My book is a wedding present to my wife and daughter. It’s a story of loss and love.
It’s our story.
In 2010, I went to a fancy dress festival in the UK called Bestival and I was dressed as a crocodile. Somewhere between the sounds of Hot Chip, The Prodigy and The Flaming Lips, I met Alice, who was dressed as a bumblebee. I turned to my friend Will and I asked him “who’s that girl?” That was the start of it all!
We briefly dated, then life did what life does—it moved on. We lost touch, and for more than a decade, we didn’t see each other.
The day we met. A crocodile and a bumblee at Bestival
A mutual friend Caroline put us back in touch after so many years and we’ve been together ever since.
Fast forward to today, we’re living in Amsterdam with our little baby girl Mila and the memory of that crocodile and bumblebee has found new life in the pages of my first children’s book: Where the Canals Fly
Set in a whimsical version of Amsterdam, the story follows Charlie the Crocodile, who has lost his dear friend, Bella the Bumblebee. One day, she vanishes, swept away by a powerful gust of wind. But Charlie doesn’t give up. He sets out on an adventure through the winding canals, over bridges, and through some of my favourite spots in the city, to get her back.
Along the way, he encounters a cast of delightful characters—creatures who each offer a little wisdom, and some riddles to keep Charlie on the move. At its core, it's about something simple: how easy it is to lose each other in a complicated and busy world.
It’s a tale about timing. How in 2010 we were ultimately too young for each other and that time apart was necessary for us. It’s a fun story for children, but also one that I hope resonates with anyone who’s ever lost someone and dared to find them again.
Here’s Daria, my amazing illustrator working on the cover of the book. Thank you Daria for all your hard work and for bearing with me! :)
And because stories can do more than entertain, I pledge 10% of all sales from Where the Canals Fly to Oxfam, a great charity that my Mum is a volunteer for.
So, thank you for reading the backstory—and if you decide to buy the book, I hope it takes you somewhere magical.
With love,
Ben