Support thread for those of us with family abroad

[TwirpingBird]

I just read on sky news that Nicola Sturgeon has said foreign holidays will be 'unlikely' this summer. As much as this sucks for people who were living for a week in spain (arent we all!), for those of us who have parents or family who live a plane journey away, I guess this means another long while before we get to see our loved ones again.

I dont really know what I want from this thread, but I know many people on MN are coming up to a year away from their loved ones, and facing most of this year away from them, so instead of crying into another glass of prosecco, i thought i would start this thread, so we maybe dont feel so alone.

THERE IS HOPE!!!!

Reporting on the potential resumption of international travel after the 21st of June, sky news reports "A review will consider the resumption of international travel. A successor to the Global Travel Taskforce will report by 12 April so that people can plan for the summer, the PM says.".

So, summer may be a possibility for us to go home!!! Obviously there are still the issues of our home countries having their own restrictions and laws, but I am taking this as hope. I had written this year off but the idea that maybe we could see our families in the summer or early autumn has given me something to look forward to.

I agree there is hope ❤ Let's hope the vaccine rollout speeds up outside the UK now so we can all see and hug each other sooner ❤ Courage, all, it's been so bloody hard, but we'll get through it and what amazing resilience each and every one of us has (re-)discovered to fall back on. There is light at the end of the tunnel 💐 xx

A ray of hope. I can't quite allow myself to believe it. Better news than expected.

I believe there is hope for those of us trying to travel to or from the Eu. I don’t follow us, Aussie or NZ Covid news so no comment on those. But the vaccine will work in keeping the load off hospitals (assuming it’s accepted by the public) and last summer there was travel so surely surely there is hope for this summer?? I’ve just cancelled our travel for Easter 😕 I would have cancelled earlier just waiting to be within the accepted timeframe.

one of my biggest concerns is the pcrs .. spain request one before landing (200£) , another one before traveling to the uk (125-150) and then the other 2 whilst in quarantine... so going abroad just myself would it be 600? + 600 husband + lost of money from my son for not going to nursery ?

im really happy I'll be able to visit them... but if I've to fork out an extra 2k ... then I might just write 2021 off until I'm fully vaccinated (middle 30s wfh female> last one in the queue)

@Easterisland from the way they are talking I think there is a possibility they may consider relaxing some travelling rules. If they dont, they wont make any money from tourists over the summer. Nobody will be able to afford it

So we may be able to do transatlantic travel in the summer without self isolating when back? Can’t dare hope yet!

[quote TwirpingBird]@Easterisland from the way they are talking I think there is a possibility they may consider relaxing some travelling rules. If they dont, they wont make any money from tourists over the summer. Nobody will be able to afford it [/quote]
Hope so! Can’t wait !!

Christ. My optimism and hope has quickly turned to 'no. They wont let us do it. It wont work with the restrictions at home'.

My inlaws have also paid about zero attention to the announcement simply because bat being furloughed and not being able to get a haircut, their lives havent changed much. My MIL was crying on the phone the other day about how much she missed everyone, and then it turns out she is meeting her DD for a walk twice a week. Not sure who she thinks she is missing. I seem to just be raging angry with her all the time because I am disgustingly jealous of her and her family situation. I keep snapping at DH when it's not even his fault.

Why cant I just be happy that life is going to get much nicer .....

@TwirpingBird I know its such a rollercoaster of emotions at the moment and so many unknowns. I am a tiny bit hopeful that a trip home is a possibility at some point this summer. I'm clinging on to the idea that if my DPs are vaccinated 🙏 and I have at least one shot things will be a whole lot safer and positive by then. Due to the connections between Ireland and the UK you would hope that some agreement could be reached to allow travel without restrictions.

I've pretty much given up all hope of being able to go to the States before Christmas, but I do now have huge hope my parents can come visit for my LO's 1st birthday in June. If they open hotels for 17 May, and self catering before this, I don't see what would stop them from coming in May and booking self catering. They are aware they would need to pay for tests and maybe self isolate or do test to release, but that seems feasible. Is anyone else planning that or am I crazy to even think it?

Waiting to see what Nicola's roadmap will be for Scotland. Early indications are that it will be broadly similar to Boris' but I've seen split opinion on whether she'll go that little bit harder or softer.

I don't know if I can dare to hope that I might get to travel this summer. That my dad might hold on long enough for us to be there at the end and/or that I'll at least be able to see and comfort my mum after the fact. I really want to know about quarantine as this is one of the biggest sticking points for me (apart from the flight being available at all).

I don't know about anyone else but I'm finding that yesterday's announcement has brought the anti-travel lot out in force. So much noise about how the selfish Brits can't be separated from our two weeks in the sun and those of us who want to travel are all murderers and/or will put the country back in lockdown just because we can't stay put.

The thing is, I'm desperate for a proper holiday. We had a really exciting holiday organised for Sept 2020 to make a significant anniversary and I'm gutted that we didn't get to go. I'd love to get those plans re-booked as soon as I can but realistically we won't do that holiday for 2-3 years now because the priority has to be my family. It would have been amazing to have done our big holiday before my dad got sick. I also want to go to pubs, restaurants, get my hair cut etc as much as the next person but the need to be with family outweighs all of that. This is what a lot of people just don't understand, especially those with family down the road. Yes, they may be desperate for a hug but the fact that they have seen family members and know they can be there in a time of crisis means that their biggest problem in lockdown is their split ends and they just cannot empathise with those of us separated from loved ones.

im quite positive today, that I'll be able to see them in summer this year, they're in spain so as long as Europe opens to us (right not it's closed , and lets face it the south of Europe needs the British tourism) I should be able to.

This is headlines in bbc today "Holiday bookings surge following lockdown exit plans"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56161129

And I dont care what anti-traveling people think, they'd better care about them not catching the virus that I'll make sure I dont catch it when visiting my family or going on holidays as I've planned to do(I'm planning to go a country that has had 5k cases since march 2020... so doubt I'll be much danger to this country)

I've just found this thread - thank you so much for posting this. My family live in the Asia-Pacific region, and I feel more depressed everyday about not being able to see them.

Pre-pandemic I felt like they were just a day away, now they feel very far from us. I don't think anyone with family "locally" - even if a few hours away really understands why I'm struggling so much with this. To me, it's the not knowing when exactly things will be ok again. My DP and friends keep reminding me that they've not been able to hug or spend as much time with their families too, but I feel like it's just completely different.

Not much hope in Scotland

Good news from Ireland @TwirpingBird
Mum(89) and Dad(75) had a call from the GP tonight at 8.30(!) to tell them to be at the surgery at 11.30 tomorrow and they will both be having first jab.
Most surprised as I thought she would be months weeks ahead of him. Maybe it won't be too long for your Dad 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thank you for our thread

www.endcoronavirus.org/blog/an-argument-for-ongoing-travel-quarantines

Oh my. Someone on the End Coronavirus website is now arguing for PERMANENT two-week travel quarantine until the end of time---just in case another new virus crops up somewhere.

I mean, I can't see this getting any traction, but I do think it's an indication of the kind of insanity buzzing about among some of the extreme ZeroCovid types.

@user1477391263

www.endcoronavirus.org/blog/an-argument-for-ongoing-travel-quarantines

Oh my. Someone on the End Coronavirus website is now arguing for PERMANENT two-week travel quarantine until the end of time---just in case another new virus crops up somewhere.

I mean, I can't see this getting any traction, but I do think it's an indication of the kind of insanity buzzing about among some of the extreme ZeroCovid types.

Sure because COVID is the only thing that kills the people. I’m sure the tourism industry will approve this.

This is bollocks and no government would implement it forever.

Anyone else struggling today? I'm normally able to just get on with it but I miss my mum so much today.

@Pumpkinpops yes same here xxx

Yes I am struggling and the fact that Ireland are closing the door on us is difficult too.
I feel I might not see my Mum again at this rate.
Never thought that things would be so impossible.

I cried all evening on Monday as I just can't see the end of it and I can't deal with not having any hope any more... Poor DH didn't know what to do or say (basically because there is nothing he can do)

Just wanted to join in and share the burden, nothing helpful to add I’m afraid but it’s nice not to feel alone.

I am British, my husband is Spanish, we live in Spain with our 2 DSs. Everyone I love most in the world, except the 3 people I’ve just mentioned, live in the UK. My Dad is 81 and I am terrified of something happening to him while all the restrictions are still so tight.

I just wish I had clear answer/definite date when I could get on a plane, even if it was another year from now.

I'm so grateful to have found this thread. I live in England, am 19 weeks pregnant and haven't seen my family in the US in almost 2 years due to the pandemic. I could have travelled there based on US rules as I'm a citizen, but the lockdowns here have made the travel impossible, and when things open back up I'll be too pregnant to fly that far, plus of course the risk with the pandemic etc makes that tricky and risky. Lucky to have a really supportive DH and of course video chats with my family.

It's hard every single day, and I am more and more frustrated by how the media portrays international travel as solely about beach holidays, when there are so many people living in the UK who were born abroad.

One thing I'm wondering with this new £5,000 fine is whether it covers people coming to the UK from abroad to visit family? My mother was hoping to fly here in April or May and planning to follow all the guidance on testing and quarantine (she's been fully vaccinated) but now I'm not sure if she would be subject to this fine, or if it only applies to UK residents?