To feel like my life is on hold? Anyone else?

[DreamInLavender]

I suspect it is to do with COVID 19. I don't know. I just have this awful bubble feeling, like I'm just on hold for a while.

Similar to the feeling of waiting to test when TTC my son, or waiting to hear back from a job I really want. I just feel trapped!

Anyone else?

[Mumma1984]

My wedding has been cancelled :(

[Treaclepie19]

@tallah it is scary but I'm telling myself the hospital is going to be most clean and well organised place to go. Fingers crossed all is well

[bizzybuzzy]

He wasn't comparing the virus & the effects to a tsunami more that something bad is coming that you can see (lots of natural disasters you can't before it's too late) it's more the fact that something bad is on the horizon & we aren't doing anything.

If my child has a cough do I send them to school?
If my nursery closes & I have to look after dc will I get paid?
stat sick pay is nothing.
will my at risk father be ok?

[GiraffeandPellyandme]

I feel this way too. I feel like I am waiting for life to implode. The fact no one is tested unless hospitalised means there will be many infectious people walking around spreading the virus. It also means the published numbers will be far far lower than the reality. I have a friend who is has been asked by her work to self isolate due to foreign travel. She is taking this to mean don't go to work, but continue doing everything else. She is at school, the gym, shopping, meeting friends etc. I can't imagine that is an isolated case of irresponsible actions.

My DP is not concerned. He is on the train and tube daily. He could work from home but he chooses not to. If he gets ill he will infect the rest of us. I'm scared. I don't say this is real life though I claim to be 'not worried'.

[Sarcelle]

I have had a really stressful time at work in the last six months that really took its toll on me, anxiety, sleepless nights, depression. My life felt in limbo then, I stopped keeping fit, and generally felt in a fug.

It ended a couple of weeks, there was a resolution in my favour. A load was lifted. The days were getting longer, blossom was coming out, spring was in the air, and in my step. I started to exercise again. I was looking outwards and forward.

All this relief and positivity lasted one week. Then this, a sense of impending doom. I feel like the whole country (world) is going to go through a seismic change because of this. Not just the deaths, but perhaps the lack of social order, businesses will go bust, the world economies will take a long time to recover, with the potential for many job losses. I am due dentist and hairdresser appointments in a few weeks which I will put off, and I can't be the only one. (And then we have BREXIT uncertainties at end of year.)

I am taking things a day at a time. I have to go into central London later today. The sun is shining. I am getting a later train. I am taking my book, a pastry and my hand gel and just carrying on.

When this is all over, I hope we all have a better appreciation of life and normality and routines! The stuff we moan normally about is mostly pointless and becomes a habit. I hope we appreciate our lives and what we have, the people in them, the services we rely on, just about everything.

It's amazing to think that something that potentially started in a food market in late November in a country so far away, has flooded the world. We may all look different, be protective of our own traditions and borders, but when something like war, climate change, or pandemic is concerned, we are all just people and we are all in the same boat.

All things pass, all things pass....my mantra.

[Nquartz]

I almost wish I'd get it so it is over & done with rather than waiting to see what happens.

I'm a planner by nature so I find not knowing what will happen at work/school next week really hard.

[GiraffeandPellyandme]

To the people who have lost money on savings.... no, the stock market has just moved against you. There is no tangible loss until you crystallise it. They'll bounce back over time. Wait.

It's businesses who are/will suffer. I will probably have to shut mine, lay off all staff and liquidate. I can't pay their wages with no income. They have families and mortgages. So do I

[bizzybuzzy]

I think the effects to the economy are going to be bad & take yrs to recover as we were struggling before this

[Cam77]

There’s a difference between keep calm and carry on while your country is fighting the good fight - see China and a dozen other counties which took early decisive action . Contrast to keep calm and carry on while those (supposedly) in power tell us to sing happy birthday as the NHS plunges into utter chaos.

[Seventyone72seventy3]

As I'm in Italy we have already felt like this for a while. Can't even remember when kids last went to school! A month ago? We are lucky in that we are still being paid and working from home ,(although bit worried that my computer is going to pack up!) Also this week EVERYTHING non-essential has closed and we have to stay in which feels really suffocating. Just praying that none of us needs medical treatment for anything in the next few months.

[YukoandHiro]

Same here @nQuartz

[TheFuckingDogs]

I’d be really interested to hear from people in China to see if they feel they’re coming out the other end of it? That would be some nice positive news to look forward to them

[YukoandHiro]

@GiraffeandPelly - I hope you've given your friend short shrift.

[FAQs]

@Seventy what are the school doing over there re teaching out of interest.

[peeledplumtomatoes]

@Mumma1984, oh I'm so sorry. When was it due to take place?

[peeledplumtomatoes]

@Nquartz, I'm the same I'd rather just get it now. But it's not done with after we've had it as it will keep spreading through the population.

It will only be 'done' once we have herd immunity at population level and a vaccine has been developed.

[GeraltOfRivia]

My H and I are both self employed and our income this month will be decimated. I have already had two clients cease all work for now, and my DH line of work just isn't prioritising what he does. We have savings for tax so can dip into that a little when our buffer is gone as I over save but it's not sustainable long term.

Bit worrying.

[Mumma1984]

@peeledplumtomatoes in Mykonos this May - we had planned and booked so much :(

[NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace]

At the risk of running against the many …… no: this is having absolutely zero impact on my life

[Daffodil101]

I’ve often bemoaned being public sector, but I feel fortunate to have good sick pay arrangements. The implications for those who don’t...I find that really worrying, and the biggest worry is not knowing how long that would go on for.

[DinosApple]

I work in a school. I will be interested to see how many children are kept off in light of yesterday's announcement. I'd say a good third to half of the class I work in have coughs.
The teachers are worried about getting provisions in place in case online lessons will be needed.
Or will the government decide to change ratios of staff to children- if a number of staff get ill school will have to close anyway...

[GinDrinker00]

Yes. It’ll impact everyone. People’s parents, grand parents etc. will more than likely die over this. Wouldn’t surprise me by the time they’ve found something that works, at least most families would be impacted and BoJo doesn’t seem to care.

[lowlandLucky]

I am pretty sure my Dad wont make it through this, he has C.O.P.D and other health conditions, he is nearly 90 and his attiude is " i have to die of something " My biggest concern is that i will not be able to be with him at the end because of my own lung condition, i really feel as though i dont have enough time left with him.. I hope i am wrong and this time next year he will still be here.

[Seventyone72seventy3]

@FAQs It's a bit hit and miss. My son is 15 and he is doing video lessons for most subjects - but some of the teachers haven't even been in contact. My youngest are at primary school and their teachers have sent us some worksheets on WhatsApp but I'm not that impressed! We have been doing other stuff together - art, music and cooking.

I'm pretty busy preparing and doing my own online lessons though so they have also spent far too much time watching tv.

I think I am going to get everyone to do 30 minutes on the exercise bike today!

[shortytrekker]

I wish we had 1k in savings to worry about! We are in a vulnerable position, we are already living day to day financially and can't stock up on extras until we receive a financial boost - from some extra work I hope.

I think the 'on hold' aspect is because we can't plan much, normally we would plan now for Easter and the summer but we don't know what will be happening.