The rest of the world may be warming, but this old barn in Brussels is chilled to the timbers. The mile of radiators and a 5,000 liter fuel tank struggle against the breezes seeping though its three floors of seven foot high, single paned windows and the wind howling up the damperless fireplace will keep even Santa on the roof. But alas, discarding romantic evening fires until we get an enclosure for the hearth and adding an occassional sweater seems a small price to pay for another year in Europe.
After last winter's decision fest of "We're going home", "No, we are staying!", "We're off to Amsterdam", "What does London sound like?", "Do you think you could learn Swahili?", we made a rather quick move to Brussels in May. The assignment is scheduled for two years, but plans as an IBMer are only figments of fantasy: the tooth brush is always packed.
Linda is responsible for IBM's outsourcing business in the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourgh). She says that she is really enjoying this assignment and those furrows on her brow are only laugh lines. Yet somehow the option of retiring in two years has greater appeal with each fiscal quarter's closing. Living in three of Europe's great cities is an experience that we could not replace and good fortune has allowed us to enjoy it all to the max. Over five years away from the States certainly causes us to join the long-term-expat refrain "Where is home?" It is a question that we will have to seriously consider in the near future.
"Transistion" best describes 2007 for the extended Anderson clan.
Scott, Deb, Craig, Grant and Natalie did move back to the States, first to Maryland and soon back to South Carolina. They wanted to establish a stable environment for the high school years. A small house a couple of doors down from Deb's brother provided family support and the kids the opportunity to know and enjoy their cousins. But a lot of unexpected repairs required to sell their home in Simpsonville and the cancellation of a sale as the market turned down caused them to rethink. The large house in the country has a lot of appeal. So they decided to add a few upgrades to the repairs and move back in time to enjoy Christmas in Simpsonville.
Craig has his eye on a new dirt bike and plans to redo some biking paths on their property. From his Christmas wish list its apparent that he's replacing skiing with skateboarding in the snowless south. Grant landed the lead in the school play in Maryland which included a few solos and lots of applause. The CD comes out in February. Natalie is adapting to everything with a smile. She is the only one without a direct email so its a bit harder to keep up with her. We're looking forward to some Christmas pics. Scott is now the DPE on IBM's relationship with Lenovo, the Chinese company that purchased its personal computer business. He just returned from his first trip to China, something he will do most quarters. But, he will get to work from home for much of the rest of the time which is a big attraction both to the job and the bigger house in Simpsonville. Debbie had just been elected PTA president before they left for Norway. Once she retools her southern accent, she'll undoubtedly jump right into the kid's school activities.
After 25 years, John and Nadean divorced which surprised the rest of us and maybe even them. After a long three quarters of adjustments, every one seems to be settling into new routines and lives. Nick moved to Reno where the experience of living on his own is adding new inspiration for his education and appreciation for the old days of allowances. Jason is fully into his senior high school year. He's been elected co-captain of his high school snow boarding team and is anxiously awaiting opportunity to defend his state championship in this year's finals. A couple of the fathers that have taken Jason and his friends on local spring ski trips over the years have booked a week in Austria this March which has the boys excited. Jason was bemoaning the fact that girls were included this year. But we-thinks that an 18 year old boy protesting that girls are close at hand is a bit of hype. Jennifer returned from a year in New Zealand and a two month trip though Asia with sights on a masters. She's decided on education as a field and Patti is providing help with what's new, exciting and possible in the field. Jen takes her GRE's this month and, in the meantime, "suffering" in a managers job on the slopes of Sugar Bowl in California.
Change in the California real estate market has taken the bloom off from a real estate career in Nadean's area. She is finding a job search rather challenging but treating it as such. We will have a chance to visit with her soon and meet her new squeeze, Eric, who is getting high reviews from a very tough audience.
Courtney is continuing with her restaurant career and, according to Mom staying trim and slim--something her dad can't brag about at the moment. Her grandmother, Marg (Patti's mom) passed away last week and that is particularly hard for Courts as they were quite close. Gary has been able to alter plans and schedules to attend the memorial service on the 19th and have the opportunity to visit Courts for a short while.
Linda's mother Jane continues to be the Pearl Mesta of Inverness Village in Tulsa. She made the perfect decision when she chose her place to retire. If she's not raising funds for some activities, she taking care of someone not as hardy as she.
Nephew Jacob has sprinted off to college in Santa Barbara, hitting home often enough to bag some extra groceries, kidnap the car for a weekend and tantalize his parents with stories to verify that their money is being well spent.
Niece Haley is relishing being an only child now in full command of pool, poolhouse and her dad's taxi service. A California Girl through and through, she demonstrated while visiting us this summer that she has trained dad to "shop to the max."
Sailing school in Maine was such a hit for us that we are planning to repeat it again this summer. If we get into the class, it will be aboard a larger boat with more complicated rigging. In the mean time we've joined a sailing club in Brussels. South Africa beckons in May and possibly Stockholm will see us for Sweden's MidSummer holiday--if the dollar retains any value, that is.
We have learned that Belgians apparently are not much for keeping appointments. Repairmen for our major computer failed for the third time to show up this afternoon. Consequently, no pictures or frills in this years note here. You are always invited to the normal blogsite at gary-linda.blogspot.com for an occassional travel commentary.
Naturally, we hope to see and hear from each of you in 2008!!. The house has lots of spare bedrooms and baths (and is actually very comfortable and nice). We are at Avenue de l'Horizon 24, 1150 Woluwe St. Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
telephone +32 2 772 1330 Gary's email: andergrp@ix.netcom.com and Linda's is Ltopper@US.IBM.Com
You can say hi by just making a comment on this blog!
Have a wonderful holiday season and lots of love to you all
Linda and Gary
After last winter's decision fest of "We're going home", "No, we are staying!", "We're off to Amsterdam", "What does London sound like?", "Do you think you could learn Swahili?", we made a rather quick move to Brussels in May. The assignment is scheduled for two years, but plans as an IBMer are only figments of fantasy: the tooth brush is always packed.
Linda is responsible for IBM's outsourcing business in the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourgh). She says that she is really enjoying this assignment and those furrows on her brow are only laugh lines. Yet somehow the option of retiring in two years has greater appeal with each fiscal quarter's closing. Living in three of Europe's great cities is an experience that we could not replace and good fortune has allowed us to enjoy it all to the max. Over five years away from the States certainly causes us to join the long-term-expat refrain "Where is home?" It is a question that we will have to seriously consider in the near future.
"Transistion" best describes 2007 for the extended Anderson clan.
Scott, Deb, Craig, Grant and Natalie did move back to the States, first to Maryland and soon back to South Carolina. They wanted to establish a stable environment for the high school years. A small house a couple of doors down from Deb's brother provided family support and the kids the opportunity to know and enjoy their cousins. But a lot of unexpected repairs required to sell their home in Simpsonville and the cancellation of a sale as the market turned down caused them to rethink. The large house in the country has a lot of appeal. So they decided to add a few upgrades to the repairs and move back in time to enjoy Christmas in Simpsonville.
Craig has his eye on a new dirt bike and plans to redo some biking paths on their property. From his Christmas wish list its apparent that he's replacing skiing with skateboarding in the snowless south. Grant landed the lead in the school play in Maryland which included a few solos and lots of applause. The CD comes out in February. Natalie is adapting to everything with a smile. She is the only one without a direct email so its a bit harder to keep up with her. We're looking forward to some Christmas pics. Scott is now the DPE on IBM's relationship with Lenovo, the Chinese company that purchased its personal computer business. He just returned from his first trip to China, something he will do most quarters. But, he will get to work from home for much of the rest of the time which is a big attraction both to the job and the bigger house in Simpsonville. Debbie had just been elected PTA president before they left for Norway. Once she retools her southern accent, she'll undoubtedly jump right into the kid's school activities.
After 25 years, John and Nadean divorced which surprised the rest of us and maybe even them. After a long three quarters of adjustments, every one seems to be settling into new routines and lives. Nick moved to Reno where the experience of living on his own is adding new inspiration for his education and appreciation for the old days of allowances. Jason is fully into his senior high school year. He's been elected co-captain of his high school snow boarding team and is anxiously awaiting opportunity to defend his state championship in this year's finals. A couple of the fathers that have taken Jason and his friends on local spring ski trips over the years have booked a week in Austria this March which has the boys excited. Jason was bemoaning the fact that girls were included this year. But we-thinks that an 18 year old boy protesting that girls are close at hand is a bit of hype. Jennifer returned from a year in New Zealand and a two month trip though Asia with sights on a masters. She's decided on education as a field and Patti is providing help with what's new, exciting and possible in the field. Jen takes her GRE's this month and, in the meantime, "suffering" in a managers job on the slopes of Sugar Bowl in California.
Change in the California real estate market has taken the bloom off from a real estate career in Nadean's area. She is finding a job search rather challenging but treating it as such. We will have a chance to visit with her soon and meet her new squeeze, Eric, who is getting high reviews from a very tough audience.
Courtney is continuing with her restaurant career and, according to Mom staying trim and slim--something her dad can't brag about at the moment. Her grandmother, Marg (Patti's mom) passed away last week and that is particularly hard for Courts as they were quite close. Gary has been able to alter plans and schedules to attend the memorial service on the 19th and have the opportunity to visit Courts for a short while.
Linda's mother Jane continues to be the Pearl Mesta of Inverness Village in Tulsa. She made the perfect decision when she chose her place to retire. If she's not raising funds for some activities, she taking care of someone not as hardy as she.
Nephew Jacob has sprinted off to college in Santa Barbara, hitting home often enough to bag some extra groceries, kidnap the car for a weekend and tantalize his parents with stories to verify that their money is being well spent.
Niece Haley is relishing being an only child now in full command of pool, poolhouse and her dad's taxi service. A California Girl through and through, she demonstrated while visiting us this summer that she has trained dad to "shop to the max."
Sailing school in Maine was such a hit for us that we are planning to repeat it again this summer. If we get into the class, it will be aboard a larger boat with more complicated rigging. In the mean time we've joined a sailing club in Brussels. South Africa beckons in May and possibly Stockholm will see us for Sweden's MidSummer holiday--if the dollar retains any value, that is.
We have learned that Belgians apparently are not much for keeping appointments. Repairmen for our major computer failed for the third time to show up this afternoon. Consequently, no pictures or frills in this years note here. You are always invited to the normal blogsite at gary-linda.blogspot.com for an occassional travel commentary.
Naturally, we hope to see and hear from each of you in 2008!!. The house has lots of spare bedrooms and baths (and is actually very comfortable and nice). We are at Avenue de l'Horizon 24, 1150 Woluwe St. Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
telephone +32 2 772 1330 Gary's email: andergrp@ix.netcom.com and Linda's is Ltopper@US.IBM.Com
You can say hi by just making a comment on this blog!
Have a wonderful holiday season and lots of love to you all
Linda and Gary
