JSFBoat, there are several different providers for the JAA books. Low end of the cost spectrum is CATS for I think £999 for only the computer version of the books (they charge more if you want paper manuals too).

Bristol is £2140.

You can start studying whenever you want and take as long or as little as you need. You can also buy used books for cheaper on the Internet but they don't do you much good when you are finished studying because you actually have to sign up for a course with a training provider (unless you have an ATP with a type rating on it)

Another issue is that there is a new syllabus so old books will probably be under the old syllabus.

Two other training providers that I can recommend checking out are pad pilot and Oxford Aviation. BCFT might be a possibility too (I did my CPL conversion with them and they had some distance learning students).

I went with Bristol and you can't go wrong with them. Plus it is easier to get to Bristol (compared to Bournemouth) and there are no nightclubs in Cheddar village (where Bristol Groundschool's brushup courses are held), just a couple of pubs so less distractions. Bournemouth is kind of a party town.

Good luck in Belgium!

PS. Distance learning is all self study. You need to finish all the required quizzes and reading material before going to the brushup classes. In-residence learning wouldn't require self study before the first day of class.