Is there anyone who hasn’t even been on day trips this year due to Covid?

[Viv0321]

Is there anyone who hasn’t even been on day trips this year due to Covid?

[readingismycardio]

Not me. We've been on 4 mini holidays (in the country we live in) + almost every weekend day trips. This is important to us, we take precautions, of course, but if I don't go out my mental health suffers

[80sMum]

My MIL hasn't been out at all, except for a couple of medical appointments.

[Seeline]

We went to several National Trust gardens for the afternoon as soon as they reopened. We also had a UK break in a self catering cottage with days out from there (all out doors). We have been to one restaurant at home (edge of London), but that didn't feel particularly safe. We had several pub meals whilst away, but they were all outside too.

I wouldn't have been happy with most of this if we hadn't been able to travel in our own car. Public transport, and stations/tube etc really don't feel right just for leisure purposes. I think they should be left for the people that have to use it for work etc.

[Bupkis]

My mum's lovely friend is still shielding, only trips out were to the hospital.

[Viv0321]

What type of places have you been visiting? Have they been busy?

[feelingverylazytoday]

Yes. I hardly ever go on day trips anyway, and being in the middle of a pandemic hasn't changed that.

[sliderain]

My parents haven't been out except for shopping and park walks. My DSis hasn't, but she has teen DC so I'm not sure they would have gone anywhere anyway. Other DSis has just done 2 days out all year, she has 2 primary aged kids but won't use public transport so is pretty restricted.

We've been going out to theme parks, zoo and museums etc since we've been allowed to. Going out somewhere every weekend, plus on days during the week when I have time. We're in central London so it's not always far enough to consider it a 'day trip'. No car so we take public transport. It's always been really quiet so I'm not concerned about using it for leisure.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Me. Working throughout, plus we don’t have a car and I don’t fancy public transport.

[AlexaShutUp]

We have been for walks and gone into a couple of cafes and that's it. Haven't felt the need to do day trips, holidays or weekends away - would rather wait until we can do these in a more relaxed way.

[samosamimosa]

We went out to remote countryside, most times we didn't see anybody at all.

[Jrobhatch29]

We've been to the zoo, drive through safari and to loads of different forests, parks, country walks. We live at the seaside so had loads of days on the beach too. We like being outside. We wanted to go to a theme park for my sons birthday but was fully booked

[IndiaMay]

We go out as much as we always have done to be honest. We just wear a mask/sanitise/wash hands more, keep our distance etc. Have been to parks, local beach for a day a few times in the heatwave, shopping days at shopping centres, big day out in London to see my brother where we went to borough market, went to the isle of wight for the day, went abroad for 2 weeks of sun sea and sangria in August and just isolated for 2 weeks when we got back.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

No day tris or holidays for us since the virus hit. Doesn’t seem worth the risk and I’d rather set the money aside and go when things are back to normal. We’ve just found new hobbies etc to fill the time instead.

[glitterelf]

I've not left my town since January in fact I've not ventured further than 3 miles since the 24th March. I've been working throughout as I am a childminder so I've restricted what I do and where I go in my free time to ensure I can offer my services.

Our holiday was cancelled and lots of milestone birthdays and planned trips. I do not need to go any further than I have been it's not out of fear just being sensible.

[Scarby9]

A friend (late 60s but fit and healthy) has stayed in with her parents who are in their 90s with mobility problems but not told to shield.

They cancelled the carer who used to help her mum get up in the morning, which was probably sensible, so my friend helps her wash and strap on her prosthetic leg, but after that her parents potter about the house and garden, read, watch TV and have hundreds of phonecalls. They are both very bright and interested in anyone and anything and great for a chat or a more serious debate or argument. They make their own tea. My friend tends to make lunch for them all which they eat together, but prior to lockdown they would do that themselves if she was out. She might peel some potatoes, or chop an onion.

But my friend now won't leave the house. At all. Except to the hospital, doctor and chemist.

She exercises in the garage and in the last month has welcomed visitors in the garden, but she won't step out of the gate.

I have tried and tried to get her to walk round the block with me (socially distanced) but she won't because she has seen on the TV how busy it is, and the greatgrandchildren have drummed into her the dangers of the virus.

In vain do I point out that she can see from the gate that there is literally noone on their road. It is a wide residential road with wide pavements, so even if we did meet someone we could avoid them by a country mile, but no. Too risky.

This is someone who used to be out somewhere every single day.

I am cautious - not been inside anyone' else's house (and noone has been in mine) or inside a cafe, and I keep social distance. But I meet friends for lunch and coffee outside in cafes, visit in gardens and have been to National Trust type places.

I worry for her. And, selfishly, I miss our time together alone.

[IaltagDhubh]

Never really been big on day trips anyway, so no real change for us. Actually, it’s been lovely to not have the pressure to go somewhere and “make the most of the nice weather”.

[DailyLotion]

I've been on day trips that involve walking or cycling outdoors but I haven't been to any "attractions".

We do hope to get away for a couple of days at HT but won't be doing anything other than walking. Tbf that's what we do with our leisure time anyway, I don't enjoy busy places at the best of times.

[Viv0321]

Thankyou everyone.

[CountFosco]

We have taken full advantage of lockdown to do more family day trips than usual! Pre Covid-19 weekends were dominated by children's sports. Now we have free weekends and so back in the spring we'd go for long walks (we have some nice walks we can do from the house) and over the summer we made good use of our EH membership, had a few trips to the beach, and had day trips to lots of attractions we'd been meaning to visit for a while that were a lot quieter than they would have been normally. It's been really nice. My work has expected everyone to take regular annual leave through the year so instead of a trip abroad in the summer we had a staycation which was fab. Lunch at an outdoor cafe on the riverside followed by rowing on the river on a gorgeous summers day was a major highlight. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful region though.

[jessstan1]

Me. Not been anywhere. Doesn't bother me in the least.

[KatherineJaneway]

Me. Not been on holiday or a day trip.

[AuntieMarys]

We go out as much as we can. We are 5 minutes drive from fantastic scenery so we do 5-7 mile walks regularly. Lots of market towns English Heritage, RHS Gardens.
We avoid weekends and child friendly places.
Off to Liverpool next week and London tomorrow.

[herecomesthsun]

@Scarby9

I would think though that your friend isn't so much afraid for herself as worried that she might inadvertently infect her parents, with whom she has limited time left, if they are in their 90s?

This would lead to potentially huge and loss and possibly guilt. I can see how she would want to be very careful.

I think that's a bit different to just being afraid on one's own account.

[Pachonga]

I’ve been out for walks locally but that’s it. Haven’t been in a supermarket or any other shop, just outdoor farmers’ markets. Have outdoor dined a couple of times and have been to medical appointments and into a pharmacy for a flu shot and that’s it. I exercise in the basement. Am lucky enough to be able to work from home so am happy enough to wait it out until a vaccine. Covid was very bad here and is threatening to return as we reopen.

[viccat]

Me, although it's nothing unusual for me, I don't really go on holidays anyway.

Haven't been anywhere outside of my local area as I refuse to get on public transport at the moment (friends say about 50% of people on the trains here are not wearing a mask!) and don't have a car, so I'm stuck really. Doesn't bother me too much although I worry about how long this will continue...