A Long-term Expat Returns to England (or how I learned to Love beautiful Swindon)

Just over a year ago, on a cold, frosty morning about a week into 2018, I sat in a branch of Costa in Bromley High Street, catching up with my two cousins, when the discussion turned to my impending return to England. At the time I'd been living as an expat in sub-tropical Taiwan in the Far East for over 24 years, and until four months before, I had absolutely no intention of leaving that little-known but stunningly mountainous and beautiful island paradise.

It's surprising how quickly our plans can change, and a painful event during the previous summer while visiting the family back in Kent (I fell ever-so-briefly, but completely and catastrophically, in love) turned everything upside down. Going back to Taiwan in mid August 2017, I felt more miserable and unsure of myself than ever in my life so far. Once back, I made a big decision: to leave a twenty-year relationship, my easy and well-paying job in Taiwan, give up my regular hiking, trekking and canyoning adventures around the island, and say goodbye to the many friends that I'd amassed during a quarter of century living in Taipei, Taiwan's laid-back capital. I knew that brief but tumultuous encounter had no future, but for some reason I just had to get back to my own country.

Soon the conversation with my cousins naturally turned to plans for my return to England, and how I was to settle back into my home country after so many years living a thoroughly Oriental way of life. Even before I'd met the man who became my new partner during an unforgettable New Year's party a week or so before, I'd already decided I was far too independent to live (even for a while) back in the family home in Kent. So I took my new flame up on his suggestion: that I stay with him after my return in June 2018... in the Wiltshire town of Swindon.

Swindon has a poor reputation nationally, it seems, as my cousin Liz's face dropped as soon as I mentioned where I'd be based. In the event I love living here. One thing everyone can agree on is that the town is superbly placed for getting to some of the most beautiful parts of southern England. The Dorset downs and Jurassic Coast are less than two hours' drive to the south, several stunning Cotswold villages are less than thirty minutes away, and the North Wessex Downs are even closer. What has surprised me, though, is how much beautiful countryside is within walking distance of my north Swindon home. I've got a whole lot more exploring still to do, right on my doorstep, as spring comes and, hopefully, some good walking weather with it: all great future material for this blog. From what I've seen so far, though, I've come to the right place, not only for my heart, but for my feet too!