DEREK Hawker had it all, a luxurious home, a happy family and his complete set of Blondie CDs.

Suddenly everything changes; his son begins to practice psychology on him and his clever daughter thought he was boring. To cap it all his vivacious wife, Denise, decides to take a year out and goes to China because she says their marriage has become dull.

Left alone, Derek decides to chuck in his job and start up a business. He becomes involved with his neighbours, a theme pub, a stripper and the police. Can he survive?

A funny, fascinating book.

Daphne Curtis