How downsizing is just the start…

Synopsis

Could down-sizing her life mean up-sizing her dreams?

Since her daughter grew up and left home, Sandy has found herself filling her house with things – impulse purchases that she just has to have but that quickly lose their sheen. Why would she need an expensive set of copper pans when she has no one to cook for?

Realising that her shopping habit is out of control, she asks herself: can she de-clutter, downsize and start a new life?

She has always wanted to live on a barge, and she reasons that there is no way she would have room for random purchases on a boat. Taking the bravest decision of her life, Sandy buys and refurbishes a barge in the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

Relishing her independence, she is not looking for love, but as the nights draw in and the leaves start to fall from the trees, she finds herself drawn to cafe owner and expert hot chocolate maker Abe.

Is she willing to take a second chance on finding the one?

My review

Sandy never thought that her daughter moving away to Australia, would be the start of her impulse shopping. When the penny finally drops, she knows that something needs to change. Not only is she cleaning up her closets, but she also sees this as a chance to truly downsize and start a new life. With an add that she suddenly sees, she makes up her mind to not just buy a barge, but also make the move to the city of Amsterdam. However, the boat she has bought needs more TLC than expected. Luckily her neighbour Abe, not only café owner but also perfect hot – chocolate – creator, is there to help her out. Despite her attraction to Abe, Sandy is adamant that she is not looking for love, but for independency. But is there truly only room for independency and nothing for love at all?

Often there is a misunderstanding of where I am living. People assume I live in the Netherlands, but in fact, even if I speak Dutch (or rather, Flemish) I live in fact in Belgium. And while we do speak the same language and we have many many similarities, there are also several differences between us…

I have been in Amsterdam myself just once. And I have to admit, there were many lovely places, but at some places a specific odour cannot be ignored (you know which kind of odour I am talking about, don’t you 😊). And that put me a tiny bit off… However, I am always curious to read how characters in books experience the city of my neighbour country 😊.

And yes, living on a boat, a barge, or anything just floating on water, would be a hell for me. I need my space, I need my comfort,  I need something on solid ground.

I have to say, that initially I found Sandy some kind of sad character. While she is supportive of her daughter moving to Australia, she realizes that she has no one to look after now anymore. And while she has one best friend, that will appear several times in this book too (and is an important supportive person for Sandy), she feels more lonely and alone than ever.

And it saddened me too reading how she finds ‘relief’ by impulsive shopping, buying things that yes she likes, but not necessarily needs or will use…

On the other hand, I liked it how she was able to make the switch. She realizes that something needs to change. And not only does she start decluttering, but she truly goes big by looking for a barge. And while it may seem very impulsive and naïve to just buy through the internet and based on some photos and the word of a complete stranger.

But while I would never act the way Sandy does, it is also the start of the changes in her life. Not only to truly and literally downsizing, but also to be more independent, and most important, more happy. Because Amsterdam is a place she has very fond memories of. And isn’t there a better place to start again, than a place that made you once so happy?

Right from the start once arrived in Amsterdam, Sandy is ready to be hands-on. But she also quickly realizes that while she wants to be as independent as possible, sometimes you just a helping hand, whether is comes in the form of a kind and good looking neighbour or not…

Seeing how Abe is welcoming her in Amsterdam, and is willing to help her around, with well practically everything, made me believe in the goodness of people again. In a world filled with evil people, we need more people with Abe’s heart and kindness. He is not only being a good neighbour, but a truly good friend to Sandy. Even if Sandy is initially reluctant to accept his help…

It was sweet to see how Sandy is adapting to her new life in Amsterdam. And how she is truly bonding with not only Abe but also other people. In a way, I could see the burden fall off Sandy’s shoulders the moment she moves to Amsterdam. So many things fell into place the moment she steps into her own barge.

Of course there are several hiccups in this book, alongside several misunderstandings. Even if some could be avoided, I also kept in mind there is also a language barrier. I know that Dutch isn’t an easy language to learn, and I could comprehend how Sandy would misinterpret what she hears. 

Talking about language… at the start of the book, there was a sentence written in Dutch that wasn’t completely correct, and I was a bit afraid that it would be the start of getting annoyed with wrong spelling and grammar. Luckily for me, it was just one small error, and whenever there was written something in Dutch, it was correct 🙂. And of course, reading how the Dutch delicacy of  bitterballen also is mentioned, extra points from my side! 🙂

Obviously this is a book about fresh starts, new starts. And there are many stories like this one out there. But yet this book never felt like reading something I have read before. Because while in such stories, the main characters take a huge step with a huge amount of courage, there is something to be said doing this when you are just a tiny bit older, with already adult children. And going to a country, a city where you don’t know the language.

Sandy, or rather Helga Jensen, shows us that great things and great people can cross our paths if we just dare to make a change. And that a place from the past can be the perfect place for your present and your future. And also that no matter how much you have fought for your independency, and that you are a strong woman on your own, building your life up again, some people are worth of being let in. And that finding love, admitting to love, does not mean that you are giving up your independency at all. But it just means that you are expanding your life, your heart, to share your life with someone special, and someone worthy of it to share with.

Helga Jensen swept me away with this wonderful, heartwarming, inspiring and encouraging story about leaving your old life behind, in order to start a brand new, fresh life. All this in a setting that I know already, yet surprised me also with a few unknown fact and places that I for sure want to see for myself, and just be in awe just like Sandy was! 🙂