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?

For those still avoiding pubs and restaurants, can you say why? Is it fear, not the same experience?

I have been shopping to my city centre twice, eaten out in a restaurant once, supermarket shopping more often now. Planning a day out with ds and mum next week to visit our nearest seaside town (30 mins on local train) for chips and a wander round. They will be first time on public transport since March. I hate masks but will wear one on the train. I'm meant to have been shielding but never fully believed I should be so was just sensible. Back to work in September. People who are scared to go out etc when will you feel happy to go out? Coronaviris could be here for a good while yet and your chances of actually contracting it if you take precautions when out are so minimal.

I'm still working from home but today I went to the shops (not supermarket) for the first time and it was nice to 'get back to normal' however I won't be making it a regular thing as other people still seem to be incapable of keeping a 2 metre distance

No, I’m still not back in the office. Really missing it

Things are pretty normal for us. We've both been working throughout, the kids managed to do the last half term at preschool reduced hours but they went back. We've had a play date, been to the park, restaurants and big trips out are a rarity for us anyway, we are hoping to eat out on Monday.

The only thing is I haven't seen my Grandad yet but he's in his mid 90's.

We're living as normally as possible. We've met up with friends, been to playgrounds and the beach, booked a UK holiday etc. DH is still largely WFH but would rather not be. Youngest DC was back in school till the holidays started on Friday. I bloody hated lockdown so feel quite liberated.

Absolutely as live somewhere all restrictions have been lifted. Apart from travel. An island so all travel on off is strictly controlled. But everything back to normal. We realise how lucky we are.

For those still avoiding pubs and restaurants, can you say why? Is it fear, not the same experience?
Both DH and I would be very vulnerable if we caught the virus, so we don’t want to risk it. We have had to go to hospital throughout for essential treatment, and we live in what was the main virus hotspot. I can see that people here are now largely ignoring advice and having huge meet-ups. I live in an area that is packed with bars, restaurants and clubs. Also, we also hardly ever eat out anyway - maybe a couple of times a year - so we’re not missing much.

NO.

I'm not playing sport (which I did several times a week before March), or swimming, or singing, or volunteering in my local school. I refuse to accept "things are nearly normal" until ALL of these are back, and the latest "look, children, at what I might be letting you do soon" thrown at us by Boris still leaves most of these unaddressed.

don't want to be caught by test and trace, and I can't control what other people do. So that means not going nearer than 2 metres of anyone outside my house for more than 15 mins, and not within 1 metre for more than a few seconds.

when test and trace stops, I'll stop doing that.

Ive worked throughout (A&E), DP still furloughed and DS back at nursery since 1st June. Been to a few friends houses, visited outdoor play areas, my Mum has been to stay for a week twice and I'm off out into town tonight for a few drinks. So although not doing as much as I would pre covid im doing as much as I'm "permitted" to do. Not looking forward to wearing masks everywhere from next week though, 13 hours a day in work is enough!

Yes and no.

DH is now officially WFH but as that’s the same as the previous 4 months or so and we’d adapted to that it is our new routine. Getting our heads around it being all the time might take longer.
Our eldest and youngest have finished their Uni/school year so are on holidays so would be around now. Younger has a part time job which she’s had all year (was furloughed for 3 months or so). Middle one’s been furloughed and will be made redundant but she was ill before lockdown so we were used to her being around.
For us, September will be markedly different when term starts and, hopefully, employment for the middle one.

Going to the office once a week.
Have my parents staying, went out for lunch in a pub garden and went to Dunelm and M&S today.
Life feels almost normal!

And had my hair done yesterday!

DH is still working from home, DD not back at nursery til end of August, I am back at work from September. We do click and collect weekly shop but have been meeting friends in parks and have done a few playground trips with DD. We have been visiting DPs in garden for a number of week. Main thing that is different for us still is not doing any overnight visits to our friends who live a way away. Also we aren't visiting pubs/restaurants etc. yet (to be fair we weren't going to them very often anyway with an 18 month old). We do have a visit to a local farm booked for a few weeks and a 1 week UK self catering trip coming up too (booked last year). If swimming pools, soft plays etc. opened up we would be going there from end of August/September I think.
Very interesting to hear what other people are doing/not doing atm.

@mencken
Can I ask what you mean by 'caught' by T&T? I might have got wrong end of stick of your post but you seem to feel it's not a good thing... interested to hear that is if that is what you meant. And sorry if that's not what you were implying!

No, not back to normal yet. It feels like we are creeping there slowly. That suits me, I feel overwhelmed very easily at present so a slower pace is welcome.

For those still avoiding pubs and restaurants, can you say why? Is it fear, not the same experience?

I find the rules tiring to keep on top of, especially with 2 DC. It's not relaxing, so I would rather save the money and something nice to eat at home.

More or less, as I've been working throughout anyway, but I'm missing my dance class and a gardening club I belong to has cancelled all its events for the rest of the year.

I'm not a big pub or restaurant-goer, so haven't really missed going out all that much.

No - and I can't see myself going into the office for the rest of this year.

Kids will be starting school in September unless it all goes tits-up before then, but my money's on schools being closed again by the second half of autumn term unless something changes radically.

We've been to one restaurant and I expect we'll go occasionally thereafter and to outdoorsy attractions. My view is we might as well do so while places can still be outdoors/easily ventilated, and so attended more safely than when it's colder, and support businesses - again, I think they will all be shut again end of this year/beginning of next barring a miracle. And no large family gatherings will be happening.

No, I have not worked since 19th March and my sector is still closed. As I went self employed to recently, I was not eligible for the Chancellor's scheme so life is anything but normal. Live alone which is normally great when working and socialising but during the lockdown and even now with many restrictions, I have felt myself getting lower and lower as time goes by.

Pretty much.

DH and I both still WFH but DC are both back at nursery. Our main weekend past-times have always generally been beach, woods, zoo, playgrounds so all those are back.

We've started seeing grandparents and although we're not in Scotland, I've been following the no social-distancing for under 12s thing. We've therefore also started having a few outdoor playdates.

Obviously no pre-school groups back yet, but we have a lovely pre-school forest school type group near us which is hoping to start back at the end of the month.

Our life isn't back to normal.All our shopping gets delivered. We haven't been in shops, cafes, bars or restaurants since March. We've seen elderly DM to take her to appointments and have seen two siblings socially distanced on two occasions. We're going out for walks but no parks or beaches. Tbh public toilets is a big factor in how far we will go. I don't object to the idea of going to a safari park but there isn't one close enough that we could get there, go round it and get back without someone needing to use the bathroom.

I wouldn’t go inside a pub or restaurant at the minute, though I’m happy to go to outdoor eating areas. It’s one of the highest risk indoor activities and my youngest wouldn’t stick to the rules without constant supervision. So not worth the effort.

Life feels much more normal now we can see people.

@SpeedofaSloth

For those still avoiding pubs and restaurants, can you say why? Is it fear, not the same experience?

I find the rules tiring to keep on top of, especially with 2 DC. It's not relaxing, so I would rather save the money and something nice to eat at home.

Yes my DH and I feel the same.