Is there anyone who hasn’t even been on day trips this year due to Covid?

[Viv0321]

Is there anyone who hasn’t even been on day trips this year due to Covid?

We travel up to an hour for walks but don't do day trips that involve being around other people although having a child with severe asd that is our normal life anyway. I went to see my parents in late summer but don't expect I will do that again till next summer.

My dm hasn’t been really out. She’s home and never out. If she’s been taken out it’s been to the shops/doctors/hospital appointment.

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer

We haven't had day trips. I'm wary of using public loos, I'm disabled.

We've had weekly mornings or afternoons out visiting National Trust or English Heritage places as well as parks and gardens. If they seem too crowded we don't linger but we've been lucky so far, people are very good about distancing.

What are weekly trips to EH/NT places if not day trips?

@IndiaMay

Surely these people arent real. Never doing anything is bizarre. Just wear a mask and crack on!

I'm very much real thank you.

I'm also over 50 & diabetic and a couple of other things.

Why on Earth would I put myself at greater risk to do thinks I'm not fussed about doing?

You do understand that a mask protects others, not yourself?

I have my shopping delivered (did pre Covid anyway) and I'm back at work (no public transport) - and this week I've had breast screening, cervical screening & Saturday I have my flu jab that's all quite enough 'risky business' for me thanks. I have NO inclination to go anywhere else.

I'm happy to reduce my own risk & reduce my risk to others - why is that bizarre?

What exactly are you doing that you think the rest of us are missing out on?

@CountFosco

What are weekly trips to EH/NT places if not day trips?

I took the term literally - we have been on half days trips where we don't need to use the public loos or eat out. A day trip, to me, lasts a day with lunch out.

My day trips are great.

Work.

Hospital.

Doctor's surgery.

I even went to a supermarket once.

Post Covid, the effort just to be uncomfortable and crowded on public transport hasn't been worth it.

I'd kill for a trip to the seaside.

We've done lots. I have a 3 year old who (until about 4 weeks ago) I had to entertain all day every day. While she is "happy in nature", some day trips are nice to do something different.

We have been to the zoo, farm park (many times, we have a season ticket), theme parks (legoland, chessington, paultons park), beaches and national trust properties/gardens.

All of these places are outside so the risk is minimal. The numbers are limited which is great as it's not too busy.

But my God I want to go to a bookshop and garden centre, tootle round a museum about something fascinating like lighthouse machinery then have lunch or dinner out where someone else brings things to the table and all I have to do is eat

The huge pang of nostalgia and longing this hit me with was bonkers.

When I think of how I used to blithely hop on buses, spend hours in museums/galleries, maybe go to the cinema or theatre after, then nip into a pub for a bite to eat and a few drinks... And don't get me started on gigs. I miss live music more than I can express.

I've identified what it is I feel for my 'old life', and it's grief. I know things will get back to normal eventually (fingers crossed), but for now I feel like I'm in mourning for the life I had before. It wasn't particularly glamorous or anything, but it was carefree in so many ways.

Sorry for everyone having a hard time

Those if you saying ‘I’ll save my money and go when things are better’ - you do realise if you don’t go now they might not exist ‘when things are better’?

Yes we have. Anywhere with organised admission is required to make it possible to socially distance etc surely. Therefore numbers are limited. I don’t want to deprive my children of experiences outside home and school so we’ve gone to the Tower of London and similar places in London. We’ve been to a wildlife centre, been on a nature trail, holidayed in Cornwall. We’ve gone to restaurants. I’ve been to my local bookshop too! (For the benefit of the poster equating it to an attraction - I do too! )

I haven't been on any day trips but have a holiday planned at the end of the month in Scotland.

‘If you don’t go now, it might not exist’ that’s sad to think about.

Surely these people arent real. Never doing anything is bizarre. Just wear a mask and crack on!

Like other posters we're dependent on public transportand that was essential journeys only for most of summer and is back to that now due to lcoal lock doen. Many local venues still haven't re-opened.

Now schools back - we have a child in Y11 who has already had 14 days at home due to postive test in their year group. We really don't want to get caught in track and trace and have them miss even more teaching time.

We've done local walks and been into town and looked around shops - but we are missing going out and about like we once did.

We don’t really go on day trips anyway. We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty and we walk locally. Occasionally we might go somewhere like Hidcote but not every year. We would normally go on several short European city breaks which we haven’t done at all this year, and we haven’t done our usual holidays either, except for one in January. My sister has been to York and north wales and both times was surprised by how uncomfortable she felt. I can wait. Based on the current situation I think we’ve done our last restaurant visit too, until things calm down again.

It’s not my responsibility to keep things going by visiting places when I don’t feel safe. There is enough guilt-tripping about non-essential retail and now we’re adding leisure activities into the mix, not to mention spending money on unnecessary stuff when no one knows what’s going to happen with the economy. Presumably if I lose my job as a result of all this, I’ll be told off for not saving my salary as well.

@Viv0321

‘If you don’t go now, it might not exist’ that’s sad to think about.

It’s true. Look at Cineworld. I went to the Vue yesterday and was glad to see more people there. They’ve put a huge amount of work into making it Covid safe.

Of course people don’t have to go to places where they feel uncomfortable, but I’m glad there are some of us who make risk assessments, follow the rules and use these places while they exist, and which add so much colour to our lives (or my life) and go towards keeping a job safe for someone for one more day.

I am a movie fan so this is important to me....

@PennyDreadfuI

But my God I want to go to a bookshop and garden centre, tootle round a museum about something fascinating like lighthouse machinery then have lunch or dinner out where someone else brings things to the table and all I have to do is eat

The huge pang of nostalgia and longing this hit me with was bonkers.

When I think of how I used to blithely hop on buses, spend hours in museums/galleries, maybe go to the cinema or theatre after, then nip into a pub for a bite to eat and a few drinks... And don't get me started on gigs. I miss live music more than I can express.

I've identified what it is I feel for my 'old life', and it's grief. I know things will get back to normal eventually (fingers crossed), but for now I feel like I'm in mourning for the life I had before. It wasn't particularly glamorous or anything, but it was carefree in so many ways.

This made me want to cry. I know, I know!, It’s grief and loss. A stripping away by a thousand cuts

I’ve been to my local bookshop too! (For the benefit of the poster equating it to an attraction - I do too! )

I was so happy when the bookshops opened again. And I'm so pissed off at Amazon for raising prices during lockdown I've stopped buying from them, Waterstones and Blackwells are doing very well out of me at the moment!

Wow I’m kind of shocked at this! I’m a teacher and am in amongst senior school pupils all day. I’m lucky that I have no health issues (that I know of) but don’t have a choice as it’s my job. I am as careful as I can be without letting it impact my mental health.

I was really worried about coming back after the holidays but it’s been so lovely and uplifting seeing the pupils back to normal. So happy just being kids/teenagers. 💗 No social distancing of course. Us teachers are social distancing.

Those of you that are locked away still, do you feel it’s affected your mental health?

We’re still eating out, going out and about as we always have. Doing the job I do, I can’t be hyper vigilant. It becomes crippling.

No day trips here at all. Very vulnerable shielding husband. Have only gone out to pick up care packages and ds from university (no stopping), no shopping, no cafes, no pubs, no restaurants, certainly no holidays. We're not old either!

Btw my mh is much better than I would have imagined.

We normally eat out at least once a week and love to go to bars in the centre of London, travel by tube, train, go to theatres, cinemas, see people etc.

But we can't right now. Fully intend to go back out ASAP.

Good for those who can.

@tobee sounds tough. It’s great that you’re coping so well. These pleasures will be all the sweeter when you can enjoy them again 💗

Thanks @Goingdooolally !

I'm not trying to get a pity party going btw Just think some people need their eyes opening! I'm trying to reciprocate with others on here; imagining it from their perspective too. We're not all those Mumsnetters that don't open their doors!!

We've only been very local as I've been put off by people who live in tourist spots being worried about the influx and didn't want to be part of the problem.

My parents haven't been far, ive persuaded them to meet me for lunch a few times though and my DD's stayed with them for a while. We mostly go walking, cycling or on the motorbike, eating outside or taking a picnic but we've been inside the pub a few times recently now it's colder