How have you found this lockdown compared to the March - June one in 2020?

[daffodilsandprimroses]

In the first one I missed having my hair done but I didn’t mind other aspects. Quiet roads, wildlife, a general feeling of solidarity.

This one has been utterly horrific and really has affected my mental health, although I’m ‘lucky.’

I pray to god we will never go through another one!

The government seem hell bent on not letting friends and family mix inside together.
The roadmap says indoor public events like concerts etc can take place from next month. But no clarification on events like weddings, family/friends gatherings etc. I’m just so cynical now given that’s what most people are waiting for.
Also how long are secondary school children to continue wearing masks. My kids are in them seven hours a day. They obviously wear them, but they hate it and it definitely effects their education.

The last one was worse for me. My workplace was being hammered financially and we had to make loads of people redundant. I was terrified about the virus and missed seeing anyone outside my immediate family.

This time round work has been more settled and we have continued to see close relatives and I am hopeful that the vaccines will get us out of all of this. But I am very, very bored and have the misfortune to live under the rule of Queen Nicola so we are all still grounded for a long time to come.

The first one. I was ill with Covid for a good chunk of it.

I think living under the reign of queen Nicola makes it harder too @GintyMcGinty it’s so frustrating that throughout this we’ve had lower rates and tougher restrictions and watching other parts of the U.K. being able to do things we can’t is hard!

The first one was definitely better - had recovered from Covid already so wasn't worried about it at all, lovely weather, loads of BBQs with a drink, long walks, it was all a bit of a novelty so lots of zoom quizzes etc, and when I was in work (I work in a school) there was just a total chilled out vibe and I loved our little bubble.

This time, shit weather, no chilling in the garden, everyone is just over the whole thing and pissed off, a year of hearing everyone's fucking opinions about Covid, school just not as fun!

We have been very lucky though, and even this lockdown has been OK really, and I am very mindful of that.

Weather and homeschooling made the winter lockdown harder for me.

Granted on the cold, sleety, dark days it was nice not to have to do the school and nursery run but that is about the only positive.

The expectation to keep up with home learning (at the detriment of my own job) and the sheer relentlessness of it all made it incredibly difficult.

Even though weather is better, kids are back in school / nursery (albeit on holiday now) and we have a staycation booked for next half term, my mood hasn't improved much at all.