In 1977, Fionnuala Brennan, her husband Rory, and her two small daughters settled on the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea off Greece. At that time life on the island was still simple, transport was by donkey; bicycle and the decrepit local buses, and only two ferries a week plied between it and the mainland. Tired of a nomadic existence that had taken them from island to island, they succeeded in making a home for themselves on Paros, renovated a ruined villa, and became involved in the pottery business. They stayed for two years, overcoming many difficulties, but delighting in the simple and hardy life of island people. The locals were reserved but basically friendly, the climate salubrious and the cost of living just about non-existent. Ms Brennan writes of the family's experiences in a cheerful, chatty manner, and has many anecdotes to tell of their close-to-nature lifestyle. This is an ideal book for those who dream of emulating the Brennans, but just never got around to it.