Need a safe expat space to say....

[IJumpedAboardAPirateShip]

We (like a lot of you) haven’t been home or seen our family in a long time (summer 2019) so we but the bullet and came home for Christmas. We strictly quarantined for 14days, wore a million masks and visors on the 11hour flights, took tests 3 days before and after we flew and the LAMP test on landing. We realised all plans were slowly going to have to be cancelled but keeping the plan to see my brother, sister in law and niece and nephew over Christmas itself as they were all coming to my parent’s for the 5 days.

Everything has been stopped a locked down, we’re all in different tier 4 areas, brother and dad and DH are all saying we need to strictly abide by the rules and under normal circumstances I’d agree but I’m just heartbroken that I haven’t seen my 20month old nephew and 3.5yr old niece in 18months, I hate living so far away anyway but to have travelled so far and only be an hour from them and be going home in 2 weeks, not knowing when on earth we’ll be back, and not see them is just so upsetting.

I’m very grateful we can at least see my parents and they see my DC but I’m feeling so sorry for myself. I wish I could convince DH to just move back

That is so heart breaking. This is all so shitty.

In the same position OP. Haven't seen my parents or family since October 2019. It's shit, but it has to end eventually.

I'm sorry things have worked out that way. My adult DD just came over and spent almost a month with us (after 11 months without seeing each other) and I don't know when I'll see my parents (luckily last visited me in Feb) or sister (haven't seen her since Aug 2018) again. None of us who moved abroad could have begun to imagine how the world would change. We both have jobs here and can't risk getting stuck in the UK or elsewhere if borders close again.

Thanks for the support everyone. I know compared to a lot we’re lucky really, both able to continue working despite the kids never going back to school and being able to afford to come to the U.K. anyway. And it really sucks not seeing my friends who are as close as family and of course my brother who I’m super close to but the little ones it’s just so upsetting because they’re so little

I'm so sorry - I can well imagine how you're feeling. It must be so frustrating and heartbreaking for you. This all will pass eventually, but it's so hard.

I totally get it.

We were booked to come back to the Uk (and see family) for the first time in a year. Suitcases were packed, we’d all been tested etc. Literally 24 hours beforehand we made the decision to cancel. We have 2 young kids and travelling with them is stressful and tiring at the best of times. I couldn’t face going through a flight with them just to sit in an air bnb for the whole holiday and not see anyone (tier 4)

This year has really made me reassess our expat life. I have almost zero desire to move back to the Uk but it’s really brought home how far away from friends and family we are.