HOOOO-EE!!!! This is the nicest car we've ever had! Just picked it up today and then went for a little drive in the country. Barry at Poole Autos was a real gentleman. He even told us that if we had any major problem with it while we are still in Belgium, to give him a call. Good to know and great for us because we'll get to test it out for a few weeks before we move to the UK. Let's hope we don't have to fill it with gas too often (78 euros to fill the tank today... yikes!).
On Friday we'll drive up to Denmark to spend some time with my extended family. They are throwing a wedding party for us next Sunday. Strictly hush-hush.
It's been a year since we've owned a car and it's nice to be mobile again. When you rely on public transportation all the time, it really limits your reach. We'll still take public transportation as much as possible, even in Norwich. Good way to get a little excercise, too!
Pics of the car:
#1
#2
-RP-
Saturday, July 31
Wednesday, July 28
Well, we went for it! Spoke to the BMW guy this evening. He was nice enough to give me his home number so I could call him after business hours.
I had some concerns about it that I wanted to get some answers for before we made a decision. It was pulling to the right a little bit when we test-drove it, there were a couple of places that it looked like it had been repainted, and I wanted to know why he hadn't been able to sell it in two years. It has not been in an accident and was not re-painted as far as he knows. He kept it in Belgium because he thought he could sell it over here much easier (to an American in the commission, for example). Well, I guess he's partially correct about that after all!
We will pick it up on Saturday. Then I can drive to work for my last four days at Bo-ny!
-RP-
I had some concerns about it that I wanted to get some answers for before we made a decision. It was pulling to the right a little bit when we test-drove it, there were a couple of places that it looked like it had been repainted, and I wanted to know why he hadn't been able to sell it in two years. It has not been in an accident and was not re-painted as far as he knows. He kept it in Belgium because he thought he could sell it over here much easier (to an American in the commission, for example). Well, I guess he's partially correct about that after all!
We will pick it up on Saturday. Then I can drive to work for my last four days at Bo-ny!
-RP-
Monday, July 26
Wedding Present
My parents told us today that they would like to buy a car for us as a wedding present! A great wedding present if you ask me! Very fortunate for us because we would have to sink deeper in debt and even get something REALLY cheap (like under 1000 euros). That doesn't buy a lot and definitely not something you'd feel safe in.
So... Thank You, Mom & Dad! Thank you very much!
-RP-
My parents told us today that they would like to buy a car for us as a wedding present! A great wedding present if you ask me! Very fortunate for us because we would have to sink deeper in debt and even get something REALLY cheap (like under 1000 euros). That doesn't buy a lot and definitely not something you'd feel safe in.
So... Thank You, Mom & Dad! Thank you very much!
-RP-
Sunday, July 25
Car-Shopping
We went to see a used right-hand-drive BMW today. Very nice car and in great shape. No major cosmetic problems, very clean, no rust, engine sounds great, it handles wonderfully, a lot of zip in it. The engine is clean and the full-size spare tire has not been used from what I can tell. I think it might have been painted or had some touch-up done. Also it seemed to pull a little bit to the right, though it might have been the particular section of road we were on at first and the fact that the car is designed to drive on the left hand side. When we turned around to head back to the dealership, it didn't seem to pull much. I will talk to the owner of the dealership to try to find out if it has been in an accident when he returns from the UK on Wednesday. Kristen is working on getting an insurance quote. If the quote is reasonable, I think we will go for it.
My only apprehension about it is the fuel economy. While it is not horrible (actually better than the Jeeps we had in the US), it is a bit fuel-hungry at about 6 liters / 100 km highway and 10 / 100 km in the city (in the range of 20 - 35 mpg). This is Europe after all and gas is not cheap here. Looks like it's about 5.45 euros for a UK gallon (4.54 liters). However, we intend to be riding bikes and taking public transportation as much as possible (like we have done here), so that we aren't relying on a car for commuting long distances. But instead to take trips on the weekends and going to the store, etc. That's why it would be nice to have a car like this because when we do drive, we'll be riding with comfort, class, and safety.
BMW 520i SE
Manual 5-speed
M50 24v 6 - 1990cc 147hp / 150bhp
Metallic grey w/ cloth interior
86,429 miles
Air Conditioning
Electric windows and mirrors
Alloy wheels
Next service due at 90,000 miles
Two owners from new
3,000 GBP out the door
-RP-
We went to see a used right-hand-drive BMW today. Very nice car and in great shape. No major cosmetic problems, very clean, no rust, engine sounds great, it handles wonderfully, a lot of zip in it. The engine is clean and the full-size spare tire has not been used from what I can tell. I think it might have been painted or had some touch-up done. Also it seemed to pull a little bit to the right, though it might have been the particular section of road we were on at first and the fact that the car is designed to drive on the left hand side. When we turned around to head back to the dealership, it didn't seem to pull much. I will talk to the owner of the dealership to try to find out if it has been in an accident when he returns from the UK on Wednesday. Kristen is working on getting an insurance quote. If the quote is reasonable, I think we will go for it.
My only apprehension about it is the fuel economy. While it is not horrible (actually better than the Jeeps we had in the US), it is a bit fuel-hungry at about 6 liters / 100 km highway and 10 / 100 km in the city (in the range of 20 - 35 mpg). This is Europe after all and gas is not cheap here. Looks like it's about 5.45 euros for a UK gallon (4.54 liters). However, we intend to be riding bikes and taking public transportation as much as possible (like we have done here), so that we aren't relying on a car for commuting long distances. But instead to take trips on the weekends and going to the store, etc. That's why it would be nice to have a car like this because when we do drive, we'll be riding with comfort, class, and safety.
BMW 520i SE
Manual 5-speed
M50 24v 6 - 1990cc 147hp / 150bhp
Metallic grey w/ cloth interior
86,429 miles
Air Conditioning
Electric windows and mirrors
Alloy wheels
Next service due at 90,000 miles
Two owners from new
3,000 GBP out the door
-RP-
Thursday, July 22
Here We Go Again
This week we have started preparations for moving to Norwich. Looking at apartments online has reminded me of last summer, about this time, when we were looking for a place in Brussels. Now we're doing it all over again! It is less stressful this time because everything is in English and, most importantly, we've moved to a foreign country once already. We have become older and wiser. Well...older anyway.
So, in addition to the apartment search, we are also looking for a cheap car. A cheap right-hand drive car that is designed to drive on the wrong side of the road. Belgians drive on the right side of the road, so locating a RHD car has been difficult. We have one prospect to look at on Saturday in Mons (about 30 minutes south of Brussels). Our good friends Andres and Laura have agreed to drive us so we won't have to take the train. Fingers crossed that the car is in good shape.
My job search has begun. I have applied for a position at the University of East Anglia, Rich's future alma mater, but am not holding out much hope of being called for an interview. The vacancy is posted on their website and I am certain they will receive a whole mailbag full of resumes from people who already live in Norwich. Serious employment searching will probably have to wait until we are situated in the U.K.
Good news: Rich has only ten more working days at Bony. Yay!
Expatriation updates to follow...
~K
This week we have started preparations for moving to Norwich. Looking at apartments online has reminded me of last summer, about this time, when we were looking for a place in Brussels. Now we're doing it all over again! It is less stressful this time because everything is in English and, most importantly, we've moved to a foreign country once already. We have become older and wiser. Well...older anyway.
So, in addition to the apartment search, we are also looking for a cheap car. A cheap right-hand drive car that is designed to drive on the wrong side of the road. Belgians drive on the right side of the road, so locating a RHD car has been difficult. We have one prospect to look at on Saturday in Mons (about 30 minutes south of Brussels). Our good friends Andres and Laura have agreed to drive us so we won't have to take the train. Fingers crossed that the car is in good shape.
My job search has begun. I have applied for a position at the University of East Anglia, Rich's future alma mater, but am not holding out much hope of being called for an interview. The vacancy is posted on their website and I am certain they will receive a whole mailbag full of resumes from people who already live in Norwich. Serious employment searching will probably have to wait until we are situated in the U.K.
Good news: Rich has only ten more working days at Bony. Yay!
Expatriation updates to follow...
~K
Saturday, July 17
GO SEE IT!!!! NOW!!!!!
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/about/clips/windows/medium.php
This is one of the most important documentaries in recent history. If you value anything in this world, make sure you don't miss this film!
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/about/clips/windows/medium.php
This is one of the most important documentaries in recent history. If you value anything in this world, make sure you don't miss this film!
Sunday, July 4
I've got two countdowns that I'm managing right now. The first one is the countdown to when Kristen gets back. That is a little less than 7 days exactly. Something like 6 days and 18 hours. The second one is the countdown to my last day at Bo-ny. That is a little less than 6 weeks.
It's been pretty quiet being here alone for so long. Not quite sure what to do with myself, but I've been trying to cross off some of the things of my enjoy-Belgium-while-we-can list. Yesterday, Andres, Laura, and I went to some of the Brussels lambic cafes to sample the draft lambics and geuzes. A lot of these places are institutions in their own right. One of them is a puppet theatre which puts on shows in the old Bruxellois dialect (which no one really understands). There weren't any shows going on when we were there. Great ambience, though. Puppets everywhere. Maybe even a little bit scary.
I'm being a being a good boy, though. Even if I'm home alone. All of the plants are still alive and thriving. I make the bed at least every few days. Do the dishes every day and try to eat pretty healthy. Try not to stay up too late. Read about Scottish history. Stuff like that.
-RP-
It's been pretty quiet being here alone for so long. Not quite sure what to do with myself, but I've been trying to cross off some of the things of my enjoy-Belgium-while-we-can list. Yesterday, Andres, Laura, and I went to some of the Brussels lambic cafes to sample the draft lambics and geuzes. A lot of these places are institutions in their own right. One of them is a puppet theatre which puts on shows in the old Bruxellois dialect (which no one really understands). There weren't any shows going on when we were there. Great ambience, though. Puppets everywhere. Maybe even a little bit scary.
I'm being a being a good boy, though. Even if I'm home alone. All of the plants are still alive and thriving. I make the bed at least every few days. Do the dishes every day and try to eat pretty healthy. Try not to stay up too late. Read about Scottish history. Stuff like that.
-RP-
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