Holiday Memoir

IDLE RICH is the entertaining account of one man’s attempt to turn over a new leaf in Spain. When lifelong underachiever Richie Bannister is offered free board and lodgings in a seaside resort on the south-western coast of Andalucia, he jumps at the chance to escape from the dull Lancashire town where he’s been stuck for the last forty-odd years. His host Peter, a retired photographer, turns out not to be the doddery old fellow he’s expecting to meet, but a man on a mission into which Richie finds himself inadvertently drawn. After his so-far aimless life, this new commitment proves ...

BILL AND BEN, TRAVELLING MEN is the light-hearted account of a summer-long campervan tour of Scotland. When lively young butcher Ben Butler decides to pack in his job and hit the road, his sombre pal Bill takes early retirement in order to join him. During the action-packed journey north in Bertha the Boxer they recruit the young runaway Dylan, who adds a mercantile twist to their travels. Further north they befriend Alistair – an elderly gent revisiting old haunts with his tiny wooden caravan in tow – and continue their escapade, including a curious run-in with the law. As the four of ...

Are you a devoted follower of true crime? Are you familiar with the intricate details of notorious crimes and criminals? Have you grown weary of hearing the same familiar stories? Do you seek out chilling and unusual facts that are not part of everyday life? Then you’ll want to dive into Beyond Wicked True Crime Stories: Heinous Holidays! In a season often filled with joy and celebration, a darker truth lurks beneath the surface.

Three Books in One 'Behind the Scenes – Life Before Lake Como Happened' A Captivating Memoir of an Artist as a Young Man“An artist to the stars: An insightful and entertaining read about stuff you won’t have heard about but you’ll be glad you have.” “A memoir with a difference.” “What I liked most about this memoir was it’s for real.” I compiled this memoir to let anyone know what it was like ‘Behind the Scenes’ when I was a beat-club painter in Liverpool during the Beatle era. A scene painter and stage set designer in theatre, films and for BBC TV. A trompe l’oeil...

SETTLING DOWN is the fourth and final instalment of THE RELUCTANT EXPAT, Alan Laycock’s light-hearted account of his life in Spain. ***The first part of Alan's sequel, THE CONTENTED EXPAT, is now available.***

You'll never again think of Santa Claus in quite the same way. Here is a touching rendition of the historical origins of our modern-day Santa by an in-demand speaker reacquaints us with the true meaning of Christmas.

Here at Audible, we know just how much of an impact a voice can have on a story - taking simple words and filling them with elation, wonderment, tragedy, or pure satisfaction. We rely on our narrators every day to bring our favorite stories and characters to life - to introduce us to new authors and genres, or even to a new (perhaps longer) commute. And though our narrators are the best story tellers in the business, it's usually someone else's that they're telling.

From the wind-swept, snowy ranges of Wyoming to Florida beaches glowing with Christmas lights, All American Christmas traces holiday traditions across the United States. Rachel Campos-Duffy and Sean Duffy present a dazzling collection of emotional stories and homegrown Christmas recipes from some of Fox News’ most beloved personalities.

NORTHWARD BOUND is the entertaining and enlightening account of one English couple’s relocation from the overdeveloped south of Spain to the lush green hills of Asturias. In PART TWO of Alison’s story the valiant couple go on living with Remedios while their new house is being refurbished by a singular builder and his motley crew. Hoping to move in by the end of the year, a stirring series of events – one of them a huge surprise – means that the process goes less smoothly than they’d anticipated.

"Author, Gary cements growing reputation...A collection of short stories that give a humorous account of life in a new country." (Salina Patel, The Hounslow Chronicle) "I liked the fact that some of the short stories in this collection were connected and followed on from each other, but at the same time they are stand alone. Great for people like me who are slow readers, I can read a whole story on the train to work and not have to wait all day for the ending." (Carol Wiggins) "I really enjoyed reading these short stories, they are easy to read. I would have liked it if there were more ...

For more than 30 years as a roving reporter, AP special correspondent (and legendary storyteller) Hugh Mulligan wrote witty, quirky, and sometimes poignant Christmas columns from many distant datelines. Whether he was writing from London or Austria, Israel or Vietnam, or the snows of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, Mulligan managed to capture the essence of the holiday spirit for all to enjoy.

CAVEMAN: A QUEST FOR FREEDOM IN SPAIN is a humorous, thought-provoking new novel by the author of SPANISH JOURNALS: THE POSTHUMOUS DIARY OF AN EXPAT. Tom Worsley, retired postman of forty-three, is fed up of life in his Lancashire town and decides to head off to live in a cave in southern Spain. There he plans to get back to basics and lead a life of simplicity, cultivate his mind, and improve his Spanish. None of his new friends in the nearby village can dissuade him from pursuing his singular goal, but after his cave is discovered by outsiders, his life becomes a good deal more complicated.

FINDING MY FEET is the second instalment of THE RELUCTANT EXPAT, Alan Laycock’s light-hearted account of his life in Spain. Part Three of Alan’s story is now also available.

What happened when a young man ditched the office and headed to the outback of Australia for the adventure of a lifetime? In 2002, a young Englishman left London behind to try something new on a working holiday. One year; 2,000 sheep: 4,000 km travelled. Horses and quad bikes; two light aircraft; one Ford station wagon. He uncovered real life far from the hustle and bustle of the beaches and coffee shops of the East coast. There were "Skimpies", surly farmers, tough miners, vets and call-girls. How did he go learning to fly, and getting behind the wheel of a ten-tonne truck? A must-read for...

In A CASTILIAN ADVENTURE former teacher Jane Holden relates the story of her move to northern Spain. At fifty-seven she feels that life may be passing her by, so she decides to put her Spanish studies into practice and sets off on an open-ended trip in order to immerse herself in another culture. Starting in Madrid and intending to tour Castile and León, she soon decides to go with the flow and allow new friendships to influence her eventual destination. This amusing and informative account is a must-read for all those interested in the possibilities Spain offers away from the crowded coast.

Solar-Powered Dreams is the second part of The Contented Expat, Alan Laycock’s sequel to his successful series, The Reluctant Expat. Back home again, Alan begins a new career which he hopes will make his fortune, and the search for a new home begins in earnest.

A CURIOUS AFFAIR is the funny, heart-warming account of an unlikely liaison between a restless Englishwoman and an enigmatic Andalusian man. Thoroughly fed up of commuting to her high-flying job in London, 44-year-old Claire Hadland decides to ditch both her unfaithful husband and her marketing career and spend some time abroad. On her arrival in Guardo, a small northern town, she sets about brushing up her Spanish and making friends, but during a visit to a tiny mountain hamlet she meets Daniel, a rather peculiar man from the south who has as little reason to be in rural Palencia as ...

When a young British couple, Karen and Nick first took a holiday in the Algarve in Portugal, little did they know that 35 years on they would find themselves permanent residents and much-loved members of the local community, well-known for rescuing and housing stray animals, working alongside the local vet and even helping the local fire brigade! This eagerly awaited sequel to Karen’s acclaimed and hugely popular first book “Another Day in Paradise” continues the story of life in the Algarve, its miracles and challenges as Karen lives with the aftermath of a spinal operation, gets ...

Now with an extra chapter, the beginning of the sequel Our Little Piece of Paradise. A warm-hearted, autobiographical story about the location and lifestyle in a small village in the Algarve, as seen through the eyes of Karen, and her husband Nick, who made the move seeking a quieter, more serene way of life. What lurks in the shadows of paradise, however, is a life-changing illness she has struggled with in the past and now comes to the fore. They have made Portugal their home. Will they be able to navigate the health system and succeed in getting her the urgent operation needed, to ...

Written and read by best-selling Australian author and much-loved actor William McInnes, this is a story about our love affair with holidays. It's about going away and staying at home. It's about the relaxing times you had as a kid, escapes you have with your children and the stories you hear from your friends. It can be about a romantic sunset, the spare seat at breakfast being taken by an attractive stranger, a miraculous airline upgrade....