Oh well, the best laid plans of mice and men have now gone out the window. After roaming from one website to another getting the latest update on border restrictions due to the fresh outbreak of Covid-19 in Sydney, the evening news dealt the blow we thought was probably inevitable. Looking forward to our first family Christmas get-together in Tassie in 5 years, it is now off the agenda as my son and daughter-in-law and grand-dog have to stay where they are in Sydney and call off their travel plans.
They live in a medium risk area, but that automatically means they would have to hotel quarantine for 14 days on arrival at their own expense, which is longer than their original planned visit anyway. So, 2 sad mums, 1 sad dad, and a long line of brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, in-laws, cousins and other rellies, as well as friends who were all getting ready to catch up with them after not seeing them in a long time, will now have wait even longer. When it comes down to it, we'd much rather they stay put and stay safe.
We can't complain though. Other global hotspots are buckling under their own dire circumstances, so even if it means thousands of people's Christmas plans have now been turned on their head, we'll once more have to find creative ways of connecting at this time of year when we usually take family time for granted.
If absence makes the heart grow finder, it must surely follow that the reunion will be that much sweeter when it finally comes.
