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Original poster

People saying ‘we’ve had a year of this’ - what did you do last summer?

596 replies

Bubbinsmakesthree · 02/02/2021 22:09

I keep seeing people saying things like “my child hasn’t played with anyone else in a year” or “I’ve not seen any friends in a year”. I know some people have been shielding or live in areas that have had tougher restrictions for longer...but if not, what were you doing last summer?

I think I’ve been fairly cautious but we still managed holidays/trips away in the UK, lots of (socially distanced) meet ups with friends and family and my children saw lots of their friends. We’ve been to museums, meals out, swimming etc. Other than children not social distancing with each other I don’t we broke any rules. It certainly wasn’t a normal summer but in comparison with the current (really miserable) lockdown things were pretty decent.

Lots of people I know were regularly in bars, making cinema trips, foreign holidays and taking the children soft play (i drew the line well before it got to soft play myself!)

Are people forgetting what actually happened or did some people remain in voluntary lockdown all year?

OP posts:
Dowser · 04/02/2021 21:45

@Pinkmarsh

I don’t get this either. We have a caravan and were using it pretty much every weekend from July until October. Lots of beach days, bbq’s with friends at the camp site. The kids were at school from September until December and saw their friends at weekends for the park and shopping. Perfectly easy to do all of that whilst following guidelines.
Us too..except hardly any kids Just had dgd for a weekend We got only 4 months out of a normal 10 month season ☹️
Dowser · 04/02/2021 21:47

@MintyMabel

But more fun going in person. Wouldn’t have been for us. The restrictions would have made it more difficult.

It was allowed
Doesn’t make it a good idea, as we have come to discover.

Really? Numbers were low in summer as we all know. Numbers rose when universities went back
Liveitalittle · 04/02/2021 21:47

Last summer we went camping, away to a cottage, lots and lots of walking, discovered loads of great walks we would never have hunted for usually. Outdoors as much as possible, on the bikes, barbecues, canoeing on the river - we made the most of every drop of freedom - and even in lockdown made the most of our legs!!! Missing gigs, museums and charity shops the most at the moment!

Dowser · 04/02/2021 21:51

@Liveitalittle

Last summer we went camping, away to a cottage, lots and lots of walking, discovered loads of great walks we would never have hunted for usually. Outdoors as much as possible, on the bikes, barbecues, canoeing on the river - we made the most of every drop of freedom - and even in lockdown made the most of our legs!!! Missing gigs, museums and charity shops the most at the moment!
It’s been a year without music We usually are in york about twice a week following our favourite bands but no, nothing. Never even saw them busking
Liveitalittle · 04/02/2021 21:56

@Dowser I know. Two gig venues where we live, I hope they can survive to re open!!! Would also love some outdoor music

fluffi · 04/02/2021 21:57

[quote Hagotcha80]@fluffi

But if these were your colleagues, to all intents and purposes, you might as well have done those activities in terms of risk of getting covid.[/quote]
@Hagotcha80 Apologies I wasn't clear, I have been fortunate to work from home since March. My job involves a lot of video calls with colleagues most days so people do talk about their weekends and lives outside of work a fair bit.

At one point at end of summer it did look like I would have to return to the office. The office had put huge amount of effort into making it covid secure with 2m distancing enforced by blocking off desks, plastic screens, 1 way systems and shut off the kitchen completly. But even if I had gone to the office I still I wouldn't have done any extra acitivities like get lunch or go to the pub because I didn't want to increase my risk of covid in case there was an emergency that required me to go to the CEV person's home or they needed an urgent lift for medical or dental treatment.

MrsR87 · 04/02/2021 21:59

I was in 2nd-3rd trimester of pregnancy when the restrictions were lifted...I gave birth during the second lockdown. Most of my friends work in schools or hospitals and so we hardly saw anyone. We didn’t go out except for one meal for our wedding anniversary because it seemed like an unnecessary risk to my unborn baby. I got through the loneliness and lack of physical support because I figured if people were sticking to the rules and the government did their job, at least I’d have the support once baby was born.
That was a fail...so far my 11 week old baby has only met my mum as part of the under one support bubble. She is furloughed so very low risk. It was especially hard during his first two weeks when the bubble did not exist and he was having lots of problems, that are thankfully now resolved. Doing that with no physical support was once of the hardest things, both physically and mentally, that I have ever done.

Embarrasedaf · 04/02/2021 22:02

Well life wasn’t completely back to normal last summer:

Clothing stores reopened in June but changing rooms remained closed. Many retail staff remained furloughed. Hairdressers and gyms etc reopened in July, so for some of us life wasn’t normal until then. Clubs etc never reopened (relevant for those of us in our early 20s) and many raves/festivals remained cancelled. Many students had their graduations cancelled.

By early September, some cities enforced restrictions where residents would not be able to mix with any other households, indoors or in private gardens, except for those in a support bubble.

So we had about 6 short weeks of semi-normality rather than the entirety of summer as suggested.

I’m lucky in that I have a good job and am able to work from home, however it meant that last summer felt nowhere near normal! I’d have rather been in my air conditioned office than sweating up a migraine at home.

Gilly12345 · 04/02/2021 22:11

We managed to eat out last Summer quite a lot under the chancellors eat out scheme, managed a long weekend to Devon and a few days out to different seaside resorts.

We came out of lockdown early July so if people didn’t manage a few outings out or meals out then they are pretty slow, life is for living, even if we have to observe social distancing and face masks.

I don’t want to sound mean and of course some people had to be cautious and shield.

Gilly12345 · 04/02/2021 22:13

Life is not all about doing things with friends you could socialise with your own family unit and small bubbles of people.

Dowser · 04/02/2021 22:13

[quote Liveitalittle]@Dowser I know. Two gig venues where we live, I hope they can survive to re open!!! Would also love some outdoor music[/quote]
I saw the opera man a couple of times in york.
Was lovely. Great voice but I did miss the Y street band, Rob Pickford and the hyde family jam 😢

aModernClassic · 04/02/2021 22:21

It's amazing, with so many of you not leaving the house all year, how come Cornwall was heaving in the summer?

We were allowed to go out, we were allowed to meet up with up to six people outside, our children were allowed to meet up with their class bubbles before September.

I can understand vulnerable people staying at home and shielding, but I think a lot of you have a very short memory.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 04/02/2021 22:24

Not in my area we weren’t.

WineInTheWillows · 04/02/2021 22:26

It's amazing, with so many of you not leaving the house all year, how come Cornwall was heaving in the summer?

Dunno. It's almost like the entire population of England isn't on Mumsnet... 🤔

NailsNeedDoing · 04/02/2021 22:30

@Gilly12345

Life is not all about doing things with friends you could socialise with your own family unit and small bubbles of people.
If you’re lucky enough to have people like that close enough to you. For some, friends are the only people to socialise with.
Merrymermaid7 · 04/02/2021 22:34

Not been anywhere, not seen my family even when it was allowed apart from outside. My 3 teenage children have not seen their friends for nearly a year apart from school briefly. I have been working from home as a mental health practitioner and my clients have been desperate for social contact but understood the risks and sacrificed a lot to keep themselves and others safe. This type of post will really upset them and others, especially all those working on the front line or NHS. Perhaps you will think about your actions in the future?

Pimlicojo · 04/02/2021 22:45

I refuse to feel guilty for doing things we were permitted to do during the summer. Normal things, like going to a bar, restaurant or museum. To suggest people doing normal things that were allowed contributed to where we are now is unreasonable. At no point did I break rules, not socially distance or be aware of hygiene. I'm sure thousands of others were the same.

I appreciate that some people had greater restrictions or had to shield. But for anyone who didn't, it was your choice not to enjoy the limited freedoms that we had during the summer when transmission rates were low.

Liveitalittle · 04/02/2021 22:45

@Merrymermaid7 this post didnt upset me, I would not advise anyone to isolate for a year to the extend you did. But that was your choice, and hopefully freely the choice of your family.

Oliphanto · 04/02/2021 22:48

Gilly12345

Life is not all about doing things with friends you could socialise with your own family unit and small bubbles of people.

Well not if you live alone! I understand OP, and yes I had a ‘normal’ summer with travel, pubs, cinema etc

Merrymermaid7 · 04/02/2021 23:09

You aren't supposed to socialise with 'bubbles' of people. The trouble is people always look at what they can do rather than what they should do I live as a single parent with my children, Your suggestion that somehow my children are not free to make their own choices upsets me. We have stuck to the rules, Oldest child is in fight risk group, other two went to school but decided before end of term it wasn't safe. They spend most of their time online with friends and are desperate to see them, 13 year old was going to meet friend for a walk but cancelled as was upset they couldn't hug. If you knew me you would understand I allow my children freedom, they have plenty of that and are allowed to make their own choices. Sadly, their choices are not reflected in many of those here, they have sacrificed a lot as have I and I am very proud of them. Hope that answers your question about choices

Dowser · 04/02/2021 23:50

@Merrymermaid7

Not been anywhere, not seen my family even when it was allowed apart from outside. My 3 teenage children have not seen their friends for nearly a year apart from school briefly. I have been working from home as a mental health practitioner and my clients have been desperate for social contact but understood the risks and sacrificed a lot to keep themselves and others safe. This type of post will really upset them and others, especially all those working on the front line or NHS. Perhaps you will think about your actions in the future?
I’m sorry but I don’t understand your post. When it was allowed, it was allowed . Where is the problem. What do you mean ..people sacrificed a lot themselves to keep other safe.

Let me get this straight.
I do not want anyone sacrificing their life for me.
Is that understood just in case I haven’t made that plain enough
I’ll say it again, I don’t want anyone giving up their lives for me.
Why would you do that?

Why are you trying to guilt trip people who did what they were allowed to do...I hope you weren’t telling these people misinformation...telling them they couldn’t go out.

That is just horrible.

Of course they could and they could mix as well.
No wonder this country is in such a state of fear , guilt and oppression if people have been told by others that they cannot go out.

Frankly, I’m shocked!

If these people have mental health problems, they should’ve been encouraged to go out and mix within the guide lines..not bloody shut themselves away to fester.

Dowser · 04/02/2021 23:55

I’m so shocked at this.

Good lord!
What on earth did you tell them

I have been working from home as a mental health practitioner and my clients have been desperate for social contact but understood the risks and sacrificed a lot to keep Themselves and others safe.

Did you tell them they couldn’t meet up?
Because if you did you were wrong and you could’ve added to their mental distress.

That is just appalling!

ChristmasIvy · 05/02/2021 01:31

Summer was great. We spent a whole month in the south of France.

babyyodaxmas · 05/02/2021 05:08

I refuse to feel guilty for doing things we were permitted to do during the summer. Normal things, like going to a bar, restaurant or museum. To suggest people doing normal things that were allowed contributed to where we are now is unreasonable. At no point did I break rules, not socially distance or be aware of hygiene. I'm sure thousands of others were the same.
It did contribute, the rules were wrong.

Exhaustedpanda · 05/02/2021 05:36

We stuck to social distancing and didnt go to places at risk. Unfortunately where we live a lot of out side people came to in the summer and it was extremely busy which meant my kids barely went out.
Just because you felt it safe to carry on as normal in the summer doesn’t not mean everyone did.