The plan was simple: take a bus to Brussels-Nord station, walk to the Grand Place,…
EN
Continue Reading
When Watches Meet Cards: The Steel Watches Deck
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been seeing Instagram ads for poker chips and…
EN
Continue Reading
A Photo Report – Audi Concept C and Alpine F1 at the 102nd Brussels Motor Show
As the title suggests, this is a photo report from my visit to the 102nd…
EN
Continue Reading
Three LEGO Formula 1 Cars Compared: Mercedes, Red Bull, and Kick Sauber
I would like to begin this article with a brief clarification: this is a comparison…
EN
Continue Reading
Successful Servicing of an Omega 2810-2 SC – Until It Wasn’t
At this point, I have to recall one of my favourite quotes from Sir Winston…
EN
Continue Reading
Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 LEGO Race Car
With the RB20, Max Verstappen secured his fourth Formula 1 Driver’s Championship. Over the 24-race…
EN
Continue Reading
Rotterdam – Between Sky, Water, and Encounters
What to do in Rotterdam for two adults – that’s one of the most frequently…
EN
Continue Reading
Inside the Chaika: A Deconstruction of a Vintage Soviet Ladies’ Mechanical Watch
Have you ever wondered what a vintage Soviet mechanical ladies’ watch, named Chaika, looks like…
EN
Continue Reading
A Photographic Toast to Champagne
Why do I want to post these photos on my blog? The answer is simple….
EN
Continue Reading
One Watch, Two Movements, and a Lot of Humility
Long story short – I tried and failed to service a vintage watch. I disassembled…
EN
Continue Reading
HTC One X Teardown — Through the Eye of My Macro Lens
Before the iPhone 7, there was the HTC One X — my very first smartphone,…
EN
Continue Reading
Eighteen Glasses, No Hangovers: How We Conquered Reims, One Champagne at a Time
Three days. Eighteen champagnes. Sixteen bottle caps. Two caves. Eight champagne houses. One unforgettable journey…
EN
Continue Reading
The Best Way to Celebrate an Anniversary – Enjoy a Barolo
This wine wasn’t for my wedding anniversary. It was for my work anniversary. A fabulous…
EN
Continue Reading
In the End, It Was Worth It: Paris, Linkin Park, and Everything Between
Last November, I bought tickets to see Linkin Park live in Paris. It would be…
EN
Continue Reading
LEGO Technic Ferrari SF-24: The Stunning Lady in Red
Sometimes the best things happen without prior planning. I had no intention of buying a…
EN
Continue Reading
Mizensir’s Bois Iridescent by Alberto MORILLAS of Switzerland
Two years ago, when I wrote an article about my appreciation and love for perfumes…
EN
Continue Reading
iPod Touch A1288 (2nd Gen) – Full Specs and First-Hand Teardown
My first Apple product was an iPod Touch. I bought this little touchscreen device after…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Europe – Strolling Through Downtown Lille With My Macro Lens
This isn’t your typical travel blog. Not even close. If you’re looking for a deep…
EN
Continue Reading
The Insides of an Apple iPhone 7 Seen Through the Macro Lens
Why take apart and reassemble an iPhone when you can just watch someone else do…
EN
Continue Reading
Shooting the Delicious Charm of Les Hauts de Martet
There are only so many watch-themed articles one can write back to back about the…
EN
Continue Reading
The Soviet 7275 Movement Under the Fujinon XF 80mm 1:2.8 R LM OIS WR MACRO Lens
When I first disassembled and reassembled the Soviet 7275 movement, I thought it would be…
EN
Continue Reading
A Decade with the Apple iPad Mini
I have a 10-year-old Apple iPad Mini that I still use in 2025. But before…
EN
Continue Reading
I Tested My Mechanical Watches on a Timegrapher—Here’s What I Found
A timegrapher is an essential electronic device for measuring the accuracy of a mechanical watch….
EN
Continue Reading
Watch Movement Breakdown and Rebuild—Up Close with a Macro Lens
Ever since I took the plunge into photography—specifically macro photography—I’ve wanted to disassemble and reassemble…
EN
Continue Reading
A Book in the Making: My Creative Journey Begins
I love coffee table books. I already own a few and plan to add more…
EN
Continue Reading
Mac Gaming is Real with the Apple M4 Pro Chip
You don’t buy a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or any other Mac computer for gaming—at…
EN
Continue Reading
The Time is Right to Watch the Latvian Movie Flow
This might just be Latvia’s Disney moment—a small Baltic nation of about 1.8 million people…
EN
Continue Reading
I Disassembled and Reassembled a Forgotten Soviet 7275 Movement
I had completely forgotten about this movement. It had been sitting in a box right…
EN
Continue Reading
My First-Time Fiasco: Reassembling the Chinese 2813 Movement
I bought the 2813 movement from Amazon to continue my journey in practicing watch disassembly…
EN
Continue Reading
Original Wiener Schnitzel on Christmas Eve in Cologne
Apart from a layover in Frankfurt and a memorable trip in a long-distance lorry many…
EN
Continue Reading
A Mechanical Watch Enthusiast Bought An Apple Watch S10
When the Apple Watch debuted globally about a decade ago, I was convinced I’d never…
EN
Continue Reading
Switching to a New MacBook Pro: First Impressions and Comparisons
More than two years ago, I wrote a blog debating whether to get a new…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Belgium – I Went to Leuven to Buy a Book
Initially, we planned a trip to Waterloo to visit the famous battlefield. After two years…
EN
Continue Reading
Hands-On Horology: A Personal Watch Movement Workshop
Recently, I discovered a workshop in Brussels that offers hands-on experience in disassembling and reassembling…
EN
Continue Reading
My First Attempt at Watch Movement Disassembly and Reassembly
When I sent my mother a picture of the watchmaking tools I bought for my…
EN
Continue Reading
The Husband And The Wife – Seiko 5 and Seiko Presage
As you may already know my wife gifted for my 30th birthday a Roamer Skeleton….
EN
Continue Reading
Set Of Stamps Showcasing Master Watchmakers
While writing this article two things are happening. First, I plan to have for lunch…
EN
Continue Reading
Watch Books Worth Reading and Collecting – The Second Edition
You can’t go into a bookstore and buy a book about watches. If it is…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Europe – I Got 20 Card Decks In Latvia
Usually, my “Exploring Europe” series is about cities or places I visit for the first…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Belgium – Buying 3D Cards In Mechelen
This article should have been different. I wanted to go to Mechelen to visit the…
EN
Continue Reading
The State Of My Growing Playing Card Collection
I am a playing card collector. When I wrote my first article on the state…
EN
Continue Reading
I Gave A Vintage MacBook Pro An Upgrade – RAM, Battery And Trackpad
In October 2022, I wrote a blog about upgrading my vintage MacBook Pro (mid-2010) or…
EN
Continue Reading
My First RAM Upgrade To A Laptop
It finally happened! I popped my cherry of upgrading RAM on a laptop. Even though…
Photo Report – Brussels Pride Festival 2024
I love Brussels! The purpose of this gallery is to show the color, the joy,…
EN
Continue Reading
The Best Boutique Gym in Brussels – Animo Studios
A while ago I wrote that I follow Tim Cook’s example by going to the…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Belgium – Eating Cheese In Dinant
If you want to know why Belgium is beautiful travel to Dinant. If you want…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Europe – I Went To London To See Daniels and Harrison
I am not a football fan. My reason for wanting to go to London has…
EN
Continue Reading
Hard Work Pays Off – Tudor Black Bay 54
Always listen to your wife. If she suggests changing authorized dealers, you change. If I’d…
EN
Continue Reading
Three Shades of Roamer in February
February was quiet here on OLAAF. As of this writing, I have not visited any…
J.M. Weston Made Me Put My Feet On A Shoe-Fitting Stool
In the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” there is a line spoken by Morgan Freeman’s character…
EN
Continue Reading
My First Cigar At Davidoff In Brussels
I used to smoke cigarettes in my 12th grade. Mostly because of the social aspect,…
EN
Continue Reading
The State Of My Playing Card Collection
I want to say that I am a watch collector. Although I currently have only…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Europe – Going To Portugal In December
In 2023 my wife and I were in Amsterdam, Malta, and Luxembourg. Even though there…
Tim Cook Exercises In The Morning – So Do I
I have been thinking of writing something about exercising for a while now. No, I…
Movie Review – Napoleon
It should not be this hard. It should not be this hard to write a…
EN
Continue Reading
Strasbourg in November
I am already back from Strasbourg. Today is Friday the 24th of November, roughly fifteen…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Europe – Pierre Guillaume in Amsterdam
Why Amsterdam in October and not some sunny beach in the South of Europe? If…
EN
Continue Reading
What Fountain Pen Should I Buy – Graf von Faber-Castell
Did you miss me? Probably not, since I did not receive a single comment or…
EN
Continue Reading
Three Amazing Places To Eat While In Latvia
Everyone likes to eat. I do. In August I went to Latvia with my amazing…
Audi Q5 Is A Great Car – My Three-Day Love Affair
Dear Reader, I hope this article finds you well and in good spirits. It has…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Luxembourg City – I bought A Leather Card Holder
Would I want to live and work in Luxembourg City? Is Luxembourg as expensive as…
Movie Review – Oppenheimer
I am not ashamed to say that I am a Christopher Nolan fan. In fact,…
EN
Continue Reading
Spaghetti All’Aragosta – So Far My Most Expensive Pasta Dinner
Spaghetti All’Aragosta, also known as Spaghetti alla Aragosta or Spaghetti with Lobster, is an Italian…
Movie Review – Mission Impossible 7
This should have been a straightforward movie-going experience. I buy tickets online, we go to…
EN
Continue Reading
Watch Books Worth Reading and Having – A Part of My Collection
I love watches. I would like to believe that you know this by now. Currently…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Belgium – I Ate Fish and Chips in Antwerp
Dear readers, it has been a minute. My last article was in May when we…
EN
Continue Reading
Exploring Belgium – The Joy Of Finding Pierre Guillaume in Namur
Initially, we thought of going to Paris for a long weekend. I almost did buy…
An Ice-Hockey Game at a Bar in Brussels
I have been in Brussels for almost full nine months already. In other words, my…
EN
Continue Reading
The Emotional Pain Of A Broken Watch
Unfortunately, this is true. Sadly, it happened with my daily watch. It did not fall…
EN
Continue Reading
Photo Report: Floralia Brussels And Hallerbos Forest
If my trusted two to three readers may remember, in January I wrote a couple…
EN
Continue Reading
My Woman’s Old Broken Flat Iron Disassembly
When I was younger I did not disassemble broken electronics and look at how they…
EN
Continue Reading
Photo Report: My Most Recent Business Trip to Strasbourg
While being at home and watching “Beef” on Netflix, I remembered that I have a…
EN
Continue Reading
Pierre Guillaume Is The Perfumer Of Heavens
I assume that we all have had a phase in our lives where we buy…
Another Movie Review – John Wick Chapter 4
Roughly three weeks ago I did the unthinkable. I logged into my Netflix account, typed…
EN
Continue Reading
One Week After Our Trip To Malta
By now my trusty two to three readers have read my impressions of Malta. You…
EN
Continue Reading
First Week Of April In Malta
It began on 31st March 2023. We had Lufthansa tickets thus a connecting flight from…
EN
Continue Reading
This Is Not Another Technology Review – Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen.)
This really is not another review of an Apple product. Have you looked on YouTube…
Exploring Belgium – I Bought A Durable Coffee Grinder In Ghent
When I mentioned to my colleagues that I will be going to Ghent during the…
Ten Years Ago I Created My First Website And It Is Still Alive – LatvianCrossFit
Probably everyone has heard or seen the saying: don’t post nudes on the internet, because…
EN
Continue Reading
I Seriously Don’t Understand People Who Don’t Like Coffee
If you read my article about wet shaving then you’d know that I am a…
EN
Continue Reading
iPhone 5S Screen, Battery, and Button Replacement – Second Attempt
I thoroughly enjoy taking apart iPhones. Yes, as of now I have done it only…
EN
Continue Reading
How We Teamed Up and Repaired a Hissing Geberit Inlet Valve
At first, there were hissing sounds coming from the bathroom. I had heard it before….
EN
Continue Reading
Bruxelles Monopoly – How I Regained My Love For the Game
Probably my parents would not like what I am about to say. I like Brussels….
Caffè Italiano As A Great Place For Lunch Near The European Parliament
When I first came to Brussels as a trainee I often googled for places to…
My Unsuccessful Experience With The TRAD19 Translation Tender Application
I recently opened my LinkedIn feed and saw a post from a fellow colleague at…
Movie Review – Operation Fortune
May I present to you my second movie review on this website? Honestly, I do…
EN
Continue Reading
A Shrine For Car Enthusiasts Next To The European Institutions
I recently had another business trip to Strasbourg. I went there by Thalys high-speed train….
EN
Continue Reading
How I Found a Prancing Horse Next to the European Commission
Sit back or lay down. Close your eyes and relax. Now remember. Did you have…
EN
Continue Reading
My Amazement Seeing Rare Audi at Autoworld Supercars 2 Expo
Me and my love we recently went to one of Brussel’s most famous museums –…
EN
Continue Reading
Apple iPhone 5S Screen Replacement – First Attempt
Initially, I thought of starting with an iPhone 5S repair rather than with an iPhone…
EN
Continue Reading
Apple iPhone 7 Screen, Vibrator And Battery Replacement
This article was one of the main reasons why I created this website. I wanted…
The Power Of The White Shirt
I can honestly say that I am happy with my current job. I will not…
EN
Continue Reading
How Wine Tastings Made Me Appreciate Wine
If a gun is pointed at a point-blank range and the only way out is…
This Is An Ideal Setting For A Slasher Movie
Dear American, and European movie producers, may I present to you the perfect place to…
A Few 18th Century Clocks And The Beautiful Rundāles Palace
Have you been to Latvia? Probably two out of my three readers have been. Do…
My Current Take-Out Food Highlights – First Edition
Let’s start with something simple. A definition. According to Mr. Gold: Take-out food refers to…
Movie Review – Avatar: The Way Of Water
A little-known fact about me. I used to write movie reviews quite often. I wrote…
Eating Pasta Is A Healthy Way Of Life
Let us get one thing straight. I am not a nutrition specialist. Therefore, my statement…
Why say “No” When Saying “Yes” Feels So Good
Of course, the title of this article does not apply to everything. But I did…
EN
Continue Reading
My Two Week Love Affair With An Audi A6 3.0 TDI
Dear Audi, So far, the only car manufacturer whose cars I have driven is Audi….