Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Oct 17th 2020, 12:37 am
#121
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2020
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 41
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?j
Thanks for the welcomes, folk.
Yeah, it was a rough trip emotionally. I knew when I moved to the US over twenty years ago that it would be challenging when my parents reached the end of their lives, but I didn't imagine Covid in the mix.
This was my situation too. What I did was work 4-hour days and take PTO for the rest. 8am UK time is 2am CST so I was able to crank through emails and get work done in the morning, then visit my dad in the afternoon. I did have to attend some 9pm meetings that some bright spark scheduled for 3pm CST, but for the most part it went well. I couldn't sync my work Outlook account on my phone for some reason, but using a virtual private network on my laptop worked fine. The only wrinkle was that when you log in to the server at my office it sends a text message to your phone with a code that you have to enter on the laptop for authentication. I didn't want to pay for cell service while in the UK so that was a bit of a worry but I found that if I disabled all the Mobile Network settings on my phone I was still getting texts when connected to wifi. I did have a couple of charges for daily use appear on my bill with AT&T - still not sure why that happened - but they took them off without any fuss when I called them.
I'd advise checking that there isn't a waiting list. We found that there was a 7 - 10 day wait list for delivery on the Isle of Man. Not sure if that was just the Manx tradition of traa dy lioarr ("time enough", sort of a Gaelic version of manana), being on a small island, or if it's something that mainland shops also have issues with. We were lucky enough to have local friends who dropped food off outside the door.
Yeah, it was a rough trip emotionally. I knew when I moved to the US over twenty years ago that it would be challenging when my parents reached the end of their lives, but I didn't imagine Covid in the mix.
This was my situation too. What I did was work 4-hour days and take PTO for the rest. 8am UK time is 2am CST so I was able to crank through emails and get work done in the morning, then visit my dad in the afternoon. I did have to attend some 9pm meetings that some bright spark scheduled for 3pm CST, but for the most part it went well. I couldn't sync my work Outlook account on my phone for some reason, but using a virtual private network on my laptop worked fine. The only wrinkle was that when you log in to the server at my office it sends a text message to your phone with a code that you have to enter on the laptop for authentication. I didn't want to pay for cell service while in the UK so that was a bit of a worry but I found that if I disabled all the Mobile Network settings on my phone I was still getting texts when connected to wifi. I did have a couple of charges for daily use appear on my bill with AT&T - still not sure why that happened - but they took them off without any fuss when I called them.
I'd advise checking that there isn't a waiting list. We found that there was a 7 - 10 day wait list for delivery on the Isle of Man. Not sure if that was just the Manx tradition of traa dy lioarr ("time enough", sort of a Gaelic version of manana), being on a small island, or if it's something that mainland shops also have issues with. We were lucky enough to have local friends who dropped food off outside the door.
Completely agree with previous posts about expecting a no fuss Tesco / Sainsbury delivery upon arrival back in the U.K.... my elderly parents live in the county of Kent and experience an average of 5 - 6 days wait time for delivery and even then receive about half the items ordered.... they too are relying on family and friends to assist in getting essentials. It’s really not as easy as it appears.
I wish you luck, as a football fan I would just love to join you but the reality is pretty stark as I would really advise you to research, research before making the commitment.
Oct 17th 2020, 3:17 am
#122
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Tennessee, USA
Posts: 168
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?j
...they too are relying on family and friends to assist in getting essentials. It’s really not as easy as it appears.
I wish you luck, as a football fan I would just love to join you but the reality is pretty stark as I would really advise you to research, research before making the commitment.
I wish you luck, as a football fan I would just love to join you but the reality is pretty stark as I would really advise you to research, research before making the commitment.
Nov 18th 2020, 2:16 am
#123
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 470
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Positive development: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/17/amer...ssengers-.html
Nov 18th 2020, 7:29 pm
#124
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,492
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Positive development: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/17/amer...ssengers-.html
Pre-flight testing is nice, but at the moment doesn't really change anyone's Christmas travel plans (or make them possible) since countries still have their own travel bans and/or quarantine requirements in place. I do doubt that that will change until vaccines are readily available and/or the infection incidence is way down.
Nov 19th 2020, 3:42 am
#125
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Pre-flight testing is nice, but at the moment doesn't really change anyone's Christmas travel plans (or make them possible) since countries still have their own travel bans and/or quarantine requirements in place. I do doubt that that will change until vaccines are readily available and/or the infection incidence is way down.
Nov 22nd 2020, 1:21 am
#126
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 197
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
If you read the rags today they are saying they expect the UK to announce a 5 day quarantine if you pay for a test after 5 days. So effectively a week as you need to wait for results.
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
Nov 22nd 2020, 1:59 am
#127
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,492
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
If you read the rags today they are saying they expect the UK to announce a 5 day quarantine if you pay for a test after 5 days. So effectively a week as you need to wait for results.
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...r%20COVID%2D19
This is to protect others. They aren't making us - we just should.
It is one of the reasons why I won't be seeing my son at Christmas, since my OH is high risk and having my son quarantine at home therefore makes no sense.
Nov 22nd 2020, 2:49 am
#128
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
If you read the rags today they are saying they expect the UK to announce a 5 day quarantine if you pay for a test after 5 days. So effectively a week as you need to wait for results.
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
And this sort of thinking is why much of the world is now well into a second wave that is worse than the first.
Nov 22nd 2020, 3:10 am
#129
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
If you read the rags today they are saying they expect the UK to announce a 5 day quarantine if you pay for a test after 5 days. So effectively a week as you need to wait for results.
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
My experience getting back into the US last week was a doddle and not even a hint of needing to quarantine!
Nov 22nd 2020, 9:35 am
#130
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 197
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Lockdown is a lot less here in the USA and is way behind UK when it comes to mitigation for everyday life. I.e. use of cash, contactless payments and home grocery delivery. I have yet to see one grocery delivery to any apartment in the complex where I live. One other observation is that fist pumping is the norm. Might as well shake hands. I suspect Thanksgiving is going to cause a massive spike. I will sit at home alone in my apartment.
Nov 24th 2020, 10:48 am
#131
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Nottingham UK to Boston MA to Orlando FL
Posts: 185
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Nov 25th 2020, 4:29 am
#132
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Thanksgiving in the US is predicted to be 10% down international traffic no doubt more so
Nov 25th 2020, 12:30 pm
#133
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 200
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
I’ve been away from here for a while and have been reading this thread with interest. We’ve now been back in Scotland almost 2 and a half years. We were due to go to the USA in May and that trip was cancelled. One of our sons and his girlfriend were due to come over in the summer and that trip was cancelled. Our 2 other sons were going to come over for Christmas and their trips are now cancelled. I last saw our middle son at my Mum’s funeral in November 2019. Do I miss them? Yes. My DH and I are going to have a quiet Christmas at home, just the 2 of us. I’ve told our 3 sons that the only gift I want from them is a video phone call. I’ve already placed an order with Marks and Spencer for some yummy food. Thanks to The Queen’s Gambit it has rekindled my interest in chess and my DH and I play at 5pm each day. I go swimming between 3 and 5 times a week. Often the only people I speak to, other than my DH, are other swimmers as we get ready to swim our laps. I’m reading lots of wonderful books - just started Featherhood by Charlie Gilmour, the adopted son of Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame - highly recommend the book. I guess my overall message is that we are trying to make the most of a horrible situation and the global pandemic. I used to go long, long periods without seeing family when in Arizona. I’m now doing the same back in Scotland. Peace, love, light and happiness to all of you.
Nov 25th 2020, 1:30 pm
#134
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 13
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Just seen this, thought it would be on interest to post in here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...rantine-covid/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...rantine-covid/
Nov 25th 2020, 5:55 pm
#135
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,854
Re: Who else is concerned about trip to UK for Christmas with family?
Just seen this, thought it would be on interest to post in here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...rantine-covid/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...rantine-covid/
