Category Archives: Travel
Exeunt, pursued by bedbugs
Our first holiday in years. We entered my acquaintance’s Paris flat, immediately expressing our gratitude to the moon-faced ginger tom who had made this possible. We could not have afforded a hotel, so free accommodation in the exclusive, almost central … Continue reading
No (Proper) Post Today
Scribe Doll is busy packing and saying goodbye to Brussels. For further information, see Westvleteren. Scribe Doll
Posted in Travel
Tagged brussels, katherine gregor, scribe doll, trappist beer, westvleteren
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The Castle of Translators
Seneffe. H. is beaming as we walk into the courtyard. It is girdled by a horseshoe of former 18th century stables, now turned into guest rooms. In front of us, beyond the railings, are the tall trees belonging to the … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
Tagged katherine gregor, languages, literary translation, scribe doll, seneffe
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On the Train from Norwich to London
The journey from Norwich to London was supposed to take two hours. It took a little over four. When we left Norwich, all seemed on schedule. Then they got us to leave the train and wait on the platform in … Continue reading
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Tagged ghent, katherine gregor, norwich, robert browning, scribe doll, train journeys
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Pictures of Saint-Gilles
In the heart of bas Saint-Gilles, the cobbles of Le Parvis are lined on both sides with cafés, brasseries and a couple of Moroccan cake shops. Tables are put outside at the first glimmer of elusive Brussels sunshine. People sit … Continue reading
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Tagged brussels, katherine gregor, saint-gilles, scribe doll, travel, writing
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Place de Bethléem
The early evening light bathing Place de Bethléem carries flecks of sunlight. Since moving to Brussels, I’ve had to arrange my timetable according to the sun. In other words, as soon as I glimpse a rare hint of a sunbeam, … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
Tagged brussels, katherine gregor, place de bethléem, saint-gilles, scribe doll, travel, writing
10 Comments
Jazz and Three Women Carrying Water
In the Place du Jeu de Balle/Vossenplain, the flea market is being packed up. Small china ornaments, wood carvings, worn-in leather jackets, incomplete sets of cut-crystal glasses and frayed canvasses with oil paintings of forest clearings are wrapped in creased … Continue reading
Three Brussels Quirks and Three Delights (at least for a Londoner)
Quirk No 1: The Milk Issue “I don’t think we’ll be getting any semi-skimmed milk this week.” I stare at the sales assistant of our local Carrefour supermarket. I am suddenly propelled into a parallel universe of Surrealism where I … Continue reading
Easter in Brussels
M., the neighbour upstairs, asks if I am going to plant flowers in the large pots overgrown with weeds and dusty, pollution-corroded rosemary. She looks disappointed when I say that I’m not going to bother planting anything, since we’re staying … Continue reading
Trying Out a New City (Again!)*
Eclectic, dirty, quirky and – for a European capital – surprisingly scruffy. This city reminds me of a bric-à-brac shop, where a precious artefact, a piece of useless junk, an item of modern tat and a neglected masterpiece lie side … Continue reading
Scribe Doll 