A mixed day

Or how to cope with happy exciting things and sad events at the same time.

Basically that's what I had to do today.
This morning I went to the funeral of an old friend's mom.
I don't like funerals.
They play with your emotions.
I like emotions, don't get me wrong, I think I know how to handle them; how to let them fill you when they're growing, how to enjoy/experience them at the fullest and how to smoothly let them fade away when the peak has been reached.
But since the funeral of my grandma, more than 10 years ago now, I've decided I don't like them.

First of all I was late today.
Yep... I'll be that guy that's too late for his own funeral... I'm quite certain about that.

And then during the service you try to think of as many things as possible, except what this service is actually about.... because, well speaking for myself, if you do go along with the 'vibe' of the funeral, you get very, very, veryvery sad. (And for me that means tears pouring down like a shower, which I try to avoid as much as possible in public)
So, this policy of mine worked quite well today.
What you also do know and realise very well during a funeral is that all of us are very mortal. And that there is a time for everyone to go. There's no escape. (At least, not yet...)

Fortunately for me, this sad event brought me back in touch with my old friend, Francis, whom I hadn't seen for about 10 years. It's not really the most enjoyable circumstances to meet up again, but still, it had something hopeful. He also looked hopeful, notwithstanding he had just lost his mom.
Quite brave, actually, I know for a fact that if it were me, I'd be a total mess... A sad bag of misery, not being able to smile and talk to the people the way he did today.
And thàt made me feel better.
We've signed the contract for the house as well today, that's great, but the idea of Francis being ok, and moving on, taking his exams next month, basically looking up and walking on through life, ... That's made my day.

Let's dance!

Oh yea baby!

Thank you for knocking on wood yesterday and today, we just got message from the immo-office;
the owner agreed on our bid, and the house is ours!

In other words: Let the Misery begin.
(yes, probably with a Capital M)

Although...
Somehow I feel really confident about this investment... I don't know why yet, but I think everything will turn out to be just fine. There's plenty of stuff that could go wrong... but it won't.
I can feel it in my toes. (They're very happy)

Let's dance.

Touch wood

Today's a big day for us.

For those of you that also roam through facebook, you might have noticed my status is set to 'Tim will make an offer this week'...
Well, hopefully that will be today!

Last weekend we found a house on immoweb ... and totally fell in love with it.
It's made of bricks, it's got a roof, it's even equipped with windows and doors, and,
most importantly; it's got a wrought-iron gate.

So why wait until today to make an offer?
Well mainly because we went to see the house only for the 2nd time yesterday, and because of some issues with the bank...
But as today those things will be cleared up, it could mean a GO for our loan at the bank, and the offer for the house to be made by the end of this day!

The offer we'll make would be the exact amount of money the current owner wants for it... so... touch wood... By next week we might be the proud owners of a pile of bricks, neatly arranged in the shape of a house!

The Beginning

I guess this is it...
The Point of No Return

After reading the blogs of friends and family, I couldn't restrain from starting one myself anymore.
Some doubts about whether it should be in Flemish or English welled up, but I finally decided it should be in English...
After all, my dear Cate would constantly hassle me for translating my blibs (ty Aki, for this pleasant new English term) if they were in Flemish anyway...
(no pun intended! ... or maybe a little ... ;-)

What can you expect here?
Well, like on any other blog; my own personal thoughts and opinions about everything and nothing. About my son James, my girlfriend Cate, my family and friends, my music, my gaming-addiction, my geekiness, my ups and downs, my terrible sense of humour (according to C.) my non-existant short-term-memory and my son James. And my girlfriend Cate. And my family and friends, my m...

So, that's it! It's started, there's no way back,
and the lay-out looks a tit.
But there's time for improvement.
Lots of it. As long as the concept 'future' doesn't expire...

Have a nice day, and hopefully read, hear or see you soon!