Product Description

It was a moment of mad impulse when John Humphrys decided to buy a semi-derelict cottage and a building site on a plot of land overlooking the Aegean. A few minutes’ gazing out over the most glorious bay he had ever seen was all it took to persuade him. After all, his son Christopher – a professional musician fluent in Greek – was already raising his family there so he would help build the beautiful villa that John dreamed of. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything. John was to spend much of the next four years regretting his moment of madness.

Some of it had its comic side. He learned to cope with the escaped peacock that took over his lemon grove and even a colony of rats that took over the cottage. Some of the humans proved trickier: the old man demanding payment for olive trees in the middle of John’s own land; the unfriendly neighbour who tried to barricade him in and the friendly neighbour who dragged his lovely old fishing boat onto the beach and set fire to it after a row with his wife. And, of course, the builders. If you have ever struggled with builders, read this and be grateful.

John learned a lot about Greece in a short time. He grew to love and lament the country and its people, but was never for a moment bored by them. And Christopher learned a bit more about John. Their shared experience revived keen memories for him of growing up with a father for whom patience was never the strongest virtue...

Here father and son tell a story by turns hilarious and revealing about a country that intrigues and infuriates in equal measure.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2522 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-10
• Released on: 2009-09-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Review
'hilarious' (Daily Mail )

‘a very funny tome’ (Daily Telegraph )

'a profoundly instructive course in the idiosyncrasies of Greek law, custom and culture...Entertainingly chronicled' (Saga )

‘carried along with wit and style’ (Irish Times )

‘Entertaining’ (The Lady )

'A tale of how sunshine, rough wine and a deep love between a father and son conquers Greek beaurocracy to build a dream house. Funny, touching and one of the most enjoyable reads of the year.' (Country Life )

About the Author
John Humphrys has reported from all over the world for the BBC and presented its frontline news programmes on both radio and television, in a broadcasting career spanning forty years. He has won a string of national awards and been described as a 'national treasure'. He owned a dairy farm for ten years and has homes in Greece and London.

Christopher Humphrys is John Humphrys' eldest son. He has lived in Greece for the past sixteen years and is a cellist with the hugely popular Camerata Orchestra based in Athens.

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Customer Reviews

Lighthearted and funny
I'm afraid that I totally disagree with the previous reviewer. The book made me laugh out loud several times. Yes many people have done a book on a similar theme before but this one is particularly well written and funny, particularly the contrast between uptight John Humphrys and his laid back son. Being middle class and buying a property abroad is not a crime, and I strongly recommend this book.

What a great read!
This is one of those books you just don't want to put down. I loved the contrast between the famously grumpy old man that is John Humphrys and his evidently chilled out son Christopher. It's so much more than just the story of building a house in Greece - although that in itself proves hilarious. Christopher offers an insight into Greece and its traditions that can only come from someone who has clearly immersed himself fully in the culture. This isn't just another 'celebrity' telling a story, it's an entertaining take on life in a country I knew little about (there's some really interesting historical stuff too). It takes a lot for me to chuckle while reading a book, but the peacock chapter had me literally laughing out loud. Whether or not you're a fan of Mr Humphrys, this is a top book - I'll be buying it for my friends this Christmas!

Best book this year!
I absolutely loved this book. We all know that John Humphrys can tell a good story -his journalistic career speaks for itself - but the hidden gem in this book is his son Christopher. The banter between father and son is very funny and adds another whole layer to this book. Christopher tells great stories about his many years spent living in Greece (I loved the saga surrounding his marriage to his Greek wife)and does so with real flair and wit. I'd be very happy to go out and down a few ouzo's with this guy - he has clearly lived life to the full while in Greece! Perhaps this pair would like to tackle another building project so that we can do some more laughing from the comfort of our sofas.. Great stuff!!