After five years of typing in the shadows, here I am: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jul/06/reluctant-carer-to-redundant-carer?CMP=twt_b-gdnsaturday#comments

It has been the proverbial, long, strange trip, not just for me but also for my family, I am very grateful to them for putting up with my invisible sniping and The Guardian for publishing the reveal piece which is fitting since it was a piece in there which got the ball rolling back in 2019: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/19/dad-more-comebacks-than-elvis-confessions-of-a-reluctant-carer

Much has changed since then. Key players, Dad especially, have left the stage and others have entered the fray. If you have come here from today’s Guardian piece then the fray is best enjoyed through the book, which you can buy somewhat more cheaply (and in paperback) than the link in the piece, and from your vendor of choice here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/the-reluctant-carer/the-reluctant-carer/9781529029390

But there is also much on the site which is not published elsewhere, so, if my late life hot take is your thing, dive in. It beats wasps and oysters it seems (which is saying something). You are in good company.

I must also thank all those of you who have emailed me from this site. Those are your words I am quoting here (below), and the drive to write this latest piece was kindled by that recognition.

If you want to know more about ‘me’ and how it came to this, I am indebted to Andew Hankinson, a soldier of non-fiction for having me on his podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/michael-holden-the-reluctant-carer/id1588244277?i=1000661300505

Thank you all for reading.

Love, Michael x

PS if you like non-fiction, I would very much recommend this book of Andrew’s too https://www.amazon.co.uk/Could-Something-Amazing-Your-Raoul/dp/192224791X