What readers are saying about this books: "I could not put this book down and despite a mountain of jobs to do I kept convincing myself ''just one more chapter''." "How brave, or was it foolhardy? Sabina and Robert set off to a country they didn''t know and a language that they didn''t speak - could this be a recipe for disaster or an amazing adventure? I gasped and laughed and almost cried at various points in their story. Do read it you won''t be disappointed and the good news is that there is more, as this is only the first year!!!" "I was transported to another place that was idyllic and yet took perseverance and determination to survive." "Sabina describes the local area and people with great passion, bringing everything to life for the reader. Adapting to a new way of life in rural Andalusia, throwing themselves into learning the ways of the village, embarking on harvesting their olive trees, delighting at the production of their own olive oil. Harvesting and learning how to preserve figs and tomatoes, there is never a dull moment. No matter the hardships encountered, they still manage to see the humorous side of life." "I loved this book and found the trials and tribulations of Sabina and Robert really interesting. It was so well written and had some really humorous parts. I felt quite sad when I finished the book and I''m looking forward to the next instalment." "What happens if you take two city dwellers, living in the UAE, and transplant them to a ruin in rural Andalucía? Answer: The Crinkle Crankle Wall. Although I live 1000km north of Sabina in a totally different part of Spain, her descriptions of rural life and the characters which populate their tiny rural town struck a strong chord. Language problems, fitting in with the neighbours and renovation nightmares all struck home and I enjoyed following a similar yet very different story of moving to Spain." from Lisa Rose Wright the author of Plum, Courgette & Green Bean Tart: A year to write home about - Seeking la vida dulce in Galicia After years of dreaming of living close to nature, free from a daily commute and noisy neighbours, Sabina and Robert decide to travel from Abu Dhabi to Spain in search of their dream home. As soon as they drive across Andalusia, they fall in love with its rugged beauty, whitewashed villages, red geraniums, giant aloes, and endless olive trees. After weeks of visiting ruins and dilapidated sheds advertised as homes, they find a little stone cottage in a mountain valley in the middle of nowhere. Equipped with everything that a romantic soul desires: a patio shaded by grape vines, an ancient bay leaf tree, and a formidable oak in front of a long driveway, they fall in love with this property and decide to reform it into a guest house. With little foresight or planning, they exchange cushy expats lives for a life in the sun. Quite quickly, however, they find themselves battling cowboy builders, no electricity, a dry well, torrential rain storms, and a freezing cold winter without a roof over their heads. Through all these adventures, they develop relations with their neighbours who had lived in the valley for many generations. Puzzled by the strangers'' behaviour, the neighbours teach them about olive picking, and the cultivation of local vegetables. But primarily, they offer their endless generosity and insight into life in rural Andalusia. As they begin to settle in, financial problems confront our somewhat naïve couple. Without steady pay checks and construction bills piling up, their idea of the good life starts to fall apart. Written with a wry sense of honest humour, this story is filled with twists and turns that take the reader on a journey from a life where every day was monotonously repetitive to a place where every day presents a new challenge.

There once was a crotchety old man who hid his money in the curve of a crinkle crankle wall, but what good is buried treasure? It only caused him more worry.Written by children's author Helen Holder and playfully illustrated by Kim Hanzo, The Crinkle Crankle Wall teaches that the best treasure is in kindness given and received.A crinkle crankle wall is a wavy brick wall that provides greater structural stability. Crinkle crankle walls have been used in many places around the world for thousands of years, but are most commonly found today in England.Suitable for ages 4 to 8 years.

Travel Writing.

Often seen combing the shoreline of the River Thames at low tide, groups of archaeology enthusiasts known as 'mudlarks' continue a tradition that dates back to the eighteenth century. Over the years they have found a vast array of historical artefacts providing glimpses into the city's past. Objects lost or discarded centuries ago – from ancient river offerings such as the Battersea Shield and Waterloo Helmet, to seventeenth-century trade tokens and even medals for bravery – have been discovered in the river. This book explores a fascinating assortment of finds from prehistoric to modern times, which collectively tell the rich and illustrious story of London and its inhabitants.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A fascinating look at how consumers perceive logos, ads, commercials, brands, and products.”—Time How much do we know about why we buy? What truly influences our decisions in today’s message-cluttered world? In Buyology, Martin Lindstrom presents the astonishing findings from his groundbreaking three-year, seven-million-dollar neuromarketing study—a cutting-edge experiment that peered inside the brains of 2,000 volunteers from all around the world as they encountered various ads, logos, commercials, brands, and products. His startling results shatter much of what we have long believed about what captures our interest—and drives us to buy. Among the questions he explores: • Does sex actually sell? • Does subliminal advertising still surround us? • Can “cool” brands trigger our mating instincts? • Can our other senses—smell, touch, and sound—be aroused when we see a product? Buyology is a fascinating and shocking journey into the mind of today's consumer that will captivate anyone who's been seduced—or turned off—by marketers' relentless attempts to win our loyalty, our money, and our minds.

Meet Chris Stewart, the eternal optimist. A man who flies to Spain, sees a peasant farm on the wrong side of the river and, with scarcely a second thought, hands over a cash deposit. And then finds he has acquired not just the farm, but the farmer, too, who has no intention of leaving. Not to mention the lack of running water, electricity or even a bridge. It would be enough to send most people straight back home. But Chris and his wife Ana are made of stronger stuff - and besides, they have sunk all their savings into their farm, El Valero, and buying a flock of sheep. So there is no turning back. Life gets tough, but it also gets good. Driving Over Lemons is that rare thing - a funny, insightful book that charms you from the first sun-lit page to the last. And one that makes running an Andalucian mountain farm seem like a half-decent career move. It has been a major bestseller both in Britain and Spain.

For Nick and Lesley Albert, swapping the hectic intensity of modern Britain for the peace of a tumble-down farmhouse in rural west Ireland was like a dream come true. But three years later, with the economy crashing and the house refurbishments unfinished, their plan for a tranquil life is falling apart. Are they in danger of replicating the very lifestyle they had hoped to escape, or can they get their lives back on track? Only time will tell.Chock-full of laughter and with a few tears too, this third instalment of their quirky life in County Clare sees these whimsical chicken farmers forge ahead with the renovations, make new friends, rescue more dogs, eat a lot of cake and dance joyfully, whilst enduring floods, droughts, fire and ice, and debating the curious problem of what to do with 300 eggs.

The kitchen garden was once a key part of every large country home, and they are now popular destinations for visitors. This is the history of the British kitchen garden and those who tended it.

From Amazon bestselling author Craig Briggs, The Journey continues with book eight in the series, AN EXCELLENT VINTAGE. Craig and his wife Melanie are working tirelessly to ensure the success of their holiday rental property. Maintaining the correct work-life balance is equally important. When marauding sheep threaten the survival of their new vineyard, taking matters into their own hands has life-threatening consequences. As if they didn't have enough to do, Craig decides to adopt another vineyard. Upscaling production requires serious investment in both time and equipment. Even the best-laid plans don't always run smoothly and when things go awry, thinking outside the box has mixed results. Family loss leads to a solemn vow but some promises are meant to be broken. Enter Slawit, an unusual name for a curious companion. Will this new addition to the family be their greatest challenge yet? From the Moscow ballet to Malaga flamenco, the rural north to the coastal south, Craig and Melanie's journey is nothing if not varied. Craig's flowing writing style sweeps the reader along from one situation to the next and his detailed descriptions allow them to share in the adventures.