I'll be home for Christmas

JUST when we thought we'd soon be covid-free, Omicron has hit the UK. In the lead up to December it didn't even cross my mind that the UK could be headed for another lockdown, after all, masks were no longer required in shops and club nights were back on. Obviously (depending on when you're reading this) a lockdown hasn't been announced, but we've been here before, we know it could go that way. Anyway, IMAGINE my thoughts once travel restrictions started to be reintroduced. I was just getting settled back into Prado after about a 2-week existential crisis in mid-November (homesickness, general anxiety about the future), when Day 2 PCRs were brought back in, followed by fit to fly tests.

I began to imagine what an isolated Christmas in Prado del Rey would be like. Not ideal. As much as Prado is a lovely place to be, it is NOT built for winter. We've had some issues adapting to our cold and dark apartment, fantastic for the summer months, but a little depressing in November/December.

I had already booked flights for the 17th December, which is already early as school term ends on the 23rd December (WAY too close to Christmas). I was in Malaga on the 6th December, watching the Christmas lights with my partner, the most rational and reasonable person ever, who was also concerned that I may not make it home. I sent a panicked WhatsApp message to my school co-ordinator about my concerns. Thankfully she totally understood as she could also not fathom a Christmas without family. She was also witness to my previous bout of homesickness, not pretty. She spoke with my school director who allowed me to leave the school on 8th December with the promise I make up my hours in January (RIP future me).

So, great! I was heading home. Now what? A boat-load of personal admin. Luckily I consider myself to be pretty well-organised. I moved my flight to an earlier date thanks to EasyJet's covid policies and immediately began my research on where to find my pre-flight antigen test. My departure city was Seville, so thankfully some clinics there were offering them. I left beloved Mabel (my 2002 Nissan Micra) in Prado to get the 7am Seville bus the day before my flight. It was a long day but Christmastime in Seville is beautiful so there was a lot to keep me occupied. The last hurdle home was my antigen result which thankfully returned negative. I spent the night in Seville and had my late night pizza run before my migration home. I created a short video about my journey home and Christmas in England for my classes which you can watch below.

Now I'm back in the UK making last-minute preparations for Christmas. After watching the news it looks like it's going to be another nervous one, I thought I was desensitised to the drama but it's still pretty bleh. HOWEVER it's still Christmastime, there's no shortage of cheese in sight and the Tories have lost a safe seat in North Shropshire. Merry Christmas!