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

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

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?

@Merrymermaid7

Of course I haven't told my clients what to do, that would be so unprofessional. I have encouraged them to maintain social contact safely as I know how important this is for them. It is awful that I have been unable to meet the face to face as many of them do not have the technology to be supported with virtual contact. Unfortunately many of my clients have been too scared to go out, particularly in summer when we had more freedom. I have tried to find a buddy for all of them so they have somebody to go for a walk with etc. The point i was trying to make was that they are fearful of going out because they believe that other people carrying on as if nothing was happening frightens them, some won't even go to the shop because of this. It is a genuine concern that some of the people I help feel they will find it difficult to leave their house again because of their anxiety

Thank fuck for that!

It didn’t sound like that in your earlier posts when you talked about them sacrificing their lives .
Everyone has a choice.
Everyone who isn’t shielding or clinically vulnerable of course.

If you’re not in those categories and yet you have hardly left the house since March, you have to ask yourself..why not?

And people need to stop berating other people for living their life as they see fit.

My very dear 75 year old friend was out walking the other day and went to approach someone that she was used to meeting on one of her many dog walks.
She went to offer her sympathies at the loss of his dog as she had lost hers last year..he absolutely turned on her ..told her not to speak to him..to stay away from him..and then very aggressively said..why should you have your daughter to stay for two weeks when I have barely seen my own daughter all year.

And there you have it in a nutshell. So much for the Be Kind message that went around after caroline flacks suicide . People get so full of hate and spite when they can’t have what another person is perceived to have had.

It’s brought us down to the level of two toddlers fighting over the same toy. It’s become almost visceral.

Perhaps he would’ve liked my friends mental anguish and anxiety and loneliness as shes lived alone for donkeys years and all her children live in the south 5 hours away.

On Sunday I drove the ten miles to her house, picked her up and brought her here for Sunday lunch.
My dd popped in with her vulnerable friend also and a jolly afternoon was had by all.

If we have no compassion in ourselves to look out for vulnerable people then that is the death of humanity..hastened by ignorant people who would far rather cut some one down then have a kind chat with them.

My friend finished her walk in floods of tears.

Is that what all the lock us down harder brigade really want?

I despair if they do.

Good post Dowser

We were very lucky to be in an area with few restrictions over the summer. In July and August We could meet with other people - up to 30 by law (guidance stating they should be from 2 households, and social distancing).
Pretty much everywhere was open - campsites, theme parks, pubs etc. And we made the most of these as I would like them to remain in business and the risk was low.

We didn't break any laws, but we also did not follow all guidance.

Summer was ok, but not normal. I stuck to rule of 6 outside socially distanced w friends (no hugs or close contact). Teens could see their friends outside in the same vein.
Think two households could meet inside and up to 6 separate people from different households until end of Oct. We were just following guidelines and being careful as much as we could. The daily incidence of Covid in my area was about 22/400,000 in the summer, the likelihood of catching it then was minuscule.

@tarapinn

Good post Dowser

Thankyou I feel very passionate about the individuals right to choose.

Done judge me till you’ve walked a mile in my shoes is my motto.

Wow OP. I can’t believe you came on you write this. Lots of the country was on lockdown (we are in London). No, we did not go on holiday. No, we did not see family. No, we did not have play dates. No, we did not go to museums. Glad to hear that other than a mild inconvenience, you had such a smashing summer last year.

Sometimes I think it’s crazy that a year on and we haven’t got this virus under control. Then I read posts like this and it reminds me why.

Ridiculous schwelper

If people were 'allowed' to do all the things mentioned then what's the problem?

I'm sure those in the more locked down parts of the uk last summer would have made the most of things being open, had they been 'allowed' to do them. To expect everyone else not to do stuff is unrealistic.

It's not a competition of who could do the least

We did very little, no holiday as we didn't fancy booking something only for it to be cancelled. DH had absolutely no work (freelancer) for 5 months and I needed to keep working as he had nothing coming in. We saw his adult DCs outside a couple of times. PILs are CEV so only saw them at a distance.

swelchphr I'm in London and we weren't in lockdown in the summer, although there were restrictions. I did lots of lovely things, all allowed, and to be quite honest I'm glad I did as it's helped me get through the winter. No-one should judge others for doing things that were permitted, especially as they were everyday things that in normal times we would do.

We were very cautious. Didn’t go in anyone else’s house. Didn’t go to theme parks or anywhere indoors such as theatres.

Pity other people didn’t follow our lead or we might not be in the fucking mess we are now.

Just because you could do something, doesn’t mean you should. It’s like all the people who have their cleaners, honestly wonder how they think that is ok!!

It’s like all the people who have their cleaners, honestly wonder how they think that is ok!!

But it is ok. It wasn't allowed in the first lockdown but it has been since because there are rules and guidelines such as wearing masks and staying in separate rooms. Or should all cleaners go on the dole instead when there are safe jobs out there that they could do and people wanting to employ them?

@SuperCaliFragalisticam paying my cleaner in full! And will do whilst we are still in lockdown, why should she risk her life for a non essential visit? if you have enough money to have them at the moment then you’ve got enough money to pay them to stay safe at home!

@tarapinn You’re right, it’s not a competition, but the OPs message insinuates what was everyone’s problem just because they (OP) went on living their life as normal but just keeping a bit of extra distance, and why is everyone else continuing a “voluntary lockdown”. It’s insulting and infuriating.

There are 2 types of people: those who are complying and those who aren’t but justify why it’s okay for them. The one thing we have in common is that we are all sick of this. When they come on here flouting their holidays and such, they need to read the room.

@Bubbinsmakesthree - Greater Manchester has had THREE WEEKS of no lockdown/tier 3. We came out of lockdown on July 4th and went back in again at the end of July.

We went to theme parks and everything.
They were open, restrictions were lifted, why on earth wouldnt we?
You dont get a prize for saying you followed lockdown rules even when they weren't in place...
My children also havent socially distanced as they've been in school and nursery and are not required to.
Once places are open and restrictions are lifted we will do exactly the same.

Another one with 3 weeks out of lockdown here. And barely did anything different in those 3 weeks.

And my company came home 2 weeks before actual lockdown. We (senior management team) could that see the writing was on the wall, and wanted to keep staff home and safe ASAP as many were travelling on packed trains intercity.

Yeah, it’s been pretty much a year of this.

[quote NewSummer]**@Bubbinsmakesthree* - Greater Manchester has had THREE WEEKS* of no lockdown/tier 3. We came out of lockdown on July 4th and went back in again at the end of July.[/quote]

It feels like a lifetime ago. God, I miss my old life 😞

[quote Jangle33]@SuperCaliFragalisticam paying my cleaner in full! And will do whilst we are still in lockdown, why should she risk her life for a non essential visit? if you have enough money to have them at the moment then you’ve got enough money to pay them to stay safe at home![/quote]
That's very generous of you. Clearly you can afford to stay home and are not stuck for money, plus are able to do your own cleaning. So that's lovely. Lots of people who are sick, disabled and elderly need to have a cleaner because they cant do it themselves. I also think that using language like "risk her life" is unhelpful. Unless your cleaner is CEV or over 70 she is unlikely to die from catching coronavirus. Plenty of people are able to work in a covid secure way (masks, distancing etc) and need to keep earning money. Especially if they are legally allowed to do so.

Swelchphr it seems like there is a third category. People who complain about others following rules which were allowed, as opposed to the made up rules they would like us to have followed. I went on holiday. I've never flouted it. It was allowed.

We made the most of the summer, holidays in the uk (camping) but still didn’t see much of family because many were shielding, holidays were very different, wearing masks, socially distancing and unable to holiday with friends. I usually go to a festival with friends which I only see once a year. We didn’t eat out as much as we usually do, chose places where we could eat outside or take away. My dc’s haven’t been to friends houses and we haven’t had friends over. So although it wasn’t terrible it wasn’t the same as previous summers. I don’t think this summer will be much different but it has to be better than it is right now, lockdown in winter is so much harder.

My cousin is in London
She still had her two weeks in Norfolk like she does every year..and why not.
They were allowed and I et the house owner was glad of the booking.
She will be there again this year no doubt.

In fact wasnt London in tier 1 and two for a very long time.