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

Snowball Oranges #5

by Peter Kerr

The Kerr family say goodbye to their orange farm in Mallorca, and put it up for sale after three years of hard work. The Mallorcan experience comes to an end with a farewell fiesta for neighbours and friends, full of comic shenanigans but tinged with sadness. But now begins the return-to-Scotland adventure, and what a cultural shock is in store. Welcomed back by family, the Kerrs make plans to start a deer farm on a remote hillside, the beginning of a period of challenges and change, of buying and restoring houses in the lovely Scottish countryside. Meanwhile, Peter explores Scotland with fresh eyes, visiting such places as the 'Biarritz of the North' where Robert Louis Stevenson used to holiday, and giving us an insider's view of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. There's never a dull moment in the Kerr household.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Peter Kerr, the award-winning Scottish author of the 'Snowball Oranges' pentad of humorous Mallorcan travelogues, is a former jazz musician, record producer and farmer. He has also written a range of fiction titles, including the 'Bob Burns Investigates' trilogy of humour-spiked mysteries and 'Song of the Eight Winds', a historical novel set in 13th century Spain. 'Thistle Soup' is a set-in-Scotland prequel to 'Snowball Oranges', while 'Don't Call Me Clyde!' is a memoir of his life as a young jazz musician in early-60s London. A comedy-laced caper called 'The Other Monarch of the Glen' is set in the Scottish Highlands and was published in December 2017, while 'Goblin Hall', a humour-peppered fantasy adventure for a family readership, was published in April 2020. July 2021 saw the release of 'Jen - A Border Collie's Tale', the heart-warming life story of an old farm dog, narrated by Jen herself. 'Author - Don't Make Me Laugh', an amusing though frank and revealing account of the long road to becoming a published author at sixty, was published in November 2024. Peter, an accomplished artist, also illustrates his own books. His reputation as an entertaining and amusing speaker has resulted in regular appearances at book festivals and similar literary events throughout the UK and abroad.

Reviews

[Philip Raby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book in that the author simply recalls often mundane events in his life. It's not funny, it's not gripping but it is oddly enjoyable to read. My only gripe is that the dialogue is false and contrived; perhaps because the book was written many years after the events took place.

I'd be tempted to read other books in the series.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always an amusing and well-written book. A continuation of the drawn-out saga of Peter Kerr and his long-suffering family. I spent the whole of the last book wondering why they left Mallorca, and now I know (you will have to read it to find out). I know East Lothian quite well so I really enjoyed his descriptions of that area. Yet again I am left wondering what happened next.

[Paul Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins well but I think the wrap up to their lives in Mallorca is too rushed. Conversely there are many many pages of Scottish history that feel like filler and could have been dispensed with. Disappointing.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As enjoyable as the others.

[Fiona Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite sure while I persevered with this book and actually finished it. I think I was hoping that something was going to happen. But a gentle easy read . Back to a nice murder now I think.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerr does a good job bring the family's story full circle.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been following the escapades of the Kerr family in Mallorca you'll just have to read this to find out why they eventually left.