What are you most looking forward to post-19th (positive answers only!)

[TheVampiresWife]

If you're in England, obviously.

For me it's gigs. I've missed live music so much. I've already booked three and can't wait!

Also the spontaneity that's been missing from the past year and a half. I'm hoping the covid opening hours of a lot of places near me will be scrapped - the idea of nipping to our favourite bar for a drink or grabbing a bite to eat after one of those gigs sounds like something from another time and I get a bit emotional thinking it'll happen again soon

The covid rules at my musculoskeletal clinic being done away with so I can finally get an appointment to see my consultant and get my meds sorted.

The toilet being open at the dentist!

Please don't chime in with negativity, there's plenty of other threads for that!

@osbertthesyrianhamster

Spontaneity! Can we do away with having to download a fucking app to order food in a restaurant?

Same. Not having to plan every little thing like a military operation. Just being able to decide you'd like to go for a drink or a coffee right there and then.

Also, no masks, no yellow floor markers and general atmosphere of 'Am I allowed to do this?' Although I expect my workplace will want to keep lots of measures even after the 19th. Just to be 'safe'.

No masks.
No queues outside shops.
Meeting up for dinner with more than 6 people.
My kids being able to have and go to parties.
Being able to go on the school grounds at pick up time instead of queueing up outside along a narrow pavement.

No masks - but more specifically being able to cover my shit skin with makeup and not having it all gone by the time I arrive at my destination. It’s done a real number on my confidence!

And the theatre. I have Hamilton booked on my birthday in September and I can’t wait

Spontaneity. So being able to decide on the day whether I want to/feel up to going to the gym or my sport session, rather than having to book a week in advance.

Or actually seeing what the weather's like before spending ££s on an outside attraction, rather than having to.prebook and pay weeks in advance then trudge round in the rain because it feels like a waste of money not to use the tickets.

Getting dh out of the house. Hates wearing a mask so much he pretty much has refused to go anywhere for months.

Going to a football match and all that comes with it. Travelling to the game sometimes away in a different city. Meeting up with other people, eating and drinking and being around others, no precooked tables or apps. Watching the game on the TV is not the same at all

Music, music, music! All our family sing and play instruments and the restrictions on this have been fierce. I can't wait to make music with other people again.

Also - no masks!!!!

Dancing and being in a busy bar - I suspect it will take a little getting used to but after a couple of gins il be fine!
I'm really hoping the pubs we usually go to on holiday in Cornwall will have live music again this year.

Being able to get a Nando’s sadly!!

I’ve already been to a live music festival!

My 7yo boy's first holiday being without restrictions.
Being able to join in with indoor social interactions without the sensory overload from others wearing masks.
My trainer being able to stretch me out before a long run (technically she can as we're also friends, but as we train outside she is a little concerned about the local busybodies)

Not having so much worry about my kids missing lots of school or good events due to self isolating by being in a bubble...

Finally going to see the 7 theatre performances I've managed to accrue over the past 18 months 😂 buying my first house and first holiday with my boyfriend! We started dating during the pandemic and I feel like we've missed out on a lot!

What a lovely thread - so uplifting to read what others are looking forward to!

• Biggest one for me is probably the return of spontaneity, soul and atmosphere to all public venues. An end to the sterile, soulless, micro-managed feel that so much of life currently has. No more booking stuff weeks/months in advance!

• No more masks. Can’t wait to see faces again and start having those small everyday interactions with people that have been almost impossible over the past year. No more awkward shouted conversations in shops and cafes. Being able to communicate properly with DD3 in shops and at her preschool classes.

• Getting to know other nursery parents better. DD only started a month or two before lockdown and since then masks/social distancing/staggered times have meant there’s been no small talk and none of the usual social or fundraising events. Still can’t put many faces to names a year on. I’ve only ever set foot inside the nursery once, and DP never has.

• Being able to browse the library unmasked, and DD being able to see other children there rather than wondering aloud what happened to all the other people whenever we visit for our miserable 30min ‘family bubble’ session.

• Buying some new clothes that actually fit and don’t have holes in. I’ve changed shape since DD was born and am no longer a reliable 8-10, but haven’t been able to browse in shops since masks came in and don’t have enough down time to spend hours browsing on websites and returning clothes. Can’t wait for a proper mask-free shopping day!

I'm going to see Tom Jones at Newmarket Racecourse on the 23rd July, looking forward to that, also unmasked trip to Ikea to get some fitments for new Pax wardrobe.

No more "because of covid" being used as an excuse for poor service.

My mum’s 80th birthday party.
We’ve celebrated with small legal events. But we’re planing to hire a venue and invite all friends and family!!!

@Janaih

No more "because of covid" being used as an excuse for poor service.

Does this mean we'll be able to have olives on our Domino's pizza again?!?!

I've often wondered why olives were such a threat to public health

This thread is such a treat

Am-dram and choirs being allowed to rehearse together again

In the 'before times', that made up about 95% of my social life, it introduced me to all my closest friends and my fiance... obvs I can still see said friends and fiance (can't avoid the latter as we're both working from home! ), but I so miss the camaraderie of us all rehearsing together and then piling into the pub afterwards...

Singing and choir!! I've missed singing with other people so much, it's making me cry to think it will be possible again. Will also be nice to have face-to-face singing lessons too.

Smiles and an end to fucking tape and perspex everywhere. Life screaming at you constantly in yellow and black DANGER colours is hard-going on the sensory front.

Costa drive thru can keep their coffee dispenser bucket for those with short arms though - that's the invention of the pandemic.

Thought of another one (quite dull but important to us!): hopefully being able to actually visit the schools we’ll be applying to for DD’s Reception place. So many of our friends have had to make the decision based on ancient Ofsted reports and out of date league tables, but as a former teacher I know how important it is to be able to get a ‘feel’ for the school. Also having many fewer barriers between parents and schools in general - I think it’s done real damage to the idea of schools being embedded in a community.

And, yes, the return of singing!

@Janaih

No more "because of covid" being used as an excuse for poor service.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

@TempsPerdu

Thought of another one (quite dull but important to us!): hopefully being able to actually visit the schools we’ll be applying to for DD’s Reception place. So many of our friends have had to make the decision based on ancient Ofsted reports and out of date league tables, but as a former teacher I know how important it is to be able to get a ‘feel’ for the school. Also having many fewer barriers between parents and schools in general - I think it’s done real damage to the idea of schools being embedded in a community.

And, yes, the return of singing!

Same, we will be applying in the autumn too.