2020 will be remembered for coronavirus and it’s consequences, but 2020 will be etched in my memory for the year of changing homes. We are currently in home number 5 and have at least one more ahead of us.

We returned to the UK at the end of 2019 with the intention of returning to Hong Kong in early February 2020, after Chinese New Year. However coronavirus was then rampart in China so our year has panned out with Cirencester for 2 months, then an Airbnb in Bristol for 2 months followed by our own flat in Bristol for 2 months.

At this stage we knew that we were heading for Tokyo but with various lockdowns our fight date seemed rather elusive. With an 8 hour time difference, trying to work was tricky, so we decided to relocate to Hong Kong which has a similar time zone. and where Geoff could work from the regional office. Arriving in mid-July, we moved into a serviced apartment here, making this home number 4.

I have such unpleasant memories of that place, mainly because it is where we spent our two weeks’ quarantine and I suffered my worst jetlag ever, feeling physically ill for most of the time. I think this was largely due to being unable to get out and the dark aspect of the apartment.

So in August we moved again … into another serviced apartment, just around the corner. So close that we were able to repack our numerous suitcases & wheel them around to home no. 5. I bet you cannot imagine living in 395 sq ft – not much bigger than the size of a large lounge!

Of course, if we had realised that we would be spending three months here we might have looked for something somewhat larger. But what this place lacks in size it makes up for in sheer ingenuity – and the enormous number and size of cupboards.

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With the bed-settee sleeping another two people, this tiny apartment can sleep 5! But I am delighted that we don’t have to try this out; I fear it would be rather cramped.

And the best part of this serviced apartment living? Twice a week the apartment is cleaned, with the bed changed & re-made and clean towels supplied. Now don’t ask me what I do with my free time ……!!