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E.J. Bauer

103 books | 65 friends

Sandra McKenna

698 books | 44 friends

Julie Freed

286 books | 1,853 friends

Mirta Ines Trupp

488 books | 221 friends

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Stephanie Collins

1,007 books | 4,991 friends

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167 books | 2,182 friends

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409 books | 138 friends

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Craig Briggs

Goodreads Author

Born

in Huddersfield, The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.journeytoadream.co.uk

Genre

Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel

Member Since

August 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/craigspain

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If life deals you a bad hand, don’t fold, take a chance; a good player will always come out on top.

Craig Briggs was born on the 12th of July 1962, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Huddersfield, the second child, and only son, of Donald and Glenys Briggs. The birth of their daughter had been a joy. The arrival of Craig would make the family complete. Unfortunately, Craig was not a ‘normal’ lad; he’d been born with congenital feet deformities.
Unaware of his disability, Craig got on with life as any infant would. His first birthday brought a gift that would change his life forever. A marvel of modern engineering, manufactured by J.E. Hanger and Co. of London for and on behalf of the National Health Service. Bespoke footwear gave him what the Vespa had If life deals you a bad hand, don’t fold, take a chance; a good player will always come out on top.

Craig Briggs was born on the 12th of July 1962, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Huddersfield, the second child, and only son, of Donald and Glenys Briggs. The birth of their daughter had been a joy. The arrival of Craig would make the family complete. Unfortunately, Craig was not a ‘normal’ lad; he’d been born with congenital feet deformities.
Unaware of his disability, Craig got on with life as any infant would. His first birthday brought a gift that would change his life forever. A marvel of modern engineering, manufactured by J.E. Hanger and Co. of London for and on behalf of the National Health Service. Bespoke footwear gave him what the Vespa had given the youth of the fifties: freedom and independence. They weren’t quite as stylish as an Italian built scooter but he didn’t care. From now on, Master Briggs was on the move and no one would hold him back.
Over the next five years a series of surgical procedures changed the way he moved. When the time came, his mum walked him to school like any other proud parent and his dad gave him his first and only piece of worldly advice. ‘If anyone hits you, hit ’em back.’
With one exception, his mind proved sharper than his boxing prowess. Academia was not really his thing; he found it difficult to concentrate on anything that didn’t interest him.
In May 1980 he left college and entered the employment market. Margaret Thatcher was busy dismantling British industry and unemployment was running at a post-war high. He signed on to receive unemployment benefit and spent the summer lounging around the house watching the Wimbledon Tennis Championship on telly. As the tournament drew to a close, parental pressure to find work intensified. In September, during one of his many visits to the Job Centre, a job card caught his eye: ‘Wanted: trainee retail managers’.
Five hundred and sixty applicants chased six positions. He pleaded his case at an interview and ended up being selected. After a two-week training course in the seaside town of Southport, he passed with honours, achieving the rank of assistant manager. When asked where he’d like to ply his newfound retail skills, he chose London, a city paved with gold.
In October 1980, he left Huddersfield a naive child, and returned three and a half years later a wiser and more mature young man. A brief period of letting his hair down followed, catching up on lost time and lost youth. During these wild and hedonistic months, he met the love of his life and future wife, Melanie.
His career in retail spanned six and a half years with five different companies but to realise his dream he would have to go it alone. Not long after his twenty-sixth birthday, he handed in his notice. His future lay in leather jackets. Unfortunately, no one shared this vision and his aspirations fell at the first hurdle.
The prospect of returning to the retail trade pushed him into pursuing a different path. He reached a compromise and worked as a self-employed agent for one of the nation’s largest insurance companies. The job title, Financial Consultant, exaggerated the role. In reality he was nothing more than a desperate insurance salesman. Life was hard and the insurance industry ruthless. Trying to sell a product that nobody wants, and which by its nature will never benefit the payee, is not easy. Unlike most recruits, he managed to survive and learnt some difficult but valuable lessons.
His ‘Big Break’ came when he was asked to invest in a fledgling printing business. The first year’s accounts showed greater losses than actual sales. Against all professional advice he jumped at the chance, re-mortgaged his house and bought an equal stake.
By accident rather than design, he’d finally found his true vocation. The company was losing money hand over fist. The bank had taken a second charge on the partners’ homes and his investment was swallowed up in a ...more

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Craig Briggs’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 502 ratings · 52 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Journey to a Dream (The Journey, #1) 3.87 avg rating — 230 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Endless Possibilities: Sunny skies and mountains high (The Journey #3) 4.30 avg rating — 81 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Beyond Imagination: When the adventure of a lifetime becomes a lifetime of adventures (The Journey #2) 4.26 avg rating — 90 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Driving Ambition: Life in the slow lane 4.54 avg rating — 50 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Opportunities Ahead: Learn from the past, live in the present and always look forward to the future (The Journey, #4) 4.49 avg rating — 51 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Craig Briggs's Blog

The Wait is Over

I'm pleased to announce that book five in The Journey series is now available to pre-order as an ebook. To thank all my loyal readers for their support Driving Ambition will be half its normal selling price from now up to release day on Friday the 28th of December 2018.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR EBOOK As if by magic, on the day of release, your copy ofDriving Ambitionwill appear on your Kindle... Read more of this blog post »

View more on Craig Briggs's website »

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Published on December 20, 2018 02:17

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Series by Craig Briggs

The Journey (5 books)
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Craig Briggs (Goodreads Author)

4.14 avg rating — 502 ratings

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Craig rated a book it was amazing A Geordie Up the Ganges: The journey of a lifetime - that might just save her life by Nell Cook	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nell's passion for her travels in India shines through in her writing. She paint a vivid picture that draws the reader into her experiences. A really enjoyable and informative read.
Nov 14, 2019 08:35AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Geordie Up the Ganges by Nell Cook. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Geordie Up the Ganges by Nell Cook <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig liked Gloria J Hillaby's review of Journey to a Dream (The Journey, #1):
Nov 03, 2019 02:02AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Journey to a Dream by Craig Briggs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Journey to a Dream by Craig Briggs <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig liked Gloria J Hillaby's review of Beyond Imagination: When the adventure of a lifetime becomes a lifetime of adventures (The Journey #2):
Nov 03, 2019 02:02AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Beyond Imagination by Craig Briggs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Beyond Imagination by Craig Briggs <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig liked Gloria J Hillaby's review of Endless Possibilities: Sunny skies and mountains high (The Journey #3):
Nov 03, 2019 02:02AM · see review
Craig rated a book it was amazing The Silver Chalice (The Treasure of Saint Bee #1) by A.D. Thorne (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The author's writing engages the reader from first page to last. Her knowledge of the Anglican Church enhances the storyline and gives an insight into the inner workings of these institutions.
Oct 08, 2019 03:24AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Silver Chalice by A.D. Thorne. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Silver Chalice by A.D. Thorne <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig rated a book it was amazing YOUNG AT HEART: The Good Years: A Memoir: Traveling, Living and Loving by Sandra Pelanne	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A thoroughly enjoyable read. A facsinating insight into European life in the late '60s and world affairs in general. Sandra has suceeded in interweaving her own personal love story into the important political and historic issues of the time.
Sep 04, 2019 02:31AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of YOUNG AT HEART by Sandra Pelanne. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — YOUNG AT HEART by Sandra Pelanne <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig Briggs is accepting questions on his profile page.
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Craig rated a book it was amazing More Ketchup Than Salsa by Joe Cawley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A must read for anyone dreaming of owning a business in a holiday resort. Joe's sense of humour might not be to everyones taste but he paints an honest and interesting picture about running a bar on the sunshine Island of Tenerife.
Aug 29, 2019 01:35AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of More Ketchup Than Salsa by Joe Cawley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — More Ketchup Than Salsa by Joe Cawley <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Craig rated a book it was amazing A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Peter's passion for food, life, and the place he's chosen to call home, sings from every page. I'm certain he will have inspired many people to follow their dreams and will do so long into the future. RIP Peter Mayle.
Aug 16, 2019 06:53AM · 1 like · like · see review
Craig rated a book it was amazing The Reluctant Expat: Part One - Surprised by Spain by Alan Laycock	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed Alan's writing style and the interaction between his characters. Excellent read.
Aug 16, 2019 06:50AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Reluctant Expat by Alan Laycock. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Reluctant Expat by Alan Laycock <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Craig Briggs

“As well as writing, 2004 saw my first attempt at wine making: the elixir of life. Unfortunately, my effort tasted more like the elixir of death.”
― Craig Briggs, Journey to a Dream

tags: autobiography, memoir, spain, travel

2 likes

“The last time I’d spoken French I was twelve years old; before I reached my thirteenth birthday the teacher had correctly steered me into woodwork classes.”
― Craig Briggs, Endless Possibilities: Sunny skies and mountains high

tags: memoir, spain, travel

1 likes

Craig’s Year In Books

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Craig Briggs

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