Personal reflections a year into COVID-19: What has changed? What have you missed?

[Mark1966]

What have you missed? - it can be anything
Certainly overseas travel, I was actually in Rotterdam about to go to a conference in March 2020 when it was cancelled because of some new 'novel' virus and came home ...
The ability to think and make decisions for myself (as others have commented!)
A number of the staff in QF lounges at regular destinations. I was regular enough in CBR, SYD and MEL in particular to know of their families and lives outside the lounge through the brief chats you have. Some are still there, others no longer - I hope and pray they have landed on their feet.

What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
Now starting to travel again BUT also more virtual meetings - which can be just as draining as travel if not more so. Back to back Zooms all day can be very tough.

Nothing beats face to face for some meetings and they are slowly coming back, but the added layer of Zooms on top seems to have increased the connectedness, which has its ups and downs

Has covid actually made anything better for you?
Definitely more willingness by people for virtual meetings - so you can connect with more people more easily BUT this also meeting sometimes just more meetings and certainly more of the challenging hybrid meetings! Already had a pretty flexible and dispersed workplace - this has cemented that in a good way (although I'm still yet to meet a new team member who started in May last year face to face ...)

Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?
Who has had time?

 

[Denali]

• What have you missed? - it can be anything
  Nothing stands out to me. Im a happy homebody so this has improved my life/happiness. I enjoy planning trips but found taking them kinda stressful so enjoying staying home and saving a bit but will re-plan Africa (2023?)
  
  
• What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
  WFH. Love it and will continue to do 3 days per week.
  
  
• Did you or do you know anyone who had 15 minutes of fame?
  No.
  
  
• Has covid actually made anything better for you?
  WFH has been a huge benefit to me and my mental health.
  
  
• Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?
  We built the dodgy deck ($500 budget) when I got a weber charcoal bbq. Last night was garlic & paprika charcoal chicken, Saturday will be slow cooked beef ribs. Hubby is loving it. We also installed some raised garden beds so have herbs and veggies and planted blueberries shrubs. Summer tomatoes, spring onions and herbs were insane and currently lettuce and strawberries are growing like crazy. I also accidently grew Carolina Reapers and take those to work for co workers.
  
  We are currently looking at display homes/floor plans to either sell up or KDR in a couple of years.
  
  
• Go on a local trip or road trip that would have otherwise be overseas?
  A couple of road trips, just got back from Lake Mungo and hit every country bakery for pies/sausage rolls on the way. Been to Nelson Bay a couple times and will return for another Christmas this year.

 

[Beano]

Most of my international travel was across the Tasman. I really missed flying; the departure, journey (reconnecting with FAs I got to know) and arrival, and getting away from the office, though it was good to be at home. I had done some European trips to see family, especially my daughters in Germany and Spain; the latter having given us a grandson and another on the way. We had planned to visit again this year but at least we saw our grandson in September 2019.
I though my luck was in when the trans Tasman bubble opened and I was planning trips all over Australia. I started in Sydney three weeks ago with a bit of a covid scare and some restrictions in Sydney but all went well and I got home. So next it was Melbourne with Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth (not necessarily in that order) to follow. You may know what is going on in Melbourne and I am now locked down and in my hotel room. Plenty of work to be getting on with but not the same as in the office. The business trip was meant to be a week but as of 3 June 2021 I will be in Melbourne for an additional two weeks. It is a risk I know I was taking, but this experience may put a hold on future plans. I was prepared for a lockdown of say 3 to 4 days, but this is way longer. It seems Melbournians don't take Covid seriously and as I walk about (with a mask) many are not wearing them and traffic, though not as bad as normal, still seems busy. With such a lax attitude it is not surprising that Melbourne is in such a position. Sorry if this is out of context of the forum, but I'm not exactly pleased and will affect future travel plans.

 

[henrus]

What have you missed? - it can be anything
I think almost everyone's said something similar but definitely overseas travel (Sorry NZ you don't count). I had some cracker trips booked in April and June but obviously, none of that happened. Nepal, Japan, and through the Pacific on the United Island Hopper

What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
Almost nothing, due to work I didn't stay home a lot and here in the republic of Queensland things have gone back to normal (or perhaps worse than normal)... I visited a local restaurant on Tuesday night and pre covid we'd sometimes be the only ones there... well it was packed and the same goes for everything; flights, restaurants, hotels etc they're all really busy!

Did you or do you know anyone who had 15 minutes of fame?
No, but it'd constantly run my mind thinking if I got it what would my last 14 days look like when published on the health website. You'd end up as COVID royalty like the BBQ man in Sydney or the Hens party on the Gold Coast.

Has covid actually made anything better for you?
At first, things were great, everything slowed down in a good way during the initial lockdown but now things are a bit crazy. It seems like everyone and everything around feels the same way as well.

Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?
Does sampling beer count? During the early lockdown I managed to fill an entire fridge with beer, Newstead brewing had some great deals for about $42 a case.

Go on a local trip or road trip that would have otherwise be overseas?
Made the mistake of driving up to Townsville and back... Nothing against Townsville but it's just a very long drive, will be back but next time via plane. Also managed to visit three new states I'd never been to before in 2020 (WA, NT and TAS).

 

[ramboflyer]

Lifestyle-wise Covid hasn't changed our lives much at all. Living in an island state has been a blessing in respect to containing the virus, much like the Australian continent experience.

Travel-wise there have been both positives and negatives. The positive is that we have seen more of our own state thanks to the limitations on interstate travel (in 2020) and overseas. We went to Cradle Mountain for the first time and did the Abt railway from Strahan, a couple of trips that probably would not have otherwise happened. We recently had a week in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast which was a welcome break.

I have a 4 day trip with mates to Melbourne to watch AFL in mid July booked but as each day goes by and the number of cases grow I become more doubtful that will happen.

The negative is that internationally we would otherwise have been booked to the US in October. I was happy to put that back 12 months but now I wonder if even that will happen. I'm retired now over 6 years and want to have a few more overseas trips while still healthy in body and mind. We've only had 3 international trips, all since retirement, so I'm feeling disappointed that we may not get another one in.

Regardless of what happens with overseas travel we plan to do a number of long mainland Australia road trips in the coming years.

 

[Beano]

Lifestyle-wise Covid hasn't changed our lives much at all. Living in an island state has been a blessing in respect to containing the virus, much like the Australian continent experience.

Travel-wise there have been both positives and negatives. The positive is that we have seen more of our own state thanks to the limitations on interstate travel (in 2020) and overseas. We went to Cradle Mountain for the first time and did the Abt railway from Strahan, a couple of trips that probably would not have otherwise happened. We recently had a week in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast which was a welcome break.

I have a 4 day trip with mates to Melbourne to watch AFL in mid July booked but as each day goes by and the number of cases grow I become more doubtful that will happen.

The negative is that internationally we would otherwise have been booked to the US in October. I was happy to put that back 12 months but now I wonder if even that will happen. I'm retired now over 6 years and want to have a few more overseas trips while still healthy in body and mind. We've only had 3 international trips, all since retirement, so I'm feeling disappointed that we may not get another one in.

Regardless of what happens with overseas travel we plan to do a number of long mainland Australia road trips in the coming years.

Go for it! I know a lady who in her late 70s drove the Nullarbor road all by herself. She said the truckies were very kind and helpfull.

 

[Seat0B]

Last night was garlic & paprika charcoal chicken, Saturday will be slow cooked beef ribs. Hubby is loving it.

mmm yummy - dinner at your house sounds better than mine!

 

[Hvr]

• What have you missed? - it can be anything

Travel, coming from 2-3 overseas trips per year it's been strange staying home, even restricted to 5km from home.

• What has changed in your life (or not at all)?

I've shaved my hair off, am regrowing the beard in lock down IV, we'll see how it looks. I started a new job in Jan 2020. Amazing timing, have WFH for a very long time since then. Never want to do five days a week in the office again.

• Did you or do you know anyone who had 15 minutes of fame?

No.

• Has covid actually made anything better for you?

I've save so much money not travelling.

• Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?

Does watching entire series on Amazon count?

• Go on a local trip or road trip that would have otherwise be overseas?

Five kilometres from home isn't really a road trip. I went to the AFF CBR do in December, and a dinner in Adelaide between lock downs. That's it. However, my car is now on the internet. Well, it's covered in the web at least.

• Any new additions to the family e.g. children? (only added this as recently there seems to be a large number of maternity/paternity backfills joining our business)

No. Have probably forgotten how to actually do the necessary actions, it's been so long.

 

[Ausbt]

• What have you missed? - it can be anything
• I never regarded myself as 'sick of travelling' - in fact I'd take any opportunity to fly anywhere at any time. But surprisingly I've been fine about not flying as much. I think status extensions were important - it was more about the hope of returning to it and looking forward to planning a future trip
• 
  
• What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
• Too much to mention. Divorce #2. Real estate holdings. Blowing an ACL/MCL skiing one-month before lockdown. I was supposedly to actually relocate to Canada, but here I am still in Oz. Probably a good thing
• 
  
• Did you or do you know anyone who had 15 minutes of fame?
• No
• 
  
• Has covid actually made anything better for you?
• Saved a bit of money yes. Sometimes I regarded the quieter CBD actually nicer, but I feel for the business operators, cafes & gyms etc
• 
  
• Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?
• No. Drank far too much booze though. Attempted to compensate by going to the gym too much in a classic risk/reward scenario
• 
  
• Go on a local trip or road trip that would have otherwise be overseas?
• Definitely regional weekends away, so that was nice
• 
  
• Any new additions to the family e.g. children? (only added this as recently there seems to be a large number of maternity/paternity backfills joining our business)
• No

 

[Beano]

Here's my halfpennyworth.

What have you missed? - it can be anything
Departure, flying, arrival, the whole works. I got to know the QF staff in Sydney and Q club in WLG, as well as some FAs

What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
Some MS Team meetings which are very sterile and easily highjacked by a determined participant and unkind chair. Otherwise apart from international travel BAU.

Has covid actually made anything better for you?
NO, well, except perhaps being at home more, which is not a bad thing. It makes leaving more difficult as we are not so used to it, especially if you go into lockdown when away from home.

Did you start any new hobbies, undertake renos, build a house?
Had time for more of the same so could get more done around the acreage (lifestyle block).

 

[Vic]

The drive to work was brilliant for a while.
Started (restarted) doing school dropoff in the morning, when schools went back.
Spent a lot of time exercising (sitting on a park bench drinking red) with a great love.
Then they had a heart attack and died... before we could travel together.
Covid was a rubbish

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I miss my little granddaughter, both her 2nd and 3rd birthdays have passed me by.



I should add, I am also missing both my son and daughter in law.

 

[Seat0B]

You know what I have missed, and feel like I will never get back? The feeling of being Australian, rather than a Queenslander, or a Victorian or a Territorian. I cannot abide state premiers talking about "Queensland citizens" or similar. Surely we are Australian citizens and maybe Victorian residents, not "Victorian citizens".

We are acting like pre-federation colonies, with cheap point scoring and border closures, and locking out residents from their homes, jobs, families, lives.

I really, really mourn the feeling of being Australian.

 

[AIRwin]

Nothing seems to have changed...

 

[Beano]

We've just heard our new grandchild in Spain is a girl due in November. We would so much like to visit but unlikely this year.

 

[henrus]

We've just heard our new grandchild in Spain is a girl due in November. We would so much like to visit but unlikely this year.

I assume you're Kiwi (hold NZ passport) or are eligible for MIQ therefore you aren't subject to the Australian must apply for an exemption to leave. I'm curious, in this situation is it the risk (chance of getting covid), time (2 weeks of HQ/MIQ spots), and/or cost (cost of HQ/flights) that is why you won't visit?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that (if eligible for NZ MIQ) you find yourself in a position of being able to but not wanting to, something most Australian's can't, and I'm curious why?

 

[I love to travel]

I have missed peace of mind. Life is now a constant state of fear about what will happen next. But I am also grateful for everything I do have and haven't lost sight of that.

 

[flyingfan]

I have missed not needing to think about the entry, documentation and check-in app requirements when travelling from one Australian state or territory to another.

I have missed joking about needing a visa for travelling to this state or council, because now it's a reality it's not funny at all, just the horrible truth.

And I miss all the opportunities, dreams and moments we have lost because in one way or another we have been consumed with this pandemic.

 

[Beano]

I assume you're Kiwi (hold NZ passport) or are eligible for MIQ therefore you aren't subject to the Australian must apply for an exemption to leave. I'm curious, in this situation is it the risk (chance of getting covid), time (2 weeks of HQ/MIQ spots), and/or cost (cost of HQ/flights) that is why you won't visit?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that (if eligible for NZ MIQ) you find yourself in a position of being able to but not wanting to, something most Australian's can't, and I'm curious why?

Getting a place in MIQ is virtually impossible now and booked solid until November 2021 with nothing showing yet thereafter. It's still a gamble in returning when you don't know there will be a place in MIQ to return. Third party bookers are charging over $2400.00 to book a place for you and you still need to pay for MIQ. It also extends your time away by two weeks. Apart from potentially catching Covid during the travel and stay in Europe (not vaccinated yet even if I am in Group 3 and promised since May 2021), the risk is too great.

 

[me-h]

What have you missed?
As others have said, definitely overseas travel. Apart from great holidays, I used to compete in ultradistance amateur sport around the world in cool places, which I haven't been able to do, and miss a lot. Had been doing really focused training over an 18 month period for a race overseas in June 2020, so was pretty gutted when it all fell through after the prep I'd done.

What has changed in your life (or not at all)?
A lot less travel both for work and personal. I generally used to fly places for work a few times a month, as well as personal travel. Whereas I got on a plane a few weeks ago for the first since March 2020.

Has covid actually made anything better for you?
Been paying down the mortgage a lot quicker without the OS holidays. Also am building a war chest of holiday leave for when the world opens up again! I got married last year during lockdown too, which was really special. We'd planned an OS elopement wedding, but when that trip fell through we quickly changed plans and got married in a special place on a hike through a beautiful national park in NSW we do a lot of hiking in - it was great and in hindsight a better way for us to marry, couldn't imagine doing it any differently now. The fact only 5 people including us could attend the wedding was perfect given we'd planned to elope anyway.

Go on a local trip or road trip that would have otherwise be overseas?
Not really. Have just been working, paying down the mortgage and building up holiday leave for the future.

Any new additions to the family e.g. children?
Ha, thankfully no. Have 1 child who is now an adult, don't need more