My childhood in Belgium

As I sat there with my therapist today, I realised that the early memory of a large and intimidating school was not the second school I went to, but the first - which would have meant I was about 4 years old. It's unlikely I had a good grasp of flemish. And as I walked up the steps of that huge monstrosity of a building I felt utterly alone. In fact I just found the two schools I went to when I lived in Belgium.

Two things struck me - yes the first school was massive! See photo.

But two - the photos of the kids.. they are so small! And this is surprising to me. Why? Because I had to look after myself (even though I couldn't) - so felt big sort of.

It's weird when I think back to Belgium.

Here's what I remember, and I've tried to order them;.

• Going to school, I reckon I must have been four and I didn't know the language. I remember how I felt as I went up the steps to the front door. I was petrified but couldn't show it.
• I remember where we used to live - both houses.
  
• The first was in a culdesac off the main road into the town centre - it was off the one way system in the heart of the town. The culdesac had terraced small houses in it, probably around 10-12. We were in one of the middle ones. A two up two down, outside toilet, no fridge or TV. I shared the room with my younger sister, and at one point we had someone living with us (who shared our bedroom with a sheet/blanket serparating the room. It was a tiny house - so I don't know how we managed that.
• I remember my dad going to Germany, and coming back with a lamp of some famous water fall. When he went to start the car (we had a green Renault 4) he set fire to his favourite mack which is had put over the engine to keep out the damp whilst he was gone, and was furious with?? Mum? Quite why it would have been his fault I don't know.
• I remember sitting on my dad's lap once - when we had visitors. The fact that I remember it must be significant - and I'm assuming I didn't sit on his lap often - especially when we had guests.
• I vaguely remember getting into trouble at school as I pushed someone (was he bullying me?) and he needed stitches.
• I remember looking up at the sky, and thinking we were moving, and running to tell mum(my) that we were moving.
• I remember our back yard.
• The painted clogs my mum used to put flowers in on the wall
• Nextdoor neighbour's cherry tree which we used to get loads of cherries (krieken) from
• I vaguely remember the walk to school (mum must have taken me)
• I remember the day we moved out, as we found a mars bar behind mum and dad's bed. We were very keen to eat it.
• I don't remember a single child or friend. I do have a very vague recollection of another child living on the same road.
  
• 
  

• We moved into a huge house on a main road right next to the station. It was three stories, had a long halway, a large front room (to me), family room, dining room off that plus a small galley kitchen. Bathrooom was on the first floor along with two bedrooms. Two further bedrooms were on the top floor which is where I ended up.
• I reckon I was about six when I moved, but I'd have to ask my mum!
  
• The window half way up from the first to second floor used to be a perch for me. Very long trains (I used to count them) would roll in from 5am - and I could see them from this vantage point.
• I moved school when I moved house. I used to walk with me and my younger sister on our own. Invariably we got bullied on our way home. From google it looks like 7-800 metres, including crossing a road.
  
• Because the country was catholic, we were excused from the RE lessons and instead had a protestant chap come in. There were three of us in the class, me, my sister and one other child. This of course seperated us from everyone else too.
  
• I used to play marbles at school - though never won. I was on my own, and did not have any friends.
• I have a vague recollection of kids throwing stones at me, but can't remember which school or even if it's true.
  
• There was a cobbled road up the side of the house to a disused factory
• Dad kept an aviary with birds (his only hobby?), we also had a tortoise
• Dad taught me to ride a bike - but there was nowhere to ride it at home
  
• We used to go for the odd walk round the local park, and eat some sort of tree based seeds in autumn (this is a vague but happy memory)
  
• I used to hand out tracts with my dad in the marketplace and on our road. We used to show Billy Graham videos in our second house, and invite people to come and watch them.
  

to be finished..