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Old 07-05-2007, 05:32 AM   #1
Chocolaty Claire
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Default Your advice please - regarding possible break in trip

Hi all

I have decided i am getting a one way ticket doing South Africa and Australia and working there for a year or two.

However my Grandma is getting really poorly, she has been for the last year, and my mum says she will probably leave us in the next year!
I dont want to put my plans on hold and I also dont want to miss coming home if anything happens. Should i get a return ticket just in case (and buy another to go back to Aus) or buy a return from Aus???
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Old 07-05-2007, 06:36 AM   #2
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where does your grandmother live? I'd say stick with your original plan and do one way....you never know when she'll fall terribly ill so you can't exactly predict when to buy the ticket for. You might as well leave, but just leave some money in an emergency fund so that if you really feel you should go home, you can. Just buy a one way ticket back then decide what you want to do from there.
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Old 07-05-2007, 08:24 AM   #3
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I agree with Laura, make sure you have enough money spare to buy that return ticket if you need it. You never know, she may last longer than people are imagining (sorry, that's an awful way of putting it, but you know what I mean).
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Old 07-05-2007, 08:34 AM   #4
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She lives in the UK near me, the good thing about getting a return is that the return leg can be changed either free or by a small charge. But i would just have to get another ticket back, it sounds like whichever way i do it has no benefits over the other actually, so confusing!
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Old 07-05-2007, 08:48 AM   #5
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I am in a similiar situation...actually I just got an email a few minutes ago saying that my grandma had passed away. Its not very fun to start sobbing in an internet cafe. Both my grandparents are/were very ill and both knew that I had plans to leave and both supported that I should follow my dreams. Currently I feel a lot worse though because I didnt have a chance to be there.

One the other hand though, the doctors told her back in november that she had 2 months to live...and now its July. Just because the doctors told her a year doesn´t mean thats a set time frame. I say have enough money in reserve for a ticket but otherwise enjoy your trip.

Sorry if any of the above was overly emotional or anything...Im just really upset right now.
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Old 07-05-2007, 09:24 AM   #6
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sorry to hear about your grandmother blink. Our thoughts are with you.
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Old 07-05-2007, 08:34 PM   #7
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Old 07-05-2007, 08:40 PM   #8
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amber...that sucks...

I think lots of us in are in the same boat with ageing grandparents. It's such a scary though to know that your way of life could be changed when you come back. However, knowing my grandparents, I think they're so proud of what i've accomplished . So they know I;m doing what I love.
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