To feel like we are just existing now

[Ghostlyglow]

In a miserable, joyless world of queues and masks. A couple of friends have lost their jobs this week. Where are we going with this?When will it end?

I honestly have no idea what the lockdown rules even are anymore!!!! All I know is MIL is shielded so none of the easing apples to her. My mum is over 70, she’s texted me today to say we can now meet up without a problem, is that correct? My DP is in the vulnerable group so I assume I can’t start doing meet ups and how does that work with young kids anyway, can they mix freely again now?

We needn't have locked down at all, that's the truth. Hand washing, sensible social distancing in public and encouraging those who could work from home to do so would have achieved much.

We had to go to lockdown because people wouldn't follow the guidance in the weeks before lockdown. They went to Cheltenham and Anfield despite having symptoms. They continued to go to pubs and cafes despite being told to social distance. Even after pubs were told to close on that Friday evening, people still went in their droves to crowded pubs for "one last pint". When people are stupid and irresponsible, you need to take drastic measures.

Except people were following the guidance Kazzyhoward. There is evidence to suggest that hand washing alone was having an effect on the infection rate from 16 March.

My mum is over 70, she’s texted me today to say we can now meet up without a problem, is that correct?

You can, but it's not risk free. The risks are lower, hence why it's now allowed, but you still need to take precautions. The virus is still out there and no one is vaccinated, so risks are less but still no guarantees. You can choose to take the risk if you want to.

Kazzy is right we did not adhere to the be sensible stage of the guidance.

Except people were following the guidance

Some, maybe most, were. But the weekend before, I went to a football match and most people still weren't washing their hands after using the toilets.

Why were people still going to the pub on that Friday night when they were told not to?

Why were people still flying to Europe for holidays the day before lockdown, despite knowing most of Europe was affected and locking down.

It is hard work, the monotony, not having anything to look forward to. You don’t realise how much a rainy day can put you in a bad mood for the whole day because it means you’re cooped up again....

The only people I know who are currently thriving are introverted homebody’s who hated their jobs. Everyone else is slowly sinking into depression.

I'm introverted, and a bit of a homebody. As for hating my job, I won't go there!

There are some positives to lockdown for me yes - without it, I think I'd be struggling, backsliding in health, and struggling to keep on top of my life (work and home combined).

But introverted isn't a synonym for 'people-hater' - my work colleagues drained me, leaving me too exhausted to socialise.

Today, I was supposed to see Queen. Yesterday, I woke up having cried in my sleep because I miss my parents. I've missed a holiday and another big concert.

I don't miss going into work, and I don't miss having to fit in to social obligations (I'm looking at you, extended in law get togethers...).

I desperately miss normal socialising, writing in cafes, eating in restaurants, seeing my parents, travelling and going to gigs.

I'm also interested in this 'slower pace of life' thing. What do people mean? Why were they doing so much they didn't want to do before?

I do kind of agree with you because I'm great at boundaries, but it's hard not to think you're really unable to imagine why the pace of life is slower. Nevertheless, here's an illustration of my life pre-lockdown:

Typical working week: 1h commute daily. Half hour lunch. 37.5h week normal, but often more. One day a week out conducting training, leaving at 6am, working 7.30-5, home by 6pm, exhausted.
Typical monthly activities: Life admin, house management - laundry, cooking, shopping etc. A weekend trip to see friends, or them visiting me. Seeing family. Usually a gig, event.

I've lost six stone in 2 years, requiring constant dieting and exercise -both of which take time, require mental space, and usually involve me being in some form of pain - hunger or exercise. I have a hobby of writing that I enjoy a lot, and requires time and dedication.

Do you really lack the imagination to see how sitting home all day and every day might constitute a slower pace of life?

I'm so worried about afterwards, I get a massive knot of anxiety. I'm worried about how many wont have a job or money which will lead to higher crime and poverty rates, I'm worried that peoples mental health will be really low and what that could lead to. I have to try really hard not think too far into the future otherwise I just panic. hopefully July 4th when a lot of other things start to reopen this wont seem like such an endless dark tunnel.

I also saw and hugged my mum yesterday. I am not sorry, it made me feel 100x better.

I have also been told I have to wait up to 6 months for my cervical screening results to come back which is just fantastic as well

Same as most people here OP.

Fed up to the back teeth. Went shopping this morning and drove in to the car park and drove back out. The queue was horrendous. Sick of living like this.

One of my children is struggling beyond belief and has SEN and it’s incredibly hard trying to get him to engage in anything academic so he’ll fall further behind.

One group (our kids) have been screwed over to protect another group. It’s disgusting

I don’t find working FT with DC at home instead of school a “slower pace” at all!

I am tired, furious, scared. Not of the virus, which I've already had, but of the economic fallout and the effects on dc.
Ds, 6, is thank God back at school but any kid with a sniffle could send his whole bubble home for another two fucking weeks. Already happened to two other bubbles.
He is a different child with access to his peers. I'm furious this has been taken away from him and millions of other kids, and that it could be snatched away again at the drop of a hat.

my brother injured his hand and has now been told because he wasn't provided with prompt treatment (he went to a&e, was fobbed off), and because the hand surgeon likely can't see him for ages, that he might lose use of his finger. He's 33 and does a very physical hobby. I'm furious for him.

I'm done with lockdown. Every day I come closer to giving into utter depair.

SummerMeadows20 what you describe sounds like three household though? The maximum is two. I don't blame you but I don't agree the current rules aren't restrictive and it sounds like they're too restrictive for you as well.

Sorry to hear so many are feeling so low. I definitely have the groundhog day feeling. Only work keeps me sane.

Yep. I agree.

Sick to death of the mass hysteria and fuckwittery. Covid is obviously bad but so is every other illness/disease being left untreated.

I'm sure our children will learn about this in the future and the emphasis will be on the huge number of non covid deaths in the months/years to come due to lack of vital medical treatment. I'm certain the number will be far, far higher.

"Slower pace of life"
Examples
My commute is now 12 steps, instead of 2 hours each working day
I can start the cooking before I finish work now.

During the lockdown I've done more things locally. So I've spent less time traveling

@ConstantlySeekingHappiness

I wonder if you would feel differently if you had lost someone close during this pandemic.

I have.

I’m sick of hearing people complain about having to deal with their own children.

I lost my dad to covid a fortnight ago, and aim sick to death of it. I’m an adult with a brain and want to be trusted to use it in making my own risk assessment and decisions. I’m in Scotland and it’s even shittier here

Existing is NOT better than dying

Give me freedom or give me death

I'm retired - the lockdown has barely affected my life on a day to day basis.

I hate how we have thrown all the young people under the bus. Denying them their education for nothing

I also hate how they have thrown older vulnerable people under the bus. Older people who were advised to stay home and people moaning about the elderly going to the shop every day. The ones that went to the shop and refused to be oppressed by this over reaction are mostly still living their lives. The ones that did as they were told and stayed home have lost their social lives, their mobility with enforced sedentary lifestyle leading to loss of muscle tone and their confidence because not doing something for months on end makes it scary to start doing again.

The people that have totally followed the rules, I think, are the ones that are most scared of life going back to normal now because normal has become too scary.

For the first time I am glad I am old and am not going to have to face the shitstorm of trying to get life back on track.

Nihiloxica
As if the lunatics demanding a harsher lockdown would have wanted it to end any quicker.

or maybe the ones who are less selfish, have used not to be stuck in their little village and bubble and would have gladly exchanged a few weeks AT HOME for the freedom of enjoying holidays later.

Some of us make the most of it at home, are not pretending it's such a hardship, but have a life out of their own city and this country too. Whilst some are happy with the reopening of McDonalds to be back to normal, we are so far away from OUR normal.

Absolutely a stricter lockdown, not being able to go on the fucking "daily walk" MN loved so much to pop in Boots to buy make up and the pound shop to buy crap, but in exchange not being stuck in this country for months.

But hey, the selfish are happy as long as they have junk food and can pop in Ikea.

People might be interested in these comments about the effect on children.

I’m sick of hearing people complain about having to deal with their own children.

so am I, but people have always moaned that a single week with the kids at home was too hard, so it was never going to be joyful for people who resent their chidren, or are too lazy to be involved in their schooling.

I feel the same OP, I’m done with it. Everything seems so pointless now. I feel very sorry for people who have lost someone, especially the young, but I think it’s important to remember that lots of the people who have died from COVID would have died soon anyway, and in much better conditions. We lost my grandad to COVID last month and whist we’re obviously very sad about this, he was 91 and both his physical and mental health were starting to fail him, so I honestly think it was to his benefit that he passed now rather than hanging on for another year or so. Also, he had to die alone in hospital rather than at home surrounded by family as none of us were allowed to visit him.

I think they should lift the lockdown and anyone who’s elderly or shielding should stay at home. Honestly what is the point in the whole country suffering to protect a tiny number of people who wouldn’t have died in the next few months anyway.

It's up to PARENTS how their children deal with the "lockdown" in the UK, so much projecting, no wonder the poor little mits are struggling with selfish and dementor parents.

At worst, a bit of boredom has never hurt anyone. Hysterical parents has unfortunately.

I know the feeling OP. I hadn't realised how much it was affecting me but today, for the first time in about 4 months, I went out for a coffee with a friend and it was like a weight lifting from my shoulders. We'll get through it. Hang in there!

At worst, a bit of boredom has never hurt anyone

Yeah except it's not just boredom is it ffs. If it's just been boredom for you than you're very privileged.