Life on the road

The journey from the Netherlands to setting up home back in the UK has taken many unexpected twists and turns. 

Reflecting back, I’m realising there are many ways to embark on such a venture: strategic planning, schedules, organising and timing. I had a few of those, but I was also throwing caution to the wind on many occasions and also following my gut instincts. Trusting that when I put my foot forward, the ground - or a stepping stone - will rise up and meet me! On the whole, I landed on my feet quite steadily most times! 

The precarious nature of the experience lay in my mental and emotional stability. I experienced the feeling of uprooting and rootlessness when settling into a new location. It can be very disorientating if you’re not aware beforehand and I was not aware of this intense part of relocating to another country.

Returning to what is in some sense familiar ground - my home city - I don’t go through the same rootlessness, however I was also not at all grounded. My housing situation was temporary and precarious. I had the financial stability to keep myself sheltered and found creative ways to make it work given the prices in London right now for rented property. I did a stint of house sitting and couch surfed with relatives. Both experiences were very comfortable and my hosts ever so accommodating to my needs. 

9 months after landing back in London I finally recieved the keys to what would be my new home but it took another 4 months before I could move in. The property which I bought, was in a state of disrepair and huge neglect. Not long after I took ownership I suffered a massive relapse with my Post-Covid Syndrome (Long Covid) condition. I had a huge energy crash where my body’s autonomic nervous system was not coping anymore  I gained new symptoms of the condition: migraine headaches, sinus tachycardia, palpitations, light sensitivity. And my blood pressure went off the charts! I had to have my bp meds reviewed. I was in and out of A&E, my heart rhythm was monitored for 7 days with a special Holter monitor. SARS-Covid 19, the virus that just keeps on giving! Please continue wearing a mask in public places. This virus is deadly.

Photos in this blog that are my own:

1. Feet elevated in a stool while I rested on moving day. It’s was 32°c that day and I used all my spoons/pace points by 9.30am that morning and was useless from then onwards!

2. Screenshot of an app called Visible. It’s used to monitor chronic health conditions like ME/CFS, POTs and and Long Covid. Similar to a fitness app but it monitors sickness by measuring your HPV and HR. You also monitor other symptoms, medications, mood etc. It’s been invaluable in enabling me to advocate for myself with medical professionals.