Tam & Toby ~~Hunting Zorba

i think id look at in terms of various scenarios and what would you do in each
  1. You go, nothing happens and you have a great time
  2. You go, something happens back home and you about turn and head back with no restrictions getting in the way
  3. You go, something happens back home and restrictions/blocks have been introduced on your route back - this being worst case i guess. Theres you, your dogs and the van to work out what to do with, in this scenario theres a probability that at best only 1 of the 3 can get back, that being you...
 
Tam, sorry but I agree with your mum. You're younger than most of us on here and have plenty of opportunity to travel. You can earn some more money, delivered food may become busier now.

Your mum is obviously worried about it and given her recent health scare I think I would want to be home with her.
 
Do it....

if I had my Moho sold and had have got another I’m off.... never say I should have done that, you can’t change yesterday but you can change tomorrow...

you know me Tam, don’t know if you know I have mild asthma so am kinda vulnerable. If it got locked down out there at least I’d be doing what I’ve wanted and it won’t/can’t be locked for long...

We don’t know how long this crap is going to go on for so do it while you still can...👍🏼

ps: I remember you saying something similar when your mum wasn’t very well and you had the same dilemma....
 
Tam, afraid I agree with the majority in this, don't believe in omens but in this case, now you are back home, I would at least give it a week or two, go for the grand off your takeaway man and do a couple of weeks work and hopefully you will be back to square one with your breakdown bill.
 
I think if it was just you & the dogs, I’d say go - you can isolate, move, do whatever you need, or the law dictates. I think the issue is your mum, how she would cope with another lockdown, how would you cope if she needed you & you couldn’t get back? You will get as many answers to “is it safe to travel” as there are members on here. The upshot of it is - what does your heart say? You’ve got work here, you’ve got years ahead of you, & you could maybe take a week here or there to get away, but how would you feel if you were away & your mum was ill again? Only you know! On the other hand, I know that sometimes if you put stuff off because of an elderly relative, you can end up a bit resentful. Only my opinion, & only you can decide. 😒

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Northernraider said:
So here's the question and I'd like honest answers

What do people think ?
With the new advice , the rising of cases etc.
Would you press ahead and go travelling in Europe now ? Or would you stay put ?
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, I've over a month's worth of unused holiday allocation from work which I'll lose if not taken by the end of the year. Van's serviced, I've got the cash and I'm desperate to get abroad again.
Having said that, I won't be going because I probably regard it as a moral issue and just don't think it's the right thing to do at the moment.
(edited for spelling)
 
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If it were me, I'd stay.

The worst of all this is likely to be over early next year. Until then, everything can change at any point.

Think of it this way - will you enjoy yourself if away, or worry about your Mum and what restrictions may come into play wherever you are?

Until yesterday, we were planning on meeting Claira's parents in Wales, then heading down to Cornwall to see family and a bit of a much needed break. I know this is now unlikely (my guess is 2 weeks to essential travel in UK).
 
Tam, personal opinion only but there is always a reason not to travel. Perhaps your mum was unwell or becomes frailer, etc. We went through it with my mum as she transformed from a fiercely independent 95 year old Scot to living in a care home due to dementia in a very short time frame. We needed to be there for her at that time and it prevented us doing many things.

We are currently in Germany as the covid count is so low compared to other countries. Everyone wears masks in shops and bars etc whilst moving around. People are friendly and we have seen few other nationalities apart from German since arriving.

Judging from previous posts you pretty much isolate when you are away anyway so your risk combined with age and health is minimal.

Looking at forecasts for the next ten days I think Italy is looking favourite next for us.

Only you can make that choice but I would say grab the opportunity while you can as you don't know what is around the corner.

All the best whatever you decide and hopefully the repair isn't too.long or expensive!

Neil
 
Apart from anything else it's not going to be the best of times over there if they also clamp down, and you get stuck in some wet and cold place or even ,god forgive , getting ill yourself in some forign land.
Think, you have it all at home at the moment and as others have said you have many years to go at a better time.
Batten down the hatches and get some money about you while still looking after your mother as well.
 
If you're confident that your Mum can call on a decent support network if something should happen then I see no reason to postpone your trip...
  • You could be waiting a long time before there's "no risk".
  • Being a takeaway delivery driver is way more riskier IMV...
From what we saw on your previous trip, you prefer the wide open spaces & avoid crowds, so that's pretty much as safe as you can be.
Just be prepared to be flexible with your plans & itinerary.
 
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Ok for m’y tuppence worth as a Scot living in France . We always winter further south but this year biding our time to decide. How about a compromise. Wait a bit. Work a bit to recoup your expenses and to see how Mum manages ( I am sure she will be fine Scottish women are mighty strong !) You will also see how virus pans out in Europe . We won’t make any decision re winter until mid November so not long for you to hold off. Also you can give Toby a few local runs to check out her repair .
 
Winter’s coming, Covids getting worse in Europe. Personally I wouldn’t go because the uncertainty as you travel would spoil it for me.

I would review it in the Spring,with a view to leaving here in March or Apri.
 
Doesn’t your sister live very close to mum Tam?
If so, and she’s happy to keep an eye on mum, that leaves you free to go I think.
But, with the present increases in Covid I think I would stay put for a while and see how things pan out.
Earn a bit to pay for repairs and top up the savings and look to get away again in a month or two when/if things are a little clearer. You’ll not want to get into Southern Europe and find there are restrictions on crossing borders etc.
Best of luck with whatever you decide, at least you are thinking of others as well as yourself. If only more folk were the same we wouldn’t have all the restrictions that are being placed on us all.

Richard.

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Go with your gut. Only you know all the circumstances and it is your conscience you have to live with. No time is every the right time to leave elderly parents. Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
 
Jeez Tam, that's a tough one. I lost my mum just over a week ago, not covid related just "frailty of old age" (death certificate). I was going away but changed my mind, just in case. I guess it depends whether she would be safer with you there & going out working or safer with you away, with no contact. Although i guess you have to wear a mask when your working anyway & keep the hand washing going etc. Boys/ men are still little boys according to their mum's anyway no matter what there age., at least she can keep an eye on you when your home!!! Not a lot of help i know, sorry.
 
Ok thanks for the replies and being honest
I figure I should elaborate here and there so here is further information which may or may not change your thoughts ...all feedback is welcome as always

My mum is very independent, she does everything she can for herself

She isn't the most sociable so staying at home and isolating isn't a hardship for her ...she enjoys her own company

Shopping ..we have her set up now with online shopping accounts and she's been doing that the last few weeks

My sister stays 4 doors down from her and can pop in or get emergency shopping etc etc

IF I was to stay and continue doing the delivery work I'm potentially more risk to her than anything else as I'm then in contact with lots of people

Another winter in Scotland in my van is a horrible thought

I've already got thoughts at the back of my head that if I can't long-term travel then I'm aswell buying/renting a flat and selling Toby as a weekend or week here and there isn't what I sold my house and bought a van for.

I decided to phone mum and just ask her outright if she was more worried about me travelling or if she was concerned/worried about things changing and her situation with covid here ....she insists that it's more a concern about me catching covid and being stuck abroad somewhere in lockdown etc ....she emphasised again that she doesn't miss going out etc and is happy staying home ...she only misses her independence to drive etc and hates having to rely on others to do things for her ...she's a tough old cookie.
Me moving in to the house with her would result in us always falling out as she is very set in her ways ....so that isn't an option lol
Me staying in the drive but is having our own space actually worked well BUT summer and winter are 2 very different things

The delivery job was great for making some easy money but it was starting to get quieter and at first with no contact and online payments etc it was pretty safe .... recently it was going back to cash ...lots of drunks coming in the shop with no masks etc ....longer hours and less money so I was glad it was coming to time for me to leave

When I travel I do tend to like places away from crowds etc ...yes I love to visit towns cities and see the architecture and buildings but I tend to prefer the outsides than inside ....I'm not a big drinker so I'm not in bars and pubs and whilst I do like to eat out when I have company I'm not one who does it a lot on my own

So really my thinking was if I'm off travelling mum is actually safer , I'm safer , and the winter would not be so harsh ....off course my worries are if things got real bad and I was locked down or restricted in some places it may be a nightmare

Mums health is generally good just now , mobility issues still there and always the worry of falls etc but she's not unwell in any way

I think she will be around a long time yet and whilst I worry about her having falls etc a lot of it is just my nature to worry

The selfish part of me has a need to explore and to do my own thing ....it took me years to pluck up the courage to just go for it and I've constantly to fight the doubts and fears I have and just push on with that ...hence me asking you guys your opinions and thoughts ....I am guilty of sometimes looking for the easy way out or an excuse not to do something

I also have the whole brexit thing and the restrictions that will bring always at the back of my mind ......I often just fly by the seat of my pants and just hope for the best ...other times I overthink things and worry myself to death

So it's a difficult one due to all the different situations...

The thought of staying depresses me ...I want to go ...I want to explore I just have a few concerns I guess and I want assurance that everything will be fine ....even though I know it's impossible for anyone to guarantee that.

But life is for living and 3 years ago I felt I was wasting mine and decided to do something else .....I've deviated lots from my original plan ...some through choice others because I believe it's being stolen away from me ....so I'm kind of in no man's land at the minute ....I've no idea what the future is

I'm just going with the flow and hoping for the best
 
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As your Mum seems fine, and you sound like you need to get away - do it.

Thinking about it, we would if we could (difficult for us as our overgrown Staffie doesn't have papers, so France doesn't like him).
 
We didn’t go in the summer, partly as we were getting constant postponements in my sons dinghy Instructor course and partly because numbers were starting to rise in France. I bitterly regret that decision now, as I’m pretty exposed, teaching primary and it looks as if they will lock us down in our October holiday which is when I had rescheduled my booking to. Like you Im worried about the effects of the B word that may not be named (Voldemort moment anyone?).

Do what your gut says. Think about how you will feel with potential outcomes and then stick with your decision. Good luck.

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I believe you know in your heart what you want (are) going to do. Stop shilly shallying and do it.
Last year you aborted your trip , this year you are hopefully more settled in your mind. Flying solo can be a lonely place but so can regret for things not done.
Anyway I want to see all the piccys of your new adventures!
 
Your thoughts seem to echo mine...
Further musings are that none of us have a crystal ball for what's around the corner - I've just learned an old friend has passed away from motor neurone disease at 61.

Practically - if you wait, you might be prevented from going at all
But, if you're overseas already, I can't see you being stopped from returning home [maybe with some delays & complications]
For the sake of your mental well-being I think you, at least, have to start out your trip... maybe it won't work out as you originally anticipated or maybe for as long as you want... or maybe it will.

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