Keep Masked and Carry On

Well, the kids are back in school (hallelujah!) and life is taking on some form of return to normality, or what counts as normal in Autumn 2020.

There are many things we still can’t do, or shouldn’t do, or just don’t feel personally comfortable doing even though other people are; but then there are some things we can do again, with certain precautions, that we haven’t been able to do since mid-March. You follow?

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Flying From the U.K. to the U.S. During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Well, we made it back across the pond and to Virginia on Sunday. Deciding whether or not to make the journey back to the States this summer to visit family was probably a harder decision than when we were offered the opportunity to uproot and move to London with a 3-year-old and another baby on the way. More complicated.

Obviously, flying during a pandemic is risky; however, at the current time, the only people allowed to enter the U.S. are U.S. citizens, and Americans entering the U.K. are required by law to quarantine for 14 days, so direct flights between the U.S. and the U.K. are practically empty.

(BTW, I’m looking into donating to a carbon-offset project, because I feel pretty guilty about flying on a nearly-empty plane.)

Non-essential businesses have only just started reopening in London this month, and for the time being, the U.K. has things relatively under control.

Sign: Please no hugs no handshakes during coronavirus season
A local bar’s new outdoor seating on our high street last weekend, which is now closed to vehicles on the weekends

The U.S., clearly, does not. But fortunately the area my in-laws live in is not a big crowded city, and we are pretty much just staying put at their house. We recognized that this could be our only window for the rest of 2020 for flying to America to see our family. And while being locked down and not able to get to each other, we realized just how far away we really are. We decided it was important to go while we have the chance. Continue reading

Day 48 of Our Captivity

Let’s see, what’s new this week… not a ton, really. Hard to believe we’re approaching 50 days of isolation.

A very empty Clapham Common on a lovely spring morning

Our household has the same story as many households. We’re at home. We’re safe and healthy. We’re going a bit out of our minds but, overall, we are very grateful for our circumstances: a comfortable house, a paycheck, food, our health, connection with others via the Internet. Continue reading