To think it's absolutely fine to treat this as a holiday

[LaurieFairyCake]

If you're observing all government rules

Honestly, whatever it takes to get you through this is FINE

Whether you're skipping down the street on your daily exercise, dressing up like a frog to go on your daily walk, sitting in your garden under a parasol listening to Rachmaninov, cycling in a mankini..

WHATEVER floats your boat within the rules have at it.

We all need just to get through this as no one has had to do this for 3 generations

So yes, if you can tell yourself you're on holiday - fine

Thats true at any time though. People are always grieving and dying. And the world was a shit show long before this, when covid19 was still a twinkle in a bat's eye.

Yes, that has some truth. But a lot more people are dying than normal. Plus they are dying alone, people cannot sit with their loved ones as they pass away. You can’t visit your mum in hospital. People are alone and scared.

The "couple dancing in public" are 2 morons seeking publicity and not respecting current rules, that's another issue.

How were they not respecting the rules?

Did they drive to an out of area park for their exercise?

I like it.

No uniforms to wash, no birthday parties to chauffeur to, no sports matches to ferry to and from and cheer at, no school meetings or admin to deal with, no activities to schedule, NO PLAYDATES, no hair/beauty apts to fit in between everything else. No wasting a fortune on takeaways or clothes.

Just nice to step off the treadmill of life.

I agree with this. I have been on the verge of getting a panic attack and I constantly feel this pressure in my chest from the anxiety but the few hours today in the sun listening to music, cleaning up our patio and enjoying the garden actually made me forget for a moment. It felt like what a normal sunny easter break from work would have been like.

We live rurally so generally speaking my days remains the same regardless. I am enjoying having family at home and we are getting lots done.

We do have a small family business off farm which cannot operate due to lack of supplies and suppliers. Thus no money coming in although we do have a small buffer which will keep the mortgage paid for a couple of months.

However, we have been subject to some rather unfortunate negative (to the point of abuse) communications from a neighbour several days ago. We are aware of ''curtain-twitching'' going on.

Our property is quite open and we know our movements are monitored. Previously any contractors coming to our property would be photographed even if they were in our company. Yesterday as I rode my horse (intending to move stock) I wouldn't have been out for very long and I receive a message demanding to know who the horse rider was ... that they don't know.

I'm not talking about the older generation either, a couple in their late 40's early 50's.

I can only assume their alcohol consumption has increased...

Agreed - just wish I could be paid 80% of my salary to sit around doing nothing rather than actually having to try to work from home with 4 teenagers in the house.

Love this OP, so many people slating others. Everyone's situation is different and people react in different ways... So refreshing to see someone considering other people's circumstances. As you said whatever it takes to get you through this shit storm.. mine is gin

Possibly I’m just really confused by this thread (working more hours than ever before, work/life balance has gone, feel constantly on the verge of offing myself), but honestly if someone out there is having a good time then bloody hell, go them!

No. No, no, no, no no.

If people start cycling in mankinis , there really will be a mental health crisis. And a bruised balls crisis too, I expect.

I've had a little cry this evening. Today was so bloody lovely. Me and DP took the day off from chores and other stuff. Watched TV in bed till mid-day, took the dogs out for a walk in the fields in the sun, came home and put the picnic blanket out in the garden, ate Magnums from last summer that were in the freezer then had a bbq with some meat from the freezer and leftover salad and scraps and watched a crappy movie. I've turned off all social media today and it felt so bloody normal.

there will be times when you won't have it so easy, so definitely enjoy the positive aspects of this time

^ This.

It's so important for people's mental health to take note of any small positives arising from this situation - I think this will be key to our resilience which will in turn aid our survival.

I think it's also important to remember that although we're all united or supposed to be in doing the same thing by observing lockdown, we're all still individuals with our own thoughts, interests, lifestyles, wants and needs. We haven't all turned into robots and shouldn't be expected to behave in some uniform manner in the way we observe lockdown, as long as we're doing it.

I feel like I'm on holiday when the fucking seagulls start screeching every morning. I don't even live near the sea!

I'm not on holiday. I've lost all my work as a hair/makeup artist, don't want to go on the dole and am terrified this is an attempt to turn us all into slave labour and cannon fodder ala WW2.

Hairshirts are deliberately uncomfortable undergarments that men and women wore as penance in the middle ages. It was not only important to wear a hair shirt, but to let everyone know you were wearing a hair shirt.

Just nice to step off the treadmill of life.

Agree with this.

depends. do what you need to get through, but don’t gloat.
Posts like “i don’t know why people find this so hard, its amazing “ are not helpful (well, i know that the person who posted that on my facebook will be unemployed in 2 months maximum- i assume she’ll be ok with me gloating then? after all she’ll be on an endless holiday!)
so yes, enjoy if you can, but don’t rub it i

Btw, i’m working18 hour days most days in the week now. definitely not a holiday. and while i enjoy time with the kids (home schooling plus full time work), its also incredibly hard, i’m tired and my back kills me.

YANBU. We're pretty fortunate, but at the same time we're exhausted from juggling WFH and a toddler, and I'm pregnant too so struggling with aches and pains etc.

But I do find myself fantasising about how lovely this all would've been before DD arrived. We would've been wfh but there would've been so much leisure time. Don't blame anyone who finds themselves in that situation for making the most of it, we certainly would've done.

Isn't the best way to defeat death to live well? It is sad that people are dying but there are many sad things in the world...war, dictatorship, human trafficing, homelessness.dosn't mean we can't make the best of this amazing weather and chill in the garden.
I dont want to listen to loud music at 9am though!

I still have to work my normal hours, so not feeling that holiday tbh!

But enjoying a break as described above from the getting school uniform clean and remembering all the things treadmill.

As long as people are within the rules and not overly disturbing neighbours, it's definitely best to stay as positive as you can.

Yep, if you can enjoy it, crack on, just please be considerate of those trying to sleep and/or work from home around you. Chilling in your garden with music might be lovely for you but not always for your neighbours.

For all those who listen to music in the garden who aren't in the middle of nowhere, how does it work if neighbours put their music on at the same time?

Mine didn't think my hip hop complimented their opera, I suggested we go back to headphones or indoor listening. Worked much better for both.

Yep. Totally agree. I even have stopped 'minding' all the garden noise (trampolines, barking, mowing etc) as it's important that those who are lucky enough to have a garden, use it.

On some of the threads on here all compassion and empathy is missing while everyone competes for the most miserable versions of lockdown. It's daft. People should feel free to enjoy as much if the current situation as they possibly can.

One of the police forces tweeted yesterday that it's not a holiday.
We'll yes! Yes it is actually. Easter weekend and we're already struggling enough without the joy police stepping in with more arbitrary rules to ensure we get no pleasure from life.

I get you OP.

Even though I'm working from home, I've no 2 hour commute every day commuting into London. I've been reading which I never normally do, jobs around the house, watching more films. No children though so I appreciate I'm lucky with schooling and entertaining them but my husband is a frontline worker.

No, it's not a holiday and people are very, very poorly and are losing jobs or in mental health or domestic abuse situations but you have to make the most of it for what you can.