If Corona virus wasn't a thing in the last 6 months , what would your life look like?

[WomenHour]

Mine would be pretty much the same maybe gone on holiday this summer.

Pretty much the same, except we’d be in the Netherlands on holiday now.

I would have got married today. We've been apart 5 and a half months so far, border restrictions. It's damn hard

I'd have been back to the UK, not worked from home as much. Other than that, not much difference. Spent more money for sure

Well, at the start of lockdown we were trying for another baby and things were looking brilliant. Then my DH of 15 years, who I have been with since I was 17 said he realised over lockdown, with all the extra time together, that he doesn't love me anymore, so he left me. I've had to take on extra hours so I'm now working 55 hours a week at a job I was planning to have left by now. So yeah, without lockdown my life would look pretty different.

Our family’s income wouldn’t have been reduced by 50%. I work in a zero hrs environment so haven’t earned since March. It’s been very tough and I know my DH is feeling the pressure of being a sole earner.

I would have taken my daughter to half a dozen dance competitions, watched her fly round the floor in sparkles and hopefully be looking forward to the nationals in November. However... lockdown generated some wonderful online comps and she ended up winning a couple of trophies, so really, kind of the same.

I would have had a 3 week holiday to New York & Vegas in June with my son and niece 😂
But as I didn’t do that I bought a dog and redecorated my house and spent the money I would have spent on that holiday on a lovely new sofa and soft furnishings and french shutters .
I probably would have just about been going on another holiday now as well . As I’m not I’m just saving my money .
To be fair both myself and my husband have been both been working more productively so we defiantly have more money and an easier life because Covid did force us to do stuff differently, especially me .
So while I know it’s been really horrible for a awful lot of people it’s actually been fine for us so far .

I would be work in office FT on long term contract not WFH part time on short term contract. I wouldn't be worried about DC who got no education after March 2020. I would have seen my parents in person (probably). I would have had a replacement filling in May rather than be worried about losing the tooth. The chap I walk a dog for would have had his replacement joint surgery and (probably) would be talking about when I could be discharged from that volunteering. I would have done several fundraising events since cancelled. Different hols from what really happened, too.

I would not have such an amazing tan. Lots of house DIY projects would not have got done, some other personal life things would have proceeded not been delayed. I would not have done a lot of work things (I suppose CPD).

Lots of disruption in lives of DC & other relatives.

I would be working full time still, rather than 3 days a week
My salary wouldn’t have been cut by 20%
DC’s wouldn’t have been off school and nursery since March
My mum would have visited from the UK
We would have gone on a big family holiday on June
My husband would have travelled to South Africa to surprise his sister
It wouldn’t have been 9 months (and counting) since we last saw our friends and family in the UK
We wouldn’t have seen several of our close friends made redundant and forced to leave the country

I'd still be doing my job that I didnt like, i wouldnt be as fit as i am now, I wouldnt have lost a stone, I'd be slightly burnt out from all the christenings and weddings and socialising and I'd be looking forward to the autumn where I can stay home more. 2020 has brought good things for me

I would've still been struggling for shifts and trying to survive on universal credit. I would be skint.

I wouldn't be in the black pit of despair that is threatening to overwhelm me. Everyone just tells me to keep going.

I am, but it's so hard. I suspect divorce is in the offing as well, he can't cope with me not coping.

My son would have completed reception, he would have also carried on his weekly theraplay sessions, rugby tots and his dance lessons.

My boyfriend would have had his surgery in April and be recovered now (had it in august instead), he wouldn’t have lost his job and he would have completed his professional qualifications. Hes had two weeks of wages since March.

I wouldn’t have been furloughed and then spent four weeks on unpaid parental leave so my savings wouldn’t have looked so dire. I wouldn’t be working from home going forward.

In July we were meant to go on our first proper holiday together in Sitges. In August I was meant to be playing in the Bingham Cup in Ottawa, now its in 2022. Our team would have carried on with the season as normal.

We would have been getting things sorted to move in together in October.

I would have carried on working longer instead of retiring, I worked part time for the change of scenery and mixing with different people and hated wfh so retired

Gone on a holiday abroad but instead had another touring caravan holiday

I would have a job and my savings would have been used to fix the house instead of paying bills for 5 months. However on the scale of things (people not getting their hospital treatments/surgeries/etc.; people who lost jobs and had no financial support and no savings), I am very lucky.

My bedroom wouldn't have been completely renovated and I would still be on the same old boring job i was In before. I now enjoy my work and have got rid of a few clients I've been wanting rid of for years. Every cloud.

I actually have no idea.

oh wow, we've missed out on so many things- county level sporting tournaments, both kids, loads of big activities and leavers events.

we wouldnt be this fat :)

I would have gone into work via a tube journey still, which looks like it will become perhaps only once or twice a week at some point, and is nil now.

My understanding of flora and fauna would be a lot less, and I would not know about some parts of my local area.

I wouldn't have caught Covid on the 13th of March and still be ill.

We wouldn't be shielding an elderly neighbour nor would she have found and readopted her long lost cat.

Business would have continued to do well and we would have bought a retirement property in Portugal.

We wouldn't have set up a new business venture.

We've so many more chickens and lots of home grown vegetables.

We would have enjoyed DD graduating uni.
I wouldn't have found new Covid friends who support me through everything.

We would have visited dps family in Belgium. Dp would still have a job. My mental health wouldn't be completely shattered.

I’d be 5-10kg heavier.
I’d likely be having an affair.
My marriage would be in a worse state.
I might still be pregnant, and I’d certainly not be as raw about the miscarriage I had.
I wouldn’t have started the work that I’m doing now, which is a hugely impactful grassroots charity project.

It’s complicated, in other words.

I would be living overseas, doing research, not on furlough in the UK. I wouldn't have had COVID either. My life has been turned upside down by the virus.....

I wouldn't be back on anti-depressants & would actually have enjoyed the spring, seeing friends & going on holidays & days out & all the things which make life enjoyable. We would have travelled to see my family (all overseas). DH's work wouldn't have changed completely & for the worst this year (he hates WFH & it doesn't suit his job). I would be starting to job hunt after years as an SAHM with some hope of actually getting a job. Some friends wouldn't be unemployed. I wouldn't be negotiating the weirdness of New Normal school & desparately hoping they aren't seriously thinking about trying to social distance five year olds

DS3 and DDil would have jobs and not be out of work and living with us because they can't afford rent.
A lot more socialising I haven't seen any of my friends, haven't seen my sister since early March as she is in a care home.
My life has become very sad, I like company, I've started having the TV on all day every day just to make me feel better.