I feel lockdown has lost its novelty.

[fiveforty]

Gone are the Instagram tagging games, gone are the photos of people just finishing a 5k, gone are the messages of play ideas from panicked mums, and, thank god, gone are the screenshots of zoom calls.

The novelty of video calling is definitely wearing thin amongst my circles. Everyone is still trying but seems very flat, me included. Every. Day. Is. The. Same...
Might throw caution to the wind and hit up the garden centre before the weekend!
Although a cautionary tale on sneaking out to friends; one of my besties lives just down the road and is normally very healthy. She told me yesterday she's tested positive for CV! Although I'd love to see her am glad we didn't sneak round for an illicit bbq now.

It makes me very angry that people are going to shops as a family.

Fortunately my employer won’t let groups in - only single parents.

I am sure I would get into a lot of trouble if don’t give a ‘cheerful’ attitude to customers. It doesn’t mean I don’t understand that you are creating an unnecessary risk.

Lots of people are going shopping as families. I was at Sainsbury's on Friday for my once-weekly shop and there were loads of couples and parents with DC in the line. Woman in front of me had a teenage girl with her, so not just young ones either that can't be left at home (although I realise the girl could've had SEN).

I've arranged a one-on-one catch up with a good friend in her local park tomorrow. I'll take my picnic blanket and she can put hers 2m away and we'll have a chat. I can't wait to see her after two months.

I'd love to know if the parents with colour coded timetables are still sticking to them?!

I didn’t shop at Sainsbury’s anyway but will certainly boycott shops that put workers under unnecessary risk during the pandemic.

One benefit of reducing lockdown restrictions could be that if people had more freedom to socialise in outdoor public places like parks and beaches better restrictions could be put on workplaces so the public stopped treating them like a replacement for social experiences.

It is becoming like a winter flu season, with people huddling in indoor areas because they can’t socialise properly outdoors.

Sainsbury's was enforcing a one-person-per family rule until recently @Nameofchanges, so I don't know why they weren't enforcing it on Friday. Lots of places around here have reopened though - not just garden centres but coffee shops, cafes and restaurants - all practising social distancing - but open. I'm delighted! It's so good to see a businesses finding a way to trade safely and give people a bit of variety. Pret is open, Caffe Nero, two Italian cafes - lovely to see.

There's just nothing to talk about.

Nobody has any news, there is nothing to look forward to,so every conversation is pointless speculation about how and when schools will go back the same.

‘ Pret is open, Caffe Nero, two Italian cafes - lovely to see.’

I thought cafes could only open for takeaway. I’m assuming that is what you mean?

Obviously not all businesses are trading safely or retail workers wouldn’t be in the top ten professions likely to die of Coronavirus.

A little cafe nearby my house is open and I stopped by for a panini today for my son on the way home.

He told me to wait at an outdoor table if I liked, and that he would bring it to me when I was ready.

As he delivered it, he said 'please stay and eat if you like' so I did (even though it was my sons - it looked great!) but I just worried the whole time that someone was going to walk by and yell at me so I wound up wolfing it down and not really having a very nice time at all.

I hate the new normal.

I don’t see why there should be a problem with eating outdoors at a table if social distancing is observed.

I thought cafes could only open for takeaway. I’m assuming that is what you mean?

Yes, that is what I mean.

It didn't have any novelty with me during the first week or so. I was instantly miserable. I got into it after that for a few weeks, but the last week and a half I feel like I've hit a wall.
I can't face shopping, nor because I'm worried about catching the bloody virus, but I can't stand the fact that I've got to queue for an age to get in. I'm sick of having to drag t he kids out for their walk every night, they've just lost the will too.
I'm increasingly worried about the impact this is having on our economy and our mental health.
I'm sick of getting cross when I hear parents say they won't be sending their kids back to school because they value their health, but are happy to let the same kids play out in the street with kids from other families.
I'm so annoyed that for a long time, whenever something shit happens, like a recession or whatever, the government have a ready made excuse in coronavirus.
I'm terrified that people are missing out on other medical and dental care. In what sort of rich, first world country are people having to rip their own teeth out?!

But mostly, I'm gutted that there is no 'future' at the moment. There are no plans to be made.