Returning to England After 20 Years in Bosnia

 

It’s been two years since I was last back in England.

After more than two decades living in a quiet village in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I’ve arrived back in the country where I was born, and within the first twelve hours something felt different.

In this video I share my first impressions of returning to England after so long away. The pace of life, the memories, the nostalgia of travelling across London again, and the strange feeling of being both familiar with a place… and yet somehow a stranger in it.

My journey started at Banja Luka Airport, via Munich, and eventually into London before heading out to Woodcote in South Oxfordshire, where my daughter lives.

My Eldest daughter, Natalie and Me in Wallingford

My Eldest daughter, Natalie and Me in Wallingford

Along the way there were:
• red kites circling in the sky
• a proper British takeaway curry (my first in two years!)
• reflections on what it means to build a life somewhere else
• and the realisation that sometimes the place you come from is no longer the place you belong.

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to return “home” after many years away, you might recognise some of these thoughts.

Have you ever gone back to a place you once called home and felt like a visitor?

If you enjoy slow living, honest reflections, and a glimpse into everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you’re very welcome here.

Feel free to leave a comment, I read and reply to every single one.

David Bailey

Hello, I’m David, a British-born storyteller, podcaster, and video creator living in rural northern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For more than two decades, Bosnia has been home. From village walks and quiet mornings to local traditions, unexpected encounters, field recordings, podcasts, and reflective videos, I share stories from a life lived a little off the usual path.

My work is not about glossy travel content or chasing the latest trend. It is about slowing down, noticing the details, and telling honest stories from this part of the Balkans, especially from the perspective of someone in the later chapter of life, still curious, still learning, and still trying to make sense of the world.

David

An Englishman in the Balkans / Retired Life in Bosnia

https://anenglishmaninthebalkans.com
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