Just realised - I've only been into postcodes for a year

MyNameForToday1980 · 2021-01-23T10:01:14+00:00

When the pandemic broke, the first thing DH did was start driving lessons. We'd never needed to drive as we'd lived in London all our adult lives. Driving just seemed expensive and excessive to our needs. DH got to be test ready, and his test has since been put back four times. Because: pandemic. It felt like a driver's license between us was one route of escape from the city (when lockdown restrictions allow). So we've spent the last year (or so) in two London postcodes, SW12 and SW17 (or maybe three as DD's nursery is in the border). We're not usually intrepid, but were active and busy, we visit friends and family, we eat out, we go on holiday, most weekends we'd take the train somewhere. I just feel like our world is so much smaller. Which I can hope with as I've seen other stuff, but I'm aware DD (4) probably can't remember a time before COVID. We've been so lucky, no illness, noone close to us has been very ill, even now DD is in nursery while we WFH, and they've had no confirmed cases. Does anyone else feel strangely trapped where they are? And so eager to get the heck out to somewhere different.

CeeJay81 · 23/01/2021 10:05

Kind of the opposite but we live rurally in Wales and there's been a significant number of people like you moving here from the cities etc. I guess it's nicer to be somewhere like this with lots of room to go out for walks than stuck in a city full of people.

Original poster

MyNameForToday1980 · 23/01/2021 10:08

Our road emptied out when the most recent lockdown started @ceejay81 and I could guess they were all headed to country houses/ family in the country. Totally irresponsible and entitled. We wouldn't have done that.

But it'd be lovely to see something that isn't Victorian houses and the local park. A cliff maybe... Or a lake... Or something.

We've taken the rules seriously, so maybe a car wouldn't have helped at all :-) equally, it'd be nice to have options, when restrictions allow.

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 23/01/2021 10:10

I got my travel timeline from google this month. I’ve been to 12 places in 2020 and most of these were in January to March. We went to the Isle of Wight in September. Since March we have only put petrol in our car twice.

ceeveebee · 23/01/2021 10:10

I though you meant that you were “into” postcodes ie they are your new hobby. Which is not as strange as it might sound, there is a guy at work who prides himself on knowing all of the postcode letters in the country. You meant in two postcodes

Thinking about it yes we have pretty much stayed in our postcode area apart from the week we managed to get in Devon in August. Weird isn’t it?

Isadora2007 · 23/01/2021 10:11

We’re very lucky here that we have a lot of natural beauty on our doorstep and even in the strictest lockdown could still access a beach and woodland in walking distance. In saying that I guess in this last year I’ve
pretty much also spent most of the time in two postcodes or within a 5 mile radius. Except for inter-county jaunts to hospital appointments!

Ch3rish · 23/01/2021 10:14

@ceeveebee

I though you meant that you were “into” postcodes ie they are your new hobby. Which is not as strange as it might sound, there is a guy at work who prides himself on knowing all of the postcode letters in the country. You meant in two postcodes

Thinking about it yes we have pretty much stayed in our postcode area apart from the week we managed to get in Devon in August. Weird isn’t it?

I thought the same and wondered why you'd post a niche hobby in this topic

I've been in loads as I'm still working and my local shops are in a different post code to me and a short walk in the other direction takes me into another one.

SmileyClare · 23/01/2021 10:19

When restrictions lift, your "one route of escape from the city" doesn't have to be via car. You could take the train as you used to? Do you feel public transport will be unsafe (due to covid risk) when lockdown eases? I think it will be low risk. There are measures in place on trains for example; less passengers, regular cleaning, masks etc, you can travel at off peak times.

I'm not sure why you feel trapped by your dh not having a license when the real reason you haven't gone out of your area is the travel restrictions and subsequent lockdown.

mrdobalinamrbobdobalina · 23/01/2021 10:28

@ceeveebee

I though you meant that you were “into” postcodes ie they are your new hobby. Which is not as strange as it might sound, there is a guy at work who prides himself on knowing all of the postcode letters in the country. You meant in two postcodes

Thinking about it yes we have pretty much stayed in our postcode area apart from the week we managed to get in Devon in August. Weird isn’t it?

That's what I though too!

Changemaname1 · 23/01/2021 10:30

Another one thinking you’d developed a postcode fetish, sorry - hobby

megletthesecond · 23/01/2021 10:34

I bet there's an interesting history of postcodes somewhere .

I know what you mean My. We're stuck in a town and it's so dull. I miss hills and the beach. I'm very good and disciplined about getting out running and walking but it'll be nice when we can leave the town boundary again.

Gurufloof · 23/01/2021 10:36

I was wondering why a postcode hobby was a thing, anyway, I've been to work which is in the very next postcode to me. And that's it. I'm desperate to visit anywhere at all. I'm not massive on going places except my holidays but I want to go out for the day. A reservoir or country park or the seaside. And get a cuppa and a sandwich and soup, visit the gift shop, buy tat and have fun.

Elouera · 23/01/2021 10:37

@ceeveebee

I though you meant that you were “into” postcodes ie they are your new hobby. Which is not as strange as it might sound, there is a guy at work who prides himself on knowing all of the postcode letters in the country. You meant in two postcodes

Thinking about it yes we have pretty much stayed in our postcode area apart from the week we managed to get in Devon in August. Weird isn’t it?

I thought the exact same!

Surely you can walk outside the 2 postcodes to explore/exercise if you want though?

SmileyClare · 23/01/2021 10:45

@Gurufloof

I was wondering why a postcode hobby was a thing, anyway, I've been to work which is in the very next postcode to me. And that's it. I'm desperate to visit anywhere at all. I'm not massive on going places except my holidays but I want to go out for the day. A reservoir or country park or the seaside. And get a cuppa and a sandwich and soup, visit the gift shop, buy tat and have fun.

Yes I agree, I'm sure everyone feels like that. There is a feeling of being "trapped" and added to that it's the winter; I feel like our family are spending far too much time cooped up in the house getting on each other's nerves; the same old walks, the same faces, the same surroundings.

I sympathise with the frustrations getting a license. My son was test ready when the pandemic hit and has a job offer lined up for after his electrical apprenticeship ends in Feb, pending on him having a licence. The earliest booking for the theory test is March and then there is a massive backlog of deferred practical tests once test centres re-open.

It's going to be a long wait, with huge online queues to book tests.

Original poster

MyNameForToday1980 · 23/01/2021 10:53

Haha. Or sure how 'in two' turned into 'into' oh god, maybe I've lost the power to type, that's what lockdown will do to you.

I'm not ruling out a postcode hobby, it might provide some distraction. And I'm pretty good with postcodes so it could be my (useless) Natural Gift!

OP posts:

SmileyClare · 23/01/2021 10:54

Was your thread title supposed to read "I've only been in two postcodes for a year"

SmileyClare · 23/01/2021 10:55

Cross posts sorry! Yeah maybe look into developing a post code fetish

Original poster

MyNameForToday1980 · 23/01/2021 10:57

@smileyclare to be honest I don't feel particularly safe about the train. Probably more my attitude than reality. From what I've heard the stations around here are still rammo (though maybe not so much at the weekend). I think having avoided The Virus for so long, I'm almost more cautious about the train/tube/buses than I was at the start.

OP posts:

Original poster

MyNameForToday1980 · 23/01/2021 10:59

@smileyclare also cross posts... Well I do know my N7 from my N1... And could accurately find SE5 on a map, and can picture the boundary between SW4 and SW2 so I'm basically already there.

OP posts:

IMissFrance · 23/01/2021 10:59

Even last summer?

There weren't many restrictions then.

We went to Alton Towers and had a week in Pembrokeshire.

And we are very careful people.

Cornettoninja · 23/01/2021 11:04

Just as a suggestion for when lockdown/restrictions are lifted, it’s worth getting some quotes from taxis to get outside of London. Compared to train fares you might find that there’s not a horrendous differences depending on where you head to.

ceeveebee · 23/01/2021 11:04

Depends where you are in the country. We’ve been under restrictions from 31 July (Greater Manchester). Leicester since middle of June. Although there’s never actually been a legal ban on travelling out of postcodes in England.

BrutusMcDogface · 23/01/2021 11:07

Yes, I do feel trapped and stuck and bored. That’s what pandemics and lockdowns do to a person.

Toocold · 23/01/2021 11:08

I live semi rurally ( town a few miles away) everyone seems to be driving here for the walks and scenery, I can’t wait to escape! However beautiful it is, I feel trapped and I’m desperate to go to another city or country! You’ll be pleased to know I won’t be doing either of those things until allowed but I definitely feel trapped!

TierFourTears · 23/01/2021 11:13

I drive through 6 postcode areas to get to work (key worker, 10 miles). Just looked it up on a map.
DS1's school is in another area.
We regularly walk to a park in another postcode.
DS2s football training is in yet another postcode.
When we get sent for covid vaccinations, that would be in a tenth postcode.
And thats us, to my mind, staying local.
If I add in visiting my parents and a couple of day trips over the summer, the number would go up again.

Sometimesonly · 23/01/2021 11:20

I used to be really into postcodes - and telephone area codes. I had to recognise them for my job and I got quite good....misses point of thread

We did travel about 200 miles for our summer holiday. Seems a long time ago now though.