Have you discovered any upsides to the pandemic?

[Blonchette]

I guess I should preface and say I’m being light hearted so I’m not meaning things like better quality of family life etc. Although obviously I hope many have found that.

It’s just that as I was washing my hands earlier for the millionth time today it suddenly occurred to me to wonder if things like incidences of threadworms were down due to increased hygiene. I don’t know if they are or not but it would be a small plus point of the pandemic if they were.

Anything else?

The personal space thing and no strangers next to me on a bus!

Definitely not having to have pointless meetings with clients, not having the requirement to shake hands with strangers, etc. I've not physically met a client for last 16 months and it's bliss.

Beforehand, there was an almost "unwritten rule" that we had to meet clients at least once a year. 90% of the time, there was no need at all. It was just habit/momentum. A lot of the time, it was just for me to reiterate information we'd already given them in letters/reports etc. It was clear that a lot of clients hadn't bothered to read them or were incapable of simple comprehension. I.e. we'd send a letter saying "your tax liability is £1234.56 due on 31 January 2021" and they'd come in for the meeting with that letter in their hand asking us when their next tax bill needed paying and how much it was for!

So much time has been saved, not to mention the fuel that hasn't been used for the pointless travel to/from these pointless meetings.

Oh yes grumbling and swearing under a mask and out door dining we should have always have it, ridiculous that we didn't!
For us being able to hold the in laws at bay...

Parents Evening on zoom - yes!

Agree with lots here, in particular how much time I save by WFH and not commuting.
I remember a similar thread where a poster said she & her DH (who both WFH) had sex every lunchtime, I always think what a great benefit - Good for them!

Was seriously contemplating getting fillers in my thin and wrinkly lips pre-pandemic. Then masks happened.

I remember the moment I stepped outside and looked at the sky at night and could see real actual stars (outskirts of city). This was shortly after the first lockdown. It really emphasised all the pollution in the air we live in, which is one of the reasons we are moving.

@DottyHarmer my children are not isolated thanks they have friends they attend clubs if they choose to and when things open up more will be attending others when it's Covid safe. My eldest however has suffered greatly from enforced socialisation and will only go to what she enjoys not what keeps her up at night losing sleep she's not NT and doesn't need judged by nosey do gooders

I've really enjoyed the opportunity to see streamed plays and other performances and to attend online lectures/courses. I have a low income and can't drive, so I've been able to access cultural activities that I would never have been able to go pre-pandemic, from poetry readings to opera singing classes.

Good point. I’ve really enjoyed online lectures.

One of the highlights for me was a virtual tour of the Jane Austen museum