Who I am and what I do

My home country is the one which capital is also the capital of Europe... Belgium. While my maternal family originates from the Belgian/Dutch border, I was born and raised in Brussels and I also speak French.

I studied secretary and accounting at high school and worked as temporary worker for almost twenty years.

If I ever would have to make someone else quote mine it would be "Free as a Bird" - John Lennon's song - but I generally do not like to rely on well-known people to live and/or experience anything.

17 years ago, I gave birth to a wonderful boy and got separated from his father a few months later. We live alone my son and I since then.

After living 30+ years in my home town, I got fed up with life in a town not really made for being the capital of the United States of Europe - Brussels isn't big enough for hosting so many people - so I bought my own home and moved to the countryside.

Living in the countryside has its advantages and disadvantages. The first problem I experienced was the lack of public transportation. I thus passed my driving license and bought a car so that I'd be able to continue to work.

I am a dreamer and so I dream of living in New Zealand, one of the most - if not the most - beautiful country in the world.

My American teachers told me I am different from my other fellows as my American dream relates to Phoenix, Amarillo, Brusselstown and other small or not so known places rather than New York, Frisco and Los Angeles.

Photo: La Cambre Abbey - Brussels, Ixelles - Wikimedia Commons

I am fond of History. More particularly of French history which I study since I was 10 years old. I've read tons of books, biographies, memoirs relating to the Kingdom of France and have never been able to focus on a particular matter thus my "area of expertise" covers more than 10 centuries (between 450 and 1750).

France influenced many other countries whether through royal alliances or conquests. This allowed me to learn a bit of other countries' history such as England, Scotland, America, etc.

But do not think I only read books that you would find boring. I enjoy reading entertaining books such as those written by Agatha Christie, Martha Grimes, Stephen King and Joseph Conolly (i.e. his wonderful book called "Summer Things").

My other hobbies are gardening - I eat my own zuccini, beans and pumpkins and enjoy hosting a barbecue party with my friends in the flower garden - and managing my websites.

While I am not fond of cinema, I appreciate a high quality movie. Of course, I mainly watch French classic comedies with actors like Louis de Funes, Fernandel, Bourvil and Jean Marais but I also like many American movies. Here are a few of them:


• "The gendarme from Saint-Tropez" series (5 films) and all Louis de Funes films
• Bourvil's "Le Trou Normand" and "Le Passe-Muraille"
• Fernandel's films
• All the President's Men (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman)
• Gone with the Wind (Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Haviland)
• Grease (Newton-John and Travolta)
• Saturday Night Fever (Travolta)
• Fame (from David De Silva)
• West Side Story (Nathalie Wood)

Photo: Louis de Funes - Wikimedia Commons

TV - Everyone enjoys a well prepared (cooked?) TV show and/or series! And so do I. However, I'm fond of culture so my favorite TV shows are tied to culture, history, architecture.

As for my favorite TV series, I don't like violence much so I prefer watching a funny TV series instead of a good hard dark thriller. Here are some of them:


• Des Racines et des Ailes (culture - French TV)
• Secrets d'Histoire ("Secrets of History" - culture - French TV)
• Friends
• Catherine (Canada, Quebec)
• Bewitched
• Family Affair
• Get Smart (TV series)
• Cosby Show

Photo: Versailles Palate - Wikimedia Commons

Regarding the kind of music I like, I would say that I like The Beatles since my early childhood. But there's a type of music that was born in the bayous, raised in the USA and crossed the ocean to become my favorite music ever.

Yes, you're right!

I love Blues and most derived types of musics such as Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Motown, Soul, etc. Here are a few of my favorite musician/singers:


• The Beatles
• Jacques Brel
• Johnny Hallyday
• John Lee Hooker
• Elvis Presley
• The Four Tops
• The Four Seasons
• Gloria Gaynor
• Dionne Warwick

Photo: Jacques Brel - Wikimedia Commons

If you arrived here, you probably have read the previous chapters and noticed I'm studying French history since 30+ years.

And so, my favorite books are naturally historical books such as memoirs, biographies, etc. But I also enjoy entertaining books such as police novels and/or comic strips.

Amoung my favorite authors are Georges Simenon who was a Belgian writer. Simenon lived in the USA for some years and wrote the well known Commissaire Maigret series. I also enjoy reading a few Belgian comic strips such as Tintin, created by Herge. Tintin was the first person who walked on the Moon and watched a color Television. Another Belgian comic strip author I enjoy reading is Willy Vandersteen, creator of Spike and Suzy.

Here are a few other authors I enjoy reading:


• Agatha Christie (Poirot - my fellow citizen - and Marple series)
• Martha Grimes (Richard Jury series)
• Joseph Conolly for his wonderful "Summer Things" novel
• Patricia Cornwell (I know, I dislike violence but she's a wonderful writer!)
• Stephen King (and his frightening series)
• Maurice Denuzière (Louisiana, Fausse-Riviere, Bagatelle, Les Trois Chênes, L'Adieu au Sud, Les Années Louisiane - this 6 books series is a history of beautiful Louisiana)

Photo: Spike and Suzy - Wikimedia Commons

Four years ago, I knew next to nothing regarding Internet. But I learned. Firstly by clicking on links included into mails and then by having an eye here and there, discovering the incredible power of the Web.

On one day, I joined MPAM and created my very first website (European Love History) thanks to their wonderful step-by-step guide. But I wouldn't stop there and made another one related to Christmas. I enjoyed writing on the holiday season so much that I made a site for Valentine's Day and another one for Halloween then for Easter.

I learned the hard way as I focused on the English speaking market and English isn't my mother tongue. Writing in this language wasn't an easy task! I thus took English trainings and improved my writings.

I joined the 30 Day Challenge in 2006 and learned more; in February 2007, I eventually joined Squidoo and built my very first lens. I was highly frustrated by the results but my sites did very well. So, I focused on them and left Squidoo aside while keeping on making a few lenses.

I'm a Tarot cards expert as well as have to keep an eye on my waistline and thus made lenses relating to those subjects.

Few weeks ago, I decided to give Squidoo a new shot, built a few new lenses and wasn't frustrated at all!

Every other Sunday, I write my marketing newsletter that I send to my subscribers and am very happy with working online. I won't pretend I earn a solid income but the tasks are various and I enjoy what I do.