Anyone enjoying lockdown at all?

[Paperdaisychain]

Hopefully a lighthearted thread to relieve the doom and gloom but I just wondered if anyone is enjoying the current lockdown? After the initial shock it’s been nice is some ways. Admittedly we are not badly affected my husband is able to work from home as am I (which I normally do). We are ok for money, have a car, and are able to get our shopping delivered for the time being.

It’s nice to be able to eat lunch together, we have also been going for a daily walk together. We live locally to the country so that’s been good. I’ve been teaching him yoga which he’s actually enjoying! I’ve been having “Tea and Cake” meets with my friends using zoom which I’ve really enjoyed and have even played some online games with some which has been great fun.

As a couple we have been playing board games in the evening, doing jigsaws and watching films (I recommend The Truth, streaming on Curzon at the moment).

I’ve been reading more and I’ve rediscovered long soaks in the bath, something I haven’t done since I was a teenager! I’ve also been getting through my house hold to do list which isn’t as fun but more bearable with the help of audiobooks and podcasts and it’s satisfying to see my clean, tidy cupboards!

We are also spending time helping out older relatives and neighbours. Even just being available for a chat or to get some shopping for them is lovely to be able to do.

I know that nobody is immune to the effects of this pandemic and we are very lucky, also we don’t have children which makes some of this possible and maybe easier but this thread is just a way of trying to focus on the nice things.

So go on tell me what you are enjoying about life at the moment?

@2lovelylittlegirls

So sorry to hear that, I hope your are ok. Sending you strength during this horrible time.

@Amymayapple

You can call it what you like but according to our Government it isn't "lockdown"
We can meet in groups of 4 outside observing 2m distance - they can't do that in the UK.
We have not been told to only go out for an hour a day either.

We don't have Police or Army patrolling our streets - yet.

I think you need to realise how lucky we actually are here still.

I have lost my job btw so no need to lecture me on that one - seriously.

People in Italy Spain and New Zealand and New York know what "lockdown" really means I think you need to get a sense of perspective tbh

@mybluemoonbeam no I don't. Who are you to say life isn't hard for me? I haven't talked to anyone face to face for nearly three weeks, except for one friend.

Because most of my friends, and all of my family live far away from me in Ireland, and we are advised against unnecessary travel, remember?

And EVERYTHING is closed near me, except for shops.

I have talked to people in Spain, have you? My friend in Spain told me that they are doing exactly the same thing as we are in Ireland, except that their lockdown finishes on April 11th, while ours in Ireland, finishes on April 19th

@mybluemoonbeam you seem to think that we are doing less than some countries. That is not true. Ireland is the same as other countries.

And it is MORE than Spain.

Why is our lockdown in Ireland mposed to April 19th, while Spain's Lockdown is imposed to April 11th? Why are we eight days more than them?

@mybluemoonbeam I am genuinely puzzled why you think lockdown in Spain is more severe than Ireland.

I have looked at it again, and they have exactly the same restrictions as Ireland has, only ours will go on for a lot longer.

@Amymayapple

I give up - if you think any type of restriction is going to end for any country on any date in April you are completely deluded 🙄
Maybe check your news sources 🤨

@Amymayapple so you are saying we are being lied to then?

You know that they have given us the date of April 19th, right? Okay I won't listen to the government so.

@mybluemoonbeam

I am confused.

You do know that the Government has told us that these restrictions are in place until April 19th?

I am not sure how to argue with someone who is saying I am deluded. When it is the Government who told us April 19th.

@MyBlueMoonbeam i have just checked - Ireland has the latest lockdown date in Europe. Nearly every other country has given a date of around 5 April, for restrictions to end.

Ireland is 19 April.

It’s certainly not all bad. I’ve got lots of work to do but am doing it in my own time/pace, flexible working.

I walk the dog every day, bike rides, bit of gardening.

I went for a run with my dd today. Just around in a circle near where we live. We normally do dancing but all lessons are off. As dh is at home, it allowed us to get out for some exercise in the day. It's been a long time since I've run (used to a lot). Good to have some one on one time with dd 1 and we both really enjoyed it and are going to do it regularly. She said it was so much better than her PE lessons! 😊

Did my weekly shop today. Decided to go to M&S as we can afford it and it's much less busy. Had to queue but once inside it's lovely and quiet and everyone keeping their distance. So different from a week or so ago in Sainsburys! Doing online games night with friends tomorrow night then girls drinks on zoom on Saturday so have things to look forward to. More than anything I worry about the kids education and health but trying my best with helping with the learning at home and we're staying in bar food shopping so should be pretty safe (can't guarantee we didn't catch it before lockdown but that remains to be seen!).

I feel alright as long as I'm not on mumsnet. When I'm on mumsnet I feel genuinely suicidal.

Why Pishposh? I admit I feel better now I'm busy with the kids during the day so stay away from my phone and computer. I'm trying not to read too much as noone knows what will happen and I don't want to get scared by what is not even necessarily correct information. I'm quite content to live in my little family bubble right now.

It's OK, quite novel. I'm enjoying the slower pace/less pressure, and the weather has been gorgeous.
On the flip side we're both still working all day and with two bored toddlers, so it's definitely not the relax it is for some, and we're very tired.
So it's swings and roundabouts for us. I defo won't miss lockdown but there are many who have it loads worse than us. In your shoes OP I'd be loving it too!

Amazes me that those supposedly working from home have so little to do that they can galavant around the home instead of sitting in front of a desk working, especially those that are employees. All my friends working from home are doing just that... very busy working, and most of them having to look after kids too.

So, whilst I am working from home and putting in 8 hours most days, I do get the occasional chance to have brunch with DH, sow a few seeds for the garden, etc. What I love about the lockdown is my town being very quiet, no cars or people, not having to go to work or use public transport, no make-up, working in the conservatory with open doors listening to the birds singing and watching the antics of the squirrels... what I don't like is not being able to visit my father, and because of this situation, worrying about my vulnerable DH who is a key worker. I'd rather get back to normality despite the more nicer aspects of lockdown (like wfh).

I’m enjoying the fact that the roads are quieter but that’s it.

I'm already an introvert / hermit by choice and normally work from home, so I honestly don't feel any different. My house is my whole world, I have my back garden for fresh air and that's all I need.
If it wasn't for my husband suddenly working from home I wouldn't even have noticed any changes.

@Amymayapple

It is important to understand that the current date is not the lockdown end date.

It is the date before which the lockdown will definitely not be lifted.

Things will be reviewed and these dates will very likely be extended in most countries.

In Austria we have been in lockdown for 2 weeks already and our current end date is 14 April, but we are expecting some, if not all of the restrictions to last into May.

Please don't mentally prepare for everything to go back to normal on a given date. It won't and you will be very disappointed.

Amazes me that those supposedly working from home have so little to do that they can galavant around the home instead of sitting in front of a desk working, especially those that are employees.

Most of us are saving considerable commuting time, a lunch break and various other interruptions to our workday. I have a 1 hour lunch break and a 2x 45 minute commute. I am starting work at the time I would normally leave for work and therefore have plenty of time to potter about whilst getting the same amount of work done.

You might be surprised how inefficient office working often is

@FelineUK my hours have been cut to 3 days per week at home for the next few months so I have far more time to “galavant”

Apart from things I mentioned yesterday, DD has been enjoying the freedom of the kitchen but while I am around to give advice - so 3 different batches of granola were made on an experimental basis yesterday and she found out a few things, including that she actually likes dried apricots...!!! And made a good batch of granola by the end.

OTOH, while we are all very busy and getting stuck into our various work (paid work for DH and I, schoolwork for DD), and mostly getting through it - that is more difficult for DH and I, and he is getting very stressed because so many phonecalls per day to organise things as a manager mean he is not getting to dealing with the paperwork he needs to urgently to get project deadlines met....a result of covid 19 but not to do with WFH specifically.

I got to eat lunch outdoors yesterday in sunshine, when I usually eat at my desk as I work through.

And I am planning to have a BBQ one evening when the weather is nice, and another evening when we cook on a little camping wood stove outdoors - by way of making dinner preparation more interesting and fun.

Enjoying a worldwide pandemic are we? People are dying in mass numbers daily. People are struggling for money. Struggling with bored children. And your enjoying all of this?
Good for your your coping really well. That's it rub it in! Unfortunately being a nurse, I have to work 12 hour shifts 5 days a week, where were all struggling, stressed and close to fatigue.
You just put your feet up and enjoy this moment in your life with candle lit dinners with your husband.

Alison, I don't think anyone is enjoying the pandemic, more that people are trying to maintain a positive attitude to get through this. It's not all larks and japes at home either - I've got a DD who is climbing the walls, almost literally, with not being able to get out enough, and we are able to use the green out the front for exercise as well as a long walk with her daily. She is incredibly difficult with food, and has SEN so not always reasonable to deal with - our shopping trips have had to try very hard for things that she will eat, while DH and I are happy to eat most things. I have asthma which is serious enough to need daily inhalers so DH and I are both very worried about the potential for me to be very sick if we catch this - and that in itself means I feel terribly guilty about not being able to do more to help out on the front line. DH and I are working FT at home, and DD is doing full school days (having commandeered my laptop, luckily I got a device from work to keep working). DH has been told he is getting a 20% pay cut as a minimum - I fully expect he will lose his job. I expect a paycut as the Government imposed paycuts on the civil service in the last recession so that barrier has been breached before. My parents are elderly with underlying conditions, both of them, and refuse proper help which was already concerning me - and I've since found out that DF is getting regular treatment in hospital for pre-cancerous growths which he hadn't told people about. I am at a remove from them so can't go to visit. DMIL is also terrified and at a remove, with underlying conditions. DSiblings range from being incredibly stressed and causing grief between others, to having lost their job and trying to figure out what to do - and most have looked to me as the eldest to give advice. I am worn out and stressed to the gills, and have not slept a night through for 4 weeks until I took a sleeping tablet last night.

So no, I am not ENJOYING lockdown - but I am doing my best to do things that will help me get through it, and help the rest in my household get through it.

I was the last in our household to stop outside the house stuff - as I was the one who had to go into the office until the middle of last week. I was lucky to get a car parking space last week, but had spent €76 to park my car for 2 days near the office, when I have already paid for my annual train ticket and parking near the station. But travelling by public transport is not a good idea when I have the asthma. But €76 for my car to just sit there is also something I nearly cried about as it is not money I really wanted to "waste".

If people are trying to be positive and make the best of a very bad hand which we have been dealt by the universe, that really doesn't meant that it is all shits and giggles in their house.

Mumsnet is the worst place if you suffer from anxiety.

Meanwhile, in the real world, everything is fine for most people. Most people are still employed and most people don't have the virus.

I slightly miss the shops and restaurants, but it means I can save money. I just got a slight pay rise yesterday, I now earn minimum wage. I will always see the positives in any situation.