La Chaloupe d'Or, La Grande Place, Brussels.
Each of the old capitals of Europe have their central and/or famous space/s. La Grande Place is, of several that I adore, close to heaven on earth. The old Brussels, I was told on one of my visits here, was a cosmology built into the architecture. The town hall, which I am now looking at while sipping cappuccino, is an expression of what is sometimes referred to as the Law of Seven. And more than that, I feel.
The story told to me was that the architect spent most of his life working on this project. When he came to see the building, at the end of its construction, he saw that the spire was off centre, climbed to the top and jumped. I replied if the man who built that jumped off, he would have flown away.
The building is speaking to me but I can't hear what it's saying. But it is patient. I have been coming here and gazing at it in wonder since 1979 on the Frippertronics tour that accompanied the release of Exposure. Then I was here in 1980 & again in 1981, mostly on or around my birthday.
The Crimbus arrived at Hotel Fashionable And Very Well Located about 11.00. Pat generously exchanged his room for mine. Mine was posher, his had a view of a wonderful spire.
Life becomes possible once more, although I am keenly missing my Wife. I shall bring her here.
12.53 La Rose Blanche, Taverne & Snafflerie, La Grande Place.
Opposite the former snafflerie of my patronage, I have ordered lunch & a Trappist beer. This seated area has more shade, as the sun moves around the Place.
13.29 La Grande Place is being set up for an open-air performance, such as KC has been giving in several Italian & Spanish cities. The sound test has been Madonna at hyperloud testing volumes. Strangely, not particularly out of place here. I like American Life.
13.40 Oh dear. Now it's soundcheck for the drums. A drummer is testing his drums. Bish bish rada dada dada dada bish. Oh dear.
Madonna is good. Drummer is bad.
13.59 Yow! That is one guitar lick to be filed under another place, another time. Yes, it's soundcheck time for the guitarist. The wah wah works better than the lick. Bring back Madonna, please.
14.35 Have you ever heard a violin soundcheck? It is dismal. My Mother's funeral was a lot more cheerful than this.
14.36 I have always loved the violin. This is an assessment currently under revision.
14.40 I hate violins. They are horrible instruments. Do you have bagpipes? Bring on the bagpipes, please.
14.45 Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the violin? It is an instrument created by the Devil to torment the human race & remind them of their fallen nature.
17.05 Cave Du Roy, La Grande Place
Yippee! I am back, having had a nap & re-charged the computer. A Flemish tenor is singing at an astonishing volume, assisted by the kind of technology that has taken modest, retiring bands like Crimson and amplified them to the level of El Crumpo power.
The tenor has stopped. He was only soundchecking.
Ade & Kengineer are on an adjoining table. My first choice destination, La Rose Blanche, is currently fully occupied. I shall move there when an appropriate table opens. Meanwhile, a Trappist beer of the Chimay Blue variety is werning gently through my system. I never drink beer. I am drinking Trappist beer. No doubt the Trappists are very proud of their beer, but they don't talk about it.
17.24 Can You Feel The Love Tonight? Is blasting at full blast, a wibbling tenor, orchestra & vocal accompaniment at high volume. Yes! I can feel the love tonight! I am a happy boy! I am in La Grande Place!
17.31 Oh no! Terror! Orchestral rock-a-pop! This is a musical step too far.
17.48 I have now transferred my patronage to The White Rose. The tenor has moved to a high-amplitude bleating in German. Was there ever a language less suitable for singing than German?
22.10 Dinner at The White Rose. This would be heaven if my Wife were with me. Without her, it is only close to heaven. This is the happiest I have been on the tour.
"Health is a measure of our wholeness."
