I’ve spent a lifetime observing people — in business, in travel, and now in the dusty little corner of Andalusia I call home. Once upon a time, I was an Internet Marketing Guru, a public speaker, and yes — hands up — the chap behind those persuasive letters and glossy brochures that filled your letterbox back in the golden days of direct mail. I’ve owned international estate agencies, launched businesses in different countries, and learned that wherever you go, people are wonderfully funny, flawed, and fascinating.

These days, my boardroom is a café terrace in a sleepy Spanish village, where I hold the unofficial title of “expat grandfather.” Here, over a café con leche, I watch life unfold in all its eccentric glory and weave those observations into my books. They’re not guidebooks, nor are they glossy tourist fantasies — they’re snapshots of the real Spain, told with humour, warmth, and just enough mischief to make you laugh out loud.

The Brits Abroad series — including titles like Living the Dream, Fines & Fiestas, Teabags to Tapas and more — grew out of these everyday moments. They mix local colour with the kind of situations we’ve all found ourselves in: neighbours who drive you mad but you couldn’t live without, fiestas that descend into glorious chaos, and the bittersweet pathos of starting over in a new country. They’re books you can read cover to cover, or just dip into when you need a laugh and a reminder of why we all came here in the first place.

I’m always delighted to hear from readers — whether you’re an expat yourself, someone dreaming of Spanish sunshine, or just in need of a chuckle. Drop me a line, share your own stories, or simply enjoy mine. After all, life is too short not to laugh at ourselves, especially when the sangria’s flowing and the fiesta drums are still beating at 6 a.m.