No Smoking in Belgian Cafés

Nearly 77% of Limburg cafés are going to become non-smoking from 1 January when the no-smoking ban comes into force. They will keep a choice of warm snacks on their menu so smokers will have to go outside, on the terrace or in an enclosed smoking room. The other 23% prefer smokers so will no longer serve any food.

To stop smoking in one session of hypnosis, visit The English Hypnotherapist in Belgium.

"Liefst 76,9% van de Limburgse eetcafés schrapt op 1 januari hun kleine kaart met warm bereide gerechten niet. Zij moeten het roken in de zaak dus verbieden. Op 1 januari gaat het nieuwe rookverbod in, dat vandaag in het Staatsblad gepubliceerd wordt. Vanaf dan mag er niet meer gerookt worden in zaken waar ook eten geserveerd wordt.

Dit blijkt uit een grootscheepse rondvraag door deze krant onder 108 eetcafés in alle Limburgse gemeenten. Tot het einde van dit jaar is eten én roken in een gedeelte van de gelagzaal nog toegelaten in zogenaamde eetcafés. Na 1 januari mag men wel nog buiten, op het terras of in een afgesloten rookruimte een sigaret opsteken.

23,1% van de gecontacteerde eetcafés in de 44 Limburgse gemeenten schrappen de spaghetti’s of croque monsieurs op de kaart. Zij kiezen voor de rokers."

Source: HBvL

To stop smoking in one session of hypnosis, visit The English Hypnotherapist in Belgium.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Winterland Hasselt 2009

Winterland is back in Hasselt from 21 November to 3 January. This German style Christmas market was extremely popular last year boasting the largest outdoor ice skating rink in Belgium, a big wheel and plenty of Christmas atmosphere. This year it is twice as big with a roller coaster.


De Kerstmarkt is deels overdekt waar de producten in sfeervolle stands worden aangeboden. Daarnaast staan over het plein diverse kerstchalets. De Kerstmarkt is dagelijks (ook op zondag) geopend van 11.00 tot 22.00 uur. In totaal telt de Kerstmarkt 64 deelnemers. En na een bezoek aan de kerstmarkt is het goed vertoeven in Café Winterland voor een glaasje Glühwein, een biertje, warme chocomel of een kop erwtensoep.



Winterland Hasselt info
My blog on Winterland Hasselt 2008

Someone's photos from Winterland Hasselt 2008

English Hypnotherapist in Belgium

My name is Antonia Harrison and I am the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium. I help people make fast, positive change in the following areas:

- stop smoking (most smokers stop smoking in one session)
- stop unwanted habits eg nail-biting, blushing
- improve self-confidence and self-esteem
- learn to control stress and anxiety
- overcome phobias (the NLP Fast Phobia Cure is effective in 30 minutes)
- unblock disempowering fears eg failure or success!
- areas of personal development eg motivation, procrastination, perfectionism,
- regression ie going back into your past
- sexual and relationship problems (you'd be amazed how many ways hypnosis can help!)
- certain health problems, particularly if stress-related
- improving sports and business performance
- help with the fear of public speaking

English Hypnotherapist Belgium

I combine my hypnotherapy knowledge with NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Ericksonian Hypnosis (metaphors or stories), clinical hypnosis and TimeLine Therapy.

NLP is:
* A tool for personal development.
* A model of effective communication.
* A means of modelling human behaviour.

I see clients at my home in Zolder, Limburg or in an office in Brussels or Berchem. Most sessions last about an hour. Longer PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGH SESSIONS may suit someone travelling from far away.

Small group sessions for STOP SMOKING WITH HYPNOSIS can also be arranged.

As Personal Development is my passion, I offer talks and workshops on various subjects to groups and companies, eg:

- Overcoming limiting beliefs
- NLP in sales
- NLP for teachers
- NLP for parents
- NLP for relationships
- How hypnosis can help your teenager or young person to cope
- Goal setting and achievement (using advanced Neurological Repatterning and Time Line Therapy)
- Understanding each other’s values (relationships or in a company)
- Change Procrastination into Motivation: Book Now!
- Persistence for winners
- Are you living your life or just existing?
- Can Prosperity and Spirituality go hand in hand?
- Is fear holding you back? What about Fear of Failure or even Fear of Success?
- What makes your customers buy from you?

I will also be offering NLP Practitioner Training in Belgium in 2010.

Please visit my site www.AntoniaHarrison.com

Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3 for immediate, affordable hypnosis Mp3s to improve your life.

Eens Kijken of We Echte Vrienden Zijn

Vrienden zijn er om je te steunen,
om jou te troosten en tegen ze aan te leunen.
Vrienden zijn er om jou te helpen,
die jou pijn voor even doet verhelpen.

Vrienden zijn er om jou blij te maken,
om jou kwaadheid weg te kraken.
Vrienden zijn er om jou lief te hebben,
en zullen alles voor jou overhebben.

Vrienden zijn er om jou niet te bedriegen,
vrienden zullen ook nooit tegen jou liegen.
Vrienden zijn er om jou tips te geven,
en zullen jou alles wat je gedaan hebt vergeven.

Ware vrienden leer je kennen met de tijd,
ook al doe je iets verkeerd,
ze willen je niet kwijt.

Villa Te Koop - Bolderberg, Heusden-Zolder

Mijn prachtige villa is te koop.





Ligging: mooie bosrijke en residentiële omgeving langs Domein Bovy, Bolderberg, Heusden-Zolder, Limburg (11km van Hasselt, 2km van E314, 4 km van E313/E314 kruispunt te Lummen, 75km van Brussel, 36km van Maastricht)
Verschillende hotels, cafés en winkels op 600m, toffe basisschool op 800m.

Inrichting: 5 slaapkamers (2 op gelijkvloers, 3 op 1ste verdieping), 2 badkamers + apart WC, grote woonkamer (leefruimte + zitruimte), met ramen op drie kanten en een schuifdeur naar de tuin, aparte eetkamer, compacte handige keuken 60m2 speelkamer boven, kantoorruimte, berging,

275m2 gebouwd.

1550m2 grond, zuidelijke orientatie met mooi aangelegde tuin met 2 tuinhuizen, groot terras, binnengarage

Prijs: 349,950 €

Als uw verdere inlichtingen wil hebben, gelieve contact met me op 011/281132 of 0497 550813 te nemen of mail antonia.harrison@telenet.be

Antonia Harrison

Belgian Royal Family Income Falls in 2010

The Belgian royal family will receive less income from the state. In 2010, the amount for the King will be reduced by 423,000 €. The incomes of Prins Filip, Princes Astrid, Prins Laurent and Queen Fabiola will drop by 8%.

King Albert will receive 148,000 € less, a drop of 1.4 %, ie 10,388,000 € of which 70% goes to personnel costs.

Prins Filip will receive 85,000 € less, ie 935,000 €; Queen Fabiola loses 132,000 € so will receive 1,462,000 €; Princes Astrid will receive 324,000 € and Prins Laurent 311,000 €, so a drop of 29,000 € for each.

"De dotatie voor de koninklijke familie wordt verlaagd. In 2010 zal er voor de koning en zijn gevolg in totaal 423.000 euro minder zijn vergeleken met dit jaar. De inkomens van prins Filip, prinses Astrid, prins Laurent en koningin Fabiola dalen met 8 procent.

Dat schrijven de kranten van Sud Presse. De dotatie voor koning Albert zelf daalt met 1,4 procent of 148.000 euro tot 10.388.000 euro in 2010. Ongeveer 70 procent van dat bedrag gaat op aan personeelskosten. De teksten die de dotatie vastleggen, zijn met enkele dagen vertraging goedgekeurd.

85.000 euro minder voor prins Filip
Prins Filip zal 85.000 euro minder zal krijgen en belandt onder het miljoen euro, op 935.000 euro om precies te zijn. Koningin Fabiola verliest 132.000 euro, ze moet in 2010 rondkomen met 1.462.000 euro.

Prinses Astrid zal het moeten stellen met 324.000 euro in plaats van 353.000 euro in 2009. En Prins Laurent krijgt tenslotte 311.000 euro, dat is 29.000 euro minder dan dit jaar.

Trendbreuk
De daling van de dotaties betekent een trendbreuk. Dit jaar konden onze royals nog rekenen op een gemiddelde stijging van hun dotatie met 6 procent. Maar toen speelde de inflatie een grote rol. Nu is er nauwelijks inflatie. Het vastgelegde bedrag voor 2010 kan nog aangepast worden voor inflatie."

Source: Het Belang Van Limburg

Belgium Exits Recession in Third Quarter

Belgium's economy shook off recession in the third quarter of 2009 with 0.5 percent growth, the Belgian central bank said on Friday.

Compared to one year earlier, gross domestic product was down by 3.5 percent, but at a lesser rate than in the second quarter, which saw an annual contraction of 4.2 percent.

The central bank also revised upwards its estimate for the second quarter, and now says there was only a contraction of 0.1 percent between April and June as against an initial 0.3 percent.

The Belgian economy first slid into negative growth in the third quarter of 2008.

Source: AFP/Expatica

The Not-So-Secret Recipe for Belgian Frites

Kimberley Lovato has an audience with the "Missionary of the Belgian Fries" and uncovers the sacred rituals of Frite Almighty.

While Belgium has much to offer visitors and residents alike, the country is known the world over for one thing in particular: French Fries (Frites in French).

Michel Mes, self-proclaimed “Missionary of the Belgian Fries”, started his popular website Belgianfries.com back in 1995. He now receives at least 10 emails a day from inquiring fans, and travels the world promoting franchise opportunities, while spreading the word about the true Belgian fry, proper tools and techniques, and most importantly, how best to eat them.

Your site, Belgianfries.com is an homage to Belgian Fries. What prompted this endeavor?

As an IT guy some 15- years ago when the internet was opened for the big public consumption, I needed a subject to practice the new HTML programming language. I chose "The Secret Recipe for Belgian Fries". I thought it would be a good idea to promote this great Belgian food and let the world know where “French” fries really come from. It was an instant success. Everything grew out of proportion from then on.

What is the secret to making the best Belgian fry?

The trick is very simple: Belgian fries are double-fried. First there is the cooking process, then the fries need to cool down and finally, just before serving, they are fried again to make them crispy and golden brown. Of course, the correct type of potatoes is very important, as is the choice of frying oil. Fries should always be fried in animal fat. In Belgium it used to be a mixture of horse and ox fat. These days most shops will use an ox fat and vegetable oil mixture. Details on how to do this at home are on my website.

Do you use a recipe?

I have no recipe. I use the 2-stage frying method, but as potatoes are a "living" raw material (i.e. their structure changes throughout the season) you need some experience to cook them to perfection. It is different every time, you need to watch and listen, especially during the first frying. It is very hard to explain but practice makes perfect.

What is the biggest mistake people make when trying to recreate the Belgian fry?

Don't put too many raw potatoes strips into the fryer for the first frying! The temperature of the oil will drop down dramatically, the water in the potatoes will not escape quickly enough and thus the result will be too greasy. For a perfect final result you need to pay close attention to the first frying. The second frying will not correct any mistakes made earlier.

How should Belgian fries be served and with what kind of sauce do you prefer?

I never eat sauce with my fries. Good Belgian fries will have a lot of taste on their own. Don't spoil it with sauce. A bit of salt is ok. And please serve in a paper cone. But if I need to make a choice I would go for mayonnaise (home made of course) or a spicy sauce like Banzai.

Do you have a favorite location in Brussels to eat fries?
Chez Martin (Place Saint-Josse). He used to run a very nice looking stand next to the church but had to move recently to somewhere else in the area of the Rue des Deux Eglises. A lot of tourists know Chez Antoine (place Jourdan) but I don't like their fries. The toll of their success I guess.

Does it bother you that Belgian fries are referred to as “French”?

Not at all, because it is a totally different product. Once more, after the chocolate, pralines, and a lot of other products, the term "Belgian" stands for freshness and quality. Also, the term “French” fries does not link to the French people or country. It is derived from the old English verb "to french" Originally they were called "frenched fried potatoes".

How often do you eat frites?

Maybe two times a month. You should never exaggerate the good things in life!

Kimberley Lovato

Follow Kimberley's blogging adventures, A Broad In Belgium.
www.belgianfries.com

De Mooiste Momenten van Het Leven

1. Verliefd worden
2. Lachen tot je er buikpijn van hebt
3. Een hoop post vinden wanneer men terugkomt van vakantie
4. Prachtige landschappen ontdekken
5. Naar je lievelingslied luisteren op de radio
6. In slaap vallen al luisterend naar de regen
7. Uit de douche komen en zich wentelen in een warme handdoek
8. In zijn laatste examen slagen
9. Aan een interessant gesprek deelnemen
10. Geld terugvinden in een niet gebruikte tas
11. Om zichzelf lachen
12. Een goeie maaltijd samen met vrienden
13. Lachen zonder reden
14. Iemand toevallig iets goed over jezelf horen zeggen
15. 's Nachts wakker worden en dan beseffen dat je nog enkele uren kan slapen
16. Kijken naar de zonsondergang
17. Naar het lied luisteren dat je aan die speciale persoon herinnert
18. Je eerste kus krijgen en geven
19. Vlinders in je buik voelen wanneer je die speciale persoon ziet
20. Mooie momenten met vrienden delen
21. De mensen waar men van houdt gelukkig zien
22. De vest van je geliefde vasthouden en zijn/haar parfum nog ruiken
23. Bezoek krijgen van een oude vriend en beseffen dat er tussen jullie niks veranderd is
24. Horen dat men van je houdt

Echte vrienden komen in de goede momenten wanneer men ze roept, en in de slechte... komen zij vanzelf. Stuur deze mail door naar alle personen die jij als vrienden of speciale personen beschouwt die in jouw leven bestaan als jij gelooft dat deze tekst hen kan bevallen.

Primark Opening in Belgium

The Irish store Primark will open the first store in Belgium on 1 December 2009 in Mediacité in Liege. The 3,345m² store will offer very reasonably priced clothing for women, men and children along with shoes, accessories, lingerie, hosiery and household articles.

We have long been regular visitors to Primark in the UK with bargains such as 6 pairs of kids' socks for £1, fun T-shirts for kids from £1.50, ladies sports tops or joggings for £4, ladies cashmere jumpers from £12, 12 quality Christmas crackers for £4 and some lovely cushions, towels and bedlinen.

"De Ierse retailer Primark zal op 1 december 2009 de allereerste Primark shop in België openen. De winkel opent in het shopping center Mediacité te Luik. Primark is al langer een gevestigde waarde in Ierland en het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Primark biedt in Luik 3.345 m² shoppingplezier voor vrouwen, mannen en kids. Verder kan je er terecht voor schoenen, accessoires, lingerie, allerlei soorten kousen en panty’s en homewear.

In november opent Primark nog winkels in het VK (Cambridge en Wood Green in het noorden van Londen), Ierland (Waterford) en Duitsland (Frankfurt). Eerder dit jaar konden shoppaholics ook al terecht bij de nieuwe Primark in Barcelona en Algeciras.

Primark maakt deel uit van Associated British Foods, goed voor een omzet van 8,7 miljard euro wereldwijd. De groep stelt 96.000 mensen tewerk in 44 landen. Vorig jaar werd Primark nog uitgeroepen tot UK Retailer of the Year 2008."

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Thursday is Vegetarians Day in Hasselt

Hasselt has decided to join the "Thursday Vegetarians Day" by encouraging residents to give up meat for one day a week.

Excessive meat consumption is not only a big health problem but also one of environmental harm. Meat production is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gases. So by not eating meat one day per week, one million tonnes of greenhouse gases can be saved. Or 500,000 less cars on the motorway.

"De campagne Donderdag Veggiedag is een initiatief van EVA, het Ethisch Vegetarisch Alternatief, en heeft tot doel om zoveel mogelijk mensen ertoe aan te zetten om op donderdag geen vlees te eten. Overmatige vleesconsumptie is niet alleen een groot probleem voor de gezondheid maar het zorgt ook voor milieuvervuiling. Vleesproductie is verantwoordelijk voor achttien procent van de broeikasgassen. Eén dag per week geen vlees eten, betekent dat er een miljoen ton broeikasgassen uitgespaard worden. Dat komt neer op 500.000 wagens minder op de autowegen."

Source: Hasselt tourism

More info: Donderdag VeggieDag

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Bilingualism Makes Children Smarter

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German although English is often used as a compromise to solve "the linguistic problem". However, far too many Belgians and foreign residents are still monolingual. One of Belgium's assets in attracting foreign investment has always been the multilingual skills of its workforce yet through militant defence of one language, they are losing this advantage and I for one believe that is a backward step.

Scientists at the Free University of Brussels (VUB - Vrije Universiteit van Brussel) have now demonstrated that bilingual children solved simple math problems using less brain activity than monolingual children. The addition of a language trains the brain to solve cognitive tasks more easily. This is a major reason for studying Latin as the endurance of all those complicated noun declensions and verb conjugations cause neural pathways to fuse which aid in other applications. I remember learning the pluperfect passive subjunctive but can no longer remember what that means!

Piet Van de Craen, a neurologist at VUB who lead the study, says that the brain scans of the children indicate that bilinguals use less energy to complete cognitive tasks much like an experienced driver no longer has to "think" about how to drive a car. His conclusion is that bilingual education helps to "build a better brain".

According to Sociologist Morris Massey, ages 0-7 are known as the Imprint Period when children absorb everything like sponges and when the most neural pathways are fused. This is the optimum time for learning the basics of anything.

The Belgian school system is considered one of the best in the world but laws in Wallonia and Vlaanderen now forbid children to study a foreign language before year 5 at around ten years old, while studies indicate that language learning yields the best results when started as young as possible.

This makes no sense. I was fortunate to start learning French at an English school from age four giving me an edge, particularly with the accent. My sons were educated in Spanish schools for three years from age 5-8 and 2-5 and coped perfectly with being bilingual. In the last year they attended a private English school with 20% of their curriculum in Spanish. After three years in Flemish school, they are now in the top half of their class, even in Flemish moedertaal, and the older son is in his second year of learning French, with test results always 18-19 out of 20. His only problem is writing. He started learning in an English school at age 4, then moved to the Spanish way and now Flemish. He is receiving extra help with writing before moving on to secondary school.

CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is a technique to integrate a second "target language" into the curriculum which means that some subjects are taught in the second language, the time increasing as the child grows older. CLIL has been endorsed by the European Union which incorporated it into its 1995 initiative calling for every European citizen to have mastered three languages by the time he or she leaves secondary school.

Dr Van de Craen was asked whether there were any negative aspects of starting foreign languages early. He pointed out that any skill is best when mastered young, eg learning a musical instrument or chess. The only drawback would be spending more time on the chosen activity than on something else but that would be a conscious choice.

One concern has been that studying a second language will affect the development of the native language. Again he says that a child fluent in Dutch who begins an education with 20% in French will not develop only 80% of his Dutch. "It is 100% plus 20. It has nothing to do with losing something; you gain something".

"Additive bilingualism" is tied to evidence that multi-lingualism trains a child to learn how to learn, increasing competency across other subjects.

The UK dropped the compulsory learning of a foreign language in 2002 but has now made a U-turn. From 2010, learning a foreign language will be compulsory from age 7-14 although not compulsory right through to GCSE at age 16. I applaud the first half of this decision.

The European Commission states that the success of CLIL has continually increased over the ten years since it was first introduced.

The new Flemish Minister of Education, Pascal Smet, has publicly supported multilingual education and might be persuaded to introduce bilingual education into Vlaanderen.

© Antonia Harrison 2009, the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium uses hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming to help people to make positive change.

Further reading:
CLIL
Flanders Today article "Educating the Better Brain"
Piet Van de Craen
All UK primary schools to teach foreign languages by 2010

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Belgian Girl Receives € 3,000 to Remove 56 star Tattoos from Face

Kimberley Vlaeminck and the tattoo artist who tattooed 56 stars onto a third of her face agreed a financial arrangement to avoid a court case.

Rouslan Toumaniantz, the tattoo artist, must pay EUR 3,000 for the girl to have her tattoos surgically removed.

Vlaeminck is expected to have her first removal session in the next few days.

According to Karel van der Linde, who will remove all 56 of the stars, the process should take between 6 to 8 sessions of half an hour each. Kimberley will be put under a local anaesthetic each time.

It is necessary to wait at least a month between each treatment in order for the skin to heal, and after each session Kimberley will have to wear dressing on her face for 48 hours.

Karel van der Linde expects Kimberley to have her old face back by next Easter.


Source: Le Soir/Expatica

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Hotel Metropole Magritte Art Package

Hotel Metropole in Brussels is offering Magritte’s Art Package starting at €89.50pp (mid week). This package allows you to discover the splendour of the city, this beautiful hotel and the work of the famous Belgian surrealist painter René François Ghislain Magritte.

The Magritte’s art package – starting at €89.50pp (mid week) includes:
One ticket per person for the museum Royaux des Beaux-Arts
Free upgrade to a Privilege room
Buffet breakfast served in Le Jardin Indien
Belgian sweets
Welcome drink “Ceci n’est pas un Cocktail” served in the bar Le 19ième

For an additional €85,00 per person, you can combine this with the Gastronomical package in the L’Alban Chambon restaurant which includes:

A glass of Champagne
4 course dinner Menu "Sensation"
Wine package "Essentiel" (includes 4 glasses of wine)
Valet service

This offer is based on availability and valid reservation.

I stayed in the Hotel Metropole in 2006. It has the most wonderful Art Nouveau bar with Toone puppets.

Visit the Hotel Metropole site.

Book travel to Brussels at EuroTravel.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Hypnotherapy Can Help Adolescents Cope

Too many young people lack the self-esteem needed to make a positive start in the adult world. Young people withdraw into their own world of adolescence dominated by friends, music and often sexual promiscuity and drugs. Parents and teachers demand respect but fail to reciprocate in a way that young people appreciate. Adults give one verbal message but act in a contradictory way. It is often a case of “Do as I say not as I do” yet we wonder why the adolescents are confused and rebel.

Physical and hormonal changes are taking place in their body sometimes causing embarrassment such as acne, sudden breast growth, voice change and through all this sudden change, they are seeking their identity. No longer a child but not yet an adult. Who are they?

We can deal with them not as unformed, uncertain adolescents but as individuals of unlimited potential, people with greatness within them. Respect their gifts and individuality and they will come to respect themselves.

Bombarded with academic information, they wonder what relevance this has in the real world. Subjects can be boring or stimulating depending on the teacher’s skills and ability to connect with the students in their model of the world. In a world of social media such as Facebook, My Space and Twitter, SMS’s, internet surfing, TV zapping, they connect with the world of NOW so why study Latin or Literature? Often they are unable to write complete sentences as they are used to the SMS language of abbreviations. Why write when you can type? Then there are seemingly non-stop exams and all that stress. For what purpose? To graduate from university with a large debt and difficulty in finding employment? Or minimal job prospects from inadequate training?

Yes, adolescence is a difficult time especially if we force our young people to conform and fit in with our world. Instead of alienating them and losing vital contact during a period when our influence can still be beneficial, we can help them quickly through personalized hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy is a safe, natural form of therapy which works direct with the unconscious mind, or subconscious, where all change and learning takes place with the least resistance. Primarily known as a way of stopping smoking in one session, a competent hypnotherapist can help young people in many ways eg:

- Improving self-esteem
- Improving confidence
- Improving self-respect
- Dealing with addictions eg drugs, cannabis, even excessive online surfing
- Nail-biting, thumb-sucking, hair pulling or blushing
- Self-harm eg cutting
- Eating disorders
- Weight control
- Nervous twitches, stuttering
- Acne, eczema, warts
- Excessive sweating
- Exam nerves
- Concentration & motivation
- Stress
- “School-itis” ie aversion to school
- Learning languages
- Improved memory
- Dating confidence
- Fears/phobias
- Obsessive & compulsive thoughts
- Depression
- Coping with divorce, new families & sexual abuse
- Shyness
- Public speaking & leadership
- Driving test nerves
- Certain health problems, pain control
- Coping with cancer & chemotherapy
- Dyslexia
- Sports improvement

All of these problems have been successfully solved or helped by hypnotherapy all over the world, often in a couple or a few sessions.

Neuro Linguistic Programming employs language to re-programme the mind aimed at finding solutions and empowered resourceful states.

Life coaching can help for a specific project, time period or ongoing challenge.

©Antonia Harrison 2009, the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium offering personalized hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming in Limburg, Brussels and Antwerp. Life coaching is also conducted over the telephone worldwide. She is available for presentations to groups and private or corporate training.

Brussels Marathon & Half Marathon

More than 6,500 runners have already registered for the 6th Brussels Marathon & Half Marathon on Sunday, October 4 making it a record edition. Do you want to register online at pre-registration rates? Act quickly because online pre-registration will close on Sunday, September 20 at 23:59!

Click here to register

After that you'll only be able to pre-register at JoggingPlus in Brussels, Gosselies, Rocourt or Louvain-La-Neuve. You'll find the addresses on www.joggingplus.com . They will give you your bib number when you register. You can pre-register at JoggingPlus until Thursday, October 1.

From October 2-4 you can register at the Marathon Expo in the Royal Military School in Brussels. You will be charged the late registration fee as listed on the website.

Four different distances
Sunday evening, September 20 is the deadline for group registrations!

The Brussels Marathon & Half Marathon programme includes something for everyone:
9.00: Brussels Marathon (42.195 km)
9.30: Brussels Mini-Marathon 4 km
9.45: Knack Weekend Ladies Run 4 km
10.15: Chiquita Kids Run 1 km
10.30: Brussels Half Marathon (21.097 km)
Starting line: Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark
Starting line Kids Run: Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat near the Parliament building
Finish line: Grand Place/Grote Markt

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Worship by Clouseau sung in English

Clouseau are the most successful Flemish group but they also made two CDs in English. From In Every Small Town comes this absolutely beautiful song "Worship":

I worship the ground you walk on
I will love you until the day I die
Somewhere down the line
When the years are not so kind
I'll still worship the ground you walk on.

Full lyrics:
There will never be
another night like this
and I have never felt
the passion of a kiss like yours..

Someplace out of time
kept you within a touch
who would have believed
that we could feel as much
as we do now, as we do now

Baby,when the sun tries to hide
and the clouds build up their thunder
think of me and darling
this world won't hold you down

-Chorus-
'Cause I worship the ground you walk on
and I will love you until the day I die
somewhere down the line
when the years are not so kind
I'll still worship the ground you walk on

No-one can come close
to understanding how
I couldn't feel much more
than I do right now
but you did somehow

Nothing lies between you and I
in this bed tonight
sleeping with contentment
in the arms of love

-Chorus-

And somewhere down the line
when the years are not so kind
I'll still worship the ground you walk on
and I will love you until the day I die

Somewhere down the line
when the years are not so kind
I'll still...
I will .. I will..

Clouseau In Every Small Town available from Amazon:


Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Gemakkelijk Stoppen met Roken

Eric Eraly wordt door de Vlaamse en Nederlandse Pers beschouwd als dé Stoppen-Met-Roken-Goeroe omwille van zijn Unieke RookStop Seminars waarin hij rokers op één dag makkelijk helpt stoppen met roken.


Eric Eraly was reeds te gast bij en werd geïnterviewd door VTM , TV1, VARA, TV Limburg, ATV, Life TV, S-Televisie, Het Laatste Nieuws, Het Belang van Limburg, De Gazet Van Antwerpen, Het Nieuwsblad, TRENDS, P-Magazine, Libelle, Flair, MENZO, DAG ALLEMAAL, Primo TV-Gids, Radio 1, Radio 2, Donna, Studio Brussel, 4FM, FM Brussels, Radio Nostalgie, …

Eén van de opmerkelijkste stunts van Eric Eraly was zijn RookStop Seminar in de Gevangenis van Antwerpen! Na 4 maanden waren de deelnemende gedetineerden nog steeds rookvrij.

In een andere stunt hielp hij, in samenwerking met P-Magazine, 50 Café-bazen op één dag succesvol van het roken af.

Waardering Consument:
Eric Eraly is de auteur van de BestSeller “De Gemakkelijk Stoppen Met Roken Methode”. Via zijn boek en CD’s zijn reeds enkele tienduizenden rokers op een éénvoudige manier gestopt met roken.

De grootste bedrijven in Vlaanderen en Nederland maken van zijn seminars gebruik om hun personeel te helpen stoppen met roken.

Produkten & Services:
* De BestSeller “De Gemakkelijk Stoppen Met Roken Methode“
*(Borgerhoff & Lambrigts 2007) ( Boek & E-boek )
* De CD-box: De Gemakkelijk Stoppen Met Roken Methode (CD-Box & MP3’s)
* De RookStop DVD ( binnenkort verkrijgbaar)
* Het RookStop Seminar : “In Eén Dag Van Het Roken Verlost”

Klik hier voor meer informatie over Stoppen met Roken

24th Scottish Weekend in Alden Biesen

The 24th Scottish Weekend will take place 11, 12 and 13 September 2009 in Alden Biesen, Bilzen.

There will be concerts of folk music, bagpipe performances and competitions, Highland dancing, Highland games (always fierce competition), whisky tasting, children's animation, storytelling and a market selling Scottish goods.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers will top the bill in the Saturday Concert tent 23:00-00:30.
Scottish, bad assed and sexy…. That’s the least one can say about the Chilli’s. This 8-headed pipeband has been travelling on a rising star which has already led them to all outskirts of the world in their short existence. They became famous by winning the BBC primetime Television show “When will I be Famous” and in 2007 they got awarded the title of “Live Act of the Year’. The core of the band is made up of three bagpipe virtuosi supported by a firm rock backline, and as their name already suggests, they don’t limit themselves to the traditional pipe-tunes. Their version of such rock classics as ‘Smoke on the Water’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Clocks’ will completely knock you over. Bagpipes with an attitude, drums with a Scottish accent…. This performance comes with a warning: it can be hazardous for your health!

I took my children two years ago and it was excellent entertainment for us all. My boys loved dressing up and doing archery. They even met a man with two ferrets. We met some Belgian guys on a stag party weekend. Apparently that theme is popular with Belgians.

Ticket prices Scottish Weekend 2009 (free entrance for children up to 12 years)
Day ticket
Friday Saturday Sunday
Presale 10,00 10,00 10,00
Pay Desk 13,00 13,00 13,00
60+ 10,00 10,00 10,00

2-days ticket Friday & Saturday Saturday & Sunday
Presale 18,00 18,00
Pay Desk 23,00 23,00
60+ 18,00 18,00

Combi-ticket
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Presale 25,00
Pay Desk 30,00
60+ 25,00

Full details in four languages: http://www.schotsweekend.be/

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Indoor Mini-Golf in Parc Molenheide, Limburg

The indoor Mini-golf "De Mijn" in Parc Molenheide, Molenheidestraat, 3530 Houthalen-Helchteren (tel 011/52 10 44) offers 18 holes built like a mine where light, smell, sound and movement play an important role. Like a true miner you descend into the mine while playing, encountering many types of mines like diamond and gold. You can even meet some dinosaurs. It is the ideal trip for young and old.

Indoor Golf Adventure "The forgotten mine' is the newest attraction at park Molenheide.

Prijzen geldig in de maand September Indoor mini golf:

Maandag, dinsdag, donderdag en vrijdag
Kind : normaal 6.90 € NU 3.45 €
Volwassene : normaal 8.25 € NU 4.15 €

Woensdag, zaterdag en zondag
Kind : normaal : 8.50 € NU 4.25 €
Volwassene : normaal : 10.00 € NU 5.00 €

Find indoor Mini-Golf "De Mijn" at www.BeOurGuest.be

If you want to stay in a bungalow or camp at Parc Molenheide in September, they are offering 50% discount.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

ADHD Medication in Belgium

€7.6 m was paid out for ADHD medication Ritalin (known in Belgium as Rilatine) in 2008, up from €4.2 million in 2005.

Are there really more children suffering from ADHD or more parents and teachers suffering from impatience? We live in a society of immediate gratification where we have to have IT now. But we also live in a society of stress bearing more and more on all of us, resulting in less time to spend with children. Children spend far more hours sitting in front of TV, playing computer games or using games consoles. They watch the same episode over and over on DVD rather than seeking new stories which stimulate the imagination. These children who are classified as ADHD because they cannot sit still and focus on school subjects, can often sit still for hours and concentrate on their computer games. So are they really suffering from attention deficity and hyperactivity, or are just the product of the crazy lifestyle we now live? I remember sitting quietly for 20 minutes at the start of the day for school assembly, a time to come together and reflect before beginning lessons. At primary school we lay down for half an hour after lunch to relax. Today kids are running around in the playground, often playing competitive games.

Gone are the days when children could sit quietly and build something from junk using their own imagination.

Some children with ADHD gain help from Hendrickx Technique found in Hasselt. Educational Kinesiology can also give enormous benefit for learning difficulties, dyslexia, spelling, reading and writing. There is a Flemish woman in Berchem who also sees children in English for 40 € per session. By co-ordinating the two brain hemispheres through fun exercises, it brings fast and measurable results.

I will make myself unpopular saying this but some people prefer to hold on to the identity of a label eg ADHD, dyslexia joining the victims "poor me" support groups rather than exploring therapies and techniques which have already helped thousands of people. It is your choice.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Antwerp Expat Welcome Party 2009

Are you looking for a new home, living tips, expat clubs and associations, contacts in Antwerp's comunity, news and information, ideas on what to do?

Enjoy a welcome buffet party, live entertainment, practical information, tombola, meeting expats and locals, all for free.

September 10 at 18.00 in the Radisson Blu Park Lane Hotel, Antwerp.

Exclusively for CEOs, HRD & HRM, Corporate Mobility Managers and newly-arrived and resident expatriates.

Register at events@ackroyd.be before 7 September 2009.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Nia

Nia is a combination of free style dance, yoga, Tai Chi and more energetic exercise. I strongly recommend you contact Gitta for information and here is a list of Nia lessons in Limburg.

Gitta Weytjens
Certified Nia teacher
www.nia-gitta.be
www.niabelgium.be
0032 497 91 63 65

Nia in het gras!

Afgelopen weekend hebben we in Bree op blote voeten in het gras gedanst, met zicht op het kanaal, wind in de haren en zon in het gezicht. Een heerlijke ervaring!
Bij mooi weer gaan de lessen op zondag in september ook nog door op deze plek!
(let wel: uitgezonderd zondag 20 september, dan gaat de les door op Orshof, Neerglabbeek. Zie 'Puur Natuurlijk')
Lokatie: Het Tolhuys, Kanaalkaai 3, 3960 Bree

Nia op PUUR NATUURLIJK, buitenleven beurs Orshof, Neerglabbeek, zondag 20 sep,10- 18 u

Laat al je zintuigen genieten van dit gezellige buitenleven event. Kom kijken, proeven, ruiken, ervaren, luisteren en voelen van het buitenleven en neem deel aan talrijke workhops, zoals Nia, Kinderyoga, Yogamassage, bloemschikken, schapen hoeden, boetseren met chocolade (!), vuur maken, huifkartocht, lezing bachbloesems, ...
Leuk voor ouders én kinderen

Nia workshop 10.30 u, 14 u, 16 u
Kinderyoga 13.30 u (6-9 jr) en 15.30 u (9-12jr)
Yogamassage 13.30 - 14.30 u en 16-17 u (om het kwartier)

Attentie! Op 20 sep zal de wekelijkse Nia les dus niet in de Balletschool in Bree doorgaan, maar in het Orshof, om 10.30u.
Deze les is GRATIS + GRATIS INKOM voor de beurs. Je dient me wel op voorhand je naam door te geven!

De Landelijke Gilde organiseert die dag een brunch, dus daarna kunnen we lekker aanschuiven en smullen! Allen daarheen!

Info: www.puur-natuurlijk.com

Lessenrooster najaar 2009

zon Bree 10.30
maan Opoeteren 20 u
di Dilsen (Vormingplus, 2 kennismakingslessen, di 15 en do 17/09, 20u) Houthalen 10 u (Vormingplus, voor senioren, 10 lessen, start 13/10)
Heusden-Zolder 20 u (Vormingplus, 7 lessen, start 22/09)
Gruitrode 20 u (Vormingplus, 10 lessen, start 10/11)

woe Bree 10 u
Kinrooi 20 u

Een klaskaart bedraagt 80 euro voor 10 lessen en is 13 weken geldig. Je kan met deze kaart op alle lokaties terecht, behalve de lessenreeksen die georganiseerd zijn door Vormingplus.

NIEUWE Nia lokatie Opoeteren, Kasteel De Schans

Vanaf maandag 21 sep start er een nieuwe Nia Lessenreeks op Kasteel De Schans, in Opoeteren. We dansen er in een volledig gerenoveerde zaal in het Koetshuis, met zicht op de bossen en het water! Geniet al dansend van het mooie uitzicht!

10 opeenvolgende lessen - géén les op 2 nov.

Lokatie: Kasteel De Schans - Kasteelstraat 18 - Opoeteren

Dagworkshop 'Vrij en blij beleven en bewegen', zaterdag 26 sep, 09.30- 16.30 u, Zonhoven in samenwerking met Katty Desquesnes

Wat is vrijheid voor jou? Wat betekent vrij en blij leven? Tijdens deze dag wordt je uitgenodigd om in vrijheid en blijheid te leven op het ritme van muziek, beweging, meditatie, zelfreflectie en expressie. Zoals het ritme van het leven, van binnen naar buiten en van buiten naar binnen.

Je zal datgene wat je nog belemmert leren herkennen en erkennen van dat wat je nodig hebt om de vrijheid en blijheid in jezelf te ervaren terug ontdekken.
Speelsheid, blijheid , authenticiteit en expressie zijn de sleutelwoorden van deze boeiende dag. Gun jezelf dit bijzondere cadeautje!

Inschrijven via Vormingplus
Lokatie: Evenementenhal Zonhoven
Prijs: 18 euro

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Dunkirk to Dover Car Ferry is Closest to Belgium

If you want to travel to the UK by ship, I recommend Norfolk Lines. They cross from Dunkirk which is 40km closer than Calais and are quite a bit cheaper than P&O Ferries.

They offer restaurants and bars, children's play areas, a beautician, 10 minute massage, shops and a first class lounge.

Right now, they are offering Dover - Dunkirk Short Break Fares from £32* return. Valid for new bookings travelling before 17th December 2009.



To visit the Norfolk Line website, go here:
Ferry to France
Ferry booking to France and Ireland. Norfolkline's cross-channel ferries to France from Dover to Dunkerque

Norfolkline ferries to France, Ireland, & Scotland with Dover - Dunkirk, Liverpool - Belfast, Liverpool - Dublin, & Rosyth (Scotland) - Zeebrugge (Belgium) ferry crossings offer low ferry fares and convenient schedules. Norfolkline are the fastest growing ferry operator across the channel. So, for channel crossings, ferries to Ireland, or ferries to Belgium there's no better way than with Norfolkline.

Visit Living in Belgium for what's on in Belgium.

Hailstones on Belgian National Day

Today Belgium is 178 years old. My Belgian friends don't seem to care other than it means a day off work.







Two hours ago we had hot sunshine. Half an hour ago a thunderstorm and then the hailstones started.

In Her Shoes Exhibition in Hasselt

The Fashion Museum of Hasselt (Mode Museum Hasselt) are running a special exhibition until 8 November 2009 all about ladies' shoes.

There are shoes designed by well-known and lesser-known designers and manufacturers from 1900 through to the present day. Also work by contemporary designers from Belgium and the Netherlands and by artists and photographers who have drawn inspiration from women's shoes.

"I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes. I had 1,060." - Imelda Marcos

For women shoes are much more than 'practical' and 'comfortable'. Shoes are often purchased as 'comfort buys'.

The Italian fashion journalist Paola Jacobbi said, "Whether you're fat or thin, tall or short, beautiful or ugly, you can buy all the shoes your heart desires. That's why women buy so many".

Shoes reflect a woman's personality. They are a status symbol and have seductive power.

"A good shoe is one that doesn't dress you, but undresses you". - Christian Louboutin

Tickets: Adults €5, 12-18 years and students €2, - 12 years - free
Open:
Until 31 October: Tuesday to Sunday 10-17u
1-8 November: Tuesday to Friday 10-17u, Saturday and Sunday 13-17u

Info: http://www.modemuseumhasselt.be/

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Anniversary of Early Death of Leen Dayers

Monday 13 July marks one year since Leen Dayers was tragically killed by a sleeping motorist cycling home from a party with other scouts leaders. Her Scouts name was "Fodi".

There will be a special memorial service in Bolderberg church at 7pm.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

We Love the Hasselt Duck

One day a huge blow-up yellow duck appeared in Hasselt harbour and immediately caught people's attention, so much so that it is staying longer in Hasselt than originally planned. The "badeend" (bath duck) was conceived by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman and promotes "Zoom-OUT", a project that will bring various art projects to open spaces in Limburg 2010-2011.


Here is a photo of myself and my sons in front of the duck.

So popular is the duck that there is even a Facebook group I love de eend van Hasselt with currently, 4,501 members!

When the duck leaves Hasselt on 17 July, it will tour Limburg:
17 - 22 July in Kolenhaven Genk
24 - 30 July in De Blauwe Kei in Lommel
31 July - 6 August - Neerpelt
7 - 13 August on the island in Neeroeteren
14 - 20 August in Maasmechelen Village
21 - 27 August Oud-Rekem
28 - 31 August in de Kolenhaven Beringen.

More info: Het Belang van Limburg

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Nia Classes in Limburg

I really recommend Nia, a combination of free dance, yoga, Tai Chi and other exercise. It's great fun.

There are weekly lessons in Bree, Kinrooi, Valkenswaard and Hasselt plus a last minute holiday in Bourgogne.

Weekly lessons are given in Dutch:
* Valkenswaard: start opnieuw op maandag 5 aug, 09.20-10.30 u
* Bree (zondagvoormiddag 10.30 u): geen les op zondag 12,19 juli
* Kinrooi (woensdagavond 20 u) : geen les op woensdag 15, 22 juli
* Hasselt (maandagavond): lessen voorlopig stopgezet wegens geen zaal. Zaal gezocht tussen Hasselt en Genk.

Nia workshops:
* via WISPER
Leuven, ma/di/woe 27, 28, 29 juli
telkens van 15 - 17 u
www.wisper.be

Herent, Centrum Blauwe Reiger
Nia les: 27 juli 20 -21.15 u
28 juli 09 - 10.15 u
20 - 21.15 u
29 juli 09 - 10.15 u

* via Vormingplus, Zonhoven 25, 26, 27 aug van 20 - 21.30

DANS JE VRIJ
Bewegen maakt je vrij. Maar 'vrij dansen' hoe doe je dat? Deze workshops leggen de nadruk op het 'freedance' aspect in NIa. Op een speelse gaan we nieuwe manieren van bewegen ontdekken. Iedereen welkom, ervaring niet vereist.

www.vormingpluslimburg.be

* via Vormingplus, Houthalen, 27 aug 09 - 16.30 u
dagworkshop samen met Hariette Schadé.
ONTSPANNEN & OPLADEN MET BEWEGING EN RELAXATIE
Een dagje ont-moeten, niets moeten, jezelf ontmoeten, in beweging en rust

www. vormingpluslimburg.be

Last minute vakantie, Bourgogne, Frankrijk

De afgelopen jaren organiseerde Nitta samen met Isis Fidder een 'Joyvakantie' (Nia + Intuitief schilderen) op centrum 'La Mer' in de Bourgogne. Dit jaar geeft Isis er een schitterende cursus 'Vedic Art': schilderen volgens de 17 principes van Vedic Art.
Een aparte, levensverrijkende beleving, zowel voor ervaren kunstenaars als voor mensen die nog nooit een penseel of potlood vasthielden! Vedic Art brengt je helemaal in het NU, het is een innerlijk proces dat tot uiting komt. Een nieuwe vorm van Kunst.

Meer info over deze vakantie op La Mer: www.la-mer.nl
Isis Fidder, Vedic Art: www.vedicart.nl

Nia - volg de wijsheid van je lichaam en laat je levenskracht weer dansen!

Sparkle
Gitta Weytjens
Certified Nia teacher
www.nia-gitta.be
www.niabelgium.be
0032 497 91 63 65

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

50th Wedding Anniversary in Bolderberg

Who says romance is dead? A couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in our village of Bolderberg, Heusden-Zolder by telling the world with this huge blow-up couple in wedding dress. There were flowers all over the front door and a large photo of the couple on their wedding day.

That's lovely.

Antonia Harrison at Living in Belgium.

Do We Finally Have a New Flemish Government in Belgium?

Formateur Kris Peeters start zijn formatiegesprekken over de nieuwe Vlaamse regering met sp.a, N-VA en CD&V. Open Vld valt dus tot ongenoegen van premier Herman Van Rompuy uit de boot. De strijd om de ministerposten kan alvast begonnen.

CD&V zal normaal gezien vier portefeuilles opeisen. Drie daarvan gaan zo goed als zeker naar Kris Peeters (minister-president), Jo Vandeurzen (Welzijn?) en Hilde Crevits (Openbare werken?). De Oost-Vlaamse Joke Schauvliege zou wel eens de vierde gelukkige kunnen worden. Eric Van Rompuy, de broer van de premier, wordt dan weer getipt als mogelijk de nieuwe voorzitter van het Vlaams Parlement.

Sp.a
De socialisten van sp.a zouden drie postjes in de wacht slepen. Frank Vandenbroucke blijft waarschijnlijk aan als minister van Onderwijs. Voor de andere portefeuilles zijn Freya Van den Bossche, Peter Vanvelthoven en Kathleen Van Brempt de voornaamste kandidaten. Van den Bossche zou azen op Cultuur.

N-VA
Bij N-VA zijn er nog meer vraagtekens. Bart De Wever blijft waarschijnlijk aan als voorzitter waardoor Geert Bourgeois, die al een ruime ervaring heeft in Vlaanderen, viceminister-president worden. Jan Peumans, de beste parlementariër van het land, voormalig vtm-gezicht Mark Demesmaeker, en Kris Van Dijck zijn kandidaat-ministers. Mocht Helga Stevens een portefeuille grijpen, zou dat een primeur worden voor ons land. Nooit eerder werd een dove minister.

Brusselaar
Eén lid van de Vlaamse regering moet wel uit Brussel komen. CD&V (Steven Vanackere) en sp.a (Pascal Smet) hebben sterke kandidaten in huis. De kans is echter klein dat die eerste de federale regering verlaat.

Source: Het Belang van Limburg

Set Up Your Own Money Earning Blog Course in Brussels

People have blogs on a variety of subjects but did you know that some people are successfully earning money from their blogs, even thousands of Euros per month?

There is even a name for it: Bum Marketing. Literally, sit on your "bum" and make money while you sleep. You can be earning 100 Euros per day within a very short period.

I will teach you how to set up your own blog and monetise it.

Step-by-step
1. How to set up a blog free of charge on the blog provider's server.
2. How to set up a blog but host it on your own server.
3. How to find design templates to suit your theme.
4. How to find affiliate products and services to "sell" on your blog. Affiliate marketing is big business.
5. How to "ping" your blog so that people can find it quickly and come to visit.
6. How to find free or very cheap articles to provide fresh content to your blog.
7. How to use the RSS feed Chicklet creator to promote your blog on your Ecademy profile, website or wherever.
8. How to set up an auto-responder so that people subscribe to read your blog. This builds your mailing list which can increase your earnings.
9. How to use social bookmarking to promote your blog.
10. How to use free traffic exchanges to promote your blog.
11. How to create free traffic to your blog.
12. How to use PPC with Google Adwords to bring traffic to your blog and receive a free US$ 50 voucher to get you started.
13. How to use Google Adsense on your site to earn an average of US$ 1,000 per month.
14. How to post videos on your site.
...and lots more.

This will be a full day of information and at the end you will have your own blog, in fact your own business.

Bring your own laptop and just follow my on-screen instructions. Ask as many questions as you want.

Tell me the subject of your blog and, if available, I will bring you a set of free articles to use as content on your blog. This will kick-start your blog, meaning that people will visit, subscribe as readers and hopefully start you earning money.

I am an English internet marketer. I have been active on the internet for two years with various sites and blogs. I have found out the hard - and expensive - way, what works and what doesn't. Come and learn from me. You will quickly have a money-making blog. Or two, three, four ....

Date: Friday 26 June
Venue: Avenue Louise, Brussels

Antonia Harrison
Earn Money From Your Computer
Affiliate Marketing Success Online

Scouts Trappers Bolderberg are 30 Years Old

Scouts Trappers Bolderberg are celebrating 30 years of scouts in the village on Saturday 16 May.

Events kick-off at 12.30 with an afternoon activity. From 5pm the doors open for a concert´by a 50-piece band, evening buffet meal of Paella, Nasi Goreng, Bami Goreng and vegetarian then at 8pm there will be a campfire. The meal costs 10€ for adults, 8 € for children. Book your meal here.

The Trappers even have their own Trappist beer called Trapperpist, a 9º beer.

"Trapperpists zijn meestal blond of lichtamber van kleur. De Trapperpist is een feestbier, hoppig en vol van smaak, zacht in de mond, met een uitstekende zoet-bitter balans, een aangename geur en een mooie schuimkraag. En tenslotte een lange nasmaak om ten volle van na te genieten.

Trapperpist is geen schrijffout, het is een woordspeling tussen Trappers en Trappist. Trappers is uiteraard onze groepsnaam en een 'tripel' betekent dat de brouwer driemaal zoveel malt in de brouwketel gebruikt als voor een gewoon bier. Vroeger was een Tripel voorbehouden voor de Bisschop of voor Vader Abt. En die wisten wel wat goed was, reken maar.

De Trapperpist is een bier om van te genieten als dessert, of als aperitief."

The Trapperpist will be in limited supply and only available in Bolderberg.

Full info on http://scoutsbolderberg30jaar.blogspot.com:80/

Business Cards and Photo Products

For printing all of your promotional items, I recommend VistaPrint.

In the UK they currently have a promotion:


This is a great offer on business cards:


Visit VistaPrint for:
Caps - pens - Tshirts - calendars - sticky note holders - ink pads - envelopes
presentation folders - posters - photo magnets - postcards - return address labels

Products are also available in Belgium but offers may vary.

Female Networking Group in Belgium

I have just joined Female Factor , a Dutch speaking group for women in Belgium and Holland.

There are seven sub-sections on the site:
- Mommy Dear
- Miss Feel Good
- Passionate Lover
- Style Diva
- Urban Cowgirl
- Business Lady
- Spiritual Goddess
I can resonate with each of those descriptions but then us women are so multi-faceted!

The site says:

Netwerk voor de 360 graden vrouw
"Een vrouw met diverse talenten, ambities en passies. Een vrouw die moeder, kunstenares, collega en vriendin tegelijk is. FemaleFactor gelooft in de kracht van vrouwen en laat vrouwen geloven in hun kracht. Daarom creeëren we ruimte voor ontmoeting, tijdens netwerklunches, Club events, inspiratiesessies en natuurlijk de community-website. Ruimte waar vrouwen elkaar kunnen inspireren: de eigen ambities en talenten ontdekken, dit delen met anderen, vervolgens omzetten in actie en genieten van de resultaten. Dit alles op een innovatieve manier; open, betrokken en met een knipoog."

Membership is free and there is lots of interesting and useful information on the website.

I have registered for a networking lunch (sandwiches so not expensive) to be held at Antwerp Zoo on 14 May. There are also meetings coming up in several Dutch locations plus workshops.

Sounds great to me.

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Belgian Plastic Drinks Bottles are Worth 25c. in Holland

When I bought some Fanta Cassis bottles in a Dutch supermarket last week, I noticed that I had been charged 25 cents "statiegeld" per bottle ie recycling deposit. I told my son who asked whether we could take our bottles bought in Belgian supermarkets back to Dutch supermarkets and receive 25 cents per bottle. I told him that I doubted it as there must be a different barcode on products for sale in different countries.

Well I have just read on the online site of Het Belang van Limburg newspaper that indeed Belgians are taking their plastic empties back to Dutch shops and earning 25 cents on each bottle, particularly in the border towns of Luyksgestel, Budel, Stramproy, Weert and Stein. Apparently, the barcode readers cannot distinguish between bottles bought in Belgium or Holland. Some enterprising individuals are even collecting empties from the street, rubbish bins or neighbours, even advertising in the local paper.

The Dutch supermarkets have responded to say that they are looking out for any Belgians with large quantities of plastic bottles and will refuse the entire load. While some supermarkets consider this practice dishonest, Plus Daams in Budel-Schoot welcomes the Belgians as they realise that they will probably do some shopping in the store while they are there and, in any case, they are refunded by Stichting Retourverpakking.

Source: Het Belang Van Limburg - "Belgische petfles in Nederland 25 cent waard".

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Blondineke of Bolderberg is 100 Years Old

Recently a woman in our village of Bolderberg turned 100 years old. To celebrate this achievement, her neighbours decorated the outside of her house and erected a poem about her life. They told us that she was married, had five children, was never sick and when she moved to her current house in 1959, there was no electricity.

I thought this was wonderful.

Where Can You Buy Food From Home in Belgium?

As part of Expatica's extensive Survival Guide to living and working in Belgium, here is their list of places where you can stock up on the tastes and smells of home.

ANTWERP

Chinese

Sun Wah Supermarket
Van Wesenbekestraat 16-18
03 226 04 59

Jewish

Hoffy's
Lange Kievitstraat 52
03 234 3535

Mediterranean

Foreigner's Market
Oude Vaartplaats
Saturday 8am-4pm

BRUSSELS

American

Cosmopolis Press & Gifts
Drève Richelle 159
Waterloo
02 351 4803

British

Stonemanor
Steenhofstraat 28
Everberg
02 759 4979

Visit Stonemanor website

Chinese

Kam Yuen
Rue de la Vierge Noire 2-4
1000 Brussels
02 512 5833

French

Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe
Avenue Louis Lepoutre 6
1050 Brussels
02 346 1759

Oliviers & Co
Rue au Beurre 28
02 502 7211

Rob
Boulevard de la Woluwe 28
02 771 2060

Irish

Jack O'Shea's
Rue le Titien 30
02 732 5351

Italian

Casa Italia
Rue Archimède 39
02 733 4070

Italian Autentica (3 shops)

CASH & CARRY
257 chaussée de Ruisbroek
1620 Drogenbos
+32 (0)2 377 44 69

CITTA MARKET
6 avenue de Wallonie
7100 La Louvière
+32 (0)64 22 48 15

WAVRE
507 chaussée de Louvain
1300 Wavre
+32 (0)10 88.89.50

Japanese

Tagawa
chaussée de Vleurgat 119
1050 Brussels
02 648 5911

Yama Food
Chaussée de Charleroi 24-26
02 538 99 50

Mediterranean

Midi Market
Around Gare du Midi
Sunday 8am-1pm

Scandinavian/Nordic

Branches of IKEA
www.ikea.be

Scan-shop
Chaussée de Tervuren 138
Waterloo
02 351 1275

Spanish

ABC Poisonnerie
Rue Ste. Catherine 46
Brussels
02 512 7547

Economato Marisol
Place de la Constitution 23
02 521 4736

España Calidade
Avenue de la Porte de Hal 63
02 537 2387

Source: Expatica

Visit Living in Belgium for information on what's on, where to go, photos and useful tips for making life in Belgium more interesting.

Does Hypnosis Really Work?

The therapeutic use of hypnosis has been recognised in the USA for over fifty years as an effective form of working with the powerful unconscious mind to overcome many unwanted habits, addictions, phobias etc. in a relaxing and quick way.

I think every town in the UK has at least one hypnotherapist and they can even register with BUPA so that those with private health insurance can claim a refund of the therapist's fee.

But few people in Belgium seems to know about hypnotherapy. Sometimes they have seen a stage hypnotist working in entertainment and think that has something to do with it. Many people also tell me it doesn't work. Really?

I have been a therapist in private practice for many years helping clients with the basics like stopping smoking, weight loss, increased self-confidence and self-esteem. I have also helped people overcome fears and phobias, stage fright, exam nerves, bed wetting, nail biting, blushing, improve their golf and several stress-related health problems.

Also the second most important fear after death - public speaking.

I even have a Flemish neurologist attending for therapy so that he can experience it firsthand and thus recommend it to his patients.

Where appropriate I use regression, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Eriksonian and Clinical Hypnosis.

I coach some clients using various techniques to achieve prosperity, improved business or social skills.

Does it work? Most people respond very well but they must take responsibility for their own results. I am not a magician. I am a coach, a guide into the power of the unconscious mind where all change occurs.

I now offer private therapy or coaching sessions in three locations in Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp and Limburg.

Antonia Harrison
http://www.EnglishHypnotherapistBelgium.com
0497 550813

PS Most smokers stop smoking at the first session.

Expatica Networking Event in Brussels

This is an opportunity to get together, share experiences, flirt, have fun and build up your networks - whilst enjoying a drink and some tapas. An added bonus is that this event takes place inside the majestic buildings of the Autoworld Museum at Cinquantenaire.

Do come along, bring a friend and enjoy a fun evening with Expatica’s community. The event will be hosted by Chalks, Expatica’s local representative in Brussels.

Reservation is mandatory as the event is limited to 50 places.

Date & Time:
Thursday, 23 April - 19h30 to 21h00

Location:
Espace53 (Autoworld)
11 Parc du Cinquantenaire
1000 Brussels

Tickets:
Tickets are EUR 10 per person, payable in advance; this covers two drinks and the tapas-style snacks.

To register and make payment, please go to: www.meetup.com/Expatica-Cafe-Brussels. Registering is simple: once you confirm participation, you will be presented with a secure service to make your payment.

For more information please contact Chalks:
chalks.corriette@expatica.com
expatica.cafe@yahoo.com
GSM: 0478.482023

Small print:

Please arrive on time, as the inclusive element of this event ends at 21h00.
Should you require a receipt for your payment, do ask on arrival at the event.
Funds will be returned for cancellations up to 48 hours in advance of the event.
The venue will close at midnight and a cash bar is available after 21h00.
Dancing, laughing and flirting will be encouraged.
Autoworld has fantastic parking and public transport connections.
All questions about this event should be directed to Chalks.