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About

Hi, I’m Mel Wicks. I’m a copywriter and content marketer from Australia. Actually I’m from the UK. Or is it both? 

I was born and bred in England, with Scottish blood running through my veins. That’s me in the hat, aged 11, with my family in Argyll. No, I’m not sure why we’re dressed like a gang of Mexican bandits, and God knows why my mother is brandishing a gun. Happy days!

But – after 30-odd years in Australia – well, I’m Australian too.

In early 2020, my husband Russell and I sold our house in Cairns, in tropical Far North Queensland. We planned to pack up our life and move to Suffolk in the UK with our two beloved dogs, Molly and Moe. We wanted to finally start work on our bucket list, roaming the by-ways of England, Scotland and Europe. And maybe further afield.

Then. . .COVID struck.

Mel Wicks' family

On 19th March 2020, we had a lease on a cottage in Suffolk, half our worldly goods had been shipped to the UK, and the other half was in storage in Cairns. We had said our goodbyes and prepped our dogs for the big journey ahead.

On 20th March, Australia slammed shut its international borders, and our one-way tickets to London were cancelled, with ten days to spare.

And just like that, our world turned upside down.

But then, so did everybody else’s.

No-one escaped completely unscathed and, in hindsight, we consider ourselves very lucky. We were safe, COVID-free and surrounded by friends.

We had waited a long time to start our adventure. We could wait another year or so. And, dammit, we had to.

Suffolk cottage
The beautiful cottage in Suffolk we leased, and lost.

Postscript

In May 2021 the UK turned a corner with its vaccine roll-out and, finally, there was a glimmer of hope.

In the meantime, we had found another beautiful cottage in Suffolk to call home, and the airline tickets we bought last year were due to expire in July.  There was only one thing for it. We had to use them.

And use them we did. On 24th July 2021, Russell and I finally landed at Heathrow Airport after a hair-raising 3-day journey. You can read about it here and here.

How long we’ll be away from Australia is anyone’s guess; although some may say I am not away – I have come home to England. I have a foot (and a heart) in both camps. I belong to two countries, but I’m a foreigner in one and a stranger to the other.

This is a blog about rediscovering my homeland after 35 years abroad. Will I ease into it like an old pair of slippers, or will I find it alien and unfamiliar? What will life be like in this COVID-weary and Brexit-wary land for a digital nomad from Australia trying to reconnect with her roots?

Who knows. But I hope you’ll join me to find out.

(Hint:  It will be a lot easier if you fill out the subscription form at the bottom of the page.)

Suffolk Pink Cottage
Our new home in Suffolk
17th Century Cottage
Log burners and 17th century beams

My Writing Creds

I’m a seasoned copywriter and certified content marketer. I specialize in SEO-optimized blog posts and websites.

I have worked as a business writer and strategic marketer for over 30 years and a content marketer and digital copywriter for the past 8.

I am currently based in the UK, but I have clients around the world. You can view my professional work at TheCraftofCopywriting.com

Certified content marketer and copywriter