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Once Upon A Time In The West...Country
Comedian and bestselling author, Tony Hawks, is embarking on his greatest adventure yet - moving from city life in London to deepest Devon in the West Country. .Waking in the middle of the night whilst on holiday, Tony Hawks declares an epiphany to his barely conscious partner Fran. Fed up of living in a city where the only contact with his neighbours in three years was a dispute over a boundary fence, his mind has been made up and it's time for a change... of postcode. At the age of 53, Tony is finally ready to renounce his London lifestyle and head for the countryside, and to his enormous surprise, Fran agrees. Once Upon a Time in the West... Country tells the story of how a series of events lead Tony and Fran to uproot their city lives for a rural alternative in deepest Devon. Full of Tony's trademark mixture of humour, hope, adventure and absurdity, this book will chart their journey as they adapt from the relative ease of city life to the vagaries of a village community. But between organic gardening courses, attending village meetings and the impending birth of his first child, Tony still has time for one last adventure, cycling coast to coast with a mini pig called Titch. Full of eclectic characters - including the best neighbour in the world - Once Upon a Time in the West... Country is the heartwarming and hilarious tale of Tony Hawks' new life in the country.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2015
21 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hawks
31 books224 followersTony Hawks, is a British comedian and author, famous for his Quizotic travel accounts undertaking bizarre wagers with friends. Hawks performs stand-up comedy, and is a regular on TV and radio panel games in the UK, including I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and Have I Got News for You, although he first came to prominence as one of two resident performers — the other was Jo Brand — on semi-successful BBC monologue show The Brain Drain.
He first attempted to break into show business as a serious singer-songwriter, but it was with a novelty record that he had his first brush with fame. As leader of the trio Morris Minor and the Majors, he reached number 4 in the UK charts with the Beastie Boys parody, Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime) in 1988. It went on to sell 220,000 copies, and was number one in Australia. The follow-up, a pastiche of Stock Aitken Waterman called This Is the Chorus, fared less well.
The full-length feature film version of his book Round Ireland with a Fridge, starring Tony, Josie Lawrence, Ed Byrne and Sean Hughes, was released in Autumn 2010. Filming on the follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, with Steven Frost, Angus Deayton, Morwenna Banks and Laura Solon, has just been completed. In March 2011 Tony travelled to Japan to appear at the Okinawa International Film Festival where Round Ireland with a Fridge was nominated for Best Comedy.
Tony Hawks donated half of the royalties from his book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to a trust fund for Moldova, which was used to open the Hippocrates Centre, a medical centre that provides rehabilitative therapy for disabled children from socially vulnerable families. Hawks continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement. Hawks is the co-founder and public face of the "Tennis for Free" campaign which aims to make Britain's existing municipal tennis facilities available to all.
He is frequently confused with Tony Hawk, largely because the latter's video game franchise uses the possessive apostrophe ("Tony Hawk's"). Hawks maintains a list of emails intended for the skateboarder and his mischievous responses to them on his website. On 2 January 2008 he appeared on an edition of Celebrity Mastermind, with Tony Hawk as his chosen specialised subject. Hawks noted that his correspondents "might be able to do backside varials but they can't spell to save their lives."
In September he will begin his first National Theatre tour since 2003 with a new one man show called Random Fun.
He first attempted to break into show business as a serious singer-songwriter, but it was with a novelty record that he had his first brush with fame. As leader of the trio Morris Minor and the Majors, he reached number 4 in the UK charts with the Beastie Boys parody, Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime) in 1988. It went on to sell 220,000 copies, and was number one in Australia. The follow-up, a pastiche of Stock Aitken Waterman called This Is the Chorus, fared less well.
The full-length feature film version of his book Round Ireland with a Fridge, starring Tony, Josie Lawrence, Ed Byrne and Sean Hughes, was released in Autumn 2010. Filming on the follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, with Steven Frost, Angus Deayton, Morwenna Banks and Laura Solon, has just been completed. In March 2011 Tony travelled to Japan to appear at the Okinawa International Film Festival where Round Ireland with a Fridge was nominated for Best Comedy.
Tony Hawks donated half of the royalties from his book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to a trust fund for Moldova, which was used to open the Hippocrates Centre, a medical centre that provides rehabilitative therapy for disabled children from socially vulnerable families. Hawks continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement. Hawks is the co-founder and public face of the "Tennis for Free" campaign which aims to make Britain's existing municipal tennis facilities available to all.
He is frequently confused with Tony Hawk, largely because the latter's video game franchise uses the possessive apostrophe ("Tony Hawk's"). Hawks maintains a list of emails intended for the skateboarder and his mischievous responses to them on his website. On 2 January 2008 he appeared on an edition of Celebrity Mastermind, with Tony Hawk as his chosen specialised subject. Hawks noted that his correspondents "might be able to do backside varials but they can't spell to save their lives."
In September he will begin his first National Theatre tour since 2003 with a new one man show called Random Fun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 12, 2015
Tony Hawks enjoys challenges. He has written pop songs, taken entire football teams at tennis and dragged a small fridge around Ireland. But these have been short transitory affairs. This next challenge is much bigger, life changing and permanent. Having been a town dweller all his life, he has taken the bold step of moving to the country; not just the outskirts of London, but far, far west into the wilds of the Devon countryside.
Coming with him is his partner Fran. They first met at the Samuel Johnson book awards presentation, having been introduced by the Hislop’s, and have been together ever since. She is half Filipino, and it was whilst on holiday there that he woke in the middle of the night with this desire to move out of the city. Fran though he was just dreaming; but in the morning the urge was stronger. Hawks wanted to have neighbours he spoke to and food to grow so he could live more ethically and not just be a consumer of stuff. This wasn’t to be a second home, nor an idyllic chocolate box cottage. Instead they chose a community close to Dartmoor that functioned as a village should do. The estate agent couldn’t actually believe that they wanted to live there. Straight after viewing the property, they signed up to an allotment; somehow it felt right.
Thankfully they get the house. Hawks throws himself into village life, hoping that enthusiasm will hide the lack of experience and knowledge that need for almost all rural activities. He is no Alan Titchmarsh, as his first attempts at growing vegetables end in the total devastation of the crops. They undertake an organic gardening course in the hope of being able to keep the plants alive; but embracing the green way of life leads to painful (for him) and hilarious (for us) consequences. Thankfully his new neighbours are well versed in all things practical, and Ken in particular, digs Tony out of the mire many times. He ends up as chairman of the village hall committee and is subject to the meetings about the location of the recycling bins. He has a go at zumba too; but only the once... The roads in Devon are very different to London, even though there are 10,000 miles of them, they are not much wider than a car. He has stare offs with the locals to see who will back down, and several scares when driving a tractor in a rally.
A little while after they move down, they find out that Fran is expecting. This means that he might just have time to squeeze in a tiny solo adventure to raise money for a Moldavian charity that he supports. Not wanting to make things easy for himself, he is aiming to cycle from the north Devon coast to the channel; hard enough you’d think as it is pretty hilly there, but he is intending on doing it with a small pig called Titch. Daft, but then you wouldn’t expect anything less from Hawks.
This is another great book from him. The writing style is chatty as you would expect, and very very funny as his other books have been, so much so that I had to put the book down and wipe the tears away a few times. I love his enthusiasm too; he is willing to give anything a go too, and his recollection of these events make for entertaining and amusing reading.
Coming with him is his partner Fran. They first met at the Samuel Johnson book awards presentation, having been introduced by the Hislop’s, and have been together ever since. She is half Filipino, and it was whilst on holiday there that he woke in the middle of the night with this desire to move out of the city. Fran though he was just dreaming; but in the morning the urge was stronger. Hawks wanted to have neighbours he spoke to and food to grow so he could live more ethically and not just be a consumer of stuff. This wasn’t to be a second home, nor an idyllic chocolate box cottage. Instead they chose a community close to Dartmoor that functioned as a village should do. The estate agent couldn’t actually believe that they wanted to live there. Straight after viewing the property, they signed up to an allotment; somehow it felt right.
Thankfully they get the house. Hawks throws himself into village life, hoping that enthusiasm will hide the lack of experience and knowledge that need for almost all rural activities. He is no Alan Titchmarsh, as his first attempts at growing vegetables end in the total devastation of the crops. They undertake an organic gardening course in the hope of being able to keep the plants alive; but embracing the green way of life leads to painful (for him) and hilarious (for us) consequences. Thankfully his new neighbours are well versed in all things practical, and Ken in particular, digs Tony out of the mire many times. He ends up as chairman of the village hall committee and is subject to the meetings about the location of the recycling bins. He has a go at zumba too; but only the once... The roads in Devon are very different to London, even though there are 10,000 miles of them, they are not much wider than a car. He has stare offs with the locals to see who will back down, and several scares when driving a tractor in a rally.
A little while after they move down, they find out that Fran is expecting. This means that he might just have time to squeeze in a tiny solo adventure to raise money for a Moldavian charity that he supports. Not wanting to make things easy for himself, he is aiming to cycle from the north Devon coast to the channel; hard enough you’d think as it is pretty hilly there, but he is intending on doing it with a small pig called Titch. Daft, but then you wouldn’t expect anything less from Hawks.
This is another great book from him. The writing style is chatty as you would expect, and very very funny as his other books have been, so much so that I had to put the book down and wipe the tears away a few times. I love his enthusiasm too; he is willing to give anything a go too, and his recollection of these events make for entertaining and amusing reading.
April 16, 2018
So, this is not the laugh out loud every other page like Hawks previous books but it is a gentle, rather sedate look at his move to Dartmoor, Devon with his partner, Fran from London.
In the middle of the book there is a challenge though to raise money for Tony’s Moldovan kids’ charity which brought back memories of the just wonderful ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’. This time he’ll be cycling on an electric bike with a micro pig called Titch from the north coast of Devon at Ilfracombe to the southern coast at Plymouth. That’s right, a micro pig. It is a real 3-month-old pig.
The transition to Devon and trying to integrate into a new community means Tony and Fran putting themselves out there to assist and this includes a torture evening for Tony of calling out bingo numbers for two hours and on another day being in-charge of an out-of-control tractor (very slow out-of-control tractor) with no brakes.
All of this pales into insignificance due to another factor that will turn Tony and Fran’s life upside down. The thing about Hawks books is that he just comes across as a thoroughly decent fellow. You just know that he is going to get himself in trouble and there will be plenty of mishaps along the way but you root for him to get through it and succeed and he normally does.
In the middle of the book there is a challenge though to raise money for Tony’s Moldovan kids’ charity which brought back memories of the just wonderful ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’. This time he’ll be cycling on an electric bike with a micro pig called Titch from the north coast of Devon at Ilfracombe to the southern coast at Plymouth. That’s right, a micro pig. It is a real 3-month-old pig.
The transition to Devon and trying to integrate into a new community means Tony and Fran putting themselves out there to assist and this includes a torture evening for Tony of calling out bingo numbers for two hours and on another day being in-charge of an out-of-control tractor (very slow out-of-control tractor) with no brakes.
All of this pales into insignificance due to another factor that will turn Tony and Fran’s life upside down. The thing about Hawks books is that he just comes across as a thoroughly decent fellow. You just know that he is going to get himself in trouble and there will be plenty of mishaps along the way but you root for him to get through it and succeed and he normally does.
May 23, 2015
Not his best book, sad to say. The roadtrip wasn't nearly as impressive as the trip in Round Ireland with a fridge, the description of transition to country life not as profound as in A piano in the Pyrenees and the charity challenge bleak compared to Playing the Moldovans at tennis. This latest book seems to be a medley of the previous ones, with the addition of diary-like reflections on the environment and parenthood, which sometimes are borderline preachy. The thing is, Hawks is so damn likeable and his selfdepricating antics keep adding to your desire to love all his work. The book is by no means bad, as it sticks to his succesful formula. It's just that it made me realise once again what a great read his three other aformentioned books were.
August 3, 2015
Tony Hawks is brilliantly funny, and I am from Devon... I was always bound to like this book!
July 5, 2016
Pretty good and the fairly long section where he was Cycling with a micro pig was a reminder of how good Hawks can be when recounting how an off beat adventure can engender unity however the scope of the book is bigger than this encapsulating impending parenthood and settling into a new area and as such at times seemed a bit disjointed.
That said although I wouldn't say this was vintage Hawks (not sure if he has been around long enough for vintage status mind) there where some genuinely humorous moments which is always good in a book intended to provide them.
That said although I wouldn't say this was vintage Hawks (not sure if he has been around long enough for vintage status mind) there where some genuinely humorous moments which is always good in a book intended to provide them.
April 28, 2015
For anyone who has read a Tony Hawkes book before this is exactly what you would expect.
For those who havent it is a joyful, narrative which demands little from you other than to read and enjoy. Now read this and read his other books and find out what you have missed.
Loved it.
For those who havent it is a joyful, narrative which demands little from you other than to read and enjoy. Now read this and read his other books and find out what you have missed.
Loved it.
June 15, 2016
Another enjoyable Tony Hawks book. I particularly liked that this one included more of "daily life" than the challenges as in Round Ireland with a Fridge - Hawks writes in a very absorbing, entertaining way, and the scenes towards the end (will try to avoid spoilers!) were vivid and compelling.
February 10, 2017
Amusing throughout, and genuinely laugh out loud funny in other places, as comedian and writer Tony Hawks and his partner Fran leave London for a cottage in rural Devon. They embrace their complete change of lifestyle and pace. Hugely enjoyable.
August 14, 2020
It was more like a 21/2 Stars for me. It was weaker than his other books but he’s a funny and self deprecating guy with many anecdotes to tell. The three day charity trip with Titch was a bit dragged out as was the baby preparations and birth. I’m sure he’s a very doting father now five years on. On a practical level he got lucky with very supportive neighbours and all the village hall committee outcomes would have been more interesting. A good “escape to the country” and one which seemed to really work out.
April 23, 2017
This is a very gentle and funny autobiographical read about move to Devon from London, a fund-raising journey with a pig across Devon and childbirth. I really enjoyed it. Tony Hawks writes in a very engaging way and maintained my interest right through the book. There are some laugh out loud moments too, especially when he gets stung, but generally I just smiled as I read.
October 6, 2025
This is very much a 3.5 rounded up because I have loved all of good previous books. this one just fell a little bit flat, and I'm not sure why. perhaps because it wasn't as madcap. Travelling around Ireland with a fridge or playing the Maldovan football team at tennis are rather more "out there" compared to moving to Devon and having a baby.
There are plenty of times that thing me smiling, but nothing particularly laugh out loud in this one.
Entertaining and enjoyable in a very whimsical, soft British way
There are plenty of times that thing me smiling, but nothing particularly laugh out loud in this one.
Entertaining and enjoyable in a very whimsical, soft British way
January 26, 2022
Just like Tony's other books, this is very funny and hugely enjoyable. His move from London to the South West made me laugh out loud. Highly recommended.
July 10, 2024
Engaging and entertaining. This was an easy read.
June 3, 2023
Easy entertaining read. Chuckle to self funny
April 11, 2018
A Christmas present from a family member who does not know me too well, this book made me laugh out loud. I had never heard of this celebrity author before, and do not like his language at times. But I read it all the same, and loved the dry humour of a man who rode coast to coast across Devon, with a pig under his anorak.
July 28, 2016
What Tony Did Next... and since he's done most of the mad things you can't think of, you know it has to be relatively mundane. Except that it isn't.
I do rather enjoy a word ramble in the British Isles and Tony Hawks falling in love and moving to Devon seemed like a reasonable enough pastime. And then I laughed and snorted a few times. This wasn't A Year in Provence, it wasn't even Hawks' own Piano in the Pyrenees. The man gets on and does proper local stuff, the dreary stuff, aided and abetted by his very splendid sounding partner, and without being sneery about it.
For those who want the usual loony travel quest, he throws in a mini one - inspired by a bet he never accepted and even the offerer disappeared, and over in little more than a chapter or two. Actually, not really that mini except that it was only three days - even the electrically assisted bicycle aspect wasn't that straightforward (as I well know) and his companion was micro.
He pontificates a good deal about the state of the planet and such like. And then he pontificates quite startlingly about some other stuff. And I am delighted he has because people reading this book for a laugh (which they are quite likely to get) may listen to him when they would never be receptive to the same perspectives offered by someone else. And I had a little cry. Especially at the lovely but also very important photo at the end.
I do rather enjoy a word ramble in the British Isles and Tony Hawks falling in love and moving to Devon seemed like a reasonable enough pastime. And then I laughed and snorted a few times. This wasn't A Year in Provence, it wasn't even Hawks' own Piano in the Pyrenees. The man gets on and does proper local stuff, the dreary stuff, aided and abetted by his very splendid sounding partner, and without being sneery about it.
For those who want the usual loony travel quest, he throws in a mini one - inspired by a bet he never accepted and even the offerer disappeared, and over in little more than a chapter or two. Actually, not really that mini except that it was only three days - even the electrically assisted bicycle aspect wasn't that straightforward (as I well know) and his companion was micro.
He pontificates a good deal about the state of the planet and such like. And then he pontificates quite startlingly about some other stuff. And I am delighted he has because people reading this book for a laugh (which they are quite likely to get) may listen to him when they would never be receptive to the same perspectives offered by someone else. And I had a little cry. Especially at the lovely but also very important photo at the end.
December 7, 2016
Great glimpse of a life of an individual that picked up their life from a major city and moved to the country. It a comical light he talks about the new (really the old) ways of life and how his wife and him approached these challenges. Along with getting to know this new town he takes on his own country adventures for the sake of it which brings you to reading about a small pig and a bicycle, you must read to find out.
November 15, 2016
Tony Hawks seems like a really likeable guy. This is a funny, gentle book. Yes, nothing earth-shattering happens in it (he nearly falls off a bike while carrying a pig), but he makes it very readable. I read this on the train and couldn't stop laughing!
January 7, 2017
Refreshingly funny...
October 3, 2016
Entertaining read. Not quite as good as his previous ones, but kept me engaged throughout.
December 5, 2018
An entertaining but slightly laborious read, in need of a good editor.
The premise of Londoners moving to a village in Devon is fruitful, and Hawks does produce many colorful stories, acute observations and fun anecdotes, helped by the fact that he actively participates in village hall committee and other activities.
There's just a lot of padding. Many parts of the book reads like an unedited diary - there actually was a sentence along the lines of "The journey back was uneventful." A reader really doesn't need to know the boring details - just the meaty bits. Even many of the jokes are watered down when Hawks just doesn't know to stop at the punchline.
Large chunks of the book are dedicated to the pregnancy and birth of their first-born. Obviously a significant life event for them - but not very interesting to an outsider. I chose the book as a companion for a holiday in Devon, so Devonian life interested me. And I doubt that anyone else picked up the book for insightful advice on home birth either.
Moreover, every few pages Hawks would go off a tangent, and throw in a rather naive sermon or pseudo-philosophical musings. On nature or The System or whatnot. Nothing new, nothing especially insightful, and totally at odds with the general humorous tone of the book.
So: 100 pages judiciously off the 350 paperback length, and I'd love the book.
The premise of Londoners moving to a village in Devon is fruitful, and Hawks does produce many colorful stories, acute observations and fun anecdotes, helped by the fact that he actively participates in village hall committee and other activities.
There's just a lot of padding. Many parts of the book reads like an unedited diary - there actually was a sentence along the lines of "The journey back was uneventful." A reader really doesn't need to know the boring details - just the meaty bits. Even many of the jokes are watered down when Hawks just doesn't know to stop at the punchline.
Large chunks of the book are dedicated to the pregnancy and birth of their first-born. Obviously a significant life event for them - but not very interesting to an outsider. I chose the book as a companion for a holiday in Devon, so Devonian life interested me. And I doubt that anyone else picked up the book for insightful advice on home birth either.
Moreover, every few pages Hawks would go off a tangent, and throw in a rather naive sermon or pseudo-philosophical musings. On nature or The System or whatnot. Nothing new, nothing especially insightful, and totally at odds with the general humorous tone of the book.
So: 100 pages judiciously off the 350 paperback length, and I'd love the book.
June 4, 2025
After hitchhiking round Ireland with a fridge, taking on the Moldovan football team at tennis, (one by one, not all at once!) Tony Hawks has already met with a few challenges. After buying a house in the Pyrenees he's now on the move again, this time to the wilds of the West Country. Moving to rural Devon might not be everybodys idea of a challenge but he also finds himself cycling coast to coast with a pig called Titch, becoming a bingo caller for the village hall (something he'll never tackle again!), taking part in a tractor run & finally the biggest life-changing challenge he'll ever face... becoming a first-time parent.
If you've read any of Hawks' previous books you'll know what to expect with Hawks getting himself involved in silly & often rather absurd situations & meeting plenty of eccentric characters along the way . An entertaining read that while not laugh-out-loud funny will cause your mouth to twitch into a little smile at times - I found the footnotes especially amusing - though I was disappointed that there wasn't a photo of Titch included.
If you've read any of Hawks' previous books you'll know what to expect with Hawks getting himself involved in silly & often rather absurd situations & meeting plenty of eccentric characters along the way . An entertaining read that while not laugh-out-loud funny will cause your mouth to twitch into a little smile at times - I found the footnotes especially amusing - though I was disappointed that there wasn't a photo of Titch included.
April 11, 2020
I had high hopes for this book. Whilst I don’t live in the city (I live in commuter belt) I aspire to a way of life like that which Tony was aiming for in the West Country. I’m a fan of his anyway, and enjoyed Fridge and Moldovans immensely. His Norman Wisdom book was equally good.
This was a very pleasant read, which mimics the lifestyle described. If you’re expecting *another* fridge you’ll be disappointed. It’s got echoes of it, but it’s a much wider look at his life. There are a few genuinely laugh out loud moments, but on the whole it’s just a happy, sometimes whimsical look at what happens in his new village.
I recommend it, even if you’re not a known fan of Tony, as by the end of it you’ll feel like you’ve spent a few hours in the company of a friendly, down-to-earth man who has some great stories to tell.
This was a very pleasant read, which mimics the lifestyle described. If you’re expecting *another* fridge you’ll be disappointed. It’s got echoes of it, but it’s a much wider look at his life. There are a few genuinely laugh out loud moments, but on the whole it’s just a happy, sometimes whimsical look at what happens in his new village.
I recommend it, even if you’re not a known fan of Tony, as by the end of it you’ll feel like you’ve spent a few hours in the company of a friendly, down-to-earth man who has some great stories to tell.
March 27, 2022
This book has a lot of self-promotion, especially at the start where the tie-ins to Hawks’s other projects don’t seem to stop. But it is an enjoyable read with some unique moments, even if it is a little biopic. The humour is what tends to expect of a city lad who isn’t used to chatting to reserved people. As the book progresses, it’s clear that Hawks’s usefulness to society is becoming more and more irrelevant. It’s the way that every trivial thing described becomes an obstacle which he can only solve by seeking help from others. As well as the odd handy fact, Hawks also loves to digress and daydream a bit with his wonderful anecdotes. It’s a shame that few photographs were published in this tale. The true question is whether this book is a swan song. Perhaps he will ride that tractor from coast to coast. After all, a bet has officially been made. Only time will tell.
May 31, 2017
A joyful and amusing read, perfect if you are feeling low or a little jaded. Tony Hawks is an entertaining writer, occasionally in danger of tripping up his narrative with jokes. There are plenty of mirth inducing moments, especially the chapters about a cross country cycle ride with micro pig Titch. Hawks writes very movingly and honestly about becoming a father. This will strike a chord with any parent. As with his other books, his humour is backed up by substance, and gives pause for thought. Tony must be incredibly fit if his cycle ride in pursuit of a haircut is to be believed. He sets off on a Wednesday morning "as the spring sunshine"... turned" into a mild and pleasant day" but within a couple of pages he is basking in the "soft autumn sun". No wonder his legs ached! 📕☕📖
May 2, 2021
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be 'relentless'.. it is well written, and certainly humourous, but I felt that the authour was trying too hard to cram jokes and witticisms into every single paragraph. accordingly, I really struggled to be able to manage more than about 20 pages in one sitting, and given that it is certainly light fare and easy to read, that shouldn't really be the case.. I just felt a little exhausted by the constant barrage of humour. the story itself is charming enough, and the authour seems to be a nice person with commendable values about sustainability etc, and whilst I can't imagine reading this book again, it hasn't put me off seeking out his other work, which my wife informs me is a little bit better.
December 29, 2018
Although not quite on the same level as his forays in Ireland, this was still an amusing book in Hawks' jovial style, if a little short on the variety that could have made this better.
Whereas his previous efforts have been around joke bets, this covered more of the day-to-day living as Hawks and his partner moved to Devon to start a family. As a result, there was not the same level of frivolity and a bit more 'neighbour helps out with problem.' I like Hawks' writing and it is rarely dull but despite the challenge of cycling across Devon with a micropig the content didn't quite grab me in the same way, even if I still enjoyed it.
Whereas his previous efforts have been around joke bets, this covered more of the day-to-day living as Hawks and his partner moved to Devon to start a family. As a result, there was not the same level of frivolity and a bit more 'neighbour helps out with problem.' I like Hawks' writing and it is rarely dull but despite the challenge of cycling across Devon with a micropig the content didn't quite grab me in the same way, even if I still enjoyed it.
July 27, 2018
A third of the way through I thought, "There has got to be a bet. Otherwise this is going to be a hell of a long treatise on Tony's feelings of inadequacy about impending parenthood." Then there was the bet. Well, a challenge rather than a bet. Perhaps not as daft as the fridge in Ireland, or as epic and moving as tennis in Moldova, but charming nonetheless.
And then there is this sentence that we should all do well to incorporate in our own lives: "We decided that 'love' should be defined as 'wanting the other person to be happy'."
And then there is this sentence that we should all do well to incorporate in our own lives: "We decided that 'love' should be defined as 'wanting the other person to be happy'."
November 22, 2019
Full of gentle humour and lovable, recognisable characters. One thing to take from this book, for me, is that adventure (and misadventure) can be found almost anywhere if you are open and willing to offer yourself up for challenges, whether big or small, and don't mind making a complete prat of yourself (as Tony himself might put it). From narrowly averting death whilst driving a tractor by driving into a hedgerow, to bonding with a pig in a posh hotel, to a tedious evening spent calling "meat bingo", Tony says yes to life and yes to having a jolly good story to tell at the end of it all.
December 7, 2018
Tender and frequently funny. As the first book from Hawks I’ve read, the references to his previous works mostly flew over my head but this is a wholesome, innocent story about man in the countryside.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews