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The Gran Tour

Travels with my Elders

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The Gran Tour

By: Ben Aitken
Narrated by: Ben Aitken
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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, sixteen 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 thirty-something blues by getting old as soon as possible. Europe Gerontology Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary Funny Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Feel-Good
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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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I found this book very poignant as well as everything in the title above. We all overlook our elders and maybe as I am now at a pensionable age I see that more clearly.

Ben's writing is light but is also touched by wistfulness. His relationships with the people he meets reflects his empathy but also recognises as in all relationships there can be a little disparity.

I read this book because of my experiences with my clients of which some are still friends, many have died.
I worked in professional care for a few years and met the most amazing people. The stories and the acknowledged wisdom one absorbs in conversation is immense, and Ben has the knack as a storyteller to get it across to the listener/reader.

This is should be a recommended read for all young and old alike

Poignant, funny, very enjoyable

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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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