THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Niki Gifford, 58, moved abroad for her dream job, but soon found herself missing Blighty

- SARAH WHITELEY

When I was offered my dream job to open an art gallery in Singapore, 

Yet, as soon as I stepped off the plane, wearing a woollen suit and thick tights, in 90 degree heat and humidity, I realised just how different my new life was going to be. Of course, Singapore was amazing. It was so clean, I had a huge apartment and I loved my new job.

But before long, I found myself missing little things – such as making small talk with strangers. ‘Warm today, isn’t it?’ I smiled at the woman in front of me in a queue one day. Always a great conversation starter in the UK, but it seemed to fall flat in Singapore. The woman just nodded at me, seemingly confused at my stating the obvious.