Yes, there I was, at 10:30 busily packing up everything ready to move and the phone rang. “Eric – fancy a coffee in about an hour?”
Hans is on his way back to the UK and because of the enormous roadworks on the Autobahn, he had set out at something of a silly time of night. And as a consequence of this, he had fahrn’d fahrn’d fahrn’d up the Autobahn without a single interruption at all and was about three hours ahead of schedule.
As a result, we went and had a coffee and then went off for an Indian meal at that little place that I know. You know – the one where the curry comes in three strengths viz “hot”, “bloody hell!” and “Jesus Christ!”.
Yes, what an unexpected pleasure to meet up with an old friend like that. I was only saying to Alison the other night that I had lived in France since 2006, and here in Leuven since the end of March, and I’ve had more visits in Leuven than I ever had in France!
Last night was a messy night. I could hardly sleep with this head-cold and I made endless trips down the corridor. But the upshot of that was that this morning, my legs were nothing like as swollen as during the previous couple of weeks.
I had been on my travels too – that I do know – but I’ve no idea where it was that I went to.
It was at about 06:20 when I was finally awake, and I had finished breakfast long before the alarm went off. Then I had a leisurely tidy up in my room. That is all packed up and in the storeroom there except for my overnight bag which I have with me.
The taxi that was booked at 13:30 turned up at … errr … 14:15 and so off I went to the new digs. It turns out that it’s a room in someone else’s house and she has a couple of noisy kids so I’m not too sure about this. But the room is beautiful, with a lovely en-suite bathroom and I have a little terrace outside, so all in all, I’m not complaining.
Once I’d installed myself, I set off for the railway station and purchased my rail ticket to Chateauroux for Monday. I’ve only passed through the town before and I’m not going to be there for long so i’ve no idea what to expect.
Seeing as how it was a beautiful afternoon (the first one that we’ve had) I went for a walk around the station area. There are a few student-type eateries around here too including a falafel outlet. For tea tonight, they served up a falafel and salad butty with chips for all of €4:00 and who can complain at that?
So now I’m going to have an early night and try out my new bed for comfort. I hope that it’s as nice as it looks. But the downside of being here is that breakfast is not included in the price. So that means an early start and a hike across town to the hotel. I’ll be staying there from now on anyway and so I feel entitled to claim my breakfast there.
I am so glad your legs are not Sue Ellen as much as they were; this must also be something of a relief to yourself I should imagine.
How many rooms did you say you were living in? This gives a new meaning to that old biblical aphorism “In my fathers house there are many mansions!”
I am so glad to also see that you have not lost your appetite! Keep on trucking Eric!!