We all have daydreams about a new, idyllic life – a sophisticated apartment in New York? owning a Game Farm? Living a green, sustainable life and escaping our rushed, digital world? Two people turned a daydream into reality: Sabina Ostrowska and husband Robert Ryan were living the Expat life in the glitzy, materialistic UAE, where Consumerism is King, but life as expat academics lost its charm after 8 years, and the dream of a simple rustic life in Spain grew more and more alluring.After many years of watching TV program Grand Design anchored by Kevin McLeod who always displays boundless confidence regarding owner/builder projects, they were inspired to buy a rustic farm cottage in Andalusia, situated on an olive farm, near the small town of Montefrio . They planned to renovate and upscale the cottage to provide a rustic holiday retreat, and a future income. I wonder if Kevin McLeod has read Sabina’s account of their project? He & his TV programme have a lot to answer for!Book 1, The Crinkle Crankle Wall relates the difficulties, dramas, toil and travails of emigrating to Spain, dealing with Spanish bureaucracy (a nightmare), especially when you don’t speak Spanish; experiencing the harsh Andalusian winter weather, living in terrible conditions on what was more of a building site than anything else; lack of water on their property …. The misery goes on and on, but Sabina and Robert gamely press on and Book 1 ends with her brave declaration that despite everything, their new life is what they want.Book 2, A Hoopoe on the Nispero Tree continues in much the same vein. Sabina give a good humoured and very candid account of their ignorance and incompetence in building matters; their haphazard way of living and tackling tasks; their initial almost complete lack of Spanish …. Luckily for the couple, their farming neighbours were helpful and supportive despite the language barriers. Another godsend were YouTube Tutorials which proved to be invaluable.At the ending of Book 2, lack of money is hampering their desire for full time farm living. What to do? Book3, Olive Leaf Tea awaits, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
THE BOOKSMITH 