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Gozo: Is the Grass Greener?
"Gozo: Is the Grass Greener?" is the story of the bestselling author, Freya Barrington, and her husband, Steve, when they moved from the UK to live on the small, Mediterranean island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. Illustrated with numerous photographs, the book is filled with laugh-out-loud anecdotes and more sombre stories for which handkerchiefs will be needed, including an emotive, yet candid account of a real life struggle with Bipolar Disorder. Freya writes with unreserved honesty about how she and Steve met and fell in love. She goes on to share the story of their joint singing career, the manic drive across Europe; their fun-loving lurchers, Ollie and Ralph; and many other delightfully amusing tales about living in Gozo for four years. "Gozo: Is the Grass Greener?" has widespread appeal, making the book suitable for locals and non-locals alike.
Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2015
5 people want to read
About the author
Freya Barrington
4 books15 followersFreya Barrington is the pen name of a senior child protection social worker in England, who worked for local authorities that required experienced social workers to offer support when there were staff shortages. She holds a Diploma in Social Work from the University of Derby with an award for excellence in practice, and is a registered member in good standing with the Health & Care Professions Council (UK).
Freya's debut work "Known to Social Services" was based on her own experiences as a front line social worker. The book has been the number one bestselling social work book on Amazon UK several times. "Known To Social Services" went on to WIN the autobiography/memoir section of the 2015 London Book Festival and won an Honorable Mention at the 2016 Paris Book Festival in the General Non-Fiction Section.
Freya's second book, "Gozo Is the Grass Greener?" is an autobiographical account of her and her husband's move from the UK to the Mediterranean Maltese island of Gozo. With laugh out loud and tear jerking anecdotes in equal measure, "Gozo Is The Grass Greener?" received an honorable mention in the autobiography/biography section at the 2015 London Book Festival and WON the autobiography/biography section at the 2016 Paris Book Festival.
Freya's latest novel, titled Caught in Traffick is the sequel to her first book, Known to Social Services. It is set in the harrowing world of child trafficking in Thailand. Caught in Traffick was awarded an Honorable Mention in the General Fiction Section of the 2016 London Book Festival.
Freya currently lives in France, but travels often to undertake book signings and to give talks in regard to her books. In March 2015 Freya visited the UK and spoke to social work students at several Universities in regard to her experiences as a social worker and gave an account of her motivation in writing "Known to Social Services". In October 2015, Freya returned to Malta and Gozo after being invited to give talks to the students at the University there and to other interested organisations. While in Malta, Freya was interviewed by the Maltese Newspaper The Times of Malta.
Freya continues to write three blogs, one in regard to the life she had in Gozo, one with more serious content relating to social work and one about her new life in Brittany.
Freya has been a contributor to the UK's Guardian Newspaper Social Care blog, and has appeared in features in several media including social work's Community Care Magazine.
Freya has also guested on radio stations in the UK and Malta.
Freya has been with her musician husband Steve for ten years; in her spare time, (when she has any) Freya enjoys horse riding, walking, bird watching, reading, cooking, drinking good coffee and spending time with friends and family.
Freya recently adopted a Griffon Bleu De Gascogne dog from the refuge in Brittany where she lived. Called Merlin, Freya penned a short story about his rescue titled, Merlin The Hound Dog; Part One In From The Cold.
Freya is indebted to Faraxa Publishing who have offered so much support in her career as a writer.
Please visit Freya's website and blogs at www.freyabarrington.com for more details on this exciting new author.
Freya's debut work "Known to Social Services" was based on her own experiences as a front line social worker. The book has been the number one bestselling social work book on Amazon UK several times. "Known To Social Services" went on to WIN the autobiography/memoir section of the 2015 London Book Festival and won an Honorable Mention at the 2016 Paris Book Festival in the General Non-Fiction Section.
Freya's second book, "Gozo Is the Grass Greener?" is an autobiographical account of her and her husband's move from the UK to the Mediterranean Maltese island of Gozo. With laugh out loud and tear jerking anecdotes in equal measure, "Gozo Is The Grass Greener?" received an honorable mention in the autobiography/biography section at the 2015 London Book Festival and WON the autobiography/biography section at the 2016 Paris Book Festival.
Freya's latest novel, titled Caught in Traffick is the sequel to her first book, Known to Social Services. It is set in the harrowing world of child trafficking in Thailand. Caught in Traffick was awarded an Honorable Mention in the General Fiction Section of the 2016 London Book Festival.
Freya currently lives in France, but travels often to undertake book signings and to give talks in regard to her books. In March 2015 Freya visited the UK and spoke to social work students at several Universities in regard to her experiences as a social worker and gave an account of her motivation in writing "Known to Social Services". In October 2015, Freya returned to Malta and Gozo after being invited to give talks to the students at the University there and to other interested organisations. While in Malta, Freya was interviewed by the Maltese Newspaper The Times of Malta.
Freya continues to write three blogs, one in regard to the life she had in Gozo, one with more serious content relating to social work and one about her new life in Brittany.
Freya has been a contributor to the UK's Guardian Newspaper Social Care blog, and has appeared in features in several media including social work's Community Care Magazine.
Freya has also guested on radio stations in the UK and Malta.
Freya has been with her musician husband Steve for ten years; in her spare time, (when she has any) Freya enjoys horse riding, walking, bird watching, reading, cooking, drinking good coffee and spending time with friends and family.
Freya recently adopted a Griffon Bleu De Gascogne dog from the refuge in Brittany where she lived. Called Merlin, Freya penned a short story about his rescue titled, Merlin The Hound Dog; Part One In From The Cold.
Freya is indebted to Faraxa Publishing who have offered so much support in her career as a writer.
Please visit Freya's website and blogs at www.freyabarrington.com for more details on this exciting new author.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 4, 2015
Not normal reading for me but I really loved this authors first book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
so I took a chance. This book is more autobiographical so I was entering a genre I usually don't read, but the author has an incredible gift. I felt like I was there,hitching a ride with the author and her husband as they embark on a new journey and a new life. This author knows how to tell a tale. Loved her first novel and waiting anxiously for the next one.
so I took a chance. This book is more autobiographical so I was entering a genre I usually don't read, but the author has an incredible gift. I felt like I was there,hitching a ride with the author and her husband as they embark on a new journey and a new life. This author knows how to tell a tale. Loved her first novel and waiting anxiously for the next one.
July 25, 2016
Gozo: Is The Grass Greener? is a very enjoyable read telling of the years that Freya and her husband Steve spent living on the small island. We read of the instant mutual attraction when Freya met Steve as he was singing in a club. We follow their journey as they leave the UK during the snows of late 2010 and travel across Europe with a well packed car and trailer and not forgetting Ollie the lurcher and we follow their adventures settling into life in Gozo where everything doesn't go as smoothly as they might have expected!
I really enjoyed reading about Freya and Steve's adventures both in Gozo and actually getting there in the first place. There are many funny stories recounted some of which I'm sure were far from funny at the time! Their dog Ollie was a total star and such fun to read about, even for a non-dog lover like me. He sounded totally mad but totally adorable and I loved reading about the adventures he got up to, although am very grateful that I didn't experience the ferry with him!
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. It showed the positives and negatives of moving to another country in an honest and amusing way. Throughout the book the love Freya and Steve have for each other shines through and I'm sure without this strong relationship it could have been hard to cope with all the difficulties of the move.
My thanks to the author for offering me a copy of her book to review.
I really enjoyed reading about Freya and Steve's adventures both in Gozo and actually getting there in the first place. There are many funny stories recounted some of which I'm sure were far from funny at the time! Their dog Ollie was a total star and such fun to read about, even for a non-dog lover like me. He sounded totally mad but totally adorable and I loved reading about the adventures he got up to, although am very grateful that I didn't experience the ferry with him!
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. It showed the positives and negatives of moving to another country in an honest and amusing way. Throughout the book the love Freya and Steve have for each other shines through and I'm sure without this strong relationship it could have been hard to cope with all the difficulties of the move.
My thanks to the author for offering me a copy of her book to review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews