‘Treating isolation like a holiday’

[Theyearofthestress]

Everyone is so angry and it’s doing my head in! Taking the mick out of people ‘treating this as a holiday’ because they’re doing their house up, or some gardening or god forbid have a bbq when the weather is nice.

Why are some people so keen to pounce on everyone and tell them they aren’t doing quarantine right? Haven’t we got enough to worry about? It is shit times for everyone, lots have lost their jobs, have huge changes to routine, worried for their health, kids are confused, adults are scared- why is it so wrong to try and make the most out of a shit situation?

We can’t go outside, so people are doing the right thing by staying in yet online everywhere are people complaining ‘Dave next door is treating this like a bloody holiday, with his gardening’ even a news article I read today condemned people who would have a bbq right now.

It’s like we should sit inside in silence in order to be doing this right.

I wish everyone would shut up moaning about other people, if you are staying inside you are doing the right thing. So AIBU to do whatever I can to pass the time, be it gardening, bbqs, painting... anything and tell others to mind their own business?

I've ordered a bunch of stuff to clean my terrace and some humongous flower pots plus a tiny table and two chairs for me and DD to sit on out there. It over looks the now deserted high street. Never really appreciated it until now lol so I'm using this time to give it some TLC.

B&Q employee here 🙋‍♀️

I have nothing against people who are doing jobs that they already had the stuff to do. Last weekend working was horrendous though. The store was rammed, people were ignoring all requests to socially distance and they invade the cashier's space as well as each others just to buy paint and plants.

I'm grateful they've gone to a contact free click and collect service for essential items only. We're only staying open for that so we can provide things which keep homes safe but the unrelenting complaints about not being able to buy compost are hard to deal with on a daily basis and understandably breed resentment in those who are unable to be at home with their families.

Some (a minority), seem to think misery is a virtue.

Although to be fair, I think they may only be coming across that way as they are struggling with the general stress and anxiety of the situation

you can have a BBQ provided that you don't invite anyone round, don't waste food, don't smoke out the neighbours and don't set anything on fire. (the last 3 apply at any time) Although why you would want to if you have a functioning kitchen is beyond me.

you can go out on foot or on bikes in your family group ONLY, or in a group of 2 max. You keep enough space between you and others for a dead six foot man to lie down between you. Or a large horse to stand in the gap if you want a more cheerful measure.

you can do DIY with materials and equipment that you already have, and without making antisocial noise or disturbance. The second part always applies.

you have unlimited drinkable water, a roof and a functioning toilet. How lucky are we in the UK?

YADNBU, I plan to do some decorating and have signed up for some online guitar lessons, I’m also working from home so have the cash to buy a cheap guitar.

I think it may be partly due to stress and worries about money for people who are complaining. Some people are incredibly fearful and probably think we should all stay indoors rocking back and forth with worry until this is over.

Misery loves company and some people want everyone else to undergo some kind of collective penance.

I get most irked by 2 sets of posters on mumsnet: those who want to define “essential” and make judgements on what others are buying in the supermarket and those who haven’t actually read the government guidelines far less the legislation.

It’s a whole new form of virtue signalling. Who can do the pandemic best?

These same posters also don’t seem to realise that the economy has collapsed around our ears

@Al1Langdownthecleghole you think you’re safe because you’re not smiling? So irresponsible of you!! Don’t you realise it can be spread via eye contact?? I avert my gaze when I bump into family round the house, because I actually CARE about them

I think it's extremely inconsiderate to use noisy power tools at the moment when everyone is mainly stuck at home with cabin fever

Oh dear, Dh has just spent several hours power washing the patio and all the pots and garden furniture in preparation for the summer which we will no doubt be spending in the garden.

Although why you would want to if you have a functioning kitchen is beyond me.

😱 Because it tastes different and with the weather we had, it's awesome to sit out and have a little bbq. We always wait after houses around close their windows

I’m having a great time. I’ve got loads of decorating done, learning a new language, cooking food I’ve not had time to try before, finishing my studying etc. Starting to wonder why stahp moan so much! My house is a palace after all this cleaning.

We've been pottering about in the garden. I re-varnished the decking boards yesterday and dp made a sunken fire pit area. If we're in lockdown I want to enjoy my garden.

I have loads of books that i haven't had time to read, two puzzles that i haven't has time to complete. I'm also planning on buying veg seeds when I next go to a supermarket for my veg patch.

I feel very sorry for people in flats with DC and no garden. I feel sorry for people losing their jobs and I feel utter admiration for NHS staff. I'm very fortunate that my job role allows me to WFH and not do face to face contacts now. That doesn't mean I can't stand down my decking boards and enjoy my home. If I lived in a flat without a garden (like I used to for 11 years with two dc) I would make the most of it in other ways.

Some people are so overwhelmed with anxiety at the moment that they are trying to exhort control over others behaviours as all of their control to keep themselves and their families safe has been taken from them/us all.

I have the opposite problem, I work from home in my garden, my neighbors all work but now don’t....that are going to hate me!! But I’m still open and still need to work...although I do feel sorry for them as I use powder tools...but what can I do?

Our whole street was out gardening this week. Dh mowed and weeded and even did some cement work he had everything in and waiting for nice weather.
Kids next door were out on the trampoline and all the gardens had lines full of washing.
Lady across the way resealed her driveway and did loads of planting.
Not much point in being a misery and affecting your own mental health negatively.
Doing all these things keep people going and make the days go faster.

I get most irked by 2 sets of posters on mumsnet: those who want to define “essential” and make judgements on what others are buying in the supermarket

If you are talking about a thread I am thinking about, the OP wasn't judging what people put in their baskets with their shop for essentials. The judgment went to people who came in for one thing, sometimes number of times a day. Which people really shouldn't do atm. That's common sense.

" Last weekend working was horrendous though. The store was rammed, people were ignoring all requests to socially distance and they invade the cashier's space as well as each others just to buy paint and plants."

So why wasn't it closed or limiting people or enforcing social distancing as supermarkets have?

I've been working at home. I quite like hearing all the lawnmowers and things - a reminder that there are other people nearby, even if we cannot have a chat in the street at moment. Normally when I WFH, I can hear the children playing in the school playground which cheers me up. Sadly no longer.

I have spent a lot of time decorating the house, mind you, the paint was already at home when this kicked in.

I wouldn’t dream of using delivery slots to order more paint or supplies for the garden as that is not urgent or essential and I don’t want to use that very needed delivery capacity or unnecessarily risk the health of delivery drivers, in fact, I think they shouldn’t be delivering anything that is not essential, why put them at risk just because people are bored? We can choose what we like and order it after this crisis.

@Mysterian - love your post!

We have been gardening and a couple of weeks ago we bought a large DIY order from Wickes for a garden project, compost bags, paint for inside and out to do the much put of decorating. I managed to get my washing dry all week so all good. Even got DH to tidy up some sports stuff he won't be using.

@Genderwitched that’s absolutely fine, people can use household tools and appliances. Some people expect perfect silence from their neighbours all the time 🙄 enjoy your lovely clean patio!

I agree

It’s called making the best of it

And it’s precisely what I’m trying to do

I had someone on a Facebook group moan that I said we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst when it comes to the length of time we will be in lockdown.
Everyone is really ratty though, more so than usual, and it's not surprising really, it's cabin fever. In fact I think the mardier the person, the more they're actually observing the lockdown as they should.
I've used the time to sort my garden out, to have a good wardrobe clear out and to read and phone friends for the first time in years instead of a quick WhatsApp.
We all spend it how we will, I feel for those who are literally just sitting looking at four walls rather than using the time to do stuff they had put off. But if they wish to martyr themselves I suppose it's up to them

@diddl thanks to the selfish British public they have closed altogether as people would not stick to ANY sort of social distancing.....so all those 'started' projects are now abandoned halfway through!!!

no paint on c and c....no compost....spoilt fro everyone

If you are doing things in the house such as DIY that is fine.
If you are going to the countryside on a car journey to walk the dogs or for a walk instead of near your house, not fine in my opinion.

The important thing is not being out of the house for long, and keeping social distancing.

I agree I feel like the lockdown has brought out a lot of judgemental comments from all sides. Lots of people not being understanding of each others situations.