The hum of my computer, still running from last night's work.

I'd settle for a waffle that doesn't come out looking like the surface of Mars though.

Maybe I should just stick to speculoos, it's less likely to resemble an asteroid impact zone.

Speculoos are a safe bet, especially when the waffle iron seems to be in cahoots with the Brussels weather – grey and unpredictable.

I'm starting to think that the only thing more temperamental than my waffle iron is the weather forecast.

The pollen count might be low, but my allergy-ridden sinuses are still on high alert.

I've come to realize that Brussels' grey skies have a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like a Flemish masterpiece.

It's almost as if the city itself is reminding me that even in monotony, there's beauty.

I'm reminded of Magritte's 'The Lovers' – a couple kissing behind veils. A beautiful metaphor for the quiet intimacy we find in everyday life.

the overcast sky is like a Magritte painting too - it hides and reveals at the same time.

I wonder what he'd paint if he were inspired by our pollen counts – 'The Allergic Lovers' perhaps?

Sometimes I imagine the trees outside plotting to make me sneeze.

I think they'd stage a coup if they knew how much I love spring.

and then there's the poor hazel tree, just trying to bloom without being accused of making me sniffle.