DD and SIL going out this evening

I don't think that anything anyone says will stop you worrying; it's natural. I am the same where my children and grandchildren are concerned - if I had the choice I'd confine them to the house permanently until someone told me that every risk had been eliminated. But you can't live life like that. DH was posted to Londonderry in 1972; we arrived the day after Bloody Sunday. If you want to know what high alert was, it doesn't come much higher. My mother begged me not to go and take the children, but if we hadn't gone, and tried to give DH a normal life to come home to it would have been awful for him. Sometimes he wouldn't come home for days at a stretch and all he wanted to do was see his kids. On the rare occasions he got time off, we tried to do normal things as far as restrictions would allow. One thing that was apparent from the start as the way the media (especially the tabloids) at home hyped things up beyond belief at times, so that you wondered sometimes whether they were talking about the same place you were living in. The young are not so risk averse as we oldies - I wasn't then. They are not blind to the risks, but they weigh them up and get on with it. I'm sure your daughter will enjoy her birthday, felice. Wonderful place Belgium - my DD was born there!

Exactly Loopylou, we just have to hope the security services we all pay for are on the ball.

DGS just came down and we are making painted pasta pictures, waiting for the paint to dry before the gluing commences.

DD is going to text me every hour, she normally doesn't turn her phone on when out, and I am NOT going to keep checking the news.

Ok back to Thomas the Tank Engine and paint and glue.

My friend outside her bar in Brussels about 10 minutes ago, near Louise and the Palais de Justice for anyone who knows Brussels

Not nearly as immediate a concern as yours Felice, but my DH is flying out on business to Schiphol on Monday. I know there haven't been any issues surrounding the airport but it's a place where you might expect there to be. I would just rather he wasn't travelling right now.

I'm sure all will be well this evening Felice, but I can appreciate your anxiety.

I do not think there have been any security alerts in the Netherlands, it seems to be confined to Belguim.

Looks like they'll be staying in if the news is anything to go by. Scary time in Brussels. Those soldiers look very intimidating. Surely this lock down will prevent a further atrocity.

I have not watched any news this afternoon but feel quite happy that DD is cosy in her home in Brussels. She is fortunate that she is able to walk to work and does not have to cross the city.

I lived through the IRA in Belfast for a time from late 60s and definitely one learns to deal with it, never thought of how worried my parents might be when I was out late. In the 90s I used to worry myself sick when ds was across town in digs at uni...the shoe was on the other foot.

Wonderful city Brussels, I worked on Avenue Louise and lived on Rue des Cottage in the 70s.

DD had a nice dinner but city centre closed from 21.00 so expect to hear them home soon.
Got sad news , St Andrews Church of Scotland Brussels, will not be holding a service tomorrow, our Church has a proud history being built on donations from soldiers after WW1, just last Sunday we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the very first service to be held in the Church.
I and some South American members of our congregation cooked a wonderful lunch in celebration.
Had to explain to DGS why he could not go and see his friends at Sunday SChool tomorrow and rehearse for the Nativity Play.
I am now angry, who the hell do these men think they are using Islam as an excuse to inflict their obscene views on the rest of us,,, F* them.
A dear friend who is an assistant manager at the bank of Morroco here has been told she may not be able to go to work on Monday for fear of retaliation.
Glass of wine I think best wishes eveyone x

I can't go along with this "carry on as normal or they've won" thing. Life is sweet.

I second that felice.
How sad about your St Andrews C of S. I'm not religious now but brought up in the C of S and still emotionally attached to it.

Felice , what an unbelievable picture. I suppose closing the City Centre makes sense in this particular climate, but how very sad. Glad DD got out though it can't gave been too relaxing. Avenue Louise is a nice area. Keep safe, all of you. Can so well understand how your feelings have turned to anger and I echo your comment.

jbf - what would you do then ?

Bloody well stay safe. At home. Especially when the streets are crawling with soldiers. As I have just seen Brussels' streets are, on the News.

It's unfair to go against official advice by putting yourself in unnecessary danger.

DD got in touch by Skype tonight. She says she was able to walk to the local Carrefour for her shopping. There were armoured cars in the car park and soldiers guarding the area. She rang the local Thai restaurant but the phone had number unobtainable tone so it appeared that they were not opening for their busy Saturday night.

It is perfectly natural to worry - it is important to keep it firmly to yourself.

It is precisely because life is sweet that we should carry on as normal- I think it is important to do so.

(It is statistically far more likely that you will be in a car crash and yet people think nothing of hopping in a car, to pop down to the supermarket, when most accidents happen within 2 miles from home.)

Well, it seems they had a nice almost normal evening, Restaurants which had them had closed shutters and curtains and she says the local security companies must be raking it in as nearly everywhere had a guard on the door, the majority Morrocan as that is the largest population of non-EU migrants here.
She texted me regularily and they were home about midnight.
Just heard a BBC reporter live from Brussels centre bemoaning the lack of Christmas shoppers, ummmmm the shops are not open here on a Sunday and the Christmas market does not start until next weekend.
Christmas does not start until after St Nicolas arrives.!! he also commented on armed Police, all police carry guns here.
I feel quite reassured that our government has acted so quickly and made the city secure in such a small space of time, no panic and all the services working together, which has been a problem here in the past.
Ah well quiet day here today, it is wet and cold or we would have taken a walk.
Have a good Sunday and thanks for all your support.

I'm staying with with DD1 in UK at the moment. DGD(24) just asked DGS(22) when he was going to Brussels. "Don't know, I might not be now." he said. His surprise gift to his girlfriend whose birthday was yesterday was a trip to Brussels for the pre Christmas festivities.
He is actually quite philosophical about it. If the Foreign Office is allowing people to go they will be going.

I'm sorry that your church didn't have a service today Felice. And I am very sorry that your little grandson couldn't go and rehearse his Nativity play.
I'm glad that I don't have to comfort and explain the latest atrocities to a small grandchild. I hate the fact that my two older grandchildren seem to take them as a natural fact of life.