Melanie's Mostly Writing

I unpacked my big trunk a few days ago only to find something precious missing. I had bought, a long time ago, a collectible Soviet era bronze medal featuring Sergei Korolev, father of space flight. It was special to me because I had worked at the West Freugh Satellite Ground Station, years ago, tracking satellites and Korolev was the director behind Sputnik, the first satellite in space. I almost gave it to my dad to keep, but at the last minute I packed the medal in my trunk.

We flew through Communist China to get home, but it never occured to me that customs might confiscate the medal. It seems Soviet era artefacts are regarded as cultural heritage, and they possibly thought I should not have transported it. I bought it on ebay, and it was quite valuable, but perhaps they take a dim view of Westerners collecting up Soviet items. It seems I have unwittingly committed a crime, even though I owned the medal. I think they have seized it from me, but not even informed me officially.  I didn’t take a picture as proof of ownership or packing so I have no comeback. I can’t believe I was so stupid and trusting.