From Paella to Porridge: A Farewell to Mallorca and a Scottish Adventure - Paperback

by Peter Kerr (Author)

This is the fifth and final book in Peter Kerr's award-winning pentad of fun-filled Mallorcan travelogues, which also includes Snowball Oranges, Mañana Mañana, Viva Mallorca! and A Basketful of Snowflakes.After three years of hard work, the Kerr family say a reluctant goodbye to their little orange farm in the Tramuntana Mountains. Their Mallorcan experience comes to an end with a surprise paella feast, full of bonhomie, though tempered with an inescapable sense of poignancy. Now begins their return-to-Scotland adventure. A period of challenges and change finds them attempting to start a deer farm on the brow of a remote hill, and trying to earn a living by restoring houses in the rolling East Lothian countryside. Yet they still find time to explore their homeland with fresh eyes, visiting such places as the 'Biarritz of the North', once a haven for witches and Treasure Island pirates, and even gaining an insider's view of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. There's never a dull moment in the Kerr household - even when it's porridge for breakfast!

Author Biography

Peter Kerr, the best-selling Scottish author, was born in Lossiemouth, Morayshire, in 1940. His award-winning 'Snowball Oranges' series of five Mallorcan-based books have sold in large numbers worldwide and have been translated into eleven languages. They recount the often hilarious adventures experienced by Peter and his family while running a small orange farm on the Spanish island during the 1980s. 'Thistle Soup' is a prequel to these books and is a humorous though sometimes poignant account of his boyhood in East Lothian, 'The Garden of Scotland', where he eventually followed in his farming grandfather's footsteps. Peter now concentrates on writing fiction. His first novel, 'The Mallorca Connection', was a rare mix of suspense and comedy and has been followed to date by four other equally quirky yarns, with both Spanish and Scottish settings. In the 1960s, Peter was a jazz musician - the clarinettist-leader of Scotland's premier jazzband, 'The Clyde Valley Stompers', with whom he recorded the hit version of 'Peter and the Wolf' for Beatles producer George Martin. From 1970 onwards, Peter combined farming beef and barley in East Lothian with freelance record production, hitting the jackpot with the biggest-selling instrumental single of all time, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 'Amazing Grace'. He also wrote the music and lyrics (some say bizarrely!) for The Krankies' trademark song, 'Fan-Dabi-Dozi'. Peter, married with two sons, now lives in East Lothian and has recently published his first historical novel, 'Song of the Eight Winds', which is set in 13th century Mallorca. Website: www.peter-kerr.co.uk