DD and SIL going out this evening

Your concern is understandable Felice. I think we can only just go on living our lives though. Your daughter is 30 and off to celebrate the fact in a lovely restaurant where she and her DH will gave a great time. One of my DDs is off to meet school friends in central London today. I'm sure all will be well but I'll be glad when she's back home. I have her lively 3-year-old to look after so I will be concentrating on that. Your daughter will no doubt make many trips to the Centre and really our everyday lives have to continue. I used to live near Place Madou in rue Joseph 2, and worked in the big organisation on the Zaventem road - you'll know the one ! I envy you living in such a lovely city.
Enjoy Strictly but ask her to text you when she's back.

I think there will be so much security about that probably a night out is as safe as it gets. Probably they will have to dine with an army patrol gazing enviously at their steaks. I'm sure that when we give birth some one implants a worry gene . My dd1 had to go to Nigeria just after the schoolgirls were abducted and I had a clear rescue plan with flights and times mapped out on the pooter. Motherhood is a form of madness. I feel for you

I entirely agree about the worry gene. The family laughs at me and my worrying but I just can't help it! I'm sure security will be very tight though and the OPs DD will be fine. Try to enjoy Strictly!

Yes I am being irrational and have never been a worrier, Bella we used to live near Place St Josse, and are now just off Ave Louise near Rue Baillii.
I had a Morrocan boyfriend years ago, still a friend, and when 9/11 and 7/7 happened we had a lot of discussion, one of his comments was that nothing would happen here as it would be planned here, he seems to have foretold the future.

Dgs age 3 will be downstairs with me tonight and we are going to Church as normal tomorrow so I know I am being silly about DD but she is still my baby.
Not going to tell her I am worried as she will tease me unmercifully.

We never stop worrying about our DC - and even more so our DGC, do we.

It is understandable, although everywhere will be on high alert now.

I understand your worry. My DD and her OH went to an event in London in the Speaker's House by the houses of parliament the day after the Paris shootings. I consoled myself with the fact that it would probably be full of security people; and focused all my attention on looking after their little boys. I can report that they arrived back safely.

You are not being silly - you are a Mum, and these are difficult times.

When I look back, my parents must have been worried about me, working in Brum during the IRA atrocities - indeed a shoe shop blew up behind me as I left it. I never gave a thought to whether they might be worried.

I am sure your family will have a wonderful time - remember the old adage "rare things happen rarely." Send them of with a kiss and good wishes.

...or even "off"!

DH has just worried me by saying that Brussels is on high alert for terrorist activity. DD and SIL live in Auderghem and depend on public transport, in a way it makes me happier that she will probably not be travelling to a music concert this weekend.

I absolutely understand your concern, Felice but also think (hope) security is tighter now than ever.
I lived through the IRA years in London and DH was working in the City, frequently the bombers' target. Yes I worried, sweated even if I saw a bag near an Underground train door, but you will just grit your teeth and get on with it, won't you?

(Off to London later to meet up with the DDs, friends and family for DD's "hen night" I am reasonably confident our Tapas bar of choice will be fine !))

harrigran, yes we are on high alert, but the weather has closed in, below zero temperatures, sleet, high winds so i think that might lower the risk a bit. Most of the concert venues have been closed.
If you want to get more details in English go to www.flandersnews.be
I am sure they will be fine as will my DD although with the weather they are talking about a posh home delivery.

Thank you felice, I have been to the link and it helps to see what measures are in place. Seeing the shopping centre empty of people was strange, every time I have been there it has been a bustling place.

This close to St Nicolas it is going to be a big blow to retailers.

I thought the Belgium government were advising people to stay away from crowded plac s. I would definitely advise beg them not to go.

We went to the Brussels Xmas market this time last year. Not going this year though. Very sad.

DD is going to a conference in Paris in early December and just shrugged and said "We have to carry on or they've won". I know she's right and I agree with her but I shall be on pins until she is safely back home. Once a Mum always a Mum I suppose!

I understand your concern. I was saying to DH earlier though, they say they have intelligence of an imminent attack. Usually when they say this, nothing happens. It's the places that aren't prepared that usually get hit, as in Paris. Not that that will make you feel any easier. I would be the same.

Jings, much as I would like them to stay at home, they are both Mature adults and i cannot dictate their lives.
DD has just been down and told me they have checked with the restaurant and it has not had a warning from the security services.
We have also been in touch with a dear friend who owns a bar in a sensitive area, her husband is a very senior Police officer and he has said that the security measures in place are working well.

Harrigran if it is the Johnny Halloday cancert your DD was going to, along with most of the city,, it has been cancelled but they are going to update the status at 16.00 our time(15.00 UK)
Have you spoken to your DD or like me are you trying to stay 'cool'.

As they say, felice, 'a trouble shared is a trouble halved'. Your trouble has been shared amongst all of us, and hopefully you'll be able to relax a wee bit tonight. As Bellanonna says, get her to text you when they're home again. They always will be our babies, and you're not being silly at all. x

DD wasn't going to the Johnny Halliday concert. I have been in touch with her on FB and she said that as the weather is poor she is going to stay home. I always have her in my mind because she travels all over the world, last week she was in New Orleans and New York where security was very high. Her father had to travel for his work and he has had a few narrow squeaks so I am well used to the stress.

her bathroom is 2 floors above my bedroom and due to the very old plumbing in a very old building when they flush it seems to echo in my bedroom, I have told her just for once to flush when she gets home, and to keep her heels on when she gets home so I will hear her on the wooden floors above me.

Thanks for all your support it is very much appreciate to all.

Two of my DDs are in London today visiting museums and then on to a show. The worry did cross my mind but we can't just stop doing things. I will be glad when I know they are home safe but that is usual anyway.

I'm surprised that any restaurant is open in Brussels. According to the latest reports, the whole city is in lockdown and some shopping centres have closed.

I lived in London during the IRA bombings (and was working very close to the Whitehall bomb) - my poor mother kept her worries entirely to herself, but then she was in the Wrens at Portsmouth during the war and her father was in charge of the defence of London throughout the war - so that generation had all 'been there done that'. Its our natural instinct to worry, that's how our children survive, but not to force those worries onto our adult children. (Says me who is now seriously reconsidering taking the family to the Birmingham German market.)

SIL just went for the usual Saturday family shopping. I think Belgians are determined to carry on as usual unless they are told otherwise, SIL is more worried about parking than anything else.
Strangely enough we attend the Church of Scotland here and there has been no information provided as to wether the service should go ahead

It's natural to worry, that's what mums do

DS and DGS are meeting friends at the Science Museum today, DDIL is going to another friend in the Barbican. DD is flying somewhere between Istanbul and Uzbekistan so I'll probably spend much of this weekend worrying but trying to put it into perspective.

Life has to go on as normally as possible or the terrorists will have achieved something by making us completely change how we go about our lives and make us live in a culture of fear.