Retirement Memoirs

Welcome to the laugh-out-loud chaos of getting older—and refusing to act like it. In The Mind Said Yes… The Body Called 911, you'll meet a cast of lovable, slightly unhinged seniors who try everything their minds enthusiastically agree to... only to have their joints, muscles, and dignity cry out in betrayal. From trampoline disasters and Zumba incidents to TikTok misadventures and DIY plumbing chaos, this book is packed with hilarious real-life missteps, relatable aging wisdom, and the kind of humor that will leave you snorting into your applesauce. If you’ve ever said, “I still ...

THE MAN IN THE TENT is Tony Beardsall’s lively, informative account of his life since moving under canvas at the age of fifty-one. This volume contains parts one to four at a reduced price. Please click on the author’s name to see the description for each part.

Preparing for the first winter in his new home, ready to embrace the slower pace of early retirement, he soon discovers that it’s not working. From floods to explosions, from protection rackets to hospitalisations, from coping with the death of his hero to trying to find solace in a confusing and abstract relationship, this is a frank, funny and always heartfelt story of how not working doesn’t always work out, and it might just be Graham’s wildest ride yet.

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.

Approaching retirement and frustrated with her job, Siobhan Daniels made a BIG decision: to start living life on her own terms. Rather than hiding from life's challenges, she bought a motorhome and drove off to find them. Retirement Rebel is Siobhan's honest and uplifting story of how one woman stepped off the merry-go-round of life, slowed down and started enjoying the journey.

(THE TONKS IN SPAIN containing SETTLING IN SPAIN and PROSPERING IN SPAIN is now also on sale at a reduced price.) Doreen B. Tonks, thoroughly steeped in the rich tradition of books on the subject of living in Spain, decided to add her own contribution to this ever-growing body of first-rate literature, and here it is. Determined to emulate her peers by telling nothing but the truth, her able pen guides us adeptly through the trials, tribulations and occasional joys of a roving expatriate in her new land. Doreen, aided and thwarted in equal measure by her obdurate husband Ken, steps out of ...

THREE MORE FUN STORIES FROM SPAIN is a second anthology of three entertaining, informative tales about the lives of diverse British people in Spain. All three titles are also available separately.

When three friends get together to take an exploratory trip around northern Spain they each have their own agenda. For Diego it’s a journey of rediscovery after nine years in Lancashire, while Justin is just eager to take a break from his humdrum life. For Frank it’s a sober return to a country where he taught and caroused for fifteen years until he found himself back in Blackburn after an unexpected windfall. Frank desires to take his new hobby of film-making to the next level, while his pals hope that it won’t come to dominate their every waking hour. TAKE THREE is a light-hearted ...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to just pick up and ride your motorcycle around this big beautiful country? Hollie lives in Rochester, New York with her husband Bonz. They have been together for over 30 years. With Bonz newly retired and the kids leaving to go off on their own adventures they needed something to reconnect. Join them on their journey through 22 states, many national parks and a couple of biker rallies. Hollie requested three months off work (with no pay), and her employer was gracious enough to allow this. So that was it, June, July and August of 2017 off they ...

AMAZED BY SPAIN is a light-hearted account of two couples’ unexpected relocation to inland Alicante. Before sisters Sue and Linda inherit a village house in the hills they have little interest in Spain, but on travelling out to see their new possession they begin to warm to the idea of spending time there with their husbands Paul and Bill. After an enjoyable summer holiday the prospect of living in the village becomes irresistible and this book describes their transition from visitors to residents and the diverse selection of people they meet along the way. This amusing and informative ...

When Janet and Colin Paddison move into their dream home in the countryside inland from Valencia they hope to enjoy a tranquil retirement, especially Colin, an ex-librarian whose desire for peace and quiet has been a lifelong obsession. A boarded-up bar in a nearby hamlet has been closed for years, but when Miguelito the builder sets about restoring the place Colin begins to fear the worst. SEEKING SERENITY IN SPAIN is Janet’s humorous and somewhat fanciful account of her husband’s tireless campaign to hinder the new owners’ efforts to shatter their rural idyll. Colin begins by ...

LIVES ON THE DOLE: THREE DIVERGENT TALES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN consists of the following three stories: 1 – LIFE ON THE DOLE by FILIUS THOREAU: Filius Thoreau, arch-benefit fraudster and jaunty raconteur, celebrates the silver anniversary of his induction into the world of the workshy with his candid, but not too candid, autobiography in which he celebrates the unique and sinuous path he has steered through the minefield of work-obsessed modern Britain. From the dark days of the Poll Tax through the laissez-faire nineties to the ghastly government work schemes of the new millennium, ...

CHANGING PACE IN SPAIN is the entertaining, informative account of one Englishman’s evolution from a fit but placid retiree into a far more dynamic figure. Jim Fairfield has been living in Villajoyosa on the Alicante coast for a year, enjoying life as best he can on his modest pension. Having got to grips with the language to some degree, he begins to feel dissatisfied with his weekly round of walking, cycling and chatting to his new acquaintances and yearns for some chance event to kick-start a more fulfilling life. This occurs on one of his frequent trips to the city, where he ...

THREE FUN STORIES FROM SPAIN is a handy anthology of three amusing, informative tales about the lives of different British people in contemporary Spain. All three titles are also available separately.

LIFE LIT UP is a light-hearted and informative memoir about an unlikely alliance between two keen photographers. When recently retired widower Mike Hartley meets a young Salvadoran refugee called Carlos on the summit of a Lancashire hill, a friendship fuelled by their common love of photography is born. In this entertaining narrative we follow their progress as Carlos attempts to steer the wealthy Mike away from his obsession with gear acquisition and instil in him an appreciation of the art itself, while Mike strives to improve his young friend’s onerous day to day life. Both men meet ...

Barbara Boxer has made her mark, combining compassionate advocacy with scrappiness in a political career spanning more than three decades. Now, retiring from the Senate, she continues the work to which she's dedicated 30 years in Congress. Her memoir, The Art of Tough, shares her provocative and touching recollections of service, and cements her commitment to the fight for women, families, quality, environmental protection, all in a peaceful world.

Sewists, you deserve a good laugh. Beth is a former president of her local sewing guild and loves to sew. Rich has a lot of time on his hands after retiring early. Follow the humorous antics of these two as they adjust to his new found freedom. He wants to micromanage her days, and she just wants to sew! You’ll relate to their back and forth and chuckle at the anecdotes within. The only problem being how to put it down to get something else done, or finish work on a sewing project.

Ready to turn your travel dreams into reality? Whether you're a first-time traveler or seeking to elevate your globetrotting experiences, the #1 worldwide bestselling travel guidebook, Let's Travel the World by renowned author Nikki Page, is your ultimate companion for unforgettable adventures around the globe. Join Nikki as she handpicks captivating destinations and expertly navigates the travel planning process, catering to both rookie travelers and seasoned globetrotters. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your travel skills, you'll discover essential insights, ...

From the author of 'Barry Braithwaite's Last Life', 'Upcote and Smythe', 'Caveman' and more, a hilarious blow-by-blow account of the life of an expatriate Englishman. Ernest Postlethwaite was a man embarking on a new life. No longer for him the routine and drudgery of the commuter. The first part of Ernest Postlethwaite's groundbreaking journal charters the course of a man on a mission to achieve cultural and linguistic integration in a small village in southern Spain. This unadulterated manuscript will bring tears to the eyes of the most hard-hearted among us, as we follow his footsteps ...

THREE MEN IN SPAIN is an omnibus edition of: THREE MEN IN A VAN by Jeremy Hastings ONE MAN IN A VAN by Geoff Corless IT’S NOT ABOUT THE VAN by Harry Storrar Please see individual book descriptions and reviews for more information.