|
Sell up, move abroad, and live the good life. How difficult could it be?
Craig Briggs dreamt of a new life, free from the stresses and strains of modern living. Unlike most of us, he decided to follow his dream. In May 2002, Craig, his wife Melanie and their dog Jazz packed all their worldly belongings into their ageing executive saloon and headed off to Spain. Not for them the tourist-packed Costas of the Mediterranean or the whitewashed villages of Andalucia. They chose Galicia, an unspoilt paradise in the northwest corner of Spain. With help from the locals, they quickly settle in to their laidback lifestyle. Long, lazy lunches fill their days and lively village fiestas keep them up until the early hours. It’s only when they start searching for a new home that the problems begin. They encounter a freelance estate agent of dubious character and risk life and limb tiptoeing through dirty, derelict, and dangerous buildings. Worse follows: a brush with the law, a builder who downs tools, a floating swimming pool, and the mysterious disappearance of their life savings. Join Craig, Melanie and Jazz along a colourful, bumpy and sometimes perilous journey and immerse your senses in the sights, sounds, and tastes of a Spanish adventure. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
When the dream becomes a reality, the results are beyond imagination
Craig Briggs’s bestselling travel memoir Journey To A Dream told the true-life story of his move abroad with wife Melanie and their dog Jazz. Not for them the tourist-packed Costas of the Mediterranean or the hills of Andalucia; they chose Galicia, an unspoilt paradise in the northwest corner of Spain. In Beyond Imagination Craig and Melanie begin to realise their dream and finally take procession of their new house. When it comes to choosing a name for their new home one phrase stands about above the rest El Sueño (The Dream). Transforming a sunbaked barren plot into a garden oasis tests his resolve and physique. An eye for a bargain sends them on a quest to secure a national treasure. As the adventures unfold new challenges appear. Village neighbours are quick to introduce themselves and eager to assist when a communications oversight jeopardises their future, but even they are powerless to help when planning officialdom threatens to shatter their dream. Stroll hand in hand with Craig and Melanie as they settle in to their new surroundings, and journey with them as they embark on a life Beyond Imagination. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
How far would you go for the one you love?
Life in the Spanish region of Galicia just keeps getting better for Craig Briggs, his wife Melanie and their faithful hound, Jazz. This is the third book in ‘The Journey’ series which began with Craig’s bestselling travel memoir JOURNEY TO A DREAM. In ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Craig’s attempts at winemaking produce mixed results but fail to dampen his enthusiasm. Life in the Galician countryside is rarely uneventful and when Melanie is rushed to A&E it’s Craig who has to pick himself up off the floor. Having successfully bought, renovated, and sold a property they decide to seek out a new project. After months of searching they eventually find their prize, a romantically appealing farmhouse in a ruinous condition. When the slow turning wheels of Spanish bureaucracy threaten to scupper their plans they’re forced to hold their nerve. More adventures follow. A birthday surprise ends with Melanie in tears and a festive break to Lanzarote puts Jazz in a spin. Tasked with preparing their friends’ house for holiday letting, Craig and Melanie find themselves in a race against time. Broken bones and blocked drains conspire to defeat their efforts. With confirmed reservations just weeks away, they have little choice but to soldier on. Craig’s easy reading style, keen sense of humour, and attention to detail transport the reader on a journey of ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Could you leave your keys under the doormat and let strangers commandeer your home?
Craig Briggs and his wife Melanie moved to Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain in May 2002. His bestselling memoir JOURNEY TO A DREAM tells the story of their challenging first year. Since then their lives have changed beyond imagination. OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD is the fourth book in The Journey series. In OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD Craig and Melanie finally take possession of a romantic ruined farmhouse in the sleepy village of Vilatán but all is not as it seems. Hidden behind the picturesque facades of quaint village houses lies a family feud of biblical proportions. When sibling rivalry threatens to delay their renovation project, the local community rallies to their aid. The shortcomings of buying a property without public utilities soon surface. Mystical powers and divine intervention locate a likely water source but connecting to the national electricity grid proves far more difficult. Progress is slow, hindered in part by the leisurely pace of Spanish bureaucracy. When patience fails, they take matters into their own hands. Life in Galicia is never dull. Craig and Melanie’s thirst for knowledge takes them into the shady world of moonshine production where a chance encounter with a man of science saves them from getting blind drunk. Craig’s eye for an opportunity produces mixed results, from death defying accidents to intercontinental travel. More than ever, Craig and Melanie are learning from the past, living in the present, and looking forward to the OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Sell up, move abroad, and live the good life. How difficult could it be?
When Craig Briggs and his wife Melanie followed their dream of a life in the sun, things didn’t go exactly to plan. Craig’s bestselling memoir Journey To A Dream began this life-changing story. The fifth book in The Journey series, Driving Ambition, chronicles their ever-evolving lives. In Driving Ambition Craig and Melanie get to grips with their latest property restoration project. Keeping costs down comes at a price. Suppliers and subcontractors test their patience and beasts in the bodegas keep them on their toes. With the help of their builder Manolo, they transform a romantic ruin into luxury accommodation for the discerning traveller. But there’s more to life than work. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance takes precedence. Their quest for the Holy Grail is a great success and leads to an amazing discovery. Wacky ideas keep life interesting. Who said you need to work in an office to hold an office Christmas party? Craig’s driving ambitions have mixed results but the trip of a lifetime takes them far from their rural home in Galicia and all the way to Wollongong in Australia via Shanghai in China. A forty-nine-day tour to six countries on three continents, flying 27,000 miles and driving over 13,000 kilometres. Once again, Craig’s attention to detail and flowing writing style will keep you turning the pages. |
