Jon Eldridge

Freelance editor and journalist

I moved to Brussels, a city I affectionately call B-town, at the end of the summer of 2000 -- an English football fan a month too late for the Euro championship, but nevertheless ready for my own more high-minded adventure. I had found gainful employment writing about developments in the world of computing, as well as moonlighting as a music reviewer (one of my first gigs was Bob Dylan at the Forest National, an unforgettable night).
From knowing precious little about the EU, I was soon getting subbing shifts on the European Voice, which back in the day of print media dominance was a must-read for any semi-serious Eurobot. 
For three years, I supped after-work cocktails with CEOs and parvenus at the American Chamber of Commerce -- a period which taught me how to drink Manhattans and how to navigate the peculiarities of US punctuation.  
Through a natural gravitation, I then began writing for the European Commission, contributing articles and news features to publicise its funding programmes. I became a member of the LIFE Communication Team and enjoyed the opportunity of travelling across Europe to see first-hand, EU co-funded conservation initiatives and environmental projects.
For four treasured years, I was editor of a family-orientated, expat magazine, (A)WAY, managing a small team of freelancers and writing travel, lifestyle and cultural pieces. 
Currently, I contribute business and financial stories to a daily Luxembourg news service, a gig I particularly enjoy as it allows me to put to good use all those French and German lessons I've taken over the years.
In the picture below I’m indulging in a little tête-à-tête with a Lipizzaner horse at the Piber stud farm in Austria. He was offering me advise on how to begin my article on the Spanish Riding School.