Belgian mumsnetters!

[belgo]

I went back to Kessel Lo park today, with the intention of taking the children swimming on this beautiful day (the temperature is going up to 30°C), but despite getting there half an hour before the pool opened we didn't stand a chance of getting in, there were hundreds of people with the same idea as me. The girls played in the park for about an hour, but in all that time, the queue to the pool didn't appear to be moving, just getting longer.

Dd1 was very disappointed so we took two buses to the Sportoase pool which was surprise surprise virtually empty. It's the first time I've taken all three children swimming on my own, and now I'm exhausted.

Hope you are all having a good day!

[belgo]

Bump
and there were almost as many wasps as people!

[Portofino]

I've got another day off to get dd ready for her farm trip and thought of going out there later on as it's going to be hot today. Maybe that's a bad idea! It's not fun when it's heaving - last time i struggled to keep tabs on dd as there were so many people.....

I'll have to think of an exciting alternative...

[belgo]

Hope you're having a nice day whatever you've decided to do Portofino. It's another ridiculously hot day today, and apart from doing some shopping this morning we are staying in today, out of the sun. I shouldn't complain though, we're going to England tomorrow and the weather isn't so good there.

[Portofino]

We stayed home tooin the end. All clothes ironed and labelled. I filled up the paddling pool and sunbathed with my book. It was lovely. Have a good trip back to Blighty, Belgo - will there be shopping?

[monkeybumsmum]

Hello both

Just a quicky as am in UK and exhausted from terribly early Ryanair flight yesterday morning! You're right belgo, the weather isn't as good here as in Belgium, but it has been quite nice today - a warm day without being too hot...
Darn those wasps at Kessel-Lo, they're a real pain. Think you're really brave for taking the three kids swimming, shame it wasn't at Kessel-Lo though.

Porto, where's dd going on her trip? When is it? Hope you don't miss her too much!

I was thinking, if anyone is able to go out in the evening then maybe we could do a girly cinema trip? DH and I literally never get to go together, and it's miles to go into town with friends, so if anyone fancies a trip to Leuven to see a film then let me know! I'm a bit of a pic'n'mix-aholic

Anyway, hope you're well and look forward to seeing you soon x

[Portofino]

Sounds like a great idea monkeybumsmum. I love the cinema, but with babysitter it always seems an expensive night out, and DH tends to like films with guns in.

[monkeybumsmum]

mine too Porto, or kung fu

We normally get FIL to babysit, but don't do it very often as we don't want him to think we're taking the p*ss. Is normally for must-do things, rather than fun things like going to the cinema...

Belgo, how was your UK trip? Where did you go? Hope the weather was better than you thought it was going to be

[belgo]

Oh yes Porto there has been lots of shopping, I daren't check my credit card statement when it comes through! The weather was fairly good, and we saw the Hot Air Balloon fiesta, the balloons go over my parents house and the girls were up early every morning watching them, they've never seen them in Belgium.

Monkey, email me about the cinema, I'll try and arrange something with dh, although I haven't left ds in the evening yet.

[KeepPassingTheOpenWindows]

Glad you had a good trip Belgo! LOL at the credit card. Mine always gets a good hammering in Next and M%S when we go "home". Email me too about the cinema monkeybum. Are there any girly films on at th mo? The only new film I can think of is the latest Quentin Tarantino about killing nazis . Ps I am Porto in disguise.

[belgo]

Porto - M&S food halls - they've even got them in the motorway service stations! They make the journey a bit more bearable.

[scaryteacher]

I saw two hot air balloons when driving back from Dunkirk on the 18th....they were just after Jabbekke services. Very pretty.

My bank account v empty after 3 week trip back to UK. Tesco great for back to school rulers/pens/geometry sets etc. Shoes much cheaper for now size 9 ds as well! Waitrose wonderful; Carrefour in Tervuren just does not cut it after that.

[Portofino]

Damn, dsis now on ferry leaving Dover and I forgot to ask her to stop at Sainsbury's for sausages! I really, really miss shopping in the UK. They have some wonderful stuff in Belgium, but you can't beat an M&S Foodhall!

[monkeybumsmum]

Hope you're having a lovely time with your dsis Porto. How long's she staying for?

scary - I LOVE Tesco's! It's just not the same over here. I have a constant Tesco's list going, so that if I'm ever asked if parents/friends can bring stuff over I know what I need

Am going back to work next week, so will let the first mad couple of weeks go by, and then think more about a cinema trip... Will email everyone about it then

[LongtimeinBrussels]

Don't forget me!

[scaryteacher]

LTIB - are you doing language classes again this year? It was NFD today, so am waiting to hear how many I have.

[LongtimeinBrussels]

I saw you yesterday across the room but didn't have time to leave the desk before I had to dash off to collect my daughter at lunchtime.

I'm organising the French classes this year as a favour to JN but as I no longer have any children at the school I won't be coming out to teach. If there's enough demand, I'll be doing one at home.

Got a strange message from Ali - that you wanted to talk to me about burgers. Apparently JN gave you my name? She also mentioned Jackie O'Shea's. There must be a mix-up because I've never been there in my life and I'm a vegetarian!!!

If this cinema trip happens I hope we can both make it. You missed a nice day at Kessel-Lo!

[prettyballerina]

Hello Ladies,
I hope I am not intruding here.
We have just moved to Antwerp as my partner is working nearby. I don't know anybody here and am keen to meet other expat mums and mums to be. Also I have a small question. Does anybody know if there are any decent hypermarkets in Antwerp or the surrounding area, we are struggling to find anything other than Lidl, and corner shop sized Carrefours, surely there is a big Carrefour somewhere??
I look forward to hearing from you.

[monkeybumsmum]

Hi all!

Shall we think about the beginning of October for our cinema trip? Any dates that people can't make?
I wonder what'll be coming out then...

prettyballerina, hello It's lovely to see another Belgian mumsnetter! I'm afraid I can't help you, but have just asked timmette to 'pop over' - she may be able to help as she lives in Antwerp I think.
If you'd like to come along to the cinema trip, it'd be lovely to meet you! I know it's a bit far away though, so completely understand if not...

Must go and feed ds, hope you're all well!

[LongtimeinBrussels]

Hi prettyballerina and welcome to Belgium! Whereabouts are you exactly? The closest Carrefour I can find to Antwerp is here. The ones in the province of Antwerp are here. Hope this helps.

[timmette]

Hi Monkeybumsmum thanks for your message on my other thread - I got myself into a real panic . I have also just come back from the UK with a pretty full credit card - that I am in denial about.

Hi prettyballerina and welcome to Antwerp - I am in Mortsel - Berchem area - is there anything I can do to help. Are you looking for a better quality supermaret than Lidl or just a bigger one.

[Portofino]

I find there tend to be more Delhaizes in Flanders than Carrefours. And welcome to Belgium!

Start of October is fine for me for the cinema.

[prettyballerina]

Thank you very much, we are in central Antwerp, near the park. I think we will check out some of the Delhaizes next. Not necessarily a better quality supermarket that Lidl, just a bigger one as all the ones we have found seem to be tiny, but again thank you for all your suggestions.

I would love to come to the cinema in October and meet you all, but I don't think I will be able to make it. We are going to have to go to both mine and DPs home, England and Ireland for weddings and my parents are coming to stay so a very expensive and busy month. But do let me know if you arrange anything else and I will keep an eye out on here.

[timmette]

prettyballerina I personally prefer Delhaize - it's where I do my shopping. I know there is a pretty big carrefour near the Antwerp airport in Deurne - with lots of parking.

[LongtimeinBrussels]

Yes, Delhaize is nicer but also more expensive so if you're trying to save a bit of money...

[scaryteacher]

LTIB - Ali is spinning too many plates...I am organising the Newcomers BBQ as JN is taking daughter to uni for the first time. I had to talk to the woman who is the external relations manager for the school, not you. You have the same first name....that's why she was confused!

Quite agree about Delhaize, am so pissed off at Carrefours opposite the school having removed everything I habitually purchase, that i am voting with my feet.