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Are you all back to normal life now?

152 replies

happyfeet245 · 18/07/2020 13:02

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?

OP posts:
Macca84 · 18/07/2020 21:40

I've not really done anything different tbh. I'm still wfh. Still attempting (badly) to homeschool whilst working full time. Still can't visit my shielding parents. Not socialising with friends other than the occasional garden visit. Nothing major has changed for me. It's starting to get me down tbh.

Dowser · 18/07/2020 21:40

I’m impressed at how many of you have been on holiday since we were let out of our cages.

I don’t class our caravan as going on holiday.
It’s only 45 miles from home, but it’s basically swapping one home location to an other...seeing as how so much of my stuff is here.

thaegumathteth · 18/07/2020 21:44

Dh still wfh
Kids are on summer holiday break but we haven't been away
Won't be going to shops / museums / cinema etc anytime soon
Have done safari park, beach, visited on gardens etc, golf
Ds football training again

Dd 9)is probably most back to normal because she doesn't have to social distance with anyone but normally we'd be having days out and hotels etc.

RunningNinja79 · 18/07/2020 21:45

Its getting there, but not quite yet.

Its now the summer holidays for the DCs so that bit is normal. DS (year 10) has been going to school one day a week for a bit, but all other schooling has been online at home.

I'm going back to the office on Monday, but ATM it is only for 2 days a week. Though there is no word after the coronavirus conference by Boris on Friday. I suspect they may have us in FT sooner rather than later now as I've seen others on MN say has happened with them.

Been out for a meal (me, DH and DCs) within the first week of them re-opening. This was something we did often anyway.
Stayed over at my parents for the first time last weekend. We have visited a couple of times, but stayed outside.
Been taking DD2 to meet her friend for a walk by the river in the town weekly for a while now.
Been to a couple of clothes shops.
Still have our holiday to France booked in August (we booked it in December) and still intend on going - driving and on the Eurostar.
My running club has come back, but its understandably different than what it was.
I went to an outdoor bootcamp earlier this week which I enjoyed and intend on carrying on for the foreseeable now (I cancelled my gym membership today)

However, normal to me is parkrun on a Saturday. Getting up at stupid o'clock on some Sundays to run a race somewhere. These can both the mass gatherings so will be a while for that yet.
Masks are to be worn for the weekly shop. While I'm not going to moan about it or try to make excuses. I still don't have to like it or pretend that I'm completely comfortable with the wearing of a mask.
When out and about I am constantly thinking am I keeping my distance from others? Am I respecting others rights to me not potentially passing on Covid? This doesn't feel normal yet.

purpleme12 · 18/07/2020 21:47

Completely different
Still working from home
Haven't been on a bus or train (don't drive) cos the advice is not to isn't it? And also cos the mask fills me with dread so much
All our usual activities and events have stopped

In normal life we'd have gone loads of places on bus or train by now

Dowser · 18/07/2020 21:48

For anyone interested there’s a peaceful gathering at 1 pm tomorrow in Hyde park speakers corner

Here’s what to expect

Together We Are Powerful - Our Voices Can Be Heard

Tomorrow, we gather together in our capital, to show a collective strength of determination and unity, for the cause we all feel strongly about.

OUR FREEDOM OUR LIBERTIES OUR FUTURE

We meet at Hyde Park Speakers Corner area, with red balloons or flowers to signal our group. Join us at 1pm where you'll hear from a number of speakers.

In the event we need to move out of the park, the next easy meeting place will be explained by the Hosts.

We have spoken at length with the Metropolitan Police and have assured them we intend to abide by the guidelines of 30 person bubbles.

We are collectively concerned with many areas.

It is clear from the cases being brought against the Government, growing weekly...

  • following the brave stand made by Simon Dolan and now the powerful, fast growing movement KEEP BRITAIN FREE - that there are thousands of concerned men and women in the UK.

We recommend you sign up to the website, share your concerns, follow the appeal of the case and learn what the Health & Welfare whistleblowers are saying - has REALLY BEEN GOING ON.

www.keepbritainfree.com/

Tomorrow is likely to be warm. Wear loose clothing, sensible shoes and bring water.

We are not anti masks if anyone has any concerns on that front. But I believe the majority, will not be wearing any as we've done extensive research for months.

Here's a list of the published speakers (some might surprise us *wink) and something of what they'll be talking about;

Clare Wills - Harrison is a practising lawyer of 20 years and a fully accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly holding the OCCP award.

Clare continued to work throughout lockdown gaining access to care homes where she could, to ensure her clients received legal representation.

During lockdown Clare dealt with a range of issues for many of her elderly clients which can only be described as horrifying and unjust.

She seeks to expose the truth of what is really happening to the elderly and vulnerable in care, to bring awareness to the horrifying abuses the vulnerable home population are currently suffering.

Jaclyn Dunne is a Nutritionist, Hypnotherapist,Holistic Health Coach and Best Selling Author.

She is hugely passionate about body autonomy and freedom of choice and is consistent in her efforts to educate others.

At the start of lockdown she went live on Facebook to share her thoughts on this current situation in a video entitled ‘Why I don’t trust them’ that has since had 2.4million views and allowed Jaclyn to amass a loyal social media following of fellow Truther’s.

Louise May Creffield is a political activist from Brighton.

She started a group called Save Our Rights UK the day the lockdown got extended and bravely held her first public protest just four days later.

She has a history in politics and political campaigning and is always looking for and fighting for a solution to the problems we face today.

Cassie Sunshine is a passionate mother, Vlogger and a citizen journalist, with the mission to inform the people of what is taking place with regards to covid19 PLANDEMIC and where this is all leading us.

Cassie and many others believe the evidence suggests, THIS IS NOT ABOUT A VIRUS BUT CONTROL AND A NEW WORLD ORDER. (which you can read about in multiple publications from official organisations, with that intention)

Damian Langiano has developed a pioneering package to help protect everyone and particularly youngsters online. He became concerned during lockdown with the drive to online learning and wanted to ensure the safety of youngsters by preventing them accessing pornograohy and other unsuitable material. He is also passionate about preventing paedophilia groups being able to access children online. He offered his pioneering technology to the govt free for use during lockdown, but the govt refused it.

He also offered it to groups whose primary aims are the welfare of children. His story of refusals from institutions and prominent people alike will shock you. Why do none of them want to protect children?

Nigel Jacklin - is a father, statistician and a media researcher.
He has worked with clients such as the FT and the BMJ in the UK and over 30 countries worldwide.

[and the founder of a new venture…The Peoples Portal.]
A related point to note, Nigel’s is wife trained in medicine and microbiology.

Nigel will dive into the statistics being used by media and Govt, what those mean and why the latest development, Hancock admitting the deaths have been inflated, is so important.

Leah Butler-Smith is a wife, mother and grandmamma. She is a mental health practitioner, NLP Trainer and avid Health researcher.

Like many joining the Keep Britain Free Peaceful Demonstration, she began watching the unfolding of a worrying set of actions by the Government. As she had already been researching the virus for some before the official Lockdown, she had predicted it would be enforced based on what she was witnessing. She then predicted if the lockdown went ahead, it would not end for at least 12 weeks.

When her predictions kept being confirmed, she had a late night chat with herself. Deciding to put her head above the parapet, she knew she risked her reputation, online abuse, loss of family and friends.

She thought of her grandbabies. They light up life. They are innocent babies who have the right to grow up in a world that we grew up in.

It was Leah's tweet in response to the new mandated mask wearing measures, that lead to the decision to go ahead with this demonstration.

We know we didn't give you much notice ... but the regs come in next week and the Government rest parliament!

Leah will introduce each speaker and share her concerns for the mental health of the nation, now and ongoing.

All men, women, young people and children, deserve the Natural Freedoms, we've become accustomed to.

For each of us speaking tomorrow and many of you who will join us … there was a moment where a Decision was made.

We strongly believe, the lockdown initially appeared to be about protecting the people of this country, but that quickly waned.

If protecting from a novel virus was geniune cause for concern and subequent measures, then once the curve had slowed, the NHS protected and the virus risk learned - things would have returned to normal with minimal guidelines to quarantine the sick.

The Government downgraded the virus risk to low in March and yet still the measure kept being implemented.

The additional measures, continuously being added to keep the public in a constant state of anxiety are unfounded and as Simon's case presents - disproportionate to the risks.

Globally there is evidence of other countries with no second wave, no draconian measures and no mask wearing in some places but not all.

The police do not wear masks and have done extensive research to determine the safety of their officers.

Those same officers who were exposed to the public, sometimes at close quarters and on masse.

Office workers, restaurant goers, shop workers, parliamentarians are not required to wear masks.

People are already reporting children being abused by adults for not wearing a mask, when the guidelines have not even been enforced.

There is nothing sensible about any of these decisions and there is no evidence it's necessary.

There is also NO RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE WEARER!

So ...as this seems to be something of a battle, where the prize is a return of our liberties, our freedoms, our human rights and to protect the rights of the elderly, the young and the babies not yet born.

Into the breach my friends, into the breach we go.

Keep Britain Free #KBF

Those attending tomorrow we’ll ask you to use #KBFDemo hashtags when sharing your content so we can all re-share easily.

Official Photographer Andrew Clugston

PS ... John & Irina Kudrenok-Mappin are both amazing supporters of Simon and of the cause. You may want to check out their Facebook lives.

nixso29 · 18/07/2020 21:59

@dowser it was fine! Quite quiet but we went literally the first day we were able to fly restriction free. Masks were only required when going into the shops/supermarkets. No sunloungers available for hire on the beach but you were welcome to bring your own items. The Canaries on the whole had a very low death rate and I felt very safe to be honest much safer than at home

TempsPerdu · 18/07/2020 22:01

I don’t see how anyone who has kids, especially young kids, can be really. We’re doing more things now and making the most of each relaxation of the rules, but life is nowhere near normal.

DP and I are still working from home. DD is back at nursery two days a week, which has made a huge difference, but most of the other things we used to do regularly are still closed or unrecognisable - no music classes (they’re happening remotely but DD isn’t impressed); no soft play; library open for pre-ordered pick ups and drop offs only; pool open for adult lane swimming only; local activity farm still closed. The things that small children do are by definition social, and these will be the last things to return to any level of normality. We also usually use public transport a lot (we’re in a London suburb) but are reluctant to do so now because of the mask rule - luckily we both drive.

We’re doing zoos and RHS gardens and National Trust houses but these are the kinds of things we’d do on holiday usually, not routine everyday trips! And of course they’re all booked ahead and socially distanced - so still not normal. We’re just very grateful that DD is the age she is and we’re not having to home school as well.

Climbingallthetrees · 18/07/2020 22:11

@dowser Wow. That sounds like the worst event I could think of. Love that the anti Semitic new world order conspiracy theory gets an airing, to alert everyone to the general quality of the event.

Chipsahoy · 18/07/2020 22:24

Yup. We even went on holiday this week! To wales, it was fab. I mostly shop online, kids finished home school last Fri, as we finished in our area. We are booked at a country park tomorrow and another Thurs.
We don't do people or indoors much, don't do beaches or abroad holidays much at all,
I miss a mooch around charity shops but that's about it!

I considered myself privileged as Dh always works from home full time so life isn't that different. I don't work. Therapist has happily switched to online, I don't see my family much anyway due to past abuse and I've only just started making friends where we live.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 18/07/2020 22:25

We have been out for a meal twice which has been nice but...

I’m still working at home, DS isn’t back at school yet (he doesn’t break up until this coming Friday).

No kickboxing, swimming lessons, or beavers for DS. No gym for me. Had outdoor PT session but not the same as normal as can’t do the boxing which I normally really enjoy
Can’t go swimming.

We can’t go to our favourite NT place for a walk because have to book a week in advance and they sell out by 8am!

Have only given my Mum one brief hug whilst wearing a mask.

So definitely not back to normal

Newbiehere123 · 18/07/2020 22:36

I'm back to normal. I've been on holiday and back and due to go again in 2 weeks. I've been to Spain and everything was normal and lively there apart from wearing a mask as soon as you enter shops/restaurants. I didn't catch Covid there or on the flight.

Why people are soooo scared? I have friends who haven't left their homes in 3 months and spend their time in the garden in nice weather. I'm pretty sure I had Covid back in Jan and it wasn't pleasant but I recovered. Today we went to a restaurant in London and I got my favourite bubble tea but the streets are literally at 20% capacity compared to a normal Saturday afternoon in Central London on a hot day. This is upsetting just get out and enjoy it.

The Spanish are working, shopping, holidaying and trying to make the most out of it. But they were in full lockdown so I'm guessing they are making the most out of it. I just think us British people are so weird and scared of everything. This mentality is going to kill our economy and then we will see all these people who were hiding out in supermarkets scavenging. Keep Calm and Carry for goodness sake!

Newbiehere123 · 18/07/2020 22:38

Sorry for the typo errors and awful grammar.

cariadlet · 18/07/2020 23:05

@dowser I totally agree with @Climbingallthetrees that it sounds like a gathering of conspiracy theory nutjobs. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them decide to go and look for some 5g masts to smash up after their little gathering.

DinosApple · 18/07/2020 23:06

Still not normal, but I think we're approaching that horrible phrase the new normal.
No meals out, only supermarkets, trips to the seaside no longer involve a trip to the chippy. I've seen my parents three times this year, normally I'd have seen them around 14 times by now. I'm still cautious, I don't want them to catch anything from me. We're talking about going to camp in their garden for a couple of nights, instead of a holiday!
All still very odd!

Bloops · 18/07/2020 23:37

I go to the supermarket once a week for the weekly shop and I'm back in the office next week. It's gonna stay like that for a long time. I dont fancy restaurants etc right now. I don't even like the thought of going to my parents house, it'd kill me if I passed anything on to them :(

QueenCT · 18/07/2020 23:42

Still shielding, still WFH. Definitely not normal!

BakedBlossoms · 18/07/2020 23:43

Yes pretty much except DH is still WFH

Using public transport and visiting restaurants. Seeing friends and family as normal.

I do wear my mask and social distance from strangers however.

pinkkoala · 19/07/2020 00:10

Yes, both me and dp have worked all through, both keyworkers, i am a hca in a care home and dp is hgv driver. My dd has been off school since march but returned one day a week since june. We have been to pub since they opened, met friends outside, had dd friend round and dd has been to theirs for sleepovers, wehave been shopping. We have kept as normal as wecan, the only thing i miss is not seeing my family, havent seen them since before xmas, not local, and my mum and dad are both shielding and so is my sister.
Can't wait to get back to complete normal and start enjoying everything we did before.

kondir · 19/07/2020 01:35

DH will be wfh until at least December, so it still doesn't feel back to normal. I've been getting food shopping delivered for the past couple of months, and I prefer that to real life shopping (for the convenience), so I'll probably stick to doing that in the future.

We've just got back from holiday in Cornwall, which was lovely and it had much fewer reminders about social distancing than in London (where there are signs and adverts all over the place). We travelled back on the train - it wasn't nice to have to wear masks for 5+ hours but I quite liked having two seats to myself, and not have to worry about a stranger sitting next to me (the train companies aren't allowing people to sit in the aisle seats). We went for a pub lunch, which was lovely, though lots of measures in place like one way routes, compulsory use of sanitiser, writing down our own orders so the waiting staff didn't have to spend too long at the table. We also went to a beach (which was quiet) and the Eden Project (which had a one way system and prebooked tickets, but otherwise not too different - no masks).

Most of our usual activities are still closed though, so things can't feel back to normal - museums, galleries, theatre, toddler groups, swimming classes, toddler gym. She has started attending nursery though, which is a good substitute (although very expensive!)

We're spending a lot of time at the zoo (we got a membership) and playgrounds now. I'm taking her on the tube to explore parks further away (but avoiding buses, because only one buggy can fit now, so I could be waiting ages). The tubes are very quiet off peak, which I'm quite enjoying. We've booked to go to a couple of indoor attractions/galleries soon.

NoMoreJunk · 19/07/2020 01:37

Nope.

Just the same for us still....

Still shielding... Have been since 15th March... Will be for afew weeks yet !

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 19/07/2020 01:43

Nope, not in the slightest. I still can't get back to normal with my work (self employed) I'm pregnant so a bit more apprehensive about going out, and can't stand wearing the face mask, it gives me a migraine everytime, so I won't be back at the shops until they have been scrapped. It's a miserable experience now anyway. We used to be out all the time, now my kids have become lazy, and to be honest so have I. I actually think I'm a bit depressed. Also suffer really badly with pregnacy sickness, so that's playing a big part. I actually hate life at the moment.

IdblowJonSnow · 19/07/2020 01:51

No not quite. DH works from home, I'm not working. I meet up w friends but only outside really. Mtg friend for dinner next week but we're going to sit outside.
I've seen my parents once since Feb- and you guessed it - we stayed outside. Generally just lying low for now.

cariadlet · 19/07/2020 21:02

@Climbingallthetrees You might be interested to know that according to the Metro, about 100 people turned up for the Hyde Park demo that @dowser was promoting. It sounds as if - surprise, surprise - there were lots of anti-5G and anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists among them.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 19/07/2020 21:10

Ish - Still WFH with DH but DC in nursery and making an effort to see other people mostly at home or in gardens/parks

Went out to a restaurant for a ladies lunch last week which was fab but no holidays abroad or big nights out.

Life much more normal for DC so happy to put up with it

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