A la Mod: My So-Called Tranquil Family Life in Rural France

Three weeks into our hen ownership and there wasn't a single egg, there was nothing. Natalie's theory for this was that they were bored. Can hens be bored? Really? They're hens for Pete's sake; do they need to be stretched intellectually before they produce any eggs? What am I suppose to do, read them Chomsky? Comedian, mod and professional grump Ian Moore has had enough. Tired of being unable to park anywhere near his cramped house in a noisy town he doesn't like, he hatches a plan to move his wife and young son to a remote corner of the Loire Valley in search of serenity and space. Several tears later, Ian finds himself up to his neck in bilingual offspring, feral cats, promiscuous horses, dysfunctional spaniels and needy hens; he's wrestling with electric fences, a foreign language, a mountain of animal waste and a wife who collects livestock like there's a biblical flood on the horizon, all while trying not dirty his loafers. But despite the ups, downs and increasing demands of Ian's showbiz career, the Moore family persevere in true Brit style to create a unique, colourful and ultimately rewarding life in their new home—a la campagne and a la mod! AUTHOR: Ian Moore is a stand-up comedian in the UK and a husband, father of three boys, farmhand and chutney maker in France. He is a mod in both walks of life and most of his time is spent travelling grumpily between the two.

About the Author :
Ian Moore is a stand-up comedian in the UK and a husband, father of three boys, farmhand and chutney-maker in France. He is a mod in both walks of life and most of his time is spent travelling grumpily between the two.

Review :
'I hate mods, I hate France and I hate reading but I still loved this book.' -- Lee Mack, comedian 'A La Mod is everything its author is: immaculately turned out, sharp and consistently hilarious.' -- Mark Billingham, best-selling author 'Charming, witty, a brilliant read.' -- Sarah Millican, comedian 'C'est Mod-nifique.' -- Marcus Brigstocke, comedian 'Has all the angry wit of John Cleese in a too tight suit... a farce to be reckoned with!' -- Michael Smiley, actor 'There are a great many comedians who think that they can also write books, myself included, but very few who can rival Ian Moore's immediate warmth and skill with language. This is a book that will provide laughs of recognition from those with young children of their own and of intrigue from singletons like myself. I finished it feeling part of the family and can't wait to find out what happens to us next!' -- Jon Richardson, comedian and author 'Take one life-long mod and chuck him into rural France, complete with pond-dredging, chutney-making, child-rearing and a horse with VD. The result is funny, revealing and oddly touching. Paul Weller meets A Year in Provence...' -- Miranda Sawyer, journalist and broadcaster 'Ian Moore is a brilliantly funny writer and that's all there is to it.' -- Annabel Giles, author and broadcaster 'A very funny, charming and honest account of a family's journey by one of my favourite comedians.' -- Shappi Khorsandi, comedian 'I've seen Ian Moore on the stage and I'm happy to report that he's just as good on the page. A light-hearted and wry look at life for the Moore family in the Loire Valley, with a passing and amusing nod to Durrell's My Family and Other Animals.' -- Nick Hewer, broadcaster 'Plunges you straight in to Ian Moore's strange, endearingly funny world. Zips along with nippy energy, although there are pages you have to read twice they make you laugh so much.' -- Annie Caulfield, writer and broadcaster 'A warm and witty journey into a foreign land. Like much of the produce in the French village where the Moore family shops, the humour is organic.' -- Martin Kelner, journalist 'If you are looking for stylish laugh, you need look no l further than A La Mod.' -- Mark Baxter, co-author of An A-Z of Mod 'Wonderfully funny; the sharpest, best-dressed most sardonic Englishman to land on French soil and make the absurd hysterical - this book will serve both as a warning and a temptation to anyone pining for a French idyll.' -- Janey Godley, author and comedian 'A hilarious and heart-warming tale exploring the reality of a very English man abroad. Moore's writing is honest, immensely readable and laugh-out-loud funny.' -- Dr Katy Shaw, author and academic 'Witty, insightful and wonderfully written, I couldn't put it down.' -- Katharine Merry, Olympic Medallist and Broadcaster 'Although this is hardly the first account of expats making a new life in France, Moore's comedy timing gives this a lightness of touch that makes it feel entertainingly fresh.' The Daily Mail 'This comical depiction of life in rural France will raise a few smiles' France magazine 'there is plenty of humour here and he often had me sniggering, giggling and really laughing with his light hearted look at his life.' The French Village Diaries 'As you might expect from a comedian, it's highly entertaining' Destination France 'Sit back and enjoy the show' French Property News 'A la Mod is as much about the difficulties of rural life as is it is being a Mod in France - and is all the better for it.' The Independent on Sunday