Thursday, August 13, 2009

House hunting










We are now in the process of finding a home. It is very strange to find that light fixtures and refrigerators may have to be purchased to complete the home. And the refrigerators are so teeny-tiny that you really can only have a few things in them. It is much like deciding what you want for dinner, buying it, and maybe having room for leftovers. You try not to have left overs.There are usually no closets, one has to buy them.



I have narrowed the house search to three, maybe four depending on what Mark thinks of the first three. One is this renovated farm house only a few km from the school. You drive into this area that looks like you would imagine Brussels to look hundreds of years ago: high brick walls, cobblestone, narrow streets. I can almost imagine people walking with old wagons on them. Then the farm house is next to a pasture. It looks so wonderful. The inside has brick walls and original wooden beams. I love this one for privacy.












The next home is also near the school, and has a nice back garden for the kids to play in. It is fenced with a play set. The interior is very nice, with some great closets.












The last home is also close to school (within walking distance) and has a park at the end of the street - a dead end street. It is a corner lot, with a great kitchen (deep-fryer, refrigerator AND freezer, microwave) and has a great GREAT room also with huge wooden beams. (I like that look). It has a full fence, nice garden, and enclosed "green room" (patio). The laundry is very accessible.

We hopefully re-view them today.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Settling in...





The kids got to sit in the cockpit before the flight. They loved it!













We are having a wonderful time as we get settled.
Most importantly, our Wilma arrived yesterday so now we are complete. We have been walking the city, taking the Metro, and looking for schools and a house.



Mark's office is in the area of Tron. His building actually served as the headquarters for the Nazis during WWII. It is near the Brussels Park, and the Palace Royale, or Royal Palace.












There is so much to see here that I am sure no matter how long we are living here we couldn't see it all!
Will write more later!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Arrival

We are here! We met some locals, had lunch nearby, and shopped for groceries. We are settling in very well. Now just to get Wilma here...