Staying away from loved ones

That is not the news I needed but thanks. We have three medical professionals in the family and I will speak to them later and discuss it. Thanks.

Could you pay a courier to collect medicine from a pharmacy instead of relying on the pharmacy to arrange a delivery for you? Also, I don't know if it's the same for you but I've had flyers through the door with details of a group of local people who are willing to collect groceries and medicine for vulnerable/high risk people in the community. Worth checking on social media to see if there's something similar in your area!

I’m not sure you can do that. They are funny about who they give medicine to here. All the chemists here are fully booked for deliveries which is the issue.

Ah ok, is it prescriptions you're picking up rather than misc. medicine?

It’s the actual medicines.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear, I meant prescription medicine rather than over the counter stuff.

No probs. Lol. It’s not over the counter stuff. I think we have discovered a chemist who will deliver. So my wife’s, daughters, sister in laws, mothers and father in laws medicines will likely come from the one chemist shop. Meaning I stay inside. Thanks

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Planned 80th birthday lunch with my dad for this week, at an actual pub (outside). Would be the first meal out for my dad since start of all this. Two out of 3 offspring have now bailed (inc me), we have been working and coming into contact with plenty of people in the last week, both live in major cities. The last is less concerned as they've already had it months ago. But dad is also getting a bit nervous about going out. This is rubbish.

Over the summer I've been isolating for 2 weeks then cycling up every month or so, and had been looking forward to not having to do that anymore, but that's not going to happen now.
I am considering heading up by train and saying hi from the front garden but he actually might find that more upsetting than a video call :(

You have my sympathy. I am having similar issues this weekend. Was meant to visit my dad but my partner had flown to Scotland for work this week and returns on Thursday. Am concerned how this makes it really risky for us to see him. All compounded because it looks like my dads relationship with his girlfriend is on the rocks because of the period of enforced separation and then the bubbles.

So we decided to cancel visiting my dad at the weekend. Instead I'll go to see him tomorrow before my p̶o̶t̶e̶n̶t̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶g̶u̶e̶ ̶v̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶ wife gets back to minimise risk

My brother wants to drive down to see my parents next weekend, or at least my mum - she's been on her own in the house for a while as my dad has been diagnosed with cancer and has been in hospital having radiotherapy. We can probably both get out of work at the office next week (I only normally do 1 day there just to send post but can tell them I need to be off the rota) so we'd have about a week to isolate in our respective houses. I can't tell if it's worth the risk though; she could probably do with some support right now and we might even get to see my dad if they move him to rehab as planned but I still get paranoid about worst possible outcomes.

I was hoping to see my parents before another lockdown starts but they've decided to start shielding again. Feel pretty miserable about the situation tbh. I understand their decision but with my Mum's Alzheimer's progressing steadily it feels that I'm losing out on time spent with Mum while she is still Mum.

If you can fully isolate for 2 weeks and don't have any symptoms, the risk is minimal. That's what I was doing so I could see my dad.

Yup, thats what we did before and also had tests done. Need to get to the bottom of why Mum & Dad are feeling particularly vulnerable this time.

My dad had a heart attack and is currently in ICU, one op done, one still to go. He lives abroad and it's heartbreaking that I can't be there for him. There's two week quarantine upon arrival.

I don't know what I can / should do

Sorry to hear that, fingers crossed and all strength for your dad.
If it were me - if I could afford the money and time I'd go. There's a risk he might die while you're in quarantine, which would be awful for you, but no different for him compared with you being abroad. Hard to gauge but it depends on the likelihood of that (a friend decided not to go visit and quarantine for a dying parent because they were fairly certain it would be days not weeks). If he pulls through and you've been in isolation you might both really value getting some time together - also depends on whether he'd be recovering somewhere you can visit or not. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

I'd echo hoefla, who I think has given the best advice. All best wishes and hope he pulls through!

Not seen my family since last August, feels good this is all coming to a close at last and can see them this month

Hopefully the same for others of you in similar situations

Nope. Haven't seen Cycliste since March last year. No prospect of being able to do so any time soon.

Sorry to hear that, assuming they aren't UK based?

last August

same, sister was about to come down from Glasgow, parents were about to book flights but both backed out between the Indian variant & wanting to be close by for a second jab, they have gotten to be first time grandparents for total of 1 week since December .

Coming up to two years since I've seen my folks in Spain, all a bit surreal really... My dad just sent me one of his totally random WhatsApp videos, just him sharing some TV footage of a festival in Galicia... Choked me up a bit... My parents drive me nuts but I miss them terribly... Tough times...