Christmas 2006

got stuck! wondering what we do at the end. lots to do in belgium. lots of people to visit in britain. so many places you know about to visit there, too. doooohhhh.... :-)

I can't believe it. I just found a better deal for the Feb Half-Term trip on yahoo. It took about 30 seconds. Same flights-£5 cheaper! Eek. Another place to search. I followed through and their weren't any extra charges. I will check there next time.

How did you find this itinerary planner? It's the perfect equivalent of Steve planning the boy-skilled trips he takes Mary on that she so loves. I'm very pleased with your find. Now I'll look at your suggestions. big x

i'm trying to alternate long driving days with short driving days. i've penciled in museums in the mornings with afternoons out and about in nearby towns. should we add another museum in the early afternoon? also, i've got us celebrating mass at the Antwerp cathedral along with new year's eve there. is that a good idea? xxx

Ooooh. Mass at Antwerp. Could be wonderful. Tell you who I'd love to Mass with- Johanna Bambridge and family- Catholic at St John's (unless she's heading home to the US for Christmas). There's a Catholic church in Uccle-not far from Ixelles.

Coud we do a cosy Mass and then do a Presbyterian church sometime during the holiday? I'm scared that it'll be very hard to feel comfortable at one. It might affect our decisions... as faith is the most important thing in life. I consider it an oversight that I haven't asked to attend with you before. We're a little far ahead to suddenly feel totally ill-at-ease at each other's services. Really, Bry, I feel strongly about this.

The driving idea is very thoughtful of you. I like the ideas about museums etc. I'm finding it hard to concentrate on what we do when we get there until we finalise travel. I never leave things this late when booking... It doesn't come naturally. Course, often the best things in life can happen impromptu...

Please let's finalise the ferry and flat. I do hope Mk can help us by notifying us asap.

Worried.
x

regarding mass, i'm open to either mass at Antwerp or with your friend. it's u that i love, so i don't mind.

is there a presbyterian church in belgium? we can look for one in britain, too.

we'll finalize the ferry & shtuff 1st thing tomorrow

xxx

Additions: Abbaye de Floreffe - Trappist monastary where beers are brewed. There are a few good breweries, honey. Fascinating to visit and really beautiful regions. Dad and I took in one between physio sessions in Leuven (also a beautiful town) I was on crutches so had to go easy withe the 12% beers.

I think it's important that we find a good service to attend evensong or any other in Yorkshire. Christmas falls on a Monday so we need to attend either Sat night Mass or Sunday morn: then either Sunday vigil (6:30pm one is always lovely and less late a finish than Midnight Mass) or Monday morning Mass (could be lovely too). We could go to Wakefield Cathedral - or St Helen's where some of my bible class go and where I know the vicar and his wife; both are darlings.
We can find out services and times very easily.

I love the pre-Belgium days' suggestions: Cambridge and Canterbury. I wish Matt was still there to go watch Stillers games with in Cambridge in the boy=zie pilots house on the park. We used to go to Mass across the park too.
Think you would have liked the whole set-up.

x

great ideas, both. i'd be happy to visit any brewery you feel compelled to show me. :-D

some CoEs change their normal evensong schedule for special Christmas services. you might want to ask about that. i'll follow your lead on choice. is St. Helen's the one closest to you? i wonder if any of your classmates would be at that service?

xxxx

To summarise what timed-out yesterday, honey.

Christmas lunch to cook- I made a list of to-dos yesterday and I hope it should be as smooth as Christmas lunch was last year. We still managed a walk before lunch as the things were in the oven. Mum always tries to be a perfectionist when she cooks and I'd love her to feel more relaxed. She does when someone else is at the oven and sink... Will you help me, Bry?

Services for you are uppermost in my mind, honey. Fear not. We need to plan in a timetable to make sure we put both our services needs joint first. You are welcome to do as you feel comfortable.

Emma needs to find her path, Bry. I'm relieved that I'm not just playing along with her Chris relationship and not voicing my thoughts at all. Telling her she deserves more is the least I could say. I don't feel saddened about that. I wish we were closer in terms of our shared goals just now. Still.

Found Tournai and Namur as must-sees, Bry. Dad and I did and enjoyed both. I read a bit more about each of the places we're planning in and am quite happy to do as many or as few as we manage to fit in.

New Years can be fun in the Grand Place, Brussels, I hear from Em. We'll see.

Breakfast, definitely, in Waterloo and in the Sablon, Brussels.

xxx


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