Are you all back to normal life now?

[happyfeet245]

Following on from another thread about how there seems to be a huge gap between how people's lifestyles have moved forward from COVID atm I was wondering how 'normal' others lives are now.

We're still shielding so haven't yet been to shops, restaurants, pubs or anywhere busy. We have however been to a safari park where we didn't have to leave the car, a deserted beach, picnics and bike rides in the countryside over the last two weeks and are going camping in a private field next week, I also had a distanced drink in a friend's garden on Thursday for the first time. We're gradually taking a few steps towards normality but are way behind the majority I expect. So really I'm just wondering what life is like out there for you, are your lives pretty much back to the way they were?

I've not been shopping (except supermarket) and generally me and the kids don't leave the house except for medical appointments (orthodontist, eye clinic, baby scan) but we did go to a friends house last weekend and there were quite a few us. We were generally outside but everyone was drinking except me and there wasn't much social distancing achieved by the end of the evening.

I don't feel back to normal at all.

I can't visit my parents.
I can't send my children to school.
They can't have swimming lessons, or Cubs camp, or sports clubs.

Shopping, restaurants etc don't make things 'normal' to me really.

Life is still unrecognisable. DH is still WFH, I'm still furloughed, DD still off school.

We haven't had to officially shield but as DH is diabetic we've effectively been doing so. We haven't been in a shop since March and certainly no plans to go to a pub or restaurant.

The only things that have changed is that we have a few socially distanced meet ups in my parents garden and we were brave enough to go to a national trust garden last week!

I'm still working (teacher and have been in school throughout). I went to the hairdresser's this morning and it was the first time I've been inside anywhere other than home, work or supermarkets for months.

When I see my mum, I either sit in her garden or we meet up at a park. I'm still avoiding public transport and try to give people a wide berth when I'm out walking or running.

I know that both infection and death rates are declining and I'm lucky enough to live in an area that hasn't been hit hard. But the virus hasn't gone away, I don't trust the government and I'm listening to the many scientists who are still urging caution.

My life feels fairly normal now to be honest. I was in school full time from 1st June which made it feel much more normal. I usually live a quiet sort of life anyway. I hate big crowds and busy places. I can take ds out and about now though, see my family and people closest to me (we're still meeting for walks mainly but I'm enjoying that) and get a click and collect shop without a problem so I'm quite content.

We are able to do some normal things but life certainly isnt back to normal
Namely:

• husband still working from home
• daughter not attending preschool
• unable to visit friends and family in a normal way
• not going to the toddler groups which we usually do twice a week
• no swimming or music lessons

Dp back at work running a pub, his job is quite different to how it was before.
I’m furloughed until furlough stops
Dd summer holidays stared yesterday. Normally I’d have taken her out for lunch & shopping in central London today - instead I just dyed her hair & we’re sitting in the garden.
I feel like I’ve been at home for so long I almost can’t remember what things we did before this (we were always out somewhere)

Not for us, dh shielding until 1st Aug , so haven't been shopping or out where people might be.
We have been in garden of fellow shielders but no drinks from them , no visits indoors for the toilet.
The women of the couple has had a trip to the hairdressers and has also met up with others so we are keeping our distance for now . No plans to change at the moment.

I am off to visit my elderly parents next weekend and will stay in a hotel near to them. It will be the first time I have seen them in months and they have had some scary health crises during lockdown, which happened at the same time as I was made redundant. As a family I think we all feel that we have taken such a battering and bruising recently that when we finally meet social distancing might not happen. We all just need some support from each other.

DH is still working from home.

I have been going to the supermarket every week (I now have my masks), and until I was made redundant I was working from home. The redundancy wasn't actually related to the Covid crisis, but the state of the job market at the moment definitely is and it is groundhog day.

So no, things are not yet normal. Some are creeping slowly back now, but still a long way to go. It is depressing.

No school for children until September and then will be in a bubble. SN child therefore not seen or spoken to another child since March other than sister. DH wfh still. I've been needing to support DS with 1 to 1 so not working atm. Holiday had to be cancelled.

Some things are normal - chimney now rebuilt, can now proceed on trying to sell old house, can now get thatching done though they are bringing own toilet so even that isn't normal. But more normal than few months ago when on 20% workforce and brick company closed for several months.

September will be the start of more normal for us, both kids back at school and DH returns to workplace. Though not much provision for SN due to bubble rules so would imagine DS will end up at home a lot.

Yes, pretty much. I have been in work throughout and I think leaving the house daily has given me a very different experience to that of many others. I go food shopping weekly and have been eating out since restaurants opened. I'm off to my best mate's this evening for drinks and a takeaway. So yes, fairly normal for me.

Our life has been feeling fairly normal for the past few weeks. Our jobs haven't changed, our dc have both been back to school for a limited time each. We went away for a few days last week.

We spend a lot of time outside anyway so that hasn't changed. We are seeing friends and family, mainly outside but did go for a meal this week which was lovely. The only thing that seems different is wearing masks and queuing for shops. Oh and not being able to plan for the future or book anything with confidence.

Never really changed for me.

I still went to work. I always shopped online. Only ever did a 'big shop' once a month and picked up bits in our local shop.

Not massively social anyway. And I work with my bestie so still saw her.

Haven't seen my parents but that's been a relief. Had a few personal issues to process and it gave me time to do that.

Life will return to normal for me when i dont have to worry about if a place is too busy for me to enjoy it....prime example is i really want to go to Cheshire Oaks but have read reviews that there are big queues in shops and cant try any clothes on....and when I can book my holiday to the USA and not fear that it will be cancelled for 3rd time nor that I will get COVID whilst there...oh and i find out next week if im good enough to keep my job or if im selected for redundancy, so no, normal has not retuned for me!

No. Nowhere near normal. Working from home (just had a week off but at home because holiday cancelled) . No gigs. Pubs etc pretty rubbish with one way systems, restricted menus etc(and pretty empty too). Masks. Queues outside shops. One way systems everywhere. City centre full of alcoholics/smack heads anyway. My elderly in-laws really suffering with their mental health because of everything.
Life is bloody miserable.

No.
My husband's work is going back to normal. (As in the amount of time he is out of the house) but his workplace and what he has to do is completely messed up still.

All our home education social groups, for my older 2, stopped and I can't see them re-starting in September.

Now it is the school holidays, the fact my younger two are out of school is now normal rather than a big hassle and stress.

Church is back this week, but absolutely minimally, without all the social aspects, and the music and singing which is my role there.

We aren't going out anywhere because things are either closed (cinemas, swimming, trampoline park etc) or difficult and not enjoyable (cafe's, pubs shopping centres etc)

Holidays are going to be a bit shit really. And I can't see it changing ever.

Sort of. DD is back at school, we are going out for days out to the beach, zoo, amusement parks, etc. We are seeing family (unless they are shielding in which case we will after 1 August).

Going to a restaurant tomorrow for the first time since March.

We have been to a few shops with the children but haven't ventured into the city centre yet but might do next week before masks become mandatory (DD is scared of people wearing masks unfortunately, so once that comes in we will be limited on going out once again)

DH still working from home.
DCs haven't been to their primary school since 20th March.
No sign of any of my volunteer roles restarting or getting back to running races.
There is still no external structure to life.

We have been going out to touristy places which is progress and has eased the groundhog day feeling for a couple of days per week. It's like being stuck in week of the summer holiday rather than an eternal Sunday from the late 80s, so that's a bit of progress.

@RiverFlowers

Sort of. DD is back at school, we are going out for days out to the beach, zoo, amusement parks, etc. We are seeing family (unless they are shielding in which case we will after 1 August).

Going to a restaurant tomorrow for the first time since March.

We have been to a few shops with the children but haven't ventured into the city centre yet but might do next week before masks become mandatory (DD is scared of people wearing masks unfortunately, so once that comes in we will be limited on going out once again)

The masks will be regressive for us too. Not good between DS1's ASD and my auditory processing and anxiety for which masks will be a multiple trigger. Fortunately I have bought most latent stuff that we had a need for over lockdown, but I'd better buy school shoes this week before the rules change and hope that the DCs don't keep sprouting like weeds!

Some people on this thread are a bit bleak. Jobs been normal for me and DH the whole way through. Got my nails done and hair on Tuesday. Been shopping lots. Haven’t managed to eat out or go for drinks yet but only due to lack of opportunity. DD is missing swimming and Dance club but we have seen plenty of friends and been to zoos and theme parks. Can’t be bothered with people who choose not to go to places and moan that things won’t be normal. As someone who can afford it I see it as my duty to spent money locally and in the high street.

My parents and siblings have gone back to normal. I haven't though - I'm still avoiding going in shops if I can, and avoiding visiting people's houses or having anyone in my own house. I'm happy meeting people outdoors as I think the risk is low enough outside that I feel comfortable doing that.

My sister and her family are back visiting our parents in their house, drinking cups of tea, staying for hours. I'm not thrilled about it as my parents are over 70, and my dad is overweight and has COPD, so if he gets Covid it could be devastating. When I suggested we see each other outdoors it's all eye rolling from my sister and parents, and reminding me that the rules are different now. Well yes, but that's only because there are enough ICU beds and ventilators available now; not because the virus is any less dangerous.

It's my birthday today and my parents and sister wanted to come and visit. But it's raining so we wouldn't have been able to sit in the garden and I've asked can we see each other another day. Now my mum and sister are both being off with me and made me feel shit.

I have zero problem with others going back to normal if that's their choice, and I wouldn't dream of making them feel shit about that choice, but I wish people would extend me the same courtesy when I choose to continue being cautious for a while longer.

Not very normal at all, no. I barely leave the house, before I was out all the time!

I’m still WFH.
DH still on furlough, awaiting redundancy and applying for jobs.
DS at home doing nothing.
No swimming with GD.
Once a week visit to supermarket, no other shopping.
Social interaction limited to a small number of people in the garden, no restaurants, parties, gigs etc.
And of course, we are supposed to be on holiday right now and are not!

Not normal, but not bleak either. I live in Ireland so the kids have been on their summer holidays for a few weeks now. I work clinically in a hospital (not in the Covid stream) so have had that structure and continuity. Have also had the company and friendship of my work pals which has been invaluable. Not been eating out but loads of the local cafe's and restaurants have been doing takeaway so had some lovely meals at home. I don't shop online but I get up early and have only had to queue a couple of times. Started visiting my folks and the in laws over the last month when the 5k restriction got lifted here. The children miss school, but have had a couple of outdoor playdates. We'll see what September brings. We have been very lucky as a family.

Far from it!

Still shielding

I have been to visit my DMum, and have met a couple of friends (separately) outdoors, and go out to exercise daily. I’m glad the weather has been nice!

Apart from work/school life didn’t change for me during lockdown.
I’m furloughed and DH WFH and kids home school. I’m assuming this will last until at least September.
Apart from that there’s no other normal to get back to, I only get my hair cut once every couple of years, don’t get nails or eyebrows etc done, quit the gym, don’t go out drinking /restaurants, never went to cinema. So nothings opened up that I would go to anyway.