I enjoyed several of the audiobook versions of Slater's wacky travel memoirs, including this one; they're all narrated delightfully by Tim Campbell, and I recommend them. But I wanted to get some hard copies to BookCross, and got this one from an online seller. It's the second in his travel series, following the events of That Bear Ate My Pants.

This one opens with a scene from his stay in Thailand at an animal-welfare clinic, but that's a flash-forward. The earlier chapters of the book deal with a trip to the US, where he learns the hazards of trail-riding, the sheer size of the Grand Canyon, and a few other helpful tips. Upon returning home to England, he and his family get tapped for an episode of "Property Ladder", a UK "reality" show in which people fix up houses in front of the film crew and try to sell at a profit - all within the carefully-edited-and-slanted storyline that the producer chooses. Apparently Tony and family did NOT know how reality shows worked, and their naivete made for a very funny but also painfully arduous, expensive, and embarrassing experience - but "arduous, embarrassing, and expensive" seems to mean "great story-fodder" to Tony, who revels in describing the entire process.

From there he does a stint as crew on a small sailing boat; this was among the shorter episodes in his very colorful working life, but had some dramatic bits and, of course, funny ones.

It's over halfway through the book before he gets to Thailand and picks up with that opening scene again, but from there on it's all choice - not my idea of a fun time, mind you, but for Tony it seems to be heaven, at least when he's not actually cleaning up body fluids at the vet clinic or having yet another killer hangover. His adventures include lots of lovely scenery, interesting people, unusual meals - and a fair number of really, really foolish mistakes and the growing realization that he won't be able to maintain this lifestyle forever, much as he thinks he wants to. Cue his sister's invitation to join her in Australia for a little year-long trip around the country! To be continued in Kamikaze Kangaroos...

[Slater's web site includes photos from the books, a nice enhancement.]

I left this book on a bench along Main Street on this beautiful day, while visiting the Sunday Farmers Market. Hope someone enjoys the book!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2019 Allergic to A release challenge. ***

[Update, 5/13/20: spotted this book in the Little Free Library beside City Hall; hope whoever had it in between enjoyed it!]