Anyone else just think it’s great that life is back to “normal”?

[curiousitygotthebetterofme]

After two years of covid restrictions, I mean.

Was just watching Glastonbury and looking at the big crowds of people there, it’s hard to believe we have had so many restrictions over the last two years.

This time in 2020 and even this time last year I never thought we’d get back to this level of normality, well at least not for an extremely long time so I just think it’s wonderful to see everyone back together and enjoying themselves again

It's wonderful being back to normal, and I'm delighted at how quickly the majority of people have returned to 2019 behaviour. I do think the damage and division will take far, far longer to heal after the name calling and judgement on both sides - covidiots, anti-vax etc.

We were really cautious about mixing even after lockdowns ended as DH works with ECV people. However we have started to go out more recently and lo and behold, DH caught covid over the Jubilee weekend and then passed it on to me and adult DS. We missed our holiday as a result - active holiday with another couple so even though technically we could still have gone we didn't think it was wise.

So although, on the face of it, things are back to normal, the reality is many peoples' lives are still being disrupted. Someone told me yesterday there are 8 teachers off with covid at the local secondary school atm.

Yes. I'm just recovering from Covid myself and it doesn't feel normal to me.

Yes! I love it! Going places, seeing people and HUGGING them! Being in a real classroom instead of online, seeing people's actual faces, even just getting on a bus and people-watching... I really appreciate it all and I'm happy we're back to this. I was really scared that people would be too freaked out and terrified.

I appreciate some people are vulnerable - but sadly that's always been the case. If you're vulnerable to covid, you were probably vulnerable to the flu and colds before that. We can't organise society around a small minority of highly vulnerable people, although I do believe that employers and schools etc should try to be as flexible as possible for those people.

We are going to get it every year now, the sooner people treat it like a cold the sooner we will truly be back to normal. The disruption it is causing in schools and travel means I still don't feel like life is normal

Are people actually paying for tests to check if they have got Covid now then?

Yes! And would wash their hands!!

I am always shocked when I do somewhere and there’s someone clearly unwell coughing away 🤮 Like, did you learn anything during the pandemic??!

Yes and I'm really happy that young people new to work can actually go in and learn how to do it. Wfh must have been awful for those starting out. Plus university kids can actually experience going to class and having some social life. I'm hoping the damage done for my son (18) during his disastrous college years - no meeting new people, no work experience which was pretty much the point of it - will not be inflicted on the current cohort.
There will always be vulnerable people and covid has not disappeared. But we need to live with it, keep up with vaccinations and exercise common sense in our behaviour.

These last few months of seeing my DS17 go to gigs, parties, prom, first mates holiday... I am so glad to be back to normal.

Back in those early days of hearing colleagues had passed, seeing the bodies pile up in other countries, I really couldn't see how we'd ever be here.

But I do know it has come at a terrible cost for some.

Nope. Ran out of tests when I had it in Feb and not had anymore since.

None of the household has had symptoms anyway

Can you share the studies, please?

I find this fascinating. Covid doesn't factor into my life at all now. I don't think about it. I would never test now, even with symptoms. My life is completely back to normal. Loving school plays and work conferences and concerts.

Absolutely. Glastonbury would be my idea of hell but for those who love it, it’s great that they are there and enjoying themselves. Agree with PP about conferences, pictures taken with large groups of friends, seeing peoples FACES and expressions. Love it!

I don't think it's back to normal fully, but am grateful for the things that are possible.

Normality to me requires almost no-one with Covid (not there yet) and the end of this government.

That will never happen. There will likely never (at least in our lifetime) be a time when there is almost no one with covid. It’s get on with normality now or never.

Yes, before seeing my parents. My dad's just had cancer and is 75, it's sensible. Not for anything else, though I would if someone asked.

I know quite a few people with Covid at the moment, so clearly people are still testing when they're ill.

There are plenty of jobs where people are still testing too.

Lockdowns prevented tens of thousands of deaths and severe disease before vaccinations were available. Don't you remember April 2020 and January 2021? My local hospital ran out of oxygen. The NHS would not have coped at all if we'd had a Covid wave like we've had with Omicron.

We were so, so fortunate to get vaccinations so quickly. If we hadn't, we would have stayed in that 2021 limbo until we did.

Yes it’s great to be back to normal and whilst it was truly awful I think my quality of life has improved because of it. I would work insanely long hours and have a big commute, as a result I ate crap, was overweight and never saw my family and friends. Lockdown gave me time at home and let me cook healthy it made me appreciate a work life balance and the lack of social contact made me really appreciate my friends and family. I work much more reasonable hours now- I don’t think I would have had that realisation without lockdown.

I agree OP. Lovely to have everything open again, be able to go out and about in groups, go to dinner, shop, visit an exhibition, attend a festival, a sports fixture, and to travel freely again. So happy to be able to run with my group again, run races with hundreds of others, go back to my exercise class.

Above all, I'm delighted to see my kids returned to their normal, sociable selves, able to attend school, hang out with their friends in the park, go to birthday parties, play matches, have sleepovers and school trips.

I had Covid in Jan, suffered from long Covid symptoms of coughing and congestion for months, still struggling with fatigue sometimes, but absolutely delighted that life is back to normal.

I hated all the threads that were over dramatic and acted like we were going to stay locked down forever so we must protest else we’ll lose all control over our lives etc etc

Some things aren’t fully back to normal (I still can’t get a dentist appointment after waiting for 2 years) but most things are and I feel quite happy? nostalgic? when I think back to how different it was.

I had to drive on the motorway to get to work during lockdown and the entire road was so empty the entire time that I could stop my car and take a video of the deers on the side of the road - it feels like it was all a dream now!

I’m proud that myself and so many others stuck to the rules and I’ve come to the realisation that some people are just purely selfish by nature like if they hear there’s a petrol or toilet roll shortage they’ll panic buy so no one else can have it.
And the pandemic showed me how many good, unselfish people there are in this world.

I always said I won’t forget to appreciate doing things like meeting family and friends but I think I’ve started to take it for granted again so I’m glad you started this thread OP.

Yes, I was at a tribute rock concert at my local concert hall this weekend, and it was my first one without masks, without distancing, etc. People were dancing in the aisles, having drinks in the auditorium, whooping and cheering and singing along with favourite songs.
It was such a wonderful buzz and uplift, such a total return to normal life, that I felt almost tearful. One hopes that a regular vaccine booster program will prevent any further lockdowns.

Not really sitting here pretty cross - have missed a massive family wedding this weekend as have caught covid for first time. If only simple restrictions were in place this might have been avoided. Also missing major work event next week. It's not over.

I still keep my distance in crowded areas out if habit now, but never liked people in 'my space'. Nevertheless I do hug people I know and don't worry at all about crowded places as such. It's glorious and feels like we've been released from prison.

They're still free here so I keep a couple in just encase. I would only test if I was going to see my Nana or my grandfather and would then just reschedule with them

Its not back to normal. I work for the NHS and we worked 10 times as hard as usual during covid and well above our pay grades. Our managers now think we should work like this all of the time without any extra pay.
Everything is unaffordable.
I've had to ditch my car and drive a tiny two seater in order to be able to afford petrol to get to work.
The economy is a mess and there is a recession coming.
My DS and DiL have had to move in with me, they are in their 40's, because rent and the cost of living are too much for them to be able to manage and we have made the arrangement permanent so we can split the bills three ways in order to be able to manage.
i have friends who are permanently disabled with long covid and whose lives will never be the same.
Festivals are no good to us, we can't afford to go to festivals or on holiday.