During the Semana Santa, the Holy Easter Week, in a small resort near Málaga in Spain, five Brits and two Germans meet on the beach. An almost magical empathy is ignited, discovering that they have so much in common. This bond of friendship has continued over a period of six years in which all members of this group come to the Semana Santa, not only for a holiday break but explicitly to meet each other. There are animosities triggered off by conflicting attitudes to bullfighting or religion. Four of the group are ex-patriots confronted with the trials and tribulations of living permanently...

Homer Adamson's life as a retired lecturer of English at Liverpool University is a shambles. He could not give a damn about himself. His wife Penelope suffers from his diminishing interest in life and considers leaving him. As Homer shows no impetus to help himself, a friend at his former university suggests going to Germany to teach English at a grammar school there. For this project to be a success, Homer realizes that he has to do something to pull himself out of his lethargy. When starting at his new school in the German city of Recklinghausen, Hoa Tham acts as Homer's advisory teacher...