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Original poster

Still in shock

291 replies

KayEngel · 13/07/2020 18:45

Is it just me? I still can't quite believe what has happened and is still going to happen for the foreseeable. I've stopped going out, not because I'm worried about getting Covid, but because the whole face mask, social distancing, queuing, booking ahead, craziness is just too upsetting.

OP posts:
nitgel · 13/07/2020 19:38

Wearing a mask is fine
This is fine. Life goes on.

pigoons · 13/07/2020 19:40

I'm more depressed now than at the start of lockdown. Bloody masks have been imposed here in Scotland and I live in a nanny state where expressing any other opinion is frowned upon.

QueenofmyPrinces · 13/07/2020 19:40

I've written the rest of this year off, socially. Can't imagine pubs/restaurants being much fun now.

To be fair, I went to a lovely country pub a few nights ago for a fancy meal and it was lovey. It felt no different at all to how it would have been pre-corona. The only difference was that people could only go to the toilet one at a time.

UncomfortableSilence · 13/07/2020 19:41

Yes I feel very odd and slightly anxious at the moment, had my hair cut today but it was a very strange experience which I won't rush to do again. I used to love browsing homeware shops on my day off but have no desire to go back to shops and I have worked right through so it's not like I've been stuck at home.

My colleague went out for dinner at the weekend and said it was a very sterile experience with little atmosphere, I think I feel worse right now as my youngest out of no where this morning just sobbed that she wants to be back at school with her friends, she hates going out as she said everyone moves away from you and you can't touch anything and seeing everyone wearing masks frightens her my heart broke.

I understand it's all very necessary but it's definitely a struggle getting used to the 'new normal' ( I hate that term )

MarcelineMissouri · 13/07/2020 19:41

I miss normal life so much. I have a cry most days. This is one very long bad dream that I just cannot get my head around.

I think dh is going to end up losing his job but thats going to drag on for the next couple of months at least and the not knowing is excruciating. I’d almost rather he lost it now so at least we knew where we stood. Very awkward as I’m a sahm and we have a very good lifestyle. No idea what we will do.

All the things that we used to love like eating out, yes we can do them again but I don’t want to because it’s just a weird reminder of how wrong everything is.

I have days of feeling more upbeat and then days of just feeling total despair.

Whenwillthisbeover · 13/07/2020 19:44

It’s hard and weird the first couple of times but the more you do it the easier it gets.

I’ve always done the supermarket even through lockdown, DD is frontline NHS so we have been wearing masks when shopping from the beginning. After a weeks holiday last week in the Lake District where we ate out or went to the pub everyday and had to social distance, fill out track and trace forms and get table service, it was really ok.

Honestly it’s better than staying in, and every day it feels a bit easier.

cjpark · 13/07/2020 19:45

It's miserable. I miss faces. I work in healthcare and have to wear PPE everyday. All of my patients are requested to wear masks. I then go to do the food shop and people are wearing masks. The only faces I see are my immediate family. I miss seeing smiles and laughter and expressions.

BestOption · 13/07/2020 19:45

Yes, it's so WEIRD isn't it. Imagine if someone had said to you a year ago that it would be like this now?

I crossed the road today as a couple were nearing me and apologised - I said to them 'it's all so horrible & weird avoiding people like this isn't it' And they agreed (in a nice way).

I haven't seen my DP since early March (we needed/decided to lock down separately, mainly due to his work & DC (as he moves between houses all the time)) and I'm very vulnerable- we haven't even been going for walks or anything because I cope better just not seeing him. He's coming over tomorrow to pick something up. I had planned on being out for a walk at the time) but he's said he's SO looking forward to seeing me, even if he can't hug me. Whereas for me it makes it worse, when I see him I'm just going to want to cuddle him. It's going to take ALL my restraint not to

I wonder what the true figures are for today?

I really wish we could get an ACCURATE figure for our local area. Though I'm still not sure I'd hug him because even if it's 1/4000 I don't know if he's been talking to that 1 person. 🙇🏻‍♀️

If he turned up now I'd have him stripped naked & in my bed before he could say 'Hi'

I miss him 😢

Arnoldthecat · 13/07/2020 19:47

The best thing to do is cut out tv and radio news and facebook and other social media. They are all toxic.

ravenmum · 13/07/2020 19:47

I thought they were introducing the masks properly in the UK. Amazed to see that it still seems to be "if you want to", "you should". Much better how they have done it here, that they are compulsory in shops/public transport or you can pay a fine. That means that almost all people wear them, it is not about "ooh it's nonsense" or "I don't want to look stupid", and if people are not social distancing carefully, they do at least have their mouth covered. Haven't seen any fines being charged for the couple of people here and there who have no mask, but the fact that it's theoretically possible makes quite a difference.

Cases are right down here - in Dresden, Germany there are a few street events starting to open up again. Lots of restaurants have created new outdoor areas. No new cases for a week. It feels relatively relaxed - we know that if there are 50 new cases locally then things will get stricter again, and we will hear about it. Things will be slower in the UK, but the number of new cases is gradually dropping too.

IAintentDead · 13/07/2020 19:48

@Kbear

My friend travelled to London today to work as her boss required her to - she asked a woman opposite her to wear her mask and the woman called her a fucking cunt

Happy days

I wouldn't use that language but I agree with the sentiment.

I'm so glad not everyone is being taken in by the virtue signalling mask wearing that won't make an ounce of difference.

One - because you have to have it to spread it and few people do in the community.

Two - unless masks have proper filters, are worn correctly with no gaps, are never touched until taking them off again and never re-worn unless and until they have been washed - they are useless even in the rare event that the person has got a virus and doesn't feel too ill to go out.

Chig · 13/07/2020 19:49

I have an appointment tomorrow to take DS to the doctors.

We haven’t been out since March as he needs shielding. I’ve received a text message saying it will be held in a shielding room. We must wear a face covering and ring a number 5 minutes before our appointment and wait in our car. We don’t have a car.

I’m feeling panicky already at the thought of all this. I miss the good old days Sad

BikeRunSki · 13/07/2020 19:49

Yes, it's so WEIRD isn't it. Imagine if someone had said to you a year ago that it would be like this now?

Even right up to lockdown in France. DSis is in France and we all thought “oh, 2 weeks is a long time”, then a few days lasted we got 3! 17 weeks later...

IncrediblySadToo · 13/07/2020 19:49

@KayEngel

Yes. We were supposed to flatten the curve. We did but now it seems nothing but eradication is good enough.
Well the 'curve' isn't what kills you, so on an individual basis it's irrelevant once you've contacted it whether 20 people or 29,000 others have it . Yes, you're less likely to get it, but once you do...
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/07/2020 19:52

If you scared to go out because it will be weird and different, my advice is to force yourself a little bit and you will discover it’s a lot less fraught than you might imagine.
I was in Asda today for the first time and I noticed how worn out the one way and 2m stickers on the floor were looking. It all just seemed banal and dull rather than tense and more than anything else it all felt quite normal. I am sure in a month or two we won’t even notice the people in masks, it will be just a normal part of the scene.

AmelieTaylor · 13/07/2020 19:54

@Arnoldthecat

The best thing to do is cut out tv and radio news and facebook and other social media. They are all toxic.
Wow. You should let WHO know you've found the cure for the virus!

🙄🙄

NailsNeedDoing · 13/07/2020 19:55

My friend travelled to London today to work as her boss required her to - she asked a woman opposite her to wear her mask and the woman called her a fucking cunt

No one deserves to be called a cunt by a stranger on a train, but your friend had no right to ask someone to wear a mask. There are exemptions and no one should have to explain themselves over something so personal to strangers.

dementedma · 13/07/2020 19:56

I think there is a huge amount of over reaction (and no, i am not disrespecting those who have died). But here in Scotland we have had zero deaths in 5 days and yet all have to wear masks at all times and non-essential officer workers (me) are STILL on lockdown. WTF? More people die in road accidents, or of a million and one other ailments but we have corona panic ruling our lives.
I visited a friend yesterday - she literally hasn’t been out of her home for over 3 months!! We had tea in her garden, I wasnt’ allowed into the house to use the loo, everything swabbed with wipes etc. It’s fucking ridiculous and unnecessary now. People just need to use some judgement, be sensible and get on with life again.

Straycatstrut · 13/07/2020 19:57

Not just you OP. Pretty much all of us. To be honest I feel so numb and fed up with it that I actually walk about in a daze and forget to social distance and follow the arrows etc etc. Today was my first day shopping "in town" and it was just exhausting, frustrating and nerve wracking. People in uniforms about pointing to arrows, loads in masks, sensing people too close to me and feeling awkward. I don't feel "free" anymore and that's pretty much what kept me going. It's a constant stream of bad feeling.... it makes you want to stay in and just shop online, but that's not healthy at all.

betteliefsen · 13/07/2020 19:57

it's shit in so many ways, missing our old lives, grieving for dead relatives, missing family members, worrying about family members who work in a care home, the list is endless.

tempnamechange98765 · 13/07/2020 19:58

Yes I wouldn't say shock, as I'm lucky, lockdown has been pretty kind to me and my family.

But I absolutely still can't quite believe it's all happening! I didn't see it coming at all, which I'm glad about as what good would it have done.

BestOption · 13/07/2020 19:59

@BikeRunSki

Yeah. Probably just as well they didn't say 17 weeks at the beginning though, can you imagine?!?!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 13/07/2020 20:02

Today has been hard. I feel like my freedom has gone.

ravenmum · 13/07/2020 20:02

I'm so glad not everyone is being taken in by the virtue signalling mask wearing that won't make an ounce of difference.
You see, I agree with you that the masks probably don't make a great deal of difference. Studies suggest that even the cloth masks are slightly useful, but no more.

If no-one had come up with the idea of masks, or suggested we could wear them, then it wouldn't be an issue.

But the problem is that when it's advised, but not made mandatory, you get the kind of aggressive situation as described. One person asking if the other will wear the mask to give her a tiny scrap of peace of mind and the other being nasty to her, mocking her for being afraid or accusing her of virtue signalling.

If they were mandatory, this situation wouldn't occur as often. You'd ll just shrug and pretend that you were only wearing the masks because you had to. Less refusing to wear it as a sign of your political convictions or how "hard" you are.

AmelieTaylor · 13/07/2020 20:04

@dementedma

I think there is a huge amount of over reaction (and no, i am not disrespecting those who have died). But here in Scotland we have had zero deaths in 5 days and yet all have to wear masks at all times and non-essential officer workers (me) are STILL on lockdown. WTF? More people die in road accidents, or of a million and one other ailments but we have corona panic ruling our lives. I visited a friend yesterday - she literally hasn’t been out of her home for over 3 months!! We had tea in her garden, I wasnt’ allowed into the house to use the loo, everything swabbed with wipes etc. It’s fucking ridiculous and unnecessary now. People just need to use some judgement, be sensible and get on with life again.
Does it not occur to you that your transmission/death rates are low, precisely because of these measures!!

I'd swap for our lot who seem to think unlocking everything and letting people chose to be responsible Is the answer

Well until they've decided whether compulsory mask wearing will get them or lose them votes 🙄At Keats NS isn't afraid to say 'thus us what's happening here!' Whether it makes her unpopular ir not.