One of those days ...

Garlic, originally uploaded by - di.

I was smiling, I swear I was and then in the process of searching out this image for this post, I realised I had just given the printers a tiny file by mistake and tried to stop them printing the 30x45cm print ...

It's been done, 2 hours after delivering it to the 24 hour service people. The Belgians were efficient and it couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Never the mind, I was here and smiling after a long dark night of the soul (or 3), snacking on a lunch of the wickedest things ...

Bagels from the British Store (where I hung up an advertising poster finally) with a splash of the most delicious Azienda Agricole Monte Gualberto Grati - extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany,with a sprinkling of natural sea salt from Portugal, listening to Viktoria Mullova from Russia and thinking life was okay.

The NGO paid my invoice, the Belgian VAT (btw here) people immediately whipped 250euro of it from my account. I have ordered the prints that I've had outstanding while waiting for my invoice to be paid. I have sent Belgian chocolates to the young guy who is slowly but surely recovering from his terribly injury suffered more than 8 weeks ago now.

The really excellent olive oil, salt and olives came from Oliviers & Co here in Antwerpen city. The woman was lovely and guided this creature who knows what she likes but lacks the details of olive oils and salts. I can't recommend the shop highly enough.

I mailed off 3 photo cds and and have two more here and I'm settling down to begin work on the thousands of Istanbul photographs that overwhelm me every time I open a folder.

My new website is undergoing its rewrite and I'm hopeful about moving to it within the fortnight and so I'm writing and preparing to load more over there, and then there's NGO stuff and a photo gallery to load in Brussels tomorrow, while I'm there photographing a meeting for the exhibition in August.

Hmmmm what else, there's always more .. the housework hasn't been done and it's already after 4pm and I was hoping to write an article for Cafebabel about work.

Oh, and there was most delicious photography session at a Jewish gathering yesterday. It was a privilege to be there and for those who are surprised, I've never not liked the Jewish people, I merely take issue with extreme right and centre right Israeli politicians and soldiers who are doing so much harm to the Palestinians.

I have good friends who are Jewish and l love taking part in Shabbat because both times I have found it quite heartbreakingly beautiful.
Just to be clear.

Kunst Op De Baan - een symbiose tussen kunst en commerce, Antwerpen

Exhibition work, I, originally uploaded by - di.

And so the exhibition began with the hanging of my photographs last night.

Jessie had worked with me on the final product, slipping the 'private life' photograph into the top left corner to the 'public life' photograph taken at Brasserie Reuzenhof.

Jan, my Reuzenhof host, seemed delighted with results and immediately took down the art works he had hanging, replacing them with mine. He has invited me to continue photographing his clients over the 3 weeks the exhibition runs for and we'll hang them for sale.

Today is about replacing the 2 frames broken last night by people other than myself (I'm usually grateful not to be 'the one'), then we have to hunt down a month's worth of groceries with the rental car and later, attend little Miss Four's dance performance.

Grote Markt and the Brabo Fountain, Antwerpen

Antwerpen, 19 April 2009, originally uploaded by - di.

The light, the clouds and the 17-40mm lens means I've been seeing the world in a new way. Today I discovered that I could see the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kathedraal behind the Brabo Fountain if I stood here.

The rain clouds and bright sunlight did the nicest things to the photograph.

Carolus Borromeuskerk, Antwerpen

Antwerpen II, 19 April 2009, originally uploaded by - di.

And this is my favourite church in my favourite square here in the city.

The Canon 5d series 11 shamed me into learning the technicalities of photography finally ... some of them anyway and so when the sun combined with some thundery-looking clouds, I could fiddle with bits and bobs and capture something close to what was in front of me.

I love my Canon EOS 5D Series 11, did you know.

Via Via Reis Cafe, Antwerpen

Antwerpen III, 19 April 2009, originally uploaded by - di.

This is one of my favourite cafes in the city and now that the sun has returned you can see why I think.

Add excellent music, good food, friendly staff and free wifi to the mix and voila ...

Barista Workshop, Antwerp.

Barista Workshop, Antwerp., originally uploaded by - di.

I'm just in from an excellent night out tonight.

You see, I had wanted to write an article on one of my favourite coffee cafes here in the city and then suddenly had the opportunity to attend one of their 2 hour barista workshops.

I always forget the difficulty of participating and/or doing an interview while taking the photographs. My very first handmade cappuccino was okay but I had hoped for perfection and my love heart on top was all but unrecognisable.

The course began with a 20 minute movie and talk by the guy running the course - I actually learnt a lot. There were things I wish I didn't now know about coffee however knowing does mean I'll be a little more selective in which coffees I buy.

If in Antwerpen and curious, you can check out Kaldi's website here.

Antwerpen Central Station

Antwerpen Central Station, originally uploaded by - di.

The train station is being refurbished - note the small copper glow near the bottom of the photograph.

I had never seen the station from this angle and couldn't resist taking this shot.

Book Sale in Antwerpen (100s of English books too)

My intention was virtuous ... I was going to my favourite secondhand bookstore here in the city to simply buy childrens books for class tomorrow.

So virtuous in intent, so wicked in actuality.

You see, it turns out the De Slegte, with its oftentimes staggeringly good selection of secondhand English books is having a massive 50% off all novels.

I might have been lost in the book aisles for more than 2 hours, I have no idea but I came out triumphant.

Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost (3 euro), Kate Moses Wintering (3.50euro), Ann Pachett's Bel Canto 3euro and one simple novel (2.50 euro) to lose myself in for an hour or two.

So, what stories for the children at 9.30 tomorrow ... well there's Mr Jelly from the Mr Men series and associated birthday-card-colouring-and-making session, the eating of red jelly from New Zealand and so much more.

The fun never stops ...