Jay that's wonderful news mate! So happy to hear your health worries turned out to be something that can easily corrected and that you're feeling better. That's certainly a load off of your mind.   

I'll be looking forward to your Bruges bits from your trip whenever you get a chance to post them here.

Once again, so happy to hear you're feeling better and are doing things to keep your health going in the right direction.

A big hearty CHEERS to you Jay!! - John

Well folks that was some trip to Bruges (and beyond) it most definitely ranks up there as one of the very best....the bottle share was epic, the beer festival was magnificent, the bars and beers fantastic and Filip & Katrien the absolute icing on the cake 

First however some health news...

You may remember that for almost a year I've been troubled with a constant upset stomach and in the past few weeks been in pain with a hernia, I've also been passing a lot of blood when visiting the toilet.

Because its been going on so long (with me brushing it off as blokes do) and the blood Linda insisted that I go to the Doctors and last month I visited our local GP. After a check and samples I did indeed have a hernia and also found traces of blood so a visit to a cancer specialist was next with blood tests, a colonoscopy and ultrasound booked.

The cancer specialist gave me a full checkover and thankfully found nothing to worry him, this was all a week before we flew out to Bruges.

Our time in Bruges provided the perfect (and much needed distraction) and it was whilst we were in Bruges that I got the results of my blood test, on our very last day and hours before we were due to leave - it turns out that I'm anaemic, low on vitamin B12 and vitamin D but the good news is that my Frality score was 1 (the best result, a test of your fitness)

Two days ago I had my colonoscopy (my that was some experience) and I'm delighted to say that no cancer was found     the surgeon did find 5 small polyps that have been sent away for a biopsy but I'm sure this is just precautionary.

Tomorrow I have the first of six vitamin B12 injections and start a course of vitamin D tablets.

I'm still to get a date for my ultrasound and there's my hernia to sort out but the main thing is that I've got the all clear for the dreaded "C" AND my stomach feels SO much better

So its positive thoughts from now on and very much looking after myself 

I will be posting bits from our trip to Bruges (try and stop me  ) there's our amazing trip out with Filip and Katrien to share and new bars

Much love
Jay         

Quote from: Jay on September 05, 2026, 02:22:23 AMThe WhatsApp idea is a fantastic one and a great way for us all to keep in touch, share messages and beer reviews (keep them coming mate)

I hope you don't mind Filip but that's exactly what I've done, there's now a Belgian Beer Board WhatsApp message (if one is already in place I can easily delete it) or if you want to make an official one then that's no problem

https://chat.whatsapp.com/GOk9a2tMNNeEKNTHk7md1y?s=cl&p=i&mlu=0&ilr=4

Hopefully the link works or I can invite individually if necessary 

Cheers Jay 

My apologies Filip, Jay and Viv for such a delay in replying to your posts, but things have been so busy lately for me in work and in life itself that I've even had a hard time checking in here at my long time favorite website of all which I used to do daily (often multiple times) for years without fail.

Filip, while I will dearly miss checking in here I completely understand your decision. Certainly this is a small community here at the Belgian Beer Board, one that allows a much more personal touch and feeling that neither Facebook nor any other mass media social website can give.

Yet I understand the time and money you've put into this labor of love on the Belgian Beer Board is hard to justify when there are only a few people participating. Just days ago I told myself that I need to post more here, show more of my beery adventures and the type of reports and tastings that you, Jay and Viv have wonderfully captured and shared here. I'll always treasure those posts immensely.

Words cannot tell you what the Belgian Beer Board has meant to my over the years. I've shared some parts of my life at times where I've never shared it anywhere else online. All because of the true, deep friendship, trust and understanding that I feel here. There have been things I never would have shared on a mass media site, things you've been so kind to respond to in a thoughtful and caring way that helped me through some crazy times I wouldn't wish on anyone. Thankfully my life is in a much better place now, and it's in part because of the strength and faith that I've gained right here.

If you'd all be willing Filip, Jay, Viv and anyone else here who would like to join I'd like to perhaps propose that maybe we can all work out a day or evening (I know we're not all in the same time zone, especially me, lol) sometime before the Belgian beer Board's final shutdown where we can share a final few Belgian beers together here at the same time. Have a last chat at this amazing place we've called home over the years. Anyone up for that?

Finally, a deep thank you to Filip for all the time and effort you've put into making the Belgian Beer Board what it is and always has been, and to Jay and Viv and the other folks who have contributed over the years. I've been so lucky to have met a few of you, and would still dearly love to meet with those of whom I haven't and meet again with those I have.

But for now, it soon will be last call at the Belgian Beer Board. I'm thankful that even though it's elsewhere we'll still have a place to call home.

With a heartfelt Cheers to you! - John     

   

Hi Viv,

That's a really nice message there mate, like you say the 4 of us have most definitely cemented a Belgian Beer Board bond that surpasses most online friendships and that needs celebrating

The WhatsApp idea is a fantastic one and a great way for us all to keep in touch, share messages and beer reviews (keep them coming mate) and hopefully one day we'll get to share a beer together 

Next week is the Bruges Beer Festival and so it's a meet up with Filip and Katrien also Rudy and Marina and also the many friends we've made over the years (no doubt we'll bump into my other woman Daisy  ) and it also be great to see Dries at my No1 bar Beertje

You can expect a full report and I'm going to make it my best one yet

Cheers maties
Jay 

Hey guys,

I suppose its not really out of the blue as you can tell by the number
of postings that the four of us ( Filip, Jay, John and myself ) are currently
making.

For my part I have really enjoyed the searching and tasting of nearly 2,000
Belgian beers, carried out over the last 26 years.

We have all played a great part in the journey shared on this website, each
one of bringing something different. Filip's research and updates of local
breweries and beers, new releases, etc. And obviously facilitating this
website! Jay's tastings and travels seeking out not only Belgian beer but
local beer too. John's american input, research and viewpoint from across
the pond. My tastings ( you guys have done this too ).

I have become less interested in chasing down and finding new brews as well as
sourcing them, especially after Covid and Brexit which provided restrictions
and added tax import duties. I rarely drink alcohol these days as the joy of
doing so has naturally been lowered.

The four of us created a bond and friendship far beyond what would seem possible
by online media alone ( apart from Filip and Jay who did meet up and fairly
regularly). I for one will miss this but as you say there's the FB site. Although
I tend to stay well away from FB, TikTok and Instagram.

Maybe we should start a Whatsapp group for the four of us to keep that intimate
shared bond we have enjoyed.

Wouldn't it be just great to actually one day meet up and have a beer or two
in Belgium???!!!

I will add further thoughts as they come to me! Lots more could be added yet!

So, it's a big CHEERS guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Viv

   

   

Hi Filip,

It's a sad day in the wonderful history of the Belgian Beer Board BUT I totally understand and respect your decision to close the website and concentrate on the FB page - it's number of users, activity and like you say ZERO costs.

I can only feel immense gratitude for all the special memories that are a direct result of this site but firstly it's about the friends I have made, though I haven't met everyone in person I still class you as true friends whom I'll always be in contact with over on Facebook - John and Viv, thanks for all the great chats we've had over the years, your friendship is something I hold dear 👏🏻

Also without it there would have been no vintage beer tasting and talking about tastings the epic bottle shares at Rudys (would I even known the legend that is Rudy) a friendship (now along with Marina) that I have here to thank for.

Tony, Jeremy, Danielle, Lee, Scott...again friends that were formed through the BBB 👏🏻

The biggest thank you goes to yourself Filip (and Katrien of course) you made all the above possible and for that I'll be eternally grateful.
The countless meetings we've had over the years, the bars we've visited, the days out to the furthest rural corners of Belgium visiting breweries and bars known only to locals AND that is set to continue in just three weeks time 

This isn't the end it's just evolving, we're all still here we're just a click away


Cheers for everything
Jay