Downtown Indy Condo for Rent

One of the biggest decisions to make before moving to the UK is what to do with my Indy condo. As you can tell from the title of this post, I've decided to rent it. So to start I've called my realtor to add it to the MLS database. In addition I'll be posting flyers in the local hospitals. I intend to focus on hospitals because I believe the ideal tenant will be a medical school resident. One, because they will need housing for up to three years (the duration of my assignment), and two, they'll be working so much they have little time to tear up the condo (I hope). That's not to say someone else would not make a good candidate, so if any of you know of anyone who might be interested, by all means let them know. Below are some details:

• 1 Bed, 1-1/2 Bath
• ~1,000 sq. ft.
• Building built 2004
• Fully-furnished!
• Gas fireplace
• Laundry room
• Hardwood floors
• Balcony
• GE appliances (refrigerator, oven, microwave, dish washer, clothes washer and dryer)
• Indoor parking below building
• 10 ft. ceilings
• Tenant pays: rent, cable, electric
• Owner pays: dues, sewer, trash pick-up, water, taxes
• Security deposit ($1,400) and 1st month's rent due at lease signing
• Pet restrictions

For more information click here.

The List

It's not every day that you have the opportunity to spend 2+ years in Europe (unless of course you're European), so I thought I'd compile a list of "Must Do's"... things to accomplish (outside of work) while living in the UK. If you have any additional suggestions, please let me know. This is a living list that will change and evolve throughout my stay. Things will be checked off, new things will be added. Check back often to monitor my progress. If you'd like to join me as I cross one or more of these things off the list, please do. So here it goes...

• Ride part of and watch part of the Tour de France
• Drive sports car at high rates of speed on German autobahn
• Paris airshow
• Attend F1 race (in Monte Carlo if possible)
• Attend football (soccer) game(s)
• Go to Germany, buy a brand new BMW motorcyle, and ride it back to the UK
• Hit a bucket of balls near the birthplace of golf
• Run with the bulls

Calendar

Throughout my stay this calendar will be updated with significant events, trips, visits, etc.

Upcoming UK Secondment

Expat
- short for expatriate

Expatriate
ex·pa·tri·ate
[eks-pey-tree-it]
- to leave one's native country to live elsewhere

Secondment
se·cond·ment
[si-kond-muhnt]
- the transfer of a military officer or corporate executive to another post for temporary duty

As I'm sure you've heard, Rolls-Royce will soon be sending me to the UK for a 2+ year secondment working at their Bristol facility. I say 2+ years because I'm told after 2 years I'll have the option to extend the assignment for a 3rd year. At the time of this posting, my first day's work in Bristol may be May 6, 2008.

While I have an idea, I don't exactly know what all I'll be working on in my new role. And if I did, I'm not sure I could tell you. However, I believe it will be somewhat related to my current skills such that I can quickly become a contributing member of the Bristol team, yet different enough to be a professional stretch. I may or may not be able to tell you more as I get closer to my start date. Nevertheless, I'm certain the experience will be a great opportunity to increase and strengthen my skills and further my career. Very few of my colleagues get the opportunity to spend time working overseas, and even fewer spend more than six months.

As you can imagine, I'll be working a lot... that is why I'm there. But when not working... the sky's the limit. For one, Bristol has an international airport (BIA). From there all of Europe is just a short flight away. For example, flights to Oslo are currently advertised for only 29 pounds ($60). Countless things to see and do. A couple things I'm looking forward to, 1) cycling on the route of the Tour de France, and 2) driving on the autobahn. I hope all of you find a way to visit and join me on one of these adventures.

Of course the downside of moving to the UK is being so far away from family and friends. However, thanks to modern technology and the internet, you can be nearly anywhere in the world and stay in touch. This blog was created in an effort for us to do just that. While some of you are familiar with blogs, others have no idea what a blog is. If you don't know what blogging is, my advice to you is to give it a chance. You'll catch on fast. I will do my best to reguraly post both commentary, photos and video. I encourage each of you to bookmark this blog (or subscribe to automatically receive new posts via email), check back regularly, and join in the conversation by making comments and asking questions. My hope is to make this a two-way dialog. And of course we can still use the more familiar forms of communication... phone, email, text messaging. I hope to get a data-enabled phone (iPhone) soon so I ought to be able to do all this on the go.

Please join me on this adventure of a lifetime.