So tomorrow, I am going for a coffee and a browse in the shops.

[Fairydustrust]

Want to come? I think start off with a lovely coffee and just watch the people rushing by....then what next?

This thread makes me cry a little (but in a good way).

I won't be joining those at the shops, although it sounds lovely. I'll be at soft play with DD then we will meet up with DP for lunch at a family friendly chain which hadn't closed for good. After lunch it's some family theatre for the three of us which is sold out and all the kids in the audience are excited and DD sings and dances along. Quick pop back home and DM will come to babysit (and DD can actually hug her) while DP and I head out to a gig to sing and dance in a sweaty room and be a couple again not just mum and dad.

This also makes me a little but tearful (maybe partly due to the Prosecco earlier this evening ), but I’m 100% up for almost everything you’re planning (might pass on the cat cafe as I’m slightly allergic). A friend of mine has a theory that all this is going to be followed by a new version of the roaring 20s, ie a party decade, so here’s hoping! 🍹🍸🥂

Sorry I can't make it as I'll be getting my nails done before jetting off to Cyprus for two weeks with my girlfriends.

Ooh can we try the new (to me) Turkish restaurant in Cardiff? And check out the kitchen accessories in Tyger. I'd love to see if the quaint little independent cafe is s hiding away in the Bay. Maybe we could take a trip across the park on the waterbus and finish the day with marshmallows from Hotel Chocolat?

Hope you all have a fabulous day out and I look forward to hearing all about it when I get back from feeling the warmth of the Mediterranean sun on my face for a few days having been for lots of cafe stops along the sea front in her adopted hometown (coffee, beer or wine at said seafront cafes depending on the time of day) and long walks with my Mum as not seen her in 14 months so we've a lot of chat and hugs to catch up on.

I’m jumping on the train and heading to an london art exhibition with my dad. We’ll have a lovely nerdy few hours in a gallery followed by a really good dinner in soho and then a bottle of fancy french rose, pale pink and bone dry, as we people watch and the city evening comes alive around us. The sun will be shining and the warm summer streets will be full of happy, tipsy people spilling out of the victorian pubs onto the pavements. There will be people hugging, drinks spilt, apologies, packed and sweaty ‘excuse me, sorry!’ trips to the bar, dancing, sharing cigarettes with strangers.

Thanks Dyra I might see you in Next .
You just reminded me that I need a few more glasses as I’ve got my work mates coming over next weekend for a few drinks as we weren’t able to get together at Christmas. Think a dozen more should do it .

I hear that there is a lovely artisan market on a Sunday, full of handmade wares and tasty food. Oh! Maybe we could go to the aquarium afterwards?

I can meet you for a coffee - but will be doing the rest of the day out with my best mate. We'll be going for lunch later on, after having a good look in all the second-hand book shops, and a look in Fatface and Seasalt shops in Dorchester....We will be taking a walk by the sea after and stopping to chat to people without masks on

Ooooh can I join you? Although I might have to leave early to get ready for a gig I'm off to later.

Yes I will be shopping for Glastonbury I need new wellies and everything

I’m going to hop on a bus to meet my brother who for some reason I’ve only seen for 15 mins (and outside his house weirdly he wouldn’t let me in!) in a year. He’s having chemo so important I see him and give him lots of big long hugs and just kind hug him again and remember our parents both of whom have died over the last few years.
Meet him at favourite restaurant. Make plans for future meet ups.
Then hopping on a train at Paddington with small suitcase with dp and friends down on a sunny coast for a few days.
Then Back to busy work. Lots of impromptu post work dinner/drinks.
Oh have to book next season of stuff and check everything is sorted for the great holiday comping up in a few weeks.
Busy few days coming up eh ?

Oh yes a train to London, first class if we are splurging, then two galleries and afternoon tea at Fortnums, a mooch around Liberty, a raid on Cornellisons, a black cab to the first class lounge at the station.

Justification for excess : I have spent NOTHING and been NOWHERE for a year

I’m going to the local indépendant bookshop to breath in that book smell, grab some new reads then go to my local small chain coffee shop for the best flat white ever and a slice of their amazing coffee cake. Suitably refreshed I’m going for a wander around the big m&s, followed by next for some new jeans. Probably also a new handbag and shoes and both are looking a bit ropey.
Then I’m hoping on a bus to my mums house as I haven’t seen her in over a year. We will hug and eat more cake and put the world to rights. Followed by a family BBQ at my brothers house in the evening where all the cousins get to run around and play together. I’m probably going to get to drunk to drive so will stay in his spare room. Then home on Sunday for a get together with my friends before DD can get an early night coz it’s up and out on the school bus Monday morning. She’s got her year 6 residential later this week as well.

@User2921

Does anyone mind if I take a sip of their cocktail to see if I like it before I commit?

End my guest as your offering hugs! I plan on having a few so plenty of sampling opportunities!

Lots of lovely options on the thread, but nothing beats hugs.

I live alone. Not many hugs this year...

@WingingIt101

I’m in! I like all the suggestions so far but I really don’t mind. I’d just like to go places with people and show off my gorgeous baby who was born just as lockdown one hit. So that’s my addition to the list, people cooing over her and telling me what a beautiful little baby she is please!

Oh I'm in!! I'll happily have her for(ever) a bit while you shop or watch a movie... baby snuggles...mmmmmm

Yes - really craving long holding hugs with loved ones. There will be tears.
Hugs everyone.

Ooh, it's a Sunday, so who wants to join for a huge pub lunch? I'm going to order the extra sides like cauliflower cheese too if anyone wants to share? It's cold enough out that I hope they have the fire going in there, we'll try and get that lovely big take next to the fire. I'll bring the newspaper for the crossword too 🙂

I am going to uber it into town, have a coffee in an independent coffee shop where someone takes my order, have a mooch in John Lewis and TK Maxx then a glass of wine in a bar.
Alone.
And then lunch at The Ivy with a friend.
No hugs...I don't like them. Just good conversation. Oh and makeup on.

Btw had dinner ‘out’ last night with friends. I booked a table via zoom. All had zoom background of interior of a favourite restaurant we go to a lot. We all ordered from a menu (waiter stayed strangely off camera) ordered replacement drinks (oddly we had to go and get!) and then ate (strange mix of lockdown bits and bobs on that menu now). People nipped down to the loo every now and then. I was ‘seated’ at one of my fave seats looking out into one of my fave streets (seemed to be summer in the photo?!). Honestly although it had elements of craziness we talked in a way as if we were there just eating and drinking and catching up. Old times.
We texted when we got home. Some got home very quickly !
In a small way I feel I went out to dinner last night.
Now sorting out photos of other restaurants and bars we go to for future bookings.

I'm taking my friend for afternoon tea at the best place in the city for the big birthday she had in Lockdown 1. A potter round the shops afterwards sounds good, maybe try some clothes on, lots of laughter and hugs.

This has actually made me emotional! I need to get a grip.

@HeronLanyon

Btw had dinner ‘out’ last night with friends. I booked a table via zoom. All had zoom background of interior of a favourite restaurant we go to a lot. We all ordered from a menu (waiter stayed strangely off camera) ordered replacement drinks (oddly we had to go and get!) and then ate (strange mix of lockdown bits and bobs on that menu now). People nipped down to the loo every now and then. I was ‘seated’ at one of my fave seats looking out into one of my fave streets (seemed to be summer in the photo?!). Honestly although it had elements of craziness we talked in a way as if we were there just eating and drinking and catching up. Old times. We texted when we got home. Some got home very quickly ! In a small way I feel I went out to dinner last night. Now sorting out photos of other restaurants and bars we go to for future bookings.

That sounds brilliant!!

This sounds great! My bestie and I will see you in the bookshops and cafes for sure. And possibly in the cinema later, we’re planning to watch a horror film and then back to hers to drink Prosecco and watch old sitcoms until we’ve recovered

I can join you the next day for a spa though. The DC will be at my parents’ for about the next six months if my DM has anything to say about it, so I’m a free agent and DH will be out for a curry with his mates followed by a tennis tournament the next day. I want to come to the spa and get every kind of massage they do.

What an absolutely beautiful thread.

Lovely bit of source material for historians in the past - all this normal activity that became the stuff of fantasy.