Member-only story
Back home home
Home of birth, not life
Having booked a flight almost 18 months ago, I finally got the chance to use it and get back to the UK after an absence of 12 months. Even that was quite lucky, as the last time I came here I took a risk and booked the flight just 4 weeks before when Croatia was on the red list.
But this time I made it — with caveats of course. I had to take a test before I got on the plane, and three more tests after, on Day 2, 5 and 8, as per legal requirements.
I arrived back in an actually fairly sunny Gatwick, greeted by my sister waving pompoms and chanting my name. After a train ride I was then met by my other sister filming me with some less than flattering accompanying soundtrack, and would be staying with her for the isolation period and beyond.
Imposter syndrome
I had spent more than a year away from the UK before, and whenever I returned, I always felt like I could slip easily back into the life I knew. Nothing much changed in essence, but this time I felt a difference. Obviously Covid-19 had a huge part to play, but so did perhaps was what was happening on the other side.
I have now spent almost six years in Croatia. That’s more than I have spent in the UK during my ‘adult’ life. I started to notice a lot of things where I could no longer…
