It seems surreal that you are here, and not there anymore. I was feeling very at home with your impressions, stories and pictures from the Cote d'Azur. Your communications have been generous, and really first class.
The image of Tanya and Noah at the close is quietly stunning. For my sins, I distribute a lot of French cinema, and that picture would slip easily into a press kit :).
Thanks, Simon. It was a mighty adventure in many ways: so glad we did it, and all credit to my wonderous wife, without whom none of it would've happened!
thanks for sharing your adventures abroad Tim. It's been a while since I've seen Noah ... I recall the days at the theatre in Norwood ... seems like yesterday and at the same time it seems like an eternity ago. Our children are now adults (well for me 1/2 and almost 2/2). What a journey they have had and the places their journeys have taken us.
Welcome home, Tim! How sad to leave, but the reassurance of knowing how well settled Noah is must certainly lessen the pain.
Now, as soon as the jetlag is over, your task is to get writing... articles, social media, and HELP BUGGER OFF THE MORRISON GOVT!
And here's hoping you can avoid the bloody virus now you're back. I now have so many friends who have or had it recently, some of whom have been terribly ill. Such a contrast with the first year, when the only person I knew with it was my mother-in-law in the Netherlands.
Welcome home. I have loved your blogs. It is great to get first-hand information about what is happening in another country, as well as seeing a beautiful part of the world I haven't been to.
One of my son's and his family have moved to PNG for work and I haven't met my grand daughter yet, and she is nearly 2. We live on opposite sides of Australia. So I have a bit of an idea about you missing your son.
I look forward to reading your work in the future.
Thanks, Andrew. Good luck with catching up with your granddaughter: that sort of separation is tough. One of the worst things about this whole period we are going through.
Thanks, Andrew. The photos turned out to be really fun for me, which I didn't expect. No real skill on my part: it helps when your subject matter is perfect!
Agree on the need for the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) - took me a while to figure where the right form is but then filling it out (and uploading some key documents such as a pdf of my immu register that I had smartly saved away) was as straightforward as submitting it and getting the approval document via email (just took a few minutes even though I filled the darn thing out less than 24 hours before departure.)
I did get a RAT within 24 hours before check-in in Germany and that worked fine.
I did not get the International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) and that worked out fine, too. But then I left Australia in mid-Deccember fully vaxxed (with a booster which was in the immu register). That was completely fine at check-in right now with Thai Airways (although the counter person was clearly out of her depth regarding pretty much every document she had been told to check.)
In general my impression, and experience, is that with three shots you can travel currently freely at least in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic; it seems the fact that initially you had only two caused the additional paperwork and complications.
Hi Andreas - safe travels! Our next bit of fun is getting the French booster recognised here. Again, in theory, straightforward, but you never know. We left Australia in mid-Sept, so booster shots were barely a thing, nor was Omicron, and it was still not clear we would be allowed back in: the rate of change has been incredible really and I guess it is no surprise regulations of various sorts have barely kept up. Even now, the requirements the official docs list for being home are far from clear. I'll update over the next few weeks on any snafus!
Agree, Tim. The instructions are a pittance. Hard to understand that BorderFarce can't get that better organized (even acknowledging the rate of change). I guess nomen est omen. Now in Bangkok for a ten-hour layover, after a pleasant flight with Thai Airways. Flight was at about 15% capacity.
Good luck getting the French booster recognized! You might be better off just taking another booster in Australia. Make sure you get the rebate card for your bosters. ;-)
Welcome back. Glad the flight was ok. I think ours was about 50% full the other day. I think it will be quite a while before "normal" international travel resumes....
It seems surreal that you are here, and not there anymore. I was feeling very at home with your impressions, stories and pictures from the Cote d'Azur. Your communications have been generous, and really first class.
The image of Tanya and Noah at the close is quietly stunning. For my sins, I distribute a lot of French cinema, and that picture would slip easily into a press kit :).
Thanks, Simon. It was a mighty adventure in many ways: so glad we did it, and all credit to my wonderous wife, without whom none of it would've happened!
thanks for sharing your adventures abroad Tim. It's been a while since I've seen Noah ... I recall the days at the theatre in Norwood ... seems like yesterday and at the same time it seems like an eternity ago. Our children are now adults (well for me 1/2 and almost 2/2). What a journey they have had and the places their journeys have taken us.
It's been a ride, hasn't it!
Welcome home, Tim! How sad to leave, but the reassurance of knowing how well settled Noah is must certainly lessen the pain.
Now, as soon as the jetlag is over, your task is to get writing... articles, social media, and HELP BUGGER OFF THE MORRISON GOVT!
And here's hoping you can avoid the bloody virus now you're back. I now have so many friends who have or had it recently, some of whom have been terribly ill. Such a contrast with the first year, when the only person I knew with it was my mother-in-law in the Netherlands.
Best to Tanya! Gorgeous photo. Mx
Welcome home. I have loved your blogs. It is great to get first-hand information about what is happening in another country, as well as seeing a beautiful part of the world I haven't been to.
One of my son's and his family have moved to PNG for work and I haven't met my grand daughter yet, and she is nearly 2. We live on opposite sides of Australia. So I have a bit of an idea about you missing your son.
I look forward to reading your work in the future.
Thanks, Andrew. Good luck with catching up with your granddaughter: that sort of separation is tough. One of the worst things about this whole period we are going through.
Yes, welcome home Tim. I’ve enjoyed your posts very much, and the lovely photos. Wonderful photo of Tanya and Noah!
Thanks, Andrew. The photos turned out to be really fun for me, which I didn't expect. No real skill on my part: it helps when your subject matter is perfect!
Thanks, Tim. Useful advice.
Agree on the need for the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) - took me a while to figure where the right form is but then filling it out (and uploading some key documents such as a pdf of my immu register that I had smartly saved away) was as straightforward as submitting it and getting the approval document via email (just took a few minutes even though I filled the darn thing out less than 24 hours before departure.)
I did get a RAT within 24 hours before check-in in Germany and that worked fine.
I did not get the International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) and that worked out fine, too. But then I left Australia in mid-Deccember fully vaxxed (with a booster which was in the immu register). That was completely fine at check-in right now with Thai Airways (although the counter person was clearly out of her depth regarding pretty much every document she had been told to check.)
In general my impression, and experience, is that with three shots you can travel currently freely at least in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic; it seems the fact that initially you had only two caused the additional paperwork and complications.
Hi Andreas - safe travels! Our next bit of fun is getting the French booster recognised here. Again, in theory, straightforward, but you never know. We left Australia in mid-Sept, so booster shots were barely a thing, nor was Omicron, and it was still not clear we would be allowed back in: the rate of change has been incredible really and I guess it is no surprise regulations of various sorts have barely kept up. Even now, the requirements the official docs list for being home are far from clear. I'll update over the next few weeks on any snafus!
Agree, Tim. The instructions are a pittance. Hard to understand that BorderFarce can't get that better organized (even acknowledging the rate of change). I guess nomen est omen. Now in Bangkok for a ten-hour layover, after a pleasant flight with Thai Airways. Flight was at about 15% capacity.
Good luck getting the French booster recognized! You might be better off just taking another booster in Australia. Make sure you get the rebate card for your bosters. ;-)
Welcome back. Glad the flight was ok. I think ours was about 50% full the other day. I think it will be quite a while before "normal" international travel resumes....
Thanks. The second leg was not much better - something like 20 percent capacity, maybe slighly higher. Yes, it will take a while ...
Glad you made it back successfully. What an ordeal!
Thanks, Randy. Nice to be home!
Welcome home! What an amazing journey, thank you for sharing it with us ❤️
Thanks, Elana. My pleasure!