15/06/2026
5.5 years ago we left London and landed in Stockholm with our 2 year old son. No relocation package. No family here. No Swedish employer. No Swedish language skills. Global pandemic. We’ve moved house 3 times and my son has gone to 4 different schools. And now have a 🐕 and a 🐈 ofc!.
Some parts have been brilliant and wonderful and others are horrid and boring. I’ve been unhappy living in Sweden for a few years now, I’ve been hoping and willing it to get better (and working hard on the parts I can control) but alas we’ve made the call. WE’RE MOVING TO EDINBURGH 🏴
I adore how clean and safe it is here. I love that my childcare bill was £100 per month for full time nursery. I hate the non-talkative aspect of the culture. I love my 8 year old is bi-lingual (first person in either of our families ever ever to speak a second language fluently - it’s a big deal for us). I hate how conforming, risk averse and homogenous the culture is here.
There’s so much more to say and there’s a version of me that wishes things were different but this headline is where we are at. We leave Sweden for Edinburgh 🏴 on the 27th June.
The admin is disgusting. And we only just moved house in January 🥴 Some days I’m counting the days till we leave and others I feel sick that we’re making the wrong move. I’m so excited to be close to my family and friends and think this move will be brilliant for my business yet I’m worried about the culture shock waiting for me on the other side - I’ve not lived in Scotland for 15 years.
Have your family ever lived abroad? How was it for you?
Any tips for managing the transition back? Esp for my wee boy.
Anyway, follow along as my family (plus dog and cat) drive / sail cross 6 countries with all our belongings in a trailer. Yes I will decorate the trailer with my book cover. Send smarties and duct tape.
