Bruce Wightman is leaving us. Having spent nine years in Bulgaria, he is returning to his native New Zealand after an absence of more than twenty years.

Though he was recently introduced to King Simeon II as "a distinguished journalist," Bruce isn't sure whether he should call himself an art critic, writer, actor or painter. He decides on writer for the moment, as that is the occupation that fills most of his time. Whilst in Bulgaria, he has written four novels, three novellas, many short stories and has also found time to write a weekly arts review for The Sofia Echo.

Art has been a passion for Bruce since his youth but his career as an art critic began in Bulgaria. Over the years his reviews have gained him the respect of Sofia's artistic community and brought him to the attention of ambassadors and kings. He even has fans in Delhi, India.

He is a great advocate of Bulgaria's art world but is disappointed with the current climate. "The Bulgarian scene is in the doldrums because the artists are great innovators. They are all trying to do something different and usually it's been done before." Nevertheless, he sees a lot of potential in Bulgaria and by opening a gallery in New Zealand, he may help to rejuvenate the Balkan art scene.

After more than 50 years in Europe, Bruce worries that he will find it hard to live in New Zealand. "I remember the country as being slightly myopic and having a national inferiority complex," he says with concern, and mentions again that he is still not sure about the move. He plans to find out what sort of pension is on offer there before settling down.

Bruce's new life will certainly be a change from the city. His brother Rex has arranged for them to go deer stalking in three weeks' time and he is curious to see Doug, his youngest brother, who has become a Buddhist since they last met. "I hope he still drinks," mused Bruce.

When he first settled in Bulgaria, he found the language very difficult and has been unable to master it. Feeling isolated in Sofia, he immersed himself in his writing and joined the British Embassy club. The writing has endured but his appearances at the club are limited to those special occasions that require a kilt.

Language barriers have prevented him from pursuing acting, another of his passions. One of his claims to fame is that he appeared in five episodes of the BBC's cult drama series, Doctor Who and is now listed in the Who's Who of Dr Who. A particularly memorable, though short-lived, part was as a Scottish oilrig worker who was eaten by the Loch Ness monster. He hopes to re-ignite his radio and television career in the antipodes. "My face has changed somewhat over the years so perhaps agents will find it more interesting than they did 50 years ago," said Bruce.

New Zealand's publishers will also be hearing from him: "I am taking all my written work with me and I shall chase the publishers there," he said. One short story has already been published and an offer has been made for his continuation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

His fascination with the Dracula myth led him to co-found the Dracula Society in 1973. The society still exists but has always had trouble keeping the less serious fanatics away, "some of them used to turn up with plastic fangs and cloaks," Bruce complained, "I never owned a cloak." For much of the 70s and 80s he ran Dracula tours in Romania for wealthy Americans. Myths and tales of the supernatural have always attracted him and he often incorporates them into his own writing.

Some years ago, he reported on Caucescu's regime in Romania. Since then he has tended to steer clear of politics but was briefly drawn into Bulgarian affairs at the highest level when he was introduced to King Simeon II at a recent British Embassy function. "When we met, I told him that I hope everything goes well and he said, `Well, we'll have to see,' with a slight look of terror. I do worry about him - he's a very pleasant person and I think he has good intentions, but it really depends on who's around him."

On the whole, Bruce is positive. "When I first arrived you still had to queue for certain things and I picked up the habit of buying something when I saw it as you never knew if it would be there the next day." The situation has greatly improved but he is still bothered by the condition of the street children and the ever-present beggars. "The most despised of humanity is the man who sits and begs," he quotes. "Nobody needs to beg, there is work for everyone who wants it, however menial it may be."

Perhaps his greatest regret on leaving the country is that he may never again observe the beauty of Bulgaria's women. "The girls are lovely here," he says thoughtfully, and quotes a twelfth-century Persian poet to emphasize his point, "In paradise, the beauty of the women surpasses even the beauty of Bulgarian women." Kalina, his Bulgarian wife, will be joining him in New Zealand.