Come on in, curl up with a cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer) and let’s get to know each other. My name is Charlotte and I’ve been blogging on another site for just over a decade, but I thought it was time for a refresh. You can find a selection of the previous content if you wish, as I’ve imported some of it, but if you’d rather start fresh, I’m just as happy to move forward together.

So anyone who knows me in real life (no, I’m not going to use internet acronyms, I’m too old!) will know that most of my previous content has been about walking a very complicated journey through raising my disabled son and the previous blog title reflected that. Now though, it feels like it’s time to loosen some of those self-imposed restrictions, just like a waistband at the end of a big meal or a bra strap at the end of a long day – you know what that’s like…

So some posts here will be about my son and the dual joys and heartaches of parenting him. Other posts will be about me and my journey into an unexpected life, including being widowed young; others might be spiritual reflections (spoiler alert: I’m a vicar so I’m afraid that comes with the territory, but everyone is welcome here regardless of whether you have any faith or none.) Other posts might just be random musings or whatever comes to mind really. Some of the posts you might love, others won’t be for you and you’ll gloss over those – that’s ok, to each their own. Read what you like, share what you like and feel free to chat with me.

Oh and by the way: This is an inclusive space. I talk about disability a lot because it’s my lived experience, but I’m a big fan of inclusion on every level, so regardless of sex, gender, identity, race or anything else, you are welcome here.

But you may wonder, why the title, considering I’m Canadian by birth and live in England? I’ve never actually been to the Netherlands, but the title of this blog pays tribute to that famous poem by Emily Perl Kingsley called, “Welcome to Holland” (copyright 1987) in which she tells the story of raising a disabled child. In it, she describes planning a trip to one destination (Italy) only to realise the plane has landed in an entirely different destination (Holland). She explains that while this change may always be a grief, you must learn to accept and value the beauty of the place you are in, rather than constantly yearning for the place you had planned to go. In essence, her beautiful poem is about realising your life is taking an entirely unexpected direction the one you had planned, and that’s why there are tulips all over this site – they’re my favourite flower now. If you haven’t previously read it, please do, you can find it in many places online and in print but here it is on the author’s own page: https://www.emilyperlkingsley.com/welcome-to-holland

Finally, if you’re looking for a rather lighter and more humorous approach to life, you’re welcome to visit my cat’s blog which is http://www.schrodingersdiary.com – this is the diary of a cat who may or may not exist, I am only his scribe and entirely under the domination of his furry paws.

Other that that, welcome, let’s get to know each other.