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The Gran Tour

Travels with My Elders

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About this listen

When Ben Aitken learnt that his gran had enjoyed a four-night holiday including four three-course dinners, four cooked breakfasts, four games of bingo, a pair of excursions, 16 pints of lager and luxury return coach travel, all for a hundred pounds, he thought, that's the life, and signed himself up. Six times over.

Good value aside, what Ben was really after was the company of his elders - those with more chapters under their belt, with the wisdom granted by experience, the candour gifted by time, and the hard-earned ability to live each day like it's nearly their last. A series of coach holidays ensued - from Scarborough to St Ives, Killarney to Lake Como - during which Ben attempts to shake off his 30-something blues by getting old as soon as possible.

©2020 Ben Aitken (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd Gerontology Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary Funny Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Feel-Good
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This has the feel of an Adrian Mole story about it, what starts off as a joke great value cheap holidays becomes a journey in to a section of forgotten society eg old people , some are nuts ,some set in their ways, some just lonely and every so often there are gems. Not sure the tik tok generation will read this but one day they will be old and they may not have the social skills(or the money)to interact on a coach holiday like those in the book. Some people maybe put off by the narration but very english and dry humor wins the day.

Quirky and very English

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What a beautiful book. Funny, poignant and heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book.

Heartwarming

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30 year old Ben finds that a week’s out-of-season coach tour to Scarborough will house and feed him for half the cost of staying in his flat in London. He is, of course, way less than half the average age of his holiday companions but finds that they and their nightly bingo are better company and more fun than any 18-30 package. He follows up with trips to Wales (with his actual gran), Ireland, Scotland and Italy. It’s hilarious and beautifully observed. He meets some great characters, many of which will be familiar to many an adviser; and finds himself on his own journey (I know) of self discovery. Highly recommended. I’d give it a try myself, if I wasn’t so frighteningly close to the actual average age…

Highly recomended

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Really enjoyed this. It’s the third book by the author that I’ve read so far. I’m going on to read the Bryson redo.

Very enjoyable

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Good grief I enjoyed this! People are funny and interesting and Ben has a skill for articulating his observations of them. Coach trip holidays are another world!

Loved it. Funny & poignant.

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