As a child, I suffered very badly from asthma, and consequently, I missed a lot of schooling. When I left school at 15 I had no qualifications and could hardly read or write. I had a lot of catching up to do. I was married at the age of 19 and in partnership with my wife Heather, we started the family business. After retiring, I now live in a small Andalusian villageI in the south of Spain. It was here where I began my writing career. At first it was just contributing to local magazines and newspapers, then I wrote my first book, Fiestas and Siestas Miles Apart.
By Alan Cuthbertson
Having spent over 20 years growing the family business I felt like a change. After watching a TV show about moving abroad, I stood, and announced to the rest of my family, "Let's do it!" After a little persuasion, I had my wife, Heather, and my 2 daughters, Stacey and Ashlie, on board. Within 12 months we had sold the family business, the house, along with most of our possessions, loaded the car and set off….to who knows where?
The next 18 months was a steep learning curve and a combination of highs and lows, but do you know what, I wouldn't take a second of it back. Fiestas and Siestas Miles Apart, is a humerous look at our journey and the characters we encountered along the way. It also serves as a great book about what to do, and what not to do when emigrating to Spain.
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By Gerald Brenan
Even though this book was written in the 1920s, any visitor to inland Spain today will feel like they have been transported into its pages. The situations he finds himself in, mixed with the characters and traditions he has to deal with, make you feel like his book could have been written yesterday.
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By Tom Provan
I bought this book when we first decided to move. It's jam-packed with advice and tips for anybody thinking of moving to Spain. From the kind of property available, to the cost of living, right down to the small details like, the postal service and internet availability. This book is great for those traveling through Spain looking for somewhere to put down their roots.
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By Chris Stewart
I've never met an expat that hasn't read this book. Chris Stewart has a unique style of explaining situations and places that bring alive the imagination. The humour he uses keeps the book entertaining, and to be honest, it was after reading this book that encouraged me to convert my emails back home into a book of a similar style. Thanks Chris.
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By Anthony Ham, Stuart Butler, Anna Kaminski, John Noble, Miles Roddis, Brendan Sainsbury, Regis St Louis, Andy Symington
This book is the equivalent of Google for Spain. Any expat, holidaymaker, or even if you're just passing through, you need this book. No matter where you are, or going to in Spain, this book will have everything you need to know, from opening times, fiesta dates, accommodation, even directions.
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By George Orwell
If you are going to live in Spain then you need to know the background of the Spanish civil war. This is a sensitive subject, especially amongst inland villages where opinions are still divided over 80 years later. Orwell was originally a correspondent sent to report on the war, but it wasn't long before he joined the fighting against the fascists.
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