Walloon Ways
Three years as a weekend Belgian
written by Valerie Poore
"What an amazing beautiful story."
Summary
In 2003, Val Poore bought her dream: a barge with a garden in
Brussels. With her partner Koos, she embarked on a life of
weekend residency in Belgium. For three years, they explored
the lovely Walloon countryside as well as the Belgian river and
canal network while they made their floating home habitable.
Brussels. With her partner Koos, she embarked on a life of
weekend residency in Belgium. For three years, they explored
the lovely Walloon countryside as well as the Belgian river and
canal network while they made their floating home habitable.
If you don't know Belgium, this could be the starter that gives you
a taste for more!
a taste for more!
My Review
After the recommendation by Lally Brown, I wanted to read a book
of Valerie Poore. It was a very nice surprise that she wrote about
her time in Belgium, which is my own country.
of Valerie Poore. It was a very nice surprise that she wrote about
her time in Belgium, which is my own country.
Walloon Ways is not just an ordinary travel book, it is a memoir,
written by the author while traveling on a boat in Belgium. So, it
is very interesting to read. It also is written from a different view.
She describes her life on the water.
written by the author while traveling on a boat in Belgium. So, it
is very interesting to read. It also is written from a different view.
She describes her life on the water.
The book has beautiful pictures and clear maps of the waterways
in Belgium. It is written structured, with humour and flair, which I like.
I discovered new places while reading Walloon Ways.
in Belgium. It is written structured, with humour and flair, which I like.
I discovered new places while reading Walloon Ways.
I would recommend this book to friends, family, colleagues who
want to know more about Belgium from the point of view of the
water! Without no hesitation, I give a 5 star rating for Walloon
Ways!
want to know more about Belgium from the point of view of the
water! Without no hesitation, I give a 5 star rating for Walloon
Ways!
The Author
Valerie Poore was born in London, England, and grew up in the
north of London and the west of Dorset. After completing her degree
in English, History and French at Bournemouth, she took a further
course in the conversation and restauration of museum artefacts at
Lincoln College of Art. She spent two years doing furniture restoration
before going to South Africa in 1981 with her husband and her small
children.
north of London and the west of Dorset. After completing her degree
in English, History and French at Bournemouth, she took a further
course in the conversation and restauration of museum artefacts at
Lincoln College of Art. She spent two years doing furniture restoration
before going to South Africa in 1981 with her husband and her small
children.
Val left South Africa permanently in 2001, and has settled in the
Netherlands, where she shares her time between a live aboard barge in
Rotterdam and a cottage in Zeeland.
Netherlands, where she shares her time between a live aboard barge in
Rotterdam and a cottage in Zeeland.
She has written several books inter alia: the Skipper's Child, Water Way,
Walloon Was and many more.
She has her own blog about her life on the water. If you are
interested, please check this link.
interested, please check this link.
We love memoirs
I received a copy for free by the We love memoirs group on
Facebook. Thank you very much for giving me this wonderful
chance!
Facebook. Thank you very much for giving me this wonderful
chance!
Source picture: Book Cover
