This too shall pass?

[MintyCedric]

Just that really. Do you see the situation ending eventually and being able to go back to a normal way of life?

Initially I thought, 6 months, then realistically maybe by the end of next year things will be on an even keel. Now I'm starting to forget what real life is like.

The day to day of lockdown hasn't bothered me hugely as I'm not exactly a social butterfly. I'm very fortunate that I've been able to work from home on full pay which has been a Godsend as it's enabled me to make regular care visits to my parents who live round the corner (my dad is dying and I've otherwise been nowhere and seen no-one since lockdown began).

But longer term, having nothing to look forward to is really starting to get me down. No theatre or museums, trips to London, holidays, festivals, concerts, no chance of meeting anyone (I'm divorced and quite happily single in general but the thought that if this continues I may never have sex again is not great!)

And even if the virus itself mutated to be less serious or we get a vaccine or treatment the impact it will have had will be enormous.

Rationally I keep telling myself that the likes of Spanish flu and bubonic plague blew over, we recovered from two world wars etc...

Anyone fancy telling me I'm.being ridiculous and one day this will all seem like a bad dream.

I think it might take a while, maybe 12-18 months, but this WILL pass.

Also I’m so sorry to hear about the situation with your dad.

I think we will be back to normal by september. Schools will all be back in September and anything else past that is not economically sustainable apart from anything else.

It will definitely pass . It's a bit rubbish now but it can only get better. Positive albeit small changes are already starting to happen and there is plenty more to come. We just have to take each day as it comes and know that we're a step closer to better days.

Everything seems bad when you are in the thick of the experience but we will look back one day and realise we are through it. We'll appreciate what we have gained from the experience.

Do we want to go back to 'normal'? I hope it will be the catalyst for change. I hope we have a new norm where there are less plane journeys and polluting cars, where the pace of life stays less frantic and where we stay more community-spirited and spend more quality time with families.

Thanks pringle. Like I said, in that weird way at least Covid has been a blessing. I'd be physically at work 8 hours a day otherwise.

And I know its bound to get better eventually...I think the combo of personal stuff plus the overall bleakness is getting to me at the moment.

In some ways the approaching summer is making it worse as that's when I normally do stuff. I'm quite happy to be a hermit during the winter but its normally about now I'd be planning those theatre and museum trips. I'd booked myself a B & B in Harrogate the Crime Writers festival in July...my first break just for me in 10 years, but of course it's been cancelled.

And my gorgeous daughter, who's in Yr 10 is being amazing but the impact this could have on her GCSEs is weighing heavily on her. She's involved with a couple of community organisations and just before lockdown was appointed to the prefect role she'd had her heart set on for years, and now she's stuck at home and won't be able to have all those experiences she should have been having.

It's just a bit shit and I've been so preoccupied with all the practicalities I think the social and emotional side of things is only just starting to hit.

Noteverything unfortunately my pace of life is no less frantic because of personal circumstances, although I don't miss driving to and from work and can't complain about the amount of money saved on supermarket meal deal lunches and petrol!

I was supposed to be in Manchester today, watching Phantom of the opera tonight. It's what kept me on my healthier eating plan.
I'm sad about missing garden festivals. Last year I couldn't go to any because of work.

I think the government is recognising this and weighing up the public health cost, on a personal level.
My GC are at a lovely age for farms etc.
A lot of people will be feeling the same now the fear is disappearing.