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Original poster

It's hitting home again this weekend

81 replies

User133847 · 02/04/2021 11:28

It's hitting home just how much our normal lives have gone for now.

Easter weekend is effectively the start of summer. The weather is picking up, you've got a long weekend, if not working, to either go away for the weekend, or have nights out or whatever. Instead it's 4 days either stuck at home, going for a walk or perhaps sitting in another garden.

June still feels ages away.

OP posts:
Itsalonghaul · 03/04/2021 09:52

I love to travel, so not being able to do so is really getting to me. Until I can do that I won't feel much better, that said looking forward to FF gatherings in the coming weeks, we are booked out now until Mid May.

RaspberryCoulis · 03/04/2021 10:02

@Bunnybigears

This time last year DS had a totally locked down birthday this year we are going to ply footgolf then fish and chips by the beach. Its totally different.
Assuming you are in England/Wales.

Up here in Scotland we are in EXACTLY the same position as we were a year ago.

It is illegal to leave your local authority area - so no going to the beach. That also covers meeting people, so if your parents/friends live across the boundary into the next council area, going to see them is illegal. Things like National Trust gardens are all closed. All non-essential retail and hospitality is closed and won't be open until 26th April at the earliest.

So there really is bugger all to do.

PilatesPeach · 03/04/2021 10:16

I live alone and have no family but this Easter still feels better than last to me. Not great no, but manageable.

Abraxan · 03/04/2021 10:22

This year's Easter holidays feels much better than last year for us.

Last year DD's 18th was spent with just the family unit with zoom calls to 'see' her friends and family.
This year Dd can have friends in the garden for drinks and food. She can meet 5 friends in the park this week and enjoy time outside without being stuck with only parents.

Last year we could only go for a walk from our doorstep pretty much with no one.
This year we can drive a couple of hours or so each way to visit my parents and my sister/nephew and spend time with them in their gardens or in the nearby (non touristy) beach.

Next week, from the 12th, which is still our Easter break we could spend a couple of nights or so in another place staying in self catering accommodation.

I just wish the weather was better for our Easter break. Guess at least it's dry and the snow forecast seems to have gone.

EllaPaella · 03/04/2021 10:22

I've seen friends in my garden over the last two days and it's been absolutely amazing to spend time together even if it is outdoors. Wrapped up warm with blankets and hot water bottles we barely noticed the weather, for me this easter is so much better than last year.

emmathedilemma · 03/04/2021 10:26

Agree, it just feels like the last umpteen weekends.....go for a walk with a friend, coffee in the park, go for a run, extended household friend over for dinner, can’t visit family, don’t even know when I’ll be able to visit family......same old same old......

Abraxan · 03/04/2021 10:28

We had an impromptu meet up with friends yesterday afternoon. We were in the area, they'd just been talking about getting new garden furniture so we text and then called round for a cuppa in the garden. We had blankets and coats but it was just so so so nice to see our friends, to talk face to face, to be sat somewhere other than our own home, to talk f2f with someone other than dh.

That def felt different to last Easter.

Benjispruce2 · 03/04/2021 10:30

Be grateful if you have sun. Grey and cold here! Meeting a few family members over the weekend for walks but not much different to lockdown really.

UserTwice · 03/04/2021 10:32

My family (and DH's family) live too far away for day trips so we can't see them. And our friends are all busy over the weekend with their own families. I suspect there are many people in the same situation as me.

actiongirl1978 · 03/04/2021 10:33

DD13 told me that she has finally got stuff to look forward to after a crap year. She has a haircut planned, 5 theatre trips in the diary, shopping on the 12th so she can spend her Xmas money and gift cards, she can hang out with friends and school is going back to a more normal feel next term with plans for a big musical next term.

That's normal as far as I'm concerned.

frozendaisy · 03/04/2021 10:35

Just taking it all one weekend at a time.

We have had garden play this week, seeing friends this weekend, couple of meet ups next week.

No big gatherings. But we all need to talk to another adult that isn't the one we live with.

Benjispruce2 · 03/04/2021 10:38

DD is playing tennis with DH today. Should never have been closed IMO!

RaspberryCoulis · 03/04/2021 10:42

@Benjispruce2

DD is playing tennis with DH today. Should never have been closed IMO!
There really is zero justification for stopping people doing sports like golf, tennis, archery, fishing, in which you are entirely along and never close to other people.
Original poster
User133847 · 03/04/2021 10:44

@pinkearedcow

I think we are in a much better place than last Easter. We aren't in a full on lockdown, we have vaccines and I truly believe the worst of the pandemic is now behind us. There are lots of challenges ahead, though.

But it is still very tough. Flowers to everyone who is feeling down this weekend

I feel okay, just bored and restless. I'd normally spend Easter Saturday in the pub with friends and then a big family meal on Easter Sunday.

Obviously last year was just spent at home but that was part of the 'flatten the curve' period. 12 months on and i'm spending the weekend the same as the vast majority of the last 50+ - sat at home.

OP posts:
Benjispruce2 · 03/04/2021 10:44

Yep. Using own balls and rackets and only playing against your household. There is a keypad access but they always gel hands before and after.
Golf has even less contact as nobody else touches your ball and they’ve done away with lifting the flag out of the hole on putting greens I believe.

Midlifelady · 03/04/2021 10:48

Our Easter is the same as always. No family near by, actually six years ago Easter was going overseas to say good bye to my mother (died before I got there, but we were able to be there for her funeral).
Anyhow I'll do an Easter hunt for my way-too-old-kids, cook one of my favourite meals, think of my lovely mum and all the effort she put in to Easter lunch when we were kids, and feel a bit guilty that I'm not going to mass.
And, Lent being over I can have wine with the meal!
And day off Monday!

Oblomov21 · 03/04/2021 10:50

Agreed. It feels half measured. Toned down. A bit depressing actually. Maybe because it's cold, it's not helping?

Violet9 · 03/04/2021 11:17

@RaspberryCoulis that's exactly what my friend in Scotland said to me yesterday!

I'm in southern England but won't be doing anything or seeing anyone, being clinically vulnerable means I've had my first jab, but the conditions that make me cv also make me unable to go for walks or sit in the garden for more than about 10 mins, because it's freezing here and a gale blowing outside! Feel bad for dd because if I could I'd take her to see friends outdoors or have a friend round to play in the garden, a garden play date is definitely something I'll do when the weather gets warmer. Shame she was at school until Thursday when it was sunny and warmer, and by yesterday it was freezing and windy here!

Benjispruce2 · 03/04/2021 12:55

I’m surprised at the amount of people that make such a big event out of Easter. For us it’s always just been about an egg hunt for the children and a Sunday dinner really so that can all still ahoy even though children are now 20&17!

Benjispruce2 · 03/04/2021 12:56

Ahoy? Go ahead!

diwrnachoflleyn · 03/04/2021 13:02

So bored of this shit.

catsandchaos · 03/04/2021 16:21

Yep it's crap. Nothing open for teens. Feels like nothing has moved forward

diwrnachoflleyn · 03/04/2021 16:31

@catsandchaos

Yep it's crap. Nothing open for teens. Feels like nothing has moved forward
Yeah, the teens are supposed to be happy with 'the park'. Mine are through with that. So are we.
Bunnybigears · 03/04/2021 16:43

Nothing open for teens my teen has been to the driving range, surf lessons and we are going to footgolf next week. His cricket and football sessions are back. His friends have restarted tennis and outdoor basketball.

Steptoeshorse1965 · 03/04/2021 16:57

@User133847

It's hitting home just how much our normal lives have gone for now.

Easter weekend is effectively the start of summer. The weather is picking up, you've got a long weekend, if not working, to either go away for the weekend, or have nights out or whatever. Instead it's 4 days either stuck at home, going for a walk or perhaps sitting in another garden.

June still feels ages away.

Loving it personally, four days away from the grind, intend getting in the garden over the next couple of days. Reading currently, intend on a takeaway and getting mildly sloshed imminently. Still all to play for, don't let it get you down.