Anyone just have no interest in socialising in places with the restrictions in place?

[User135644]

I'm not saying there shouldn't be restrictions at all, just that I don't see the fun in any of it. Being forced to sit outdoors in several layers of clothes to keep warm, so you can have a glass of wine, a pint or some food. Having to put a mask on to go to the fucking toilet. Sit here, don't sit there, one way systems, yellow tape everywhere, remain seated or put your hand up to go to the toilet, wear a mask on any public transport, the hassle of shopping.

I can understand people have been out to go to the pub or shop this week and had a great time and see it as a step back to normal. I just find it too demoralising to be doing these things for fun. i can only be bothered when it's essential, like a weekly shop.

I agree

I hear ya'

Yes, I'm the same. I might feel differently if I was desperate to meet up with anyone but I'm not. I do a weekly supermarket shop, pharmacy when needed and everything else comes from Amazon. Most pubs in this area haven't opened yet and the few that have are very regimented. I'm not interested in a 'new normal' - if we never get the old one back, then I'd rather be a recluse.

I’d rather just have friends to my garden or go for a walk.

I've found it really does depend where you go. We met family at a pub for lunch last week, halfway along the 200 mile journey, and it really was lovely. Sitting in a heated 2 sided 'barn' type of thing in very comfortable seating with cushions blankets etc, but you didn't need them as it was also heated. The staff couldn't have been more jolly and welcoming. The food was lovely, the atmosphere really convivial. No yellow tape, no one way because it was outside anyway, no being told off for doing something wrong, etc. Literally the only difference was wearing a mask to get up to go to the loo. Those 90 seconds of mild inconvenience were more than offset by the overall lovely experience.

It was the same for us with holidays last year. We had two great UK breaks where literally the only difference to 'normal' for us was a far more polite and distanced queue for the ice cream van, and admittedly having to book restaurants in advance, but fan holidays all the same.

Sorry.... I'm not saying any of this to mean 'YABU' or anything, more that.... some places do this really well and make sure the experience is really positive, others don't. I agree I can be bothered with those where I'm made to feel like a criminal because I don't understand their sometimes bizarre and convoluted systems.

Fab holidays, and can't be bothered!

100% agree. I fucking hate masks which rules out most activities, I hate the cold weather too, and I find it stressful making sure I'm not going the wrong way in a one way system or something! Honestly had more fun just going down to the beach and meeting a friend for a walk outside.

Went out last week for a meal and yes it was chilly, but I really enjoyed it.
Felt like such a treat.

It's going to be getting warmer, as we're heading for summer. And whenever it's warm, people choose to sit outside (see zillions of threads in previous years about whether the (year round) smoking areas should be suspended for the sake of those who want to sit outside seasonally

But if you don't want socialise on the basis currently permitted, then of course don't.

Wait for the next step or two.

Same here. Can’t see how it’s fun to go places when you’ve got the faff of masks, hand sanitiser, one way systems, booking weeks ahead etc. I’m sure I’m just a grumpy old sod and once I start leaving the house again I’ll actually enjoy it!

Us neither, much rather stay home currently. It’s not just the restrictions, there are still cases, people not knowing what 2m is etc. I’d rather save the money and use to enhance our lives at home.

Yes! I hate being made to feel like an evil vector of filthy disease for walking in the wrong door by mistake. Fuck that - it’s no fun at all. I’m only going to places where they treat you like normal humans, not like dirty covid spreaders (cos, funnily enough, like 99.9% of the population, I haven’t got it)

Fair enough and you are certainly not alone in this. You need to wait for another month or so for good weather and further openings. Living in this weather makes this whole thing a lot worse.

Yeah I’m same as you OP.
I like to take my dogs with me if we go into town and I find it a real faff to put a mask on while holding their leads so I wait outside with them and the DC go inside for what they want.
Dogs are allowed in all the shops but wearing a mask affects my wider vision and the dogs see things (other dogs and crap on the floor to eat) before I do so I’d rather not bother.
Can not wait for the day they are guidance for people who want to wear them rather than for everyone.
Although I already see quite a few people without them and they aren’t challenged and no one seems to care.

@BamboozledandBefuddled

Yes, I'm the same. I might feel differently if I was desperate to meet up with anyone but I'm not. I do a weekly supermarket shop, pharmacy when needed and everything else comes from Amazon. Most pubs in this area haven't opened yet and the few that have are very regimented. I'm not interested in a 'new normal' - if we never get the old one back, then I'd rather be a recluse.

Yeah, i'm exactly the same. Although I love a good night out and miss the normality of a pub or a gig, i'm content to stay a recluse at home until that normality returns.

I had lunch out on at a hotel. They had a teepee with a side missing type arrangement with heaters for each table. It was warm enough to take our coats off.
Yes, the staff were wearing masks, we had to when not seated and we had temperatures taken on arrival, but it was really nice, getting to see family I hadn't seen since last year.

I am looking forward to everything being back to normal but I think we are stuck with this for a while longer and it's good to support the hospitality industry now it's possible again.

@Sparklingbrook

I appreciate that people are going out to support hospitality fwiw.

Depends on the place. Hate being snapped at for doing the ‘wrong thing’.

Nah. It hasn't felt as bad as that anywhere that I've been. Objectively it's true - there are one-way systems, tables are spaced apart, you wear a mask to go to the toilet... but it just hasn't felt like that. It's been a nice level of not quiet but not heaving; and it's been lovely being outside in the sun. It's April, so I've usually got a jacket with me anyway...

I'm pleased that we've had some relaxations, and they've been fun when I've done them.

I'm not sure that it'd be as bad as you're expecting it to be, but it probably depends on your personality, where you're going and your mindset.

I’m just glad to be out. It’s been pretty mild this weekend in Yorkshire, 13/14 degrees. In the sun, a light jumper was all that was needed. I had a lovely 3/4 hours sat with family yesterday & wasn’t remotely cold. And I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. Putting a mask on to use the toilet for what, 3 minutes. No hardship. Had a fab day shopping as well, Primark had a queue but everywhere else was fine. Really enjoyed it. I chose to go to Leeds rather than a shopping centre so I could bop my mask off between shops. I hate wearing them constantly but it’s fine for a while. Just feel like I need some fresh air after a while!

Be grumpy & stubborn if you want. It won’t change the restrictions. So either roll with them & enjoy socialising etc again or sit at home complaining about them. I know what I’d rather do!

I hate not knowing what each place's rules are. Not knowing if you can just arrive or whether it has to be booked. If you have to vacate the table after X amount of time.
A relative booked the hotel and went through all that fortunately.

Haven't even thought about going to the non essential shops. I don't need anything and I'm not going to go just for a look around while there's queues outside.

Been out twice for lunch. Yes, ideally it could have been warmer but that was the only drawback. Not affected by one way systems and didn’t need the toilet but it wouldn’t have killed me to wear a mask for 2 minutes. Sorry for the staff having to wear masks but they all seemed really cheerful, probably glad to be back and earning some money. Customers all happy too, and I was thrilled to meet up with friends that I’ve not seen in months.

Been to a non-essential shop too, apart from wearing a mask which doesn’t really bother me it was perfectly normal (wouldn’t go if I had to queue).

So I’ve put money into the local economy and had a nice time as well.

My partner who has been fairly cheery throughout kicked off today because of the level of traffic.

Pretty vocal about the quality of other people's driving. I think we've got used to lockdown roads and normal roads are proving to be less pleasant.

Went to a park a bit further away and unsurprisingly lots of families and children running around were another source of irritation.

It was a relief to get home again and I think we've just got too used to peace and quiet.

To be honest, I haven’t got the headspace to have to think about my own actions/responsibilities when I’m out in public all the time. I’m near the river in London and I’m finding it too exhausting to deal with how packed and loud it is. It’s a much harder adjustment now than it was coming out of the last lockdown. The crowds in my neck of the woods are insane. So I’ve not changed my lockdown habits too much. Because it’s so overcrowded, with nice, long queues to boot, I still feel very much restricted.

Agree.

CBA to go shopping if I have to queue, wear a mask and not try anything on. And not be able to just bob into a restaurant for lunch, without a booking etc.

Do not want to sit in a pub garden, it's still freezing.

I'll wait till I can be inside before going.