Last Days of the Bus Club
Reviewed By Grasshopper2 August 11, 2014
Author Chris Stewart
Distributor:
ISBN: 9781908745439
Publisher: Profile Books
Release Date:
Website: http://www.allenandunwin.com
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This is the fourth book of the Trilogy, “Driving over Lemons”. It is a wonderful, warm, humorous story of an English couple who have bought a rugged farm between a river and the mountains of Grenada in Spain.
Their daughter Chloe was born there, and many happy and hard-working days have passed. Chris is the early morning riser, who gets up, makes Chloe her lunch and drives her to the Bus stop to meet the School Bus. Here he meets his neighbours, Bernardo and Jesus, who kiss their children and see them safely off to school. It is at this Bus stop, information is exchanged, and help is offered or sought.
Every day is filled with plans, chores, and caring for the sheep and other farm animals. As Chris says, “If there’s a race to be run, I’d much prefer to be at the back with the idlers, the dreamers, the wanderers and the philosophers. And this is really the way that he and Ana choose to lead their lives.
Even though Chris, or “Crease”, as the locals call him, has much to occupy his days, he and his wife still find time to enjoy life, food and wine. The Chef and TV Celebrity, Rick Stein, decides to visit and partake of some of the local cuisine. Chris and Ana are happy to oblige and provide a meal of Lambs’ balls and wild boar.
The local characters, farmers and friends, all interact wonderfully with this unusual English couple. Gradually, Chris and Ana work out how to interpret the nuances of the Language and culture. If you are asked to use a 4B pencil to fill in a Government form, then this is an essential part of the process. It can’t be a 2B pencil!
Each chapter follows their farming life, but there is an injection of adventures, weather disasters and new friends to maintain the story.
On one occasion, Chris has a group of English school children visit his farm. The Bus driver refuses to navigate the mountainous road and so Chris attaches an open trailer to his car. He transports the students and Teachers to the farm, much to the delight of all the children. The students have a wonderful time, eating oranges from the trees for the first time in their lives. They also try to start the Tractor, and use what they think is oil. This is actually Chris’s urine which he stores for fermenting and using on the farm as a fertiliser.
This book is full of fun, family and new experiences. Chris’s and Ana’s vision of a self- sustaining farm is becoming a reality. Part of their plan is an open-minded acceptance of the Locals, their knowledge, ways and customs. I sincerely hope there will be a Fifth book in this “Trilogy”.