Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga
A not-so-perfect tree change
by Todd Alexander
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Pub Date Mar 01 2019 | Archive Date Jan 11 2019
Simon & Schuster (Australia) | Simon & Schuster Australia
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Description
Todd and Jeff have had enough of the city. Sick of the daily grind and workaday corporate shenanigans, they throw caution to the wind and buy 100 acres in the renowned Hunter Valley wine region, intent on living a golden bucolic life and building a fabulous B&B, where they can offer the joys of country life to heart-weary souls.
Todd will cook, Jeff will renovate. They have a vineyard, they can make wine. They have space, they can grow their own food. They have everything they need to make their dreams come true.
How hard can it be?
Praise for Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga
‘Never before have I felt the responsibility for someone’s tree change … Todd and Jeff’s ups and downs made me laugh out loud, and “verjuice schmerjuice” says it all’ Maggie Beer
‘Funny and heart-warming’ The Canberra Times
‘Hilarious and inspiring’ Better Reading
‘This joyously honest account will make you laugh till it hurts, and you’ll shed more than a few tears . . . it’s The Birdcage meets A Country Practice’ Bradley Trevor Greive AM, internationally bestselling author of The Blue Day Book and Penguin Bloom
‘Every man, woman and child on earth has toyed with this fantasy. Todd and Jeff are living the dream. And have not murdered each other . . . yet’ Stephan Elliott, writer and director of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
‘This book has it all – humour, heart, wine and crazy animals . . . A rollicking read for anyone looking to shake things up a little in their lives’ Rachael Johns, internationally bestselling author
Advance Praise
‘This joyously honest account will make you laugh till it hurts, and you’ll shed more than a few tears while being captivated by Todd, Jeff and their menagerie of loveable animals’ Bradley Trevor Greive AM, international bestselling author of The Blue Day Book and Penguin Bloom
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781925791334 |
| PRICE | A$32.99 (AUD) |
Featured Reviews
Brenda T, Reviewer
Jeff and Todd moved from Sydney where they were corporate employees, sick of the rush and bustle of the city, to the Hunter Valley vineyards. They bought one hundred acres called Block Eight, with dams, grape vines, an old house and sheds – their intention; a B&B reminiscent of Maggie Beer’s property in the Barossa Valley in South Australia.
It didn’t matter that they knew nothing about what they were doing – they made mistakes and fumbled their way through the months and years. And by their sides were various animals; goats, pigs, kangaroos, snakes and more. But their pet goats – Winston and Wesley – and finally the little pig who received the most devotion of all – Helga – made their lives complete. The B&B took a long time to come to fruition – but their day to day lives were richer than ever before.
Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig called Helga by Aussie author Todd Alexander is an incredibly different look at life; making dreams come true; and living the dream. Set in an area I’m very familiar with – as the book is set on my doorstep, so to speak – I recognized the majority of places mentioned. An interesting memoir which I recommend.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU and NetGalley for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Ann T, Reviewer
Thank you Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Many Australians fly to Fiji for an island wedding, but no we lived in Fiji and flew to Sydney for our wedding weekend in Pokolbin. This is the reason I requested this book, no expectations purely sentimental........ Thank goodness for sentiments.
Thank you Todd (and Jeff ) for sharing your tree change with so much wit, energy and honesty. You had me laughing out loud and completely engrossed in your wonderful wonderful book.
It is so easy to feel safe with a life of beaurocracy and regular pay days and whilst a safe life doesn’t push the limits and enable a life full of passion it doesn’t require jumping towards fear, often without a life jacket. Thank you for showing that yes it is really hard work and scary but if you put your heart, Soul and mind into it , it could also is be beyond rewarding and and lead you to a life of passion and complete fulfilment.
Todd you have reminded lucky readers what life is really about and those in your life as so lucky to be part of it. I shamelessly admit to stalking you on Facebook to look for photos of Helga, Winston and Wesley and they are as gorgeous as you describe them!,
Finally I loved the recipes at the end of the book. You have inspired me in more ways than you could ever imagine. Thank you for your absolutely awesome book. I hope one day when we are back in the state to pop in and purchase some semillon (and meet Helga).
Put this to the top of your TBR stat.
