How has travel changed in a year? My last big round trip was travelling from the UK to Singapore (travel to UK for our son's wedding - after months of rearranging venues and numbers of guests and renewing paperwork)
FIRST Round Trip UK UGUST 2020
Last year, in August, at the Writer's Summer School in Swanwick, Derbyshire, one of the teachers was wearing a lanyard saying that she was exempt. Fine for her. But I just had to hope that everybody else was safe.
On the first night I sat at a circular table of six. The next night my position was usurped by a late arriving pair of guests. I felt a second class friend.
However, later, when I learned that one of the group had contracted the virus, I felt that the situation had worked in my favour. I did understand the point of all the testing and precautions.
Singapore Quarantine
Back in Singapore, on arrival, in 2020, I had to quarantine in a four star hotel for two weeks. At great expense.
Meals arrived on the room doorstep like airline meals. Included in the cost.
Plus the cost of the tests to be released from the hotel. In addition to the cost, the test needed to be released was nasty. The masked lady jabbed up my nostril four times and I jumped and screamed. Eventually my husband came over. I asked them to try the other nostril and another assistant. My husband held my hand and kept saying. "It's ok. Just keep still."
I dreaded the repeat.
2021 London, UK - LESS QUARANTINE BUT MORE TESTS
However, my next round trip in 2021 was easier. My experiences before departure from Singapore consisted of a test. The only hiccup was going home to get our passport for the paperwork.
Then after we paid IN ADVANCE yet again, we found the test had been posted to us, so we did the test in a kit on arrival in London. It went into a special postbox for fast collection, round the clock.
Postal Test In UK
In London after arriving we self quarantined at home. We had received postal tests. These tests which require you to dab your throat and then your nose.
The third test, to depart from the UK to Singapore, was another cost, but no physical stress. We had a test nearby, in a room behind the local chemist - what Americans call pharmacy).
Fourthly, the test on my return to Singapore was much easier.
Priority Designated Post Boxes
Post in a designated postbox. Presumably with frequent collection times. We managed that. The box outside the post office was a designated box.
Food Shopping
For a couple of days we lived on food we had brought with us in a Cool Box from Singapore. Then we got negative test results so we could go out shopping. And take trains.
Train Travel
In London Underground signs said everybody had to wear masks on London transport. About half to two thirds of passengers did so.
Private Wine Lunch - Sanitizer
When my husband arranged a wine tasting lunch, we asked for a sanitizer at the door to the private room. We had arrived early to allow for any extra arrangements - or travel delays.
No Double Dipping
We did not allow people to dip their hands in the bowls of almonds and cashew nuts. We asked for bowls for the nuts, then for spoons.
I went around, masked, doling out 4 to six nuts slightly above into cupped hands without letting the spoon touch anybody's hands.
London and Heathrow 2021 October
The third test, to depart from the UK to Singapore, was another cost, but no physical stress. We had a test nearby, in a room behind the local chemist - what Americans call pharmacy).
Singapore
Fourthly, the test on my return to Singapore was much easier.
We booked tests at the pharmacy near our home which was a blessing. Because we arrived to find we needed our passports. We had to send one person home to fetch them. (The same thing had happened in Singapore, you may recall I mentioned earlier. We should have remembered.)
We had to show our paperwork for the previous test, the booked flight, the passports.
Singapore 2021 - Changi Airport
Back in Changi, our flight passengers on arrival were kept separately through passport checks, collected luggage from our flight's carousel, then on a marked route to a linked area.
It was like a hospital, but also the entrance to a Disney area, with up and down barriers. The passengers were almost outnumbered by the numbers of masked marshalls in blue protective overalls.
1 We had to show forms that we had registered for our tests.
2 Then to pay for the tests.
3 Then to have the test. PCR test.
PCR Test
PCR is polymerase chain reaction.
I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't like the tongue presser used to keep my tongue out of the way before the throat swab. I immediately gagged and said, 'Oh, dear, now you have to do it again.'
'I've already done it.'
The nose swab was equally quick.
All over in a few seconds. Nothing like as bad as previously.
The longest delay was waiting for an oversize cab to transport my husband's bicycle.
Good thing I had not worried, unnecessarily about the jab. I had decided not to worry. I had recalled reading that worrying does not help.
To our surprise and delight, only four hours later the results came through. Negative. We could send one person out shopping for food.
At the mall you needed your phone to show your negative test. First at the mall entrance. Then at every shop you entered. You need your mask, and your local money. Don't dash out without your phone.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction
About the Author
BIOGRAPHY
Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5
The Author of several books including Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.
Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com
dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President
Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time on bha.learncool.sg
Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;
Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;
Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.
More details from Toastmasters International find a club.
Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.
Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.
Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.
Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.
Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.
Language and speech workshops in Singapore.
Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.
Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.
Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.
Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.
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