This week I was supposed to be starting my Brussels fieldwork. I left for Brussels on Tuesday morning and returned back to England the following day! Why? I shall explain…

While I was in Lisbon I thought it would be a good idea to sort out my Brussels fieldwork arrangements, book my Eurostar tickets and sort out somewhere to stay. I looked on the classified ads and found somewhere that looked suitable and made enquiries. I arranged it and paid the rent and deposit in advance. I was promised that I would hear something nearer the time and have the keys couriered to me. As I left for Brussels I had fears that I would be heading there to discover that I had been conned. This was the case! I got to Brussels and set about locating my digs. I turned up at the door to discover multiple flat numbers (I wasn’t told which) and none of the names on the doors matched. Also the big banner advertising rooms to let looked very different from the photos I had been given. It was clear that I had been dealing with a bogus landlady and the money I had paid I will probably never see again. Ouch!!!

Now, this is quite a lot to take in! Especially in a city you’ve never been in before and my French is a little bit rusty still. While I tried to make the effort some words came out Portuguese still! Anyway I thought I better drag my stuff around Brussels and find somewhere to stay for the night. Eventually I got somewhere but it was pricey! The room was ok but there was no way I could afford a second night and I had to start to consider the possibility that I would have to turn around and head for home.

Brussels is certainly a nice place and I needed to make the most of it before arranging a Eurostar home. I went to Grand Place and had a nice Belgian meal of moules frites (mussels and fries) and I had a waffle for afters. I also needed to have a nice Belgian beer while I was there – lovely stuff! I took some photos but really couldn’t do anything other than briefly be a tourist before having to return home.

But I will return to Brussels at some point and will do the fieldwork I have been planning. I had made arrangements to meet with people but they have been understanding when I told them I was postponing my fieldwork for the time being. This is very frustrating because if it were not for the mishap with my accommodation I would be there now and probably making good headway in getting my fieldwork done.

Due to this rather sudden change of circumstances I was actually in the country on General Election day. I thought that 2010 would be the second polling day running I would have been out of the country and unable to vote but in the end I went out to exercise my democratic right. The real fun of course comes in staying up all night to watch the election night coverage. I didn’t stay up all night but stayed up until the point where I could be sure we were heading for a hung parliament and that even by the morning there would be no clear winner!

So I am at home in Suffolk and am planning to lie low for a bit and spend as little money as possible. I have things to be getting on with so it’s not so bad. I need to go up to Newcastle at some point but at the moment I don’t know exactly when. I’ve got a bit of explaining to do I guess!

But at least I am back and can draw a line under this episode. Proof that all PhDs have their setbacks, but these things are sent to try us!