Melissa Kite Melissa Kite

The badlands of rural Surrey

Since moving to the village I’ve experienced more excitement than I did in Helmand, the West Bank or west Belfast

issue 21 March 2020

The most exciting place on earth I have ever been to is the village where I live.

And I don’t think I’m boasting to say that I’ve been to a lot of exciting places: Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza strip, Egypt, Korea, Crossmaglen, the Somerset Levels at high tide… My favourite dateline is ‘By Melissa Kite in Helmand’. But I’m also proud of the years I spent in a Portakabin at Stormont covering the Good Friday peace talks.

I’m just saying, I’ve been posted all over the world so I’ve seen a few interesting places.

But I’m starting to think that the most interesting place I’ve ever seen in terms of studying human nature is the small Surrey enclave where I bought a cottage three years ago in search of a quiet life.

I guess that just about serves me right for trying to bow out of the rough and tumble.

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