Our new home

Wow! We have signed the contract and got the keys to the apartment. Everyone was so excited Malcolm took a tape measure but the landlord gave us a copy of the plans, he had also put our name on the doorbell and post box very efficient. The agent was not the one who showed us around he kept saying tiptop and he could not believe his eyes when he opened the blinds and saw there was a garden as well. The painters are going to decorate before we move in and there will be a cherry tree planted in the autumn. The lounge photo only shows half the room there is another set of patio doors but the blinds were down and a single door in the middle.

Schouberfouer

Busy day today people are coming to view the house so we have to house doctor again. Then its off to the Schouberfouer the largest traveling fun fair in Europe. The rides cover a large car park in the middle of the city and come from all over Europe, we took Emilie and met Amelia and Marc there it was still 35 degrees at 6pm very hot. When we got back the people had been very interested in the house and we are all hoping they will make an offer.

Trains

Sunday it was a beautiful day, a lazy morning sitting in the sun. When Frank woke up we went to a park in the city that has little trains for the children & grandparents to ride on, followed by a walk. Back home for dinner and a game of cards.

Oliver and Isabel

Saturday we had a wonderful lunch at Romain's brothers house roast rabbit and noodles, he lives in Bascherage so will be our neighbour. We had a walk to the apartment to see if it was still there and took some photos which have been put on the previous page. The children had a play in the little park on the way back. On the way home we called at Euro Trock a second hand furniture warehouse place.It has the most wonderful oak units, wardrobes and dining sets at giveaway prices we might have to go there again.

Ikea

Can't believe it but we have got the apartment OOOOOOOOOOHHH so excited Malcolm keeps saying well we have to wait till its signed for - wait till the contracts signed. I know he's right but still cant believe it. People came to look around Abigails house last night so we were very busy all day playing at house doctor and the poor man was blind and couldn't see all our efforts.
A new IKEA opened in Belgium and as it was raining we went to see it we had to park in a field (some where in Poland) Malcolm said and walk through the mud still we had a nice lunch.

Apartment

Well we finally got to view the apartment in Bascharage. When we arrived another family were already looking around, well that's it we thought they will want it. It is in a beautiful road of very expensive houses and very quiet. They came out eventualy but the agent then showed us around a very smartplace only 9 months old absolutely immaculate. Malcolm loved it because it was so light and airy, there is even a garden which is excellent. Now we have to wait to see who the landlord chooses. The other couple have a small child and it does not seem a suitable place for a child all glass doors etc. He will let us know in the next day or two so fingers crossed. The apartment is the one with the shutters closed on the left.

Su DoKu

Spent the weekend at Amelia and Marc's again. Saturday we had drinks at Caroline and Gerrard's .Sunday was a sunny day we had breakfast on the terrace then went to the English shop for the papers. Amelia Marc and Malcolm are addicted to Su DoKu. I cant see the point I did one and that was enough. We went for a ride to Larochette and climbed the hill quite a feat. I was very proud of myself, had coffee in the town square and a mooch in the antique shop a lovely way to spend Sunday.

Luxembourgish

Emilie likes to give us a Luxembourish lesson every morning in bed I'd like to say I was improving but by the time I am up and dressed I have forgotten everything. This mornings lesson was how to say the coffee is hot. De Kaffi ass wamm. I might remember that. My French is no better I think what I want to say to the shop keepers but by the time they ask me panic steps in ,but I usually get what I want in the end. Malcolm has been busy doing a few jobs so that if anyone comes to view the house it looks its best.

Birthday

Well its my birthday 55 today. Emilie thinks that's very very old . Malcom and I went to the British Embassy what a waste of time the woman was there she new nothing about anything. I wont say what Malcolm called her but it was very rude.Malcolm bought me a cardigan and some trainers very romantic
! then we had lunch in the city. Lunch for two with wine and coffee 23 euros cant be bad. Emilie did a show (not the right one apparently) thank god, as that one was 5cd's long the one she did was just a dance in the garden quite enough. Abigail made king prawn kebabs for dinner excellent.

Water Pumps

Back to the Pirate ship with Emilie and Frankie we took spare clothes wellies and buckets so they could enjoy the water pumps it was a lovely sunny day for a change and even I had a paddle. At snack time quietly sitting on a bench there was a terrible noise and a branch fell off the tree we were under and just missed my head and a that of an American lady sitting on the next bench. It gave us all a shock but it would have looked interesting on a death certificate what! This is the second time this has happend to me when we were in Belgium a window box fell at our feet and missed by inches I hope it wont be third time lucky or should that be unlucky.

Amelia & Marc's

Saturday night stayed at Amelia's. Sunday we were going to Vianden Castle to a medieval fayre but the weather was awful so we had a quiet morning in then went for a ride to look at Diekirk where there are two house to let. It was very nice with a lovely river which pleased Malcolm so we will have to see what the house's are like next week as it is a bit further north than we wanted to be. It was Amelia and Marcs 1st wedding anniversary so we went to the city for a Chinese meal then back for Champaine and bed.

Pirate Ship

Girls day out today Pauline, Emilie and Amelia went to see the new Pirate Ship climbing frame in the city. It was said to have cost 13 million euros ( found out it was 1.3 million) a missprint in the paper.It is a wonderful thing all built of oak. I couldn't get it all in the photograph behind it are water pumps that flow into ponds. I must say there where a lot of daddies climbing around imagining they were Johnny Depp.
Then off to the farmers market for some veg and something for Malcolm that looks like faggotts!
McDonald's for lunch and then the shoe shop.
Malcolm and Romain stayed home and did some work in the celar while Abigal looked after Frankie.
We are off to Amelia's for dinner tonight.

Larrochette

Well we went to see the house and it had a roof but unfortunately not much of one. Malcolm said it would let out all the heat as there was no insulation just open rafters it looked very pretty though. The other larger problem was there was no kitchen, well that's not true there was but it was sooooo disgusting it would have to be ripped out. There was a stream at the side of the garden where Aaron could do some fishing.
If you had a lot of money it could be a very very nice house.
Never mind there is another one in Diekirch to look at next week.

Mountain Bikes

We have been out on our new bikes I dont like the roads very scary but the bike tracks are O.K. Malcolm is enjoying dragging me up mountain paths which is alright but the downward speed frightens me to death.
We are to look at a house in Larrochette on Friday it sounds too good to be true for the money so Romain is convinced it has no roof. We are quite excited about it but the last house was taken half an hour before we went to see it, so fingers crossed.

Rumelange

Already we have registered with the commune and the Police. Opened a bank account (with no money) seemed very strange to us and made ourselves at home in Rumelange. The grandchildren seem very pleased to see us. We spent the weekend at Amelia & Marcs. On the Saturday we found a fleamarket in the city and I was very tempted by a honey pot which I knew would sell on ebay but I dont yet know how to post parcels and anyway Malcolm wouldnt let me buy it. Photograph by Emilie.

Arrive Luxembourg

Norfolkline was quiet as usual and we made goodtime until the roadworks in Belgium say no more.
Still we arrived in Luxembourg at 6.30pm, to a wonderful welcome retirement party tea,
with banners and cakes and balloons. Early to bed as exhausted.

Au revoir to England

31st July 2005 we left Shoeburyness at 6.30am it should have been 6am but as always we were late. Angela Paul June and Phil had got up at the crack of dawn to see us off.
Aaron and Anna couldnt wait for us to go so that they could make our house their home and didnt waste any time knocking the place about.

Farwell to Friends

The last week in July 2005 was one of farwells to our house, family, friends and childminded children. We had a wonderful day out with Pam and Richard in London a barbie in the rain of course and breakfast at the arches. It was the last week of school for Malcolm. We were too busy packing boxes to be sad. It was also the last week of ebay we had had lots of fun selling our unwanted items to the world.