Luxx Lait

My Days as a Lady of Leisure Come to an End

2010-06-11T18:10:00.003+02:00

After over two years of travelling, vegging, moving house (and country) I've finally landed myself a job here in Luxembourg - see it can be done - even with no French!

My blog entries might be a little sporadic from now on but I'm so excited to be going back to work, socialising with people properly and living a more normal life.

OK, give it a few weeks and I'll be begging for a break!

Lycra Overload

2010-06-03T14:43:00.004+02:00

A cycling frenzy has descended on Luxembourg this week with the Tour de Luxembourg. Cycling is Luxembourg's national sport and they sure do love it!

I know nothing about cycling although I do know Lance Armstrong, Bradley Wiggens (he's English) and now have been introduced to the Schlek brothers who are Luxembourgers and apparently quite good.

I didn't get a photo of Lance unfortunately, he was absolutely mobbed by TV crews, press and the public alike.

The Place Guilliame was at the heart of the action with all the teams rocking up with their tour buses and bikes galore. And then they were off...they're doing four stages around the country and will be back in Ville on Sunday afternoon.

I Spy

2010-06-02T13:19:00.003+02:00

This is the view from the window this morning. It's a cherry picker, extended to full height and we think it's monitoring the roundabout at the end of the village. It was up the other end yesterday.

This has coincided with a big census of traffic today with everyone getting stopped as they drive in and out. The commune are obviously trying to work out how much traffic is driving around Sandweiler and where it's coming from and going to.

Five Men and Some Decking

2010-06-02T12:44:00.002+02:00

Anyone who is friends with me on Facebook will know how painful this garden process has been. Because of the cold winter we had, it took until May for the landscapers to come round and start sorting out the rubble pit that was the garden.

We were looking forward to halcyon days spent sipping Pina Coladas on our little strip of decking watching the sun set over Sandweiler. And two days into June, this is what we have so far.

To be clear, this little strip of decking is no more than a few metres wide and it has taken five men, three whole days and counting to get this far. If you look closely, you'll also see they are installing some fencing at the back to divvy up the gardens. C could have rustled this up in a weekend.

We live in hope that they will eventually finish the garden. Perhaps we'll even get some 'herb'. And perhaps we'll even get to enjoy it before the end of the Summer. But in the meantime I'm not holding my breath and I'm glad I'm not paying for it!

Rubbish!

2010-06-01T10:34:00.003+02:00

Yes, hands up, I admit I haven't posted much recently. I've been busy-ish...not quite sure doing what but it seems to have taken up a lot of time. So in no particular order:

1. We've had our satellite dish installed, we have got a Freesat box connected and a new tele. So I'm catching up on six months of missed TV. Only problem is everything is an hour behind.

2. The gardeners have managed to lay half of our deck and installed a few fence posts. Noticed activity has ramped up significantly since the landlord came round at the weekend to view (lack of) progress.

3. I've been shuttling backwards and forwards to job interviews.

4. And busy ridding the spare room of boxes for our impending guests (C's Mum and Dad) in two weeks time. Cue a few trips to Ikea.

5. Plus stocking up on cards and pressies to take back to the UK at the end of the month - we seem to have four birthdays, two new babies, father's day, a get well soon and one holy communion to shop for.

6. Finishing off a few bits of paperwork

7. I have a dentist appointment (urgh)

The Echternach Dancing Procession

2010-05-25T19:23:00.004+02:00

Echternach folk procession- Video

Maybe one for next year, check out the video of the dancing procession which happens in the small town of Echternach on the German border every Whit Tuesday.

We didn't go as it's a working day but it certainly looks interesting and it's a very popular event on the tourist calendar. The procession celebrates Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg, who bizarrely hails from Northumberland (does that make him a Jordie monk then?).

Local people stand five abreast and then perform a kind of jig (of which the steps have been passed down from generation to generation) to music whilst winding their way around the town, ending up at the basilica and finally dancing past Willibrord's tomb in the crypt. It allegedly came about as an act of penance on behalf of those afflicted by epilepsy. You couldn't make it up could you?

NB. Check out the priests doing the dance about half way through.

Eau de Cologne

2010-05-19T16:14:00.004+02:00

We got back from our mini break to Cologne last weekend. What a fantastic city and at this rate Germany is proving to be one of my favourite countries in this neck of the woods - and I didn't think I'd be hearing myself say that.

It's compact and we based ourselves in the new and funky Art'otel on the banks of the Rhine in the up and coming marina area near the Chocolate Museum (a ten minute walk from the city centre).

The cathedral, probably Cologne's most famous attraction was a little disappointing. It's certainly imposing but it's drab and the gothic architecture wasn't really for me. However, it's interesting to see the areas they're restoring and some of the intricate carvings are quite amazing up close. It's also heaving with tourists but the plaza is vibrant with mime artists and entertainers giving it a Covent Garden-style feel.

So aside from the cathedral, you come to Cologne for two things - the beer and the shopping! Although it's compact and you can easily walk around the main city centre, a huge amount of shops are packed into a smallish space. It's split into two parts - the pedestrianised Hohe Strasse and Schidergasse (plus various little roads off either side) where the big department and chain stores are up to Neumarkt. And then around the back - Ehrenstrasse and Freisenwell house more upmarket, independent boutiques. We stopped at Foto Gregor, an amazing camera shop that has every brand, make and model under the sun, on Neumarkt and ate big bowls of Japanese rice and chicken teriyaki at Bento Box.

So a fantastic weekend and a place we'll surely be visiting again.

Election Night UK

2010-05-06T13:50:00.001+02:00

Our postal votes arrived in the nick of time on Friday, so I dashed down to the post office to make sure they went off before the weekend.

We've been able to watch all the live TV debates online and are looking forward to keeping up with the live action via the BBC and Sky on Thursday night.

Good luck to Dad who is going to be at the South Norfolk count tonight - just noticed they're not declaring until 2.30am (that's a late one) and I'm keeping my fingers crossed we have someone new in No.10 by tomorrow afternoon!

Mini break: Cologne

2010-05-05T11:20:00.004+02:00

Currently having a Bridget Jones 'we're going on a mini-break' moment. Next Thursday (Ascension Day) is a bank holiday in Luxembourg and C has managed to wangle the Friday off work as well, so we have decided to head off to Cologne for the weekend to do some shopping and see the famous cathedral and chocolate museum.

The hotel is booked and the low emissions permit (maceron pollution) has been ordered from ACL - you need this to drive into any of the big German cities now.

CNS - an update

2010-05-05T11:13:00.004+02:00

I was getting a bit fidgety earlier this week as I submitted my first claim to the CNS and hadn't heard anything back from them. But lo and behold, a Detail du remboursement arrived in the post this morning.

It's basically a statement which outlines how much the invoice was for, how much they'll reimburse and the outstanding amount that you have to pay. According to the letter it will be paid into my bank account within 14 days.

Let's hope its always this straight forward - I have a dentist check-up next month so we'll see how it goes.

Only in Luxembourg...

2010-05-04T14:09:00.004+02:00

I've been meaning to post this photo for some time but some how never got around to it.

This is a public phone box, of which there are many in Luxembourg. Notice anything different?

How about the two prestine phone books sitting on the shelf?

This is typical of phone boxes here. You'll always find they still have the phone books intact!

Culinary Ephiphany: Double Cream

2010-05-02T17:04:00.000+02:00

The lemon meringue pie I made didn't turn out so good. I didn't press the pastry into the flan tin properly and so there wasn't enough depth. The lemon curd slopped over the sides and for some reason the whipped egg whites didn't cover the whole thing.

But...I did find the secret to creating double cream. Which has been something of a mystery to me since moving to Luxembourg. The dairy section in the supermarket is large with every conceivable type of milk, cream, butter and so on. But double cream has alluded me. I've tried creme fraiche, creme epaisse, sahne (that's German for cream), nearly everything on sale in the chiller cabinet. Yes, I am a food snob and didn't venture into the UHT aisle but still...

I forgot I picked up a little packet of 'sahnesteif ' in Lidl some weeks back - a hunch that it might translate roughly as 'stiff cream'. I had a left over carton of single cream from the pie debacle and after a little research on the internet, I decided to combine the two.

It didn't take much whisking to realise that my single cream with the magic powder added was slowly thickening into a nice consistency. And after five minutes, voila, I had made double cream. And it tastes good too. Possibly not as rich as real double cream but I think you'd have a hard time telling the difference. I noticed on the packet it also tells you to add vanilla sugar (which I also bought out of interest) but it tasted OK without it.

I'm happy now - a whole new culinary world had opened up to me - pavlovas, strawberries and cream, trifle - here I come.

Day Trip: La Rochette

2010-05-01T17:03:00.006+02:00

Continuing our weekend outings, next on our list was the pretty little town of La Rochette, with obligatory medieval castle towering over the market place.

La Rochette lies in Petite Suisse Luxembourgoise and is probably the closest the Mullerthal trail gets to Luxembourg city. The winding road from the city is teaming with wildlife - we spotted a rare March (May) hare, deer and a magnificent bird of prey by the side of the road. And yet it takes only about twenty minutes to drive out from the city. Our visit coincided with a medieval market with a whole host of people dressed in traditional garb, demonstrating basket weaving, armory and selling handmade products.

There is a lovely walk, if you like steps, up from the car park (behind the square) which brings you out on top of the hill opposite the castle. You get a fantastic view of the whole town, the castle and down the valley. Depending on how fit you're feeling you can either come back down the way you came, or take a leisurely walk through the wood and down via the old town. We spied some cosy bars and restaurants tucked away in the old streets.

Rambles Around the City no.1: Kirchberg

2010-04-25T20:01:00.002+02:00

We really have been so lucky with the weather for the past two weeks. After hitting the shops in Trier yesterday, we decided to stick closer to home and went on our first proper outing in the city. I wanted to take some photos of the architecture of the Philharmonie in Kirchberg, so we packed our cameras and parked up outside on JFK (we were the only car).

I didn't quite realise what was around the back of the Philharmonie, but I was in for a nice surprise. This is the Museum 'Drai Eechelen' and is housed in the remains of Fort Thungen. The guidebook briefly mentions it but really doesn't do it justice. MUDAM (the Museum of Modern Art) is attached to it and the way the architecture flows from old to new is quite stunning.

The old fort spills out down the valley sides with superb views of Luxembourg city and the Grund. There is quite a bit of the old Fort to explore and an old tunnel finally brings you out right on the edge of the cliff side. There are various pathways down into valley floor, but decided it was too hot to climb all the way down and back up again (another day).

The new Melia hotel has also been built here and has a sleek, grown-up bar and restaurant called Aqua (which was empty). There is a nice terrace overlooking the Philharmonie, perfect for al fresco dining.

Day Trip: Beaufort

2010-04-24T18:59:00.000+02:00

You may be starting to recognise a theme developing with our day trips. Almost all of them involve some sort of a castle! Luxembourg has turned out to be the king of castles and you can't move for the sheer number of them.

When up in Echternach the other weekend, we popped into the tourist office to pick up some leaflets for walking trails in Petite Suisse Luxembourgouise. This is an area of Luxembourg centered around a handful of villages including Mullerthal, Beaufort and La Rochette. There is also a trail you can walk from one end of the region to the other or you can do mini-Mullerthal trails in a variety of places.

Beaufort has a small medieval castle dated from around 1150. It's changed hands a few times and is now owned by the state and open all year round. It has a particularly lovely walk down past the lake and into a wooded valley where the local sandstone makes an appearance in different forms. We also spotted loads of brown mice (Brambley Hedge) rustling through the undergrowth. Some of them were quite bold, keeping their distance from us but sitting quite out in the open surveying the landscape.

I've read the castle produces its own cassero, home made blackcurrant liquor which makes a rather delicious Kir Royale when mixed with Cremant. Must try it out one day.

Day Trip: Chateau Bouillon, Belgium

2010-04-22T09:20:00.003+02:00

I was asked if I'd like to go on a school trip with the European School this week and when I heard it was to Chateau Bouillon in Belgium I jumped at the chance.

Bouillon is about an hour and half's drive from Luxembourg, a very easy drive and well sign posted. The small town of Bouillon sits in a valley with the pleasant Semois river running through it. I didn't have time to look around the small shops but I counted at least two or three boulangeries and chocolatiers - heaven!

The castle is magnificent, sitting imposingly atop a rocky outcrop above the town. It's geared up for children with plenty of staff dressed up in medieval garb, an excellent tour which you can do yourself or go with a guide, a falconry display (a highlight) plus torture chamber and dungeon!

In 1096, Godfrey of Bouillon led the First Crusade. Thousands of people followed him through Europe and the Middle East to Jerusalem where he was to be offered the title of King of Jerusalem, which he declined. The title was later given to his brother. You can learn all about Godfrey at the Maison de Tourisme where they have created a 3D film to watch. To be honest, it was a little heavy on the history element and unless you are particularly interested in the Crusades I'd give it a miss.

I also spied kayakes and peddeloes ready and waiting on the banks of the river - all in all a lovely place to wander the ramparts, get a spectacular view of Belgium and France from the top of the tower and play around by the river on a sunny afternoon.

More about Metz...

2010-04-19T19:04:00.000+02:00

With the Pompidou Metz opening next month the British travel press have jumped on the Metz bandwagon. Another interesting article from the Independent.

Day Trip: Clervaux

2010-04-18T18:42:00.005+02:00

I want to go up north, said C. So on what had to be the sunniest weekend of the year so far, we packed our picnic and headed up north, nearly as far north as you can go before you hit Belgium to the small town of Clervaux.

Clervaux is famous for it's 12th century, feudal castle, which sits pretty perched atop a rocky out crop in the centre of the town. It houses a photography exhibition called the Family of Man by Edward Steichan, a Luxembourg-born American who compiled a series of photographs in the 50s and 60s depicting love and faith in man.

We didn't go inside the castle, decided to save that for another day, but there is a pleasant stroll around the town and up the hill to the imposing cathedral and Benedictine Abbey. The small pedestrianised main street is a perfect place to enjoy a gelato on a warm Spring day.

After, we headed back south via Erpeldange (not far from Bourscheid) and discovered the most perfect picnic spot alongside the river, which will definitely be a favourite of mine from now on.

The One in Which I Finally Make it to the Doctors

2010-04-16T08:53:00.003+02:00

So yesterday I finally made it to the doctors. It's a different system here - you can choose your own GP and I duly popped along to the appropriately named Dr Van Damme in the village, who speaks impeccable English, and had been recommended by a couple of people.

Because it's run a bit like a private health service, there is no local surgery, but in Sandweiler a few doctors have got together to rent consulting rooms above the post office. They seem to share a receptionist who doesn't work afternoons so if you ring after lunch you'll probably get the doctors themselves answering the phone.

After going through the usual medical history questions, the Doctor nearly fell off his chair when I said I hadn't had a blood test. Over here, it's standard to have one at least every 1-2 years. They like to screen for diabetes, cholesterol levels, red blood cell counts, iron deficiency and thyroid problems, plus check your urine too. So I have been duly sent off to the blood testing centre this morning for my check up.

And after you've seen the doctor you are relieved of €35 which you claim back (80%) via the CNS - the national health service. Our private insurance should reimburse us the remaining 20%.

He also told me I should seriously be thinking about who 'my gynecologist' is going to be and that I should be dropping in on them once a year too.

I'm undecided about whether this reimbursement system (which is similar to France by the way) is a better way of working, or whether everyone should adopt the UK system of free for all. It's interesting to be made to pay up front - it does give you a sense of value and I'm sure people are less inclined to cancel appointments if they're being made to pay. However, getting people to pay in the UK would be a total non-starter...can you imagine what the Daily Mail would say!

Day Trip: Esch-sur-Sure

2010-04-12T18:55:00.005+02:00

This weekend has been one of the first that we've actually been able to get out and about - between the snow, rain and shopping for essential items when we first got here.

We decided to head up North to the small village of Esch-sur-Sure on the bend of the River Sure. We drove a roundabout route to get to it, but I was surprised it wasn't so obviously signposted. We made our way down a tiny winding road to the heart of the village which lies on the banks of the river, as it makes its way through the valley.

It's ever so pretty and I can imagine will be even more so in the Summer when the trees have got their leaves. A very steep set of rickety steps wind their way up to the medieval castle ruins perched on a hilltop above the village. It may knock the puff out of you, but once you're up there, the views are stunning and you can climb all the way to the top of the castle tower.

The village has a couple of small brasseries plus lots of picnic tables and a great adventure playground. Afterwards, we headed off for a drive around the lake, which has been created by damming the river and now provides Luxembourg with its drinking water.

As with all day trips in Luxembourg, we found ourselves at the Belgium border in no time and stopped off at a little boulangerie in the border village of Martelrange - seriously some of the best french bread I've had in a long time and cheap too €1 a loaf.

You can read more about the castle and Esch-sur-Sure at Le Paradis des Ardennes Luxembourgois.

Recognise the Logo?

2010-04-10T13:39:00.000+02:00

We unfortunately got a stone chip in our car windscreen driving back from the UK. I got in contact with our insurance people who told me to take it along to the nearest garage to be fixed.

I had a quick look in the yellow pages (called Editus over here) and found Luxembourg has it's own version of Autoglass. Same system as in the UK, they will come to your house to fix it and your no claims bonus isn't affected - with the bonus of it all being free (if you have comprehensive cover).

I booked online yesterday and the man has just left after doing a good job with the stone chip.

Tel: 8002 16 16 (24/7)
www.carglass.lu
They also have two centres, one in Gasperich and one in Foetz.

Summer is Finally Here (for one day at least)

2010-04-09T13:06:00.002+02:00

On the balcony at lunchtime....

Wedding Photos

2010-04-09T09:19:00.005+02:00

We were very excited to get our 'official' wedding photos from C's sister over Easter. They came out brilliantly, especially the ones taken in sepia. So now I need to head out and about and find somewhere to print out some proper copies for family and friends.

Péckvillercher

2010-04-09T08:59:00.003+02:00

I was so disappointed we missed the traditional Easter Monday Emaischen fair in Luxembourg-ville this week - although this was made up for the fact we were in the UK with family and friends.

Péckvillercher are little pottery bird whistles that are sold every year at the fair to celebrate the Feast of Emmaus and the arrival of Spring.

Namaste - the King of Curries

2010-03-30T08:42:00.002+02:00

I should have got a picture of this before we devoured the lot but I promptly forgot.

This is the remnants of our delicious meal from Namaste. Luxembourg doesn't really do take-away, aside from an odd assortment of dodgy kebab shops close to the station so what does a Brit do on a Saturday night when in need of an Indian? Give Namaste a call.

I'd heard good things about this Indian restaurant, which is also located close to the station and they have recently started doing free home delivery so we thought we'd give it a go. They have a great online ordering system - easy to use with descriptions (in English) of all the dishes. And the prices are reasonable too. A lamb biryani, chicken makhani, two rotis and some meat samosas came to €40, which sounds expensive, but we also got poppadoms, salad and plain rice thrown in. Plus, the portions are huge, double that of what you'd usually get in England, so we had another helping for lunch on Sunday.

Delivery was a little on the slow side (hey, this is Luxembourg after all), it took around two hours, but the food more than made up for it. Highly Recommended!

Namaste Restaurant
At: 19, rue de Strausbourg, L-2561, Luxembourg
Tel: 26 123 121
Website: www.namaste-restaurant.com

Pompidou Metz

2010-03-27T19:37:00.002+01:00

There are a whole host of articles in the British press this week about the opening of the new Centre Pompidou-Metz, which is happening on 12 May. The French are hoping this new attraction, with obligatory snazzy new building will bump start Metz's cultural revolution.

Metz is still on my 'to do' list and this article in the Guardian will give me a fabulous helping hand. It's a small city about 40 minutes drive from Luxembourg and I can't wait to go and explore the markets and brasseries plus Galleries Lafayette!

Easter at Auchan

2010-03-26T18:16:00.003+01:00

The thing I love about Luxembourg is that whilst festivities, such as Easter, are taken very seriously - cue the huge blow-up Lindt bunny I spied in Auchan this afternoon. We're only allowed to indulge in it for two weeks. Not, as in the UK, as soon as the Christmas trees have been snaffled away to the bargain bin.

Easter eggs only really started appearing in the shops a week or so ago, which makes the whole thing so much more exciting. There was a real holiday atmosphere in Auchan this afternoon - the Caribbean lady was chopping her pineapple and papaya in time to the reggae music and there were swarms of people descending on the huge display of chocolate eggs in the doorway.

Job Hunting

2010-03-25T08:58:00.003+01:00

I can't believe it's Thursday already - time flies when you're job hunting. Now all the paperwork and nitty gritty has been sorted, I have to turn my attention to finding a job. It's a whole new ball game over here compared with the UK and when I find time, I'll do a proper post on the significant differences between here and there.

In the meantime, the sun is shining - thankfully the weather people have got it wrong all week and we've had glorious sunshine and no rain - and I'm off to an appointment with a recruitment agency in the city.

Plus Easter (or Fetes de Paques) is nearly upon us and I've stumbled across a few more Luxembourg idiosyncrasies that I need to share with you.

Home Shopping Spy

2010-03-21T09:00:00.000+01:00

Perfect for a Sunday afternoon swoon-fest. Home Shopping Spy is the blog from Ideal Home magazine and perfect for those of us who either can't buy it or can't wait until the monthly edition hits the newsstands. It also comments on loads of items that don't make it into the mag. I think the layout is clean and simple and the illustrative photos featured are to die for!

E-Go....You-Go

2010-03-20T09:00:00.001+01:00

According to new figures out this week, 92% of people who use the bus in Luxembourg use an e-go card. I thought it might be time to get myself one.

The e-go card is a bit like an Oyster card for the London underground. It's got an electronic chip in it which you wave in front of a yellow and black box positioned just inside the bus doors or on the railway platforms.

The benefit is you top-up €12 a time and pay just €1.20 for a ticket rather than €1.50. It also means you don't have to keep scrabbling around for change everytime you need to use the bus or train. As usual, once swiped, you get unlimited travel on the bus and train network for two hours.

You can get your free e-go card from the Mobiliteit desks at Hamilius or the Gare (and top up there too). There are a few more places around Luxembourg where you can top up, although it's limited at the moment. I know there are plans in place to increase the number of places you can top up and also include online top-up.

Practical Stuff no.8: Join the Library

2010-03-19T09:37:00.003+01:00

The new Cite Bibliotheque is open to everyone and free to join. Just pop in, fill out the registration form and take with you a form of ID.

You can borrow books, magazines, CDs, audio books and DVDs in German, French, English and Luxembourgish. I spied the latest version of English Homes and Gardens in the comfy reading section on the ground floor.

You can borrow four books for a month (renewable once), two sound recordings for a month (renewable once) and two DVDs a week (renewable once). Plus there are twelve PCs available for free internet access.

The new library opened in 2008 and is set over three floors. It's not huge but has a bright and airy feel. The staff are really helpful, all speak English and will help you find whatever you need.

At: 3, rue Genistre, L-1623, Luxembourg
Tel: 47 96 27 32
Email: bibliotheque@vdl.lu
Open: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 - 19:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00

Caisse Nationale de Sante - or the NHS to you and me

2010-03-18T12:31:00.004+01:00

Now I haven't written much about the healthcare system here yet because I've been struggling for a few months to get my head around it, but I think I had a breakthrough yesterday.

If you cast your mind back to the registration process, once you have been to the commune and declared yourself, got a residence certificate and little card, a social security number will follow in the post (hopefully). You'll then be sent a small plastic card which has your social security number on one side and your European Healthcare Card on the other.

Now both C and I filled out the order request form on the CNS website for our cards. C duly got his in the post (after a few months though) and mine never materialised. Because he registered a month before me, I thought I'd wait a little longer and so I waited...and waited... And of course, you're not supposed to go to the doctor without your little card even though you have your social security number so I was getting worried.

I then bumped into our relocation agent and mentioned the situation. Apparently, this isn't the first case of spouses and family members not receiving their healthcare cards and was adamant that it was part of some great conspiracy to ensure that family members were physically living in the country.

So a trip to the CNS offices ensued yesterday afternoon. You can't miss it, it's a huge yellow 1960s building on the Route d'Esch in Hollerich with free parking. Anyhew, I took my ticket and explained the situation to the lady in the booth and sure enough, after a few phone calls I will be issued with my card within the next two weeks.

So the moral of the story is, don't assume you're going to get your health insurance automatically. You might need to physically present yourself at the CNS and speed the process up a bit. Of course, I didn't try actually going to the doctors and trying to claim - it might have worked, but I didn't want to leave it to chance and find myself saddled with an enormous doctors bill.

At: 125, route d'Esch, L-1471, Luxembourg
Tel: 27 57-1
email: cns@secu.lu
Open: 08:00 - 16:00 Monday to Friday

Freijoershopping - 21st March

2010-03-17T11:52:00.003+01:00

God knows I'm having enough problems with my French so to start adding Luxembourgish into the mix too is probably not a good idea but this Sunday all the shops are open.

This is of course, an exciting event in Luxembourg (and surrounding countries) because usually the city centre and shopping malls have tumbleweed rolling them through them on a Sunday.

I'm guessing it's because of something to do with Easter but I could be wrong. Check out Good Idea for ideas on where to go and what to do this Sunday.

It Takes Two to Tango

2010-03-15T11:40:00.006+01:00

I read recently that Luxembourg is right up there in Europe for the quality of its communications - well whoever did the survey is deluding themselves! It's not easy for this little country to provide competitive mobile and internet services so perhaps I'm being harsh but if you're coming from the UK, you may get a shock when choosing your phone and broadband provider.

We decided to go with Tango, predominantly a mobile phone operator who is now offering the holy grail of the triple-play - home phone, mobile and unlimited broadband internet in one handy package. We also get a free wi-fi router, free Tango to Tango mobile calls and two hours of calls to Europe on our landline every month. P&T is the incumbent (think BT ten years ago) with newly rebranded Orange and a few cable providers thrown in for good measure.

We signed our Tango contract as soon as we moved in - the first week in January and two months later we've only just been installed. To be fair, we were given a free unlimited mobile ADSL dongle and SIM card while we were waiting for installation but the process was slow and painful with weekly trips to their help centre in Bertrange or calls to their help line. It didn't help the fact that they set-up our contract wrong initially on the system.

But we're now up and running on their Tango Complet package for €35 a month (we hope because we haven't actually got anything to say that's what we're on, except the advert I tore out of the magazine). Installation was quick and speedy with an engineer from P&T and Tango both doing their thang. But here's the thing. We're supposed to be getting speeds of up to 20Mb. Now we all know that unless you're sitting in the telephone exchange you're not going to be getting those kind of speeds but it took them a week after installation to configure our wi-fi router to receive speeds of over 2Mb. And they looked at me kinda stunned that I was asking for what I was paying for - something over 2Mb. So eventually after another trip to Bertrange we're now up to around 6Mb, which is I think all we're going to get.

Tango is probably the cheapest deal out there at the moment if you live in a Tango unbundled area (check on their website), but it does lock you in for 24 months. P&T is the choice of Luxembourgers but you're looking at around €40 a month just for broadband with phone line and IPTV, if you want, on top of that. Orange are offering broadband from €26 a month but they're scuppered by P&T adding the €18 for a phone line. I had a look at Eltrona which offers cable in Luxembourg-ville and a few other areas and I couldn't make head nor tail of the tariffs. You seemed to have to pay a monthly maintenance charge plus your monthly rental fee and huge installation cost and that's just if you've actually got cable to your front door. If you want them to install you from the road it was around €1000.

So we're chugging along OK with Tango for now. On a more positive note, the providers are starting to get the message that customer service and promotional bundles might be the way forward. With Tango and Orange aggressively attacking the market, P&T is playing catch-up and for now, relying on it's huge brand awareness within Luxembourg. But with EU regulations forcing incumbent telecoms companies to open up their networks, I wouldn't bet on it being like this for long.

This post might get updated once I receive our first bill. For more information of services available in your area:

www.tango.lu
www.pt.lu
www.orange.lu
www.eltrona.lu

Update:

And sure enough Tango managed to screw up our first two bills and I am holding out no hope for any future ones either. Currently we're in credit to the tune of €100. I'm giving them until next month to pay up and sort out our bills (which they agree are messed up too) until I start demanding for a refund and to see a manager!

And Happy Mother's Day!

2010-03-14T19:46:00.005+01:00

With the allure of chocolate and almond covered Bretzel's today in Luxembourg, we mustn't forget that in England it's Mother's Day too.

Mother's Day, of course, is not exclusive to the UK but if you're in need of a greetings card in English then head over to Little Britain in Cappellen. They sell all manner of British goodies like Cadbury's chocolate, Paxo stuffing and Oxo cubes. Plus they have a good range of English books, magazines, newspapers and cards. I spied Green & Black's Easter Eggs last time I was over there - a favourite of mine.

At: 1c Route d'Arlon, L-8310, Capellen
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:00 & Sunday 10:00 - 14:00

Happy Bretzel Sonndeg!

2010-03-14T09:00:00.000+01:00

Something for le Weekend

2010-03-13T22:14:00.006+01:00

I'm off to the antiques fair this Sunday at the Lux Expo. Never been before, but looking at the calendar they appear to happen every few months. The exhibitors are coming from Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Germany and will be offering 19th and 20th century furniture, curiosities, glassworks, silverware, classic jewellery, postcards, cameras, old toys and billboards. It's on from 10am - 6pm in hall 3.

Update:
Lux Expo was heaving but bizarrely, not for the antiques fair, for the garden show which was taking place in the hall next door. The car park was packed with a queue to get in - we parked a few streets away for free (because it's a Sunday). Why people were queuing to get into the car park they have to pay €3 for was beyond me. But I digress.

You have to pay €3 again (under 12s free) to get into the fair but it was €3 well spent. There were around thirty to forty stalls selling everything from furniture to china and loads of old children's toys, my Mum would have been in heaven.

The items weren't cheap, these were proper dealers, some coming as far as Bordeaux I noticed, but the quality was good with lots of things in the €50-100 price range. Definitely worth a look and it was a fun activity to while away the hours on an overcast, grey Sunday afternoon. I've got various flyers with other up and coming flea markets in and around Luxembourg throughout the Summer so I'll update the blog as and when.

Design Sponge

2010-03-12T08:59:00.004+01:00

Design Sponge is a lovely blog with lots of inspiration for budget home interior projects, DIY and cooking. Perfect for dipping in and out when the fancy takes you.

The site is written by Brooklyn-based designer Grace Bonney and features store and product reviews, city, product, and gift guides, diy projects, before & after furniture and home makeovers, home tours, recipes, videos and podcasts, and trend forecasting.

Katie Melua at the Abbey

2010-03-10T15:16:00.002+01:00

This is definitely something I'd like to go too. Katie Melua will be playing at the open air venue of Neumunster Abbey this summer on 12 July. I've been told by people who've been before the venue is a magical setting in the heart of Luxembourg-Ville.

You can find more details of the Summer line up at the Abbey website and to buy tickets for Katie visit Den Atelier.

Practical Stuff no.7: Breakdown Cover

2010-03-05T09:20:00.000+01:00

Now our Landy is Luxembourgish we had to sort out some kind of breakdown cover for her. A little limited in Luxembourg to say the least, you're pretty much down to two options: ACL (the Automobile Club du Grand-Duchy de Luxembourg) or Europ Assistance.

We've plumped for ACL but bear in mind both offer above and beyond the standard breakdown cover you get in the UK from the likes of the AA or RAC. I won't go through all the benefits, but in addition to full European recovery, we also receive added extras such as compensation if we cut our trip short due to illness or emergency at home.

ACL membership slightly bizarrely runs from January to December and if you sign up half-way through unfortunately you have to pay the full price. But in return, you do get a good deal just €89 for the first member and €60 for any additional driver after that (the membership is with the person not the car).

Europ Assistance is a little more but comes with added option of having couple or family cover for around €160 a year and this also includes a basic travel insurance package as well - good if you're a regular vacationer or going skiing (you can add ski and snow cover).

For more info on ACL, you can pop into their shop at:

At: 56, route de Longwy, L-8080, Bertrange
Tel: 450045-1

Magasin du Jour - Gifi

2010-03-04T22:33:00.005+01:00

I still get a little tickle out of the fact that I can say I'm just popping over to France for the afternoon. One of my favourite shops I've discovered in the nearby town of Thionville is Gifi. It's an odd shop, their website is rubbish, the outside looks like some kind of run down warehouse and inside isn't much better, but if you want to kit out your abode in shabby-chic French farmhouse style on the cheap, then this is the place to come.

I have to put my hands up and say the quality isn't fantastic - most of it is made in China but they have a great selection of zinc covered cabinets and shelving, wire baskets, distressed looking objet d'art, cushions, curtains. It's a huge place and very conveniently layed out in themed sections such as seaside and garden.

The middle of the shop loses its focus as it turns into a QD somewhere around the household products but persevere and towards the back you'll find a whole new range of lovely garden furniture and planters. Prices are very reasonable and I picked up some lovely seaside-chic coat hooks for just €1.50 each. The little wire box pictured is around €10. Great for picking up good value pressies for friends and family.

At: 91 Route de Romains, ZC du Linkling, 57100, Thionville
Open: Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 19:30
Website: www.gifi.fr

Bretzelsonndeg - March 14th

2010-03-04T09:06:00.006+01:00

Luxembourg has plenty of its own traditions but with it being as small as it is, it's sometimes tricky to work out exactly what's going on. So thanks to Sycamore Stirrings who has introduced me to the concept of Bretzelsonndeg.

Bretzelsonndeg, or Pretzel Sunday, occurs on the third Sunday in Lent. This year it will be on March 14th. On this day boys give the girl they like a pastry shaped as a pretzel. The larger the pretzel the more the boy likes the girl. If the girl feels the same way she will give the boy a decorated egg on Easter Sunday. On leap years the roles are reversed. This practice is celebrated by singles and married couples.

Katy has also included a recipe of her own which I think I might try, if the temptations of the local bakery don't get to me first.

The Beat My Heart Skipped

2010-03-03T11:42:00.005+01:00

If you're ever in need of some design inspiration or just like looking at lovely things, then hop along to The Beat My Heart Skipped - a blog written by UK-based designer Rohini Wahi.

P&T - the Post

2010-03-01T09:50:00.001+01:00

While I'm sitting here waiting for my new laptop to arrive from Amazon, I'd thought I'd write a post about the postal service here in Luxembourg.

P&T is the equivalent of the Royal Mail and is easy to distinguish by the yellow and green logo, yellow vans and yellow post boxes. The service is virtually identical to the postal service in the UK with daily deliveries, pick-up from allocated post boxes and extra services available at your local Post Office.

Mail deliveries happen Monday - Friday so long as you have a post box clearly marked with the surname of everyone who lives in your house or apartment. Our postie usually turns up around 10.30am.

If he has a letter or parcel that needs a signature or something too big to go in the post box, he'll ring the bell. And if you're not in, he'll leave a card which directs you to your nearest post office for collection - you'll need photographic ID.

Sending post is just as simple. Find out where your nearest post office is - most villages have one and there are two in Luxembourg-Ville. Stamps to the UK cost €0.70 and for internal mail cost €0.50. Kiosk shops also sell books of stamps.

The post office can also send parcels and packages check out the English P&T website for more details on rates here. And a registered letter (that requires a signature) is called a Lettre Recommandée Avec Avis de Reception. Again, fill in a form at the Post Office and you'll be able to track online to ensure it's been delivered.

I've found the postal service here to be pretty efficient with standard letters taking no more than 3 days to reach the UK and vice versa.

Spring is in the Air

2010-02-27T22:37:00.000+01:00

After three months of snow and unseasonable cold weather, the sun was out and the birds singing today. The snow has melted away and Luxembourg-Ville was in full swing when we popped into town this morning.

The Saturday market was buzzing with people buying flowers, fruit and veg, cheese, fish and cold meats. And most surprisingly, tables and chairs had appeared on every street corner - it seems everyone was desperate to soak up a little sun with their morning coffee.

The farmers market is in the Place Guillaume every Wednesday and Saturday from around 9am till 1pm.

Amazon.co.uk

2010-02-25T22:49:00.001+01:00

Did you know you can order stuff from Amazon.co.uk and get it delivered to Luxembourg? See, this is why I love Amazon.

We had a petit crisis a few weeks ago when both our laptops started to go on the blink, one totally packed up. As we weren't due back in the UK for a month or two we started looking around for laptops to buy. Saturn, Hifi International, Darty and Auchan all offer a good selection but it was proving difficult to find a PC that ensured UK compatibility. Plus laptops are cheaper in the UK.

So I started investigating Amazon and found they deliver to Luxembourg, even if you buy through their UK site. And also you can order from Amazon France and Germany using your UK account (if that makes sense).

Not only is the shipping minimal - it cost £3.99 for a laptop and DVDs are even cheaper but you get a reduction in the VAT from 17.5% to 15%. If the product is in stock it usually takes around 3-4 days to get here via P&T. Crisis averted!

Practical Stuff no. 6: Importing a UK Car to Lux

2010-02-25T09:24:00.000+01:00

Importing your UK car to Luxembourg isn't too difficult but requires a little preparation and forward planning. Bearing in mind that it's always going to be easier to import a standard, un-modified, newish car than some blinged up hot hatch that's ten years old. We used a specialised company to do the paperwork for us but if your French or German is good then I see no reason why you couldn't do this yourself. For more information, visit the SNCT website, there is a whole section with the necessary forms available for download.

This is the way it works:

1. You baggsy your registration plate - for just fifty euros more you can buy a personalised plate. All the plates over here have two letters, followed by four numbers (i.e. XX 0000).

You need to email, fax or write to SNCT requesting a number plate including a copy of your passport, address and social security number. If you want to go for a personalised plate then you need to fill out this form. This should take no more than a day or so to process.

Email: nplaques@snct.lu
Tel: 357214-237
Fax: 357214-246
At: SNCT, bp23, L-5201, Sandweiler

For new number plates contact:
Lux Signalisation
At: 11 rue Principale, L-5240 Sandweiler
Tél: 52 22 57

2. Once you've got your plates, you can then go get your insurance - which is horrendously expensive, although you do get unlimited European cover included as standard (must be all those French drivers). You'll be given a green card which shows the police and SNCT you've got the minimum insurance needed.

3. This is where it gets complicated and hands up, we didn't do this ourselves, so the details are a little hazy. But essentially, you then take every paper you can think of - residence certificate, passport, social security number, UK registration certificate - you name it, you take it - to customs to get an import stamp which costs €50. If you're importing within the EU then you don't need to pay VAT. You'll need to fill out this form.

At: Croix de Gasperich, BP 1122, Gasperich, L-1011, Luxembourg
Tel: 498858-245
Open: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00

And if they're happy with all that...

4. You take it to 'Sandweiler'. Now we live in the lovely community of Sandweiler but unfortunately its name has been tarnished with something altogether more sinister. Yes, Sandweiler is also home to the infamous 'Controle Technique' or MOT testing centre to you and me. Because Luxembourg is so small, it doesn't employ independent garages to do MOTs, it makes you physically take your car along to one of three centres in the country - but Sandweiler is the main one. You also have to take your car here when you import it, which happens quite frequently because of the number of cars coming in from Germany, Belgium and France.

The main issue is if it's due a first MOT (after three years like the UK) or if you're importing it. You don't get an appointment (or rendez-vous) so you have to queue up and wait...and wait...and wait. Sometimes all day. Once you've been through once, I'm told it gets easier the next year and you get an automatic appointment, but everyday, you see a snake of cars with bored looking occupants waiting in the queue for their inspection. It has a reputation followed by a roll of the eyes. You'll have to pay for the Controle Technique which is approximately €25 and swap your number plates over at this point.

5. And then assuming you remembered to change your headlights, checked your fogs at the back and everything else is hunkydory, you get given a grey registration card, a certificate to show it's passed the Controle Technique and a temporary 30 day road tax stamp.

6. All that remains is to apply for your proper annual road tax and remember to tell the DVLA you've exported the car from the UK.

Phew! You would have thought there would have been an easier way now we are all part of the EU, but no, that would be too simple. And to think if we ever go back to the UK, we'll have to do it all again the other end. Zut Alors!

If in doubt, the people at the aggregation desks at the SNCT are extremely helpful, all speak English and will answer your queries on any part of the process. To ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible, you must ensure all your documents match - car registered to the same person as shown on the insurance etc. We had a slight hitch with our UK registration document as they wanted proof that we were the legal owner (not just the registered keeper) and a sales receipt was sufficient evidence for them.

The Landy in Lux

2010-02-24T15:59:00.000+01:00

Ever since we got here, we've been umming and ahhing about what to do with our beloved Landrover. Cars are expensive over here compared with the UK and selling it and having to buy a new one would have cost us lots. Besides with the winter weather we've been having I wouldn't have wanted anything less than my trusty Freelander.

It was decided we would import the car and I'd just have to put up with having to jump out of the car and run round the otherside to get a ticket when I go to Auchan. So what to do? Luckily, our insurance company recommended another company called Rent Me, who make it their business to help people register their cars. And for a very reasonable €235 they'll do all the paperwork for you and take it through the Controle Technique.

I'll do a new post on Practical Stuff for importing your UK car, but suffice to say we got all the paperwork done yesterday and our Landy now has brand-spanking new number plates Lux-style.

Practical Stuff no.5: Paying Tax and National Insurance

2010-02-23T10:16:00.000+01:00

Luxembourg has the reputation of being a tax haven, but sadly, for most of us here, we still have to pay our taxes along with the rest of you. Taxation is based on a sliding scale from 0% to 38% plus don't forget to add on those hefty social security contributions (around 10%). PwC has published a handy guide here.

Tax and national insurance is paid on a PAYE basis in Luxembourg and I won't pretend to understand the ins and outs of the taxation system here. But essentially you need a tax card or fiche d'impot (working residents only). You'll get this when you first register or if for some reason, you haven't received one, you can fill out this request form and send it to the tax office.

Once you have received your tax card, you hand this to your employer who does the rest. The tax year runs from January to December and you receive a new tax card automatically every year in the post sometime in January (based on your circumstances recorded in the annual census taken in the previous December). The tax card is important as it states your tax class (single, married) plus the various credits and deductions allowed under the system. If you don't hand in a tax card then you'll automatically be put into the highest tax bracket, so it's in your interests to do so.

This, of course, is an extremely simplistic way of how the tax system works here. You can also fill out a tax return at the end of the year to offset various expenses but we haven't gone through this process yet.

For more information (in French) visit the Administration des Contributions Directes. You can also visit the city tax office for help:

At: 18, rue du Fort Wedell, L-2982, Luxembourg

Tel: 40 800-1

Open: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 11:45 and between 13:15 and 17:00 for telephone inquiries only

For regional offices visit www.impotsdirects.public.lu and don't forget your local commune is also a good starting point for any issues.

Emergency Pharmacies

2010-02-21T19:55:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Life in Luxembourg for pointing out the link for 24 hour pharmacy openings. Pharmacies in Luxembourg operate a rota for overnight opening and the list, published on a rolling two week period is available online here.

Also, the A&E departments in Luxembourg hospitals operate on a 24 hour rotating system so if it's a real emergency call 112 to ensure you get taken to the one that's open!

Buergbrennen - Fire Starter

2010-02-21T19:35:00.000+01:00

We've been a little bit lazy today. Woke up to a couple of inches of snow and trying to fight off colds and sore throats, so we've been huddled up inside doing a few projects we hadn't quite got around too.

Today marks the end of Winter (would you believe it) and the start of Spring and here it's called Buergbrennen. The origins of the festival are a little hazy but most people date it back to a Pagan ritual welcoming in the new season.

Most villages create their own straw cross which is then burnt ceremoniously on a huge bonfire in the middle of the village - some use old Christmas trees and left over decorations too. And all accompanied with mulled wine and sausages.

Cosas Minimas

2010-02-18T18:15:00.001+01:00

I'm a total blog aficionado and love reading about people creating small businesses from their spare rooms.

Cosas Minimas by Madrid-based designer Bianca Gomez has some gorgeous designs - all tiny. I was reading an article about her on another blog the beat that my heart skipped and decided when I eventually get a job I'll buy some of her work.

Practical Stuff no.4: Postal voting

2010-02-18T09:48:00.000+01:00

It's an important year as far as politics go with a general election just around the corner. Make sure you still get a vote entitlement by registering as an overseas voter and then choosing a method of voting (postal, proxy or in person).

You can find more out about overseas voting including the registration forms at http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

Nombre de Matricule

2010-02-04T09:23:00.001+01:00

An exciting day today, my social security number or nombre de matricule turned up from the 'Centre des technologies de l'information de l'Etat'. The number is your birthday followed by three numbers. This means I can import the car and also go to the doctor's if I need too. It ties in all your social security contributions (or rather C's) and it's difficult to do anything without it.

Je vais a l'aerobic - Lux Style

2010-02-02T20:39:00.000+01:00

After a tip off from Alison, a fellow Brit who lives down the road, I found myself tripping through the snow (yes, it's still snowing) to the school sports hall yesterday evening.   Twice a week, a dance teacher from Germany comes over to Sandweiler to take an aerobics class, so I thought I'd check it out.

The sports hall is well equipped and part of Sandweiler primary school which also looks pretty flashy and for just €25 a year you can take unlimited classes.   There are about ten of us and we're put through our paces for an hour through a mix of aerobics, kick boxing and twenty minutes of stretching and pilate-like planks and stomach crunches. All to the beat of German rock music and euro-cheese pop.  

Considering she was shouting instructions in Luxembourgish I managed to keep up and really enjoyed it. Suffice to say, I will be going back next week.

2010-01-29T20:45:00.000+01:00

This was the scene that greeted us this morning - our gritting man has upgraded to a snow plough!  

We've had a few more centimeters of snow overnight and it's been snowing all morning. At last, I can enjoy the snow without worrying about getting to a wedding.

Practical Stuff no.3: Registering your drivers licence

2010-01-23T09:53:00.000+01:00

Now we're all part of the EU, you'll be glad to know you don't need to swap or apply for a Luxembourgish driving licence (although you can if you really want to). Your UK driving licence will be recognised throughout EU countries.

It is required, however, that you register your driving licence with the SNCT incase you lose it or it gets stolen. And be warned - if you commit a driving offence, you'll be asked to change it for a Luxembourg one so they can keep track of the points!

You can download the form to do this here. It's in French, but check the box Enregistrement d'un permis d'un Etat membre EEE and ensure you include:

a copy of both sides of your driving licence
a copy of your certificate of residence - no more than one month old
a copy of your passport

Once completed, send the form off to the SNCT or drop it in, in person. I think you can also take it to your commune but didn't try it. Here are the details:

Societe Nationale de Controle Technique (SNCT)

Departement des Transports

Service des Permis de Conduire

At: 2A rue Kalchesbruck, L-1852, Luxembourg

Tel: 35 72 14 - 720

Open: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Catching the Bus

2010-01-22T18:59:00.001+01:00

I entered the murky depths of the bus station yesterday to go find the Joeresabo (or annual bus pass).

Luxembourg has a good network of buses, especially around the city, and in fact we chose to live in Sandweiler because of its regular bus route to Kirchberg. C's work actually subsidise an annual bus pass which means one and a half hour commutes to Newbury on the M4 are now a thing of the past.

I was told to find the big blue lady (a Luxembourg famous landmark) and descend the steps next to her and yes, there was indeed a bus information office in the underpass. The Joeresabo costs €400 a year for unlimited bus travel and the best bit is at weekends and on holidays, you can take one other person with you for free. You'll need to fill in a form with name and address plus provide them with a passport sized photo.

If you don't want to splash out on a bass pass, you pay a flat rate of €1.50 for a two hour ticket (unlimited travel) either direct to the driver on the bus or buy individual tickets or a book of 10 (carnet) at the station or many kiosk shops.

You can visit Mobiliteits to check out bus routes and for a journey planner, or drop into the two information offices - one in the Gare and one under the bus station, Hamilius (look for the blue lady).

La Poubelle

2010-01-20T11:20:00.000+01:00

Council tax doesn't exist in Luxembourg. Because we're in an apartment, we pay communal charges which include water, gas, maintenance of the lift and the use of a cleaner and gardener. We even have a man who comes round when it's snowy to clear and grit our drive.

However, this does mean that dustbin collections are managed separately on a pay per throw basis. It's taken us a bit of time to get our head around the system, but it's designed to reward those who recycle and encourages you to reduce the amount of household waste you throw away.

The biggest outlay has been the cost of our wheelie bin. It's micro-chipped, so as you can imagine, we had to pay a large deposit for it (€200), which we get back if we move out of the area. We're then charged €3 every time we put the bin out and invoiced every six months. Recycling is free however, with glass, plastics, metal and paper picked up on different days throughout the week. You can also go to the commune and buy extra rubbish bags or take a trip to the local recycling centre up the road (yet to investigate).

For more information (in English) visit Valorlux which has details on what can go in the blue recycling bags and when the bags are picked up in your commune.

Practical Stuff no.2: Getting registered

2010-01-20T10:37:00.001+01:00

So first things first. Not registering is really not an option (in the long term). For a start, it is expected of you - EU citizens are only supposed to stay three months before they have to register and secondly, it's very difficult to get anything done without your Certificate de Residence. But luckily, it's very easy. If you're living in Luxembourg city, then you'll need to present yourself (in person) at the city office (details below). They operate a ticket system here, most people speak English and best to hot foot it down first thing in the morning before it gets busy at lunchtime and in the afternoon.

If you're working, you'll need to take your passport, the original employment contract (signed by all parties) and your rental agreement or some kind of proof of address. When we first arrived, C had to register so he could receive his tax card and a letter from the hotel, confirming he was staying there temporarily was perfectly adequate.

Assuming everything is in order, you'll receive a Certificate de Residence. Essentially an A4 piece of paper which states when you arrived, your old address (in the UK), your current address and they also ask for details of your parents - name, address, occupation.

The city office usually issue you with your social security number (nombre de matricule) at the same time which is your birth date followed by three numbers. Again, this is important as you'll need it for healthcare, buying or importing your car and a whole host of other things. Plus your tax card, which indicates your current status (single, married) - this is then handed to your employer.

Your family members must also present themselves too - often easier to do it at the same time to avoid any confusion. You'll need an original marriage certificate for your spouse and full birth certificates (showing parent names) for children. Each person will get a separate certificate and social security number. Non-working persons don't get issued with a tax card.

If you don't live in Luxembourg Ville, then your local commune will register you and deal with the paper work. It's a similar process but sometimes it's best to ring for an appointment first to ensure they have someone available to deal with you. All of the above applies, however, your social security number and tax card will be issued centrally and you'll receive it in the post in the following days.

Bierger-Center

At: Centre Emile Hamilius, 51 boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg

Tel: 4796-2200

Email: bierger-center@vdl.lu

Open: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Practical Stuff no.1: UK tax and national insurance

2010-01-18T10:16:00.000+01:00

It always amazes me that there is no structured de-registration process in the UK, compared to countries like Luxembourg, where it's very hard to do anything without having registered and everything is linked.

When leaving the UK, you'll need to tell HM Revenue & Customs and their website has a load of information on how to do this. Obviously everyone's tax situation is different but in most cases, you'll need to fill in a P85 form found here, which enables you to claim the tax back paid in the UK.

To make things slightly easier you can also request your bank or building society to pay your interest gross and the R105 form allows you to do this.

With regards to national insurance the non-residents team in Newcastle are extremely helpful. They can give you advice about NI status and entitlements, pension status and health care provisions. Their number is: +44 191 203 7010 and they are open Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00.

Welcome to our new home

2010-01-04T11:05:00.001+01:00

Well this is it, our little abode in a small village called Sandweiler, about 5km from Luxembourg Ville.

It's got two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, big open plan lounge/dining room and separate study (which we're using as a dining room). A balcony to the front and terrace leading off the kitchen should be lovely once they've been landscaped in the Spring. And below we have our own bat cave - a garage and storage room with electric doors.

It's a brand new complex of just four apartments, so it's not quite finished and we're echo-ing around rather as only one other flat is rented, but we're excited to make this our home for the next three years.

Sandweiler itself is compact but has everything you need. A post office (P&T), bank, the commune, a school, small supermarket plus bakery and newsagents. There are a couple of nice restaurants we'll be able to try out in the coming months. It's on a good bus route too, with a direct bus to Kirchberg, where C works, and two routes into the city.