My story is no different to thousands of others, and there are many thousands more that have had (or are having) much harder struggles trying to get home ‘in the time of COVID’. I feel it’s important to log human experiences during this unprecedented time, so here’s my journey from Wiltshire, UK, to Perth, Australia in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemonium.

My situation

I am a dual citizen in Australia and the United Kingdom. After growing up in WA and spending all my life in Australia, I moved to England in 2018 for a new career opportunity. Now, six months after England first locked down in response to COVID-19, I have accepted a job back in Australia and am planning to move back.

My situation is definitely much easier than most since I am a citizen in the UK (not on a visa etc.) with a job, with friends around me to assist with the uncertainties of a changing situation and I have emergency savings to dip into. Many do not. I am very fortunate.

Below is a log of my process moving from the UK to Australia in 2020, which I will continue to update at intervals. My eventual destination is Melbourne.

*Please note that websites may change the information presented on hyperlinked pages. The information I describe is only accurate to the date I include it.

Planning and Preparation

Up to 29 Sep 2020

As per the Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom’s recommendations, I have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as an Australian seeking to return home.

Due to personal considerations, I have decided to try enter WA where I have the support of family and friends during/after quarantine. From there I can work remotely until the borders and Melbourne has opened enough to set up a new life.

However, the WA government webpage for Travel to WA indicates that international travelers seeking entry to WA must apply for an exemption and meet a certain list of criteria. The exemption recently became the G2G Pass. Do citizens need the G2G pass coming home too? The answer is unclear and the WA government website does not clarify this, nor does the Australian High Commission website or the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.

WA had a cap of 525 international passenger arrivals per week, with 4000 for the country. This changed on 18 Sept when the WA Premier agreed to first boost it to 725 from 27 Sept and then 1,052 from 10 October. The cap for Australia will then be 6000 with other states raising their caps too.

On the advice of a returned Australian, I have joined the Facebook group ‘Australians Stranded in the U.K.(COVID19)’ and spent an hour or so scrolling through posts. This really clarifies the struggle of many. Common stories include:

• People having flights cancelled and rebooked even up to seven times.
• No clear information on which flights are actually running. Airlines allowing bookings on ‘phantom’ flights that don’t exist, just to be cancelled.
• Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Singapore Airlines all overbooking flights and many people are being turned away at check-in.
• Airlines turning people to the High Commission for help. The High Commission turning people to the airlines for help.
• Some borrowing money from family/friends to book business class in their desperation to not be turned away at check-in.
• Etihad require a PCR COVID-19 test (not available through NHS) within 96 hours of their flight. This can cost up to £200, and doctors are not easy to find. And if they get bumped from the flight, they have to do it again!

I am angry and heartbroken for these people. There are no words.

At the moment, Singapore Airlines seems to be the most reliable with the least cancellations…

Wed 30 Sep 2020

I have formally accepted my new job in Australia and handed in my resignation. Let the engines roll!!

I have also applied for a G2G Pass and downloaded the app. The application was surprisingly quick and easy! I didn’t know what the questions would be but they were very simple. There was also a box to write an explanation of why you want to enter WA and you could attach supporting documentation (fortunately I already had a scan of my passport and signed job offer). I’m glad I’ve done it regardless of whether I needed to. Curiously, there was a category for Australian citizens returning for other reasons which is not on the ‘exemption’ list on any government website!

Thur 01 Oct 2020

I don’t plan to fly home until December. Singapore Airways flights LHR-PER that month are frequent (many a day) and equally priced at about £1,400. This is half to a third of the price of Oct-Nov flights, which run one a day and only on select days. I don’t trust it… But I found a schedule of Singapore Airlines’ confirmed flights for Sept-Nov and there’s a definite pattern. LHR-SIN is operating once or twice daily on flights SQ317 or SQ319. SIN-PER flights run once on Sat, Sun and Tues, and all SQ223. Looking at December, a continuation of these flights is there but with many others added. I’ll aim to book on these flight numbers just in case…

It seems yesterday DFAT accidentally leaked the emails of thousands of people registered as stranded Australians by CCing each other!! They posted their apology on Twitter.

I’m having success gradually selling my stuff on Facebook Marketplace. £50 made so far! And two friends are interested in buying my car. The logistics for that could become interesting if I get bumped off my flight and still need it…

Fri 02 Oct 2020

Firstly, it seems Singapore Air are releasing last minute flights for much cheaper (£1,400ish rather than £4,000ish) and it is legitimate!! There are a few on the Facebook page that have been successful getting home by booking these. I saw some last night during my search but wasn’t sure what to make of them. If anyone flying Singapore Air gets bumped or wants to get home sooner, it’s worth keeping an eye out!

Secondly, WA is now allowing Victorians to self-isolate which starts freeing up hotel rooms for international travelers! In addition, a ‘bubble’ has been announced today for New Zealanders flying into NSW and the NT. They will not have to undergo quarantine freeing up hundreds of spaces a week. Let’s hope WA joins the bandwagon to assist with quarantine numbers even more.

Lastly, I have booked my flights!! Fingers crossed that my research will pay off and it isn’t a phantom flight…

Sat 03 Oct 2020

Today Singapore Airlines confirmed its Nov/Dec operations. Singapore to Perth will be flying three times weekly on a 787 and twelve times to London on an A350-900, although it doesn’t include the flight numbers. This little bit of information matches my research and booking. So far so good!

Checking my ‘G2G Pass’ app daily, heart beating rapidly while the screen loads, the first word I see is ‘approval’… before I read ‘You have one application pending approval’. They could drop the last word and save me a jolt every time!

I’ve started my planning for sea freight to send some boxes ahead of me. Comparing quotes online, I found Seven Seas Worldwide had very comprehensive information about the process on their website and an extremely detailed competitive quote, which I thoroughly appreciate!

Sun 04 Oct 2020

My G2G Pass to enter WA has been approved!! Woohoo!

More heartbreaking stories on the ‘Australians Stranded in the U.K.(COVID19)’ Facebook page as a family of four are told at check-in that their Etihad booking is cancelled, while business class people successfully check-in around them. This family paid £840 for the COVID-19 test required by Etihad within 96hrs of flying, which is money down the drain for an already distraught family. This was the third time that family have had flights cancelled on them, draining them financially in the UK and risking the loss of their property in Aus.

Another person with flights on Singapore Airlines was contacted as his flight was not running. A comment in the thread said that the Singapore Airlines had released updated flight schedules to include December. A quick check and my flights are on the list!! Huzzah! The flights from LHR-SIN are SQ317 and SQ319, and SIN-PER is SQ223 as expected.

Two wins in one day feels too good to be true, especially with so many other Australians struggling…

Mon 05 Oct 2020

Today on the Facebook page I learned that buses from airports to hotels travel with a police escort. Possibly this is to stop runners, but it certainly doesn’t make you feel welcome! I don’t care – I just want to get home. The story from another passenger in Sydney contained some good advice. Her bus arrived at the hotel behind two other buses and they were made to wait for 2.5 hours without being able to get off or use a toilet!! Understandably, some passengers were quite desperate. She recommended using the facilities at the airport beforehand.

I’ve just checked the website again and Singapore Airlines have removed their December phantom flights from the booking process. It seems all the flights in the week I’m travelling are now completely booked out. I haven’t been contacted so I hope that means I’m securely on mine!

A local dog shelter has confirmed that they will accept the donation of all my linens before I move. Get rid of my things responsibly is slowly coming together.

Tues 06 Oct 2020

More news I’ve heard through the ‘Australians Stranded in the U.K.(COVID19)‘ Facebook page – the Australian government are offering overseas financial assistance in the form of loans (or grants if you are a pension holder) for living costs or flights for those who are stranded. Apparently this was announced mid-September. However, those on the page feel that it is a joke. Firstly, it is extremely difficult to be eligible and apply for – you have to prove that you have exhausted all other options first, including family and friends. Also, the money offered also barely covers costs, for example the loan for a flight from the UK is $1,500 when the cheapest are currently $3,000. The bottom line is, why should Aussies be paying for Government decisions when they were given no option to avoid it? Many Australians apparently share these sentiments.

In good news, there was a success story on the Facebook group as another boarded a flight home. There is a hero travel agent on the group that has helped so many and been thanked countless times for his persistence in finding flights and sharing information for those in need. A warming story.

Wed 07 Oct 2020

I’ve been looking into travel insurance but of course no one covers COVID-19 related incidents which are expensive! I’ve also found out that my new workplace will not be covering any relocation expenses, so I am in the same boat as all other Australians trying to get home and doing it all out of their own pockets with no assistance. I can fortunately cope with the costs, but many people cannot…

I didn’t realise this but last month Amnesty International said that “The Australian government must act immediately to bring home the 25,000 Australians stranded overseas, or risk violating their human rights… Several articles of international law explicitly state that people have the right to leave and return to their own country and not be deprived of the right to do either“. There you go, Australian government! Clean up your act!

I signed a Labor petition to help Stranded Aussies and shared it on social media.

Thurs 08 Oct 2020

I asked the ‘Australians Stranded in the U.K.(COVID19)‘ Facebook page today about experiences in quarantine with extensive food allergies.

As those who follow my blog may know, I am following the Autoimmune Protocol of eliminating and carefully reintroducing potentially aggravating and inflammatory foods. So far I have been able to successfully reintroduce a lot of foods but there are still many I have confirmed do harm to my body or that I have not yet safely tested including: gluten, grains (other than rice and corn), dairy, lentils and beans (other than chick peas), and nightshade vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum/peppers, chili, and eggplant.

One of the responders is also following AIP and was fortunate to get a letter from her doctor explaining her allergies. She was quarantining with a family and was able to be put in a room with a kitchen to cook for herself. As a single person, I don’t want to deprive a family of this much-needed facility, but she recommended getting something in writing to support my need for at least a kettle and microwave to make my own food. Of course, I plan to supplement whatever the hotel can offer me with Wild Zora meals and safe organic foods delivered by my Mum.

It seems the chances of getting a medical exemption from quarantine are extremely slim. I’d imagine only severe and life-threatening allergies may be considered.

I was also pointed towards a number of Facebook Groups for people in quarantine in Perth, so I joined ‘PERTH Quarantine Hotels‘.

Fri 09 Oct 2020

I called Singapore Airlines today to try and find out if my booking was placed within the caps and what my chances are of actually being on the flight. The guy on the other end said that they do not confirm the number of people able to fly until 48hrs beforehand (to keep within the most current limits, I assume) and that people will be notified by 24hrs beforehand if they need to be bumped. If I don’t hear anything, then I’m on the flight.

His tone was genuinely sympathetic. He’s obviously had many of these calls from desperate people. He apologised heartily for the situation and his lack of being able to provide further information or certainty, but I thanked him warmly for the clear information and said it was not his fault – it was the fault of the Australian Government.

Sat 10 Oct 2020

Reading through posts on the ‘PERTH Quarantine Hotels‘ Facebook page has been surprisingly reassuring. It seems the horror stories of the hotel food has forced hotels to find a better catering services. Hotel staff seem friendly and helpful, and are even taking part in riddle games! The only recent negative has been one family charged $100 for the loan of a cable and then $100 again for the loan of a vacuum when leaving quarantine, who were not told they would incur any costs for these.

People leaving quarantine have been advertising free microwaves, rice cookers, exercise bikes, puzzles for children, HDMI cables, plants and other things in a ‘pass it on’ system. It is so wonderful to see people helping each other get through this tough process.

Mon 12 Oct 2020

People on the ‘Australians Stranded in the U.K.(COVID19)‘ Facebook group have been writing about the anger and accusations they have been receiving on their personal pages when they post about their plight. Accusations that they should have come home in March when it all started.

The government advice then was that expats and anyone safe overseas should shelter in place. Of course, no time frame was applied to this, so those who may have thought ‘I can stay for a few months until it passes’ will have exhausted all their resources by now. In addition, may who have left Australia since March applied for an exemption, such as to care for sick relatives or attend funerals, and had permission to leave the country but are now struggling to return. In addition, having every overseas Australian return in March would have been logistically impossible for airlines and for quarantine! But especially for those people with jobs and homes who could not leave with such little notice.

These attitudes towards Aussies stranded overseas are unjustified and naïve, and it is simply disgusting to hear that those struggling to get home are also having to deal with such ignorance and contempt. These people deserve compassion and empathy from friends and fellow citizens. Aussie mate-ship has died.

Wed 14 Oct 2020

Woke up to an email from Senators Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally, who have been fighting to get Aussies home. Here’s a snippet from the email:

… last week, a majority of Senators voted with Labor to support our call to bring stranded Australians home.  A copy of the Senate’s motion is below: 

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Australian Government is responsible for borders, quarantine, and assisting Australians in jeopardy and stranded overseas,

(ii) the Prime Minister agreed to cap international passenger arrivals on 13 July 2020,

(iii) since then, the number of stranded Australians overseas has risen dramatically, with 27,000 Australians unable to get home,

(iv) over 3,000 of these Australians are classified as vulnerable by the Morrison Government, including many with health and financial concerns requiring urgent attention,

(v) the United Kingdom Government says Australia is the only country in the world to have actively restricted its citizens returning, and

(vi) the Government has no meaningful plan to lift flight caps or increase quarantine capacity, including identifying new quarantine facilities and training quarantine personnel; and

(b) calls on the Government to take urgent steps to help every stranded Australian return home by:

(i) increasing the number of permitted arrivals under international flight caps through using Commonwealth resources to increase quarantine capacity,

(ii) stopping price gouging by airlines flying into Australia, and

(iii) putting all options on the table to return stranded Australians, especially from places like the United Kingdom, India, Philippines and Lebanon—including charter flights.

The Government Senators, sadly, refused to support Labor’s motion and accept that Scott Morrison needs to do more. Government Senators instead said that stranded Australians should have just simply returned home earlier. 

The email also provides a list of the Government Senators who refused to back Labor’s call and their contact details, with an encouragement to contact them directly to express disappointment in their decision.

Please sign and share this petition to urge the Government to act.

Fri 16th October 2020

ScoMo has announced a deal with the Northern Territory to bring home more Aussies! Up to 5,000 people who have been stranded in the UK will be able to quarantine in the Howard Springs facility, prioritising those classed as ‘vulnerable’. The flights are being sold by Qantas and I hear some people are already getting calls with offers of the flights, going at around $2,000 and much cheaper than those regularly available! Flights from India are also being arranged.

Given the current limit of six people at gatherings in the lowest risk areas of the UK (recently classified as ‘Tier 1’ or ‘Medium’) I now have a series of at least 7 send-off events in the span of one month to hopefully see as many colleagues as I can before isolating myself to prepare for my flight. It’s going to be a bit of a shock after seeing so few people in the last 7 months!

Sat 31 October 2020

I’ve had to take a bit of a break for my mental health, but here’s an update from the last two weeks.

The first of the new series of repatriation flights arrived in Howard Springs! Many people have been turning these down because they can’t afford the price of these flights, and the logistics from Darwin to their Australian home, on top of the money already caught up with airlines, but at least some have been able to take advantage. The people on these flights are also not counted in the cap of 6,000 international arrivals per week, leaving more opportunity for others to get home.

The WA border is also easing – people from most States of Australia can now enter without undergoing quarantine, with the exception of NSW and VIC who will need an exemption to enter and self quarantine.

This beautiful and heartbreaking video by Borderline shares the truth of how traumatic the situation is for stranded Australians.

I’ve been reading and receiving a lot of advice about mentally surviving quarantine solo.

• Don’t rely on having wifi since at least one hotel has terrible connection, so make sure to take offline things to entertain yourself with. An HDMI cable is handy for those wanting to use the hotel screen.
• If you plan on making food, pack a knife and scissors in your check-in luggage as you can’t have any dropped off. I believe this is a measure for suicide prevention. The same rule applies for alcohol.
• Many hotels will not allow additional appliances or anything that may create a flame or smoke, since an evacuation would require everyone to re-start their 14 days quarantine.
• Some hotel rooms are not cleaned thoroughly, so some recommend packing or ordering cleaning equipment. Dried blood on sheets, dust and moldy bathrooms are a start of the complaints. These are also causing many people’s allergies and asthma to worsen.
• Don’t rely on food allergies being considered. Once woman’s child who is allergic to dairy has been served 7 meals with dairy in it.
• Schedule video calls and human ‘interaction’.
• Get as much sunlight as possible, even if it means re-arranging furniture.
• Have a routine including exercise, work, play, yoga/meditation, cleaning and meal prep.
• Pack a plate and cutlery to eat meals off for a more normal experience.
• Mental health issues in quarantine are being handled by nurses providing medication. There is no way to actually ease the situation.
• But also, be prepared for your release to be mentally overwhelming too. Sights, sounds, smells and people have caused some people to experience high anxiety.

Sun 01 November 2020

Here’s something interesting! An Australian lawyer posted to one of the Facebook pages that we have a law in Australia which says the government is legally required to pay for our quarantine. The Biosecurity Act 2015 – Sect 108 states:

Expenses incurred in complying with human biosecurity control measures

The commonwealth is liable to pay for reasonable expenses incurred by an individual in complying with a biosecurity measure included in a human biosecurity control order.

A human biosecurity emergency declaration was made on the 18th March 2020 by the Governor General. Under the ’emergency period’, which was initially for three months, a human biosecurity control order can be imposed on an individual if an individual may have a listed human disease (and COVID-19 was added to the list). The individual may be required to comply with certain biosecurity measures, including isolation.

I’m pretty sure this means that everyone in quarantine shouldn’t be paying for it. I’d also like to see if the caps on entering Australia are considered a biosecurity measure for individuals that may have COVID-19, and that expenses relating to the forced extension of their stay overseas should also be covered by the government.

In other news, Boris announced that the whole of England will be going into lockdown again from Thursday. So that means cancelling my send-off plans and also more difficulty arranging my move where I was hoping to use non-essential businesses. The whiplash threw me for a spin and the isolation is getting seriously difficult… but hopefully it will end on the 2nd Dec as they plan…

Singapore Airlines have also released their flight schedule through to the end of January 2021. Good ol’ SIA – this is a really useful resource for travelers which (as far as I’m aware) no other airlines are providing.

Wed 04 November 2020

First, a clarification. Of all the quarantine hotels in Perth, only one enables people to open their windows a couple of inches – the Mercure. That’s it. To those who think quarantiners are able to have access to balconies, fresh air, and daily walks – NO. But other states do.

I have also found a list of all the current Perth quarantine hotels – Four Points, Hyatt Regency, InterContinental, Mercure, Novotel Murray Street, Novotel Langley, Pan Pacific, The Westin. There was an interesting poll on the Facebook page about best and worst foods.

I also found a link to the FAQ letter being given to WA quarantinees clearly spelling out the rules, support and procedure for quarantine.

Thurs 06 November 2020

This enquiry into the Victorian quarantine system is interesting, in that it recommends “Hotels must also provide safe access to outside areas for fresh air and exercise breaks“. And another exciting thing is that it also recommends the option of home-based quarantine, with regular testing and “the use of electronic monitoring using smartphone technology and the use of ankle or wrist monitoring systems”. The full report is due on Dec 21. I sincerely hope WA questions the conditions it is imposing for quarantine, and also listens to the numbers of complaints from WA quarantinees.

There is also talk of opening Melbourne airport to international flights again, but I haven’t found a source that isn’t behind a paywalls.

There is also good news for Perth quarantinees (which is sorely needed). Local hero Tim Rosengarten is shouting free coffees to people in the Mecure hotel from OffShoot Coffee across the road. From what I understand, he was quarantined in Mercure and could see the coffee shop from his window and desperately wanted a coffee. Once he finished quarantine, he went to visit them and they agreed to do delivery to Mercure quarantinees. He also has a big yellow sign welcoming Aussies home once a week. What a champ!! After all the hardship and trauma these people have experienced, and the very little understanding from everyday Australians, this is the kind of mateship that heals the soul.

He seems to know that a specific flight will be heading to Mecure at the same time each week. Given the limited number of flights and the clear pattern of them it makes me think that there is a weekly rotation of passengers from specific flights going to specific hotels… I’ll keep an eye on that one!

Sun 08 November 2020

I’m a tad late on this one, but on 6th November a group kicked off a #BringThemHome campaign to raise awareness for Aussies stranded overseas. They launched a video, website, Facebook page, twitter account, and of course the hashtag for people to show their support. The campaign calls for the support of Australians and pleads for our government to remove the caps.

Another woman has written and shared a blog post clearly articulating the struggles of overseas Australians. It asks, where has our mateship gone?

Melburnians are officially freed of lockdown measures! Most of their restrictions were lifted on 28 October, however the ‘ring of steel’ travel limit between Melbourne and regional Victoria lifts today.

Mon 09 November 2020

I received letters from my holistic specialist in Australia today! One lists my allergies and requests basic cooking facilities (kettle and microwave) in quarantine to give to the nurse. The other lists my supplements for customs. They may not be even looked at, but I feel at ease to have these as proof should I need them!

Tues 10 November 2020

It seems the Australian government are considering opening the borders to low risk countries!! I hope that this goes ahead, although I also hope that people coming from these countries (like New Zealanders) can quarantine at home and aren’t included in the international caps, making it more difficult for those from other countries who must quarantine.

Qantas is to launch more repatriation flights in November, from London (on 7 November and 11 November) and New Delhi (on 9 November, 23 November and 27 November) to Darwin. However, the government is also considering starting repatriation flights to Hobart which, like Darwin, is a city that has been closed to international travel. The airline had also flagged its intent to launch rescue flights from Johannesburg. This article also mentions the #BringThemHome campaign.

While flights to Darwin and Hobart are good, it frustrates me that these repatriation flights are only being offered in the most remote cities in Australia. Not only are people financially drained from being stranded overseas for months, not only do they have money caught up in airlines that may or may not refund it in a timely manner, but they now have to fork out for their repatriation flight (which still cost over $2k per person as only the fuel is subsidised), then pay for quarantine, AND THEN pay for travel to their home in Australia from the most remote corner.

The #BringThemHome campaign is starting to find other traction. There’s an article by Al Jazeera relating the stories of stranded Aussies. They also now have an Instagram account @westillcallAustraliahome

Mon 23 November 2020

There hasn’t been much news to report in the last couple of weeks. The only developments are:

• Some state borders within Australia started to open, then close, then open again.
• More media coverage on the plight of stranded Australians

Also, what type of world are we entering when airlines can mandate medical procedures? Qantas, this ‘no jab, no fly’ proposal is simply disgusting.

Wed 25 November 2020

My sea freight boxes were picked up by Seven Seas Worldwide today to start their journey to Melbourne!!

Thurs 26 November 2020

Victoria is celebrating 28 days with no new COVID cases! And 0 active cases! Victorians can now travel without the need for quarantine throughout Australia.

ScoMo is claiming that he has helped 35,000 Aussies return since his claim in September that he will bring the 26,700 stranded (including 4,000 vulnerable) Australians home by Christmas. However, only 14,000 of those were registered with DFAT, meaning 12,700 of that number in September are still stranded. The other 21,000 that have returned home were never registered. Meanwhile, the number of stranded Australians registered on DFAT has increased to 36,875 including 8,070 classed as vulnerable. If you take out the 12,700 originally registered and still stranded, that means an additional 24,875 have registered since September.

While they originally said they would prioritise the return of Australian citizens, they have gone back on that as well by allowing these international students and yet more celebrities to enter the country instead (and of course the latter is given the highly-sought-after-yet-never-awarded-to-those-in-actual-need exemption to home quarantine).

Fri 27 November 2020

I have had two emails from Seven Seas Worldwide asking for corrections to the inventory documents I completed online for my sea freight boxes. If you don’t know me, I’m overly attentive to detail and an irritating high achiever, so the fact that there are issues means they are seriously checking. That’s a good sign!

10 days left in the UK

Mon 30 November 2020

This is going to be a tough week of goodbyes… I am seriously going to miss my wonderful colleagues and friends in the UK, and the UK itself! </3

7 days left in the UK

Wed 02 December 2020

What a day!

First, I had a call from Singapore Airlines today. Given that I don’t get legit calls often (most are automated insurance scams) I saw the international number and hung up! Fortunately they left a message which I was barely able to interpret, but it seemed that they wanted to check some details. I gave the UK office a call, made my way through their slightly-complex menus and spoke to a very helpful person. She checked my details and simply confirmed three things:

• There are no COVID testing requirements for my flights and transit through Singapore airport.
• There are no other requirements for my flights.
• I am responsible for arranging the required paperwork to enter Australia.

They required nothing from me, but I thought it was excellent service on their part to call just to make sure I had a clear understanding that nothing was required for my flight. Well done, Singapore Airlines!

Secondly, I’ve been asked for yet another correction to my Seven Seas Worldwide sea freight inventory, and this time it didn’t make sense (asking to correct something that isn’t there). I’m hoping it’s an accidental repeated email from one of my previous errors and won’t result in delays or storage costs! I responded to the email asking for clarification so that there’s a paper trail just in case.

Thirdly, I had my leaving interview at work today. Gosh, I have loved my job in the UK! The time to reflect was quite profound and really useful to acknowledge how much I have grown, personally and professionally. My habit is to focus on personal weaknesses, so it was bloody humbling to hear such straight, honest, positive feedback from my boss on how I have benefited my department and colleagues in a very short 2.75 years. I can’t believe that I have just 2 work days left and…

5 days left in the UK!

Fri 04 December 2020

It was my last day at work today!! There were tears. I will miss my colleagues so much!

I also had a text and email from Singapore Airlines advising me to check that I meet the entry requirements for all my destinations. If my information is correct, they should find out the final number of people allowed on the flight around 10:50am tomorrow. If anyone has to be ‘bumped’ off the flight Singapore Airlines should contact them in the following 24hrs. Hence, if I don’t hear anything by 10:50am Sunday then I should be on the flight, but I will call to confirm anyway. The countdown is on.

Through the Facebook page I found an Instagrammer @healthyhappy.biz (who is a much better at IG than me!) who has separate story highlights for each of her days in Quarantine. They are a great recap of her day as well as inspiration for keeping physically and mentally well. Ideas I’ve taken from it include:

• Have a plant in the room to bring a connection with nature indoors
• Sprout seeds for extra greenery, fresh foods and nutrition!
• Treat yourself with special food deliveries
• Decorate windows and your room for some fun
• Enjoy the daylight by ‘sunbathing’
• Keep hydrated with plenty of water, baths and moisture-rich foods
• Keep your room tidy and organised, with your bed as a space for peace
• Enjoy exercise each day, as well as stillness
• Enjoy and celebrate every little positive thing – human contact (COVID tests), phone calls, deliveries, and sunshine

3 days left in the UK.

Sat 05 December 2020

I woke up to two emails this morning. One was from the G2G PASS app recommending I download the G2G Now app which is an opt-in way of proving that you are staying at your authorised quarantine address by taking a photo when requested, otherwise you will be subject to in-person visits from police officers. While explicitly saying to download this ‘ahead of your travel’, the issue is that this app is not available through the UK app store. Dummies. Also, do I need to download and use it if I’m locked in a room? Probably not, but that isn’t stated anywhere.

The second email was from Seven Seas Worldwide confirming that they are happy with my sea freight paperwork (yay) and that I need to pay the next invoice within a week for my goods to be shipped. A simple request, yet it presented more issues when the main way to pay is through their website and the system is coming up with errors. I am not winning with electronic solutions today.

Later in the morning I received an email from Singapore Airlines saying online check-in is open. Of course, I jumped online and went through the process. I hoped that meant that I was definitely not being bumped… but was not put at ease until I saw that the travel information in ‘Manage Booking’ now lists both flights as Confirmed. If there was an issue or a potential for being bumped, it would say Cancelled or Waiting instead. Which means…

I’M ALLOWED ON MY FLIGHT!!! I’M HEADING TO AUSTRALIA!!!

Sun 06 December 2020

I am packed and ready for my flight! Let the next stage begin!!

This blog post is already (too) long, so my recount of the flights and quarantine will now be in a separate post Hotel Quarantine.