To wonder if something has been lost forever?

[Whatnext2018]

I live in another country which has opened nearly everything back up, people out on the streets again etc but face masks mandatory in restaurants/shops.
Effectively, you can, if you choose
to, live a relatively ‘Normal’ life again (aside from the masks) you can see friends, family, go to the beach, restaurants, shopping.
We took our Dd out this morning for a little bike ride, many many people out, I’m okay with that, we have to continue living..but it’s not the same..obviously it wouldn’t be, but its ‘Really’ not the same. I almost feel like I don’t want to be out (not through fear, just meh) but also don’t want to be stuck indoors.
I just hope this feeling that ‘Something’ is gone is only temporary.
Does anyone else feel like that?

Yes. I am terrified that life won’t go back to how it was. I am not enjoying lockdown nor do I want a simpler life. I want my old life back. I want my kids to have a chance at a real life.

@DisorganisedOrganiser

Same, I’m hoping will just take time to feel a little more ‘Normal’ again but even with things almost supppsedly back to the old ways, it feels really different at present,

How do facemasks work in restaurants?? Seems totally impractical.
I think things will return, just slowly. I think in a year it will as usual.

I agree. We are almost back to normal (apart from masks) but we live in a very popular tourist area and it’s so sad to see cafes and restaurants empty. We’ve stated going out again to our usual pre-Covid haunts, and the staff are just delighted to see us. There are a lot of businesses here that won’t reopen, and some that have but that won’t survive.

Personally no i don't feel like my normal has gone forever.

Reason: our local garden center opened a couple of weeks ago and we decided to go. I was apprehensive, so was DH and we prepped DD (6) that we might have to turn around and come home.

It's a big place with lots of space and the management was fantastic - total rearrangement to give everyone enough space to wander right round with lots of room to stop and enjoy the displays ect., Very relaxed and well organised. Family groups welcome.

Honestly at times i forgot about the pandemic I don't mean i blundered into everyone or sneezed all over the cashier or anything sinister, i just mean there were lots of times when i was mooching along and enjoying the plants and the pots and the sun that i felt totally normal and as if it was any old normal afternoon. The other visitors were really smiley and relaxed as well. It was lovely. And it gave me hope that 'normal' is still lurking in there ready to surface more often :)

@Pipandmum It’s a pretty stupid procedure and is possibly what’s making me less inclined to go to places also,
As you wait to be seated, you must have your mask on and disinfect your hands, the waiter/waitress then takes you to your table (you must have your mask on) when seated, you obviously don’t keep your mask on, when you get up to walk out and leave, you put your mask back on 🤷‍♀️🙄
I don’t know, I just wanted to go back home today, but also not be in the bloody house..again! 🙈
I’m not keen on my little Dd seeing everyone in masks and all the queuing and just strange environment.

@AgentProvocateur Same here, it would generally be buzzing here by now, there are more people but also lots of businesses boarded up, people closing down, very sad.

@Laiste Ahh, that sounds good ☀️
Perhaps it’s because here, as soon as you get out of your car and go to enter the garden centre, it’s on with mask until you come out again, all the disinfecting, it’s just pretty bizarre and I always wish I’d stayed at home in a way, but we have to live, I want to live..properly though.

I assume that when seated, people are at a prescribed 2m apart. When moving around, this is likely to be breached, so a mask should be worn. Seems logical. Why is it stupid, @Whatnext2018?

Of course it'll go 'back to normal'. It has after every other pandemic or war. CV is huge but pales in comparison to previous pandemics or world wars. Give it a year and people will wonder what all the fuss had been about.

Nothing will be the same as it was before.
It's all been orchestrated, right down to the rioting and statues. Our history is being rewritten and an alarming rate. the world is spiraling out of control, and I'm opting for a simple life out of all of it.
Anyone who can't see this and thinks the old "normal " will return are either naive or a bit dim.

@Eckhart During the moment, it just feels pretty ridiculous. There were no others in the restaurant, it was open air, but for the few steps walk from the front to the table, the mask had to go on and the same on the way out. Then when out, there are people all more or less next to one another sunbathing on the beach but with police patrolling, but nothing being done. It all feels very surreal with massive contradictions. Perhaps it’s just me and I should stay away until this part with the masks etc is over as it’s not pleasant or comfortable to be honest.

@Devlesko It's a good job we've got you around to tell us the realities of life. How did you come to know everything?

@Devlesko It’s a scary thought for sure..what do you think is the objective for it all? I’m not sure what to think, tbh. A part of me thinks, yep, it’ll all fizzle out and we’ll look back and think ‘Wth was all that about?’
Another part of me is pretty scared for the future and my Dd’s. It’s just all far too strange at the moment, from the virus to the rioting, as you say,

Did you want them to make a separate law for each restaurant, OP? Or for each customer? It's a general rule , rather than being about your situation today. Can you genuinely not see the sense in it?

Yes I’m aware of that @Eckhart I question if it really makes such a difference..I’m not sure, when people then walk out, walk alongside each other, sit on the beach..who knows.

Well, we know that it's much less likely to transmit indoors than outdoors. It's probably overcomplicating to legislate that people wear facemasks in certain parts of restaurants. People should still be social distancing outdoors. You can't call the rules stupid because some people are breaking them. I think it's good that establishments are sticking to the rules, really. Otherwise we'll have a spike and they'll have to shut altogether again, and then you'd be feeling even more glum.

I'm back at work and am finding that's fine, I'm not scared to go out.

Pre virus my social life mostly revolved around outdoor activities, especially in summer, so now with groups of 6 outdoors allowed, there's not really any reason I shouldn't be almost back to normal, but I don't feel motivated to make it happen and that bothers me.

Perhaps it’s because here, as soon as you get out of your car and go to enter the garden centre, it’s on with mask until you come out again, all the disinfecting

Hmmmm. I'm wondering now if when we went to the GC was a bit of a specific sweet spot. It was the very beginning of things opening up, it was hot, no one had been out much at all round here and there were less specific rules about 'bubbles' and numbers of people and the masks on public transport thing. We're pretty rural. Folk round here are VERY laid back even by my almost horizontal standards

Are you in a city?

@Devlesko

Nothing will be the same as it was before. It's all been orchestrated, right down to the rioting and statues. Our history is being rewritten and an alarming rate. the world is spiraling out of control, and I'm opting for a simple life out of all of it. Anyone who can't see this and thinks the old "normal " will return are either naive or a bit dim.

I'm running out of eye rolls for your daft conspiracy theories.

Who exactly do you think has orchestrated it?

How exactly do you think they got pretty much every country in the world to lock down?

I'm assuming you're also accusing them
If orchestrating the murder of George Floyd

I'm sure there's a better forum for discussing madconspiracy theories.

@Eckhart Ok 👍

@WowLucky Yes, maybe that’s a large part of it, I don’t feel like that also and am not really sure why not 🤷‍♀️

@Laiste We’re in a beach area, but it’s law for the whole country, we’re in Portugal.
It’s also bloody hot in those masks.

@Whatnext2018 D'you see what I mean? Less caution means more risk.

Or are you just passive aggressively dismissing me because I've made a perfectly logical point? I can't tell.

My normal has gone forever, my disabled child who cannot understand any of this and is now trapped within our property or a walk in the woods, his personality has changed and the longer there is any form of social distancing the more damage will be done. DS1 is now looking at his degree and planning a completely different career within the public sector, I do not think it’s what he wants but cannot blame him. Getting back to normal will be individual.

@Eckhart I’m not looking for a fight as am feeling pretty dissolusioned with life at present.
I question the difference putting a mask on for three steps walk to the table when passing no others and the same procedure on the way out, only to then walk onto the street/beach with everyone next to each other, all going to work, seeing friends and family etc.
The ‘Rules’ in practice seem odd to me.