So, it’s the last night in London and despite plans to come back for my wonderful mother’s next big birthday we just can’t be sure if that will happen. It’s therefore a time for just a smidge of contemplation.

We have absolutely loved seeing friends, family, work colleagues and most definitely takeaway food – god it’s great!

I have very mixed feelings. I’m very happy to be going home (to France), I have missed (in no particular order):

• The garden
• The weather, and super massive paddling pool
• My ‘sister from another mother’ and the calming patience that loves a bit of crazy (Cress & Jonny)
• The quiet
• Meow
• The sense of progress on the house (despite how slow it is)
• Matt having a project that is all encompassing (on top of the two jobs) and the sense of achievement he gets from it

However, I have enjoyed seeing people (mostly focusing on their legs; it’s weird to remember that you even have them after so many video calls; and, to notice some of the more questionable trouser, skirt, shoe, sock combos).

My highlights of being home (again, in no particular order):

• Delivery food, the Asian place by Pete’s flat is epically good
• London gatherings: the park with Tonia, drinks and dinner with Pete, and the bbq with ‘the kids’
• Being spoilt in Sussex:
  • the ‘UK chapter of the Les Bengalis Fan Club’ were incredible, it was so surprising to receive one card and small gift, let alone multiple.
  • I also got to meet my newest nephew and see the Smith’s incredible house, the joys of a team of builders and vision at the Corbetts, and the incredible veg garden at the Chaney-Shorts (I’d love to claim to be the inspiration for this but expect that Covid had something to do with it)
  • And, of course, to replace ‘rang mum’, with seeing her in person. The holding back of tears at the station didn’t go unnoticed, I miss you loads too but we are having fun. Some day things will change and we’ll be able to pop back and forth super easily.

With all that has been so great about being back and the promise of going back to our French house, what’s the problem, why so contemplative?

It’s not been as easy being back as I had hoped or expected. Quarantine actually was a breeze, thanks mostly to the amazing Peter Ward. Giving us your flat to quarantine in was above and beyond, but then you are always there to get me out of a pickle. I thought I would immediately miss the size and space of our house but I didn’t. I was grateful for the convenience of having two steps to the bathroom in the middle of the night, a kitchen that worked (and the homemade curry – you are incredibly thoughtful Pete). Matt and I are used to being alone so isolation wasn’t so different from being at home.

In week two however we realised the reality of being here. Every two minutes friends and family were being ‘pinged’ by track and trace to isolate, one had even contracted Covid’s Delta variant. We were technically out of quarantine but with nobody about or everyone in isolation themselves it wasn’t living up to the dream.

Week three was a big week. I’d spent months/weeks planning some tours of the hospitals, uni research and surrounding developments. But none of that really went to plan. Every few days I had to change the plans, the core AI Center and Neuro imaging teams went down, Pete was pinged (thankfully with a release date just one day before the first tour – but we ruined our ‘big fancy thank you dinner plans’) and various others. A few friends and family remained on the no go list, but I was grateful for the ones that did make it out to see us.

It’s all made me realise that for all the talk of ‘coming out of Covid’ and the release of lockdown measures we still have no idea how much longer we will have these travel restrictions in place. It is not what we had imagined when we first put our offer in all that time ago.

So… Thanks London, your weather was mostly rubbish; to our friends and family, we love and miss you so much; and to the Fan Club, I wish I had more time to spend on writing this (and the house) but your words of support and appreciation are the only thing that keeps this going (let me know when you get bored of it as I would get a lot more sleep)

All the best and a happy 1am to all of you xx

[19 July 2021]