Before Spain, is detailing the three decades the author and his wife spent in the United Kingdom before relocating to Andalusia. The narrative begins with their chance encounter at a dirty Oxford swimming pool in 1975 and chronicles their life through various entrepreneurial ventures and personal challenges. The author candidly reflects on his early years as a merchant navy cook, his struggles with failed businesses, and his eventual transition into a career in IT and programming. Throughout the work, his wife is portrayed as a steadfast partner whose resilience repeatedly saved the couple from financial ruin. Ultimately, the source serves as a prelude to their retirement abroad, exploring the coincidences and hardships that defined their journey together.