No Fourth River in pictures.
Thank you for reading my novel No Fourth River. Here are some photos from the time that No Fourth River covers. This page shows some of the events in my life I have photographs for. I have a lot more pictures but to protect the privacy of individuals, I cannot show them here. Pictures are shown in chronological order.
My mum and me, the day I was born, in 1959.
Another picture with my Mum. I am 3 years old in this picture.
This is me at 5 years old, with the new haircut that the nuns gave me when I started boarding school. My scar was ugly and red.
Extract from No Fourth River:
“They called me “Number 49,” they took away my clothes as I had to wear a uniform, and they also cut my fringe. I was robbed of my own identity. It’s rather difficult at such a young age to cope with that.”
My first holy communion at 6 years old.
This is a school photo of me at 10 years old. I tried to camouflage my scar for the photo but it is still very visible.
My second holy communion at 12 years old.
My friend Maddie and me at school.
Extract from No Fourth River: "My friend Maddie went to the same school. She had been there for several years, so she had an already established group of friends and I didn’t want to demand her attention. Nevertheless, it felt good that she was there too and we did see each other on and off. When we did spend time together, we told each other everything, we enjoyed each other’s company, talking and laughing."
This is when I was working at Agfa. Extract from No Fourth River: "The first thing I did was apply for a “real” job at a company called Agfa. Despite my terrible study habits, I had a functional level of fluency in five languages, and that landed me the position."
I took this picture of my neck to show Harry’s parents what their son did to me.
Extract from No Fourth River: "I visited Harry’s parents the moment I was released from hospital. I brought pictures showing them how their son had beaten me; one of bruises after one time he had strangled me, as well as one of my accounting class textbooks that he set alight."
My coursework for my diploma in accountancy, thrown in the open fire by Harry. A few minutes after this picture was taken, all the papers were burned. Extract from No Fourth River: “I’m sick of your stupid classes,” he announced. “I’ll decide what you turn in, and what you’ll turn in now is nothing.” I felt helpless and hopeless as he threw all of my coursework into the open fire. All my hard work was mere ashes in seconds.”
This picture was taken after I had left Harry and came back to live with my Mum in my childhood home. Behind me you can see my growing collection of books, from self-development to business and entrepreneurship.
This photo was taken in Lanzarote.
Extract from No Fourth River:
"Luke and I travelled to The Canary Islands for three weeks, and stayed at Club La Santa in Lanzarote, which is a sports and holiday resort with an Olympic size swimming pool. We trained for the triathlon from early morning to late at night."
This was the triathlon where I came 32nd out of 200 participants.
Extract from No Fourth River: "A few months later, I came 32nd out of 200 people in the triathlon. Not good enough, I told myself. I knew I could do better, and I set my sights on coming in first next time."
I did it! I won 1st place. I had my sight on coming 1st and I trained really hard for it. This discipline and hard work helped me a lot when it came to building my business.
Extract from No Fourth River: "Two months later, I did. I won a triathlon! I was a winner now. I stood on the number one spot on the podium when the golden trophy was handed to me."
A selection of the trophies I won for swimming and triathlon. Extract from No Fourth River: "It felt great, and nothing could stop me! Race after race, I received trophies and medallions; I still have them all today."
Another extract: "When I was practicing to compete in the triathlon, I had to constantly tell myself, “Keep going, keep going, and you’ll get there.” I was going to apply these exact principles in my business life as well. I was going to work until I made it."
This picture was taken on holiday with Luke, during a meal in a restaurant.
This is a picture of me in my childhood bedroom. You can see my trophies on the left. Note the posters of the couples on my wall; I was dreaming of my ideal man that I was hoping to meet one day.
This picture was taken on a holiday in Marbella with my mum and cousin Dylan.
My mum and me. Extract from No Fourth River: "I moved back in with mum. I had been an awful daughter over the last few years and it was time to make amends.
I apologized to mum and told her that I would prove to her what a great daughter I could be. From that day onwards, I have always been in contact with mum."
After several operations on my scar, it was still very visible.
Extract from No Fourth River: "Thanks to a bank loan, I was able to change my old banger for a new car, of which I was very proud."
I was glad I had a reliable car instead of my old banger that just stopped in the middle of the road.
Extract from No Fourth River: "The morning the “AM Computers” sign, my newly established business, erected on the wall outside the building, was one of my proudest moments. This was me. I was forging my own path, making my own rules. All I had on my side was a fax machine, a desk, some pads of paper, a telephone, and the Yellow Pages. My wits would have to take care of the rest."
Richard and me at the opening of AM Computers. Extract from No Fourth River: "Richard found time to come to the opening day; he told me that he would not have missed it for the world. "
Extract from No Fourth River: ". My investment in a magnificent marble showroom paid off big time. For the first time in my life, thanks to Richard, I believed in myself and it worked. I was unstoppable. I set myself goals and I wouldn’t stop until I achieved those goals.
The showroom looked absolutely stunning. I had instructed the architect that I wanted the best of the best. Average was never good enough for me. I was not Mrs. Average."
This gold statue from my AM Computers' showroom now lives in my garden.
Part of the right side of my AM Computers showroom.
Part of the left side of the AM Computers showroom.
This picture was printed in a promotional brochure for AM computers. I wanted to make sure that customers knew we provided everything they needed: Hotline Support, Software, Consumables, Education Centre and Technical division.
This picture was printed in a promotional brochure for AM computers. I wanted to make sure that customers knew we provided everything they needed: Hotline Support, Software, Consumables, Education Centre and Technical division.
This picture was printed in a promotional brochure for AM computers. I wanted to make sure that customers knew we provided everything they needed: Hotline Support, Software, Consumables, Education Centre and Technical division.
This picture was printed in a promotional brochure for AM computers. I wanted to make sure that customers knew we provided everything they needed: Hotline Support, Software, Consumables, Education Centre and Technical division.
This picture was printed in a promotional brochure for AM computers. I wanted to make sure that customers knew we provided everything they needed: Hotline Support, Software, Consumables, Education Centre and Technical division.
Me in my office in AM Computers.
This is the very first picture of Richard and me, as a couple. This was in 1988, aged 29.
Extract from No Fourth River: "Every year Apple gave their high-achieving dealers a special bonus if a certain sales target was achieved. This year the bonus in Belgium was a seven-day Caribbean cruise and the bonus in the UK was a five-day trip to San Francisco!" After the cruise, Apple flew us to San Francisco, where this picture was taken. This is Richard and me at Apple headquarters in San Francisco.
This picture was taken on the Caribbean cruise, organized by Apple.
Richard and me in front of the Acer offices in Taiwan. Extract from No Fourth River: "I called Acer’s head office in Taiwan to set up a meeting. All I had to take with me was a successful track record, my wits, and a winning attitude. I could not lose; I would not allow it. Soon I was winging my way to Asia to meet with the Acer team. Richard travelled with me."
Me in my office at AM Distribution.
This is me giving a speech at the opening of AM Distribution. Extract of No Fourth River: "I arrived back home in Belgium and got to work setting up my new business—AM Distribution: a wholesale/distribution company supplying goods to computer dealers."
Extract from No Fourth River: "At the next major computer exhibition in Belgium, I put on a grand show attracting thousands to my stand. I took a big financial leap and invested in an enormous stand with casino tables, music, drinks, entertainment, presentations, etc. all with the aim of acquiring a lot of new customers."
Extract from No Fourth River: "At the exhibition, I was rubbing shoulders with directors of the biggest companies in Belgium and Luxembourg. It was a grand success and everybody was talking about me in the computer industry."
Left view of the Acer exhibition stand.
To promote Acer in Belgium, to make my company a success, I advertised it as much as I could. On this picture, I was driving during a procession. Extract of No Fourth River: "I wanted all of Belgium to know about Acer!" Another extract of No Fourth River: "To compliment my image, I purchased a top of the range Mercedes, which I thought at the time was important. Perhaps I just wanted to buy one because my father had one."
This is an article in a magazine. If you click on this picture, you will see it enlarged. The article is in Flemish. The headline says: 'The manager is a woman!' The text underneath the picture says: "Female managing directors are extremely rare in businesses. In the computer industry, you can't find it at all. Until now, that is".
Extract from No Fourth River:
"Quite suddenly, I was in the press everywhere you looked. With millions in sales, I became known as a phenomenon in the computer industry—a woman who had outdone her male competitors."
Extract from No Fourth River: "My face and details about my company were all over the press in Belgium. I had reached several million in sales in a very short time. The following headlines were seen all over magazines and newspapers:
- Hard lady—soft solutions!"
The text underneath the headline translated says: "A remarkable phenomenon in the computer business"
Extract of No Fourth River: "As I was a businesswoman, I used to do business deals all the time. On the morning of my wedding day, I was on the phone doing business.
Richard didn’t mind at all. He knew me, and I could be me at all times. Richard just said, “That’s my Christine.” There are photographs in my wedding album with me in my wedding dress on the phone doing business deals."
Me on the phone to a customer on my wedding day.
Picture taken on the day I married the man of my dreams: Richard.
Another picture on our wedding day.
Picture of our wedding party. Extract of No Fourth River: "Richard’s children were all present with their partners."
A picture taken on our wedding day showing the Belgian and English flags. Extract from No Fourth River: "In the centre of the hall was a Belgian and an English flag near a grand Christmas tree, and the walls were lined with buffet tables of the most delectable kind. We had a live band play and my secretary’s choir sang a few songs as well."
We needed a BIG cake as there were lots of people at our wedding. Note the cake on the side is in the shape of a computer and says "Acer" on it. . Extract of No Fourth River: "There were 350 people at our wedding, and it was one of the happiest days of my life"
This picture was taken on our honeymoon. We very rarely drink alcohol but made an exception to crack open a bottle of champagne on the first meal during our honeymoon.
Me in hospital, 8 months pregnant. Extract from No Fourth River: "At approximately eight months into my pregnancy, I was taken to hospital so that they could keep a closer eye on my pregnancy, as my blood pressure was sky high, well over the acceptable limit."
This is one of the promotional posters for my Dutch workshop.
Extract from No Fourth River: "To earn extra money, I taught Dutch to English people through the local council." -Extract from No Fourth River.
Extract from No Fourth River: "I created a second business and set myself the huge task of manufacturing a monitor. It was not easy to get the product approved to sell in the UK market, as several certificates were required by law. It was a fierce battle and Richard helped me a lot. After a while, the product was launched."
This is one of my favourite photos of my girls. I've got it stuck down to the bottom of my computer screen, so I can see it every time I'm at the computer.
Another photo of my girls and me.
Richard relaxing in his purposely built "relaxing den", in our garden. Extract of No Fourth River: " In 2005, when I was 46 and Richard was 57, I was earning enough money, so I told Richard he didn’t have to work any longer. He was now officially “a kept man” and a musician."
Extract from No Fourth River: "I could see how happy Richard was with his music, and I encouraged him to start up his own band. Richard bought his dream drum kit: a limited edition Gretch. I was surprised to learn that the price for his drum kit was a deposit for a small house! It was well worth it for the joy it brought him."
Richard's music studio. Extract from No Fourth River: "We built a large music studio in the back of our garden, fully soundproofed and filled with all the equipment he needed."
Richard's music studio. Extract from No Fourth River: "We built a large music studio in the back of our garden, fully soundproofed and filled with all the equipment he needed."
This picture of Richard and me was taken during a holiday.
Extract from No Fourth River: "I achieved recognition as a bestselling author and wrote 5 books. I love writing books and helping others to achieve business success! I am now a respected Internet marketer. People appreciate my honesty as there are thousands of Internet marketers on the web who sell “get rich quick” scams, whilst I admit that hard work is needed to become a successful Internet marketer."
This picture of Richard and me was taken during a cruise.
Me speaking on stage. Extract from No Fourth River: "I sold an expensive publishing course from stage. In broad terms, I spoke about some of my past failures and my violent marriage. I convinced the audience that just like me, they can achieve things in life they never thought possible."
Another picture of me speaking on stage.
Another picture of me speaking on stage.
Richard and me.
My mum and me. Extract from No Fourth River: "I couldn’t be “me” when I looked after mum, as I couldn’t work at my usual pace; but my love for mum took over my desire for success. "
This picture was taken during an Andre Rieux concert in Holland. Extract from No Fourth River: "I took her on weekends to some of the places she loved, went to concerts with her and I booked a holiday in her favorite Belgian coastal town. I created lifetime memories and it gave me utter joy to see mum happy, as she was always smiling on our outings."
Mum and me in her last stages of dementia. Extract from No Fourth River: "Looking after mum during the last stages of her dementia is the most precious and fulfilling thing that I have ever done in my life."
In my book No Fourth River I share my deepest secrets and weaknesses as well as my victories. I want to inspire the world and share my story to help other people. I am living example that you can change your life around, no matter how bad your past has been.
A picture of the offices where my staff work from. Extract of No Fourth River: "I was not born an entrepreneur but became one with hard work. I’ve worked very hard for everything that I have. All my businesses require minimal effort from me and are either run by my staff or create income on autopilot through the power of Internet marketing."
Another picture of staff office.
Me in my office, at my house.
Richard, my rock, always makes me smile. Here he was telling me one of his silly jokes and I couldn't stop laughing.
A recent picture taken in 2018.
This board hangs in my office, filled with quotes to inspire me. It sums up the things I believe in and practice every day.