Finally after waiting 4 months to get it, the Volvo has arrived. What you would think to be an easy task to getting a company leased car is one of complicated procedures.
Firstly here in Belgium, one does not just turn up at a car dealer and expect to test drive a car. No that needs an appointment. Once we had set up the appointment do you think they actually had the car I wanted to test drive? hmmmmmmmmm no! But another car which is just like the one we want inside but happens to be a station wagon/ estate car. And was the car available at the appointed time? Once again no but fortunately just as we were leaving the dealer the other people came back with the car so we were able to go for a test drive.
So after liking the Volvo sufficently enough we filled out the paper work and ordered the car. This was way back in October. Hmmmmm Christmas!!! The car cannot be registered between the start of December and the start of January, must wait until holidays time is over before it can be registered.
Hence the long wait and unfortunately three days too long for Liam who went home before being able to go for a ride in it.
Funnily enough, Aris wanted a red car and a blue car when we came to Belgium and got neither. George got a silver car and to be fair Aris picked out the color of the Volvo even though he could have chosen a blue one. I actually love the color and the fact that I can find it easily amid a sea of black and silver. It is also the first of four cars that I have driven which is not white.
Now driving here is not for the faint hearted. Streets can be narrow and parking spaces even narrower and with carpark pillars to squeeze past.
Strange traffic rules such as give way to the right even though you are on a main road makes each and every intersection a potential accident.
Roads may have parking on one side for half the month and then only on the other side for the other half of the month.
Traffic cameras are everywhere so it is easy to get a speeding ticket although they don't seem to impact anything other than your wallet.
Fortunately the weather has been mild and we haven't had snow this year but a cold snap is coming our way with single digit Celsius temps during the day and minus temps during the night. Time to get the gloves and hats out.
Next week we plan to drive to Germany for the weekend to Cologne and Dusseldorf and Bochum. I used to have a penpal from Bochum so it will be nice to visit that city again although he is now living in Berlin and is the CEO of a company.
Why don't people just stay put so that you can find them??? As if I can truly make that comment not only have I moved continents twice I have also changed my name- will my true friends please stand up and find me. What have I learnt from moving? Real friends stay in contact even if it is only once or twice a year but meeting again is like never having been gone.
For those of you wanting news on George, he is doing fine. Test show no change but I think he has become a little worried because of the passing of Steve Jobs and the news that three other people he has known have passed away. We must be doing something right for now and continue to hope his condition remains so.
