In August of 2008 four mates from Shepparton in central Victoria were forced by their respective partners, to go on a holiday together to Italy. It was the trip of their lives (See book 1; 'Italy on €1000 a day...without food!' Available at all good book stores).



Then, in a further show of unselfish love and devotion, their women folk got together again in 2010 and insisted they take another European sojourn in search of the meaning of what it is to be the quintessential Australian Male.



To find what it means to be Australian one must first see what it is to be something else. 'So,' their women breathed heavily, 'Go and compare yourselves to the most hot blooded nationality of mainland Europe. The Spanish!'



'O...K!' They said. And after they found the meaning of the word 'quintessential'

(Adj. quintessential - representing the perfect example of a class or quality) they were off!



This is the story of Simon Furphy; Furph the ex solicitor and eligible add man about town; Peter Fitzpatrick; Fitzy the mad, cordon bleu dentist; Ian McKinnon; Macca, the tennis coach with an unreturnable wine serve; and John Head; Heady, the foot doctor and small town Renaissance bloke; and their trip to Spain in October 2010.



Together they are; 'The running of the Bulls'.