My life in COVID times
Hi to my lovely readers (I have no idea who you are, and I don't like to check how many, either). I pass it on to my friend Peter after I write my blogs, and he grammar checks me and then puts it up for me as well… thanks Peter (so if you notice any mistakes - blame him). Anyway, I'm on the train to spend the day with Simon and his son. (Trying to be a good step-mum - bought him alcohol (he's 18 just so you know). The other day, I already told him if he had anything horrendous to tell his dad, then come to me first, and we would break it to him gently - haha.
Anyway, I'm going off-topic. What I want to talk about today is me in Covid times. I've only recently spoken about Hayley, but I need to get back into more light-hearted stuff. So yeah, I know some people really struggled during COVID, but I honestly had the best year of my life, and I will tell you about it. I definitely looked like I was having my best life on Instagram anyway - maybe people wouldn't have been so jealous if they had seen where I was living!!
So, in March 2020, I was in Chile (with work), and basically, we were all told that everything was put on hold regarding flights and COVID was here. I got stuck in Chile for a few extra days, which I didn't mind as the weather was great, and I could still sunbathe in the park. Afterwards, I went straight to my parents in the Netherlands as I thought I wouldn't want to be alone if we were locked down. After about 3 weeks, I was emailed to say I had been furloughed. I remember telling my mum this, and she said, "We can't have you any longer; you need to give us a little break." Thanks, Mum - she can be harsh - I did cry, but we got over it. This made me email the company and ask to volunteer to fly. (It felt good to say I was essential.) Those times were some of my favourite flights, mainly because we didn't have any passengers. Still also, the crew that you worked with were the ones that really wanted to be there and enjoyed their job.
We would do cargo flights to China and back (that is 24 hours on a plane, people… I came off them feeling hungover. That's how bad it felt for your body) on the big 777-300. It was hard entertaining yourself for so long, so I remember playing hide and seek (obviously when we were on break, for anyone reading this and wanting to get me into trouble, haha). I decided to hide in the chillers in the galley. Now they are very small, and if they aren't switched on, it gets hot quickly. I started having a bit of a panic and meltdown when I wasn't found after what felt like 30 minutes, but was actually only probably 5. Anyway, I was eventually found, and my panic attack subsided. I do not recommend playing hide and seek in an aircraft. But yeah, this is what our flights were like in COVID times.
But after a few months, I did get furloughed, and I decided to move to Dubai for this time (11 months). My friend owns quite a big yacht, and every other day, I would spend my days on the boat with one of my besties, Mel. Dubai stayed relatively open. It was strict with masks, and running with a mask was annoying, but it felt like normal life there (I stuck to the Dubai rules). Judge me all you want, but I had the most fun I've ever had - no job to worry about, every day was in the sun, and I had so many friends there. It was literally like one big boat party piss up for a year. However, I will tell you that I had to live in a room the size of my wardrobe. It just fitted a double bed in, and the tiniest wardrobe to hang my washing up in the garden. I had to climb out my window as the back door was in somebody else's room. It was on the ground floor of a villa, and basically, two rooms had been created in what should have been a lounge. The hallway was made into a lounge, so there was so much noise if someone watched TV. The air conditioning was shared between me and in the room next door (I wouldn't want it on - he would like it freezing). There were about 8 people that lived there. One was a woman who would cook the most questionable-smelling food I've ever smelt - I was woken up to this on most mornings coming through my air vent. If I had a hangover quite often, it would make me vomit. Not to mention that the bathroom I shared was just the downstairs toilet that had been added with a shower (it was tiny, and basically, to shower, you had to sit on the toilet, and it would flood every time). I was living like a queen in the day, but, however you want to call this in the evening. Honestly, I didn't even mind because I appreciated the life I was living.
When I got the email saying I had to return to work, I was on the boat and started blubbing like a baby. I knew my boat life was over, and it had suited me so well. Somebody took video evidence, and I'm pretty ashamed of how dramatic I was, but that's how much I enjoyed those days. Maybe I'll reshare it with you guys for a laugh.
My point from this is that Instagram is not exactly what you see. I had so many messages at this time saying how so very jealous they were of me. Still, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have been if they knew where I had slept. It made me drink a lot more, but I had so much fun and couldn't afford more as I was still paying for my place in England without a job. But I have no regrets and did what was good for me.
xBx
PS I miss that bloody boat, but definitely not that room.