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The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad
When Jill and her family moved to Italy she expected life to change but she had no idea how massive that change would be. Shortly after the move, she discovered her husband had been having an affair and had no intentions of staying in Italy. Despite being in a foreign country with no income, limited language skills, a house that needed rebuilding and three young children to care for, she never once considered returning to the UK. With strength and determination she accepted any challenge, dismantling a derelict house to ground level, digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and overcoming her fear of the chainsaw to cut the winter wood. When there was very little money for food she made risotto with nettles collected from the roadside. She overcame many problems learned new skills and discovered that money is not important, and the only things in life that matters are health, happiness and her children. Jill's story is delivered with an ever present hint of humour, because, she says, "Without laughter life wouldn't be funny!"
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 25, 2016
I'm usually a stickler for correct spelling and grammar in anything I read. I can overlook the odd error but when they're persistent, I usually give up. Just occasionally, I come across a book which has such raw integrity about it, I will read it despite its faults. 'Diary' was one such book. It didn't just ask to be read. It reached out of the pages, grabbed me by the throat and demanded to be read. I couldn't stop reading it.
It's the true story of a woman who, with husband and three small children in tow, moves to Italy and to start a new life. Just like countless other such 'happy ever after in the sun' books. Only this one was different. What Jill, the woman in question, didn't know at the time, was that her husband had another woman, who was occupying his time back in England whilst she was bringing up her children, waiting for him to come and join them.
Without wishing to give away any spoilers, not only was the errant husband not coming, nor was any form of financial support for the three children he was effectively abandoning in a foreign country which has no financial assistance for such cases.
Many women would simply have packed up their belongings and headed back to Blighty with the kids in tow. Not our Jill! She wanted a better life for her children than would have awaited them back there. Instead of sitting around bemoaning her lot in life, she simply rolled up her sleeves, like a true Yorkshirewoman, and got on with providing for her family to the best of her ability, with no help from the absent other half.
She worked as and when she could, not easy, since children in Italy only go to school in the mornings so she had to be home to look after them. When there was nothing else to eat, she filled them up with pasta and nettles for a tasty and nutritious meal. Jill's a grafter, and she certainly did graft.
It's a measure of her success that the children have grown up to be well-adjusted and responsible adults, and she's never tried in any way to influence them against their father. For all his faults, he is still their father.
I take my hat off to her. I am filled with admiration at the way she turned around a potentially disastrous situation and made a wonderful life for her family with scarcely a word of complaint. I'm hugely looking forward to reading the next instalment of her life in Italy. If you're reading this, Jill - gerra move on, Doris!
The book has had a bit of a tidy up since it was first published, so the errors are much fewer and further between. Read it. I defy you not to take this woman to your heart once you have done so.
It's the true story of a woman who, with husband and three small children in tow, moves to Italy and to start a new life. Just like countless other such 'happy ever after in the sun' books. Only this one was different. What Jill, the woman in question, didn't know at the time, was that her husband had another woman, who was occupying his time back in England whilst she was bringing up her children, waiting for him to come and join them.
Without wishing to give away any spoilers, not only was the errant husband not coming, nor was any form of financial support for the three children he was effectively abandoning in a foreign country which has no financial assistance for such cases.
Many women would simply have packed up their belongings and headed back to Blighty with the kids in tow. Not our Jill! She wanted a better life for her children than would have awaited them back there. Instead of sitting around bemoaning her lot in life, she simply rolled up her sleeves, like a true Yorkshirewoman, and got on with providing for her family to the best of her ability, with no help from the absent other half.
She worked as and when she could, not easy, since children in Italy only go to school in the mornings so she had to be home to look after them. When there was nothing else to eat, she filled them up with pasta and nettles for a tasty and nutritious meal. Jill's a grafter, and she certainly did graft.
It's a measure of her success that the children have grown up to be well-adjusted and responsible adults, and she's never tried in any way to influence them against their father. For all his faults, he is still their father.
I take my hat off to her. I am filled with admiration at the way she turned around a potentially disastrous situation and made a wonderful life for her family with scarcely a word of complaint. I'm hugely looking forward to reading the next instalment of her life in Italy. If you're reading this, Jill - gerra move on, Doris!
The book has had a bit of a tidy up since it was first published, so the errors are much fewer and further between. Read it. I defy you not to take this woman to your heart once you have done so.
February 16, 2014
The Diary of a Single Parent Abroard by Jill Pennington was published in June 2013. I have enjoyed this tale of an adventure that turned out very differently from the initial plan. When Jill and her husband decided to move to Italy, almost on the spur of the moment, with their three children, they had big dreams. They would buy an old run-down house and renovate it so that it would become their dream home. Their children would be brought up in the sunshine, allowed more freedom than in the UK and eating fresh food, grown on their own land.
It soon became clear to Jill, after leaving everything behind in England, that she and her husband had very different dreams. He intended to carry on the affair that he had been having for some time, and his long-term plans did not include an idyllic life in rural Italy with his family.
Faced with such a shock, many of us would have taken the first flight back home. Back to our family, back to the place where we speak the language and where our friends could support us. Not Jill. With a steely determination and a strength of character that is at times unbelievable, she was determined that she would stay, and that her children would have the life that she longed for them.
Jill's diary takes the reader on her journey. It's a tough journey, and things are never easy for Jill. The language is a barrier, the paperwork, the attitude of Italian builders, and most of all the appalling treatment dished out by her soon-to-be ex husband. Despite all of these hurdles, Jill continued to believe, she continued to get her hands dirty and create the life that she wanted.
The book is written very simply, and from the heart. It's an easy, often funny tale that is honest and straight talking. There are parts of the diary that could do with a re-edit, but this is still an engaging and fascinating look at what it's really like to start over in a new country, with no money, but masses of self-belief.
It soon became clear to Jill, after leaving everything behind in England, that she and her husband had very different dreams. He intended to carry on the affair that he had been having for some time, and his long-term plans did not include an idyllic life in rural Italy with his family.
Faced with such a shock, many of us would have taken the first flight back home. Back to our family, back to the place where we speak the language and where our friends could support us. Not Jill. With a steely determination and a strength of character that is at times unbelievable, she was determined that she would stay, and that her children would have the life that she longed for them.
Jill's diary takes the reader on her journey. It's a tough journey, and things are never easy for Jill. The language is a barrier, the paperwork, the attitude of Italian builders, and most of all the appalling treatment dished out by her soon-to-be ex husband. Despite all of these hurdles, Jill continued to believe, she continued to get her hands dirty and create the life that she wanted.
The book is written very simply, and from the heart. It's an easy, often funny tale that is honest and straight talking. There are parts of the diary that could do with a re-edit, but this is still an engaging and fascinating look at what it's really like to start over in a new country, with no money, but masses of self-belief.
January 24, 2014
What a woman! What a book!
I've read a few expat biographies before, I have friends and relatives who have made the move to foreign climes but I can honestly say I have never read any of this type of book as good as this one before. I had seen this in the amazon recommendations and read a few reviews-some readers mentioned about there being a lot of errors in this book-well I wouldn't agree. Yes there are a few, eg. two missing commas in the acknowledgement page, but hey, the book is so good it really doesn't matter, it more than makes up for it. This isn't your average story of a family deciding to swop their normal lives for a place in the sun and having loads of money to get their luxury home; Jill's plans all turn sour when her husband is found to be having an affair with an ex-neighbour in England and he never makes the move to Italy, leaving Jill and her three children alone with no job. Jill is an amazing woman and she makes a go of things, a real strong character, she can turn her hand to anything. I really admire her, it's amazing to think what she has achieved and she is just about my age and from the town where I live. I would have liked some photos in the book but there is a link to her website and an excellent collection of photo albums on there. The pictures don't take ages to load and they are separated into albums relevant to each chapter. It's nice to see a Huddersfield Town shirt in one of them! There are so many adventures and problems which happen and it's amazing how Jill keeps her 'chin up' throughout each episode, always ending with a jokey punch line. Her ex-husband is mentioned quite a few times but she just tells it like it is, doesn't bad-mouth him and doesn't name him, very dignified about it all. I like the diary format, the book does have structure (one reviewer said it didn't) it is very well presented. Being a musician, I like how Jill often mentions exactly what track she was listening to on the radio or CD at the time as it helps conjure up the atmosphere, a nice touch. Great descriptive writing about the foods-so good you can almost taste them! Jill also includes recipes in the book which also really add to it. I could go on ages about the excellence of this book. Jill is just one year younger than me and yet she's dealt with so much. A memoir with balls! (Hope I can say that in a review!) Some of this reads like a novel, yet this really happened to Jill. I feel she would be successful writing a novel and I also hope she writes a sequel to A Single Parent Abroad-I've read somewhere that she is so I do hope this comes to fruition.
I've read a few expat biographies before, I have friends and relatives who have made the move to foreign climes but I can honestly say I have never read any of this type of book as good as this one before. I had seen this in the amazon recommendations and read a few reviews-some readers mentioned about there being a lot of errors in this book-well I wouldn't agree. Yes there are a few, eg. two missing commas in the acknowledgement page, but hey, the book is so good it really doesn't matter, it more than makes up for it. This isn't your average story of a family deciding to swop their normal lives for a place in the sun and having loads of money to get their luxury home; Jill's plans all turn sour when her husband is found to be having an affair with an ex-neighbour in England and he never makes the move to Italy, leaving Jill and her three children alone with no job. Jill is an amazing woman and she makes a go of things, a real strong character, she can turn her hand to anything. I really admire her, it's amazing to think what she has achieved and she is just about my age and from the town where I live. I would have liked some photos in the book but there is a link to her website and an excellent collection of photo albums on there. The pictures don't take ages to load and they are separated into albums relevant to each chapter. It's nice to see a Huddersfield Town shirt in one of them! There are so many adventures and problems which happen and it's amazing how Jill keeps her 'chin up' throughout each episode, always ending with a jokey punch line. Her ex-husband is mentioned quite a few times but she just tells it like it is, doesn't bad-mouth him and doesn't name him, very dignified about it all. I like the diary format, the book does have structure (one reviewer said it didn't) it is very well presented. Being a musician, I like how Jill often mentions exactly what track she was listening to on the radio or CD at the time as it helps conjure up the atmosphere, a nice touch. Great descriptive writing about the foods-so good you can almost taste them! Jill also includes recipes in the book which also really add to it. I could go on ages about the excellence of this book. Jill is just one year younger than me and yet she's dealt with so much. A memoir with balls! (Hope I can say that in a review!) Some of this reads like a novel, yet this really happened to Jill. I feel she would be successful writing a novel and I also hope she writes a sequel to A Single Parent Abroad-I've read somewhere that she is so I do hope this comes to fruition.
August 8, 2012
As the writer states, this is not your usual ex-pat story. And I'm glad about that as the genre – of wealthy expat doing up a house in Italy/France and complaining about the builders has become somewhat of a cliché.
This is an honest, frank, gutsy account of carving out a new life by a courageous woman who has made a new life for herself and her family – against the odds.
There is humour and heartbreak in equal measure – from the menagerie of animals (some of which are kept as pets rather than as food) to the brave baring of the writer's soul.
Normally when I find copy editing and proofing and errors in the early chapters in a book in the 'Look Inside' section, I choose to spend my money elsewhere. But, to be fair to the writer, I was reading a free copy of this book, which I'd downloaded during an early promotion and figured that as I didn't have to pay for it, I should just kept reading and for once, put the writing aside. And I'm glad I did as I found the wit, charm and honesty very engaging.
The one big advantage of publishing an ebook is that it is so easy upload an edited version of your book. Once this has been done and the prose given a final polish, Diary of a Single Parent Abroad could do very well. There is no doubt that this will appeal to readers dreaming of a new life abroad – but who haven't mustered up the courage to take the plunge.
I rate this book 3.5 stars - but would happily up that rating once a revised version has been uploaded.
As one other reviewer has pointed out, the ending needs work as at the moment it is rather abrupt but perhaps that may be because a sequel is planned. I hope so!
This is an honest, frank, gutsy account of carving out a new life by a courageous woman who has made a new life for herself and her family – against the odds.
There is humour and heartbreak in equal measure – from the menagerie of animals (some of which are kept as pets rather than as food) to the brave baring of the writer's soul.
Normally when I find copy editing and proofing and errors in the early chapters in a book in the 'Look Inside' section, I choose to spend my money elsewhere. But, to be fair to the writer, I was reading a free copy of this book, which I'd downloaded during an early promotion and figured that as I didn't have to pay for it, I should just kept reading and for once, put the writing aside. And I'm glad I did as I found the wit, charm and honesty very engaging.
The one big advantage of publishing an ebook is that it is so easy upload an edited version of your book. Once this has been done and the prose given a final polish, Diary of a Single Parent Abroad could do very well. There is no doubt that this will appeal to readers dreaming of a new life abroad – but who haven't mustered up the courage to take the plunge.
I rate this book 3.5 stars - but would happily up that rating once a revised version has been uploaded.
As one other reviewer has pointed out, the ending needs work as at the moment it is rather abrupt but perhaps that may be because a sequel is planned. I hope so!
February 1, 2018
The tale of a gutsy girl who takes her children to live in Italy and discovers her husband is having an affair with one of their friends.
We follow Jill as, with no husband too help, she struggles to fix a leaking house, keep an old banger going, adopt endless animals and feed her children, and one admires her courage as we see her throwing herself into all kinds of ventures in order to do this.
It’s a pretty harrowing tale, although being the sort of character she is, she clearly gets on well with people, and despite her dire predicament, there are quite a lot of laughs. WE are also given a delightfully frank insight into her ‘libidinous leanings‘ as she eyes up a few of the local hunks, and pounces – and for two periods she has a man around the house. Sadly, these attachments fade (but what does seep through the writing is that she's a real toughie and seems not to have too good a grip on what is required in maintaining relationships.)
The reader is rather left in the air at the end, but that’s life, and things usually do indeed just poddle on – and it’s probably good that she is honest enough not tie everything up nicely with an upbeat ending.
An enjoyable read.
We follow Jill as, with no husband too help, she struggles to fix a leaking house, keep an old banger going, adopt endless animals and feed her children, and one admires her courage as we see her throwing herself into all kinds of ventures in order to do this.
It’s a pretty harrowing tale, although being the sort of character she is, she clearly gets on well with people, and despite her dire predicament, there are quite a lot of laughs. WE are also given a delightfully frank insight into her ‘libidinous leanings‘ as she eyes up a few of the local hunks, and pounces – and for two periods she has a man around the house. Sadly, these attachments fade (but what does seep through the writing is that she's a real toughie and seems not to have too good a grip on what is required in maintaining relationships.)
The reader is rather left in the air at the end, but that’s life, and things usually do indeed just poddle on – and it’s probably good that she is honest enough not tie everything up nicely with an upbeat ending.
An enjoyable read.
September 12, 2012
I found this to be a delightful, charming book.
A good touch of humor runs throughout this wonderful memoir of a woman making a new life in Italy. It really was a new life also; she all of a sudden has to raise the kids all by herself. For me it's a real example in courage and persistence. The place she describes living at in Italy, I do wish I lived at.
Needless to say, this is a story that I’m finding very difficult to put down. While there a number of sad things that happens she manages to keep her sense of humor all the way through. I really consider a very uplifting story. Anyone can overcome just about any obstacle in their life.
A good touch of humor runs throughout this wonderful memoir of a woman making a new life in Italy. It really was a new life also; she all of a sudden has to raise the kids all by herself. For me it's a real example in courage and persistence. The place she describes living at in Italy, I do wish I lived at.
Needless to say, this is a story that I’m finding very difficult to put down. While there a number of sad things that happens she manages to keep her sense of humor all the way through. I really consider a very uplifting story. Anyone can overcome just about any obstacle in their life.
January 3, 2015
Mesmerizing...Started reading it and couldn't stop until I'd finished it! So well written and entertaining. Loved her description of life on the farm and appreciated the humor she so deftly displayed. My heart ached for her and the kids with the financial deprivation they suffered but so admired her resilience and determination to make the best of things. A very loving mother, devoted to providing a haven for her children without bad-mouthing their dead beat father to them. Kids grow up and can see what's what on their own, as I'm sure hers have or will. She is a natural at writing. Hope to read more by her in the future. Fun and funny, too!
October 3, 2012
My feeling about this book is that there's a really good story in there - somewhere. It needs to be torn apart and put back together by a professional editor, or taken chapter at a time by the author and reworked so that has less of a "I'm writing whatever comes into my head" sense and more of a structured story at its core. Right now, it feels like someone's personal diary or a collection of blog posts. To get it out of that genre, it will require work and dedication to the art of writing.
Having said that, Pennington certainly has a viable story to tell.
Having said that, Pennington certainly has a viable story to tell.
August 19, 2012
I really like this book.
March 18, 2015
I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this Memoir recently and firstly have to thank the Author Jill Pennington for finding the determination/strength to write it. Wanting something different/better in a place to live and bring up their family Jill, her husband and their children move to Italy - they found a derelict property in an idyllic place to renovate and during the early stages rented a property whilst finances etc were sorted out. The Author's husband was travelling back to the UK a lot (of course work commitments - money coming in = mortgage being paid & £s to help with renovating the dream & living and looking after the children).... Well, yes, but it wasn't that long until the Author found out that her husband had in-fact been having an affair. So - now not only dealing with the fall-out of her husbands infidelity, being in Italy with little knowledge of the language, 3 children to love and care for a mountain of rubble to knock-down and re-build let alone wondering where the next £ or euro was coming from didn't deter Jill Pennington - well maybe a little in the evenings when given time to think!… But, this lady got on with it - she made friends, got around in her then trusty vehicle - coped with all an Italian countryside winter could chuck her way - dismantled the derelict house, dug out a huge well, used a chainsaw and through sheer determination built a life for her and her children oh yes and some cats. Written with honesty and humour this Memoir kept me captivated and I was willing-on the Author to 'just go get em'.. Money helps of course but isn't everything and laughter must be had and I for one want to read more about this beautiful place in Italy that Jill Pennington now calls home. I have said before in my reviews that I feel a lack of sufficient 'words' to express my feelings - however, I have no problem in recommending this Memoir and I hope you'll love the reading of it as I have.
February 10, 2016
Wow what a fantastic Memoir. I absolutely loved it having read this in one afternoon I simply couldn't put it down what a fascinating page turner it is.
Jill takes us through an upheaval Journey with lots of struggles along the way and no matter what happens Jill's children always come first. So Jill moves to Italy from the UK with her family to start a new life. which sounds like a dream come true. But not for Jill it isn't she soon discovers her husband is having an affair. (What a cock he is-might I had!) Jill has no income a house that needs rebuilding and three children to care for. But she doesn't let anything get in her way and carries on. Being a single parent myself I can totally relate to Jill. However hard things may get you have to
just get on with it! and do the best you can for your children. And that is exactly what Jill does, like digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and collecting nettles from the roadside to make risotto so there is tea on the table for her children. Jill is one very brave lady and is at all shy about getting her hands dirty. Massive high five to you Jill!
I do love Jill's writing she is so honest and straight talking my heart really went out to her with all the bad luck she had but Jill always made light of the situation which is shown throughout the book. Jill also has a brilliant sense of humour, yes there are plenty of laugh out loud scenes. My youngest son actually asked me what I was laughing at,at one point.
This is a story about turning a Negative into a positive and Jill certainly without a doubt does that. I really hope there will be another installment of The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad.
I highly recommend this book giving it a easy 5 stars. And thank you Jill for a copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review.
Jill takes us through an upheaval Journey with lots of struggles along the way and no matter what happens Jill's children always come first. So Jill moves to Italy from the UK with her family to start a new life. which sounds like a dream come true. But not for Jill it isn't she soon discovers her husband is having an affair. (What a cock he is-might I had!) Jill has no income a house that needs rebuilding and three children to care for. But she doesn't let anything get in her way and carries on. Being a single parent myself I can totally relate to Jill. However hard things may get you have to
just get on with it! and do the best you can for your children. And that is exactly what Jill does, like digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and collecting nettles from the roadside to make risotto so there is tea on the table for her children. Jill is one very brave lady and is at all shy about getting her hands dirty. Massive high five to you Jill!
I do love Jill's writing she is so honest and straight talking my heart really went out to her with all the bad luck she had but Jill always made light of the situation which is shown throughout the book. Jill also has a brilliant sense of humour, yes there are plenty of laugh out loud scenes. My youngest son actually asked me what I was laughing at,at one point.
This is a story about turning a Negative into a positive and Jill certainly without a doubt does that. I really hope there will be another installment of The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad.
I highly recommend this book giving it a easy 5 stars. And thank you Jill for a copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2015
I was blown away by this book and read it in a few sittings. The book had been on my kindle for a while and I really hadn't expected it to be so good, but it turned out to be such a cracker of a read that I could hardly put it down. Jill Pennington and her husband have experience of renovating "doer upper" old houses and decide to buy one in a mountain village in Italy. Unfortunately, Jill's husband flits too often back and forth between his various business interests in other countries and also unbeknown to his wife has frequent visits to his long term mistress. Eventually the feckless husband leaves Jill and their children more or less to fend for themselves in their newly adopted country and living in a house only partly renovated. How Jill and her children adapt to their circumstances is truly remarkable. Living on very little and through an enormous amount of hard graft Jill provides for her family, single-handedly renovates the house, grows and rears their food to give them a fantastic lifestyle in a country they all love. A highly recommended inspiring read. I really hope there is a sequel
June 27, 2015
'The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad' by Jill Pennington
Jill is one of these wonderful women who can do anything, it seems: Dig a septic tank, chop wood, refurbish and re-harl buildings, drive tanks, bake cakes, make compote and pizza, nurse baby animals and charm the local bigwigs.
She also writes great books, easily fluent and compulsively readable. I read 'The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad' in one sitting, creeping to bed very late so as not to wake the family.
It is no wonder that with these talents under her belt, Jill feels comfortable in a rural setting. I wish that the father of her children had seen what a talented lady Jill is, and been a decent, helpful and kind husband. How Jill has struggled these past years, to hold on to her dreams, in the face of frankly shameful poverty. How her optimism has been tested. Despite set-backs that would have sent me fleeing years earlier, she has somehow managed to keep her ambitions afloat, and I hope she can continue to do so.
All the best, Jill
Fran Macilvey, author, 'Trapped: My Life with Cerebral Palsy'
Jill is one of these wonderful women who can do anything, it seems: Dig a septic tank, chop wood, refurbish and re-harl buildings, drive tanks, bake cakes, make compote and pizza, nurse baby animals and charm the local bigwigs.
She also writes great books, easily fluent and compulsively readable. I read 'The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad' in one sitting, creeping to bed very late so as not to wake the family.
It is no wonder that with these talents under her belt, Jill feels comfortable in a rural setting. I wish that the father of her children had seen what a talented lady Jill is, and been a decent, helpful and kind husband. How Jill has struggled these past years, to hold on to her dreams, in the face of frankly shameful poverty. How her optimism has been tested. Despite set-backs that would have sent me fleeing years earlier, she has somehow managed to keep her ambitions afloat, and I hope she can continue to do so.
All the best, Jill
Fran Macilvey, author, 'Trapped: My Life with Cerebral Palsy'
May 23, 2014
Jill Pennington writes a story that easily be read as excellent fiction, but sadly it isn't - it's true. Her constant battles to provide a home, food, stability and comfort for her children, after leaving the UK and moving to rural Italy, demonstrates her enormous capacity to buckle down and get on with it - whether it's digging a well, building a new house or remonstrating with her uncooperative ex-husband. Jill is an inspiration to us all, 'The diary of a single parent abroad' is beautifully written and edited, infused with humour, candour and an indefatigable desire to never give up. Can't wait to read the next instalment of Jill's life in Italy.
June 22, 2016
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK
Maybe I should not have enjoyed reading this book, since for much of the story the author was struggling to survive while others behaved very badly indeed, but it contains so many funny lines. The narrative flowed smoothly and it was easy for me to relate with Pennington as I’ve been in a similar situation – not including the animals. I have to admire her perseverance, her courage and all that hard manual labour, not many women would have coped and she has reason to be really proud of her achievements. My biggest disappointment is that it finished far too soon. What happens next, is there another book to follow?
Maybe I should not have enjoyed reading this book, since for much of the story the author was struggling to survive while others behaved very badly indeed, but it contains so many funny lines. The narrative flowed smoothly and it was easy for me to relate with Pennington as I’ve been in a similar situation – not including the animals. I have to admire her perseverance, her courage and all that hard manual labour, not many women would have coped and she has reason to be really proud of her achievements. My biggest disappointment is that it finished far too soon. What happens next, is there another book to follow?
November 26, 2013
This is an amazing book written by a woman many of us can relate to. Jill effortlessly and honestly shares not only the personal aspects of her experience but also some cultural ones too. An easy book to read because you can't put it down incase you miss something!
- http://www.amazon.com/diary-single-pa...The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad
- http://www.amazon.com/diary-single-pa...The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad
June 6, 2016
Amazing story and life
I share a lot of the frustration over child support with a selfish gitt. You did a wonderful job with your kids dispute him. You remind me how disgraceful the system is for paying child support, its still a man's world and the women and kids have to make do :-(
I share a lot of the frustration over child support with a selfish gitt. You did a wonderful job with your kids dispute him. You remind me how disgraceful the system is for paying child support, its still a man's world and the women and kids have to make do :-(
August 6, 2012
I really enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of this family who moved to Italy. It's a raw, brutally honest account, with a sprinkling of humour for good measure. My only real criticism is that I found the ending rather abrupt. I hope there will be a sequel.
May 5, 2014
Feisty Yorkshire woman who describes herself as a 'home bird' details her challenging life following emigration to Italy and her husband leaving the family. An amazing real-life story. Truly unputdownable. I believe the Daily Mail newspaper has interviewed her.
October 19, 2018
Fantastic humour and sadness mixed couldn't put it down also made me so angry and if you've read it you'll know who with.
My only disappointment was that it was only one book which could have easily been 2 or 3 😢
My only disappointment was that it was only one book which could have easily been 2 or 3 😢
Want to read
February 25, 2016kindle travel stories
February 14, 2016
Amazingly strong women
This book was very captivating! I kept waiting for her ex to step up and take care of his children. Jill is a good mother and a strong woman.
This book was very captivating! I kept waiting for her ex to step up and take care of his children. Jill is a good mother and a strong woman.
November 29, 2012
Highly recommended! Super true story... very funny indeed!
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