Nick Albert's Blog, page 3

Laura's Interests Book Review

I'm delighted with this review from avid reader and blogger Laura. Thank you!

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds

Nick and Lesley Albert yearn to leave the noise, stress and pollution of modern Britain and move to the countryside, where the living is good, the air sweet, with space for their dogs to run free. Suddenly out of work and soon to be homeless, they set off in search of a new life in Ireland, a country they had never visited. As their adventure began to unfold, not everything went according to plan. If finding their dream house was difficult, buying it seemed almost impossible. How would they cope with banks that didn’t want customers, builders who didn’t need work, or the complex issue of where to buy some chickens?

Purchase Links –UK USAKindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NY9BNN/ Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605 Audible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1977611605

It is not uncommon in these times for someone to be made redundant, or downsized, at any age.
I had to smile when Nick found himself without "gainful employment" in his mid-forties and considered himself too old for many employers to consider taking a risk on. I have various friends and relatives facing this same difficulty far into later decades of experience. So I waned to feel like I had some empathy, yet I consider him too young to have such worries.
Among my friends and acquaintances, I have always been the person who can see such potential for run down properties. After reading about this book I knew I would enjoy it. However, I think Nick and Lesley would give me a run for my money in seeing that potential. They seemed to find the bright lining in any situation.
For those who spend hours watching the home improvement or property search channels, this is the first book in a series you can live vicariously through from the safety of your own couch.  As Nick and Lesley must decide how to handle unemployment, empty nesting, and learning local customs, from reading maps, driving customs, and even parking challenges, to the pitfalls of real estate agents or auctioneers, and red tape regulations, changing regulations, changing prices and conditions, and, yes, changing and challenging dreams, you will find yourself asking again and again, What would I do in this situation?
With dark humour, in and after the events, Nick and family, carry on and make this an adventure not to miss.





Author Bio – Nick Albert was born in England and raised in a Royal Air Force family. After leaving College he worked in retail management for several years before moving into financial services where he quickly progressed through the ranks to become a training consultant. As a very passionate and reasonably talented sportsman, Nick had always wanted to use his training skills towards creating a parallel career, so in the mid 1980's he qualified and began coaching sport professionally. After a health scare in 2003 and in search of a simpler life, he and his wife Lesley, cashed in their investments, sold their home and bought a rundown farmhouse in the rural west of Ireland - a country they had never before even visited. With little money or experience and armed only with a do-it-yourself manual, they set about renovating their new home, where they now live happily alongside a flock of chickens, two ducks and several unruly, but delightful dogs.
In 2017 Nick was signed to Ant Press to write a series of humorous memoirs about his life in rural Ireland. Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds (book one) was published in September 2017 and soon became an Amazon bestseller. Book two in the series was published on 1st June 2018 and book 3 in August 2019. Book four is due out in early 2020.Nick is also the author of the twisty thriller, Wrecking Crew, the first in a series of books featuring reluctant hero Eric Stone.
Social Media Links:https://dogsmomvisits.blogspot.com/20...

My review of The Bank of Goodliness - David Luddington

The Bank of Goodliness
A recalcitrant vicar gets sacked for housing the homeless and then mysteriously gets a job offer to become the CEO of Britain’s most disreputable bank – what could possibly go wrong?In ‘The Bank of Goodliness’ comic genius David Luddington delivers another sure-fire bestseller. As always, his research is immaculate, I can only imagine the fun he had fact-finding banks, bibles and beer all at the same time. David has always had an impressive ability to turn complicated subjects into amusing narrative, but this time he has excelled himself with an analogy of the banking crisis in a plate of stinky cheese. It’s masterful stuff.If you you’re looking for a fun read where the dark suits get what’s coming and the good guy gets the girl, give ‘The Bank of Goodliness’ a try. I highly recommend it.
The Bank of Goodliness

My book review for 'Call Sign, White Lily'.

WORLD'S FIRST FEMALE FIGHTER-PILOT SHATTERS THE GLASS CEILING TO BECOME HITLER'S WORST NIGHTMARE.

This is a fascinating story of wartime bravery - incredulous yet true. A well written account recounting the tragic life of the 17-year-old Russian schoolgirl Lilia Litvyak who learned to fly, became an instructor and went on to be the world's first female fighter pilot. Despite being a beautiful and diminutive woman in a mans war, she went on to lead her squadron into battle, bravely defending her homeland at Stalingrad and beyond. Hated by Hitler, Lilia became the poster-girl for Russian resistance against the invaders, flying 268 missions and achieving a personal tally of 15 confirmed 'kills'.
This forgotten story is a must read for anyone who thinks Britain and America won the war alone.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KPSFGAK

My book review of 'The Furthest Points' by Andy Hewitt

Although I'm an author by trade, I read every day. Here's my 5* review for 'The Furthest Points' by Andy Hewitt.As a non-biker, this type of travel log wouldn't normally be my thing - but I thought I'd give it a try anyway and I must honestly say I found 'The Furthest Points' to be an enjoyable read. I've only visited Spain and Portugal on business or for a short holidays, so I wasn't expecting to find so much of interest in the narrative, but Andy's passion for the history and culture has a way of drawing the reader into the story. His love for biking and his wife Kim is infectious, although it's unclear which comes first - I think it was Kim, but only because she wins points for being a biker too! Although the storyline sometimes flaps around like washing on a windy day, changing tack to visit fascinating historic tales and witty anecdotes, these diversions only serve to enhance the readability of this captivating tale, providing something interesting for everyone. And of course there is plenty to keep the bikers turning the pages with glee, including a 42-step guide to how to mount and start a bike.
Andy Hewitt is a talented writer and 'Furthest Points' is a good read, well worth a look.https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S63LRBJ

My book review of 'Touch Wood'.

Here's my review of 'Touch Wood' by Duncan Hamilton. I gave it the full 5*.A rip-roaring tale of motor racing from back when men were men, driving on the edge at crazy speeds, and being killed was almost inevitable.
Living in Ireland, I was shocked I had never heard of Duncan Hamilton - he was Irish and a phenomenally successful racing driver with many wins, including the Le Mans 24-Hours race. 'Touch Wood' is a fascinating memoir filled with incredible scrapes and fantastic tales of daring-do, some so outrageous as to be almost unbelievable. But it's all true.
The races, close shaves and tragedies are told in such a casual conversational manner as to be both exhilarating and shocking at the same time. This book really brings home how brave - and perhaps foolhardy - racers were back before seat belts, fire suits, crash helmets and car safety cells were commonplace for race cars travelling at 200 mph.
'Touch Wood' is a great read, even if you are not a motor racing fan.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KEW8I76

My review for Fat Dogs and French Estates book four.

My wife got her hands on 'Fat Dogs and French Estates #4' as soon as it arrived at our house, so it slipped down my reading list for a short while - something I have remedied in the last month. Here's my review. I gave it a well deserved five stars.
I have enjoyed reading this series sharing Beth and Jack's new life in rural France and was understandably excited to dive into the latest installment - I certainly wasn't disappointed.
Beth Haslam is a master story-teller, turning the apparently mundane tasks of everyday live into a gripping and enjoyable tale. Book four also brings tears and personal tragedy, a shocking insight into the horrific storm which ravaged France and a wry look at the frustrations of dealing with French bureaucracy.
More than anything, this fourth episode of this excellent memoir series reflects Beth and Jack's love for their dog Sam, the wildlife, countryside and people of France, and their wonderful home.
Fat Dogs and French Estates book four is a cracker. I look forward to reading number five.
Fat Dogs and French Estates number four

Interview with Christina Hamlett

Can complacency with one’s comfort zone and the status quo cause us to miss out on potential adventures that are literally far from “home?” “Yes, I believe so,” says multi-published author Nick Albert. “Certainly it’s easy to get so stuck in the rut of modern life as to miss the opportunity to explore, but it’s important to realise adventure is largely a matter of perspective. Many people would consider taking a flying lesson as a great adventure but, for the instructor, it’s just another day at work.” Nick’s own perspective change helped him as a writer to recognise the adventure that is all around.  “Some people may call it Mindfulness. For me, it’s just a way of looking for the positive story hidden in everyday events. Viewed from the right perspective, life is one big adventure.”Interviewer: Christina Hamlett**********Q: Many an aspiring author has decided to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) following a life-changing experience which caused him/her to rethink perspectives and priorities. Was this the case for you?A: I suppose the short answer is yes. However, things are seldom that simple. In retrospect I can recognise the succession of events which contributed to our overall feeling of discontentment with our lifestyle in England. Sometimes we get so focused on the task at hand, making a living, paying the bills and trying to save a little money that we completely forsake the pleasure of living. We were so busy playing the game, we forgot to stop and smell the flowers. Like water pressure building behind a dam, events were conspiring, each causing little cracks to widen until the dam crumbled.Although our life was outwardly wonderful – I had a great job, a lovely home, a desirable car and so on – my wife and I couldn’t get away from the feeling it was all just window dressing, a meaningless sham. Then, within a few short months, I experienced several upsetting events. My father passed away, a close friend was killed in a car crash, another friend was diagnosed with brain cancer and several thousand of my workmates were made redundant. When I had my own health scare, I found my perspective had changed irrevocably. That change in perspective jump-started a sequence of decisions culminating in my wife and I beginning a new life here in rural Ireland.Did I decide to put pen to paper because of what happened? No. I’ve always been a writer. My first book, “The Adventures of Sticky, The Stick Insect,” was completed when I was eight. Just five pages long and sprinkled with spelling errors, it was not a big hit with the critics. Undaunted, over the next 35 years I continued to write, gradually developing my skills, but not my spelling. What moving to Ireland gave me was space. At last I had the time I needed to write.Q: What was the most challenging aspect of relocating to rural Ireland? And the easiest?A: In fairness, we weren’t trying to land on the moon, but I suppose the logistics of getting all my ‘ducks’ lined up was the most challenging aspect. There were so many things which needed to happen in the correct order. It was frustrating trying to communicate with banks, lawyers and property inspectors remotely, particularly as the vendor was in South America and only contactable via a weekly fax message. Fortunately, I’m passionate about making lists and keeping track, so when things went awry I was able to react quickly. In the end, I moved over and rented a cottage until we flopped gratefully over the finish line.The easiest part of the move? One word, commitment. Once we had made the choice to relocate to Ireland, there was never a moment when we doubted the decision. That kind of clarity in our lives was very refreshing. Considering the relocation and then the huge project of renovating the property without any previous experience, I believe I’ve realised that, with patience, tenacity, careful research and a lot of planning, you can pretty much achieve anything. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to do it all over again though. Once is definitely enough – at least for now.Q: Along with your latest release, you’ve written two comedy memoirs, a twisty thriller, a children’s book and a golf instruction book. Shouldn’t you just pick one horse and ride it?A: Is that a law? I don’t think so. If you’ve got a story to tell, and you know your stuff, don’t let protocol hold you back.Q: So how do you cope with writing for such diverse audiences?A: Wear a different hat perhaps? I guess it’s a bit like method acting. I just listen for the internal dialog I hear when I’m telling a story or a joke. As a qualified golf coach, when I write about that subject, it’s very much as if I’m giving someone a lesson. The same principle applies to my other works. The humorous sections in the Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds series sound very similar to how I tell jokes and the thriller has the same tension and misdirects I would use if I were telling that tale. By the way, there is only one copy of the children’s book. I wrote it for my grandson, he seems to like it.Q: Plotter or pantser?A: I’m definitely a plotter. Before I start writing any book, I create voluminous lists and flowcharts. It’s a long and arduous process but essential to create the framework for my story. Once the fingers are flying and the words flowing, I can permit my butterfly mind to occasionally flit off-track, secure in the knowledge I will never lose my way. Having a plan isn’t restrictive, quite the opposite, it encourages creativity. When I was writing Wrecking Crew, there were a couple of times when I was astonished by an event that just popped into my head, particularly as it slotted perfectly into the storyline. About halfway through the book, the protagonist Eric Stone opens the trunk of a car and there was… well, I won’t spoil the surprise. I recall sitting back in astonishment as I really had no idea what was about to happen. Of course, it was just my imagination running along ahead, something that could only happen because it had a clear path to follow.Q: How does writing a thriller like Wrecking Crew differ from the process you would follow for one of your memoirs?A: Writing memoirs need strict adherence to a good timeline, particularly for me, otherwise it is all too easy to jump about chronologically and that can become very confusing for the reader. My timelines are usually dozens of pages of A4 covered in scribbled notes and yellow post-it’s. It can take months to get all the events in the correct order. Usually my notes are just single-line memory triggers, meaningless to anyone but me.For a thriller like Wrecking Crew and the follow up, Stone Façade, which is still under construction, I made a storyboard with detailed notes about each scene including links to important events in the overall plot. When you are trying to slip clues into the narrative to help or sometimes misdirect the reader, it’s crucial to have a clear plan. Thriller writing requires a considerable amount of research,  particularly when the storyline touches on areas that are outside of the author’s experience. Google Earth and the internet is now a great resource for geographical research (and a real money-saver) but sometimes there is no substitute for getting hands-on. As part of my research for Wrecking Crew, I took a course in lock-picking as I knew it was a skill my protagonist would need to demonstrate. In the end, much of that scene ended up on the cutting room floor but it wasn’t for a lack of quality research.Q: Do you allow anyone to read your work while it’s in progress?A: I share every chapter and here’s why. I’m very consistent, so if I make an error the chances are I’m just going to keep repeating it. To my mind, it’s far better to have a reliable eye watching over me and picking up any problems before it’s too late. I would hate to get off-track and not find out until I’ve wasted 120,000 words. Trust me, it happens.In Zoe Marr, I’m very fortunate to have access to a wonderful editor. She’s based in New Zealand and I’m on the other side of the world here in Ireland. That time difference works to our mutual advantage. At the end of my working day I can email her a chapter or two, secure in the knowledge her edits and helpful comments will be waiting for my attention just after breakfast. It’s a great way to work.Q: How did you go about finding the right publisher for your work?A: I began looking for a publisher at about the time the industry began this seismic shift away from the traditional publishing model, brought about by the success of Lulu and Amazon as publishing platforms. At first I approached several agents along with those few publishers who were still accepting direct submissions. All I got in return was silence or cold boilerplate rejection letters. As someone who accepts refusal about as well as a child in a sweet shop, I found it all very depressing. However, when I saw J.K.Rowling (writing as Robert Galbraith) had experienced the same issue, I began to feel a bit less discouraged. Eventually I ran out of patience and opted for the self-published approach using the Amazon platform.Over the next few years, I continued to make submissions, but now I had a better offering – a proven track record of sales, hundreds of great reviews and a solid social media presence. Finally, I received an offer to publish. In fact I had four within just six months. Suddenly, I had a dilemma. As a successful self-published author, what had I to gain from signing a contract to publish?Most of the publishers were essentially offering to do what I was already doing but charge me a fee for the privilege. They were reticent to talk about marketing strategy, budgets or anticipated revenue, but were expecting me to sign over the artistic rights to my work. I chose to sign with Ant Press precisely because they were different. To begin with, they don’t sign books, they sign authors. Secondly, they have considerable experience publishing memoirs, so they really know their stuff. Thirdly, they asked me to make changes to my manuscripts – a lot of changes.At that time I had two completed manuscripts, totalling almost 200,000 words. Ant Press asked me to make so many changes, it made my head spin. Even so, I was impressed they had such courage in their convictions. For a month we had robust but amicable discussions about what a new series of books would look like. I even rewrote a couple of chapters to see if I was comfortable with the stylistic changes they were proposing. Finally, we were in agreement and I became an Ant Press author. It was a proud day for me. I have no regrets.Q: Where do you see the publishing industry moving in the next 10-20 years?A: I see a lot of similarities between publishing and the film business just now. Since the financial crash, it feels like both industries have ceded editorial control to accountants. Whereas before the occasional blockbuster/bestseller supported the less financially successful, but equally important, remainder of their portfolios, now every book or film has to be a huge moneymaker. The financial pressures must be huge. I think this is why we’re seeing so many film remakes and sequels like, “The new blockbuster movie starring (insert famous name here)”. With both industries, this shift in focus has created some terrific opportunities for someone to come in and fill the void. Suddenly, we have Netflix, Sky and Amazon video producing exclusive content. Some of it is world class. The same thing has happened in publishing.New technologies like Audible, Kindle and print on demand have created almost unrestricted routes to market for authors and modern cloud-based publishers. But, just like the internet, there’s a downside to this new freedom. The lack of editorial control on these platforms is degrading the market, swamping us with so many new books – many of them of questionable quality or subject matter – that it’s becoming difficult for customers to find what they want. I’ve read that 800-1,000 new books a day are published on the Amazon platform alone, with some genres becoming saturated. If the idea of self-publishing was to make it easier for aspiring authors to be seen, it’s close to failure. But there is some hope.Much like the film and TV business, I think publishing will move further away from the traditional arrangement, work through this messy transitional phase and settle on a stovepipe model of quality exclusive content. Perhaps in the future we’ll see a Netflix sister company called Netbooks, asserting editorial control and producing top quality books and screenplays, written by their stable of authors and delivered exclusively to your device. Whatever happens, I’m confident the future will be exciting.Q: If we were to take a peek at the bookshelves of your younger self, what might we have found there?A: Hundreds of books piled chaotically. I was, and still am, a veracious reader, it’s an absolute must for any aspiring author. As a child, I was introduced to the wonderful world of books by my sister, when she gave me her well-thumbed copy of Winnie-the-Pooh. A short while later, I discovered The Story of Doctor Doolittle, by Hugh Lofting. I believe I read all 13 books in the series in a month. Introducing a child to the joys of reading is the greatest gift anyone can ever give.When I was a student living in Norwich, England, my first flat was next door to the best secondhand bookshop in the city. What heaven! Back then I read a lot of sci-fi books and thrillers, purely for the escapism. Because I was from a forces family, I collected hundreds of military biographies. Other favourites in my collection were Clive James, David Niven and Spike Mulligan. These books were treasured possessions, I still have most of them now.Q: And what would your current collection of reading material tell us about you as a person?A: My collection is somewhat eclectic, I’m not sure what that says about me. I have a library and dozens of stacked boxes bulging with hundreds of golf books, biographies featuring authors from all walks of life, loads of thrillers, some sci-fi and the complete works of Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Tom Holt, Terry Pratchett and William Shakespeare. I’m never without a book. One secret I can reveal, if I’m writing comedy, I’ll only read thrillers – and vice versa.Q: If you could invite three famous authors (living or dead) to enjoy a bottle of wine and watch an Irish sunset with you, who would it be and why?A: Only three? Tough choice.Gene Kranz, author of Failure Is Not an Option. Gene Kranz was present at the creation of America’s manned space program and was a key player in it for three decades. As a flight director in NASA’s Mission Control, Kranz witnessed firsthand the making of history. He participated in the space program from the early days of the Mercury program, through the moon landings to the last Apollo mission, and beyond. It would be fantastic to hear his story firsthand.Beth Haslam, author of the Fat Dogs and French Estates Beth is a fellow Ant Press memoirist and very much an inspiration to me as an author. She was brought up on a country estate in Wales. Her childhood was spent either on horseback, helping the gamekeepers raise pheasants, or out sailing. After a serious car crash, she set up her own consultancy business. As semi-retirement beckoned, Beth and her husband decided to buy a second home in France. This became a life-changing event where computers and mobile phones swapped places with understanding the foibles of the French, and tackling the language. Somehow, she found the time to write a bestselling series of memoirs. In many ways our journeys are similar. We’ve only chatted online, but I think she’d be great company over a glass of wine.Terry Pratchett. Because he died too soon and I’d like to have him back writing again.Q: What’s the oldest, weirdest or most nostalgic item in your closet and what is your particular attachment to it?A: An old Irish coin. It’s called a Punt and I found it in my father’s desk, when I was clearing it out shortly after his death. To the best of my knowledge my dad had never visited Ireland and he had no earthly reason to have or keep a coin that had no value. At that time my wife and I were planning our move to Ireland, so I felt it was a significant discovery, as if he were saying, “Go ahead, it’ll be grand!” which it was.Q: What have you learned from your own journey as a writer that you would pass along to someone who came to you for advice about how to break into publication?A: Before you write, read – a lot. Read what you enjoy. Read the kind of books you would like to write but be sure to observe the authors craft as you read. Take note of how they mix dialog with narration, how they paint their pictures and how they guide your mind. Try to look beyond the words to understand how the story was constructed. Do all this and more, before you put pen to paper.When you begin writing, remember it is a craft, one that needs developing. No matter how talented you are at the beginning, your writing should always improve over time. You should expect your last book to be much better than your first. Never let anyone tell you that you are unworthy.Understanding the difference between dreams and goals can make your task considerably less stressful. Dreams are the things we would like to achieve, but have very little control over – like winning the lottery. Goals are the steps we take towards achieving our dream – like buying that lottery ticket. Goals you control, dreams you don’t. That distinction is important. As a writer, you must focus your efforts and evaluate your success based only on the things you can control. Trying to do otherwise is a recipe for disaster.Many excellent writers have given up because they made getting published their goal and failed.  Trying to get published won’t make you a better writer, but being a better writer, and building a large social media following of people who like your work, will definitely help you to get published. Focus on what you can control.Q: Any new projects in the works?A: My ‘ideas folder’ is bulging with interesting storylines, but it would be a mistake to take on too much. Just now I’m writing the third book in the six-part Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds series. It is progressing well and due out in early 2019. In the background I’m researching a book about my father’s fascinating life in the RAF. I’m also working on Stone Façade, the second in my Eric Stone thriller series. I am very excited about the twisty plot which will bring Stone to Ireland in search of a missing journalist, but not all is as it seems…Q: Where do you see yourself 30 years from now?A: I hope I’ll still be writing. Perhaps my spelling will improve. If I can average a book a year until I’m 90, that would be something special to look back on.Q: Anything else you’d like to share?A: Writing is the loneliest job in the world. I have only my characters and four dogs to keep me company, but becoming a successful author is a team effort. I have to thank my wife, my publisher, my editor, my cover artist and, most of all, the thousands of authors whose books I have read. I humbly stand on the shoulders of these giants, so I can reach a little higher.

Home sweet home.

My bi-annual trip to England was long overdue. I couldn’t put it off any longer.Although I love seeing my family and friends, since Lesley and I bought a ramshackle farmhouse in the rural west of Ireland, those trips back to my homeland have slowly slipped down the order of importance on my ‘to-do list’. I had a good excuse for delaying, I always do. This time I was writing another book; volume two in my Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds series.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFNF3K4 Sure, it was a time sensitive project, something I wanted to complete while the creative juices were still flowing, but would a week away from my desk really have made such a difference? Probably not. In truth, I find myself looking at Britain with mild distaste. I guess it’s a defense mechanism, like the sanctimonious attitude of a reformed smoker – a necessary protection against the constant longing. That nagging toothache of doubt. The question that gnaws at my conscience in those sleepless hours. Would our lives had been better if we hadn’t moved to Ireland? The 7am flight was delayed an hour. Not the fault of my beloved Ryanair, but rather the chronic overcrowding in the skies over London. I didn’t mind. My father was a pilot. He once told me, “Take-off is optional, but landings are mandatory. Before you take to the air, make sure you have somewhere to land!” These wise words have served me well as a metaphor for cautious planning – something we blatantly disregarded during our sudden decision to move to Ireland. After almost a month of delightfully warm and dry weather in sleepy County Clare, Stansted Airport was surprisingly cold, with low drizzly cloud and a chilly breeze. For some inexplicable reason, it took longer to achieve temporary possession of my hire car than it did to make the 500-mile flight from Ireland – including the delay. Undaunted, and with commendable daring-do, I threw the little Fiat 500 into the hectic mid-morning motorway traffic and headed north-east. I’m happy to report my trip to England went well. The hotels were clean, comfortable and welcoming, the weather perked up nicely, and I got through the week without damaging the hire car. Furthermore, I had a lovely time catching up with friends and relatives. Although I was only away for a week, I soon missed the company of my dogs, especially on my long morning walks, a routine I was keen to maintain – particularly as I was battling to lose a little weight after the long Irish winter. The hotel in Essex was just a mile from our old house, but in my absence the familiar farmland and woods had been transformed into a confusion of roads, housing estates and industrial parks.   Throughout the week, I had stuck to trudging along the main roads, trading air quality and silence for half decent pavement and the ability to walk a little faster, but on the final morning of my visit I took a different route. For half a mile I had walked alongside a delightful elderly Swiss lady – also a recent returnee to the town. She was striding along at an impressive speed and breathlessly venting her disapproval of the traffic, litter, noise and terrible air quality. We chatted for a while and shared some memories of how the old market town had once looked. Eventually I spotted a cycle path leading into a small park, and with a friendly wave, we parted ways. This new path took a serpentine route following a small stream, alongside a modern housing estate. As it was early in the morning there were few people about, so for a while I was able to lengthen my stride and burn some calories. After three miles, I turned and headed back towards the hotel. On the return leg I passed a few commuters, eyes down, chatting on their phones and walking purposely towards the station for the early train. The dog walkers seemed more affable, inclined to make eye contact and mumble “good morning” as they passed. Just before the path reached the main road, I noticed a tall, dark-haired man approaching. He was walking a small black poodle. It had a pink collar and a blue bow tied to the fur on its head. A smile twitched his lips but faltered as the gap between us closed. His eyes danced a cautious jig, flicking from mild fear to confusion. A frown creased his forehead as his stride inadvertently slowed. Recognizing the face I hadn’t seen for twenty-five years, I clicked my fingers and pointed.“Karl Harris!”He politely shook my outstretched hand, but his smile was guarded.“Nick Albert,” I offered.“Niiick!” he smiled. “How the devil are you?”“Oh, I’m just grand. How are you?”“Fine, fine,” he replied.I knelt to fuss his excitable poodle. The ridiculous blue hair-tie came off in my hand.“Sorry.” I grimaced handing the bow to Karl.   For a few minutes we shared some banal pleasantries, but much time had gone by since our last meeting and we were no longer friends – if we ever were. I shuffled my feet in embarrassment as Karl looked over my shoulder for escape.“Well, I’d better get on…” we blurted, almost together. With a smile and a nod, we went our separate ways. A little further up the road, I spotted an old concrete signpost almost buried in a hedge. Like a simile for the life I left behind, it indicated the original route of a disused footpath. It was overgrown, but passable. Figuring it would be a less unpleasant walk back to the hotel than trudging along the dual-carriageway, I stepped over the nettles and set off in a new direction.Although I frequently had to crouch to pass under the overhanging hawthorn and wipe away the occasional cobweb, I made good progress. The mud underfoot was dry and well-trodden, albeit scattered with discarded beer cans, cigarette butts and the detritus of someone’s clandestine drug use. High in the trees, a song thrush made desperate efforts to make itself heard over the roar of the morning traffic. As I walked, my thoughts drifted back to my meeting with Karl. From what he had shared, in the quarter century since we had last met, his life seemed almost unchanged. He was a contented bachelor, living in the same house and still working at the same company. His life had stability and permanence. But much like my walking route, my life had taken a much different path, eventually leading Lesley and I to a derelict farmhouse in the wilds of rural Ireland and a career as an author. Had I stayed on the same path as Karl twenty-five years before, how different would my life be today. Would I be so happy, or as content? Who can say? In an exquisite moment of irony, at that moment the old footpath I was following terminated abruptly at the entrance to a field. The hotel was nowhere in sight. My legendary sense of direction had failed me again! With the aid of Google maps, my smart phone and a good bit of head scratching, I managed to figure out where I was and plot an approximate route back to the hotel. Heading towards the loudest traffic sounds, I pushed through a prickly hedge and, with a whoop of excitement, slithered on my bum twenty feet down a steep grassy embankment towards the road below. As my feet hit the curbstone, stopping my descent, there was a squeal of brakes and the angry toot of a car horn. Smiling like a village idiot, I turned my eyes towards the stationary car, only to find the disproving face of a policeman staring back at me. Feeling mildly self-conscious, I stood and casually brushed the dry grass from my trousers. His window slid down.“What the hell are you playing at?” he shouted. “I nearly hit you.”“Sorry.” I gave him my best attempt at an apologetic grimace. “You see I got lost and I was trying to find my hotel.”“Where’s your car?” he growled, his eyes interrogating mine for any sign of dishonesty.I was about to launch into a long answer, explaining how my car was back home in Ireland and that I was only on holiday, exploring this once familiar countryside, but the words stuck in my throat.“At my hotel,” I croaked.“Why aren’t you driving?” he demanded.“I wanted some exercise. 10,000 steps,” I explained, pointing at my wrist before realizing my fitness tracking watch was back in Ireland.Apparently satisfied with my explanation as evidence I wasn’t a risk to myself or others, he half rolled his eyes and sniffed. “Be more careful.”“Yes sir,” I mumbled, feeling like a naughty schoolboy.He sighed and delivered some parting advice. “Walking around here is bad for your health.” “I don’t suppose you could give me a lift back to my hotel?” I shouted as he drove off. Apparently not. *** Stansted airport was oppressively hot and horrifically busy. It was the worst I have ever experienced and rather a challenge to someone used to the quiet solitude of rural Ireland. Although I had been reacclimatised to crowds for a week, I quickly found myself becoming stressed and irritated by the noise and heat. Fortunately, I knew of a quiet corner where I could enjoy a cup of tea while I read a book or watch the planes land. I settled down and waited patiently for my flight to be called. My solitude was soon interrupted.“Jees! That’s some crowd!” The person who sat next to me was a tall, pasty-faced man, aged around thirty-five. He wore ripped jeans, scruffy trainers and a white nylon t-shirt. There was a confusing jumble of tattoos on his arms and hands. Encircling his neck was an elaborate drawing of a snake, culminating with the head on his left cheek, it’s fanged mouth open as if protecting the wearer. I tried not to stare. “It certainly is,” I agreed, smiling. “If I hadn’t found this quiet corner, there was a chance I was going to bite someone!”He laughed at my quip. “I know the feeling. Where’re you headed?”“Ireland.”“Me too. I’m going to see my Uncle.”“Are you flying to Shannon?” I asked.“Knock,” he replied, with a shake of his head.“That’s north of Galway, isn’t it?”He nodded. “You visiting?”“No. I’m heading home.”“Oh. You live in Ireland?” He looked at me with renewed interest.I nodded. “County Clare.”“Lucky you.”I pointed towards the crowds. “I’ll be pleased when I’m away from all this and heading back home.”“This country’s gone mad,” he whispered, his voice heavy with sadness.“It’s certainly changed since I lived here,” I agreed.“Have you been gone long?” he asked.“Almost fifteen years.”“There’s a coincidence. I’ve been away for fifteen years too!” He smiled and tapped the snake’s head. “Hence the tattoos.”“Army?” I asked.“Jail. Just out last month. I can’t believe how my old patch has gone downhill.” He shook his head sadly.“Surely it’s not that bad?”He snorted. “I actually felt safer in jail!”We chatted for fifteen minutes, reminiscing about the England we had left behind and laughing when we realized how our paths may have crossed when we were younger men. I thought he seemed a thoroughly pleasant fellow, with an interesting story to tell. His flight was called first, so we shook hands and bade goodbye. As he picked up his bag, he leaned over and patted me on the shoulder.“You’re okay,” he said. “Some people wouldn’t talk to an ex-con.”“I try not to judge.” I shrugged. “There by the grace of God and all that…”“Weren’t you worried I was going to stick you with a knife?” He grinned disarmingly, but there was an undertone of deadly seriousness to his question.“Not really.”“Why not?”“Well…” I shuffled my feet in embarrassment. “We’ve both been through security and the metal detectors, so I figured…”He stared into my eyes for a moment, then threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I hadn’t thought of that!”I watched him walk away, shaking his head and laughing all the way to his gate. All-in-all, he was one of the nicest people I met on my trip. *** I was almost tearful as my flight approached touchdown. Ireland looked particularly inviting, by virtue of a spectacular sunset glinting off the waters of the Shannon estuary.


As usual, my wife was late picking me up at the airport, but I didn’t mind waiting.“When I was ready to leave, I let the dogs out on the lawn so they could have a pee,” Lesley explained.“Let me guess, Lady ran off?” Our ageing and profoundly deaf Foxhound has an irritating habit of deciding to launch a hunting expedition at the most inconvenient times.

My wife huffed and rolled her eyes. “She spotted a fox near to the chicken run and that was it! Kia and Honey went with her. It took forever to get them back.”“She’s just doing her job,” I explained, smiling.“But I’m really late.”I patted her hand. “Not to worry, I’m just glad to be home. I truly am.”The roads were quiet, almost empty, even though it was early evening. We drove slowly through a small village, giving a friendly wave to a group of people enjoying an alfresco meal and a pint of Guinness.“What are you smiling at?” Lesley asked, a few minutes later.“That sign outside the pub we just past.”“What did it say?”“Veg of the day – chips.”
Lesley laughed. “Welcome back to Ireland!”. *** Early the following morning, I took the dogs for a long walk up through the forest. Pausing for a few minutes to take some pictures, I delighted in the solitude. Up here high in the hills, miles from the nearest car, the air is fresh, thickened only by the heavy scent of pine and the humid aroma of peat and gorse. The butterflies and bees are in abundance and the birds compete with each other, not the roar of passing traffic.
I breathed deeply and nodded. There is no doubt, moving to Ireland was the right decision. England isn’t a bad place, it’s just different. A throwback to a previous version of me. Somewhere I no longer fit. It’s not like Ireland, not like home.

Boiler Blues

“I think there’s something wrong with the Rayburn,” my wife said, as I came through the kitchen door.“What makes you say that?” I hung my coat over the back of one of our rustic pine kitchen chairs before dropping the car keys into the green bowl on the windowsill. I brushed my hand across the kitchen radiator. “It seems warm enough in here.”“It’s working now,” Lesley admitted, “But when I turned it on, it made a horrid noise.”I tipped an ear towards our claret red cooking range, listening for some anomaly.“Sounds okay,” I said, nodding. “Perhaps it needs a service.”Lesley rolled her eyes. “It’s not long had one.”I frowned and scoured my memory. “Really?”“Just after you came back from England.”I snapped my fingers and nodded. “That’s right. Must have been around April time.”“And the heating has hardly been on since then,” Lesley added.“You’re right.” I bit my lip and turned my head, listening intently for any hint of a mechanical anomaly. Just then the Rayburn’s central heating unit roared into life, rattling the wobbly front plate, making conversation difficult, and filling our kitchen with the aroma of kerosene fumes. The effect was not dissimilar to standing rather too close to a jet engine. “It sounds perfectly normal,” I shouted.My wife’s reply was drowned out by a sudden alarming rattle, like a dozen golf balls and three wine glasses bouncing around in a tumble dryer. I reached over and deftly flicked the off switch. With a wheeze like an asthmatic dragon, the boiler gradually slowed to silence.“Definitely needs a service,” I conceded.We had a cooking range at our previous house in England. It was as smelly and expensive as an unwanted house guest. Impractical and inefficient as a cooker, its main jobs were to heat our water and make our kitchen unbearably hot. On the upside, it made the best toasted cheese sandwiches. Two slices of whole meal bread, some grated mature cheddar and a generous dollop of Lesley’s finest homemade pickle, slapped together on the hotplate and trapped under the lid until you can hear the cheese sizzle. Delicious. Even now, the mere mention of a cooking range has me slavering like Pavlov’s dog. That being said, we had agreed we would never again own a cooking range. And yet, here we were. Of course, this one came with the house.


   Most farm houses in rural Ireland have a cooking range. Manufactured by Aga, Stanley, or Rayburn, they are typically powered by solid fuel or oil. Our Rayburn has a hot plate, an oven, and a separate oil burner to heat our water and run the central heating. When we moved in, except for the cooking range, the kitchen was but an empty shell. During that first month, I called in a heating engineer to perform a thorough service and safety check on the red monstrosity. I wanted to know if the Rayburn should be replaced immediately, while I still had the opportunity. His report was hardly comprehensive.“Ah, she’ll do grand.”With that vote of confidence, we had set about building our new kitchen around the seemingly immovable hulk of the cooking range. I was quietly proud of the result.

For several years the Rayburn performed adequately. As noisy as a helicopter, it leaked fumes like a flatulent grandparent and distributed its heat as grudgingly as Scrooge had shared his Christmas bonus. Nevertheless, we grew to tolerate our Rayburn, especially once we had installed a separate cooker which used bottled gas. With such modern technology at her fingertips, Lesley could cook an entire Sunday roast in the time it took the old cooking range to reach operating temperature. But now our Rayburn appeared to be dying. In desperation, I engaged the services of ‘The Boiler Doctor’. Mike was a tall blond-haired English guy, originally from Manchester, but a long-term resident of County Clare. He had a big white van and a small white dog. “Can you fix it?” I asked, laying a loving hand on the hotplate.Mike sucked his teeth and winced. Either he had a loose filling, or some bad news to share. I suspected the latter.“Well, I probably can.” He stretched the first word to emphasize his reluctance. “But it will cost a good bit…”“How much?”Mike scowled like a truculent teenager, a gesture incongruous with his otherwise affable demeanour. I suspected he was trying to make a point.“A lot. That’s always assuming I can get the parts, and you need several.” He tapped our cooking range with the handle of his screwdriver. “Rayburn bits are fearsome expensive and hard to find. A replacement pump will probably set you back €1,200, then there’s the other bits and fitting…”“€1,200?” I gasped. “Good grief, it would be cheaper to buy another boiler!”“Indeed it would,” he replied. “And the new boiler would be much more efficient.”“Better for the environment?” I asked.“For sure,” he replied.“That’s good.” I nodded and smiled, thinking about how I was going to convince my wife of the need to wreck our kitchen.Later that evening, I delivered the bad news.“Can’t he just fix it?” Lesley exclaimed. “It’s a huge expense.”“Not really.” I tipped my head to one side and shrugged, trying to convey my sadness at the passing of our Rayburn. “The new boiler will be much more efficient. It’ll pay for itself in no time.”Lesley scratched her head and frowned. “I don’t know…” She cast her eyes towards the kitchen units surrounding the cooking range. “It’s going to make such a mess.”“It will,” I admitted. “But I can soon put it right. We’ll have to get a few more kitchen units, repair the wall and ceiling, replace the bedroom wall–”“The bedroom?” Lesley interrupted. “What has this to do with the bedroom?”I grimaced and pointed upwards. “It’s the chimney, it goes through the ceiling here and behind the wall in the bedroom. I’ll have to take it out.”“You?” she asked.I grimaced and hunched my shoulders in defense. “As I built the kitchen, I’ve decided to do all the preparation work – removing the Rayburn, the chimney, and making good afterwards. It’ll save a bunch of money.”“Can’t we just fix the Rayburn?” she pleaded one last time.“I’m sorry,” I sighed. “Anyway, the new boiler will be much better for the environment. I’ll upgrade the radiators as well. The house should be much warmer.”Lesley nodded, conceding the inevitable. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
***
The Rayburn consisted of a cast iron shell, interior, hotplate and doors, as well as two oil burners and a steel chimney. Total weight 400kg. It took me a week (and the skin of three knuckles) to disassemble and remove it and another two days to strip out the chimney. With the space cleared and the new (external) boiler delivered, Mike could begin the installation. Although he had worked in Ireland for many years, he was unprepared for the 36” thick solid granite walls at Glenmadrie. To connect the external boiler to the internal plumbing and electrics, Mike needed to drill two holes through the wall. This apparently simple task took seven hours, with two of us working in shifts – not including the hour we spent searching for his dog who had somehow become lost. Fear not, we eventually found her guarding the dog biscuits in our utility room. Somehow she had got locked in whilst exploring and was too embarrassed to woof for help.By Saturday, Mike had finished the installation. Ceremoniously, we gathered in the kitchen alongside the heating controls.“Would you like to do the honors?” Mike said to Lesley.“What do I do?” she asked.“Just push that little button on the right.”“Shouldn’t I hit it with a bottle of champagne first?”“I’d rather you didn’t,” Mike laughed.Lesley extended a finger and touched the button. There was a click and the display glowed green. Other than an almost subliminal hum, there was no sound to indicate that the boiler was running.“Is that it?” I asked.Mike nodded. I put my hand on the radiator, it was already warming.“Fantastic!” I said.“But I can’t hear anything,” Lesley whispered, almost in awe. “It’s so quiet.”“And efficient,” I added.“It’s certainly better than the old boiler,” she replied.
***
Apart from the joy of having an efficient and quiet heating system, we also gained six feet of additional kitchen worktop and a goodly chunk of extra storage. It took a few weeks to source some matching worktop and units to repair the kitchen and the plastering certainly tested my DIY skills to the limit, but we got there in the end.




Our new boiler really is super-efficient, whisper-quiet and reliable. With the addition of some bigger radiators, we were ready to face whatever weather Ireland could produce – which was a good thing, as the winter turned out to be pretty cold!

Going Postal

I saw a piece on the news this morning regarding the successful delivery of a parcel to a house in rural Ireland, despite the address on the label being totally unreadable. The world is agog, social media heaving with chatter, and the press overawed with the mystery of how the parcel reached its correct destination. Here in Ireland such miracles are almost commonplace, thanks to the intrepid staff at An Post and their knowledge of their area and customers.

 When we first visited Ireland in search of our dream home, Lesley and I quickly discovered the best way to navigate was with the aid of an Ordinance Survey map, a magnifying glass, and some corrective guidance from the village shop. We never failed to find our destination, although sometimes it took a while.Our first task upon taking ownership of Glenmadrie, was to visit our local post office and announce our presence. Since then, we have always received our post, even when it was only addressed to: Lesley, Clare, Ireland. That being said, international parcels can be rather more tricky.Despite our close ties with America and the UK, many online retailers still consider Ireland to be an unsuitable destination for their products, even though they seem happy to ship to nefarious third-world countries and war zones. A small proportion of parcels never reach Ireland, heading instead for far flung places like Australia, Israel, or France, with all the enthusiasm of a drunk homing pigeon. Such confusion is understandable. After all, depending on how the mood takes you, Ireland can be referred to as: Southern Ireland, Ireland, Eire, The Republic of Ireland, or just ROI. The tracking data for those parcels which do arrive usually has just three entries:
1.      Your parcel has been dispatched.2.      We have no idea where your parcel is…3.      Your parcel has been delivered!
Rumor has it there is a Bermuda triangle for courier drivers, somewhere in the green and hilly wilds of County Clare. Here in amongst the tangle of leafy lanes, unsignposted junctions and mobile phone blind spots, there must be a pub called, The Backend of Beyond. I imagine it is a welcoming place, with a warm fire, good beer, friendly staff, and a car park bursting with hundreds of abandoned delivery vans.Because of the high turnover of courier drivers, we seldom see the same person twice. I have spent many happy hours on the phone trying to direct a delivery driver to our house. At times I felt like an air traffic controller guiding a crippled aircraft safely towards a landing. Although we now have a carefully developed series of instructions with easily identifiable waypoints, sometimes it’s just quicker to drive to the local post office and wait for the courier to arrive.One quirk of rural Ireland which first endeared us to this beautiful place, was the lack of postal codes. For many years we struggled to explain this omission to any company with a computer or an online booking form. The technology simply couldn’t cope with the blank postcode box and refused to complete the transaction. The residents of rural Ireland proudly wore this affront like a badge of honor, until the day we heard the shocking news – Ireland was going to get postal codes.
In most civilized countries, to help those good people at the post office deliver our letters and parcels, it is common practice to use a zip code, or some other style of postal code designed for the country in question. Zip codes and postal codes are very common. Germany introduced them in 1941 at the height of World War Two. Argentina introduced them in 1958, the UK in 1959, and the USA in 1963. By 2015, almost every country on the planet was using some sort of zip code – with the exception of Ireland. There were a few good reasons for this delay:
1.      Frankly, as a nation, we’re quite resistant to newfangled ideas. Although, it can become quite tedious, explaining how we manage to get around and make a living, despite being so cruelly disadvantaged.2.      We’ve been finding each other’s houses for centuries, without the need for digitized codes. When you move in, you simply visit the local postmaster and tell him, or her, where you live. They will then say something like, “Oh, you mean Bill’s old place” and that will become the moniker for your residence, even though Bill was chronologically only the third in a long line of owners, but evidently first in regard to notoriety.3.      We quite like the rebelliousness of entering a string of zeros into the postcode box of online forms and being able to tell foreigners that we don’t have, or need, postcodes.
Postal codes are really simple. They are just a code for an address in reverse. For example, take the English postcode CM7 3DT. The UK has 121 postal areas. CM is the code for the district of Chelmsford, and 7 is the sub-code for the town of Braintree. The number 3 directs postmen and delivery drivers, to the southeast of the town, and DT takes them to Howard Close. So, a letter addressed to: 201, CM7 3DT, UK, would easily reach 201, Howard Close, Braintree, Essex, England, United Kingdom – if there were such an address. Each element of the postcode is a unique but logical identifier for part of the eventual destination. It’s so simple an idea that you couldn’t cock it up if you tried. Or could you?In 2005, the Irish government announced they were going to design a unique postal code system named Eircode. Not for them the stuffy system used by those tricky Brits, or the tried-and-tested German structure, or the logical American Zip codes, or even something based on the newfangled GPS system. Ten-years, and €27-million later, having roundly ignored advice from all sides, the new Eircode system was unveiled, and the good people of Ireland gave a collective snort of disbelief and said, “Well that’s never going to work!”
I recall a discussion I had with Brian, a friend who happens to be a retired postman:
“Are these Eircodes really just random letters and numbers, or is there some system being applied?” I asked.“No. The lettering is deliberately haphazard,” he replied, smiling over his beer. “They couldn’t risk delivery drivers using the Eircodes, without paying for them. So, each city was allocated an arbitrary letter, which appears at the beginning of the Eircode. These letters bear no relationship to the city name. For example, Galway is H, Cork city is T, and P and E. Tipperary will be designated E, but an F is for North Roscommon and Sligo. County Clare, Limerick, and parts of Kerry will use a V. The second part of the Eircode is randomly generated, meaning it is impossible to identify two linked addresses, even if they share a dividing wall.”“It sounds fantastically complicated,” I laughed. “Perhaps it’s like a Mensa question. If Waterford is X, County Laois is R, and Ennis is V, how many apples has Sally got?”Brian snorted and sipped his beer.“Did every house get an Eircode?” I asked.“Well, every property in Ireland was allocatedan Eircode. If someone didn’t get one, it was because Eircode didn’t know their house existed, or because they thought the house was in a different field, or because they made a mistake.”“And how are these mistakes to be rectified?”“Why do you ask?” His eyes narrowed.“There’s a special website set up to help people check their Eircodes,” I explained. “According to the map, my Eircode will send people to a muddy farm track up by the forest.”He pulled a face before answering, as if he were trying to suck something from between his front teeth.“If your address was inadvertently changed during the issuing of Eircodes, there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. My advice is to order some new stationery, change the sign on your house, inform all of your friends, and get over it.” Brian smiled benevolently and sipped his beer.
Not to worry! Our post (devoid of an Eircode) still finds its way to our house, even when it is addressed to our old house in England, but with the useful footnote, County Clare, Ireland. If you want to send a letter to Ireland, you can try adding an Eircode – it might work. Or, you can deliver it by hand. Everyone here would be pleased to see you. Alternatively, address your letters like this:“Your man Henderson, that boy with the glasses who is doing the PhD up here at Queen's in Belfast; Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland.”

Honestly, you couldn’t make it up!