From Vauxhall to Peru to Ningaloo
Former Vauxhall worker Alistair McGuinness who has written a book about what he did with his redundancy money
Not many people would see redundancy as the gateway to a better life.
But according to former Vauxhall production planner Alistair McGuinness, 47, being handed his P45 was almost as good as winning the lottery.
“It was like being given a golden ticket to see the world,” he said. “I clocked off on the last day and my wife Fran and I headed for Heathrow.” First stop for the peripatetic pair was Ecuador, followed by Peru and Bolivia. They came home briefly, realised they still had itchy feet and set off for Zanzibar, Zimbabwe and Fiji before ending up in Australia.
They visited all the countries they’d ever dreamed about and had some incredible encounters along the way but decided to settle in Busselton where Fran gave birth to Noah, eight, and six-year-old Sebastian.
Alistair (right) has finally put pen to paper and written a book about their extraordinary adventure. Called Round the Bend – Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, it has been self-published and will be available in time for Christmas.
The former Putteridge High pupil explained: “One minute you’re back-packing round the globe, the next you’re buying a home and having children.
“I’d written it all down in a diary and thought if the boys ever ask ‘Why are we here?’ they’d be able to read the reason.”
Now a business improvement specialist at an iron ore project, he was recently back in Luton on holiday.
He’s still a die-hard Hatters fan and admits there may come a day when the family returns to its roots.
“Never say never,” he smiled.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Luton
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North
