In December 2019, Helen and I took a trip to Bruges, Belgium to visit the Christmas markets. 
As we were travelling on Eurostar, rather than flying, there was no weight limit for luggage, so Helen took a suitcase the size of a small wardrobe and packed four coats, four pairs of boots, and four handbags – in addition to the rest of her clothes.

It was so heavy that neither of us could lift it, so we relied on chivalrous gentlemen heaving it on and off the trains between London and Bruges.

Helen enthralled by Bruges. 
I just wish I’d been able to record her squeals of delight, on seeing the fairy lights in town, as the taxi drove us to the hotel.

She saw an advertisement for a Cat Cafe and being Helen, couldn't resist the opportunity to go and pet some cats. It was miles from where we were staying - right on the other side of Bruges - but she was determined to go. So we walked and we walked and we walked all the way across town - only to find it had closed down.

Bruges is famous for Belgian chocolate, and every shop you went into would offer free samples – something Helen took full advantage of. She also bought vast quantities of chocolate to take home as presents – so much that we hadn’t room in either of our suitcases to transport it on the journey home.  I ended up buying a small case on wheels just to accommodate all the chocolate.