Is anyone else leading a nearly ' normal' life.

[Christmaspud20]

For me. Except the local theme park being closed again and things like soft play for the kids,
Nothing else is different for us.
Thankfully this time dh isn't furloughed or anything, so he's working 6 days.
We don't mooch round the shops in general. I rarely go to town as I find it stressful at the best of times.
I generally wait till I have a few things to go for and just do 1 morning and list the shops in order to get it done fast.
We don't go for meals or drinking. The last time was December for his works drinks
I shop 1 big one a week and maybe 2 small top ups, but often just 1 We just don't have the fridge space to just do the once.
I do use wilko etc for toiletries so still do that and it's walking distance
Kids are at school and pre school as normal.
My bubble is my DF who's a single parent to my dsis who is under 18, she comes round most days after college when dad's at work.
I Drive to school runs etc, so obviously traffic is near enough the same as that's the time everyone is so understandable.
I know I'm very lucky and dh could be furloughed at any point of there's not enough work for his place to keep them all on atm.
But for me the only different thing is the social interaction with others at groups etc. But I'm happy in a group chat online and be done with it.

Loads of others I know in my normal social circle is the same. Only my DM is saying how different it all is as she's furloughed.

Lucky you. It’s probably because you’re allowed a bubble that it’s more normal for you. Would it be less normal if you didn’t have that? It’s completely not normal for me, we haven’t got single family members to bubble with so have no close interaction outside of my household. We have a young baby, no support, no one to help. Can’t even see friends socially distanced now (unless one on one on a cold walk). So far from normal!

Pretty normal for us. Both teachers with dc at secondary school. Rarely see extended family anyway, as they all live at least 4 hours' drive away. Don't much like shopping. We are outside a lot - lots of walking, sometimes kayaking etc, so can still do that.

Yup we are

Don't you see family? Ever decide to go on a day out planned only the day before?

Normal ish for us. Family are at a distance, so don't see them regularly.

We used to go for pub meals, but I'm on a diet now so wouldn't be doing that either.

Weekly delivery, as usual.

Visit shops like B&M, Heron etc if we pick up a prescription.

Nothing else really. Not going to church which is where I get community, but we do that on zoom anyway.

Honestly, not much has changed.

Actually take that back, DH and DS2 are working from home, and a bit underfoot. Apart from that, though.

Yeah we dont really socialise and i hate shopping so nothings really changed

Pretty much the same during the week but we would usually be out and about more at the weekends. Kids are really missing swimming

Nope, not normal at all.

My life is pretty much the same... but I think this is where the issues are. The psychological shift between this and last is that it isn't as important so more 'rule' breaking. I'm allowed to see Jeremy at work but I can't see Jeremy down the pub etc

I was going to say yes, but had forgotten that we are doing zoom church instead of real life church as zoom has become normal now. I prefer the way church is done now.

children still going to school, still popping into ex's house to avoid the school run traffic as the route takes me past two lots of school traffic and it is too stressful trying to avoid parking, jaywalking parents and children.

kids still going back and forth between homes.

Things have changed but the maiin thing, school is happening so seems more normal than before at least.

we were also able to go away to a cottage in the summer.

Not normal, but as long as kids can still go to school it feels fairly sustainable for the winter and not nearly as bad as the Spring. But I’m an introvert, I’m perfectly happy just talking to people via zoom/WhatsApp, I’m happily married and we’re financially unaffected so far. The children have each other and are young enough I’m not worried about what education they’re getting/not getting, they’ll catch up. I can see how for a lot of people it feels impossible.

Personally I'm finding life dull as fluck. No theatre, cinema, exhibitions, meals out, weekends away, gigs, nights out. These are the things that add.texture to my year, things to look back on. Otherwise every dull bloody week ls the same as the next.

Normal for us, both key workers. Not had a social life for years, live away from family so absolutely zero change apart from no mooching around the shops on a Saturday every now and then.

No. Not at all normal. I’ve not been into my office since 13 March. DH is also WFH. We’re not allowed a bubble as we’re a couple (and all our local friends are also couples). I feel very isolated. I miss the incidental social interactions from being at work. It’s really affected my mental health. But I’ll stick to the rules as long as it keeps the schools open.

Nope. Job gone. Fh gone, although arguably not because of Covid but lockdown did highlight his affair.
I live in Wales in borough where I no no one.
I've not seen another person since the end of September due to local restrictions prior to the Fire break.
I can't go to England and my relatives in England can't come to be spend 3 hours every morning applying for jobs. Then go for a 6 to 10 mile hike if weather not awful.
I say hello to the odd mountain bike, horse rider, dog walker but that's it.
I do click and collect every 7 to 10 days. I've not been in a supermarket since March.

I went to the bank and Superdrug last week. 2nd time in town since March. The reason I don't go is other people. I was the onlyvoerson in Superdrug, When a person not wearing a mask stands right next to me coughing and coughing. I had similar back in August in Greggs. I can't be arse to be around people like that so I just don't bother. Tbh, I don't miss it. I've no reason to need much when I've nowhere to go.

On August we had 3 meals put in pubs. 2 indoors and 1 outdoors. That was fine but I'm not keen on being in an indoor space if I'm honest.

All my choice, but no. Nothing is normal in my life. I'm just getting on with it the best I can.

Yes, it's pretty much normal for us. We both now wfh, but I did that for 3 days a week anyway -we both have separate rooms/desks/screens to work in so no issues. Tbh it's far more productive for me as I can work a bit later with colleagues in the US without worrying about the commute back.

We don't go out much anyway, maybe we'd do lunch on a Sat or Sun which we don't do in lockdown, but we still have a takeaway or 2 in the week (which we did in lockdown 1 as well). We don't meet with lots of friends so haven't missed it, nor family as we live quite a way from them. Our DS are at different Unis, they are still there, still seem to be enjoying it, less socialising but no big issues from what they say. Pilates (my exercise of choice) is now shut but I can do yoga on line. I do an online language class once a week which is great.

We do feel incredibly lucky, work hasn't dried up which I think makes a huge difference.

Life under lockdown is almost exactly like life normally.
No swimming lessons sadly and more coffee in the park instead of in the cafe beside the park.

I guess being pretty self sufficient without any family support has its advantages.

Nowhere near normal. You seem to have a fairly narrow view of what people do with their time. Neither us have been furloughed, I'm self employed too. So work is normal but that's it really.

Things were not doing:
Seeing family or friends.
Travelling
Working away
Eating or drinking out
Cinema
Theatre
Galleries/musuems
Events
Gigs
Shopping including things like markets
Dp- watching live sport

Mostly. DC are at school. I'm a mature student, and my course is still running, so carrying on as normal. My DM is a single adult, so has bubbled with us, so we can still see her. DH has been working from home, that's the major change - but it's a pleasant one, as his commute and the length of his working day mean we see a lot of more of him these days.

I still miss normality though. Life is carrying on almost as normal, but without so many of the things that make it fun.

Yes.... both teachers here so at work and DC at school. My Mum is in our childcare bubble so continuing to look after DS.

At the weekends we have always preferred nature type visits rather than shopping. Our youngest has a health condition that makes eating out at restaurants very challenging so it’s rare anyway that we do that as a family. Our life changed a lot when he was born and became much quieter, we also found out who our friends actually were. For a long time he required 24/7 care so we have already gone through the process of adjusting to being happier at home.

All we are missing is visiting others. However, DH, older DS and I get social interaction at work/school and that is enough for the time being.

I'm still working, tho from home a lot. DH still working.

But otherwise...can't see oldest as he is living at his gf's, also he can't find a job after being stood off (hospitality), I can't see dd as she is at uni, ds2 can't play or train footy or do athletics, I can't swim, can't meet my book group or other groups or even pairs of friends, got to do my tutoring online....no not our normal life at all.

And we are all well, everyone we know is well, DH and I both have jobs, we are really lucky.

Not normal at all, if it was like this all the time I’d find my life quite joyless!
Things we’re missing:
Socialising with friends
The kids socialising with their friends
Parties
Theatre
Pubs and restaurants
Proper days out
Foreign holidays
Family
Spontaneity!

I sort of feel sad for the people saying life is normal. Obviously it's up to you what you do it just sounds kind of dull.

I'm a city person so go out and do lots. There's a few people alluded to the idea that shopping is the only/main leisure activity they assume others are doing if they're not in nature. I feel like for people who spend time in nature there's a bit of a snobbery around urban lifestyles.. Socialising more, cafes, pubs, eating out etc.

I'm missing cultural stuff we would go to a gallery or musuem or the theater or cinema or event at least weekly. It's our main interest. So life feels very empty.

So different!
I was working in London and Oxford (travel between the two), seeing friends or family once or twice a week, eating out at least three times a week, loads of appointments like nails, hair etc. Not to mention 4 or 5 holidays a year plus work travel.
Now I WFH with DH all day every day, barely see my family and cook three meals a day at home.
I know everything is personal preference but I feel amazed that anyone is happy with this kind of life (if you feel yours hasn't changed)