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

Well this is the worst holiday I’ve been on, im leaving a bad review and I want a refund. 1/10 - do not recommend!

Whilst we all need to do what we need to get through this, please have consideration & respect for other people.
There are NHS staff, key workers and those working from home, there are those that are having to sheild themselves due to other serious health conditions and there are those who have lost loved ones to this terrible virus. To them this is not a holiday.
So, get through this as you feel fitting, but do it with consideration, respect and acknowledgement of others, for whom this is probably the worst time of their lives.

as long as you dont breach the rules then absolutely

To those who think it’s a holiday.

Does this sound like a holiday to you?

Wake at 6. Quietly shower, dress and have breakfast. Leave the rest of your family sleeping to drive 30 minutes to work (it usually takes nearly an hour and parking is usually a pita so I’ll accept that’s much easier atm ).

Work a 12 hour shift looking after patients - my current role is way outside of my usual contracted NHS role). 1 x 20 minute break where I get to eat and drink anything that I’ve brought in from home as there’s no canteen, cafe, WRVS or even vending machine available in our community hospital- unlike the main site 20 mins down the road which is having Michelin starred chefs cook for them most days.

Finish shift, shower and change being careful to keep work clothes and shoes entirely separate.

Drive to nearest supermarket 10 minutes away. Queue for 30 mins as I’m not able to attend at the allotted NHS slot. Shop for my family of 4. My elderly next door neighbour, elderly in-laws and friend whose husband has just has his 3rd chemo for stage 4 lung cancer.

Return home - delivering shopping to 3 addresses en-route. Finally get home, nearly 15 hours after leaving, to husband and 2 dc who all want a bit of my time. Shopping has to be unpacked and everything wiped down. They can of course have some of my time, after my uniform has gone into the wash as I’ve only got 3 sets (usually only work PT but now have to work FT). But by them I’m tired. And they want, and deserve, the best of me.

All, of this while maintaining social distancing, hand washing etc.....

If this is a holiday, I don’t think I want another one for as long as I live.

Much your routine sounds shocking at the moment, is there no one else who can help you? At least do the shopping for you? Can your DH not do it?

This is a crazy situation, I am furloughed so no work to do (but very worried about whether I will have a job to go back to) but at least I keep busy by doing a volunteering role in the community and shopping for neighbours and friends who can’t get out. I wish I lived near you Much and could help out, there must be lots of people in my position on furlough who are fit, willing to go out & with no childcare responsibilities at home.

Thanks Ragwort. It probably sounds worse written down than it actually is. It definitely is absolutely nothing like being on holiday though!

I’m obviously only doing the shopping once a week at the very most - it just makes it a very big, heavy shop having to get extras for so many. It’s my choice to go after a long shift at work - I could do it on my days off (I’m only in 5 days a week at the most) but those feel too precious to waste time going grocery shopping!

DH is at home with the dc. As I have to go out to work, it seems daft for him to be in contact with others too if it’s unavoidable.

You are not allowed to enjoy anything /that is the main rule.
I am taking enormous pleasure from simple things like sitting in the garden peacefully now there are no planes flying over and reading without guilt.
But walking in the park with DP and laughing wee getting dirt looks from people because unless we are all miserable we are spreading the virus and killing kittens.

I am working but able to do so from home with teenagers. I usually get bored at home and like being out and about. However this has made me slow down, sit still, listen to the birds, potter about at home, declutter slowly with no pressure. The kids are relaxed and so am I and we are chatting and having silly conversations. Reminds me of when they were toddlers and I spent a lot of time with them.