Changes

The narrative takes you from Africa to London to Portugal and back to Africa again. The Pixleys don't like to stand still! O'D is the one with the itchiest feet and while Val occasionally complains or objects, it's clear she is also far from a city gal. This adventurous spirit leads the couple into some hair-raising adventures. They're burned out of their idyllic home in Portugal. O'D is thrown into a terrifying African jail for failing to show the "proper" respect to corrupt authorities. Val almost loses a foot courtesy of the Matacena worm - a quite stomach-turning parasite. They are cursed by witch doctors. And of course, there is the terrifying bandit raid that opens the book. You won't find out how ''that'' turned out until the very end.

But it's not all disaster. Pixley has a complicated relationship with God, which she discusses throughout the book and this adds a personal, introspective note to proceedings. And there is a thoroughly entertaining parade of people and animals, all larger than life and all painted in vivid colour. There's the cook who blames plates for smashing themselves. There are cats and dogs and monkeys and goats. All in the house! You can see the attraction of this life when you compare it to a grey and damp London of nine-to-fives.