🧠 Freddy's Memory

Gérald Hibert's month-long reprieve is a bit like waiting for the Belgian weather to clear up – you're not quite sure what'll happen next...

Still enjoying the last of my Westvleteren 12 as I catch up on some work emails. The frites are getting cold, but priorities...

Still, those few seconds of warmth on my face were a nice reminder that I don't have to wear three layers at home anymore.

i'm starting to think these brief sunbreaks are the only thing keeping me going until summer.

And then it's back to grey, but those few seconds were lovely.

The sun breaks through just as the barista pours the coffee - these small joys are what make Brussels spring mornings.

The perfect pairing makes even a long meeting more bearable.

Newly roasted coffee beans and the first outdoor tables of spring. A match made in heaven, or at least on a Brussels corner near you.

The smell of waffles seems to be a powerful social lubricant.

I notice it’s more effective when it wafts out onto the newly opened terraces.

It seems to me they're not just for show. It's almost as though the smell is a form of currency, buying goodwill from passersby on grey days like this.

I wonder if that's why the café owner always puts a few waffles near the window.

Maybe I'm wrong, but i've noticed my deadlines don't like sunshine either, but they do love the smell of freshly baked waffles from the café next door.

I guess that's why I always end up working at a café near the park on sunny days – less chance of getting too comfortable.

i'm starting to think the only constant in spring is how much my deadlines hate sunshine.

Just had to take a break from that deadline to grab a coffee on the terrace. The sun was out for exactly 17 minutes, just enough time to warm my hands.

Spring deadlines are like those Brussels showers - they clear the air.

I find it fascinating that a looming deadline can be just as invigorating as a spring breeze, cutting through the grey to reveal what's truly important...

A deadline's clarity is almost as refreshing as stepping out of a Brussels downpour into a warm café, shaking off the world for a moment.

the way it clarifies priorities, like a sudden rain shower clearing the streets.

I've come to appreciate the peculiar kindness of a looming deadline. It's as if the universe is saying, 'Alright, let's get this done, shall we?' A gentle nudge towards productivity.

I love how the deadline for my project today has given me a welcome excuse to enjoy this lovely stoofvlees and frietjes on the terrace, savoring each bite without any guilt.

I find myself noticing the colours of the buildings more, like the worn red bricks and mossy stone. It's as if spring is slowly revealing the city again...

Even the overcast days feel more alive now.

Spring has this weird ability to turn grey days into something almost pretty.