Journal Entries
Sprout's year of accelerated aging, part III
Posted Oct 21, 2004
So, you turn thirty, you get married...
What's next?
Well you buy a house of course.
The next home of the sprout is a Standard Belgian Brick House, but it is in a nice area of the city, has a garden and needs very little work.
We won't actually have the keys for ages yet, but barring some form of problem the house is ours.
We saw loads of other properties - one funny story was when we went to look at a house owned by a rather diminutive lady. She shared the house with a daughter and layabout son, whose room was predictably messy. As we got to the top of the house, we enquired about the loft, and she explained that she didn't often use it as she couldn't get in conveniently, but that I (being a foot taller) should be able to open the trap door easily enough.
So I undo the catch, and have a look in, only to be greeted by the sight of two enormous cannabis plants under the skylight. Clearly the layabout son had his own production, and had opted for a spot where his mother wouldn't trespass... I didn't tell her - not really my business but I had to wipe a smile off my face. Poor lady - she probably showed that loft to 10 people a week, what's the chance that eventually she gets a copper or a judge who's looking to move? 
sprout
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Latest reply: Oct 21, 2004
Sprout's wedding
Posted Sep 14, 2004
Was good. 
People had a good time, the French and English spoke to each other (after a few . The Irish dancing was a good laugh - after my father in law did the first dance, no-one was worried about embarrassing themselves . The sun shone.
There was even the traditional ceremony cock up, after the mayor got my first and middle name confused, and I then had difficulty getting the ring on Mrs Sprout's finger... All part of the fun.
We were absolutely cream crackered afterwards, so had a very lazy honeymoon in Basque Spain. We now have about 1,500 photos (digital) to go through, thankyou letters to write, etc.
sprout (now with ring on finger)
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Latest reply: Sep 14, 2004
strange days
Posted Aug 13, 2004
Mechanically chewing my breakfast cereal this morning, turned MCM (French MTV) on to wake me up. Three minutes of Justin Timberlake later, my eye was caught by one of the text messages scrolling under the video.
Essentially (translating from the French) it said: residents of Jembloux Prison - please tell Pat he's a dad. From Mum (that was her name).
I wonder what goes through your head when you decide to pass a message like that through a scrolling text on a music television show? And how does it feel to get a message of that nature that way? And what if there is more than one Pat in the prison?
A little slice of a screwed up situation, passing in front of a few thousand people for a few seconds. I wonder if Pat got his message, and what will happen next? Strange world.
sprout
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Latest reply: Aug 13, 2004
Off to the Pyrenees
Posted Jul 23, 2004
For a weeks walking on a long distance path, past Cathar castles and other historic sights, and finishing at the Med for a couple of days.
Hopefully it won't be too hot...
sprout
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Latest reply: Jul 23, 2004
What next?
Posted May 5, 2004
Thinking about what next to do on the site.
Certainly not more EG entries for the moment - the last few took too much time, relative to the amount of feedback in PR, and have got very few comments on or after the front page. I do want to update the Belgium and Brussels entries though. The current text is both partial and a little patronising.
What I did enjoy was the discussion in AWW that lead to A2548037 . As with the airports piece, people reacted to it, there was a bit of discussion, suggestions were made - much more satisfying. So I'd like to do more creative type writing.
In the meantime I have been trying out two possible ideas to replace my Africa travel series in the Post. Some mountaineering true stories, like A2537228 , and a continuation of the Underguide idea, exploring the archives through the search facility. The first attempt is here: A2597015 .
Any thoughts? Either of them have potential? I could put the mountaineering stories into AWW as an alternative, depending on how many I produce. Not more than about 5 max, I guess.
In real life, have sent out invitations to wedding, which gets that off our plate, am still having problems with the music 
but the rest is on the move. Am resisting requests by some uncles and aunts for us to micromanage their weekend for them. Is it really that tricky to organise a hire car?
Had a nice 30th birthday party - my colleagues gave me some nice stripey slippers, in honour of my habit of walking round the office in socks during times of stress!
sprout
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Latest reply: May 5, 2004
sprout
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