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Original poster

To find the early COVID era nostalgic?

549 replies

Acco · 15/10/2023 21:00

I’m mostly talking about the pre-lockdown and lockdown 1 era mostly but just 2020 in general to a lesser extent (but not 2021, I still hate it and it doesn’t seem that long ago). I haven’t thought about COVID for ages but I was taking about the toilet roll hysteria with my in laws tonight and then I saw a TikTok throwback to all the 2020 trends and sounds and it gave me a warm feeling inside. It’s an era I’d never want back but I remember the lovely sunny days in the garden in April and May 2020.
Anybody else feel this?

OP posts:
DisquietintheRanks · 15/10/2023 21:07

I spent the early covid era with covid, struggling to breath alone and terrified in my bedroom and the months following it relentlessly unwell with this mysterious disease that no one understood or (initially) even believed existed. So no.

Lesina · 15/10/2023 21:07

No. I hated every single second of it. The stress and worry about my job, the loneliness, the utter horror of believing we would have to live like this for years, having to make 60 people redundant. Every single day of it was horrific. The toll on my mental health is something I carry to this day. I don’t think I will ever fully recover.

Crikeyalmighty · 15/10/2023 21:08

Not at all, we were worried about our business, my father in law was stuck on his own hundreds of miles away , I couldn't go to My office and got cabin fever at home with a panicky husband and I hated queuing up just to do a shop -

DinnaeFashYersel · 15/10/2023 21:08

Shuddering at the very thought

I know people who died.

The Charity I worked for was financially decimated with loads of colleagues made redundant.

My mother's mental health and some friends' was badly affected and has not recovered.

One of my children is still affected academically.

So no I don't feel nostalgic at all.

clappyjay · 15/10/2023 21:08

No, the opposite, also shudder at ‘blinding lights’ and anything that brings back memories from that time, especially lockdown 1.

It depends on what type of situation you were in though. I remember some people I know were generally enjoying the slowed-down pace of life and being able to be with their families, but they were all in privileged positions- no SEN children, no caring responsibilitys, no financial worries, spacious homes and large gardens.

Sadly that was not the reality for many of us.

Pitpatwaddlepat · 15/10/2023 21:08

Probably depends how many people you know who died. Not nostalgic for me

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:09

People died!
People lost their jobs, their health and were scared that this new plauge would get them if they didn't stay 2 meters away from someone else.

You're being utterly unreasonable to be reminiscing about what a jolly time it was to stand on your doorstep and clap or whatever

SophiaElise · 15/10/2023 21:09

Not nostalgic, but I know what you mean. I worked through the pandemic so had a very different experience to many.

Of course I feel desperately sorry for anyone who died or was bereaved or seriously ill during that period.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 15/10/2023 21:09

How very dare people have a different experience

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:10

I couldn't see my nan for ages. And when I could it was through a window. How lovely. . ....

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 15/10/2023 21:10

ilovesooty · 15/10/2023 21:07

I don't miss not being allowed to see anyone for weeks and being isolated on my own

I don't miss feeling angry that there were stupid rules trying to tell me not to carry on seeing friends and staying with my non-live in partner (since when did prioritising my children and not living with my partner become a crime?) and living my life regardless of the fucking government who decided I didn't need any income. I also let my sixth form/student children whose lives had been stopped have parties at my house.

Fuck lockdown then, and fuck the thought of it now.

Original poster
Acco · 15/10/2023 21:11

I don’t miss it at all and to anyone commenting about shuddering at the thought of it, I still feel the same way about lockdown 3, probably because it’s more recent. But lockdown 1 feels ages ago.

OP posts:
Slipslidinginthefray · 15/10/2023 21:12

I sort of get your meaning and appreciate for some the opportunity to down tools and be home with loved ones might have been nice (if you were capable of ignoring the fact your privilege in that situation was immense)…

but with all due respect I think those fuzzy warm nostalgic memories are best kept to yourself in respect for those who were locked up in flats with an abusive partner, those with with young children and no outdoor space of their own when all the play areas were taped shut, those who couldn’t be in hospital with their sick and dying family or indeed were the ones dying lonely and frightened with only masked nurses peering at them, those who worked terrified and without enough PPE on covid ridden wards, or had babies in hospital alone with no partner, those who had to go to work in minimum wage jobs stacking shelves without any protection.

The list is long and you get the gist.

EmmaEmerald · 15/10/2023 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Yes

probably the whole post is designed to be inflammatory

I was living in a high rise and working out which balcony to use to off myself in order to kill fewer people on landing, but then realised if I did it at night, it would be fine to use either.

they did lock the access but I could have cut through that glass.

all the damage still unrepaired, friends gone, mental health shot to shit, contempt for people who went along with it.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 15/10/2023 21:12

Not at all.

DH was made redundant - he was the main earner in our house. I was redeployed to covid wards (NHS) and took whatever work I could on those same wards to make ends meet. It was terrifying to say the least. After those shifts I’d do the shopping for us, the ILs and my elderly neighbour, getting whatever the rest of you furloughed sunloving f hadn’t already snapped up. DH is working again but we’re still not back to where we were. I most definitely do not wish to go through anything like that again.

Bluevelvetsofa · 15/10/2023 21:12

It fucked up everything practical, financial, social, health especially mental health. It’s scary when you’re not allowed to get food and no one will deliver, despite the fact that you’ve been told you’re CEV.

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:12

Lock yourself down if it was so great

contactme · 15/10/2023 21:12

Your post is tone deaf as those who feel nostalgic about that time period likely weren’t struggling through it. There’s more to that time period than memes and toilet roll.

A lot of people were stuck in horrific situations eg DV, people died, people suffered a massive culture shock eg worrying about leaving the house, being locked down for the first time, people in key jobs were working twice as hard as others for a weekly clap, others lost their jobs. It’s not really ✨nostalgic✨ more traumatic!

AvengedQuince · 15/10/2023 21:12

Except for no work if you were furloughed, the rest of this 'slower pace' rubbish you are free to choose at any time. Don't rush around or over commit yourself if you don't want to. Pull your kids out of clubs if you want. Don't reminisce when it was forced on us though.

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 15/10/2023 21:13

@EmmaEmerald FlowersFlowers

I felt the same. But I think the world needs people in it who don't just swallow whatever shit we are told to swallow, so it's good that we hung in there.

Fusterclucked · 15/10/2023 21:14

I think it’s ok to find some silver linings to a difficult time. There was nice things about it for some and that’s ok.

Silvers11 · 15/10/2023 21:14

Sorry but it's a 'no' not in the slightest here. It was an awful, awful time - and my Mental and Physical health still hasn't got back to pre-covid situation

I know people who died during lockdown 1, I was terrified for my very elderly Mother in her 90's, worried about both my son and my daughter ( works in a school) who had to work during lockdown and their children, my grandchildren one of whom has Asthma and the other is Autistic and suffered badly

Nothing to stop you going back to a gentler period of taking things more easy if you want to, now, but at least that would be your choice

EmmaEmerald · 15/10/2023 21:14

happylittlesloth · 15/10/2023 21:12

Lock yourself down if it was so great

Really people like OP should have to pay extra tax and do a couple of years National Service in essential jobs eg refuse collection, food factories, and and only allowed to live alone in a studio flat.

Lotta0 · 15/10/2023 21:15

Nah. Spent it thinking my husband might die. Was a bit shit, think I've got a bit of ptsd.

AvengedQuince · 15/10/2023 21:15

Bluevelvetsofa · 15/10/2023 21:12

It fucked up everything practical, financial, social, health especially mental health. It’s scary when you’re not allowed to get food and no one will deliver, despite the fact that you’ve been told you’re CEV.

Yes, my elderly dgm couldn't get a slot for weeks as selfish people who could go to the supermarket but didn't want to had taken them.