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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu...how close to normal is life for you

288 replies

jeansandashirt · 16/08/2020 16:49

Aibu to wonder how close to "normal" (as we know it) is your life right now?

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/08/2020 14:45

thanks PittaPitta,

Are you allowed to shower at the gym - or did you never shower there? I presume must book ahead, must book a fixed limited time slot. Are all the machines available? Is the time limit at gym the right amount of time for you?

It doesn't feel 'fully normal' to me to have to book everything in advance and leave my full contact details or work within rigid time slots for leisure activity.

Pittapitta · 19/08/2020 15:35

@lljkk

thanks PittaPitta,

Are you allowed to shower at the gym - or did you never shower there? I presume must book ahead, must book a fixed limited time slot. Are all the machines available? Is the time limit at gym the right amount of time for you?

It doesn't feel 'fully normal' to me to have to book everything in advance and leave my full contact details or work within rigid time slots for leisure activity.

@lljkk

No showers at gym, you must book in advance, yes most machines are available you have to wipe down before and after use ect. Time limit is generous in my gym.

I know what you mean about booking everything ect but I’m just happy to be out of lockdown I’ll take anything!

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 17:31

I would like the 'fully' or 'almost' normal people to elaborate

I am going out to bars, coffee shops and restaurants, working in a shop, and meeting anyone who is willing to (my family and DH's friends) completely normally. We are of the opinion that the economy being trashed by everyone cowering at home will be far more dangerous/cause loss of life due to poverty, than covid.

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 17:32

We did a UK holiday too and that was very nice.

vanillandhoney · 19/08/2020 17:39

I would like the 'fully' or 'almost' normal people to elaborate.

We're both going to work the same as normal. I work outdoors and DH works in construction (on his own) so neither of us have needed to adapt how we do our jobs.

Online food deliveries - we've always got them so it's no different to usual.

Online shopping - again, we've always done it as we live very rurally so it's far more practical to buy online than make the 90 minute round trip to the nearest town to go shopping. I only really shop in person 2-3 times a year so it's no real hardship to miss out.

We've been going out for meals as usual - we have a dog so pretty much always go places where we can sit outside anyway. Having to book a few days in advance is no hardship but plenty of places around here are quiet and you can just turn up - especially as there's only two of us and we don't really want to sit indoors. Buying takeaway is the same as normal too - ordering online and getting food delivered or doing contactless collections. We've never been asked for contact details but leaving them doesn't mean things don't feel normal. It's just one of those things - can't say it bothers me or puts me off in any way.

DH's hobbies are mostly outdoors/exercise related - mountain biking, dog walking, surfing, running - not impacted by COVID in any way. I'm a homebody so I'm quite happy pottering at home, reading, messing about online, cooking, baking and sitting in the garden. I also have a dog and walking him is going ahead as normal. Beaches, parks, woodland, nature reserves aren't impacted by COVID.

I suppose it just depends on what your lifestyle was like beforehand. We still see family. I've gone to takeaway/outdoor seating-type places with my mum and she's come over to my house for coffee, or we've taken the dog for walks. I also see my in-laws most days - pop in for coffee or to collect parcels. No changes in that department.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 19/08/2020 17:46

@lljkk I'm doing pretty much everything I did before lockdown, just a different experience. I'm still seeing family and friends both indoor and outdoor, at a distance. I'm going shopping, using public transport (wearing a mask). I'm going to restaurants and pubs, taking DS to the cinema and other places. I work outside the home, my workplace is functioning exactly the same as it did pre Covid.

The only things that are different for me - not holidaying abroad and DS's activities still not back on yet.

downwardspiral1 · 19/08/2020 17:53

Pretty normal actually.

Am out working again in a new job. See friends (outdoors mostly), have been to see family, have eaten out.

The only things I really want to do that I can’t are see my Dad who lives in Italy, and go back to group therapy. Oh and meet someone (to date), but not holding much hope out there.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 19/08/2020 17:53

[quote Pittapitta]@lljkk

I can go to restaurants/days out/gym/hotels see friends. Children are back in nursery, I’m a key worker and going back full time from September, my husband worked a lot from home before lockdown. So yes I’m fully back to normal (apart from masks but they are so minor they don’t bother me)[/quote]
What about social distancing? Doesn't that make things seem not normal? Or did you never get closer than 2m face to face to your friends pre lockdown?

downwardspiral1 · 19/08/2020 17:54

(Yes and my dc are all at home all day but they would be anyway we it’s the summer holidays).

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 17:55

Oh and meet someone (to date), but not holding much hope out there

I know 2 people that met someone and moved in with them during lockdown!

What about social distancing?

No-one in my town or in my close circle is doing that anymore.......

Pittapitta · 19/08/2020 18:05

@RichardMarxisinnocent

The only change is no hug/kiss when we meet, but sitting across from someone at a restaurant is 1m apart (Which is the new social distancing rule) so no doesn’t seem to weird.

Pittapitta · 19/08/2020 18:05

Too weird*

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 18:08

Yes, it's 1m now anyway, which is about how far away you are when walking or sitting at a cafe table.

AgeLikeWine · 19/08/2020 18:14

It isn’t. I'm asthmatic, so I’m still being ultra-careful.

I’m still WFH, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable. I’m nowhere near the stage at which I trust people enough to go to pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres etc etc. I am not visiting friends & family indoors, and am maintaining strict social distancing when I meet them outdoors. I have shopped for non-essentials once since March. I will not fly or use public transport again until this nightmare is over.

SleepingInYourFlowerbed · 19/08/2020 18:18

It's 1 metre plus. The plus doesn't mean more than one metre, it means you should be using other infection control methods if you are 1 metre apart, like masks, being outside etc.

evensong11 · 19/08/2020 18:18

Nowhere near normal, apart from work albeit at home not an office.

lljkk · 19/08/2020 18:24

Not having school age kids (& all their sustained uncertainty) as well as specific types of jobs seem to be the strong features of those who feel life is fairly 'normal'.

Watching news right now is reminding me of how Not Normal things are. All the masks, SDing, disrupted events and plans, CV19 stories...

I've done a lot of shoe shopping lately, mostly for DSs. None of that could feel 'normal'.

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 18:28

Yeah I don't really watch the news so manage to avoid all of the media panic

vanillandhoney · 19/08/2020 18:30

Watching news right now is reminding me of how Not Normal things are. All the masks, SDing, disrupted events and plans, CV19 stories...

Yeah, I don't watch the news for precisely this reason. I think it feeds into people's paranoia and I don't believe that having 24/7 news available to you is in any way healthy.

BeijingBikini · 19/08/2020 18:32

Someone put on BBC radio in the shop the other day, and the insane fearmongering they're reporting v.s. the actual reality that EVERYONE I know is pretty much doing things normally as they were, no distancing, hugging in the high street......it's like 2 different planets. All the news does is stir up panic.

DeclutterTheUtility · 19/08/2020 18:33

I have stopped watching news programmes regularly.

Newgirls · 19/08/2020 18:53

Not normal until kids can be in plays again. Theatres open. Can go to parties. Travel overseas.

But am going to restaurants and cafes, can book cinema and do exercise so very grateful for that.

snowone · 19/08/2020 19:32

We are about 40-50% normal. I'm a teacher and back to work on 1st Sept and the kids are back to school and nursery so I think things will start to feel a bit more normal then. DH is working from home 100% and will be until at least January. We have just this past week or so started to venture out a bit more and have been for a couple of meals.

HowFastIsTooFast · 19/08/2020 19:37

I'd say 80% normal, probably 90% next week when I start going back into the office.

Peacocking · 20/08/2020 03:06

100% normal and has been for some time now. I live offshore on a covid free island. Our borders are closed to unauthorised arrivals but otherwise life here is virtually as it was.

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