Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck into a slice of Andalucían Life [Paperback]

Victoria Twead (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2009

Perhaps if Joe and Vicky had known what relocating to a tiny village, tucked in the Alpujarra mountains, would really be like, they might have hesitated... 

They have no idea of the culture shock in store. No idea they will become reluctant chicken farmers and own the most dangerous cockerel in Spain. No idea they will be befriended by an 85 year old spliff-smoking sex-kitten, help capture a vulture or be rescued by a mule. Life is never dull as they embark on their Five Year Plan. 

At the end of five years they must decide. Will they stay, or return to the relative sanity of England? 

Vicky and Joe's story is packed with irreverent humour, animals, eccentric characters and sunshine. 

'Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools' was awarded the HarperCollins Authonomy 'Gold Star'.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A charming, and often funny, expat tale. Looking at the picturesque village scene before her, Twead wishes she was a "talented artist and could capture that moment in time on canvas for ever." Happily for her, she does.

--Telegraph

'Victoria Twead is a natural storyteller with a knack for charm and wit.'
--Robin Bayley, author of 'The Mango Orchard'

'laugh-out-loud funny...especially the Spanish women heckling over eggs from "The English"...hilarious...engaging...the interspersion of recipes is charming' 
--HarperCollins

Weeks later, after finishing the book, you will be standing at your kitchen window doing the dishes and then recall some fleeting scene with chickens or mules or two old fools and laugh out loud all over again.
--The Catalunya Chronicle

From the Author

Moving to Spain was undeniably a culture shock, but such an adventure... Who would have thought Joe and I would keep chickens and sell eggs to the village ladies? Every new day produced events either hilarious or heart-warming. Food suddenly tasted better, human behaviour was more fascinating, animals funnier, local events more interesting. It was like seeing in colour for the first time, and the book began bubbling in my head.

As I wrote, the book made me both laugh and cry. I love Spain, I love the Spanish people and I love Spanish food. I hope all this shines through in my writing, and if I have one wish, it's that the reader enjoys reading 'Chickens' as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: New Generation Publishing (October 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906558353
• ISBN-13: 978-1906558352
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Victoria Twead nagged her long-suffering partner, Joe, into moving from England to Spain in 2004. They settled into a tiny mountain village in Andalucía, became reluctant chicken farmers and ended up owning probably the most dangerous cockerel in Spain. Victoria's hilarious record of their culture shock and life with the villagers is told in her new book, Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools, awarded the HarperCollins Authonomy Gold Star.

Victoria explains how 'Chickens' was hatched:

"I'm famous for my lists and records. I can't help myself; I think I inherited the record-keeping gene from my father. Every day I make a note of the weather, the temperature, the first snowdrop, the day the ants fly, the exchange rate of the euro, everything. I make packing lists, holiday lists, 'To Do' lists and 'Joe, Will You Please' lists. I even make lists of lists. My nickname at work was Schindler.

Also, I have terrible difficulty throwing anything away. I find my heart racing and my fingers clamp possessively on the object in question. After all, a rusty hostess trolley, or broken watch, or a 1996 calendar, or whatever, may come in useful some day... So I rarely delete old emails and have diaries dating back years.

Both these dubious character traits of mine, for a pleasant change, proved really useful and helped 'Chickens' to hatch.

Moving to Spain was undeniably a culture shock. Every new day produced events either hilarious or heart-warming. Food suddenly tasted better, human behaviour was more fascinating, local events more interesting. It was like seeing in colour for the first time, and the book began bubbling in my head.

Of course, Joe often lost patience with me, and rightly so. 'Stop dreaming, and concentrate! Hold that ladder steady or I'm going to break a leg in a minute!' But the book was relentless. As soon as I could, I unearthed all my records, notes, old emails to friends, and began to write.

It's funny where life takes you... When I was a little girl and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered, 'A zoo-keeper.' No, I never realised that ambition, but life in Spain has not been that far removed. Okay, I agree, chickens, mules and all the other animals (including humans) I wrote about may not be very exotic. But their behaviour was just as riveting as that of any grizzly bear or meerkat.

As I wrote, the book made me laugh and cry. When, reluctantly, I showed it to other people, I was astonished to see them react the same way. One may easily imagine my delight when 'Chickens' was awarded the HarperCollins Authonomy 'Gold Star', and is still today the only non-fiction book to claim that distinction.

I love Spain. I love the Spanish people. I love Spanish food. I hope all this shines through in my writing, even when I'm describing some of the less savoury things that happened to us."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of surprises and quirky mishaps, November 5, 2009

By 

EO - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck into a slice of Andalucían Life (Paperback)

If you're looking to experience sunny Spain, and maybe even life in a tiny village tucked in the Alpujarra Mountains, and without leaving home, then CHICKENS, MULES AND TWO OLD FOOLS is the book for you.

Approaching retirement, Vicky and her husband, Joe, one day decide to pack up their bags and leave their comfortable Sussex, England home and settle in the village El Hoya, Spain. It is not long before they come to learn village life is full of surprises and quirky mishaps, and with hilarious culture clashes at every turn. When Vicky and Joe unintentionally find themselves chicken farmers, Vicky says:

"Oh, Please! Our Spanish neighbours already thought we were insane, sitting on the yellow sofa gazing at our flock, letting them hop onto our laps, talking to them."

Whether saved by a mule or sitting at a party table in the middle of the road celebrating a neighbour's birthday (and blocking traffic), CHICKENS ... not only paints a warm, humorous and colourful picture of rural Spain, but also tells of how two zany Brits came to fit right in. Light-hearted and full of sunshine. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Laughed Aloud!, November 4, 2009

By 

Ella Bell (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck into a slice of Andalucían Life (Paperback)

This book is a breath of fresh air! If you have a sense of humor, and wonder what life in a tiny mountain village in Spain might be like, then this book is for you. What I particularly liked were the larger than life characters and the animals, all of which had me laughing aloud. It was nice to see the photographs of the people and places and I will certainly try the Spanish recipes sprinkled throughout the book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best humor in a long time!, October 20, 2009

By 

Carrie L. Compton (Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck into a slice of Andalucían Life (Paperback)

I have been thrilled to have found the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends. This book is one I will be gifting to all for a long time to come. The risk of moving to another country and starting up a new life is admirable. But to keep your sense of humor in spite of all that confronts you is very brave. You won't be able to put this book down.