Sunday 2nd May 2021

Steve’s secondment contract finishes in early August so we were standing in front of a decision to renew it and stay in Sri Lanka for 12 or potentially 24 months extra, or return to the UK.

We each jad time to think and decide of the past weeks, playing with in our heads with so many “what if?” scenarios; kid’s schooling and preparation for GCSEs, Asian travel possibilties opening up or not, Covid restrictions, parents in the UK and my mummy in Czech, friends (new and old), jobs (mine and Steve’s), life here in Sri Lanka, opportunities (missed and gained), the weather, the list was endless.

So many sleepless nights, so many conversations with people and family members, trying to wait for the right moment to “feel” what the right answer was. The easy option would be to return back to the UK but this would be to miss out on so much – especially for the children’s development and open-mindedness. We also try to live our lives by the motto “Do what is right, not what is easy” – or as Martin Luther King said, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right”.

We had many “family meetings” analyzing and discussing, culminating on a Sunday evening in us each writing down a list of prons and cons and then presenting our feelings and findings to the rest of the family, unineterrupted. The outcome was unanimous. We stay.

I somehow felt a big boulder lifted from my shoulders, and my head cleared knowing where we were now going. Well, at least we think we know where we are heading as the Covid-19 uncertain times continue.

Sharing this decision has gained frowns and encouragement in equal measure but believe me; it was the hardest decision yet of our lives to make.

Summer plans in Europe were the next step, as none of what we originally planned was able to materialise.

Let’s see where the journey takes us.

Rennie