Ironically, given the title of my last blog, (Let’s Be Frank: about routine) the past two weeks have been quite lacking in just that. My motivation has been a little low and with several decisions pending and many personal and professional situations hanging in the balance as a result, my mood has been pretty average.
Covid-19 has affected an awful lot for the majority of people, and, unfortunately as each week passes, I am beginning to think that although my wedding isn’t planned until the end of October, it looks likely that it might be another casualty of the current climate.
When people have asked over the past few months about the wedding, both mine and Sara’s response has been cautiously optimistic, given that it was set towards the end of 2020, to accommodate both of our jobs. However, as time has passed and the situation continues to evolve, red flags keep popping up and forcing us talk about making some tough decisions.
The league has been working through the final stages of its decision-making process and believes that it will be able to make an announcement about the 2020 season by the end of May. The whole situation is of course very fluid, and all stakeholders of our game are invested in ensuring that the league can start as soon as is medically and logistically practical. Personally, however, the longer things take to resolve, the bigger the impact for me. Not only are there discussions underway about the Suncorp Super Netball Season, but also the International competition window, which was set to commence with the Quad Series in September. A decision on this, and any alternatives, are expected in the coming weeks.
Last week, I woke up to an email sent on behalf of our marquee company, which informed us that, due to the significant change in their circumstances and financial position due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic as well as the company being ineligible for government financial support schemes, they have been placed into creditors voluntary liquidation. Ironically, me wanting a marquee had been the only bone of contention between Sara and I about the wedding, so initially I made a bit of a joke of it. However, it seemed to open up the floodgates for a few more hurdles to pop up.
Travel, as you might expect looks set to be the most significant of hurdles for us to overcome. Firstly, Australia has closed its international borders, which many say will not open until 2021. Although I am not getting married in Australia, it certainly poses the question as to how easy it might be for an international to return to their home in terms of an available travel route. With airlines mostly cancelling their international operations and government relief flights for ‘stranded’ citizens slowing down. Next, when initially speaking about moving/cancelling the wedding, I was rather reluctant due to the financial and logistical knock on that it would have on my parents, who (live in Canada) have already made travel arrangements. Although they will always be able to return to England and get back into Canada, as they have two passports, there are rumoured plans of a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all UK arrivals by air which all but blows plans out of the water for international guests (primarily, my parents, one of my aunts, and, Sara’s sister, who lives in El Salvador) being able to attend, given that people are required to isolate for a period that is longer than the average holiday. Canada also have the same travel restrictions, which would see my parents and aunt (who is a nurse) needing to take another 14-day self-quarantine when they returned to Canada.
My aunt asked me recently when I mentioned some of the issues I have mentioned above to her… “Is it the ceremony, i.e. being married that’s important, or is it the celebration?”
For me, however, it is not as cut and dry as that. I know and have read of couples who have decided to have their legal ceremony with the government designated amount of people there. However, our relationship is not like most couples. We choose to spend much of the year, not just apart from each other, but for me, away from my immediate and extended family, as well as my closest and oldest friends. Although I believe the commitment that we are making to enter into marriage is hugely important, for me it is almost equal to being able to do so in front of our closest friends and family. Ultimately, that might not end up being in front of our excessive guest list of >130, I am not willing to compromise on having the people that matter the most to me there.
Although it is by no means the end of the world, it is still a disappointing prospect to come to terms with. The fact of the matter is, we still do not know enough to make a firm decision around what we should do regarding the wedding. The decision may well be taken out our hands completely, or indeed the stars could align. But, if they don’t, I have some more difficult choices to make.
Frank x
Instagram: @StcyJyneFrancis
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