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Original poster

Your thoughts on when life will be normal-ish

394 replies

charcb · 13/01/2021 20:25

I realise this is purely speculative but what are people's thoughts on when we will be back to a semi-normal reality? Knowing what you know on vaccinations, when, according to you, can we expect the most simple of things to be back up and running again? I am referring to the simplest of things such as getting people back to their offices/places of work, having shops/gyms/entertainment venues permanently open, and the like?

I know we are a long way away from normal as we know it and that it may take several years to go back to it so I am not talking to getting back to total normality - ie no masks, no social distance, no restrictions.

OP posts:
MagicSummer · 18/01/2021 08:50

I am heartened by the fact that the over 70s and CEV people will now be getting letters inviting them for vaccination (Groups 3 and 4), mainly because I am in Group 5 so will be next. Yipeeeee! Cannot wait. I think it is so important to stress to those who have been vaccinated that they cannot simply go back to 'normal' - they have to wait and see, still following the rules. The best thing is that most of the fear will have dissipated.

IcedPurple · 18/01/2021 08:51

@Waxonwaxoff0

Mumsnet is an echo chamber of people who hate socialising and would be happy never seeing other humans again. It's just projection.

In the real world, everyone I know can't wait to go to festivals, enjoy a night out, go to a party.

People saying those things will never happen again are talking nonsense. There WILL be demand for those things again, and they WILL happen. Perhaps not this year, but certainly in the not too distant future.

I agree. Declaring yourself an 'introvert' has become a badge of honour here. I mean, I'd consider myself an introvert but that doesn't mean I don't also enjoy being around people, or that I don't have the future of my career to owrry about.

Also, lots of people on MN are very 'settled' in their lives. They have their children and 'DH', have a sucure (they think) job that they can WFH in their naice house and have something close to contempt for those of us - ie the majority - who aren't in the same situation.

MadameBlobby · 18/01/2021 08:53

Exactly @IcedPurple. I think some people are confusing being an introvert with being a hermit.

Fizbosshoes · 18/01/2021 08:56

I am shy and certainly not an extrovert but bloody hell I cant wait to meet friends for a meal or a drink or parkrun!
I'm amazed at how many people on MN would happily stay in for the rest of their lives and a)not need to go out and b) not miss friends!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/01/2021 08:57

I think as well if you've been working from home this entire time and you're anxious about the virus you might find it more difficult to imagine being comfortable in a big crowd.

I work in a factory, can't work from home so my day to day life hasn't changed. I see at least 20 different people a day and work with about 100 people. So I haven't really been sheltered from social situations.

TheKeatingFive · 18/01/2021 09:01

There’s some terrible bollocks posted on this thread. Hmm

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/01/2021 09:05

Yes, also people on MN are more settled with husbands and children so have different priorities.

Do some of you really think the younger generation in their teens and 20s with no kids will never want to go clubbing or to festivals again? Really?

Sirius99 · 18/01/2021 09:07

I think we will go back to pre pandemic normal, it just will not be this year, A few months in the tier systems again, then rule of six and small crowds at sports etc, depending on vacations and virus cases, international travel, who knows depends on the country your going too and their situation

inquietant · 18/01/2021 09:08

@Fizbosshoes

I am shy and certainly not an extrovert but bloody hell I cant wait to meet friends for a meal or a drink or parkrun! I'm amazed at how many people on MN would happily stay in for the rest of their lives and a)not need to go out and b) not miss friends!
I'm going to put a foot in both camps here - I am really really missing my friends, relatives and activities - but also I can wait.

If someone I trust - Chris Whitty, for example - says honestly it is not going to make cases rise again to get back to x, y, z then I'll be so happy.

My problem is in summer 2020 I felt they were unlocking a bit much and a bit fast, I didn't trust them. And I'm worried they'll do the same again.

I'd prefer an extra month on this lockdown, if that would buy more certainty it would be the last.

But I am absolutely bored, frustrated, miserable about it generally. If nothing else, my DH can't get back to his old job until things are better, so it's not great financially.

Sirius99 · 18/01/2021 09:10

Do you think it would be right for the likes of Cheltenham races, Crufts, festivals etc to go ahead this year ?

CrochetToTheMoon · 18/01/2021 09:17

I think by Easter restrictions will start lifting, can meet more people from different households, restaurants etc starting to open. Not sure about things like travel and large events like concerts and the like but roll on Summer!

inquietant · 18/01/2021 09:18

Can't see things like Cheltenham this year, unless rates per 100,000 were very low, and I assume they'll unlock too soon again, meaning they won't be Sad

TheKeatingFive · 18/01/2021 09:18

Well Cheltenham’s only a couple of months away, so not that.

CrochetToTheMoon · 18/01/2021 10:10

@Waxonwaxoff0

Mumsnet is an echo chamber of people who hate socialising and would be happy never seeing other humans again. It's just projection.

In the real world, everyone I know can't wait to go to festivals, enjoy a night out, go to a party.

People saying those things will never happen again are talking nonsense. There WILL be demand for those things again, and they WILL happen. Perhaps not this year, but certainly in the not too distant future.

This! I cringe at a lot of the responses I see to questions about Covid.

We’ll never ever ever see family again!

It’ll be the year 3000 before we can go to a concert!

It’s awful, meanwhile in real life I don’t know a single person who thinks like that

MarshaBradyo · 18/01/2021 10:15

It’s easy to see how keen people are as whenever the restrictions are released a bit places are full - Oxford st, beaches etc

We are mostly suppressed and will un spring pretty quickly as we can, rather than wanting this

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 18/01/2021 10:37

Vaccine minister has said today that restrictions will start to be lifted in March.

It is on the BBC website.

Rab was saying the same a few days again.

Unless some new problem emerges looks like that is the plan.

Fizbosshoes · 18/01/2021 10:53

@inquietant
*If someone I trust - Chris Whitty, for example - says honestly it is not going to make cases rise again to get back to x, y, z then I'll be so happy.

My problem is in summer 2020 I felt they were unlocking a bit much and a bit fast, I didn't trust them. And I'm worried they'll do the same again*

While I say I cant wait, I obviously mean once it is ok to do so, so probably similar to you. I not of the opinion, if something is not banned we should do it just because we can. A family we know went away over xmas I think the day before we were put in tier 4 - I felt like that was quite a big risk, and not one we would have done. As a family we went out to eat about 3 or 4 times over the summer, and to a zoo and it was great, but we did feel quite cautious of going to lots of places. DH is SE so we're mindful that if any if us got it , or even if we were contacted by t and t, isolating means our income significantly drops because he cant wfh(further than it has already - hes not an essential service - except to our family!) We saw family outside, I think , twice. DS and DH are especially keen to get back to their (outside) sports, which I think are likely to open sooner than some other areas.

inquietant · 18/01/2021 10:59

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Vaccine minister has said today that restrictions will start to be lifted in March.

It is on the BBC website.

Rab was saying the same a few days again.

Unless some new problem emerges looks like that is the plan.

Unless this is like the first lockdown, which was longer than they said. And of course, we were all going to be back to normal by Christmas. Oh, and no more national lockdowns. And definitely safe to go back to school.

I'm keeping an open mind.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 18/01/2021 11:09

Like I said unless something goes wrong.

At least they sound like they have made a plan and are actively working towards it.

We will all have to wait and see won't weSmile

Spiratedaway · 18/01/2021 11:43

@CrochetToTheMoon this made me laugh so true as well

RememberSelfCompassion · 18/01/2021 11:47

I personally don't want schools to open until my vaccine (group 6) is effective. I know its a couple of weeks after jabbing isn't it? I am still anxious it might not protect properly until the second one.

Schools are my biggest fear as they're the hotbeds of spreading it really. As a family we can control everything else (home deliveries/not seeing people etc). I'd hate to get so close to a vaccine and then catch it and die...

I'm still hopeful once they've vaccinated all 9 vulnerable groups that more things will safely lift though. Mine so want to get back to their sport etc.

Oblomov20 · 18/01/2021 13:14

I do believe teachers should be higher up the list.

I dont believe schools are hotbeds for transmitting. Or, not here in Surrey. The 4 local secondary schools to me have 1500 students. The 4 x primary have 450. That's 8000 students.

All schools report their Corona numbers, of pupils. And teachers. Heads send weekly letters, so we've been able to see how it increases each week, each month. On average they have had 12 - 24 cases.

And that's September to December. When all were in school, apart from self isolating.
That's bugger all. If it was that potent, there would be loads more.

This new strain is doubly contagious? Not in our local schools it's not. No cases. At all.

Oaktree55 · 18/01/2021 13:28

April but hospitality maybe later May onwards

Sirius99 · 21/01/2021 08:47

After the last 2 days death numbers, I think people need to realise that we will be in lockdown for a while longer then in the high tier systems at least late summer early Autumn, i think people need to come to terms with this

MadameBlobby · 21/01/2021 08:49

@Sirius99

After the last 2 days death numbers, I think people need to realise that we will be in lockdown for a while longer then in the high tier systems at least late summer early Autumn, i think people need to come to terms with this
We won’t. Well not lockdown anyway but maybe some tier system. The economy can’t afford it plus we are having people vaccinated now.
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