Neverwhere, American Gods and Good Omens author Neil Gaiman apologises for epic journey from New Zealand to Skye during Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown
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AUTHOR Neil Gaiman has apologised for doing "something stupid" after he was criticised for travelling from New Zealand to Skye during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Mr Gaiman, who is famed for work on the likes of American Gods, Neverwhere and Good Omens, travelled to his home on Skye earlier this month – prompting widespread criticism from politicians and the public when he first mentioned the journey last week.
At the time, he said the reason for his 12,000 mile journey via Los Angeles and London was because he and his wife Amanda "found ourselves in a rough place" immediately before he left and that they "agreed that we needed to give each other some space, which had been in very short supply in lockdown in New Zealand".
Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford, who lives on Skye, said he was "gobsmacked" when he first heard about the journey.
Mr Gaiman was later visited by local police over the matter, without charge.
Commenting on his latest blog, Mr Gaiman said his actions had "managed to mess things up in Skye, which is the place I love most in the world" and he was "really sorry".
He said that "like so many other people, my homelife and work had been turned upside-down by the Covid-19 lockdowns.
"I was panicked, more than a little overwhelmed and stuck in New Zealand. I went to the UK government website trying to figure out what to do."
He added that his decision was partially based upon an official advisory on the site – which read: "If you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, you are strongly advised to return now."
He continued: "I've been living in the UK since 2017, and all of my upcoming work is here – so 'you are strongly advised to return now' looked like most important message. I waited until New Zealand was done with its strict lockdown, and took the first flight out. (And yes, the flights and airports were socially distanced, and, for the most part, deserted.)
"When I landed the whole of the UK was under lockdown rules. I drove directly to my home in the UK, which is on Skye. I came straight here, and I've been in isolation here ever since."
He added that he had not been thinking clearly and "just wanted to go home" but added that he'd have stayed in New Zealand if he knew what he knows now.
He added: "I got to chat to some local police officers yesterday, who said all things considered I should have stayed where I was safe in New Zealand, and I agreed that yes, all things considered, I should.
"Mostly they wanted to be sure I was all right, and had been isolating, and that I would keep isolating here until the lockdown ends, and to make sure I knew the rules. Like all the locals who have reached out to me, they've been astonishingly kind.
He continued: "Skye has had its own tragic Covid outbreak – ten deaths in a local care home. It's not set up to handle things like this, and all the local resources are needed to look after the local community. So, yes. I made a mistake. Don't do what I did. Don't come to the Highlands and Islands unless you have to.
"I want to apologise to everyone on the island for creating such a fuss. I also want to thank and apologise to the local police, who had better things to do than check up on me. I'm sure I've done sillier things in my life, but this is the most foolish thing I've done in quite a while."
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