A blind couple's complaint to the De Lijn busses was met with very little compassion. A bus failed to pick up the couple at a stop, reportedly because the couple didn't make a hang gesture signaling the bus driver to stop. When the couple reported the incident to De Lijn, an employee, the couple said, told the couple "You're blind, but you are not deaf. You had to make a sign!" A spokesman for De Lijn said the company will conduct an internal investigation.

Belgians are tackling the credit crunch by finding creative ways to save money. They also still want to holiday and party, but at a lower cost, according to market research predicting 2010 trends. Next year Belgians are expected to show greater creativity in the kitchen, garden and collection of shopping coupons. One in five of the population wants to take up DIY and spend more on feeding their family. But they also want to give less to charity and spend less in restaurants and café, preferring cosy home entertainment. One in five would like to travel more, but hope to save money by organising holidays themselves.

Belgian scientist Evelyne Gridelet will soon be drinking Guinness in a submarine 70 metres below the Baltic Sea, after winning second prize in a competition organised by the Irish brewery. The 30-year-old from Seraing, Liége province, was one of 230,000 participants from 27 countries to take part in the contest.

Between 300 and 400 volunteers from Responsible Young Drivers will be on standby on Christmas Eve to ferry home partygoers for free. The volunteers are available from midnight until 6.00 across the country. Anyone in need of the service should call 0902.12.345.

Belgians are happy to spend money transforming their kitchens into living spaces, according to research by building and home improvement trade fair Batibouw. More than half of 1,000 people questioned would like a kitchen that cost at least €10,000, preferring a contemporary designer style. Sixty percent already owned a kitchen 'island' and installing a radio and television is proving increasingly popular.