Look for a silver lining wherever you can (lighthearted)

[Allaboutthepizza]

AIBU in thinking that one good thing that's come of all this CV nightmare, is that the wider MN community will have at least been spared eleventy billion threads on what to buy for a teacher's gift this year...

@StandingStrongForNow this must be lovely for you! My DP works away (still will be) and I miss him a great deal when he’s gone.

The roads are a lot clearer making my commute to work a lot smoother (I’m a nurse so no working from home).

No threads on MN about how disappointed they are with the Mother’s Day present they got.

Less Eastenders.

I'm hugely reavaluating what I spend my money on. So much of it is/was completely unnecessary.

Gym membership, manicures, trips away, expensive clothes, facials and expensive toiletries and make up, first class travel, holidays...

Also, being at home (supply teacher so no work) and not being able to go to the gym, the cinema, for a day out etc has meant I have completely relaxed and no longer pressure myself to be doing 'stuff' all the time.

I'm now meditating, walking every day or exercising using YouTube, I wear nice comfy clothes, read, phone my family, watch films, garden, etc.

I'm finding it so liberating!

(obviously I will feel differently if any of my family are ill)

@Justmuddlingalong the downside to the delicious bread is that you end up eating 3/4 of the loaf in one sitting because it's so fresh and delicious. Sainsbury's have a delicious muesli loaf, Tesco express Sourdough loaf is yummy too.

I love this thread. I’m self isolating as 8 weeks pregnant. So far, I’m enjoying the extra time with DCs - films, cards, board games etc. DS9 has a massively committed ‘hobby’ which means that he’s out of the house from 7.45-6.30 most days in term time so he’s enjoying the enforced downtime.
We’re about to move house on Friday (fingers crossed it can all still happen) so am able to take my time packing up rather than rushing it in the evenings.

Best of all, we are no longer going to live with my ILs for 2 months while we’re in between houses!! Such a shame but couldn’t put their health at risk. We live in Cornwall and a friend now has a beautiful holiday cottage standing empty so we’re going to live there instead. Gutted for her business but glad we can pay her a steady rent for a few months.

@lightlypoached I have something in my eye....
How lovely.

Just had a new copy of the phone book posted through the door.

I've put it in the almost empty loo roll cupboard.

The Mumsnet haircut will make a comeback, surely, and the previous growing out the grey hair threads will come in useful.

Yeah. I’m going to grow my greys out. It’s such a treadmill of appointments. I can always re-dye it in 3 months if I decide I don’t like it.

I'm saving money on petrol, coffee and unnecessary trips to the supermarket. I can also get up an hour later and still start work at the same time and, because of no evening commute, I can study in that time rather than using family time.

All this self isolating means I can't just nip to the supermarket to buy chocolate, crisps and other shite when I can't be arsed to cook. This will be great for my waistline and my blood pressure 👍

I'm very glad I have grown out my greys already!

In an empty park I had great fun playing "football" (her own unique version) with dd2. I'm looking forward to doing some indepwndence/life skills with her, she has SEN.

i hav been able to decorate my house

I've mastered the perfect poached egg, can grow my fringe out, and have (finally) cleaned my balcony doors/ window.

My DH has finally stepped throught the door of a supermarket (his job means v long days normally).
I work in the NHS and things that normally take 6 months to be agreed and changed are being done in hours.
Oh, and no DMIL for a few weeks

I've mastered kneading dough and have so far made two batches of very edible bread rolls. Very proud of myself. Now I'm going to pick up my knitting for a bit - normally I would be rushing around doing laundry and nagging for homework to be done, but laundry basket is empty and DS doesn't have to wear uniform when he returns to school tomorrow.

Lovely positive thread OP ....

I’m working my way through a long list of backlogged jobs: starting to paint the bathroom tomorrow. The house has never been so clean and tidy and DH and I are actually getting on pretty well.

We’re actually relaxing and enjoying life instead of dashing round trying to do stuff all the time.

I am dramatically re-evaluating what I spend my money on and realising a lot of it is unnecessary.

I’m glad to be alive.

I've a few. A lot of anxiety has actually decreased in me. I've OCD, so it's my normal to be worried about contamination, others, cleanliness, harm that can come from dealing with other people which I know sounds like a terrible thing to say, but last week when I absolutely needed to go out, and I've no longer got sanitiser, I wore some plastic gloves. H was furious that I was showing him up...when we got to the council offices (weve had to apply for benefits) all the staff were wearing the same. So if anything I feel less inconspicuous.

Our tenancy agreement has said if we go on benefits or any renting s late by two weeks were pretty much out. Spoke to landlord, who's always been nice, but I was fearful we would be chucked out. His response to us was so lovely I cried. He offered us a rent break or a reduced rent for a few months. Weve said we appreciate it but definitely will do all we can to make the payments (plan is to scrimp on everything else to ensure rent is fully paid, and that the essentials to get to work are in order like car insurance for travelling to interviews & work)
I've lived in fear for 3.5 years that he would get better tenants but I feel like hes happy with us here now.

We also have time for gardening and to repaint the house =) =) weve got quite a bit of paint knocking about

And I'm losing weight being at home

Can I just ask - have you all been self isolating for ages?
We finished school on Friday, and weekend was pretty normal, today is the first day of the new regime.

When have you had time for all these new changes?
We were going full on most of last week, even as things were being cancelled.

My silver liing from today - car got washed. 2 bored teens decided that was their helpful job of the day. Not sure how much it needed washing, and we aren't going anywhere, but hey, it's clean now

I have reached the end of the ironing pile! Coming across my Christmas apron was a bit shameful, but by the end it was last summer's shorts and frocks!

No Eastenders is not good !!

Daily emails to my parents who are 70+ and in lock down in France. It's been nice to have that chat.

A neighbour came to check if we were all OK and needed help, he was knocking 9n the whole street, so a sense of community and people caring for others.

The suns come out (well today at least) and I can sit in the garden, whilst working from home obviously

I have just attended my first 'choir practice' in 2 years. Something I haven't been able to do due to childcare... But I can join a virtual choir. I had no idea there was such a thing.

I have a crazy long list of jobs from almost finished projects - dc bedroom needs a few bits, bathroom needs a few bits done, lounge, dining, kitchen so that will take up a week at current pace. Bigger projects like finally getting round to making the bathroom blind and tiling the floor are ready to go.

The ironing pile. Say no more.

Finally getting up to date with household admin, gonna top up the compost heap with shredded paper

No eating out = I've already saved £100 this month. Plus no commuting costs, I can pay off my overdraft!