To think everyone is going to get very fed up with all this?

[cantata]

The thought of John Lewis dumping a washer-dryer on my doorstep and expecting me to remove the old (integrated) one and carry and plumb in the new one makes me wonder.

AIBU to think we're going to get fed up with this social distancing malarkey before very long?

(I hate it anyway, as I need people around me for my sanity. And not my teenagers 24/7).

My sister had a household appliance delivered/fitted a few days ago.
She had to open the front door once she saw the van arrive, go into her bedroom and shut the door (bungalow). They then brought the appliance in, did the swap over, used her bathroom to wash themselves and left, leaving masks and gloves double bagged outside. She had received these instructions by text beforehand.
But she doesn't know what to do with the double bagged stuff, she's hidden it behind her bins, pinned down by a large stone.
We'll figure out the ways and means as we go along.

We also had to have a new washing machine this week (AO if that makes a difference, ffs). I had to help my husband carry it in and we were both saying that it would be very difficult for people living on their own.

I don't know what the alternative is at the moment with this particular knotty issue of clothes washing because a) none of us could go out to a launderette, b) we don't all conveniently live in 'pairs' and c) most of us (I imagine) don't own a mangle so hand washing on a grand scale would be next to impossible and give rise to damp in the house.

There are some things that are just going to be very difficult. I don't see why some posters don't understand that/can't put themselves in somebody else's shoes for a second? It's annoying reading those smug posts and pointless in equal measure.

I don't know what to suggest, cantata, other than do it in short bursts. I can't imagine what it's like trying to navigate a broken foot though, ouch!

AO have cancelled all installations, we were notified in advance.

The advantage of the broken foot, Lying, is that I'm spectacularly excited by the prospect of having my cast removed next month. I will get to leave the house and go into another big house (i.e. the hospital) and talk to real, live human beings. If I'm really lucky, I'll also get to speak to a receptionist from a distance of 2 metres.

Unless I'm going to have to look up 'how to remove your own cast' on You Tube, too.

I think the reality of it hit me yesterday when me and my (fellow keyworker) DS went to Sainsbury's, him to collect his prescription and me to shop for my parents and grandmother). Only one of us was allowed in the store, and I knew what was needed in the grocery aisles but hadn't a list, so he couldn't do both shopping and prescription. Normally this would be fine, but I have a particularly bad sciatica flare up at the moment and the bending and taking heavy items off the shelf etc would have been so much less painful with his help. I realise in the grand scheme of things this is minor, and I know the reason it's being enforced, but it was unexpected (no signs up at the door, only found out after queuing for 45 minutes to go in that only one of us could go in - that 45 minutes I could have sat in the car and then swapped places in the queue if I had known, which would have been less painful).

I also noticed the different approaches pharmacies are taking. I collected my nan's meds in the week and didn't have to sign for them at Asda; Sainsburys are still asking for a signature).

The thought of John Lewis dumping a washer-dryer on my doorstep and expecting me to remove the old (integrated) one and carry and plumb in the new one makes me wonder

Agree OP. My cooker is broken, disconnecting old cooker dragging it downstairs then lugging new one upstairs - I'm tired at the thought of it. When I heard lockdown was immininent I rushed out bought one of those 2 ring plug in camping mini cookers. It'll just have to do for now. & despite understanding why all this is happening yes I'm very fed up, I'm sure many others feel the same

Of course people are getting fed up with it. I'm in early recovery from alcoholism, have diagnosed severe and enduring mental health problems, live on my own with no family for hundreds of miles, and cannot see my children who are in temporary foster care.
So, yeah, the situation sucks like hell for everyone. We all have a story to tell. But, if your MH is reliant upon going out and about to see people then you could use this time constructively to work on your emotional resilience.

I'm sorry to hear that, Dipi.

My emotional resilience has been a bit battered by XH abusing our children, the divorce from Hell, repeated ill health, and redundancy. Among other things. It doesn't much feel like taking another battering now. I'd rather see my friends (and my partner, who doesn't live with me).

Please, do NOT mess with gas cookers. Not only it is dangerous, it will also invalidate insurance as far as I was told.

@ChilliMayo put it in a bin. It's not radioactive

@cantata, I hear you, as would far rather be able to see people and my children. I guess because I can't afford my MH to slide, I just, I don't know, have somehow adapted.
I really do feel for you having, been isolated with teenagers. Can you lock them in the back yard for some peace?!

I don’t know why people keep bringing up Ann Frank but if she could get through it and come out the other side, we can do this

Just double checked and launderettes are currently open, if anyone needs one.

I think this is a really intesting topic and thank you for posting it catata. I think it is sad that there is so much vitriol directed towards people who say they are really struggling, and who allude to the great taboo of whether these measures are worth it in the long run. I think it is sad too that things are made to feel so binary - I don't think it's true that you are either an arsehole who wants to kill off all the elderly and vulnerable, or a saint for sticking to the rules. I think that most (not all, but most) people who are sticking to the rules religiously, and berating others for not doing so, are those for whom it is relatively easy. Massively inconvenient, scary, and a new normal yes, but having to sacrifice your own sanity or mental health or 100% of your livelihood permanently? No.

I am currently sitting in my very little hostel room, listening to the stoner guy next door angrily beating hard on my wall because he can hear my TV (which is on low). This is happening more and more now every day and he's getting increasingly irate. I am scared of him. I am a recovering alcoholic who fell off the wagon last week as all my support ,including my AA meetings, have been taken away. I do feel like I am collateral damage in his situation. No one asked me - there was a referendum about Brexit but not about this. There comes a point where I have to consider my needs as an individual against the "greater good" and given that the strong advice given is only strong advice; I am starting to think about going against it for the sake of my own safety and sanity.

*this situation, not his.

cantata The dead will be upset to know you're being inconvenienced.

People are absolutely hypocritical about this mythical "greater good". On one hand, having a go and swearing at people for daring to leave their house twice or saying that they cba with lockdown. There are usually the people who are scared to death about someone vulnerable close to them and expect everyone else to put the "greater good" above their own problems.

On the other hand, most posters uninamously agreed on the "should I drive from Yorkshire to London to pick up my homesick adult daughter" thread that they would do it if it was their child. So the greater good goes out of the window there, if it's suddenly your own family on the other side.

Everyone is selfish in the end, do what you need to do for your own sanity.

The dead will be upset to know you're being inconvenienced.

Well......they literally won't.

Social Distancing Stasi? Dear God when is it going to sink in??

We're all in the same boat. Not ideal but hardly a hardship at the moment. Think yourself lucky that's your biggest concern

Whilst it is very much a first world problem the OP describes and I don't feel anything to add to that, to answer the simple question, yes people will become increasingly fed up with social distancing.

The government being late in acting and not doing things such as providing enough PPE for doctors will make people feel less willing in some cases to follow the guidance.

I'm definitely fed up of spoilt whingers, yes.

@hardboiledeggs, but not everyone is in the same boat. It will be harder for some then others. Some people will be living in small flats versus those in big houses with large gardens. Some people have to wfh, with no childcare - others may have a parent staying at Home already and not working and therefore not such an issue. Some people have MH issues which will be massively trigged by this. Some people will have lost their jobs/income. The OP ( @cantata) sounds she has had a torrid time. This is a real inconvenience for her.

TheArch yes a fair bit of that

To some of the more recent posters (with notable exceptions, obviously): if you have read beyond my OP, you will also realise that I am struggling with quite severe MH problems, among other things. You will also realise that I am asking a legitimate question which has very little to do with domestic appliances per se.

If you haven't read beyond my OP, I suggest you do. There are many thoughtful contributions from other posters which make for a more nuanced discussion about this issue.

LastTrainEast, I'll be putting money on the dead being too busy being dead to be bothering themselves with me.

Jovial, thank you for posting. I am really sorry that you are going through this, and that your support has been taken from you. These are the kinds of stories that I think will (sadly) become the really big news once the drama has abated.

Beijing, I read that thread too. I was surprised by the responses, given the hysteria on here about how going for a second walk in an isolated field might cause 1,000 deaths - but your explanation makes sense.