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 don't think Boris realises how reluctant people are

Some people are. DH commutes into London from the midlands and is desperate to get back to the office, as are his whole team. He works in an office that usually has around 20,000 people (very large bank) and he’s worried they won’t get to go back at all.

Not normal, but we're certainly doing everything we're allowed.

Just back to Scotland after holiday in England. We had a glorious week sharing with SILs family - felt just like it usually does except I had to stop myself from bursting into tears after a few glasses of wine during a pub meal because it was blissfully normal. Even BILs irritating habits were a source of comfort.

Yes we had to book to go to gardens and sanitise our hands every time we went into a shop, but other than that it was great - thankfully masks not in place so browsing in shops enjoyable.

Hopefully DS 14 back to school for new term - at least now he's out playing with his friends again.

been working throughout in a supermarket ,been walking into work as much as possible ,don't drive so not really gone anywhere that I cant walk to , would have to take 2 types of public transport to see any family and my best friend so not seen them since feb ,meet a local friend for a cuppa in the garden a couple of times ,I spend my time going wish I could drive /if only I could drive we could go here

Back to the office since 1st of June and just back from a short break in Lanzarote. Had a few pub meals out and visited family in their homes. Still waiting for hair and beauty appts but only as I couldn't get booked in straight away

Thankfully teen is still meeting friends, and going to stay with them on holiday, so their summer will feel pretty normal. Then back to school as normal at long last in September (better do).

It’s been hard to have schooling so curtailed so that’s good.

@Drivingdownthe101

I can’t meet friends in a cafe for lunch as only 2 households can mix? Normally we’re a group of 4 friends who meet up

I thought up to 6 people from different households could meet up at pubs/restaurants etc?

Friend tried to book a restaurant table for her and 3 friends and they wouldn’t let her book it as more than 2 households.....she hadn’t realised.

@BigSandyBalls2015

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

Both. I think seeing staff in masks and gloves behind plexiglass, every other table being taped off, hand gel everywhere and having to give contact details so they can contact you if other customers develop covid would just make it an overall not-as-relaxing experience. Plus I'm the sort of person who would notice someone touching their face a lot or coughing into their hand and then bringing my drink or cutlery over, and it would make me paranoid

Also, it's probably inevitable I'll get the virus at some point, but I want to put it off for as long as possible if I can reduce my own risk in the meantime. The scientists/doctors are learning more about the virus all the time - there could come a point where they could potentially save a patient that they couldn't have saved earlier because they know more about treating the disease or what not to do. For example a very recent study has discovered an existing steroid reduces deaths by 1/3 in patients on ventilators. So I'd rather catch it later down the line when more of this type of thing has been discovered and put into practice.

Normal will be when schools and swimming and dance lessons are back. When I can go back to the office a few days a week. When I can stay with my parents. When I can hug my friends.

Yes, life feels pretty normal now.

Work is picking back up again for me (DH has worked throughout).
Popped to Tesco between jobs this afternoon and apart from the perspex screens it felt like back in February.
I've been going to clients houses as normal for a few weeks now. Nobody seems to mind me being there - nobody has worn masks and people have made me cups of tea/coffee etc. as usual.

However I'm sure things will feel different when everyone has to wear masks in shops.

No, not the same, but better than it was.

I’m hugely relieved that playgrounds are now open again. It’s something that I can take DD to do, which is enormously welcome. We’ve also now been to a farm park and a monkey reserve (both exclusively outdoor, so open!!! Yay!). But I ENORMOUSLY miss things like soft play, and stay and play/other toddler activities at the sure start centre. I wish my DD could start interacting normally with other children again, she’s far worse at sharing/waiting her turn than she was before.

Have to admit I’m not really looking forward to masks in shops being compulsory, although I understand the reasoning behind it. I have pretty grim morning sickness and find it really tough keeping my mask on sometimes.

Not completely normal, but pretty close! I've always shopped almost exclusively online so no change there, ocado slots like clockwork. Just had a week in Brittany, all normal except some restaurants still a bit restricted opening hours and we had to wear masks in shops and walking around restaurants - not in the street or while eating though. Work is still fully remote but we were always a very flexible workplace with people working remotely. DH is a teacher so feels normal for him to be with the kids in July & August.

Only thing I'm missing is flying to the USA and Asia to see family, and big parties. We like having 10+ round for dinner or for a bbq and that is still not allowed.

Nope. I'm in Leicester

Toddler dd hasn’t had playgroup for over half a year and no sign of return unfortunately. Museum we visit weekly open on 30th July.

10 yr old dc has piano and drum lessons but haven’t restarted horse riding as news own kit and we only do it as a hobby.

But I don’t think it will feel fully normal until school is normal (after summer holidays).

@Drivingdownthe101

I don't think Boris realises how reluctant people are

Some people are. DH commutes into London from the midlands and is desperate to get back to the office, as are his whole team. He works in an office that usually has around 20,000 people (very large bank) and he’s worried they won’t get to go back at all.

@Drivingdownthe101 yes to this. Everyone in my office (university) is itching to go back. We’re a lucky bunch in that we all get on really well and we’re missing each other. A few of the team (including me) have young children and are struggling with no childcare. A few live alone and enjoy the company at work. No reluctance to return from us.

No. Still working from home and very part time furlough. Not visiting any places other than supermarket, outdoor walks and daughters house. No plans to go to pubs etc.

I’m still furloughed but should be going back in the next or so. Will be WFH and reduced hours for foreseeable though. DH has worked throughout from home and there are no plans yet for him to go back into his workplace. DD went back to school last week just for last week of term as now transferring to juniors in Sept. Had a haircut today and going in shops etc regularly but have not been to pubs or restaurants etc. Have moved our August (Spain) holiday to next year.

Things are getting better but I don’t think we are near back to normal yet. Got a text today from the dentist cancelling DD’s check up in August, which they rescheduled from May.

Dh & I both still on furlough and are therefore even more skint than usual. Otherwise everything feels normal.

I am doing all the normal things that I can, within the guidance and my risk perception. I've been meeting my adult daughters in their gardens, and am now bubbled with one of them which means I can hold and play with my granddaughter, and we can go inside each others houses.

I've been for a meal in a restaurant which is taking every precaution possible, and I've sat in a pub garden for a drink twice. I'm not ready to go inside a pub though.

I went to the hairdressers the other day, again, the highest of precautions were taken. And today I got the train into London and had a socially distanced picnic with a friend.

I am confident that all those events were as close to risk free as is humanly possible, and my mental health is improving by the day, the more 'normal' life gets.

Still shielding. Seen one person once in over four months. Been on around 10 local walks else been at home. Working from home. Nothing’s changed for me.

I'm working from home which I'm hoping will continue for a long time as I really enjoy it. My DH is at home at the moment too and we are getting on Better than I expected.

I haven't been out 'non-essential' shopping as in wandering round a shopping mall although I've been to garden centre and similar places. Supermarket wise we are now finding it really easy to get delivery slots so gone back to home delivery

We have seen a couple of friends / family in the garden since we were first told we could meet outdoors, have been on several long country walks , to the zoo, had my hair done and been out for pub lunch today. Will be going away to holiday cottage in a weeks time .

Generally I'm quite happy with my life at the moment

Main difficulties are that I haven't been able to visit my mum yet (in care home with dementia) but we do frequent video link up so I can see that she's ok. The other thing which is weird for me is around my adult son. I see him every week but because he is in contact with a lot of people through his work and now socially. I am still keeping my distance from him .

As much as society will let me.

We led a completely normal life in lockdown. Still saw family. Went out most days. Drove the car to beaches and country parks. If the weather wasn’t too nice, we’d just drive to the beach and watch what traffic was on the sea.

Throughout June, we drove to our caravan one day a week but were forbidden to stay over
Since July 4 we are now onto our third long weekend.
Last May baMk holiday, I drove the 100 miles to the Lake District, cows I wanted to go to the lakes.
We also visited one of our national forests in early May.
We went to york for the day yesterday and Ripon today ..went into the pub there which was nice.
Plenty going on that seemed pretty normal. Not too much mask wearing thank goodness
Tuesday I drove to South Shields beach was fabulous and we ended up having a lovely meal in sambucas...there was no fuss, no carry on.
Might go to harrogate tomorrow if weather is nice a fancy a mooch round the shops and a visit to the park.

I still miss the cinemas and theatres though, and live music in the bars in york
Looking forward to that starting up again
Sick of all the social distancing bollox..I though sainsburys in ripon we’re trying to hold me hostage at one point

Oh yes, I’ve had two dental appointments as I’d broken two teeth in lockdown.

Everything fine..

Not normal at all. Still no choir for me, my only beloved hobby, dp still on reduced hours, can't just nip to a shop to pick something up but instead it has to be this planned out rigmorale, we've eaten out three times which was very nice but today was the first time I felt unnerved as we were in a pub and there were a few drunk people around and we're staying in next weekend, I still haven't been in anyone else's house and am sticking to outdoor meetups.

Yup. In Scotland where infection rate has been less than 1% since May. As I have more chance of being hit by a bus, I am meeting family and friends and was out for dinner last night. Wear a mask in the shops as mandatory( despite the fact that most don't fit properly and are useless) and just waiting for our "non-essential " office to reopen. If I worked in Macdonald's, was a nail techncian or worked in a pub or other "essential" service,I would have been back at work by now.

@nixso29
What was lanzarote like?
We are supposed to be going back to Tenerife in October
We were there for lockdown in mid March
Was there lots of restrictions on the beach and res
I don’t fancy going if that is the case

I think lanzarote had the lowest deaths of all the islands.