Return to the Steigenberger Wiltcher

After our disastrous attempt at a meal at Steigenberger Wiltcher, recorded earlier in this blog,we were offered a free dinner at the hotel. Which we partook of last night. The difference was amazing. Clearly out to make an impression we were greeted in the main foyer, without even having to introduce ourselves.We were then shown to our table in the bar, which is a much nicer location for eating than the rather dry restaurant area.We had a special menu delivered by their chef Nicolas Gadomski.

The meal was excellent, starting with a rather nice champagne; the first course was marinated beef accompanied by a very nice Pinot Grigio. Then the main course was a dish of diced lobster with lemon grass, accompanied by an equally good Sauvignon Blanc. Finally we had a lemon meringue accompanied by a Chardonnay.

Although the food was excellent, what marked the meal out was the excellent service from the staff and the nice quiet atmosphere in their bar.

Xmas Shopping

So arrived in Belgium permanently, and my son is visiting River Song and I for Xmas day. On Xmas day we are having a "Belgium Xmas", but on Xmas Eve we are having a "British Xmas". So that meant we had to find all the necessary stuff in shops in Leuven. Getting up early we hit the supermarket, which was suitably civilised by UK standards for the main shopping day before Xmas.

Almost everything we could get, including ready made pigs-in-blankets, but the main missing item is an Xmas pudding. Can Xmas be Xmas without an Xmas pudding? Only time will tell.....

Banking

A major issue that people have experienced when coming to the UK to work is how to get a bank account. Such a simple procedure seems fraught with problems. To get paid you need a bank account, and to work you need somewhere to live, to get somewhere to live you need a bank account, to get a bank account you need to present bills from where you live (and bills from your previous place abroad do not count). This leads to endless hassle for the various people I have employed over the years from outside the UK.

So I was not expecting anything better when moving to Belgium. But here I am, not even moved to Belgium yet, with a Belgium bank account and an ATM card. OK things are a bit different from the UK, e.g. getting a credit card is a pain, and you have to pay for the pleasure of the banks taking a cut out of everything you spend. But that pain is nothing compared to the complete simplicity of sorting out a bank account before one arrives.

Let us hope the next steps in the move to Belgium are just as simple. Less than one month to go now before the big move, and all sorts need still sorting out.