Transcript of previous post

As promised, here is the transcript. And a video of the ceiling for no reason whatsoever.

TRANSCRIPT BEGINS:

Dermot:
What the OU has meant to me is that on 21 November 2009 at ten minutes past eleven I am sitting in a bar in the middle of Belgium with Mike, with Esy, with Betty, with Pat [everyone: hello!]. We've been drinking since five o'clock this evening, we've had a wonderful time, we're all happy and this is life so enjoy it while you're here. Long live OUSA, long live the OU. Hooray - 40th Birthday - Happy Birthday OU [Esy: 'Happy Birthday OU!'].

Mike:
OK - this is OUSA Belgium TV reporting live from the centre of Brussels on whatever date it is. Thank you and good night.

TRANSCRIPT ENDS

Incidentally, when Dermot says drinking he means non-alcoholic drinks as well - everywhere we went to had soft drinks and a no-smoking policy - all are welcome at Eurofests!

Happy Birthday OU!

Finally, we ended up in a trendy café whose name I have forgotten. This excellent toast to the OU and OUSA was kindly provided by Dermot (transcript to follow). May the Euro-festing continue!

Grand Café

We ended up eating at the Grand Café which is French for big cafe. It was a good meal and those left at the end were treated to a rose bought by an anonymous galant.

La Brouette

Here we are having a pre-dinner drink at a place called 'The Wheelbarrow'.

If you zoom in you can just make out 'Grad Ted' one of our 'here we are' signs - he's wearing glasses and wrapped up in a plastic bag (doesn't seem to mind).

It's a grand place!

After our afternoon walk, we headed back to the Grand' Place for an apéro in 'La Brouette'. The GP is getting ready for Christmas, which means they put funny lights everywhere. This is the spire of the Hotel de Ville/Stadhuis/Town Hall topped by Saint Michael defending the city.

Double booking

As well as the OU, the Belgian Royal Library (3 million books) is celebrating 40 years - wonder if they held a Eurofest too?

Royalty

We walked to the Royal Palace - the King sent his apologies for absence at our Eurofest and said he wasn't sure that holding it at his place next year was a good idea.

Brussels Cathedral

Because the results for many courses are out soon, we took the group along to the Cathedral to see this window depicting Judgement Day.

Drug Opera - l'addition svp!

The Drug Opera was a good low-cost venue - about 12-16 euros per head.

We thought we'd ask the UK students to pay three times their share in line with OU fees policy, but decided that wouldn't be very festive.

Eurofest 2009 - the Drug Opera

We had lunch in the Drug Opera - this is what the decor is like. I think the official reason for its name is that there used to be a pharmacy here and it is just round the corner from the Belgian National Opera.

Eurofest 2009 - La Chaloupe d'Or

This was our first venue - a quick coffee/beer before lunch enjoyed by students from places as diverse as Manchester and Brazil. The temperature was 15 degrees and it was as sunny as the tropics.

Quick means ninety minutes.

Introduction to this blog

This is a blog set up for those members of the Open University Students Association wishing to hear about regular Eurofests.

Eurofests are regular meetings within Europe - or that is the aim. The first Eurofest celebrating 40 years of the OU was held in Brussels on Saturday 21 November 2009. Future meetings are planned for the Hague and Dublin.

Have a look here at some of the images of past events and have your say (comments are moderated) about possible future events.

And wherever you are, let's celebrate the OU and OUSA!