I was in a hurry to get back because my wife, Godelieve, had a vernissage for her latest work at the Maison des Arts in Schaerbeek. The house, a listed building, is some two hundred years old and once stood in its own parkland. Now it is hidden away behind rows of houses on the Chaussée de Haecht and the Rue Royale. Every year the commune invites a Schaerbeek-based artist to use the ground floor of the house. Godelieve had noticed a row of decorative Delft tiles in one of the rooms and from this came her idea to paint a series of blown-up Delft-style representations of modern Schaerbeek life. It works really well. The vernissage was a great success and good fun. The guests included plenty of our neighbours, family, friends and acquaintances, but also other Schaerbeekois. The echevin responsible for cultural affairs, Georges Verzin, made a warm speech and Leila’s boyfriend, Réné Morgensen (they are also Schaerbeek residents) entertained us on his alto sax. It was a happy occasion and I was very proud.