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More Ketchup Than Salsa
When Joe and his girlfriend Joy decide to trade in their life on a cold Lancashire fish market to run a bar in the Tenerife sunshine, they anticipate a paradise of sea, sand and siestas. Little did they expect their foreign fantasy to turn out to be about as exotic as Grimsby on a wet Monday morning. Amidst a host of eccentric locals, homesickness and the occasional cockroach infestation, pint-pulling novices Joe and Joy struggle with 'Brits abroad' culture and learn that, although the skies might be bluer, the grass is definitely not always greener. Dubbed 'Little Britain with a suntan', More Ketchup than Salsa lifts the lid on the morning-afters as well as the night-befores of life in a busy holiday resort. A must-read for anybody who has ever dreamed about jetting off to sunnier climes.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2006
989 people are currently reading
1795 people want to read
About the author
Joe Cawley
9 books116 followersJoe Cawley is a travel writer and award-winning author published in many international newspapers and magazines such as The Times, New York Post and Taipei Times.
His first book, More Ketchup than Salsa was voted 'Best Travel Narrative' by the British Guild of Travel Writers and follows the disasters of a young couple seeking greener pastures abroad.
Joe currently lives in the hills of Tenerife with his family and an assortment of other wildlife. Although he loves his family dearly, he admits he gets most sense out of the guinea pigs.
His first book, More Ketchup than Salsa was voted 'Best Travel Narrative' by the British Guild of Travel Writers and follows the disasters of a young couple seeking greener pastures abroad.
Joe currently lives in the hills of Tenerife with his family and an assortment of other wildlife. Although he loves his family dearly, he admits he gets most sense out of the guinea pigs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
November 12, 2011
Marvellous... but then I am a bit biased ; )Joe Cawley
June 17, 2015
Okay.
Having lived on The Algarve for fours years myself, where most of our friends were bar owners, I can totally relate to the issues faced by Joe and Joy in the Canary Islands.
This is a MUST READ for anyone who's contemplating flying out to the Costa Brava, Malta, Cyprus, Tenerife or Portugal to buy a bar and become a millionaire. These Johnny-come-latelies, as we used to call them, haven't a clue what they letting themselves in for. They honestly believe all they have to do is sit at the end of the bar smoking fat cigars and - ka-ching! - watch the bank balance grow day by day.
However, the book is written as if Joe has just finished a Creative Writing class, which is a little frustrating. It's often hard to remember who all the characters are, although they're exactly the same characters you'll find in any ex-pat community across the globe.
I love the way Joe refers to the chief gangster on the island as JP, as if anyone wouldn't know who JP is - he might as well have called him Al Capone or Ronnie Kray!
Having lived on The Algarve for fours years myself, where most of our friends were bar owners, I can totally relate to the issues faced by Joe and Joy in the Canary Islands.
This is a MUST READ for anyone who's contemplating flying out to the Costa Brava, Malta, Cyprus, Tenerife or Portugal to buy a bar and become a millionaire. These Johnny-come-latelies, as we used to call them, haven't a clue what they letting themselves in for. They honestly believe all they have to do is sit at the end of the bar smoking fat cigars and - ka-ching! - watch the bank balance grow day by day.
However, the book is written as if Joe has just finished a Creative Writing class, which is a little frustrating. It's often hard to remember who all the characters are, although they're exactly the same characters you'll find in any ex-pat community across the globe.
I love the way Joe refers to the chief gangster on the island as JP, as if anyone wouldn't know who JP is - he might as well have called him Al Capone or Ronnie Kray!
August 26, 2012
This book should come with a warning! It's one of those books you can't put down until you finish reading. I was sitting in a cafe when I first opened this book. Breakfast patrons came and left, the lunchtime crowd disappeared and late afternoon I ordered another coffee to justify occupying a table for most of the day!
Joe's descriptions of moments in time and sense of place does what only great travel writing can do. Such observed writing gives us colours,flavours, imagery, customs - as if postcards arrive in our mailbox, sent by the Author, from a faraway place.
There is a universal question the author asked himself. Am I really doing what I want in my life." And is he going to do anything about it? Well yes, he upends his entire comfort zone in preference of the unknown and intangible. Nothing short, I thought, of an act of social bravery.
Many people dream of running a bar abroad. They sell up everything but often return broken from the experience. Changing everything and moving abroad to run a business is exactly what Joe does. Joe leaves his mind-numbing but comfortable job " of no binding allegiance" and commits to doing something that has no way out. Something that he and his partners have to see through whether they liked it or not.
Joe took responsibility for his own future. I liked the universal theme of bravery, hope and optimism. You see human endeavor in action- how hard work, tenacity, drive, zest for new experiences, with a helping of luck- actually pays off. It's one huge learning curve of trial and error, of "meddling in the dark, learning by mistakes and bluffing when all else fails"; not deterred by thieving staff, squatting prostitutes, local bureaucracy, laws and language differences- which makes for an inspirational read.
Joe's descriptions of moments in time and sense of place does what only great travel writing can do. Such observed writing gives us colours,flavours, imagery, customs - as if postcards arrive in our mailbox, sent by the Author, from a faraway place.
There is a universal question the author asked himself. Am I really doing what I want in my life." And is he going to do anything about it? Well yes, he upends his entire comfort zone in preference of the unknown and intangible. Nothing short, I thought, of an act of social bravery.
Many people dream of running a bar abroad. They sell up everything but often return broken from the experience. Changing everything and moving abroad to run a business is exactly what Joe does. Joe leaves his mind-numbing but comfortable job " of no binding allegiance" and commits to doing something that has no way out. Something that he and his partners have to see through whether they liked it or not.
Joe took responsibility for his own future. I liked the universal theme of bravery, hope and optimism. You see human endeavor in action- how hard work, tenacity, drive, zest for new experiences, with a helping of luck- actually pays off. It's one huge learning curve of trial and error, of "meddling in the dark, learning by mistakes and bluffing when all else fails"; not deterred by thieving staff, squatting prostitutes, local bureaucracy, laws and language differences- which makes for an inspirational read.
May 31, 2015
If I had to summarise my review in one word it would be "meh". I expected this book to make me laugh based on the many positive reviews, but to be honest I barely managed a chuckle through the entire thing. Perhaps it's because I don't 'get' the British ex-pat thing (my experience as an American ex-pat is that Americans avoid each other like the plague and try very hard to create a new identity...but that just might be the Americans I have met whilst living abroad). But I'm not sure that's it. The author is not a bad writer, but he's not a gifted storyteller either. The book lacks a cohesive narrative, and is more like a series of vignettes about life in Tenerife. The author tries to make jokes, but they feel predictable and too carefully orchestrated. It doesn't help that I just don't understand why you'd buy a business in another country without the skills to run it. I guess to me that's not funny when calamity ensues...it's just daft. Why would you do that? I realise people do it all the time, but why does this have value as a memoir? I think this book is quite typical of this moment in time in literature, where too many people think their story should be memorialised in the pages of a book, thus memoirs are being published in these rather disposable books. The book was a nice, light read; however, I think I was duped by all the positive reviews. Whilst I didn't hate it, I wouldn't recommend it, and I am happy that I got the book for free from Amazon prime. You get what you pay for, I guess.
May 27, 2014
Joe and Joy abandon their jobs in Bolton Fish Market and buy The Smugglers Tavern in El Beril, Tenerife along with Joe´s brother David and his wife Faith. They quickly find out that running a bar/restaurant is physically and emotionally hard work 18 hour days, 7 days a week; especially when confronted with the relentless heat, red tape, a catalogue of disasters, infernal cockroaches and the Eternal Brit Abroad mentality of their customers. Joe Crawley his unique style of humour into even the most dire of disasters as he describes the maiden year of The Smuggler´s Tavern.
July 8, 2013
If you ever dreamed about owning a bar on a gorgeous island this book will probably bring you back to reality. Cawley gets real about being a business owner on a popular vacation spot for the Brits. On Tenerife life seems great unless you have to work 14 hour days. It isn't until he and his girlfriend Joy have been on the island six months that they even go to the beach.
This book started out really strong. Cawley humorously recounted their transition from fish market workers to bar owners. Unfortunately, about 2/3 of the way through the book I started to get bored. He seemed to be dragging it out unnecessarily. I wanted to know more of the gritty details like the effect of the bar on his relationship with Joy, if it was profitable, etc. He focused more on cockroaches (GROSS) and the customers.
It's a fun summer read if only because Cawley does a great job describing the island. The book is the epitome of a non-fiction beach read.
I doubt I will read his sequel probably due out this year. I just didn't love this book at the end as much as I did at the beginning and in the middle.
This book started out really strong. Cawley humorously recounted their transition from fish market workers to bar owners. Unfortunately, about 2/3 of the way through the book I started to get bored. He seemed to be dragging it out unnecessarily. I wanted to know more of the gritty details like the effect of the bar on his relationship with Joy, if it was profitable, etc. He focused more on cockroaches (GROSS) and the customers.
It's a fun summer read if only because Cawley does a great job describing the island. The book is the epitome of a non-fiction beach read.
I doubt I will read his sequel probably due out this year. I just didn't love this book at the end as much as I did at the beginning and in the middle.
January 22, 2018
Joe Cawley doesn't pull any punches in this well-written account, funny and heart-breaking by turns, of the first six months of a new life for Joe and Joy: exchanging a fish stall in Bolton for running a bar in Tenerife. The list of characters will be familiar to anyone who has ever spent time in an ex-pat community and the description of driving conditions will ring bells with anyone who has ever experienced the white-knuckle ride of a southern European motorway. The fact that I was reading it while on holiday in Tenerife made it all the more real, even if the experiences described took place over 25 years ago. A good, easy read, recommended for anyone who likes travel writing, or especially for anyone interested in living and working abroad.
October 1, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book! Reading it felt like I was peering through the window on the soap opera (and, more often than not, sitcom) that is Joe and Joy's life. Despite the trials and tribulations and all of the pitfalls that beset them, you still get an underlying sense - through Joe's clever, witty writing - that moving to Tenerife was the best thing he ever did. Fantastic book - would highly recommend it. Looking forward to the sequel.
October 2, 2012
Worst book I have ever read. The story was all over the place. It must be hard to write good humor. I would not recommend this book. Good thing it was a free book, I would have requested a refund. Hmmm I never gave a book one star.
July 24, 2012
Wow. This book really brought it home, just how hard it can be to achieve your dreams. Living in paradise is never as easy as it seems, and for some people – like Joe Cawley and his semi-dysfunctional family group – it is really, REALLY hard!
I loved this book. It made me laugh, there were tense moments, nerve-wracking ones, and some that would have made me tear up if I was less of a man. Ahem. In fact this book really involved me in the lives of its characters, to such a degree that I found myself dreading their next shift in the bar for them, cheering their triumphs (without giving anything away), wanting to slap them on occasion and having the urge to give certain other characters a bloody good hiding!
Yes, this book had it all. I strongly recommend it to anyone, especially those in need of a laugh. You don’t need to give a fig about Tenerife to enjoy this crazy rollercoaster of a story – but by the end of it, you’ll be glad you’re here reading about it and laughing, rather than being there with them…
It’s a 5 star vote from me.
I loved this book. It made me laugh, there were tense moments, nerve-wracking ones, and some that would have made me tear up if I was less of a man. Ahem. In fact this book really involved me in the lives of its characters, to such a degree that I found myself dreading their next shift in the bar for them, cheering their triumphs (without giving anything away), wanting to slap them on occasion and having the urge to give certain other characters a bloody good hiding!
Yes, this book had it all. I strongly recommend it to anyone, especially those in need of a laugh. You don’t need to give a fig about Tenerife to enjoy this crazy rollercoaster of a story – but by the end of it, you’ll be glad you’re here reading about it and laughing, rather than being there with them…
It’s a 5 star vote from me.
January 14, 2018
A punchy, upbeat tale of two couples buying and running a bar in Tenerife, More Ketchup than Salsa is written with oodles of lighthearted humour. The story set-up is swift, from a fish market in Bolton, the reader is soon on a plane with the narrator, en route to the Canary Islands.
Cawley portrays the British tourists and migrants he encounters with sharp observation, capturing perfectly the various types who choose to visit or live in Spain. The memoir exemplifies the struggles that beset foreigners moving to a faraway island and finding themselves having to deal with the bureaucracy and local ways.
More Ketchup Than Salsa is written well, and has a little intrigue, some escapades and enough drama to hold the reader. This memoir is a story of sun and booze and strays, both human, feline and canine.
Set primarily in a bar, More Ketchup Than Salsa is light on natural setting; there is little description of Tenerife, its culture, history or landscape. The primary focus is on the Brits themselves, their foibles and challenges.
In all a realistic and entertaining read.
Cawley portrays the British tourists and migrants he encounters with sharp observation, capturing perfectly the various types who choose to visit or live in Spain. The memoir exemplifies the struggles that beset foreigners moving to a faraway island and finding themselves having to deal with the bureaucracy and local ways.
More Ketchup Than Salsa is written well, and has a little intrigue, some escapades and enough drama to hold the reader. This memoir is a story of sun and booze and strays, both human, feline and canine.
Set primarily in a bar, More Ketchup Than Salsa is light on natural setting; there is little description of Tenerife, its culture, history or landscape. The primary focus is on the Brits themselves, their foibles and challenges.
In all a realistic and entertaining read.
October 7, 2012
If you've ever thought about ditching your blah, everyday job in a cold climate and starting all over on a sunny tropical island, read this book first! It's the story of Joe, his girlfriend, his brother, and his brother's wife, as they uproot from working in a damp fish market in England and restart life as bar owners in the Canary Islands. The four meet with their fair share of struggles, crises, adventures, and a parade of interesting characters. Cawley balances everything very well here. The language is descriptive without being distracting, and the content is humorous yet entirely believable as fact. It's real life, well-told. Though it is written from a distinctly British point of view, I didn't find any problem relating to it as the "bloody Yank" that I am. A recommended read for anyone!
January 30, 2018
A must for anyone who has moved abroad or is thinking about doing so. It is easy to read, highly amusing and scarily true.
February 15, 2021
I suspect you need to be British to really appreciate this book. Otherwise, it’s a veritable slog to the final page.
March 24, 2018
More Ketchup than Salsa by Joe Cawley
With wit and consummate skill, Joe Cawley tells how he and his wife Faye left one job in Bolton food market for another running a restaurant-bar in a largely English tourist enclave on a beach in the sun. That it happens to be on the Canary island of Tenerife is less significant than the mind-boggling array of characters that their bar attracts: wanna-bees, hangers-on, spongers, free-loaders, leeches, felons, hoodlums, crooks, mobsters and hit-men. There’s also the occasional mob of dogs, cats and a universe of cockroaches who treat the restaurant as a freebie. When well-behaved customers make a reservation, sit quietly, order drinks, and expect value for money, they provide as much fodder for humour as the delinquents and, oddly, more ridicule.
Joe Cawley gets away with poking fun at absolutely everybody because he does it so well. He writes beautifully, captures significant moments and makes clear and incisive observations about both people and incidents. His stories are insightful and told with precisely the right words and phrases.
More Ketchup than Salsa is an enjoyable read. I learned enough about the stereotypical tourist enclave to research my vacation destinations very, very carefully. Most of all I appreciated Joe Cawley’s excellent writing and finished the book willing to read the next one.
With wit and consummate skill, Joe Cawley tells how he and his wife Faye left one job in Bolton food market for another running a restaurant-bar in a largely English tourist enclave on a beach in the sun. That it happens to be on the Canary island of Tenerife is less significant than the mind-boggling array of characters that their bar attracts: wanna-bees, hangers-on, spongers, free-loaders, leeches, felons, hoodlums, crooks, mobsters and hit-men. There’s also the occasional mob of dogs, cats and a universe of cockroaches who treat the restaurant as a freebie. When well-behaved customers make a reservation, sit quietly, order drinks, and expect value for money, they provide as much fodder for humour as the delinquents and, oddly, more ridicule.
Joe Cawley gets away with poking fun at absolutely everybody because he does it so well. He writes beautifully, captures significant moments and makes clear and incisive observations about both people and incidents. His stories are insightful and told with precisely the right words and phrases.
More Ketchup than Salsa is an enjoyable read. I learned enough about the stereotypical tourist enclave to research my vacation destinations very, very carefully. Most of all I appreciated Joe Cawley’s excellent writing and finished the book willing to read the next one.
August 6, 2019
Fun, light reading.
Four under-employed young Brits are offered the opportunity to buy a bar/restaurant in Tenerife. The out-going owner has promised to work with them for 4 days, but he gleefully takes off after day one, leaving the inexperienced new owners to quickly learn how to cook, prepare drinks, and face all sorts of unexpected obstacles. They soon find that fun in sun is not an option for pub owners who have to work long hours in the extreme heat. They also learn how inefficient Canary Island bureaucracy is and the the laws are not quite the same as at home in Britain.
Well, that sounded pretty dull by my description, but the author has a delightful sense of humour and the bizarre situations in which they find themselves and how they resolve them make for good reading.
Four under-employed young Brits are offered the opportunity to buy a bar/restaurant in Tenerife. The out-going owner has promised to work with them for 4 days, but he gleefully takes off after day one, leaving the inexperienced new owners to quickly learn how to cook, prepare drinks, and face all sorts of unexpected obstacles. They soon find that fun in sun is not an option for pub owners who have to work long hours in the extreme heat. They also learn how inefficient Canary Island bureaucracy is and the the laws are not quite the same as at home in Britain.
Well, that sounded pretty dull by my description, but the author has a delightful sense of humour and the bizarre situations in which they find themselves and how they resolve them make for good reading.
June 18, 2021
Four Brits exchange their grey skies for the exotic setting of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. But their dream of owning a restaurant/bar on a tropical island is more work and frustration than they expected.
Enjoyable and fun. Who doesn't dream of packing it all in and living on the beach? It's good to be reminded occasionally that the green grass on the other side of the fence comes at a price. And when the truth is wrapped up in amusing stories, so much the better.
Enjoyable and fun. Who doesn't dream of packing it all in and living on the beach? It's good to be reminded occasionally that the green grass on the other side of the fence comes at a price. And when the truth is wrapped up in amusing stories, so much the better.
July 18, 2017
Enjoyable read - Witty, well written memoir - I am a sucker for the 'moving abroad' genre - this one didn't disappoint.
August 16, 2018
a very fun insite to the lives of joe and joy as they buy a bar in tenerife and then how the first year of running it planned out
well written and very funny
well written and very funny
November 27, 2015
I really enjoyed this!
This was one of the first books I downloaded in Kindle format. At that time I had the kindle app on my phone and it was a novel experience getting all these free books from the top 100 free kindle bestseller lists on amazon. I whizzed through Joe Cawley’s memoir and really enjoyed it but all this time later I realise I hadn’t left a review. I have the follow up book, which I’m currently reading and loving, and I thought I’d re-read the first book to experience the whole story in one go. I’m enjoying it all over again (now slightly enhanced on a Kindle Fire). Any book which has ‘Confessions of’ as part of the title-and I want it! I’m nosey! This is my absolute favourite sort of book. This is Joe’s story; he’s twenty-eight, works on a Bolton fish market and he’s thinking that the daily grind could be better. He and girlfriend Joy get the chance to move to Tenerife to run a bar and change their lives. I really enjoyed this as Bolton, Manchester and Stockport are all places near to where I am, places I’ve visited etc. so could relate to the location. The writing is often very witty, he certainly has a humorous way with words. It’s a mix of funny, laugh-out-loud bits and also contains more difficult times, a good varied memoir, just that little bit different. There are a lot of retiring abroad memoirs; this one is moving abroad to work abroad, a change of career. All this turns out to be not as easy as they first envisaged. This is their first six months at The Smugglers Tavern. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next so I went straight onto book two. This is equally as good. A great series, excellent books.
This was one of the first books I downloaded in Kindle format. At that time I had the kindle app on my phone and it was a novel experience getting all these free books from the top 100 free kindle bestseller lists on amazon. I whizzed through Joe Cawley’s memoir and really enjoyed it but all this time later I realise I hadn’t left a review. I have the follow up book, which I’m currently reading and loving, and I thought I’d re-read the first book to experience the whole story in one go. I’m enjoying it all over again (now slightly enhanced on a Kindle Fire). Any book which has ‘Confessions of’ as part of the title-and I want it! I’m nosey! This is my absolute favourite sort of book. This is Joe’s story; he’s twenty-eight, works on a Bolton fish market and he’s thinking that the daily grind could be better. He and girlfriend Joy get the chance to move to Tenerife to run a bar and change their lives. I really enjoyed this as Bolton, Manchester and Stockport are all places near to where I am, places I’ve visited etc. so could relate to the location. The writing is often very witty, he certainly has a humorous way with words. It’s a mix of funny, laugh-out-loud bits and also contains more difficult times, a good varied memoir, just that little bit different. There are a lot of retiring abroad memoirs; this one is moving abroad to work abroad, a change of career. All this turns out to be not as easy as they first envisaged. This is their first six months at The Smugglers Tavern. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next so I went straight onto book two. This is equally as good. A great series, excellent books.
December 29, 2012
It was a quite entertaining book. I did not know where Tenerife is until I looked on the Internet. It is the largest island of Canary Island, which belongs to Spain, but its location is closer to Morocco than to Spain. By the way, I had lived in Hawaii and Key West for a few years. Before I started reading the book, I expected to read the similar wackiness of people in Key West. I soon found I was wrong. British are much more shy than American, and other Europeans are also different from Americans. Scenery-wise, Tenerife reminds me of the Big Island of Hawaii, which is also a volcanic island. So, basically I started imagining the scenery of the Big Island of Hawaii plus unique Europeans & Tenerife locals while I was reading this book.
Some details, such as hot weather and insects' problem, are common in tropical islands. Problems of running a bar are somewhat close to what I imagined from my experience in Key West. I wish I could make my husband, who occasionally talks about owning a bar, read this book(, but unfortunately he doesn't read much...). If you can vomit in toilet, that tells your toilet is very much cleaner than... some others' I've seen. I enjoyed reading the experience of Joy and Joe as bar's new owners in the new place. I especially admired the patience of these two people. Because they loved people, they had overcome obstacles with helps from Tenerife's locals. I don't need to have a bite at the Smuggelrs, but it would be fun to have a drink there and watch Buster :)
Some details, such as hot weather and insects' problem, are common in tropical islands. Problems of running a bar are somewhat close to what I imagined from my experience in Key West. I wish I could make my husband, who occasionally talks about owning a bar, read this book(, but unfortunately he doesn't read much...). If you can vomit in toilet, that tells your toilet is very much cleaner than... some others' I've seen. I enjoyed reading the experience of Joy and Joe as bar's new owners in the new place. I especially admired the patience of these two people. Because they loved people, they had overcome obstacles with helps from Tenerife's locals. I don't need to have a bite at the Smuggelrs, but it would be fun to have a drink there and watch Buster :)
August 9, 2012
I would defy anyone who has ever lived in the UK, or anywhere else that is often cold, wet and rainy, not to say that they have had a secret yearning to change their life by heading for a life abroad. Every years, millions of us make the cattle class journey to European resorts and we watch the Brit’s who have made it, those who live permanently in our holiday destinations, with envy, thinking ‘what if‘. But, is the grass always greener in the sun? Of course not, it’s usually non-existent, the landscape can be barren and you definitely don’t get the manicured countryside that I love about Britain.
In More Ketchup than Salsa, Joe had me laughing so hard that I spilled a cup of tea all over the bed. His tale of travelling from Bolton Fish Market to Tenerife Costa del Bognor opens up the can of worms that most of us never even consider when we are sitting sipping coffee on a terrace and dreaming. His daily battles with cockroaches, the local mafia, animals and the never ending variety of people that stepped through his door, was the wake up call I needed to think again about what it was I might just do if I ever decided to take the plunge and live abroad. This is the perfect book to take on holiday with you especially if you are already planning to make that move.
In More Ketchup than Salsa, Joe had me laughing so hard that I spilled a cup of tea all over the bed. His tale of travelling from Bolton Fish Market to Tenerife Costa del Bognor opens up the can of worms that most of us never even consider when we are sitting sipping coffee on a terrace and dreaming. His daily battles with cockroaches, the local mafia, animals and the never ending variety of people that stepped through his door, was the wake up call I needed to think again about what it was I might just do if I ever decided to take the plunge and live abroad. This is the perfect book to take on holiday with you especially if you are already planning to make that move.
October 3, 2015
First, let me tell you that More Ketchup than Salsa has no recipes for either ~ I was in search for something new to make for dinner the day I downloaded this book. Now that I have read it, it is a very funny story written with dry British humor.
The variety of characters that visited the bar as Joe, Joy, David and Faith until she gave it all up was quite funny. They adjusted to the responsibilities of owning and operating a bar in a resort area with ever changing customers. It is written from Joe's point of view and his insights into the crazies of operating a bar/restaurant when none of them knew what they were doing. It was a sink or swim situation and with determination, learning on the job and keeping a positive attitude they made the first six months, the mile stone test for success. Living on an island in the tropics compared to the no future job selling fish in Bolton's Fish Market was worth all the stress and putting up with the conglomerate of the population the frequented the bar know as Smuggler's Tavern. It was written with very funny dry British humor, often sarcastic, which is my favorite kind of humor; I enjoyed reading this account of owning a business in paradise, cockroaches an all.
The variety of characters that visited the bar as Joe, Joy, David and Faith until she gave it all up was quite funny. They adjusted to the responsibilities of owning and operating a bar in a resort area with ever changing customers. It is written from Joe's point of view and his insights into the crazies of operating a bar/restaurant when none of them knew what they were doing. It was a sink or swim situation and with determination, learning on the job and keeping a positive attitude they made the first six months, the mile stone test for success. Living on an island in the tropics compared to the no future job selling fish in Bolton's Fish Market was worth all the stress and putting up with the conglomerate of the population the frequented the bar know as Smuggler's Tavern. It was written with very funny dry British humor, often sarcastic, which is my favorite kind of humor; I enjoyed reading this account of owning a business in paradise, cockroaches an all.
February 14, 2013
If your looking for a light hearted read to get you in the mood for your summer holiday this year then this could well be exactly what your looking for. Anyone who has ever been to a spanish holiday resort will relate to almost very page of this rib tickling tale, even as tourists and not bar owners, the way joe tells his story brings you in buys you a beer and welcomes you to the sun. Personally i have lived in various resorts in spain and experienced the highs and lows of working in the spanish sun and although some people will read bits of this book and say "nah that never happened" believe me knowing the expat communities over there- it'll all be true and there's probably a lot more tales to tell.
Joe has knack of endearing you to his characters, so you don't just read about Joy, Frank, David and the others you laugh with them cry with them and feel their frustration at times with less than congenial customers. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another story of brits abroad, it's a book of fears, laughter, blood sweat and tears not to mention a cold beer or two. Put up the parasol grab your flip flops and enjoy!
Joe has knack of endearing you to his characters, so you don't just read about Joy, Frank, David and the others you laugh with them cry with them and feel their frustration at times with less than congenial customers. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another story of brits abroad, it's a book of fears, laughter, blood sweat and tears not to mention a cold beer or two. Put up the parasol grab your flip flops and enjoy!
August 26, 2012
Confessions of a Tenerife Barman
When Joe and girlfriend Joy decide to swap their lives living in Bolton and working at the local market on a seafood stall, for a life of sunshine and sand running a British themed pub restaurant in Tenerife, they soon find out that living and working in a busy holiday resort and amongst ex-pats is full of mishaps and their dreams become a reality and reality bites.
This is a really funny and entertaining book. Joe gives an honest and humorous account shared in anecdotes that are extremely well written and you can not help laughing at the situations the couple find themselves in and at the same time really hoping that all works out well for them in the end.
When Joe and girlfriend Joy decide to swap their lives living in Bolton and working at the local market on a seafood stall, for a life of sunshine and sand running a British themed pub restaurant in Tenerife, they soon find out that living and working in a busy holiday resort and amongst ex-pats is full of mishaps and their dreams become a reality and reality bites.
This is a really funny and entertaining book. Joe gives an honest and humorous account shared in anecdotes that are extremely well written and you can not help laughing at the situations the couple find themselves in and at the same time really hoping that all works out well for them in the end.
May 5, 2015
A really enjoyable and entertaining read. Joe and Joy his brother David and his wife Faith swap the grey skies of Bolton to run a bar in El Beril, Tenerife. If anyone ever thinks it must be marvellous to run a bar on a sunshine holiday island – think again! They quickly find that it is fraught with difficulties not the least being the Spanish Banks and other authorities. Joe has a marvellous eye for detail and his descriptions of the expat community and British holiday makers is brutally accurate! I’m thankful never to have said to any Bar owner ‘it must be great to work and live here’ ! However depite everything they make a success of running the Smugglers Tavern. I enjoyed it so much I had to download the next instalment of More Ketchup.
February 5, 2015
This was the most entertaining book I've read in years. Having come from British stock & having lived for a season as a Canadian expat in the UK , I resonated with the adventures of the Cawleys. We may speak the same language but the interpretation varies wildly. I can't wait to download the next adventure.
Joe has given me permission to resurrect my understated wit & humour . I'll be using it in my writing. Let's have a virtual cuppa soon!
Joe has given me permission to resurrect my understated wit & humour . I'll be using it in my writing. Let's have a virtual cuppa soon!
January 23, 2016
Not bad, but ended way to early in the story. Found out there is another book which makes no sense with this type of book. It's the story of dropping everything and buying a bar but it ends after 6 months. What happens, do you still own the bar, did you give up and leave etc? Without this kind if info, there is no point to the story.
June 29, 2014
A laugh on every page!
I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter! Even though I have never been to the Canary Islands I could "see" the bar and all the "locals". That to me is the sign of a good book. I read for my satisfaction. A FIVE STAR must eat.I hope that the rest of the series is s good.
I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter! Even though I have never been to the Canary Islands I could "see" the bar and all the "locals". That to me is the sign of a good book. I read for my satisfaction. A FIVE STAR must eat.I hope that the rest of the series is s good.
December 14, 2014
Enjoyable read. Joe's a good storyteller. I pulled up a high stool at the bar and engrossed myself in the surrounding and characters of this Bar in Spain. Any thoughts of running my own bar in sunny lands has flown out the window. But it was great to live vicariously by Joe for a couple of months.
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