Despite constantly being on the move chasing jobs, and often living in places without power or a phone, Darryl says he and his siblings were raised to respect their elders and each other.
At the start the story encompasses the experiences of the whole family. As it progresses, the focus narrows on the two younger sons, Darryl and Kevin, who bond, mature and become lifelong mates.
Along the way the reader is transported across the country to shearing sheds, back country shepherding on horseback, flounder fishing, aerial topdressing, and school days in the country.
An underlying thread through the story is a family life that was not always harmonious, with his mother regularly abused by his father. Through challenging times, she kept the family together.
The title of the book refers to his mother's lifelong desire to live in her own house, which never came to be.
Darryl will be launching the book, with copies available for purchase, at an afternoon tea being held at St Mary's Hall, Waipukurau, on August 4 at 3pm.