October Update

October 18, 2014 - The big trip is now only one month away. Various things have happened since I last put information on this blog. I thought I'd better get things updated.

The Chester part of the trip stays the same and while I know the time is rather short, I do hope Louise and I will be able to drive around to see some things during that day. I'm sure we'll be a little tired but one can always sleep at the end of the day.

The Brussels leg is changing a bit. I still have to find a hotel near the city centre and, hopefully, on one of those Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour routes. Neither Louise nor I are great walkers. Louise probably is better than I am these days but then, she is 7 years younger then me. Unfortunately, my friends Jemp and Lony won't be able to pick us up and take us to As. So we are either going to be picked up by someone from As or we'll take the train from Brussels to Genk which is close to As.

We are booked in to the Hotel Mardaga in As. This is the hotel that rates highly now in our family. You can see the story about that in the previous blog - Phil Tripe Blog. 

Here is a quick note from our great friend Karel Baetan in As - "In the meantime, we received an invitation from our regional TV station (a human interest talk show called StudioTVL) to visit them on Friday, November 21. So we would like to invite you to come with us to tell something about your Dad."

Louise says the following - "I’m getting verklempt just thinking of what’s in store. Naturally, I’ll let you do all the talking for the TV interview - I might do a photobomb, though. You know, tears streaming down my face. sobbing uncontrollably. I know, I’ll be a mess! But loving it!" That's my sister!

Email from my brother Rob - "This is really something! Of course Dad would be publicly mortified (but privately, absolutely delighted) with all this "fuss". And, while I think of it, you deserve kudos for being the catalyst on Dad's behalf - this wouldn't be happening without you. (Yes, I know you're getting back a lot of pleasure as well!)"

Then on the Sunday, Weese (her other name) and I will get on a train and go from Genk back to Brussels and then to Luxembourg. I think we'll be renting a car there and travelling around to see old friends and old places. That part is still a bit vague. There is a fabulous looking Luxembourg Christmas Market in Luxembourg City while we are there so I imagine we'll be checking that out.

And the pièce de résistance today? Check this out. This is the promotional piece for The Book which includes the front cover design. The photo in the top right corner is of Dad and was put together by my dear cousin John Hall when we were getting ready for the first big trip to As back in 2010. What a great job Karel and William have done!