Still Living the Dream in Rural Ireland

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds, Book 2

By: Nick Albert

Narrated by: Andy Stevenson

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nick and Lesley's desire for a better life in the countryside was a long-held dream. Unforeseen events and a leap of faith forced that dream into reality, but moving to rural Ireland was only the beginning of their story.

Foreigners in a foreign land, they set about making new friends, learning the culture, and expanding their collection of chickens and unruly dogs. But their dream home was in desperate need of renovation - a mammoth task they attacked with the aid of a DIY manual, dwindling funds, and incompetent enthusiasm. 

With defunct diggers, collapsing ladders, and shocking electrics, what could possibly go wrong?

Will their new life live up to expectations, or will the Irish weather, dangerous roads, and a cruel twist of fate turn this dream into a nightmare?

©2018 Ant Press (P)2020 Nick Albert

Nick continues his story

Nick continues to tell his story with humor and self-deprication. The setting is truly foreign to me, but I'm enjoying the story anyway. And Andy Stevenson continues to deliver a quite satisfactory performance.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Still Living the dream

A very funny addition to the other books in this series.Nick and Leslie moved to Ireland to get away from it all.They did and now they are trying to remodel a house,get a new puppy,etc,on Ireland time.With the natives round about way of talking ,Nick tries not to get flustered. Andy Stevenson was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Two Thumbs Way Up

In this second installment of Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds, Nick and Leslie are settling into their new house and continuing the renovations begun in the first book, although the work is somewhat slowed down by Nick’s work at the golf course teaching golf lessons. Since they are essentially redoing the house top to bottom, the project will take several years while Nick learns on the job with his trusty secondhand DIY book. While Nick works on the house, Leslie focuses on her garden but her back is causing her no end of trouble. In the meantime there are inevitable setbacks and triumphs.

This book is every bit as delightful as the first one as we listen to Nick and Leslie becoming more comfortable in their new house and integrating themselves into Irish life. The writing is chatty and casual, like listening to friend tell stories around a crackling fire on a winter’s night, and I highly recommend it. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Hilariously funny look at a new life started!

This is a fabulous book with many ups & downs. A couple moves to rural Ireland to fulfill a dream & things don’t always turn out as planned! It’s funny at times, heart warming at others & sadly tear provoking at others! I would recommend this for anyone who needs a laugh!
I was given this book for free to write an honest review!

A delightful visit to Ireland

Do you like fixer-upper stories? Do you like traveling and experiencing new cultures? Do you overcome blunders, misfortunes, and obstacles with a smile on your face? Then, my guess is you'll enjoy this tale as much as I did.

I've rarely listened to audiobooks with male narrators. I wonder why that is? Anyway, I really enjoyed this one. His Irish accent brings me back to my wonderful visits to Ireland.

Although I haven’t read or listened to the first book in this series, I sank effortlessly into this one. I understood Nick and Lesley's desire to stay in County Clare! I wanted to do the same when Hubby and I viewed the ancient churches and castles and made our way through the various pubs and historical sites.

I laughed and cringed at the hijinks, enjoying every minute of this fixer-upper nightmare, and easily pictured each scene. This story has me longing to return to the Emerald Isle--an impossible feat right now with this dreadful pandemic—but, when I do, I doubt I’ll be looking into fixing anything.

Audio Narration: Andy Stevenson does an excellent job with narration. His inflection fluctuates with the various characters, he is believable, and made Nick really come to life.

Audio Production Quality: The production quality of this audio book is clear, with no distracting noises or music.

Overall Opinion: I enjoyed every aspect of this story. The setting, the adventure, the blunders, and the humor. The story held my attention throughout, wasn't too long or too short, and served as a delightful escape from the unrest going on in the world in present times.

I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Rachel’s Random Resources.

A hilarious Look at DIY a Country Home in Ireland

This is the second book in the Living the Dream in Rural Ireland series, but the first I read, and I loved it. I had no problem following this story, but I will definitely go back and read the first in the series. Have you ever wanted to chuck it all and move to a rural area, buy a rundown house and fix it up just the way you want? After a health scare, this is exactly what Nick and Lesley want to do, in the Irish Countryside.

In this book, English couple, Nick and Lesley are looking for a better life in the countryside and are able to purchase a fixer-upper in Ireland. Their plan is that they are going to do the work themselves. They are in a foreign land, need to learn the laws and regulations, make new friends, find equipment and materials and using their DIY manual, get to work. Well, that all sounds scary to me, but it makes for a wonderful and humorous story. I chuckled at times and guffawed out loud at others. Even with everything that went wrong, they still kept their sense of humour and humility. Several friends from home came over to soak up the history in Ireland, so Nick and Lesley shared local attractions several times with family and friends. With all the mistakes, accidents, equipment malfunctions and plans that go awry, this book had me stopping everything to listen to their antics. I definitely recommend this one for a change of pace, a humorous escape and even to learn a bit about Ireland.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Andy Stevenson. This is a new narrator for me, but I definitely enjoyed his performance. His expression, accents, voices and intonation were right on the money for me and he is definitely the voice of Nick Albert to me. I received a copy of this audiobook upon request from Rachel's Random Resources. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

A real laugh riot!

Ireland, memoir, situational-humor, laugh-out-loud, verbal-humor, renovation, restoration

The first book pretty much covered the why and how of the husband and wife decision to change their lives by leaving job, family, friends, and England to move to a sustainable lifestyle in Ireland. In Book 2, the trials and triumphs of the DYI, Lesley's particular problems and new ventures, more chickens and dogs are detailed with the same self deprecating humor that makes it all so funny. I laughed my way through this one too! Loved it!
Andy Stevenson continues to be the perfect narrator for this hilarious series!

Book 2 and just getting better

This is book two in this great story. Nick and his wife Lesley move to rural Ireland from a large city in England to escape the rat race. That all happens in book one and is a great read. This book picks up where the first left off. If you have not read the first don't worry you will find this book funny and wonderful all on its own. But I would bet you will seek out book one to read too. I fell in love with Ireland and the wonderful people on my trip to the fair Isle. This book does a wonderful job of showing off the grandness of both the place and its magical people. I see that there is a book 3 I will have to read that as well. This audiobook is narrated by Andy Stevenson and he is just the perfect voice for this book.

I loved this so much!

I read a lot! Over the years, there have been many books that I’ve rated as 5 stars and reviewed saying how much I loved them. That has all changed. This book, which I received in exchange for an honest review, has got to be the best (most entertaining, most humbling (I don’t think I’ve ever used that word)) book I’ve ever read or listen to. None of the past books can even compare.

Home improvements? Check.

Focused on real people’s experiences? Check.

Involves animals? Check.

Ireland? Check.

First time reading or listening to a memoir? Check.

Is hilarious (fart jokes? Big Check!

Although I didn’t listen to book 1, within minutes of finishing this book, I had bought it. So I’m all good now and can’t wait to start that one.

There were so many funny scenes/lines. The best ones that stuck with me were when Nick was mowing the grass, when Amber was chasing the hares (that got away), the stove drama, the blind guy at the bar, the hospital visit (colonoscopy), and all the DIY tips.

The descriptions the author used provided a clear image of what the land and their house looked like. It sounded like my kind of place, especially with all the animals. I’ve always wanted to move away from the busy cities and go back to nature for animals, peace, and relaxation.

At first I thought the author would only include the happy, funny, or troublesome times he and his wife got to experience while trying to fix up their property, but I heard what happened to the other shelter dogs and when Leslie got sick, it was so sad!

The narrator did a great job and really added to the atmosphere. I’d listen to him again.

Either way, I have nothing negative to say about this beauty (story).

new life changes

interesting venture into lifestyle in a new country! I requested this free audionook and am freely offering my unbiased review

Great light read

Having read book 1 thought I would follow on with the real life story with book 2 and have book 3 ready. Nice read of real life, realistic and funny at times. Narrated well

A dream

I absolutely loved this book and I am very jealous of them. I know it was a leap of faith, but how brave of them both.

"The mouse that will never come."

Reading this book it is easy to be overtaken by feelings of jealously, despite the trials and tribulations of restoring an old, mouldering heap of an excessively large and higgledy piggeldy cottage replete with wood worm, draughts and damp. Following on from Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds, 1, in which Nick and Lesley Albert decided to leave the stress of their English lifes for a new start in Ireland, their search for a remote cottage to renovate and the first steps to get established, Book 2 follows the couple over the next two years. As well as the delights of the digger, the modified American mower, pop-up police road checks and pushing down walls, there are the Irish variations of rain, birdlife, bats, rats (but no cats), and plenty of dog action to keep the reader smiling. And there is the beauty of Ireland and the Irish.

This ongoing story of the relocation of the Alberts is a real joy. Well performed by the enigmatic Andy Stevenson, it is easy to be right there with the couple in both their pleasure and pain. My thanks to the rights holder of Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds,2, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. Recommended to anyone who loves life, adventure and the discovery of the new. And dogs.

Sharing of a dream with an innate sense of humour.

Living the country dream in Ireland was how we left Nick and Lesley at the end of book 1. Book 2 details what life is like and the ups and downs of renovation. The honesty and humour are the unique selling point of this series. It's not just the good bits it's the bad bits too. There are many poignant events in this memoir that make the listener empathise.

For anyone who's ever renovated their home, you'll be agreeing with Nick's observations and chuckling at the mistakes and the near disasters. Add in the peculiarities of an unfamiliar country and its a recipe for misunderstandings and subsequent laughter.

The animals are still front and centre in Nick's life, and there are many anecdotes some hilarious, some sad in this story. What shines through is the sharing of a dream, the courage and the innate sense of humour of the storyteller and his wife.

I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment. The narration is first-class brings the characters to life.

I received an audiobook from the author in return for an honest review.

Another five star memoir

I very much enjoyed hearing more of Nick and Lesley’s adventures in their new home in Ireland.
There was so much work to be done, both in and around the house, yet they managed to have a rich and varied life in amongst it all, despite some major personal challenges.
Nick’s vivid and colourful descriptions drew me into his world so that I felt his pain, which moved me to tears, and laughed out loud at the funniest of moments.
They were in a steep learning curve but their love for the culture and people of Ireland comes through, despite the inevitable frustrations.
Another five star memoir, in my opinion.

Easy listening for dog walks!

I enjoyed book 1 about the house hunt, but I loved this book of settling in to the new life (which was what I expected in book 1). Brilliant narrator.

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds 2

I have really enjoyed this sequel to Fresh Eggs and Dog beds 1. Nick writes with such expression of human and dog feeling and emotions! He also has a good sense of humour, accompanied with Andy's wonderful character voice over, the book has made good listening. I almost feel I'm there, as I said before.

A "Craicing" Sequel

Having thoroughly enjoyed Book 1, thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long to listen to the sequel. It was lovely to hear how Nick and Lesley’s life panned-out after their move to Ireland. All that DIY! More dogs and chickens. And some very lucky escapes. I won’t give the game away. Listen for yourself. It’s great craic! Bravo! Nick and Andy. Encore.