Two NHS nurses will finally be reunited with their daughter and granddaughter after a year thanks to the easing of travel restrictions.
Gillian Laidlow,59, and her husband Carl, 58 and also a nurse, were scheduled to fly out to Lisbon in October and then May, but had to cancel both times because of travel bans.
After Portugal was placed on the green list earlier this year, the Bristol based NHS workers were over the moon at the prospect of seeing their daughter Hannah, 35, and granddaughter Phoenix, 3, for the first time in almost a year.
They had to cancel the planned getaway when Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the country would turn amber due to rising coronavirus cases.
Following the announcement this morning that ten day isolation periods on return from amber list countries will be scrapped on July 19, the couple's trip is back on.
Gillian, who has been working overtime to vaccinate Brits against the coronavirus, is elated to be able to see her loved ones again.
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She is one of many families torn apart by the pandemic and travel restrictions who will soon be reunited.
"Being nurses we can't change our annual leave very easily, especially my husband who works in a minor injury unit," she told the Mirror.
"Duty rotas are planned eight weeks in advance.
"We have now made plans for early October and again, we're keeping everything crossed for that time."
When asked, Gillian said the newly relaxed rules were the reason behind her rebooking the trip.
She continued: "Because of our jobs as nurses we can't isolate as we're not able to work from home.
"If we do make it, it'll be over a year since we've been together.
"Phoenix looks like she has grown up so much in that time from the photographs and video calls."
This morning Grant Shapps announced that the travel rules would be eased from July 19.
He also reduced the number of required PCR tests on return from an amber list country from two to one.
In relaxing the restrictions he has made travel to a host of destinations far more affordable for holidaymakers and separated family members alike.
For many people, taking ten days off work to isolate is either unaffordable or impossible with their - rendering travel to amber list countries the reserve of a fortunate section of society.
"This is about reunited families who have been apart during the pandemic, Mr Shapps told the Commons today.
To see a full list of all the amber countries click here.
