tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post1477102416694744780..comments2023-09-29T15:45:37.354+02:00Comments on Wishing I were in France: 21st of July celebrationsladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05690656561242165157noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-7108816915174893832012-07-25T22:30:24.628+02:002012-07-25T22:30:24.628+02:00Martine, yes the family resemblance is uncanny. P...Martine, yes the family resemblance is uncanny. Princess Esmerelda, who is 2 years older than Damien, could be his sister!Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06314472207391333807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-37118021357315446172012-07-25T16:41:39.200+02:002012-07-25T16:41:39.200+02:00VirginiaC, I sometimes wonder what the use of the ...VirginiaC, I sometimes wonder what the use of the rating agencies is. One word from them, and stock exchanges all over the world collapse ... Why do people always panic and over-react, making things even worse? The power of and greed for money, I guess.<br /><br />Bob, If we citizens, were to manage our money the way governments do, we would all be in jail by now for not paying our debts! ;)<br /><br />Autolycus, It was all about the split of an election district called Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde (aka BHV) and the possibility of French and Flemish candidates having a chance of being elected in the other-language-speaking-part of the district. Peanuts, as usual, but enough to mobilize the hardcore militants on both sides :(!<br /><br />Ken, Yes, we're finally 'enjoying' summer temperatures as high as 30°C and even more tomorrow. Personally, I find it too hot and I see many a sleepless night ahead (I already had two) of me. I'm glad for the people who are on vacation though. And we have airco at the office, so I'm not complaining (yet).<br /><br />Louise, Wow! After reading your comment, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Now that you mention it, when I see Damien's photo on his blog, and when I look at a photo of Liliane as a young woman, I see a resemblance. Amazing!!!ladybirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05690656561242165157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-80947334450487291242012-07-25T11:58:25.478+02:002012-07-25T11:58:25.478+02:00Martine, I do know quite a lot of this history bec...Martine, I do know quite a lot of this history because my ex partner Damien's first aunt on his mother's side was Princess Lilian of Rethy, the second wife of Leopold III. Our discussions about Belgium and the monarchy during and after the war were enlightening for me. Another colourful part of your country's history. Lilian's father was a governor of Bruges, which is why we visited in 2010 to see the home in which his mother and her sisters lived before the war.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06314472207391333807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-91400448390833172922012-07-25T11:09:10.088+02:002012-07-25T11:09:10.088+02:00Hope you are having the warm and sunny weather now...Hope you are having the warm and sunny weather now!Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-40320550480920136982012-07-25T09:30:36.276+02:002012-07-25T09:30:36.276+02:00I was wondering what had happened to all those &qu...I was wondering what had happened to all those "Belgium about to collapse" stories in the papers. Just to be a real nerd, what was the 50-year-old issue (I'm guessing the one about language enclaves around Brussels or something of that sort)? No need for details, just a clue one can Google would be interesting.Autolycushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642868944400656922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-58161018415705671702012-07-24T16:56:34.272+02:002012-07-24T16:56:34.272+02:00great lesson. the world economy isn't very go...great lesson. the world economy isn't very good at this time. i think all countries are taxing too much and spending too much. i guess if i managed my personal finances like the government, i would would either be destitute or have to depend on the government to take care of me.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07708663903103524079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297241541767981823.post-87293332203735827452012-07-23T19:46:11.653+02:002012-07-23T19:46:11.653+02:00Martine, I enjoyed this post a whole lot and I hav...Martine, I enjoyed this post a whole lot and I have learned a lot.<br />We here in Barbados have just been downgraded to Junk Bond status by Standard & Poor's, so we have a long way to get back in good standing.<br />It is also interesting to note that we are the heaviest taxed island in the Caribbean.VirginiaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17282569773671179047noreply@blogger.com