I have one major problem at the moment.
Well, more than one, but one that I think about a lot: how and when I can get back to the UK.
I want to see Sue, I want to see the kids, I want to see my parents, my family, my friends.
It’s been 80 days since I was last in England. I left on that occasion (March 20th), not really believing that there’d be any sort of lock down or quarantine, or if there were it wouldn’t last long.
And then what bloody happened? When I arrived back in Portugal I was told that I had to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
Luckily I’d plenty of food in the freezer and Joe Wicks on YouTube (not for long mind you – I’d soon had enough of that bastard!), but 14 days is a long time to remain indoors. Until you’ve actually done it, you have no idea!
Once the 14 days were up, I settled into life in lockdown: daily walks for exercise, going to the supermarket every now and again, travelling to Olhao to see how the renovations were going.
The days passed, the weeks passed. My Mum fell and ended up in hospital, Sue was struggling with lockdown in the UK, I missed Sue’s Birthday. There were all these things that were passing me by. All I could do was watch from the outside. I felt helpless.
The worst thing was not being able to plan.
When would the airlines come back into play? When would I be able to travel home without having to go into quarantine again (I’m not sure I could take another 14 days, and I presume it would mean that Sue and the kids would have to quarantine too – bollocks to that!)? When would I see Sue, again, the kids, my parents? Who bloody knows?!
But June seems to have brought a bit of a turning point.
Yes, Priti Patel (the UK Home Secretary) has introduced a 14 day quarantine period for anyone entering the UK after the 8th June, but there has also been a massive backlash: from the airlines, from business, from people needing a break.
The rumour is that the quarantine requirement will be kicked into touch at the end of the next review period (29th June) or at least the one after that in mid-July.
Countries in Europe are keen to get money from tourism rolling in, so they are pushing too.
On top of that, my Mum is out of hospital and back home, and Sue’s Birthday arrived and she managed to celebrate (sort of – a visit to one of her friend’s gardens and a couple of drinks). She managed to break out of her house and do something enjoyable.
She then received a phone call.
She’d previously signed up to be an NHS volunteer, and finally (finally!) they came back to her and asked if she would do some shopping for a number of people in sheltered accommodation. Sue hates shopping, but this request has forced her out of the house, which is a good thing.
As I said: June seems to be a bit of a turning point.
Then yesterday Sue got to see Beth again, to give her a hug, and I saw Beth on a video call.
And then, yes, and then came the icing on the cake: last night I was sitting on my roof terrace and I saw a plane! Yes, I’ll repeat that: I actually saw a bloody plane!!!
I haven’t seen a plane for two months, despite the fact that I’ve always seen planes (although rarely heard them) heading into Faro from our roof terrace.
I’ve always enjoyed just watching them, especially at night, cruise in, slowly drifting past in the distance, high in the sky, their lights showing others queuing up to do the same thing.
Yesterday was different.
It was one solitary plane. But that solitary plane has given me so much hope. I think it was probably Ryanair distributing staff back to the Algarve – at least that’s what I’ve read on Social Media (for my sins…), but it’s a start, and with it comes a lift.
And today, that lift became a bloody rocket to the stars!
I’d spent this morning talking money with Vitor (that’s the other problem I have – money going out and none coming in!), and then I went on to Tavira Discount Warehouse to resolve some email problems they’re having.
That didn’t go well, but we have a plan for tomorrow! Anyway, that’s another story…
I eventually got home around 3pm, went for a wander around town and a quick dip in the sea (we now have lifeguards again – things really are looking up!), and walked back into the house and checked my phone.
There was a message from Sue:
“Just booked for Lexi and me to come out 14th July for 2 weeks (worried-looking emoji)!”
Bloody fantastic! I know it’s a month away, but even so, as long as Priti does her part, the airlines do their part, the various governments do their part blah blah blah… but fingers crossed, hopefully…
My only issue now?
Bloody hell, how am I going to get the house clean and tidy in time. Yes, I know I have a month, but have you seen it?!
Oh bollocks… I’d better get scrubbing!
And I still need to get back to the UK at some point to see my parents… one day hopefully.