Can I say this again - it’s not just about holidays!!!

[Notcontent]

There have been so many threads where anyone who questions the current restrictions in place on travel etc is accused of being selfish and unreasonable because “no one needs a holiday abroad” etc.

I do feel that people are losing the ability to feel any empathy or understanding for other people’s circumstances. There are lots of people for whom the restrictions in place around the world have had devastating consequences - people separated from their partners, elderly parents, children. Outside of war situations this is an unprecedented situation so please have some empathy.

All my side of family are living outside of UK except for me. I have no problem with law here, since I chose to live here.
Different country have different rules, and it should protect and benefit the country. So I am not complaining.

I totally agree, and really feel for anyone separated from their partners and family right now. I have a friend who lives abroad, his elderly dad is in the UK. He can't do video calls is getting more frail by the week. My friend worries he will never see him again.

For people saying that is the risk you take when you live on a different continent to family. Usually, if you have the money for a flight, and time off work, you can hop on a plane and see your relatives. Now that is illegal. It is cruel, but of course... seeing an elderly relative is a "holiday".

I have a friend who pops over the channel regularly to see one of her parents. The other died last year, so it's extra important for her to be able to see and support the remaining parent. People forget that for many, heading into France is little more inconvenient than say crossing the Severn bridge.

I feel very very sorry for her that she can't do this for the foreseeable,

It is cruel, but of course... seeing an elderly relative is a "holiday".

Sadly, there's quite a long thread on the non-corona boards which is saying exactly that!

I haven't seen my children or my grandchildren for over a year now - bat apparently that is our own faults for choosing to live in different countries and we should stop being upset about it.

Agreed , won’t see my family for another year then . Brilliant

I sympathise as we have family overseas. Visiting family is not a holiday. However, I do support the restrictions on travel right now. It's shit, but we need to suck it up.

Tbh, we haven't actually seen the family that we have here in the UK for over a year either, so in some ways, the geography isn't that big a deal!

Travel abroad to see unwell family is not illegal though, my understanding it’s just travel without a “reasonable excuse”. Presumably the same rules apply as for within the U.K. - can’t imagine anyone would object to someone travelling from London to Scotland to see an unwell family member.

We haven’t seen family abroad in about 18 months, and will be travelling as soon as we can.

This is a list from the Sky website of what is an exception:
There are a number of exemptions to the ban, which are travel for:
• Work
• Study
• Legal obligations or to vote
• Moving, selling or renting property
• Childcare reasons or to be present at a birth
• Visiting a dying relative or close friend
• Attending a funeral
• Getting married or attending the wedding of a close relative
• Medical appointments
• Escaping a risk of harm

I think given most of us can't (aren't supposed to) go and see loved ones in this country e.g. people have died in care homes away from their loved ones, this list is too lenient. If people are going to be stopped going overseas for a break I really don't see why others should be allowed to go for some of the reasons listed. One thing this pandemic has shown me is that the UK is full of people to whom the rules don't apply.

@2021Vision I think the issue is that care home visitors were not allowed, if someone’s family member was dying from an illness at home they would not have been stopped from travelling across the country.

The list of exemptions seems perfectly fair to me. I can’t wait to see family inside and outside the U.K. but will have to wait until the law is relaxed likely post-17th May

Agree... I would also like to give a shout out to the hundreds of thousands of people working in the travel/ tourism/ logistics industries that are hanging on by an absolute thread! Many have already lost their livelihoods and I’m sure many more will

Unfortunately, none of the exemptions given help my mum, who is in her 70's and until Brexshit, spent a lot of time with my (dual national) dad abroad where he lives pretty much FT. She now has to schlep back to the UK every 3 months and stay put for 3 months, while my dad, now in late 70's, has to cope alone. There are things she should have done to legitimise her status there but they carry tax implications (she doesn't earn) and are very bureaucratic, plus all the admin offices where dad lives are shut ... because of Covid!

It's nothing to do with holidays. God knows I'd love to be able to travel out there to stay with them this summer, which is what we always did until last summer, but she needs to be with her husband in order to support him.

So true. We accept we can’t see my husbands parents and family at the moment- but when ‘years’ is touted about that is unthinkable 😢

"I do feel that people are losing the ability to feel any empathy or understanding for other people’s circumstances."

I don't think they are in the wider population. It's just some cunts on here.