Anticipating the Future in the COVID age!

Later on today I finally get my AstraZeneca vaccine at St James' Hospital in Portsmouth, after booking it a week ago. Even with all the scare stories circulating, about blood clots being caused by this jab and European countries stopping using this particular vaccine, I am finally looking forward to having it. Unlike the rest of the EU, I am not frightened or apprehensive about having this particular inoculation. I understand the importance of getting back to normal, which all of us need to do as soon as possible.

Darrell and I have been talking more than usual over the last few weeks, as we try and get to grips with our own situation. I should be fully protected by 9 June, when I receive my second dose of AstraZeneca, but Darrell, living in Australia, has no idea when his vaccine will be administered. Australia is understandably moving a lot slower than the UK. To be honest, it really has no reason to rush its vaccine roll out, since it has little or no cases, but that doesn't help us and our relationship.

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Darrell has to return to the United Kingdom by November, in order to keep within the terms of his visa. Despite the Worldwide pandemic, the British government is refusing to waver the 'two year' rule, stating, if he remains out of the country over this time limit, he can just apply for a 'Returning Resident Visa.' This is easier said than done; the amount of paper work involved in reapplying for resident status is huge, much more complicated than either of us would have anticipated, especially after we have been together for nearly twenty-six years. Therefore, we are determined to be reunited in November as planned; this will however be no mean task.

Britain's vaccine roll out is going remarkably well, unlike Australia. I think the last time I looked at the official figures they had only immunized 0.4 percent of the population, compared to 50 percent here in the UK. There is a marked difference in the approach both countries are following, so with time moving ever forwards, both Darrell and I are mindful of our personal time constraints.

Darrell is in category 1b of the Australian vaccine programme. As the carer of an extremely vulnerable elderly person, it is important he is vaccinated at the same time as his Mum. According to his Doctor, this second phase should begin in the middle of April. Of course, it isn't quite that simple. The authorities are three weeks behind and with Europe blocking supplies of vaccine entering Australia, it is anyone's guess when he will actually receive his first dose, let alone get his second jab. Both of us are justifiably anxious as to how this will all pan out and are busy making contingency plans should the worse happen.

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Darrell needs both doses of vaccine before his flies to London. Getting a second dose would be difficult once in Britain, due to the administrative differences. Alternatively he may receive a vaccine with less than a three-month wait in-between doses, as in the case of Pfizer. Or he could wait to receive both jabs when he eventually arrives in the UK, but this would not be our preferred option. I don't want Darrell travelling on a plane, especially for twenty-four hours, without the protection he needs. Also, it is likely most airlines and governments will have 'vaccine passport' schemes in place before he is due to fly and without the inoculations, he wouldn't be able to leave Australia anyway. You can imagine our frustration at the moment; If I thought my life was fraught before marrying a foreign citizen, just think how much worse it is today, in the middle of a pandemic.

From day 1 our relationship has never been easy; it has always been an uphill struggle dealing with officials, trying to remain together in an unforgiving World. Coronavirus has tested us both in ways we could have never envisaged. Darrell and I have always found a way around the constraints our life together has brought, but living apart during COVID-19 has been the worst of all nightmares, that just continues giving.

We do remain hopeful, that circumstances will finally turn in our favour, but we are also realistic, that the progress made during this pandemic could so easily change for the worse. Not until Darrell finally sets foot on British soil once again, safe and well, will we both be happy and at peace again. No one could have foreseen this situation a few years ago, and we can only remain positive in the face of this virus. All of us have our Corona stories to tell, but in contrast to most of you, my life remains on hold, long after the relief you feel after receiving your vaccines. I hope 2021 will finally be our year and Darrell and I can get back to normal and put this dreadful time behind us. Unlike so many others, we are both alive and well and have our future ahead of us, for that we remain grateful; let the hard work begin!

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