http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lets-sell-house-see-world-203213859.html
I saw this blog the other day on the Yahoo front page.....sooooo, I took a look-see. This couple is moving from country to country every few months and renting furnished places to live in each place. They are bringing only a suitcase of belongings with them. When I read a few pages of the blog I thought, hmmmmm.....I wonnnnder......
So last night, while walking around town after getting our gelato, I brought it up with Andrew. I think he thought I had lost my marbles! All he could say was that what we're doing is adventure enough for him! Ah well, it was worth a shot!
So, we have talked about it quite a bit. Our lease is up January 2014. This summer we plan to talk with our landlords about going month to month till October 2014 if possible. If they don't agree to that, then we will most likely move back to the States in January 2014. We'll see what happens!
In the meantime, we are trying to enjoy every moment we have here.
Thank goodness for Skype though...it sure helps alleviate some of the ache to see our children and grandchildren! Sure do miss them.
My husband and I are expats. We have relocated to the Netherlands from California, USA. My blog began with our preparations to leave all we knew and continues through our journey in our new home! Join me in our adventure!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Clunk...Clunk....Clunk....and Fall in the woods
All night....I was hearing a "clunking" sound coming from the boiler heating system in the house. At around 0200hrs I got up and googled it! I entered "clunking sound coming from boiler heating system" and I got lots of hits! I guess "CLUNK" was a good way to describe the sound! From what I've read, the system most likely needs to be serviced. Many people said it could be mineral build up and the system may have to be drained, cleaned and refilled!
Our neighbor, Bruce, had told us the other day that they have a repairman coming out this week for their heater. So, at 0215hrs I e-mailed him asking him for the repairman's information. This morning I got a reply from Bruce saying that he is expected at their house today at 1630hrs, and if he has time, he will send him over afterwards to look at our heater! I also e-mailed our landlady and told her what was going on.
The boiler system is so foreign to both Andrew and I. We don't really understand how it works. The system in this house doesn't fill automatically, you have to manually fill it with water twice a year. The last time it was done was around April, so it's probably due. Will the darn thing quite working in the middle of winter? Will it blow up on us?!?! Do they blow up?!? Aye!
The heater is in a closet, at the top of the stairs.
At 0230hrs. I grabbed my pillow and a couple of blankies and wrapped myself up on the couch and slept there so I wouldn't have to keep listening to the clunk! Andrew didn't stir at all!
_________
Sammy and I have been going for at least one walk a day, sometimes two or three. Most of the Dutch walk their dogs a minimum of three times a day!
The woods close to our house are showing all the fall colors now. Leaves are falling while we're walking and the sound of the rustling in the trees is so peaceful.
Sammy was on the hunt for the perfect peeing tree! Of course, he pees on as many as he can, but he must sniff, sniff, sniff till he finds the right ones!
*********** Update*************
The plumber the neighbor had hired came by when he was finished at their house. He took a look at the heater, filled it with water and found that the "balloon" is not functioning properly. So, it needs to be replaced. As luck would have it, I called the landlord, and he was able to speak with him and figure out what to do to get it fixed. He will return this weekend to fix it!
We have found the Dutch people to be very nice and accommodating. I've heard otherwise from some people, but our experience has been very positive. We always try to remember that we are "ambassadors" of America and try to be as nice and friendly as possible too.
Our neighbor, Bruce, had told us the other day that they have a repairman coming out this week for their heater. So, at 0215hrs I e-mailed him asking him for the repairman's information. This morning I got a reply from Bruce saying that he is expected at their house today at 1630hrs, and if he has time, he will send him over afterwards to look at our heater! I also e-mailed our landlady and told her what was going on.
The boiler system is so foreign to both Andrew and I. We don't really understand how it works. The system in this house doesn't fill automatically, you have to manually fill it with water twice a year. The last time it was done was around April, so it's probably due. Will the darn thing quite working in the middle of winter? Will it blow up on us?!?! Do they blow up?!? Aye!
The heater is in a closet, at the top of the stairs.
At 0230hrs. I grabbed my pillow and a couple of blankies and wrapped myself up on the couch and slept there so I wouldn't have to keep listening to the clunk! Andrew didn't stir at all!
_________
Sammy and I have been going for at least one walk a day, sometimes two or three. Most of the Dutch walk their dogs a minimum of three times a day!
The woods close to our house are showing all the fall colors now. Leaves are falling while we're walking and the sound of the rustling in the trees is so peaceful.
Sammy was on the hunt for the perfect peeing tree! Of course, he pees on as many as he can, but he must sniff, sniff, sniff till he finds the right ones!
*********** Update*************
The plumber the neighbor had hired came by when he was finished at their house. He took a look at the heater, filled it with water and found that the "balloon" is not functioning properly. So, it needs to be replaced. As luck would have it, I called the landlord, and he was able to speak with him and figure out what to do to get it fixed. He will return this weekend to fix it!
We have found the Dutch people to be very nice and accommodating. I've heard otherwise from some people, but our experience has been very positive. We always try to remember that we are "ambassadors" of America and try to be as nice and friendly as possible too.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The passing of a loved one...
On October 21st, I spoke with my daughter in California and she told me that my father-in-law, Tullio, (her grandfather) had passed away at 12:55p.m. He was in a Board and Care home in San Jose, CA because he needed 24 hour care, which none of us could provide. While I was in the States a few weeks ago, we paid him a visit. He was coherent, up and around, and seemed in good spirits....it was good to see him. While I was there we moved his desk and computer out, since he no longer used them.
Shortly after I left California I went to Delaware to visit my son and his family. During that time, Tullio came down with pneumonia again. As I was leaving to go back to Europe (home), my son planned a trip to CA to see his grandfather. I drove my son to the airport...he headed west and I headed east. Tullio was released from the hospital a few days after being diagnosed with pneumonia...this time in hospice. Thankfully, my son was able to see his grandfather while he was lucid. He and his sister spent a few days with him while spending evenings in a nearby hotel.
My daughter took on a lot and cared for Tullio quite a bit in my absence. She has been a Godsend.....
Shortly after I left California I went to Delaware to visit my son and his family. During that time, Tullio came down with pneumonia again. As I was leaving to go back to Europe (home), my son planned a trip to CA to see his grandfather. I drove my son to the airport...he headed west and I headed east. Tullio was released from the hospital a few days after being diagnosed with pneumonia...this time in hospice. Thankfully, my son was able to see his grandfather while he was lucid. He and his sister spent a few days with him while spending evenings in a nearby hotel.
My daughter took on a lot and cared for Tullio quite a bit in my absence. She has been a Godsend.....
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Muiderslot Castle and Naarden
Today Andrew and I decided to make a trek out to Muiderslot Castle....this time we decided to drive.
Before leaving town we stopped at Intratuin in Cruquius, which is about a 10 minute drive away. We bought a plant, some autumn decorations for a centerpiece on the table, some Christmas decorations (yes.....a little early....but we couldn't resist!), and pet supplies. We also found a windmill that we can add to our village when we get back to the States!
Afterwards, we headed to the town of Muiden, which is where the Muiderslot Castle is. First, we stopped for lunch in town. We ate right on the canal, where there are locks for the boats to go in and out of the canal. We watched them come and go, which was quite fun!
Boats going through the locks:
Paying the toll to go through the locks:
After lunch, we headed over to the castle, which was a short walk away along the canal where the Marina is.
Muiderslot Castle was built around 1285 by Count Floris V, an ally of the French Court and later of the British King Edward. If you'd like to read more about the history of the castle, go to:
We walked around inside the castle...on a self guided tour. The only guided tours they had were in Dutch.
While going up and down the stairs I got very dizzy. I decided against going up a couple of sets of stairs because it was just too much for me. Sooooo....my camera......I was so dizzy at one point I couldn't hold onto anything-specifically my camera. I dropped it......and it's a goner! I'm not able to turn it on or off, so I can't download my pictures. Luckily (I guess!) it happened early enough in the day that I was able to start taking pictures with my phone. I will have to add the better pictures later, when I either purchase a new camera or find a way to download directly from the disk.
Afterwards we walked around the castle from the outside....the grounds are beautiful! :
When we were leaving Muiden, we decided to go over to the town of Naarden. It's a cute little town that we have been wanting to visit since we got here.
A little history:
Naarden is a municipality and a town in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, shaped in the form of a star. This small town is a textbook example of a popular style of fortification that evolved in Europe during the 16th century. Naarden’s star fortification is complete with fortified walls and a moat which are in as good as state as five centuries ago. In fact, Naarden is one of the best preserved fortified towns in Europe today.
View from above (taken from Google images):
We went to the Museum, where you can walk around parts of the "star" fortress:
We walked around the "old town" area of Naarden and came to the old church:
We stopped and got a little something to drink (from Belgium!):
As we were walking back to our car we noticed "her", isn't she cute?!?! :
After we got back to Haarlem, we stopped at home to take care of the pets and then decided to head downtown for a bite to eat. We went by a couple of places we know of, they were crowded. So, we went over to the Cafe de la Paix at the Carlton Square Hotel and ate at the restaurant there. It's very nice, quiet, and the food is good!
Before leaving town we stopped at Intratuin in Cruquius, which is about a 10 minute drive away. We bought a plant, some autumn decorations for a centerpiece on the table, some Christmas decorations (yes.....a little early....but we couldn't resist!), and pet supplies. We also found a windmill that we can add to our village when we get back to the States!
Afterwards, we headed to the town of Muiden, which is where the Muiderslot Castle is. First, we stopped for lunch in town. We ate right on the canal, where there are locks for the boats to go in and out of the canal. We watched them come and go, which was quite fun!
Boats going through the locks:
Paying the toll to go through the locks:
After lunch, we headed over to the castle, which was a short walk away along the canal where the Marina is.
Muiderslot Castle was built around 1285 by Count Floris V, an ally of the French Court and later of the British King Edward. If you'd like to read more about the history of the castle, go to:
http://www.muiderslot.nl/english
We walked around inside the castle...on a self guided tour. The only guided tours they had were in Dutch.
While going up and down the stairs I got very dizzy. I decided against going up a couple of sets of stairs because it was just too much for me. Sooooo....my camera......I was so dizzy at one point I couldn't hold onto anything-specifically my camera. I dropped it......and it's a goner! I'm not able to turn it on or off, so I can't download my pictures. Luckily (I guess!) it happened early enough in the day that I was able to start taking pictures with my phone. I will have to add the better pictures later, when I either purchase a new camera or find a way to download directly from the disk.
Afterwards we walked around the castle from the outside....the grounds are beautiful! :
When we were leaving Muiden, we decided to go over to the town of Naarden. It's a cute little town that we have been wanting to visit since we got here.
A little history:
Naarden is a municipality and a town in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, shaped in the form of a star. This small town is a textbook example of a popular style of fortification that evolved in Europe during the 16th century. Naarden’s star fortification is complete with fortified walls and a moat which are in as good as state as five centuries ago. In fact, Naarden is one of the best preserved fortified towns in Europe today.
View from above (taken from Google images):
We went to the Museum, where you can walk around parts of the "star" fortress:
We walked around the "old town" area of Naarden and came to the old church:
We stopped and got a little something to drink (from Belgium!):
As we were walking back to our car we noticed "her", isn't she cute?!?! :
After we got back to Haarlem, we stopped at home to take care of the pets and then decided to head downtown for a bite to eat. We went by a couple of places we know of, they were crowded. So, we went over to the Cafe de la Paix at the Carlton Square Hotel and ate at the restaurant there. It's very nice, quiet, and the food is good!
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