Belgian Spring: When Dining Al Fresco Turns into the 100-Meter Dash

Ah, springtime in Belgium. A season where the flowers bloom, birds sing, and we all get lulled into the false sense of security that we can actually enjoy a meal outside without nature throwing a tantrum. Today was supposed to be one of those rare, glorious days. The family and I decided to soak up the elusive sun and have lunch in the garden.

We set the table, brought out the food, and just as we were about to take our first bite, Mother Nature decided to remind us that we live in Belgium. Cue the ominous clouds.

Take a look at these snapshots I managed to capture before we all turned into Usain Bolt:

This first one shows the sky darkening with all the subtlety of a freight train. You can almost hear the thunder rumbling in the distance, the kind that makes you reconsider your life choices.

Here, we have the classic "I'm going to ruin your plans" sky. If you look closely, you might see the tip of our church steeple, which always adds a touch of drama, as if we needed more.

And just to hammer the point home, this third photo features those heavy, brooding clouds that scream, "Hope you didn't leave the laundry out!"

Finally, a lovely shot over our rooftop, where you can almost feel the tension in the air. It's like the clouds are having a group meeting to plan our collective drenching.

As we sat outside, blissfully unaware of the impending downpour, here's my husband @borniet with his drone and our dog with his eternal optimism, both completely ignoring the gathering storm clouds. It's like they both have a personal vendetta against accurate weather predictions.

In true Belgian fashion, we quickly gathered everything up and sprinted inside. It's almost like a national sport at this point. One minute, you're enjoying your quiche Lorraine, and the next, you're in an impromptu relay race with the kids carrying plates, and your partner frantically folding up chairs.

By the time we got everything inside, the heavens opened up with the kind of downpour that makes you grateful for your roof, but also wonder if you should start building an ark. Unless you are @borniet. Guess he is showing off his pictures he took with his drone. He walked 20km today, so a sprint probably wasn’t his first idea of relaxing.

So, there you have it. Spring in Belgium, where you get about 15 minutes of nice weather followed by an intense, dramatic storm that would make even the most hardcore meteorologists raise an eyebrow. But hey, it’s all part of the charm, right?

Until next time, stay dry and remember to always have an indoor backup plan for those outdoor picnics. Or, you know, just embrace the sprint. It's good cardio.