Saturday 23rd August

We arose at about 5am; and proceeded to have breakfast and wash in the middle of the road to Martelange.  As we found it impossible to get a lift we walked to Martelange – about 20km, which proved most tiring!  Once in Martelange we visited the church and the walked to the nearby Youth Hostel, on the banks or the River Sîve, across which one can look into Luxembourg.
The surrounding countryside is extremely hilly with much pine forest – most beautiful.

Friday 22nd August

After breakfast at the Hostel, we managed to get a lift from a mid-wife to Rochefont – we passed straight through, seeing Lafayette’s Statue on the way.  We then got a lift to Grupont by a kindly hotel keeper, who treated us to beer at his establishment in Grupont.

We then got 2 more lifts to St. Huberts, where I collected a poste restante letter from home.  We visited the Abbey of St. Hubert and then walked into town.

After sometime a lorry driver gave us a lift to Morbet, but alarmed us somewhat by reading our map, and whilst doing so, allowed the lorry to drive crazily from side to side.

We obtained yet a further lift before finally pitching our tent in a pine wood just past Nives! It was an extremely quiet night, but in the early hours of the morning we discovered hundreds of spiders in the tent.

Thursday 21st August

Dinant, Belgium

We visited the Bonlangerie first thing and then breakfasted.  We obtained a lift into Dinant, where we saw the Rocher Bayard, the Citadel and the church.  After a long walk we managed to obtain a lift direct to the youth camp at Ave-et-Auffe.  We enjoyed an excellent supper and comfortable bed time.

The Rocher Bayard, Dinant

Wednesday 20th August

We bad farewell to Laurie and went into Brussels centre, and saw Everard’s statue, Manneken Pis etc. before catching a train to the outskirts of Brussles.  We then managed to get a lift in a car to Wavre, and the more lifts to Riviere via Namur (where we saw the Catherdral and Citadel).  At Riviere we were fortunate enough to come across an official camping site, where we spent the night, by the River Meuse.

Tuesday 19th August

We spent the entire day at the fair, seeing the remainder of the international section and also the Corpo Pavilion.  We returned to Laurie’s in the evening.  Laurie’s husband has written several books including one for the finished Pavilion, under his pen-name Bernard Henry.

Monday 18th August



Russian Pavilion, Brussels Fair

Uncle Hubert took Martha, Claudine and us to the Brussels fair in the morning in his new Volkswagen. 

We spent the day seeing part of the international section. 








We said farewell to Martha and Claudine at 9pm, when they returned to Temse, and we went to Aunt Laurie’s for the night.

Sunday 17th August

Had brioches and tea for breakfast.  The morning was spent in the garden with Martha, whilst Maurice went to the morning service at the Catholic Church in Temse square.

In the afternoon Martha & Claudine took us to the Blacksmith in Temse to see about repairing Maurice’s rucksack, and we were informed that it would be available at 8 o’clock the following morning.  We spent much of the remainder of the day playing cards and chess etc.  Mr and Mrs Stewart and their two sons (twins) have been staying at Eeckhout ?* since Saturday evening.  They will be taking Mon back with them to York for a holiday.  Mr Stewart is also a school teacher.

*