With Heather enjoying a weekend away with friends this provided me with the opportunity for a trip away with my good friend Tim, from Norfolk. We had decided on using Brussels as a base for a few days in which to explore a couple of areas of Belgium. After catching Eurostar on Thursday evening from London to Brussels Midi we were soon in our hotel, the Aris, located close to Central station (we needed another from Midi to Central station) and the Grand Place. Be...

THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER Our long weekend began with a East Midlands Trains journey from Derby to London St Pancras. We had enough time for a drink at the St Pancras Grand Hotel before we hot footed it to the Eurostar terminal for the final departure of the day to Brussels Midi at 1934. This train was operated by a 'classic' Eurostar and if honest we prefer them to the new Siemens e320 trains that are now coming into service. The on board crew were pretty swift and...