Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia – Special Anniversary Edition (with new chapter 25 years on)

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My wife bought this book about ten years ago having heard a review on Radio 2. She enjoyed reading it and so did I. More than that, it inspired us to move to Spain. I must admit, though, that we didn´t entirely follow in Chris Stewart's footsteps - working a farm in the

Stewart's adventure in Andalucia is what dreams are made of and has been an absolute delight to read about. The lush gardens set within the mountains seems an idyllic location to set up home and he'll be the envy of millions 'living the dream'. " — Tim, 11/26/2013 I had recently learnt a piece by Gaspar Sanz, the “Dance of the Washerwomen”, and there was a part of me that wondered if they might not stop what they were doing and dance, if I were to play that piece. Fortunately, I did not put this half-witted notion to the test.Stopped reading about midway through because the author isn't a good writer nor a good storyteller. He is good at entertaining himself with adventures and travels, but not telling the stories of them. " — Donna, 3/29/2013 The Realtor takes him around to look at the various farms, driving down a road next to a lemon orchard where he had to drive over the lemons that had been blown onto the road, so the title of this book. Once at the entrance to the farm, he learns that he had to walk an hour to get to it. Then, when he describes the farm, I think, the title of this book should have been, Buying a Lemon, because, first, there is no road access, and then he learns that there is no water or electricity, but there are scorpions. Sold! If only we lived in Spain!" we each said to the other. So we came to Spain one April to see if we really did want to live in it — and we did, and after eleven years, we still don’t regret it, not one bit.

Oh no not another move-to-rural-utopia memoir. But I forgive this one because it's strictly non-pretentious, non-precious, gentle and funny. And rather well-written. " — SP, 2/7/2013 By the time I got to Valencia, the oranges were ripe and I found work on the harvest. It was not as easy as you’d think; it takes a particular twist of the wrist to free the orange from the tree. A wonderful antidote to…modern electronic life. I love this book.”–Peter Mayle, author of A Year in Provence Chris, thank you for your inspiring reflection, I am preparing to relocate to Andalucia. Like yourself I am passionate about the land of my grandparents. Still trying to figure out where I will settle, finances are a consideration. Wishing your wife & you “la vida dulce”. It was true: whereas everybody else had colourful plastic clothes-pegs, we had wooden ones, one piece only and traditionally made by gipsies. The reason behind this was that we had a parrot, and the parrot would destroy plastic clothes-pegs in no time flat. But that was neither here nor there; the wooden pegs marked us as ineluctably different. We spoke good Spanish, though, but with funny accents, and our child, who was obviously fluent in the local dialect, felt humiliated yet more by our differentness.

A: As I write this, the sky looks nasty over to the west. I suspect we’re about to lose the bridge again — so, more bridge building. But, apart from that there are endless projects — planting more olives and oranges, rebuilding the stone walls of the terraces everywhere, re-cutting water channels, re-foresting the hillside, just generally trying to revive the place and see if it can’t make us a living instead of being a bottomless pit in which to throw money. We’re also registering with the appropriate authority as an organic farm. There’s also modifying the house a bit to see if we can’t enjoy at least a modicum of comfort. We keep busy. Walsh, John (5 June 2014). "Former Genesis drummer Chris Stewart publishes his latest dispatch". Independent.co.uk. During those years I travelled, hitching mostly, over all of Europe… all except for Spain, which was burdened at the time by a thoroughly disagreeable dictatorship, and seemed altogether too unappetising. Alvaro and Manuel, La Pepa, added: “We are delighted to be working with this multi-talented team to bring Driving Over Lemons to life, particularly as huge fans of Dan’s writing and work. The physical production of the show will take place in the heart of Andalusia for maximum authenticity and to bring the evocative landscape and people of the area to the screen. We cannot wait to show off our beautiful country to international audiences.” Ana told me that shortly after we moved to El Valero, and I was really rather moved by it. Perhaps Ana had been thinking of those words when she followed me uncomplainingly to Andalucia.

The drama will follow hapless optimist, Chris and his pragmatic wife Ana, as they uprooting from the UK to Andalusia, in an attempt to build a new life in the Alpujarra mountains. As idyllic as their remote, picturesque farmhouse El Valero might look, no running water is just the start of the challenges the couple will face, but no matter how tough things get, they never have to look far for oddball expats and friendly locals willing to lend a hand and offer advice.

Lo mejor del libro es la naturalidad. Este extranjero viene y no idealiza al mundo rural, tampoco se idealiza a sí mismo. Tiene sentido del humor y se nota que ama el lugar en donde está. Eso hace que a una casi le den ganas de tomar sus pilchas y buscar su propio paraíso-no paraíso agreste. Christopher 'Chris' Stewart (born 1951), was the original drummer and a founding member of Genesis. He is now a farmer and an author. A classmate of Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel at Charterhouse School, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips, called Anon. This band eventually became Genesis in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)