Picking Up The Pieces.

 

The Bruges Diptych on Goudenhandrei.
The new pavilion echoes the mediaeval house to form
an architectural diptych.

Inside the Triennale exhibit one can see
the proximity of the old and new.

I keep intending to include a photo of the Triennale exhibit on Goudenhandrei, The Bruges Diptych, which instantly showed me what I hadn’t understood before. The photo, taken from the far side of the approach to the pavilion, clearly demonstrates the idea of an architectural diptych which Jon Lott had. His construction, almost joining the rear of the building which now stands where the house of Jan Van Eyck probably once stood, echoes it in several ways. Two attic windows in the old house are twinned by similarly-shaped window ‘spaces’ in the new, pavilion. The new house is similarly shaped and sized as the older building and I was amazed when I entered the new ‘shell’ at how very close it is to the old brick of the earlier place; sufficiently close to be in contact, a virtual shadow. Jon Lott speculated on the interplay with what can be seen, outside, with the naked eye, and what takes place behind the facade, suggesting that this enquiry underpins the whole of this year’s Triennale.

Other pieces to pick up this week include my regaining, chiefly, my normal cheerful Brugse routine after a certain lethargy and disinterest set in, following news of my sister’s death. Unexpected death of a loved one does somehow throw the compass out. I just wanted to be alone, slumped in my own thoughts and memories but several little things have happened to intervene. An unexpected invitation to lunch from a friend who will be in Brugge briefly, tomorrow. Long and kind messages of support over Heather’s death and lots of family Face-time. Discussions over the ceremony for my sister who did not want a funeral and which have concluded in the decision to have a Celebration of her Life in a beautiful garden, probably her daughter’s where her 80^th party was held a little over a year ago. And the ongoing kindness of friends and acquaintances. All these have conspired to assuage the grief a little and energise me so that normality has more or less resumed.

Oude Zomerstraat.

Exquisite figures on a fireplace

Another unexpected opportunity occurred yesterday when I was invited to join a tiny group, with English commentary, for a brief tour of the only house in Oude Zomerstraat, off Oude Burg [as part of Open Monumentdag.] It is a magical place though we didn’t really see the 15^th century areas; mainly the huge 1900 addition which is currently being renovated and upgraded with a new mediaeval fireplace inserted and a magnificent 15^th century ceramic stove installed, large enough to heat an assembly room, from Romania. The son of the previous owner who died two years ago and who had lived in the house for many years, is currently renovating the 1900 addition with a view to providing a future life as a B&B. And a rather special one at that!!

The view from the Minnewater Petanque court
incorporates the Triennale too.

Change of venue for Petanque, now moved from Minnewater [my favourite in spite of, or perhaps because of, its slightly unkempt, bumpy surface which favours my erratic play] to the court adjacent to Astridpark. This is in a public way, parallel to the Park, so that our expertise, or lack thereof, is frequently commented upon, or watched in amusement by, passers-by. It is certainly a sociable place to play! On Wednesday next, we shall move for coffee to Le Pain Quotidien in Simon Stevinplein for a trial period perhaps. The manager is more than happy to have our low-spending custom [only coffees usually] but cannot guarantee a place for us in this popular tourist spot every week. We have to take our chance. We have been meeting in Kaffee Kamiel in Zilverpand since the Lockdown was relaxed enough to permit groups to gather outside. KK has a splendid terrace but now the Wednesday market has moved back to the Markt, we want somewhere nearer to it, to meet. Our former home in Hotel Martin in Oude Burg is not currently available.

Le Pain Quotidien, Bruges.

Mah Jong continues on its weekly satisfying way; on my terrace last week and this. The flower-filled terrace, with plants beginning the long slow fade into Autumn, is still enough of a floral bower to give a garden
atmosphere to our third floor terrace games. And this week, we hope to welcome back a member of the group who has been ill. Another excuse for a bottle of celebratory bubbly I suspect.