Ghent, Belgium

What a surprise … David didn’t tell me anything when we left Houston! A few hours later we landed in Brussels to go to Ghent.
So close to my home, friends and family! Sorry, mom and dad … but we really didn’t have the time to visit Vlezenbeek. David was busy attending the SOHO 20 conference in Ghent. It’s there he handed me over to Jon (left on the picture).
Thanks David for everything and greet David jr., Andrew and Caeleigh for me when you’re back in Houston.

It really felt good to be back in Belgium for a few days.
As you might probably know since the last Federal elections on June, the 10^th there are negotiations going on to form a new government in my little country. These negotiations are characterized by the disagreement by the Flemish and French-speaking parties about the need and the nature of a constitutional reform, which resulted in a political crisis. On September 18, a symbolic 100 days have passed since the election, making it one of the longest formation periods in Belgian history. The 2007 formation is now the second longest formation period in Belgian history.

During my stay, on September 29, King Albert II again appointed Yves Leterme for a second time as formateur. So the negotiations can restart next week. I don't know whether my stay in Belgium had an influence on the negotiations, but I can leave Belgium (for a second time) with confidence.
Before I return to the U.S. with Jon, we’ll have a short stay in Paris …