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Original poster

Is life never going back to normal?

631 replies

JuneMoonstone · 20/03/2021 22:52

I feel incredibly lucky that I've lived 44 years of a normal life. I am heartbroken at the way life has become. Like so many others, I feel like I am existing, not living. I don't see any point in making plans, I don't feel any hope for the future. I was feeling quite positive about the progress made in the UK with vaccines and seeing the infection rates and death rates lower. However with the news about the rest of Europe going into lockdown due to escalating infection rates, I can't help but feel that we are never going to get out of this bloody mess. I cannot help but believe that we will have to live our lives under constant restrictions forever now because of this virus. Is life really going to be shit from now on? Will I ever be able to, for example, go into a busy pub on a Friday night and watch a live band and have a bloody good time again? Will we have to wear face masks permanently in public places from now on? I get a very strong feeling that this will be the case. It's my daughter I feel for the most. She's just 5 years old. What kind of a life is she going to have?

OP posts:
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Bythemillpond · 26/03/2021 18:47

This is what worries me that new restrictions are brought in and people are quite happy with the new normal

BonnieDundee · 26/03/2021 20:46

I wouldnt say I'm happy not to travel this year. I'd accept it if we can travel next year and life can be normal otherwise this summer

Waxonwaxoff0 · 26/03/2021 21:02

@BonnieDundee

I wouldnt say I'm happy not to travel this year. I'd accept it if we can travel next year and life can be normal otherwise this summer
Agree with this. If the compromise for everything else opening up is no foreign travel this year then I'll accept that, because we can't go on like this. I do want foreign holidays next year though and don't see any reason why they shouldn't happen then as vaccinations should be widely available.
XenoBitch · 26/03/2021 21:13

@Bythemillpond

This is what worries me that new restrictions are brought in and people are quite happy with the new normal
I forget the thread, but someone here did post this Margaret Atwood quote which is so scarily appropriate right now....

Nothing changes instantaneously. In a gradually heating bathtub, you'd be boiled to death before you knew it.

thevicarstroketwice · 30/03/2021 17:58

@Bythemillpond

This is what worries me that new restrictions are brought in and people are quite happy with the new normal
some aspects of the "new normal" are an improvement! Social distancing in public (not having people breathing down your neck or just invading your private space ) and pre-booking is progress Grin

Imagine if social distancing became mandatory on the beach.. bliss!

I can't imagine not going on holiday abroad this year though. I'd rather make up a reason than being stuck in the UK until 2022!

Bythemillpond · 30/03/2021 18:47

some aspects of the "new normal" are an improvement! Social distancing in public (not having people breathing down your neck or just invading your private space ) and pre-booking is progress

That is what I love.
I really enjoy crowded spaces where everyone is bunched together. I almost feel like I am getting energy from those around me.
Social distancing is odd and I don’t get the same enjoyment from doing things when you are sat or stood apart from other people.
I even miss stepping onto a crowded tube train and being ecstatic that the doors have closed behind me and my arse/backpack/the person behind me isn’t stopping the doors from closing.

I just want to get back to being in an overcrowded pub or anywhere that has a crowd.
That to me is living.

thevicarstroketwice · 30/03/2021 20:33

Looking at how many people insist on plonking themselves 5cm away from your towel on an otherwise deserted beach, and how obsessed people are with Saturday or December shopping, you clearly are not the only one.

That behaviour a mystery for the rest of us.

TheHoneyBadger · 30/03/2021 20:52

I'd honestly trade being able to go away this summer for having more restrictions over winter.

We need some respite

thevicarstroketwice · 30/03/2021 20:54

@TheHoneyBadger

I'd honestly trade being able to go away this summer for having more restrictions over winter.

We need some respite

me too

but I might feel differently if I was a hairdresser.

Puppylucky · 30/03/2021 21:06

For the first time I have stopped believing that life as we knew it will return. Not because of the virus per se, but because our reaction to the threat has combined with a populist government to create a perfect storm. The Government believes that to remain popular, they need to meet our need to feel safe. They have learned that as a population, we will sacrifice liberty to ensure that feeling of safety and so they have no incentive to remove restrictions on personal freedom and every incentive to keep us safe by retaining controls" just in case". Summer events are such as BST are already starting to give up on being able to take place this year, despite the stated aim of a return to normality, indicating that 2021 will largely be a rerun of 2020, with very limited freedoms, comparatively speaking being allowed - but at least we're safe!

BlueBlancmange · 30/03/2021 21:23

@Puppylucky

For the first time I have stopped believing that life as we knew it will return. Not because of the virus per se, but because our reaction to the threat has combined with a populist government to create a perfect storm. The Government believes that to remain popular, they need to meet our need to feel safe. They have learned that as a population, we will sacrifice liberty to ensure that feeling of safety and so they have no incentive to remove restrictions on personal freedom and every incentive to keep us safe by retaining controls" just in case". Summer events are such as BST are already starting to give up on being able to take place this year, despite the stated aim of a return to normality, indicating that 2021 will largely be a rerun of 2020, with very limited freedoms, comparatively speaking being allowed - but at least we're safe!
Hmmm, why do I not believe for one minute that you have only just started believing this...
Puppylucky · 30/03/2021 21:30

? Not sure what you are implying. Apart from anything BST was only cancelled 4 hours ago!

MercyBooth · 31/03/2021 00:10

'd honestly trade being able to go away this summer for having more restrictions over winter

I would not accept a lockdown over Christmas. Because this has already happened whereas holidays last year did go ahead.

kittensarecute · 31/03/2021 02:14

@Puppylucky

For the first time I have stopped believing that life as we knew it will return. Not because of the virus per se, but because our reaction to the threat has combined with a populist government to create a perfect storm. The Government believes that to remain popular, they need to meet our need to feel safe. They have learned that as a population, we will sacrifice liberty to ensure that feeling of safety and so they have no incentive to remove restrictions on personal freedom and every incentive to keep us safe by retaining controls" just in case". Summer events are such as BST are already starting to give up on being able to take place this year, despite the stated aim of a return to normality, indicating that 2021 will largely be a rerun of 2020, with very limited freedoms, comparatively speaking being allowed - but at least we're safe!
No thanks. I will accept nothing less than all restrictions (and I mean ALL) restrictions gone in June as the government have said.
Puppylucky · 31/03/2021 08:03

That's what I want as well! I just don't believe any more that it will necessarily happen and I'm not sure what any of us individually can do about it. You and I can say we won't accept it, but whilst the government believe its what the majority want, nothing will change.

LEMtheoriginal · 31/03/2021 08:12

I'd say it was pretty bloody "normal" already.

This was the sea wall yesterday Hmm

People just aren't bothered anymore.

Is life never going back to normal?
Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/03/2021 08:31

@LEMtheoriginal

I'd say it was pretty bloody "normal" already.

This was the sea wall yesterday Hmm

People just aren't bothered anymore.

Outdoor transmission risk is minimal. A study was done that found less than 10% of all Covid cases occured outdoors.

And life certainly isn't normal while everything is still closed and it's illegal to socialise indoors.

99victoria · 31/03/2021 09:43

Yes, that sea wall is crowded but only because the country is still in lockdown!
In normal circumstances most of those people would be in pub gardens, at theme parks or zoos, gathered in large groups at someone's house, even away somewhere for a long weekend. It's because everything and everywhere is closed that certain places are crowded. It will be the same for UK holidays this year - it's all very well telling people they can't go abroad but it will mean everywhere in this country will be rammed. Watch out for the news media outrage, shock and horror about how crowded our beaches are this summer!

kittensarecute · 31/03/2021 10:30

@LEMtheoriginal

I'd say it was pretty bloody "normal" already.

This was the sea wall yesterday Hmm

People just aren't bothered anymore.

I don't blame them, we've all lived with these stupid, draconian restrictions. Hope they had fun! 🙂
thevicarstroketwice · 31/03/2021 10:58

What I find the most boring are people whining against the rules and not respecting any of them.

They are the reason why things are dragging on.

Mainland Europe is slowly going back into lockdown, just compare the situation with New Zealand. As the UK is an island too... the mess we put ourselves into by lacking common sense and resilience is entirely our making.

Bythemillpond · 31/03/2021 11:12

You really can’t compare the U.K. to New Zealand.
They might both be islands and be of similar size but one is an international country with 68million people and a few mile from mainland Europe and one has 1/2 the population of the others capital city and set 2.5 thousand miles from its nearest neighbour

diwrnachoflleyn · 31/03/2021 11:28

@Bythemillpond

You really can’t compare the U.K. to New Zealand. They might both be islands and be of similar size but one is an international country with 68million people and a few mile from mainland Europe and one has 1/2 the population of the others capital city and set 2.5 thousand miles from its nearest neighbour
This.
thevicarstroketwice · 31/03/2021 11:49

so compare with countries with more or less artificial borders, who managed to control entrance and keep their numbers in check.

It's even more embarrassing.

The lack of resilience of the UK inhabitants is truly embarrassing. Any normal human being hates restrictions and is perfectly entitled to loudly protest against them. Sadly here it went way beyond that.

Bythemillpond · 31/03/2021 12:08

thevicarstroketwice

What countries are these

user1497207191 · 31/03/2021 12:19

@Bythemillpond

some aspects of the "new normal" are an improvement! Social distancing in public (not having people breathing down your neck or just invading your private space ) and pre-booking is progress

That is what I love.
I really enjoy crowded spaces where everyone is bunched together. I almost feel like I am getting energy from those around me.
Social distancing is odd and I don’t get the same enjoyment from doing things when you are sat or stood apart from other people.
I even miss stepping onto a crowded tube train and being ecstatic that the doors have closed behind me and my arse/backpack/the person behind me isn’t stopping the doors from closing.

I just want to get back to being in an overcrowded pub or anywhere that has a crowd.
That to me is living.

It should be choice. If you want to be energised by crowds around you, then gigs/festivals etc provide that. Those who don't want to, can avoid them.

Public transport etc is very different. People who want space need to be allowed it.