I had to learn to do things for myself though because it was difficult to find anyone to come all the way out here to work. He and his wife learn about the area and about the quirky residents of the nearby farms, some of whom are also foreigners. A funny, generous, wonderfully written account of a family making a life and home in remote but enchanting southern Spain—from the first drummer of the rock band Genesis. Nowadays with ever more mechanical harvesting the pêches de vigne are being grubbed out and are in danger of extinction. Richard tries his hand at busking on a mouth organ in an attempt to emulate Lee, who earned money for everyday living by playing the violin.

There were white houses covered in the scrags of last year's vines and decked with bright geraniums and bougainvillea; mules were ploughing; boiler-suited growers were bent bum-up amid perfect lines of vegetables; a palm tree shaded the road where hens were swimming in the dust. If it rains, the water must be contained so it can be used later in the year when drought takes hold. I found a large vat and some cases of wine in his shed and took it outside where I thought it would be a good place for scorpions to come. What they had was a pig feast, and when I heard that they were going to kill two pigs, I couldn’t listen.

Chris and Ana’s sometimes comic adventures are set against a backdrop of the spectacular mountain scenery of Southern Spain, warmed both by the sun and the spirit of the local community.

I left with Ds in English, French and Fine Art, on the strength of which I was accepted, unaccountably, by Leeds University to study fine art.It’s in the fruit and the trees – the pomegranate from Persia, the oranges from China, and almonds, saffron and aubergines. In lyrical prose, he describes the sights, sounds and smells of a population carving a simple life full of both poverty and beauty. Deep down I knew that I wasn’t going to cut the mustard as a professional musician, so I decided to be a shepherd instead. If you've ever wished for a simpler, pastoral life, you would probably enjoy this a bit more than I did.

Dan Sefton said: “Chris’s book is utterly charming and filled with as much warmth as a summers’ day in Spain. It’s funny too, and if the book has a message – which I hope it does – then it may be that laughter is the best way to cope with adversity.This funny book is required reading for anyone who has ever dreamed of taking up the pastoral life in a foreign country. Chronicling his family's assimilation into the local landscape and culture it is written with warmth and a darkly dry humour that had me laughing. Escrito por el primer bateria del Grupo Génesis, este libro autobiográfico nos cuenta las vivencias del autor y su mujer en el cortijo El Valero que compraron en plenas Alpujarras granadinas. Here we have space, solitary wilderness to walk the dogs; we have our own oranges and olive oil; we pick lemons, almonds and apricots from our trees.