I don’t know quite how, but I’m home!
One minute I’m sitting on a beach in New South Wales Australia, next I’m on my way to Ireland via Qatar!
Er, want now? Indeed. My question too!
So as you probably know my family and I took a year to go travelling in Australia. If you are friends with me on Facebook you’ll have seen the posts and pics. If not feel free to join me here https://www.facebook.com/jeangraingerauthor/
And so last Friday morning we were sitting there on the Australian beach, in a beautiful 26′, the sun glinting off the Pacific and wondering what we should do. The Covid 19 situation was getting very serious and so we decided with a heavy heart, it was time to break for the border. Our flights home were grounded of course, so it was with the help of the wonderful Irish Embassy we managed to get on an emergency repatriation flight out of Sydney via Doha back to Dublin, leaving the following evening.
The departure was manic – we had hours to pack up our lives, our car and van left in the care of our wonderful Aussie family – to be dealt with at. a later date whenever this all is over. We had to get to Sydney and be ready to go.
We had so much more to do, a visit to California, Perth and Uluru all booked but the universe had other plans and so I’m writing to you from the cottage once more. Its lovely to be home (was Ireland always this cold?) and frankly bizarre not to be able to see anyone but we have to isolate completely for 14 days and then after that only essential shopping.
My parents are only a fifteen minute drive away but that means nothing in these strange times. My little sister and I have missed each other so much but its FaceTime for us for another bit anyway.
I’m kind of writing. But its hard to focus. I think it is anyway.
It’s all a bit surreal isn’t it? I feel like I’m in a film, or just a weird dream I’m going to wake from any minute but it isn’t. So we must do as we’re told, stay home, wash our hands, restrict our interactions and movements and support those medical and essential people who can’t stay home.
I wish you all a safe and healthy future, however long this takes. We can do this, and if you live alone, or you are bored or lonely, feel free to get in touch. Or even if you’re not alone! I love hearing from people. I do get a lot of mail, thankfully, so bear with me if you don’t get a reply right away, I read every single one but replying takes time.
In the meantime, I’m enjoying having a house again, myself and himself have been at opposite ends of the house since we got home, revelling in having more than one room! After nine months in a caravan you get a new appreciation for personal space 😉
Mind yourself and your people and we’ll all look back on this time and say ‘Wasn’t that mad?’