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    A Taste of The Future!

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    Last week I went out for a meal and a few drinks with colleagues. This was the first time I had been out with people from work in a long time, just before the start of the pandemic. This was a nice, chilled and relaxing evening, and it felt good to be socialising on this kind of level once again. Of course, it still wasn't the same as it was before COVID, with fewer customers than I remember, but at least the restaurant was open and there were customers, enjoying each other's company. Laughing and joking, deep in conversation, everyone was happy to be out, without a care in the World, living life like it was 2018.

    Could this really be a taste of the future, I ask myself? Are we finally coming out of this pandemic? Well, from what the experts are saying, Britain, ahead of much of the World, is moving back towards normality, as we enter a new phase, living with COVID-19. All of us will have to live alongside it and get used to being far more cautious around others, in a personal, measured way, continuing to protect ourselves on a daily basis. I, for one, will continue to wear my mask in a work and professional setting. That is a personal choice and I don't need the Government to give me guidance, especially since they haven't followed rules themselves.

    The latest news conference from the Government made it clear, that restrictions will now be lifted and by March of this year, there will be no more controls in place. It is a scary thought, living in a World without limitations, as it was before 2019, but as disconcerting as that feels, I am well aware of the importance of living my life to the full. I want to start travelling, picking up from where I left off, surrounding myself with friends and family in the same way I used to. Most importantly, I want to stop being afraid of a virus that I can't do anything about.

    As Britain returns to normal, it is important we remain aware of Coronavirus, because it will be around for a very long time yet. We shouldn't, however, let it impact on our lives negatively any longer. Everyone I know wants to move forwards, all of us have wasted too many precious months, living under the constraints of COVID-19. It may well be time to throw the masks in the bin, but it is also a period to remain aware of just what could happen again in the future. Taking responsibility for our own actions should be our overriding priority, as we navigate the new World COVID has left behind!
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    Magaluf - Educational madness!

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    It was 1989 and my first trip abroad; not a family holiday or a vacation with friends, this was a so-called academic week away, in what was then the party capital of Europe - Magaluf. After leaving school in 1987, I attended Fareham College, studying Business. It was the way of the future and towards the end of Thatchers Britain, it was the subject to study. For me, it was a no-brainer; I wanted to learn about commerce and how to make money, as any true child of Thatcherism would.

    Selecting additional modules, I chose to study Travel and Tourism, even then having an interest in the wider World. However, this wasn't the subject I thought it would be, in fact it was rather relaxed and if I am honest we did very little as a class in an educational sense. Light-hearted banter and dreams of living abroad, was my way of getting through the day, and I used it to the full, in a subject that just highlighted my then disinterest in education and learning. Two years later, as my course drew to a close, we travelled to Magaluf in Majorca, to study tourism on the island first hand. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, this was more of a car crash, rather than a polite introduction to life in the Balearics!

    That first flight on Air Iberia was memorable for all the wrong reasons. A group of barely eighteen-year-old students, laughing noisily, shouting up and down the isles and acting up, in a way our children's children would be proud of today, was not an auspicious start to this educational field trip. As we landed in Spain, many of us had already been given our first and final warning, before we had even started.

    As is inevitable in these situations, we all split into smaller groups and for the most part spent our week together. This wasn't seven days of hard conscientious study, this was a journey of teenage discovery, high jinx and indecorous behaviour. On day one, we found our local, a small bar near our hotel, called 'The Pink Elephant.' This run down pub became our first port of call daily, as we partied every night away until the early hours. Copious amounts of alcohol, cigarettes and drunken behaviour became the norm, as we all forgot the real reasons we were there. Mayhem and madness overtook events, and discovering our inner alcoholic became part of the course.

    Laying motionless on our hotel bedroom floor, midway through the holiday, straddled by my roommate Mark, making sure I was still alive, a note passed under the door. Written in capital letters, from our senior lecturer, we were told in no uncertain terms that this was yet another final warning and if this behaviour continued, we would be sent home on the next flight. The next morning sheepishly walking into the breakfast room, hangovers smarting like never before, we sat down to eat. An expression of disappointment and determination from our guardians, and we knew time was up, if we didn't calm down and behave, or at least pretend to buck our ideas up and do some work. A new leaf turned, the rest of our stay consisted of more of the same, but with a little bit of studying on the side.

    This truce worked well; We did continue to enjoy our time in a way only young adults know how, but in public we were far more respectful, even looking forward to the more cultural side of our journey.

    Travelling into the island, towards the mountains, we passed through lemon and orange groves, sat admiring the beautiful Majorcan scenery on a rather ramshackled old wooden train. Arriving in Soller, aghast at the amazing views across the water, quietly, I sat on the side of the harbour, taking in the rugged landscape. These days were few and far between, but offered a welcome break from the huge shots of vodka the night before. Breakfast in a Spanish McDonald's was really the extent of our enlightened experience, especially when it came with a glass of whisky and foreign tasting fries. You could see the understandable regret on our lecturers faces, resigned to the fact, this is how it was going to be!

    Our final night in Magaluf was once again full of celebration, drinking and dancing; this time however our teachers were very much in tow, enjoying the bars and clubs as much as us. Eighties music, cocktails in BCM, collapsing drunk in the street and drinking competitions, the final finale in the most memorable week of my youth. I may well have not learnt a lot about the island and its importance in Spanish tourism, but I did discover much about myself, my limits and boundaries, sexuality and most importantly, my first tentative steps into adulthood; Magaluf was the beginning of my love affair with travel and  the foundations for the person I am today!
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    This is the time of year, I think about Spain the most!

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    It's cold, miserable, and overcast outside; this is the time of year, I think about my old home in Spain the most. I still have many regrets about this period, living in Gran Alacant and for the most part, they are all about dreams unfulfilled. I understand the reasons why I had to return to the United Kingdom in 2018, but it leaves me with an uneasy feeling, as I dream about a future, away from Britain. Living in Spain was hard in every respect, but it was also liberating, soul-searching and a time to grow into a better, more accepting individual.

    Friends constantly ask if I will ever return to Spain, and it is a difficult question to answer. If the World was as it was in 2018, then the answer would be yes, without a doubt yes, yes, yes. I miss my life in Alicante greatly. It wasn't a period filled with wine on the terrace, sun-drenched beaches and colourful festivals 24/7, but it was memorable for all the right reasons. Darrell and I achieved everything we needed to in such a short space of time – we both had jobs, earned good money, became Spanish residents and felt included as part of a community, unlike any other we had experienced before. The month before I made the decision to leave, I felt the happiest I had ever felt in years. The Costa Blanca was home, I was happy to be alive and the people in my life, were generous, accepting and nurturing; in all but name, they were the family I didn't have in Britain.

    As an individual, I began to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Being around like-minded people from the expat community was a joy. Each of us had a story to tell, all living in Gran Alacant for very different reasons. It was indeed a melting pot of views and cultures, but most of us seemed to get on well. I really miss that sense of belonging, camaraderie and solidarity, something sorely lacking in the UK. I suppose, on a day like today, with the sun barely poking through, you do turn to better times; even if I didn't think it then, Spain was better in every respect. It is the people I miss the most – being able to walk out of my front door, and slowly meander down to the local square; stopping along the way, I'd pass the time of day with friends and neighbours, eventually sitting quietly in Sierra Mar Square, with a good book and glass of Vino Tinto. Untroubled in an urbanization I adored, I was content with my new life in the sun.

    Today, I really do lead a busy, hectic life. I rarely sit down to blog as I would like, because I just don't have the time, and that makes me sad. In Spain, I blogged every day and always had something to say. I also had a monthly column in a magazine  and to be perfectly honest, I was achieving my dreams, in a way I hadn't before. Spain opened doors that in Britain remained closed. The informality of Gran Alacant and the relaxed lifestyle gave me time to breathe and think about life. My thoughts weren't always positive, but the fact I had time to ruminate, was a sign my life was significantly better than it was.

    Like Darrell, I tend to suffer in cold weather; I hate the British winter with a passion. Having not left this country since 2019, I have become more resentful than ever at this country, that for me projects a feeling of anxiety, melancholy and depression, especially at this time of year. I am a traveller at heart and always have been, so being confined to Britain, in the middle of a pandemic, has been a dreadfully unsettling time. I am left feeling deflated, often with very little hope, wishing I had stayed firmly in Spain when I had the chance.

    Brexit is also another factor that has determined our future direction. There is no chance of returning to Spain in the same way we have in the past, because we just don't have the option to do so. The laws have changed and whether we like it or not, neither of us can work to support ourselves in Europe, we have literally had our choices taken away. I was one of those idiots who voted for Brexit, and it was a huge mistake; there isn't anything I can do about that, so Darrell and I will just have to live with the consequences of my actions.

    Brexit is a huge regret for me, but so is leaving Spain in the first place. Both Darrell; and I agree, that I could have stayed on in Spain when he returned to Australia, even during the pandemic, but I remain unsure about that. Britain leaving the EU and COVID-19 has changed all our lives, without exception. Despite reflecting about the amazing life I used to have on the continent, I am aware about just how difficult circumstances would have been for us, had I stayed in Gran Alacant. The hope is, we can one day live abroad, maybe not Europe, and have a similar accomplished existence. We are however realistic about the future and realise time is no longer on our side. Now in our fifties, we may just have to accept the inevitable and create our own small piece of paradise in the UK.

    The month after Christmas is traditionally the most challenging time of any year. I do feel depressed and down in January, and that will not change anytime soon. Interestingly when I lived in Spain, January was no exception, I also found it the hardest month, so this probably isn't unique to Britain. Yes, I think I possibly found it easier to cope with, living in a sunnier climate. I will always have fond memories of my time in Gran Alacant, I am still in contact with many of those I met there and enjoy seeing their photographs and hearing their stories on facebook and Instagram every day. I may not be a part of their lives now, but those three years, living and working in Europe, remain firmly in my heart. They are a reminder of what life can be like, if I persevere enough and embrace another country's culture and traditions, Somewhere to spread my wings, somewhere to call home!
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    Vanessa Holwell – How to plan the perfect staycation during the COVID-19 pandemic!

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    How to Plan the Perfect Staycation During the COVID-19 Pandemic


    The COVID-19 pandemic has made travel more difficult. If you had a trip planned, you may have had to cancel it. While this can be upsetting, you could consider the alternative: planning a staycation! By booking a few nights at a cozy local hotel, spending your time outdoors, and patronizing small businesses, you can enjoy a staycation while following local health regulations. Check out these pointers from Roaming Brit.

    Find a Place to Stay

    You can plan out a staycation in which you stay at your own home and simply block off a few days for relaxation and exciting local activities. Alternatively, you could head to a hotel not far from your residence so that you can truly feel like you’re getting away. For instance, if you would like to get away from the city life for a little while, look for a lodge or cabin that allows you to experience nature and, if you’re close enough to town, you can still enjoy dining options and entertainment.

    Stay Safe

    Even if you’re staying relatively close to home, you need to take steps to stay safe on your vacation if you plan to stay at a hotel or lodge. This means packing several masks, as well as hand sanitizer. It’s also a smart idea to get tested for COVID-19 a few days before your departure date. That way, you can be certain that you’re not taking an unnecessary risk.

    Plan Local Activities

    Because of the pandemic, you may not be able to partake in certain indoor activities. It’s still safer to enjoy outdoor activities during your staycation, so get ready to experience the natural wonders in your backyard! From hiking to fishing to berry picking in nearby green spaces, there is no shortage of outdoor fun to be had. You could even hire a local fishing charter for some serious exploring!

    Supporting local businesses in your community is a great way to give them a boost in these trying times. And if you do plan to stay at home, you could build a fire pit in your backyard or work on another outdoor project, like building a picnic table — you can actually enjoy the results of these projects all year round!

    If you decide to travel, it’s a good idea to check out your wardrobe before you leave to ensure that you have everything you need. Smarter Travel recommends bringing waterproof or quick-drying pants, sturdy hiking boots, a hat, and a light backpack with plenty of room for gear.

    Relax and Unplug

    Whether you’re booking a hotel room close by or simply staying home and planning a fun-filled weekend, you can use your staycation as an opportunity to unplug and turn off your digital devices until when you really need them, like to make a call or two. Because of the pandemic, we’ve all been spending lots of time staring at screens this year, so it may be time for a change of pace.

    In order to plan a digital detox, Ritual suggests deleting social media apps; that way, you won’t be so tempted to check your phone. Before your staycation officially begins, you could even try simply letting your phone die. Just make sure that if you decide to do this, you have a watch so that you won’t lose track of the time! For entertainment, pick out some books you’ve been wanting to read - with a good book in your hands, you won’t even miss scrolling.

    You may be disappointed that you had to cancel your vacation because of the pandemic. But when you opt for a staycation instead, you can still have a great time. A staycation is a perfect way to save money, stay safe, and explore the world during this pandemic!

    Photo via Unsplash

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    Omicron – Life returning to normal?

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    We are now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it looks like we may finally be heading towards the end of this dreadful period in history. The virus is now endemic in the UK, as it is in most other parts of the World, and it appears we will now just have to live alongside it. A colleague asked me a couple of days ago, if I thought we would ever see a lockdown again; after thinking about it for a brief moment, I said 'no!' From the noise made in Government and the general public's reluctance, it is clear no one wants to see another economic shutdown again, and who can blame them.

    My views on the Government's handling of this pandemic are widely known. From day one, our bumbling Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has left the most vulnerable in society to the mercy of COVID. He has avoided making decisions that would have ultimately saved lives, and he has allowed this virus to spread uncontrollably, failing to understand the need for restrictions in order to protect the wider population. However, we are where we are. Coronavirus isn't going anywhere soon, and we all have to weigh up our own risks, when dealing with it; we have to use our own common sense and do what is right for us.

    As you would expect, I have read much about pandemics over the last few years, and it does feel that COVID-19 is following a rather traditional path. In general, Pandemics tend to last four to five years, and more importantly, they normally get milder, just as the last flu pandemic did, a little over a hundred years ago. Omicron looks to be a moderate version of Coronavirus, causing nominal flu like symptoms in most people, and doesn't appear to be the killer virus its predecessor was. Could this really be the downward spiral in the pandemic? Can we really start to live life once again?

    Many of my closest friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are contracting the virus on a daily basis; far more than during the first few waves. For this reason, I am constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying, when will it be my time. Thankfully, despite being pinging by the NHS COVID app numerous times, taking a lateral flow test every other day and a PCR test when needed, I haven't tested positive yet. The last time I believe I had Coronavirus was at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2019. Since then, I have taken every precaution to avoid it – wearing masks, constantly sanitizing and social distancing when I can, has become a fact of life. I am proud I have managed to avoid it up to now, even when others have tested positive twice or more.

    According to statistics, Omicron is seventy percent more transmissible and with 200,000 a day contracting it, it is almost inevitable I will get it at some stage. Boris Johnson and his cronies have made it blatantly clear they will not have another lockdown and despite my misgivings about this Government at the start, I have to finally say, I agree with them. Britain's fragile economy, especially after Brexit, could not cope with another economic disaster. As a nation we can not afford to pay furlough money to inactive people again, and we do need to get on with our lives, in as normal a way as possible. This is, nevertheless, where I part ways with the Government, and unlike them, believe in stronger preventative measures, especially during the long winter months.

    I have got used to wearing a mask in a working, social and crowded environment and to be honest, it doesn't bother me at all. Psychologically, I feel better wearing one, and I have had very few seasonal colds. I hope mask wearing is made compulsory in shops and indoor crowded locations permanently, as well as on public transport. Going forward, I intend to wear face coverings whenever I feel it is appropriate, as I believe we all should. I fail to understand, just why people dislike wearing them so much, especially when they protect others.

    Vaccine passports are another way of ensuring the safety of others; if you haven't had a vaccine, because of some ridiculous anti-vax agenda, then you shouldn't be allowed in venues such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, and theatres. People need to live up to their commitments and start acting  conscientiously, thinking of the wider population, rather than themselves. If you don't get vaccinated, don't expect to enjoy the benefits the rest of us have. There is no conspiracy, there is just a desire to return to normal and not to remain stuck in this perpetual cycle of lockdowns and restrictions.

    All of us have to do what is right for our communities – the old, frail and vulnerable, healthcare, retail, transport, and hospitality workers who are confronted with COVID every day. Each of us has a social responsibility to protect those who need it most, that is the mark of humanity, that is the right thing to do! If all of us had done what was expected from day one, we wouldn't be in the position we are today. We can't change the past, but we can influence the future!
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    Year in Review, 2021!

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    Today, I am nursing a slight hangover, after saying goodbye to 2021 and welcoming in the new year. I am not in the habit of celebrating New Year's Eve these days, especially at the moment, with the new Omicron variant on the rise, but I did nevertheless have a few drinks with family after work.

    Like most people, I will be glad to see the back of this horrible year and, rather like 2020, confine it to the bin of history. Of course, despite the challenges, I have personally faced this year, I am also aware of just how important 2021 was to Darrell and me, as we were reunited once again.

    Both of us had been planning for Darrell's return for a good number of months, before he arrived in the UK. Darrell had to be sure that Mum was fit and able to be left, and her cancer was under control and manageable while he is in Britain. Once he was confident in her ability to look after herself, he had to get the correct paperwork in place, from the Australian government, that would allow him to leave the country. With Britain operating on an almost normal level, I can't emphasise enough just how Draconian the restrictions down under were and still are. Darrell had to sign a document, agreeing to not return to Australia for at least three months. This was a difficult undertaking for him, considering his Mother's health. However, he had no option but to return before his visa allowing him to live and work in the UK expired. With plans in place, Darrell returned home in September.
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    2021 was another year dominated by the ongoing pandemic. Anyone who thought the virus would have been eradicated by now, would be sorely disappointed. Today, as I write this entry, record numbers of people are falling ill with COVID, yesterday nearly 190,000 alone. It seems that most only have mild symptoms from the Omicron variant, but this is an awful lot of people self-isolating, and it can't be sustained forever.

    I am lucky enough to have had both my vaccinations, and the booster in late November. I have also had my flu jab and a Pneumonia vaccination, so I am as protected as I can be. Working in a busy supermarket, I am well aware of the importance of wearing masks, sanitizing my hands and protecting myself; despite this, colleagues, friends, and family continue to fall ill every day; thankfully, thus far, I have been fine – not even a cold!

    There have been so many sad stories this year, from friends who have lost loved ones to the virus and others who continue to battle its effects. In some respects, I have become numb to the suffering around me and just carried on working as best I can. It isn't that I don't care, it's just a mechanism I have adopted, to allow me to cope with the terrible circumstances we are all living through. If I constantly dwelled on the hardship, I would never leave the house; life has to go on!

    My priority has been for myself, Darrell and my family. When Darrell arrived in the UK, he was luckily double vaccinated, having been one of the first group of people to receive their vaccines, when Australia had barely vaccinated a few hundred thousand people. Despite this, he has had difficulties with paperwork and documents, including his status on his British health records. With the Government pushing the boosters ever harder, pleading with people to get their third jab as soon as possible, we both decided he should start the vaccination process all over again here in the UK. In December, he had another injection and will have to have yet another one in a few months time. This was the quickest and best course of action we could take, to ensure he remained safe as Omicron ravages the country.

    2021 has also been a year dominated by my health. With a growing list of symptoms and ailments and my anxiety levels high, I have pushed further and harder for answers. Yes, I do suffer with health anxiety, but the pain I experience is real. It may well also be functional in nature, at least in part, but the effects it has on my wellbeing is immeasurable. For these reasons, I need to understand just what processes are at work.

    Luckily, despite the pandemic, I did manage to have various procedures completed, that I have been waiting for, for a long time. During the summer, I had my gallbladder removed, which had been causing a huge amount of discomfort. Since its removal, I have never felt better, and I am just thankful I badgered and harassed the clinicians and Doctors to get this operation done.

    I also had a gastroscopy, which also answered a few more questions about my gastrointestinal health, and I could once again start to live a normal life with the right treatment. There are many other niggles and annoyances I want dealt with; with the pandemic a major concern and restrictions commonplace, it seems inevitable that I will have to wait a little longer for these to be carried out. I hope I can finally see the back of them in 2022; only time will tell if that's the case!

    With both Darrell and I working, we are beginning to make plans for the future. 2021 has been about dreams and aspirations; living through a pandemic has made us reassess our future plans. As a couple there is still a lot of travelling we would like to do, but our priorities have changed somewhat and acquiring a permanent home, here in the UK, seems to be our biggest challenge.

    Living with my Aunt has allowed me to save consistently; during COVID, I have saved even harder, and that has actually meant all the difference in deciding our future. With a healthy bank balance, both of us would like to invest in a new home soon, maybe as soon as 2022. We are quite comfortable living with my Aunt, so luckily there is no rush to purchase anything yet. The circumstances of 2021 has allowed us to build up capital at a time when others are sadly struggling. The Coronavirus era has been a lucrative time for us; I don't want to sound uncaring about others who have suffered, but we have been left in a fortunate position, that will hopefully help us secure our future. Neither of us have made any firm plans about where we would like to be based in Britain, but having money has given us options, that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

    This year I reached the grand old age of 50, not a milestone I was looking forward to with any sense of glee. However, my Aunt organised a party that I will always remember. This was yet another event Darrell wasn't able to attend, second to our 25th anniversary in 2020. It is sad that we have had to live separate lives for so long, due to a situation beyond our control, but it has taught us the importance of resilience during testing times. Together, we remain as strong as ever and can be proud of everything we have achieved.

    2021 has been a difficult twelve months, but it has been a year of hard work and progress. I don't have the social life I once had; I no longer travel the World, as I would like; but I am continuing to build the foundations both of us need for success in the future. No one can predict what will happen in 2022, but my guess is, more of the same, and I will be writing something very similar this time next year. On average, pandemics have a lifespan of four to five years, so I believe these tumultuous times have more to give. As long as we use these austere months for personal enrichment and advancement, I feel sure we will reach our goals and begin to live life again in the best way we can.  I look forward to the day when society returns to normal, masks are cast aside and social distancing is a thing of the past, until then we wait, wonder and ponder what comes next; nothing lasts forever, everything happens for a reason, even a pandemic!
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