August 2020

My heart is singing with joy, Hamilton is coming to Sydney! Hamilton the musical that is, not some random guy named Hamilton.

Conversation between Mama and Papa Bear goes something like this.

“Do you reckon May next year is too soon to book tickets for Hamilton, with Covid and all ?”

” Oh it should be all sorted by then don’t you reckon?”

“Yeah, we’ll be fine!”

Tickets are booked, I’m so excited!

March 2021

We’re booking flights to Sydney, the excitement is growing. Mama Bear, ever vigilant, says to Papa Bear,

“If we are coming back on the 25th May why don’t we fly via Melbourne and surprise your sister for her birthday?”

“Great idea!”

As time grew closer and the whole Covid thing obviously wasn’t sorted, there were more Mama Bear & Papa Bear conversations about whether we should go. I had to shut my heart to the absolute devastation I would feel if we didn’t get to see Hamilton and concentrate on whether it was safe for us to travel. Eventually we decided to go, but felt it was best to leave our fully fuelled up car at the airport, ‘just in case’

May 2021

Hamilton was amazing, Sydney, as always, was fun.

The first reports of community transmitted Covid in Melbourne begin to emerge. A brief conversation was held about whether we should go to Melbourne, but hey, it’s only a couple of cases! By the time we got to Melbourne the number of cases had grown and it became obvious that the possibility of us returning to Perth and spending time with the family before returning to Geraldton was getting less and less. Sure enough I received a text from S1 (son 1) , a journalist for The West

“Looks like you guys will be isolating!”

It was difficult to get information, we received numerous emails from the Police regarding the G2G Pass, either informing us our pass was approved, or it was rejected, or we had to apply for a new one!! When we boarded the plane to Perth we didn’t know whether we actually had a pass, we thought we did but weren’t sure, and thought we would have to isolate at home until we were tested and received a negative test result. When we disembarked, much to our relief our G2G Pass was approved, but then we found out we had to quarantine at home for 14 days and have a test on Day 11 which of course needs to be negative.

We had our test at the airport, I was dreading it because I had heard so many horror stories, but it was fine, just a tickle that made me sneeze. And off to Geraldton with the big packet of chips we had brought with us from Melbourne.

So here we are in the Geraldton Resort for a two week Staycation, in our case it means stay in your house and don’t leave. There’s no sightseeing unless you count the amazing view from our balcony!

We certainly have no regrets, we made the decision to travel knowing how quickly things develop and change these days. And the joy and tears on Papa Bear’s sister’s face when she saw us made it all worthwhile!

Stay safe everyone and make sure you check-in everywhere you you go!