You have a time machine and can back exactly six months - what advice would you give yourself?

[Grumpylockeddownwoman]

Just that really - would you have quietly stocked up on hand sanitiser? Done something sooner? Taken up a hobby? Changed job?

Stockpiled Maccies BBQ sauce

Socialise - I got so antisocial and now I wish I'd spent more time with friends.
Visit your mum and dad before Christmas. They moved a long way away and I was planning on spending Easter with them, so didn't visit at Christmas.

Stop putting off going to the dentist, otherwise it'll be too late and the appointment you make will be cancelled.

Buy hand sanitiser, liquid soap, and masks.

Start taking vitamin D tablets.

Getting angry at the politicians is not good for your mental health. You can't change their behaviour. You're right about the pandemic, though. Put your energy into preparing, because they won't.

Take the train somewhere nice and go for a long walk, even if it's cold. You'll miss it when you can't.

I would have gone and visited the newborn babies in my family. They won't be newborns when I eventually meet them. I bloody love newborns.

I would have gone to Mass. I never would have thought church services would stop. I can usually find a really good excuse not to go, but now I want to.

I wouldn't have told work I was taking a large chunk of unpaid maternity leave. I'd also have put my house on the market to escape my knobhead neighbour sooner.
I'd have seen my gran too as I haven't seen her since Xmas day as my mum told me it was too risky to take my new baby to see her.

Not book holiday at Easter :(

Buy all the flour! Who knew there would be no flour for weeks - even when it was on the way? What annoys me is I’ve always made banana bread and done other baking. And now I can’t because of all the people who’ve suddenly decided to start baking. Gits.

A Get a dog.
B Lose weight
(A might help with B)

Insist both my elderly parents have health check ups, deep clean their house and stock up their cupboards and freezer.

Hug my children and grandchild even more than usual.

Buy my choice of fence paint in bulk as I have run out and need to do another coat in my large fully fenced back garden.

Not to stress at work. Like magic it would disappear .

Dump the bellend.

Lockdown pales in comparison, really.

Bought new spectacles.

Put pressure on the builders to finish the kitchen extension, as we are currently living in a building site.

Got another rescue dog so that we could have spent lots of time settling her in and watching her interact with other dog.

Had the 18th party in February.

Attended the Autumn uni open days instead of waiting for the offer holder events.

Stocked up on seeds and compost.

I can't think of any practical advice that would have helped much, so I'd just say "No-one you're close to will be seriously ill or die in at least the next six months". Probably would have confused me at the time but would have saved quite a lot of anxiety later on!

Kidnapped Professor Ferguson to stop him publishing that utter garbage ‘500k people will die’ model. Maybe Piers Morgan too and some of the other media scaremongers.

Don’t leave it so long to visit MIL , go after Christmas like you planned, and make sure you see her as often as you can.

Oh yes to specs! I was starting to need new ones but I knew I had my 2-yearly check coming up this spring so left it. It’s getting worse now. I can’t see properly so I think I must not have my glasses on then realise I have got them on and that’s as good as it gets.

Don’t book flights to cheer yourself up after Christmas, it’ll be a spectacular waste of money.
Tune the piano!

To not do the whole pathetic celebrating the new year on NYE.
I used to love it until my mum died and it was always fun when I was growing up and I carry it on now, largely for my children, but I just don't see the point of celebrating the new year and all the shit it could potentially bring.

2020 ......... I rest my case

Buy some smithing coke whilst it's available and get the paint for the decorating.

Bought shares in Amazon and invested in Gold

I wish I'd been kinder to myself after I'd had DS2 at the end of September. Now really suffering with my PND and anxiety with no access to my usual support.

Spend more time in bed while DS1 is at preschool but equally spend more time outside with DS2.

Get a tv for the kitchen, you'll be spending a lot more time in there for a while!

Don't wait for a last minute skiing deal, just go!

sort out our garage roof.
Buy boxes and boxes of crisps. I've discovered you can't have too many crisps in store. I find myself googling buying masses of crisps online.
Sign up to ocado and milk and more and get regular delivery slots lined up.

Save money so I wont have to stress about how I'd pay for things if i lose my job

In the 6 months before lockdown I was seeing my DP regularly, and did go on a marvellous 3 week overseas adventure.
During lockdown I have been able to continue my job now wfh and to have both my D.C. now students at home.

If I could have planned then I would have

• done the loft conversion we have talked about for years but never got around to doing, we really need the space with everyone at home 24/7
• started my long overdue weight loss and fitness plan so that I was no longer in the vulnerable category.
• asked my hairdresser want colour she uses on my hair so I wasn’t guessing now and had a decent cut before lockdown , not have one booked for the weekend after!
• not paid for flights for 4 adults to the US for August that will have to be postponed to 2021

Surely it must be lottery numbers

DP is my parents. I have a DH who I have seen much much more of in 2020 than any year in the past decade as he usually travels during the week