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Original poster

Normal life is back

570 replies

ExmoorValley · 10/08/2021 13:26

I don't know about you but life where I am is pretty much back to normal, masks in shops falling rapidly. People having a good time. Covid barely gets mentioned now. (and yes I know people are still catching it and a tiny proportion will die)

It feels great. So what happened to the 200,000 cases a day doom scenario peddlers on here? They seem rather quiet.......

OP posts:
TempsPerdu · 10/08/2021 14:47

Just been to a large shopping centre and even though I took my mask, it didn't come out of my pocket. I feel people are starting to drop them as they see more and more people are

Yes I’m loving going mask-free - feels like a licence to smile and chat properly again. Just a friendlier, more congenial atmosphere.

I’m off clothes shopping on Friday for the first time since before the pandemic - after 18 months of mostly disappointing online shopping I really need some new clothes that actually fit, and am so looking forward to browsing and being able to try things on without being an uncomfortable, sweaty mess.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 10/08/2021 14:49

Most people round here still wear masks in Sainsbury's. I feel like our local area is an alternate universe. I'm glad though, because it means I should be able to visit my DS soon.

beastlyslumber · 10/08/2021 14:55

I wish. I'm in Scotland :(

LadyPenelope68 · 10/08/2021 14:59

What a goady thread. How pathetic.

StormTreader · 10/08/2021 14:59

The thing with Science is that it should take account of changing facts and update accordingly, thats what makes it science instead of religion. We never knew what would happen for sure, no-one can know the future, it was a best guess based on the data that was available at that time. We still dont know what the situation will be in winter, or in 50 years time looking back.

The increase in cases and fatality numbers are always a best guess based on the evidence - I've said from the very start of this that if everyone can point and laugh at me for wearing my mask this whole time because the fatalities and consequences of Covid were less than predicted, then great - no-one WANTS lots of people to die unnecessarily, if it ends up being less long-term than we feared then hooray.

All I know personally for sure is that a number of people at a small event I went to recently have come down with it and are really suffering despite being double-jabbed, and I have some friends that are very clinically vulnerable to it, so I wont be rushing out to any big events just yet.

MarshaBradyo · 10/08/2021 15:01

So much better feels lighter and normal

Apart from the odd mask wearing - socialising doing stuff etc all good

Posters / letter writers / ‘U.K. unethical experiment’ all over hyped it

Chillychangchoo · 10/08/2021 15:02

Just back from a UK holiday park (haven) and it didn’t feel normal at all. We still had to book all the activities, and to be honest most were fully booked so we weren’t able to do much on site. Still not chancing a holiday abroad and I don’t think schools will be normal in September. Whilst we are certainly heading in the right direction currently I don’t feel like we are in normal times just yet.

I start a new job next week which is community based but I have been made aware currently the team is still working from home.

We still have a lot more freedom than this time last year but the real test will be this winter and how things fare with vaccinations. I think by spring 2022 we will know how life is going to pan out for the foreseeable.

Bobholll · 10/08/2021 15:06

I’m enjoying life too OP. Had a fantastic weekend away with friends this weekend down in Birmingham. We went to the spa, went for a night out.. it was brilliant. Not a mask to be seen in the very fancy hotel we stayed in. Breakfast buffets were back 🥳 did have to queue over an hour for a taxi home, I def hadn’t missed that part of a night out.

I for one am making the absoloute most of life this summer. I’m getting married in a few weeks, honeymoon, we’ve taken the kids to as many places & events as possible. We’ve holidayed with family. Life has its ups & downs. We’ve also had some shit thrown at us this summer but that’s made me realise more than ever that life is short & tomorrow isn’t promised. Enjoy today.

Bobholll · 10/08/2021 15:08

Why won’t school be normal in September @Chillychangchoo ? Bubbles are gone for us, we are allowed back in the building, all kids start school at the same time, close contact isolation is gone. It might change later in winter I guess but I think it’ll be really normal again in September at least..

Generalpost · 10/08/2021 15:10

We now have all the have you been jabbed/your selfish /anti vax/ would you leave your partner if she/he has not been jabbed? / would you end your friendship if the friend has not been jabbed? Would you let someone not vaccinated in your house. Covid passports .

LimitIsUp · 10/08/2021 15:13

Well I've just had tickets for Ed Byrne cancelled (a September) date "due to Covid" so clearly no one told him or the theatre!

I did respond to their email with a "This is getting tedious now"

Overthebow · 10/08/2021 15:14

Yes life back to normal for me too. Been to some big events and a wedding, no longer wear a mask in shops and my social life is back to normal. Very happy and hope this continues. There’s no need for any more restrictions now we’ve been jabbed.

pineapplecat21 · 10/08/2021 15:14

Don't jinx it! They'll be back in time for flu season. Grin

changingstages · 10/08/2021 15:14

What are you hoping to achieve from this thread? Most people, as has been discussed on here endlessly, are much more middle of the road than the extremes of WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE and YOU'RE ALL SHEEPLE. Most people were a bit worried about Covid (perhaps a bit more if, like me, you were very personally affected and lost loved ones), were concerned about numbers, and are relieved that they haven't been as bad as they might have been.

I'm really, really alarmed to see talk of 'jumping on the climate change bandwagon' though - are we really going to go straight from this divisive arguing over Covid to saying we shouldn't worry about climate change? I mean, I'm not screaming into the void about it but I'm definitely concerned, and I don't really see... the problem with that? What am I missing here?

alloalloallo · 10/08/2021 15:15

I took my daughter shopping the other day.

She’s mask exempt and has had so much abuse and harassment, it was nice to be able to go out and not have to worry about it

There were still a few people wearing masks, but for the first time in ages she wasn’t worried about getting a load of grief from some random member of the public.

She could relax, we had a nice lunch and a mooch round the shops without fear of being abused. It’s a pretty low bar to set admittedly,

Delatron · 10/08/2021 15:15

It’s the small things.. I was so happy that the breakfast buffet was back on at a hotel we recently stayed in. Love a buffet! You can keep your nightclubs (though happy for the youngsters).

Chillychangchoo · 10/08/2021 15:16

@Bobholll

I just can’t see it being normal in the winter. I mean I really hope I am wrong.

Delatron · 10/08/2021 15:19

I was the only one wearing a mask in the pub the other night (just when I went in to order at the bar). And for the first time I felt a bit self conscious. We’d been away and before we went mask wearing seemed high in supermarkets and pubs. All the staff wearing masks. But all of a sudden nobody was wearing a mask. We’re about to go abroad so trying to be a bit careful (sat outside) but it was good to see I guess. I can’t quite judge at the moment when to and when not to!

stepupandbecounted · 10/08/2021 15:19

Yup feeling so much better with every passing day. Mental health fall out with those close to me is still worrying. Stress travelling overseas is not a walk in the park but otherwise all good at last!

JustLoveYourselfALittle · 10/08/2021 15:21

Same here. I love it. Rarely see a mask. Cases here are low. Places are packed (elel that bits no fun haha) love it!

UserStillatLarge · 10/08/2021 15:25

I'm still stuck at home working on a rickety table in the corner of my living area.
Since the largest part of my week is spent working, this doesn't feel particularly normal to me ...

Tana433 · 10/08/2021 15:25

@LimitIsUp. I had a email yesterday to say that the Jon Richardson gig i was supposed to see on Nov 5th 2021 will now be postponed until Jan 2023! I thought, do they know something we dont (yet)? This is in Liverpool.

Foliageeverywhere122 · 10/08/2021 15:26

Meh, we're getting there but for a lot of people life isn't back to normal.

For most 33 and under we won't get our second jabs until September which isn't ideal given the high risk of exposure, for people who are immunosuppressed (my DF has lupus), they are still shielding. Lots of people are still separated from their loved ones abroad, or worried about them as vaccination rates are low.

I'm happy that for lots things are back to normal but it's kind to be mindful.

RaininSummer · 10/08/2021 15:27

Not really feeling like this at all. I have covid right now and cases are rising in my area. Being double jabbed definitely doesn't prevent a person catching it though hopefully the effects aren't so bad. Loads of people isolating too. I wish our office visitors had to wear masks. I certainly don't want to go to packed venues.

Notverygrownup · 10/08/2021 15:41

Glad that people are enjoying life again, but please be sensitive to those who are still isolating/still frightened/still in mourning. The equivalent of a jumbo jet full of people are still dying each week - and for lots of people, life can never 'get back to normal'.