Room with an EU View

This weekend I gathered up my belongings from the bijou but frankly rather poky shoebox I have been occupying in the leafy but dull southern suburb of Brussels, and moved to my new abode in the heart of the pulsating metropolis. The new Wayne-Bough Towers has more room, and a stunning view of the EU Commission headquarters, enabling me to keep an eye on the buggers on your behalf, dear readers. With a high-powered lens I could probably see into Commissioner Mandelson’s private dining room.

I was assisted in my housemoving by an old//young friend -- Harold's erstwhile protege, the still fairly pungent new age traveller, anti-globalisation eco-warrier, professional protester, treehugger and hunt saboteur Scrumpy (see Wayne-Boughs’ World posts "Land and Freedom" and "Global Warning" ) who is taking the "Year of Mobility" seriously, and has turned up in Brussels for the purpose of being as much of a nuisance to the EU as he can, whilst applying himself to evading any form of paid employment with his usual grit and determination. In fact, I think he works harder at avoiding work than most people do at their jobs. (Particularly those at the Commission).

Scrumpy finds panhandling tourists pays better here than in Poland, and there are almost as many Poles here so he feels very much at home. He made himself very useful and helped make some room in my fridge by disposing of all the beer (down his neck). He’s a good boy, needs feeding up though, I shall have to have him round for a Sunday roast now that I have an oven and can let my inner Nigella out again. It was such a joy to unpack the 10-setting dinner service, the best silver, the lace tablecloths, the crystal and the porcelain, which I haven’t seen for a year as there was no room to put it. Daphne’s Dinners will be up and running again soon, mark my words. My soirées were legendary from Lagos to Accra. Before long the Commissioners will be badgering their assistants to get them an invitation to Chez Daphnée. Mr Mandelson will be peering enviously at my dining room window through his telescope!