This book is about the Australian love affair with holidays.

It's about going away and staying at home. It's about the relaxing times you had as a kid, escapes you have with your children and the stories you hear from your friends.

It can be about a romantic sunset, the spare seat at breakfast being taken by an attractive stranger, a miraculous airline upgrade - or missing bags, unfortunate rashes and wrong turns that lead to places you definitely did not intend to go.

But most of all it's about being in your backyard in an above-ground pool, floating in circles, staring at the clouds as you go round and round, and knowing as you float that life is sweet because you're on holidays.

PRAISE for William McInnes's previous books:

'skilfully constructed...insightful, understated and very funny' Sydney Morning Herald on THE LAUGHING CLOWNS

'The Making of Modern Australia is a ripper' The Canberra Times

'William McInnes compels with the sheer delightfulness of his memoir, and with his fine ability to spin a damn funny yarn' Sunday Telegraph on A MAN'S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY

'funny and clever' Daily Telegraph on THAT'D BE RIGHT

'A big-hearted novel with character' Sunday Telegraph on CRICKET KINGS