Australia opens its borders again! ☀️ ?? ✈️

I hope all our grandma’s with family in Australia are excitedly planning a trip now.

Lovely that family and friends have the chance to be together. This is good news.

Yes!!! ME!
I’m off to Sydney next month to reunite with DD2, SiL & 4 grandchildren . Can’t wait despite the complications of getting pcr tested within 72 hours, submitting health forms to Aus Home Affairs and hobbling on a dodgy knee. I think I’ll have to suffer the ignominy of a ?‍? at Heathrow ?

I’m so excited Ive pressed all the wrong keys!

Marmite Fantastic ???

I’m still waiting for Nw Zealand to open up. I’m beginning to think Jacinda wants to lock down forever.

Excellent news Marmight! I can sense you are just fizzing with excitement. Wonderful.

maddyone I think St. Jacinda has made a dog’s dinner of it all in NZ. Actually it would probably generate quite a few posts on a separate thread! Back in the day there were so many comments saying ‘the women get it right re Covid’ referring to her (wasn’t she one of Tony Blair’s spin doctors or SPADs?) and Nicola Sturgeon’s tougher restrictions which didn’t tamp down cases in Scotland after all her exhortations.

Good news for marmight and others in her situations. I can almost hear you rejoicing, m ?

Enjoy Marmight, that's lovely and you sound so happy.

Marmight

Yes!!! ME!
I’m off to Sydney next month to reunite with DD2, SiL & 4 grandchildren . Can’t wait despite the complications of getting pcr tested within 72 hours, submitting health forms to Aus Home Affairs and hobbling on a dodgy knee. I think I’ll have to suffer the ignominy of a ?‍? at Heathrow ?

Have a wonderful trip, Marmight! Watching the reunions on the news last night made me cry.

My dodgy knee was putting me off but perhaps we will decide soon to try to get there

I would love to go and visit late DH's cousins in Queensland. He was very close to them growing up and one of them came over for his funeral 4 years ago.

Please go Callistemon. I know how much you’ve missed your dear daughters and grandchildren. Grab the opportunity with both hands. Family is everything.

I agree with you Urmston. The woman has really got on my nerves as she constantly pushes the opening up day back. Now it’s supposed to be July (for visa free countries which is us) which will mean the end of July if it’s like the February allowing of actual citizens back, if fully vaccinated and if they’re in Australia! Nowhere else, just Australia. These are citizens for God’s sake, not allowed into their own country for two solid years! Anyway they can finally go home this February, the 28th February!

To be honest Urms I think a thread about the saintly Jacinda might cause WW3 since so many people think she’s wonderful. Even my daughter is fed up of the opening up constantly being pushed back.

Wonderful news indeed. DD2 and SiL in Queensland facetimed us immediately when the news came through.

Unfortunately, long haul flights are no longer an option for us due to DH’s poor health but……DD is busily arranging the first possible flight for them to come to us. I am so desperate for a cuddle from her, can’t wait to see them walking through Arrivals door!

Have a wonderful trip Marmight
I couldn’t watch the reunions Calli as my eyes were watering something awful.

How wonderful for you Kalu. I hope your daughter comes out to see you very soon. I bet you can’t wait for a cuddle indeed❤️❤️❤️

Another one here who cried at the sight of the Oz reunions. If I go I’ll have to go on my own, DH not up to the long haul flight and I don’t really want to leave him. So feeling torn at the moment, problems which we wouldn't have had if they had stayed in the UK. But you’ve got to live your dreams as they say.

I couldn’t watch the reunions Calli as my eyes were watering something awful.
I didn't know any of them but I was still crying!

Our insurances will probaby cost as much as the flights in future too.

I hope you see your DD and SIL soon, Kalu, and everyone else who is missing family will be reunited before too long.

Trouble is, many of us just have got over longhaul travelling now. I would no sooner visit the UK again than fly to the moon and there are a lot like me. I just don't relish the idea of masks and people poking sticks up my nostrils at airports. Too old for stuff like that. Best people come to us than vice versa!

Wonderful news for the GN's on here who have family and friends in Australia. Happy travelling.

Can I pass on a tip?
If you are going on your own and don't have anyone to pick you up at SYDNEY AIRPORT.

Most of us would be arriving at the International airport.
If you care to walk the short distance to Wolli Creek train station,you can avoid the surcharge that is levied on passengers arriving at the two airport train stations. Wolli Creek train station will take you North and South from Sydney and anywhere else you want to go.