Every reader, as he reads, is actually the reader of himself. The
writer's work is only a kind of optical instrument he provides the reader so he
can discern what he might never have seen in himself without this book. The
reader's recognition in himself of what the book says is the proof of the
book's truth.
-Marcel Proust
Hey guys,
Just a little update
to let you all know how I'm doing down here in Belgium (a few of you have asked
for it). I've found a flat, right in the centre of Leuven. Signed for it on
Monday, paid the deposit and my first month of rent today, collecting the keys
on Friday and moving on Sunday. Yes, Belgian bureaucracy is a pain in the ass.
I'm moving my stuff there on Sunday but I probably won't be moving in just
yet, as they're still working on the internet (something I really need for
work).
It's not perfect—far
from it, in fact. But it's nice and central and the lease is only for a year
and it's spacious enough just for me. I mean, I literally used to live in a
tent—I don't need much. At least I'll have a place of my own, for the time
being, and I'll get to live close to my friends, which is one of the main
reasons why I left London in the first place. A one-year lease also means I
won't be moving back for at least 12 months, so I deeply apologise to those few
of you who were still gunning for that.
I still needed a
bunch of stuff for the flat, but luckily, our local variant of Home Depot is
closing one of its flagship stores and all of the articles were 70% percent
off. Which is why I managed to buy an ironing board (because all adults own
their own ironing board), a 12-piece set of kitchen tools complete with an
art-deco rack (including a pizza slicer, which is vital considering the fact I
eat about five pizzas/week), plates, a 24-piece cutlery set, coffee mugs (I'm
still buying the Troy and Abed in the Morning one), an oven plate, two separate
cooking knives and an alarm clock for 44 euros (I'm guessing it's about 35 pounds,
or maybe 60 US dollars). Now all I need is some bed sheets, drapes, a microwave
oven and a bin.
For those of you who
frequent Leuven: My place is right at the Oude Markt and I have a spare couch,
so if you're ever in need of somewhere
to sleep, please let me know. I've yet to test the couch, but I'll be sure to
let you know and provide you with a sleeping bag/plaid.
Now, onto something
else. De Morgen's Fernand van Damme (in Dutch) recently posted an entry
detailing how being busy is the new cool for 20-somethings. He talked about how
we all seem to stuff our planners as full as possible with work, breakfast dates
and city trips and tried to link it to how we're scared of being alone, and the
conclusions our minds may reach when we're forced to contemplate on that
factoid. It's worth the read, if you speak Dutch, and you can find the piece by
clicking here.
He's not entirely
successful in trying to draw his conclusion ( it gets awfully tacky), but he
does make a fair point, and I do believe that plenty of you will recognise what
it is he's writing about. I know I've noticed it in myself. Where I once used
to live life without a day-planner, teaching surfing and largely enjoying the
quiet moments in between, I now find myself trying to cram as much work and
activities into my days in a feeble attempt to escape the fact that when I'm
not doing stuff, my mind tends to wander into dangerous places. And I've heard
the same message from plenty of you, or recognised the behaviour. I'm not
judging anyone or trying to tell you why that may be wrong or right, but it is
something worth thinking about. When you're not busy working or going to that
concert or meeting your middle-school science partner for cocktails, that is.
I guess that's it for
now. Like I said, short update on how I'm doing (technically it's about what
I'm doing, I suppose). It looks like I'm truly here to stay, for now at least.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that, but we always feel like that right
after we've made a big decision. And that first night of drinks at De Weerelt
will surely sway my mind.
Have a good one guys.
Song of the Day:
Charles Bradley - Where Do We Go From Here
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten