It was no country for young men. Or women . . .

Unemployment, emigration and do-it-yourself hair colour kits were once again a fact of life. Taxes were on the up, the IMF was on the way and there was a cash-for-gold outlet in Foxrock Village.

But the signs for recovery were good - for me, at least. I was the chief executive of one of the few businesses turning a profit in this town, a shredding company helping to dispose of the Celtic Tiger's dirty little secrets. And I was getting plenty of love action - as the boy-toy of an attractive sixty-year-old woman who was totally rolling in it. I never imagined myself ending up as a gigolo. But, as the saying goes, where there's a will, there's a way-hey-hey!

With presents galore, sex on demand and a hot meal on the table every night, life was storting to look up again. All I had to do to aovid focking it up was to keep my chinos buttoned. And, well, you can probably guess how that went.

Praise for Ross O'Carroll-Kelly-

'Side-achingly funny' Sunday Independent

'Razor sharp, magnificently plotted and an utter joy to read' Irish Mail on Sunday

'Will leave you with pains in your cheeks from laughing' RTE Guide

'A smile per paragraph, a chuckle per page, and at least one belly laugh per chapter' Hot Press