’s evensong. A small section of original wall painting survives but I guess the rest of the chapel was rebuilt after WW1

Watching Belgium playing an international rugby match, and its televised, unusually. They have to win to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, and so far they’re doing well 17-3 vs Namibia

It’s only taken 18 years but I’ve finally got proper lights in all rooms in my house. 18 years and a helpful Polish workman who’s smarter and handier than me

I love the shape of the nuthatch

Roses in November sunshine 🌱

Amazing sky in Brussels this morning (pic from a friend)

This is great (although a terrible ‘90s video)

A bit percussion heavy due to where it’s recorded from, but do you recognise it?

A low sun lighting up the autumn colours

A film you've seen more than seven times, with a gif

Spooky food #halloween

I had never considered how Bach died but it seems he was the victim of a charlatan who operated on, and blinded, hundreds of people. Handel could also have been a victim of his. An amazing character.

The sheer size of the ballot papers in the Netherlands caused problems yesterday. One man got his hand stuck in a ballot box when he tried to push the folded sheet down. It took half an hour to free him. A woman lost her wedding ring, which was retrieved at the count.

Cat keeping out of the way of all the children

Lake view (before the weather changed)

Why do we say River Thames, River Severn. River Ouse, etc. But Hudson River, Mississippi River, Klamath River? And it’s not just N American rivers: River Ganges but Yangtze River. Answers on a postcard please

Get a grip Denmark