Like the bird

*Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.* **- Victor Hugo -** *** *** October 2019 was the last time I flew. I'd arrived home in Australia from New Zealand after a very enjoyable holiday and, whilst I'm always happy to come home to a country I love, I'll admit that my wandering spirit was already casting its eye abroad looking for the next adventure.

Adventures ensued

I didn't have to wait long as by January 2020 I had my next two trips booked and paid for: Tasmania, Australia for a couple of weeks in March (for my birthday) and Scandinavia in the middle of the year for several weeks of catching up with my brother @tarazkp, sister in-law @momone and my beautiful niece @smallsteps. I was, to put it plainly, totally pumped for those trips! And then the world went mad.

I spent between March and October 2020 working from home - let me be honest, I did fuck all work in that whole time - and the world turned on its head. Basic supplies weren't available, we were told where to stand and when and in what numbers we were allowed to gather. We were locked down, beat down and, well, it sucked ass.

My two trips were cancelled and I spent a few months wrangling with the airlines and hotels to get my money back. The many thousands of dollars from the Scandinavia trip was refunded by October however I only received flight credits for the Tasmania trip, and only $1,200AUD, not the $1,500AUD I'd originally spent. I was not happy.

With things as they were I wasn't able to fly anywhere and, I'll be honest, it had started get on my last nerve. I'm a live life sort of guy and like to get the best from what I'm allotted, my time. All this waiting around for government assholes to sort their shit out was wasting time I didn't feel I had to waste. Come on already you wankers, get shit sorted, I'm getting older you know!

Today

I just spent twenty minutes booking and paying for flights to travel to the tropical north of Australia, some four thousand kilometres away from where I live, to visit my other brother and his family including his little lad, my nephew, whom I absolutely adore! It's only a ten day trip but one I very much need after the shenanigans of the last two years.

I love travelling and have been all over this planet of ours. To have my wings clipped over the last two years has felt uncomfortable and emotionally confining; I'll be honest it has left me with a feeling of loss; I guess I mean lost opportunity and time.

To me, life is this precious thing, something one mustn't take for granted, live by half-measures or waste in any way. Life can be taken away all too easily, this I know very clearly, and I don't see any advantage to floating along throughout it; I'm the man who shapes it, designs and creates it the way I wish it to look, to the best of my ability. I think that's what has made the last two years so difficult for me; I felt stifled.

Booking those flights today felt good. The chance to spend time with my nephew and his parents feels good. Sure, I'll probably not enjoy all the fuckassery that'll likely ensue during the travel phase due to the pandemic situation however it's a small price to pay to be flying again and to spend some time with that little chap in Far North Queensland.

Now...I just have to find the patience to wait out the intervening time. They say patience is a virtue...I say, fuck that, hurry up end of April, get here already...I gotta fly!

Feel free to tell me your travel stories, or lack of travel stories, in the comments below. I'm sure some of you have been in the same situation.