The Sty's the Limit by Simon Dawson

by Simon Dawson

Following a drunken misunderstanding Simon Dawson gave up his job in the city, moved to the wilds of Exmoor and became an accidental self-sufficient smallholder with an array of animals. But that was years ago now. Following up on his first book, Pigs in Clover, this is the story of what happens when he suddenly realises that his life is changing all over again. He's not quite the spring chicken that he used to he is, horror of horrors, getting older.With a cast of best friends (some more helpful than others) including Ziggy, a panicked soon-to-be father desperate to grow up, Garth, an annoying teenager, and a rather handsome pig called The General, a plan is hatched to help each other mature (or immature). Heartfelt discoveries and hilarious endeavours ensue as they work through their age-related angsts, all with a fair dose of pigs, chickens, lambs and animal madness along the way. This is Exmoor's uplifting laugh-out-loud antidote to middle age in the mud; a place where you truly realise that the sty's the limit!

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jacqueline Carthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bless Simon Dawson for his tongue in cheek portrayal of the angst over growing older.

It was lovely to read something, which opened up the male perspective on a subject that affects everyone, and see how he dealt with it whilst going about his everyday life, which he was also not sure he was satisfied with !

I loved the animals characters, and the descriptive way he explained his perception of their personalities.

Overall it was warm, engaging and an enjoyable read.

[Anne Tissier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I delayed reading this, for as much as I enjoyed Simon's 'Pigs in Clover' (as well as his Self sufficiency bible), I assumed this would just be a different take on similar stories. Simon's life on his small holding with wife Debbie, is still described with hilarious, poignant and beautiful imagery, but this book has an added, perhaps deeper, dimension. In fact, I bookmarked a few sentences and paragraphs that spoke with clarifying insight into the passage of time - hence the subtitle of the book, 'When middle age gets mucky'. It was a super read. I can't wait for his next publication!

[Linda O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second non-fiction book written by Simon Dawson, concerning Debbie(his wife), himself, including friends & acquaintances, whilst running their small holding. This time Simon is having a mid-life crisis, but not sure what is happening to him & what to call what he is experiencing. Although still writing about their small holding, he does go on at length about his feelings of getting older at the age of 47. I did enjoy this book, but personally I think his first book was better.

[Julie McCash · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read of life on a small holding in the UK and coming to terms with middle age.

[Ross Mountney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this second entertaining story of Simon's adventures in the mud!

[Cooper&Son · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and funny. Everyone should have a friend like The General 😃

[Lucy Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasure to read

Great book and a story well told. The kind of book that takes you out of the every day. Would read more and more if there were any

[Andy Gore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed his first book as he talked about his animals and himself but in this book he mainly talked about himself.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, simply wonderful

In our modern, stress inducing world, Simon’s words ring so true.

Live in the now, enjoy every single moment with those around you! Make something for someone else that shows them how much you care.

A wonderful, simple story that will make you laugh, cry and experience every emotion in between.

Buy Free Range.

[Jane Lack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love....Astute life observations mixed with hilarious anecdotes and emotional moments.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that having loved Simon Dawson's previous book, this one felt like a bit of a disappointment, but I think my reading of it was colored by my mounting discomfort at one of the relationships portrayed in it. This was between a teenaged boy, often shown in the text to be very immature, and a woman in her thirties - the boy was sent to the farm by his parents because they were concerned about this relationship but the attitude of the narrative seemed very "Whahaaay, go on son!" There was an author's note at the back saying some of the characters were fictionalized and I really hope this boy was.

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir, part tale of a life style block, part comedy... all around good read.