Where would you be now ... ?

[esseeeayeenn]

What would everyone be doing now if it wasn't for this nightmare?
I would have been in Nouméa again, drinking champagne on the beach of Îlot Canard inbetween snorkelling sorties and watching the sunsets sipping coughtails with friends at the Chateau Royale before dinner at one of many amazing restaurants which cater more to locals than tourists.
On the bright side, I have a new dishwasher instead.
A year without travel is going to pay for a lot of home improvements.
None of them look quite this good, though or be this much fun
.

 

[straitman]

We have managed to escape Victoria (legally) to Noosa Heads although we should probably be in Fiji.

 

[Flashback]

Should have been on the French Riviera, instead we're on the Welsh (Riviera? ) (not) enjoying some blistering heat. In all seriousness though, Mrs FB is happy as she gets to swim in the ocean. As a true blue Aussie, the water is still far too cold for me regardless of how hot I am before taking the plunge.

 

[Flashback]

To be honest though it's like being in another country... Cheap(er) food, nice beaches, funny language everywhere...

 

[MARTINE]

Where is this flashback? East side gallery Berlin!?

 

[Flashback]

Where is this flashback? East side gallery Berlin!?

Close, far west Wales

 

[MARTINE]

Wales is wonderful - have mostly travelled the east side (no pun intended) around Wye Valley. As a bibliophile we stayed during Hay-on-Wye festival years ago where caught up with Bear Grylls over breakfast and added my name to visitors book under Stephen Fry!!! Last two years the festival has streamed free due to Covid which was great and well worthy of a supportive donation. Stunning town and region and people. Tintern Abbey always gets me with the grass floor and no roof ….

 

[Flashback]

Wales is wonderful - have mostly travelled the east side (no pun intended) around Wye Valley. As a bibliophile we stayed during Hay-on-Wye festival years ago where caught up with Bear Grylls over breakfast and added my name to visitors book under Stephen Fry!!! Last two years the festival has streamed free due to Covid which was great and well worthy of a supportive donation. Stunning town and region and people. Tintern Abbey always gets me with the grass floor and no roof ….

We'll be there in a few days on our way back to old London town

 

[MARTINE]

Hashtag jealous … enjoy

 

[johnsluk]

Would be back in America no doubt, my American wife hasn't seen her family in 2 years now because of covid. I even miss the grilling I get by the staff on arrival!

 

[straitman]

On Thursday 22nd July we went for a short drive with a little more on Friday 23rd. When the Victorian Premier announced the snap lockdown we made a decision and quickly packed the car and 45 minutes later we were on the road. We left home at 5:30 pm and drove 550 km to Albury to get out of the state of Victoria by midnight. We arrived at 11:51 pm. After a good 8 hrs sleep we hit the road again at about 8:40 am Friday morning and drove about 1020 km as suddenly we needed to be in Queensland before 1:00 am Saturday. We arrived in Goondiwindi at 8:20pm. It seems the whole motel was full of Victorians getting into Qld before the deadline. That gave us with just a short 480 km drive to Noosa Heads on Saturday. That's 2050 km in a 48 hr period. Pretty tough on my old body.

This was all caused by Australian States not being able to align their Covid restrictions.

Our plan to fly into Queensland on the Thursday came unstuck when Victoria went into a snap lockdown as we probably wouldn't have been allowed to drive to the airport. There was no clarity on this hence the need to be out of the state by midnight Thursday night. Then Friday got extended as Queensland changed their rules and we had to get into Queensland before 1 am Saturday.

We are now into the third week of our stay and Queensland and Victoria are both in lockdown. The rules between the states are so obtuse that it's very possible to do the wrong thing by trying to do the right thing.

Fortunately we currently have a lovely two bedroom apartment on the Gold Coast and we can extend this stay without issue. The Queensland lockdown rules are pretty light compared to Victoria but as I said they very confusing. Today Police shutdown some shops that were open within the rules.

It's total lunacy!!!

 

[AIRwin]

Fortunately we currently have a lovely two bedroom apartment on the Gold Coast and we can extend this stay without issue.

Welcome to sunny Queensland!

 

[AIRwin]

The Queensland lockdown rules are pretty light compared to Victoria but as I said they very confusing.

Lockdown over on the 8th of the 8th at 8+8=16th hour... 8 is a lucky number for you!

 

[drron]

And we would now be in Rockhampton on our way to Hayman island.Fortunately only delayed a week hopefully.

 

[Seat0B]

Well, I would probably be exactly where I currently am. But I would be enjoying being here with the company of the very much missed Seat Son. We would be about half way thought his 3 week visit, and looking forward to heading to Queensland to see his Grandfather, aunts and uncles and cousins there. Instead......well let's just say, none of that is happening now.

 

[straitman]

Welcome to sunny Queensland!

I am back in Victoria though my wife is enjoying Qld for another two weeks. (Only about 38 on my VA flight)
Attempting to get jobs done around the house but getting tradesmen is nearly impossible.

 

[AIRwin]

I am back in Victoria though my wife is enjoying Qld for another two weeks. (Only about 38 on my VA flight)

Welcome home! Similarly I would have been back in BNE after the inaugural JQ flight from CBR yesterday...

 

[JessicaTam]

I am back in Victoria though my wife is enjoying Qld for another two weeks. (Only about 38 on my VA flight)
Attempting to get jobs done around the house but getting tradesmen is nearly impossible.

I hope your new avatar isn't a reflection on why you have been looking for tradies?

 

[straitman]

I hope your new avatar isn't a reflection on why you have been looking for tradies?

It wasn’t me!

Interesting that both the a/c involved were rebuilt as that could be justified even though purchasing new ones would have been cheaper. (The old opex vs capex argument.)

 

[oznflfan]

I should be in Karamea NW of South Island NZ right now, exploring Oparara Basin or bush/beach walk. Alas at home in NT, but nice warm weather.