Anderlecht 2 - SV Zulte Waregem 0

George is a bit crazy about Soccer... So it was with great delight that we were invited sit in a private box today and watch Anderlecht take second place in the Belgian Premier League, and thus go through to the first round of the Champions League.

It was a heck of a game.

The match was suspended after the first few minutes as flares filled the stadium with smoke and flame, and the players were taken off the field.


It was a heated game indeed, with two yellow cards, and one red.

The second Anderlecht goal was the ultimate nail-biter.... The first shot was saved, but not held. The second shot hit the left post.... the third shot went in!

The SVZW supporters were magnanimous in defeat, and stole the show. Around 100 of them drowned out all other noise in the stadium, and their noisy but good natured antics kept us well amused - well done chaps!

Meeting John Kerry...

Today is a day I looked forward to for some weeks. It is the first day of the Brussels Jazz Marathon, a 3 day spectacle that I love. The Jazz Marathon is the first of a series of Jazz festivals - every major town or city in Belgium has one - and it is always a great opening shot! They do Jazz well in Belgium.

And it started well, with a great act featuring the music of Fats Waller and others of that ilk. I like it very much.

Apparently U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also likes it, because he came and sat down a table but one away from us, and was clearly enjoying the music.

There was  incredible security around him, but I was never one to be intimidated by a bunch of dozy Yanks, so I wandered over to shake his hand and have a wee chat. And what a nice chap he is.

Kerry, of course, is a highly decorated war hero, and it was a great pleasure to exchange some private words with him.

I was impressed, and I cannot believe how young he appears. He must know a better beer than I do....

In Memory Of Heroes

This week, I took a trip out to Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, to deal with some family business.

Whilst there, I came across this stone, in the main shopping area.

It commemorates the heroes of the British 2nd Household Cavalry Division, and also the soldiers of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division who drove out the Germans and liberated the city in September 1944.

I think it is a simple but nice memorial.

Summertime, and the living is easy.........

And so.... George and I took the train out to Genval today to have lunch with our great pal William Stanbury.

And it was a great lunch indeed!

Afterwards, we decided to play Petanque (French bowls) at the local cricket club. Sadly the club was closed, but we never let a locked gate stand in our way - I won't go into too many details -  but we did indeed play 3 games of Petanque at the Cricket Club.


Subsequently we met up with Chris White, former Fleet Street journalist and all round good guy.

Some days are just perfect!