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'm on maternity leave and there's no baby classes. So no.

Our lives never really changed. Both essential workers so worked through out and children went to school. Had to done our own shopping, ordered the odd take away. Children are still missing after school activists; swimming lessons, dance.

Spouse is back to his normal work pattern rather than all the hours and once we're through next week and onto summer holidays, my DD won't need to keep up with the school work and my younger three are enjoying the parks now so most of our daily life things are starting to look more normal with some tweaks.

We're still missing the swimming and our local pool is only opening for lane swimming which isn't going to be much help for the kids, some who are still learning. We've already been told that our youngest won't be returning to Badgers in the autumn and probably won't until at least January and I'm expecting to hear the same about Cadets at any point. We're making plans for September & it feels odd that my younger daughter's first introduction to school is going to be with all this going on, but she's excited for it so we're making do.

Face coverings to be worn in shops and on public transport, most offices still closed, til August at the earliest. No, some way yet to go.

I’ve been shopping ie to clothes shops, rather than food - not much of a leisure shopper but wanted some T-shirts. It’s a semi normal experience - end up with what feels like layers of sanitiser, no fitting rooms( except Crew had one open - which I did use and bought some sale tops). Shan’t bother again for a while.

Been for some days out at National Trusts- nice to see gardens, but the lack of spontaneity ( having to prebook) or being able see interiors - or cafes !- makes it not as usual .

Got a real ie not online, one day art class booked this week - large studios and long risk assessment summary arrived, so that should be interesting to experience.

Had hair and dental appointment - dental appt quite convoluted and felt sorry for dentist working under layers of protection.

Gym opening week after next - will be going.

Have been on buses throughout- empty until recently and so much cleaner than normal.

Got a booking for a couple of days away at end of week.

So - not entirely normal but I am not complaining about how companies and institutions are having to work around guidelines.

No. My DC lost their jobs and are now living at home again. One DC will probably need an alternative career as there’s no sign of her industry opening up any time soon. One DC university course all online. Still had to pay for her rent, though. My freelance DH has no work. My workplace is permanently closed so I have to work from home for ever. My hospital appointments were made phone only. Couldn’t get an appointment for my GP. I wouldn’t dream of going to a pub or restaurant or going shopping. My choir is still shut down. Not seen any friends or family since lockdown hit. Family all live hundreds of miles away. Nothing is remotely normal.

Not back to normal but only because places aren't open. Nail bars and hairdressers are now open in our area but schools still on some ridiculous rules. And I'm not eating out (which we used to do a lot) as I really don't want to be served by someone wearing a mask etc. Rather takes away from the ambience.

Yesterday I went to 2 different parks and there were tons of people in groups doing their end of term "parties". Social distancing non existent. So in that way I suppose some things are back to normal.

I find the rules rather arbitrary. A bit of consistency would be nice.

Nowhere near normal still, unfortunately we live just inside the Leicestershire lockdown zone that's not being reviewed again till 30th July ☹️😡

So all non essential shops still closed, restaurants, hairdressers, salons , playgrounds etc. And can't travel. Gutted. Was really looking forward to taking my kids to stay with my parents next week and meet my new baby nephew too ☹️
It's hard seeing people in the rest of the country having much more freedom to do things and go out if they want to and we can't .

Just been out in local city...really busy. Had to try 3 restaurants before we could get in, which is brilliant.
Our lives are back to normal

I'm living my life as normally as I can. I'm going to the shops, the pub, took DS to the cinema last week, getting my hair done next week.

This way of life is not "normal" though. Wearing a mask to the hairdresser is not normal. Having to order drinks through an app at the pub is not normal. I've also been on furlough and I'm looking forward to going back to work next month and DS back to school in September.

My kids have been back to school and college, I've had meet ups with friends outside and been to a couple shops. I'm a single parent so have been doing food shops and whatever all through. The only thing now is for my local cafe to allow seating inside and for the gym to open and the beautician and it will feel more normal, albeit now with face masks! Getting hair done next week - woo-hoo! My job is from home anyway.

DH and I are both wfh until at least September, so that’s the main difference compared to normal.
We haven’t seen PILs since before lockdown. We saw my parents for the first time last weekend (in the garden only).
We are socialising, but in smaller groups than usual.
We went out for a pub lunch last weekend which was our first meal out.
I’ve had my hair cut and DD has been clothes shopping.
The DC are back doing some of their usual activities, but not all.
We are not planning to go abroad this summer (we normally do).

So a mixture!

Pretty normal here, well the new normal I guess. Both still working from home (which suits us!), DD done a full half term at school. DS back at nursery.

Been on holiday (camping), had some days / meals out.

Yep, we're pretty much back to normal.

We both WFH anyway. We've actually changed careers, left our jobs and started up 3 new businesses over lockdown so WFH wasn't normal pre-COVID but will be how we work from now on.

Going to a pub for lunch tomorrow with PILs, went to a friend's for takeaway and drinks last night with other friends (in the garden, but it was hot so we'd have been in the garden anyway).

Day trip to the New Forest planned on Monday for DH's birthday and just about to book a couple of nights away in the UK.

My DM is coming to stay with us for a few days soon and we have various day trips and pub / restaurant meals planned.

I don't go retail shopping much anyway as I've tried to cut down the amount of new stuff we buy for environmental reasons.

So the only thing that isn't normal is wearing a mask when we go grocery shopping once or twice a week and staying 2m away when mixing with friends.

"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."

Well, no.

It's also because the case numbers are now incredibly small so you'd have to be pretty unlucky to catch it.

The ONS randomly tested 23,500 people last week and 8 were positive.

So that's a very small chance of catching it in the community right now.

It seems fairly likely to increase towards Autumn when people can't meet outdoors and as schools go back so really you should 'make hay while the sun shines' or this will be a depressing year for you.

Very far from normal.
My entire industry is still shut down (film and TV).
Husband still working from home.
DD ‘graduated’ with no ceremony or party.

No.
There’s no summer holiday childcare around here so I’m still struggling to work (I’m freelance). No baby/toddler classes for my youngest. DC‘a swimming lessons/dance classes/music lessons/Rainbows still not happening. My volunteer role still can’t go ahead. We were supposed to be on holiday this week but that has been cancelled. Theatres still not open, we usually go a lot. DH still working from home and will be until early next year. Popping to the shop for milk still takes around 45 mins due to queues.
I can’t wear masks due to severe panic attacks so as of next week I won’t be going on shops at all (I am medically exempt but don’t want to deal with the idiots ‘challenging’ me in public).
No gym... the small local one I’m a member of has had to close its doors permanently as they couldn’t afford the overheads. Have joined a new one but not open yet.
Think it’ll be quite a while before things are ‘normal’.

We made our first trip into the town centre this morning. What a massive let down and disappointment! So many shops were closed (plenty could be open as are large enough). The shops that were open were pretty bleak - very few customers, often just one cashier. But the real killer is the empty shelves and poor choice/range of the stock they did have. We came away with very little. We'd gone with quite a shopping list, but if shops can't be bothered to open and can't be bothered to have stock on their shelves/racks, then they're not going to make many sales. We're not that desperate to buy stuff we don't want, stuff that doesn't fit properly, just to support the shops, which from what we saw, they don't deserve support. They've had weeks/months to prepare for re-opening, but most were like closing down sales. It will be a while before we bother again. Now for an afternoon of online ordering!

@wheresmymojo

"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."

Well, no.

It's also because the case numbers are now incredibly small so you'd have to be pretty unlucky to catch it.

The ONS randomly tested 23,500 people last week and 8 were positive.

So that's a very small chance of catching it in the community right now.

It seems fairly likely to increase towards Autumn when people can't meet outdoors and as schools go back so really you should 'make hay while the sun shines' or this will be a depressing year for you.

I appreciate the risk is small. I still don't want to spend extended lengths of time indoors with people regardless. But that's my choice and as I said in my post, I'm not making anyone else feel crappy about their choices, so they shouldn't make me feel crap about mine.

I'm not depressed - I'm still seeing people, it's just outdoors instead of indoors that's all.

No, not normal for me. I've been WFH since early March, haven't seen my father who is in a care home since 14th March and saw my Mum and Step Dad for the first time in 7 months last weekend. Sitting outside, socially distanced.
I only go to my local supermarket rather than browse in clothes/bookshops.
Mind you, this feels kind of normal now and I feel as though I'm going to have to re learn the pattern of my previous life.

Nope.
DS2 has another 6 weeks before he can go back to school.
Music lessons arent happening
Swimming lessons arent happening
DS2 badminton training usnt happening
Half the stuff we would do over the summer isnt happening because it's either closed, or pre book only and there are no tickets.
DH is working FT from home, where are normally be would be out and about, often away a couple of nights a week.
Dads business partner is shielding, so Dad is working 12 hr days, 7 days a week to try and keep the business afloat, meaning whilst I've seen Mum a couple of times, I havent seen Dad since Feb half term.
Friends who would normally come to the UK for the summer cant as there are no flights.
Friends wedding has been cancelled as her family cant get to the UK.
I have friends who havnt seen their husbands in 5 months because they are stuck in different countries.

Absolutely not back to normal.

Like you we are in the shielding category, we have been out once which was the hospital not been out since, having even been for a walk. We have our food delivered. So for us no where near normal.

Absolutely back to normal. I'm back at work. Our cleaner is back (thank God). I went for a pedicure this morning, and we're going out to a BBQ later. Getting my hair highlighted next week. DD has gone Shopping with friends today. Have just booked a short break to Paris with DD on the Eurostar for the end of the month, and now going down to Cornwall with DH in August for long weekend.

It's all good

Dh still wfh will be for the foreseeable. Dc1 online school only. Dc2 just finished primary.

I've been in school teaching for past 5 weeks after online teaching. W
Only out for weekly shop, parks, walking, meeting friends outside.

No kids activities, no holidays, no visits to pubs or restaurants.

Not normal but better than full lockdown.

I'm waiting with bated breath for things to get worse (I live in Peterborough).

But for now, normal-ish.

I'm back in the office.
DH is WFH 5 days a week but he used to 3 days a week anyway.
Now the school holidays have started, DS goes to MIL's when we're both working as normal.
Outdoor swimming starts up soon, but no pool swimming on the horizon.