I am not intending to travel unless

it is "safe" to do so.

All travel has risks. All forms of travel have risks. There are "acceptable" risks - the sort we take every day. If we did not take those risks then we would go nowhere and do nothing. We cannot live that way.

There are also unacceptable risks. These are the sort of risks we should not take. It is why government travel advice exists. 

Right now you do not travel to some very specific places. They are war zones. 

Apparently there are around three hundred and fifty people from here trying to leave Israel at present. There are another three hundred trying to leave Iran. Neither lot can leave because there are no planes flying in and out.

In our local shopping centre there is a tiny coffee shop run by Syrians. They are lovely people who tell me I am "family" because I have shared a single recipe with them. They made the shortbread and took it back to Syria with them when they went "home" for a month this year. Their home in Syria is in the quietest part of the country and they take the risk only after multiple checks. They are back here now and A... tells me he would not travel now, even if a family member was seriously ill. He does not expect the government to get him out if there is a major eruption of conflict.

I wonder how many other people think like that. How many of those in Israel or Iran went on holiday without thinking of the potential consequences? They might be fascinating places to visit but, even with family there, is it something which should be done?

Middle Cat and I have air fares booked and paid for. We have accommodation booked and paid for in Singapore. That is as far as we have got and the travel agent has not been inquiring about what else we might need to book. There might be a reason for this. It may be the same reason I am being cautious about making any more plans. If the situation between Israel and Iran escalates it may be that it will not be safe to travel.

If I was going to travel alone I might take the risk. It may not matter too much if I end up being blown up but Middle Cat has a partner and two boys to consider. If I was stuck in the UK it would matter far less than if we were both stuck there. We both have to consider that it would be our choice to travel. We should not expect our government to bail us out of trouble if we travel knowing it is not safe to do so.  I wonder if those who travel to trouble spots think about this sort of thing? 

So, we won't be travelling unless it is deemed "safe" to do so - safe in the sense that the risks we will be taking are the risks that sensible people think are acceptable. Will I be disappointed? Yes. Will I be sensible? I don't want to be but I am a nervous cat so I will do the right thing.