Snowball Oranges

By Peter Kerr

Getting tired of the cold winters and damp weather of Scotland, Peter Kerr and his wife Ellie bought a small farm on the island of Majorca. Switching from farming barley to farming oranges was a huge change but probably the hardest part of the move was coping with the inconveniences of the old farm house that came with the property.
The area was very scenic with warm, mild weather, yet the old house came with a host of problems, none of which Kerr had been warned of by the previous owners. The wiring was inadequate, the septic tank a disgrace, the chimney a fire hazard, the washing machine kaput, the stove, besides needing a new canister of propane, was, in the words of the repairman, a bomb, as was the water boiler. The farm had its problems too with its diseased, neglected, weed-choked orchards.
Still, the Kerrs settled in, with their two teenage sons, and made themselves at home with the help of their generous, odd and charming neighbors.

This was an enjoyable book to read with its descriptions of beautiful scenery, delicious local foods, and of the quirky and amusing natives. And although you sympathize with the Kerr's struggles, you get the feeling that, though frustrated at times, on the whole, they very much enjoyed the time they spent in Majorca. It certainly made for a fun and entertaining interlude reading about their adventures.