So, what are you going to do?

[LaMarschallin]

To the people who are saying they won't stand this any longer:

What exactly do you plan to do?

March on the streets?

Run out of your house and hug your family?

Not wear masks?

Because you can't go to the cinema, theatre, festivals, shops, libraries, cafes, pubs, send your children to school, see beauticians etc without the government's say so.

I'm just interested to know what the alternative is to trying to keep the infection rate down is.

And I've hugged my elderly mother as much as I could. She goes for weeks without feeling the touch of another human being so on the rare times we see each other, we're exchanging all the hugs.

I hope they are all going to campaign for change in other countries around the world after this. The way people have been complaining about this year how horrific its been on their lives, how they can't live like this and around the world (and even in our country) we have had people living through horrors much worse than what covid has thrown at us !

@Cloudsurfing

I really think the government need to let us see others soon. I’m sure more people will comply with everything else for longer if they could at least do that. Just one other household at a time. People would be a lot happier.

No thanks here. I’d keep it outside if other stuff lifts.

@MarshaBradyo that’s completely your choice to do so of course. But for many others it would make it so much more bearable.

Seeing friends and family indoors would do very nicely thank you.

I can wait for other improvements but that's the one I am finding most difficult to live with long term.

No doubt that will make things better much sooner.

Well, yes, it will make things better for them instantly. I'm not doing anything against the law personally because I'm lucky enough that I don't need to, but god knows I understand people who've reached the end of their tether, whether they are just reaching that point now or reached it long ago. And I don't think it should ever have been illegal to see your own family in your own house. I don't actually accept that the state has the right to interfere with people's private lives to that extreme extent.

Illegally mixing with family in a low key way, which of course is already widespread, would give a lot of people the boost they need to live with other restrictions for longer without suffering a complete mental collapse. Long term restrictions should always have been designed in such a way that they were tolerable long term. So many people are starving for human connection, which is a need for us just as it is for other social animals.

[quote Cloudsurfing]@MarshaBradyo that’s completely your choice to do so of course. But for many others it would make it so much more bearable.[/quote]
No I’d choose other restrictions lifting that’s my point.

I don’t want the version you describe. I’d prefer schools back, things opening. So I don’t agree allowing it will make all happier.

Sadly I can’t go around the rules though as others can for family visits.

Hopefully the economic pressures will mean things open soon

LucilleTheVampireBat

Fine, i'll take your response at face value OP.

I have friends coming round this Friday and Saturday for all the drinks. My mum is coming for lunch on Sunday. My beautician friend is doing my nails next Wednesday night. My daughters' boyfriend is staying over too.

Thanks for believing I meant what I said.

And please don't take this the wrong way but I have no interest in you, as an individual, and your nail thing.

I just wonder what will happen, as everyone drifts back to nails and friends for drinks, and things get worse and the NHS is overwhelmed.

And someone whose arm is trampled on while marching on the streets can't get seen in A&E.

I think I'm fairly low risk and will stay peering over the parapet at all those who won't take any more.

I'll just do my best to keep those dear to me safe.

@EssentialHummus

What I’m doing right now is arranging playdates for my three year old so that she actually sees another kid each week. They play in the garden, the other mum and I sit several metres apart under a patio heater. (Yes, I’m fucking over the infection rate and the planet at the same time!)

I suspect it’s this sort of small-scale rule breaking that’s happening a lot.

The small scale rule breaking that is going on will be the reason why this goes on and on and on. If every single person decides to do that then of course it will lead to increased spread. Increased spread means increased hospital pressure which means lockdowns to keep on top of things and ensure your 3 year old gets a bed in hospital/ICU when they fall on the patio and end up with a serious head injury ! The Virus doesn't spread itself, We spread it !

I'm sorry this thread didn't go the way you wanted it to @LaMarschallin. Very few people have ever changed their mind after being called thick on social media to be fair. Stay safe xx

I think you’re very naive if you think protest, civil unrest or businesses opening regardless of the rules aren’t a possibility in the next few months if nothing changes.

@RosieLemonade

Mainly carry on feeling suicidal and hoping to contain my self harm to areas DD can't see. Oh and lots of walks and key worker duties.

It's so difficult, my mental health has really gone down hill. Got to the point that I don't want to mix or even socialise on zoom anymore. Please speak to someone, friend, family or gp. Tell them how you're feeling. Big hugs.

@LucilleTheVampireBat

Do you actually want to know, or is this just another opportunity for the superiority posters to snigger and insult people?

I wondered the same.

FWIW, all I want is to see my family and friends. Anything doesn't matter right now.

Once I have been vaccinated (group 6) I will be seeing my parents (already had first jab)

My dad has advanced cancer diagnosed during lockdown last year. I will not miss another moment with him once we all have all been vaccinated. I know it's not 100% but it's enough to make it vanishingly unlikely any of us will die from covid.

I don't care about pubs, nightclubs, restaurants etc.

I just want to see my dad and he may not have much longer left.

@LaMarschallin what I hope will happen is them finally understanding that they cannot keep people from seeing who they like in their private lives. It is morally wrong and unacceptable for long term. No other country has done this long term. If they want long term rules then they need to make them workable for people. I personally believe that once the vulnerable are vaccinated there’s no need for any rules, however.

On March 31st I shall be in my sister's house with her family and mine (we're not a bubble), raising a glass on the 1st anniversary of mum's death. If dad hadn't died in November he would be there too. We did everything to keep them safe and it didn't work....Mum still got covid, dad still got cancer, so now we will be doing what we need to do just to keep sane.

Here you go OP, here’s your 🎖. Gold star for following all the rules.

I shall be seeing all my family and friends, guess that’s all I can do.

And please don't take this the wrong way but I have no interest in you, as an individual, and your nail thing

That's a bizarre response but...ok.... I don't think most people call having your nails done "a nail thing" but rest assured I have registered the thinly disguised intent behind your words. Not a frivolous nail person you, oh no, you don't understand us and our "nail thing". Gotcha.

You responded "Honestly, I do want to know" and then come back with ^ that weak attempt at a put-down? Why start the thread? Why pretend you were just asking for opinions? You weren't. You wanted to start a thread for the usual suspects to jump on and insult people who have had enough. At least have the guts to be honest about your intentions.

@LaMarschallin

LucilleTheVampireBat

Fine, i'll take your response at face value OP.

I have friends coming round this Friday and Saturday for all the drinks. My mum is coming for lunch on Sunday. My beautician friend is doing my nails next Wednesday night. My daughters' boyfriend is staying over too.

Thanks for believing I meant what I said.

And please don't take this the wrong way but I have no interest in you, as an individual, and your nail thing.

I just wonder what will happen, as everyone drifts back to nails and friends for drinks, and things get worse and the NHS is overwhelmed.

And someone whose arm is trampled on while marching on the streets can't get seen in A&E.

I think I'm fairly low risk and will stay peering over the parapet at all those who won't take any more.

I'll just do my best to keep those dear to me safe.

If people start private mixing then I hope seasonality will help, and we are ok with the death rate a bit higher as a result of everything opening up and schools open.

Although I reckon rules around private mixing will relax a bit, not sure by how much.

@gallbladderpain the 3 year old would always be prioritised. That’s what triage is, the most urgent but survivable injuries are treated first.

[quote Cloudsurfing]@LaMarschallin what I hope will happen is them finally understanding that they cannot keep people from seeing who they like in their private lives. It is morally wrong and unacceptable for long term. No other country has done this long term. If they want long term rules then they need to make them workable for people. I personally believe that once the vulnerable are vaccinated there’s no need for any rules, however.[/quote]
There is vunerable children out there who cannot be vaccinated atm although i see today the word is there may be a vaccine for children by the end of the year. So yes we do need to wait for the vunerable to be vaccinated and that means ALL the vunerable including children !

The main thing for me is seeing my family, letting my kids play with their cousins, going to friends houses for a natter over a bottle of wine and a takeaway. So I'm doing those things.

When it comes to businesses opening, whilst I am worried about those people that work in those industries (I am one) and there are certain things that I would like to do (restaurant, gym, day out at a theme park) I can wait for those things if I see family, it keeps me going.

My kids going to school and preschool is hugely important to me, but mainly for the social aspect. So I can wait for that as well as my kids are playing with friends and cousins.

If there are protests then I will join them, only peaceful ones. I would never riot, smash a shop window or be aggressive towards the police. That is completely unacceptable in my view.

One of the worst things about is that the Government and scientists have not shown any compassion or empathy whatsoever throughout this pandemic. They simply do not care about anyone who is suffering with mental health because of this and those who are losing everything.

Railway suicides in my area have increased recently. A very sad sign of the times.

To the people who are saying they won't stand this any longer

What exactly do you plan to do

March on the streets

Run out of your house and hug your family

Not wear masks

Use your imagination.
Some people can’t see an end to this and even if there was an end in sight then the result of these lockdowns have decimated their lives and their future even with things back to “normal” their normal is bleak.

[quote BaliB1]@gallbladderpain the 3 year old would always be prioritised. That’s what triage is, the most urgent but survivable injuries are treated first.[/quote]
If hospitals are able to cope yes. If we let a virus run rampant and we have queues of people waiting to get into the A&E do you think anyone will really care about the 3 year old or anyone else in the queue. Lockdowns allow us to be able to triage and prioritise by lowering the amount of people ill at one time. A&E's generally only have a handful of resus beds.....if you have tens of people waiting on 5 beds what do you think your chances are. If all doctors are already keeping patients alive who is going to treat the next ones coming in regardless of their injuries.
People who clearly have had very little experience of the pressures on emergency care in the NHS even prepandemic.