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Like many of us Craig Briggs dreamt of living a different life, free from the stresses and strains of modern living. But unlike most of us, he decided to pursue his dream.
In May 2002 Craig, his wife Melanie and their dog Jazz, left their hometown of Huddersfield in England's industrial north and set off for Galicia, a remote and little known region in the northwest corner of Spain. So began their JOURNEY TO A DREAM. With help from the locals, they quickly settle in to their new relaxed lifestyle but the search for a new home soon changes that. They encounter a freelance estate agent of dubious character and after several failed attempts to buy a house are forced to reassess their goals. Worse follows: a brush with the law, a builder who refuses to work, a swimming pool that floats, and the mysterious disappearance of their life savings. The spectre of a penniless return to England with their dream in tatters hovers over them. Join Craig, Melanie and Jazz along a colourful, bumpy, and sometimes dangerous journey and immerse your senses in the sights, sounds, and tastes along the way. |
Craig Briggs’s bestselling JOURNEY TO A DREAM told the true-life story of his dream move to Spain 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 as they finally move in to their new home – El Sueño. Transforming their barren plot into a garden oasis tests both his resolve and physique, and 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. |
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. |
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. |
