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People's behaviour in London

285 replies

catandcandle · 06/10/2021 18:20

NC for this, because I probably sound like a bit of a loon. We left London as the lockdown 2020 started and have been living in deep rural bliss in an EU country ever since. Here we still have social distancing, madatory masks indoors everywhere, sanitisers at every entrance. I have spent a lot of the pandemic not going anywhere much, I WFH and it has been possible to pretty much isolate throughout. I did get on a holiday to another European country in the summer (after being double vaccinated) but it was country with low rates, I wore an FFP3 on the plane, and because it was a hot country I spent nearly the whole time outdoors and only went to eat at outdoor places etc.

We decided (after DS aged 12 has now been double vaccinated), to come on a trip back to London (DH for various reasons including fetching things he had to leave behind, me and DS just to see London again and see some friends). DH has gone today, DS and I plan to join him on Friday, for the weekend.

DH has just arrived in London and he called me telling me I am going to freak out, there are people in the shops without masks, no sanitiser at the doors, and when he asked someone to please social distance in a shop they mocked him. He is right, this will be very difficult, I have not encountered these things through the whole pandemic!

I am not asking AIBU, I very possibly am, but this is how I feel, and I hve been managing the pandemic this way because I could. I still want to go to London, and I realise I can take my own sanitiser and keep myself away from people. There is no way I am going to go indoors or on public transport without a medical-grade (FFP3) mask. The rates are just too high for me.

So, I just wanted to ask, are there still people who are going to be as cautious as me there? Will I be stared at and mocked because I (and DS) are wearing masks, shy away from contact and sanitise our hands? I don't suppose I should really care what people think of me, but I would just like to be prepared. I feel incredibly nervous about this trip now.

OP posts:
catandcandle · 10/10/2021 16:06

I have just come back to the thread to report that I have had a wonderful weekend in London. Did not once feel uncomfortable. I don't know where all the non-masked commuters that I was fearing have gone! I was on the Northern line for several stops each way and only one person in one carriage was unmasked, and two in the other. I didn't go into a supermarket etc but was in a Boots and everyone in there was wearing a mask.The weather was glorious, there was some lovely outdoor art in Regent's Park, the tigers were basking in the sun, and it was wonderful to be back! Off home now to Ireland...

Thanks again to everyone who contributed!

OP posts:
LazySundayPlease · 10/10/2021 16:19

I wish I was wherever you are as the precautions you mention are sensible (masks, sanitiser, distance). I think stripping children naked as they get home isn't worth it, nor is sanitising shopping or quarantining post (wash your hands after touching it). I'll admit to doing all of those in 2020 though.

I went into London (this in a county in middle England now, also moved just Pre COVID) last week and I was shocked at lack of masks on the tube and in shops. On the tube I'd say it was 50/50. I don't think you'll have much luck asking people to stand back from you as there's not enough space in many places to maintain social distancing.

Still come but don't be surprised and select what you do accordingly.

LazySundayPlease · 10/10/2021 16:24

Ah just realised it was this weekend!

Glad you enjoyed it Op!

sashagabadon · 10/10/2021 21:04

Has been a beautiful sunny weekend in London. It’s a really great city. Glad you came and had a lovely time

Weseylady · 10/10/2021 22:17

I think that quite a few places are now not operating as your locality is .. and to.go from that sort of area to london is probably a step too far. Maybe go to a more meduim change place to start to adapt first?

madisonbridges · 11/10/2021 00:27

OMG, @catandcandle, I'm so glad you came back to update us. I'm so happy you had a great (and unterrifying) time. It feels good to be out and about, doesn't it? Hopefully, it will have helped your confidence a bit.

I hope when you read comments on here in future that all of England is going to hell in a handcart, you'll realise that a lot of it is just scare-mongering and that most of us are normal and are trying to be respectful of others. There's a lot of exaggeration on MN. 😉

Torvean · 11/10/2021 05:35

Maybe you'd prefer to visit Scotland, where masks and hand sanitisers are still everywhere. We SD on public transport, ppl are still working from home and children wear masks at school.....

Rosehip10 · 11/10/2021 06:56

@Torvean and Scotland still had some of the highest rates in Europe recently......

Torvean · 11/10/2021 07:08

@Rosehip10 yep! I believe we had 8 out of 12 at some point.
We have Covid passports too.
Less Scotland in 2021. Bit like somewhere else in the 1930s....
Where the govt do photo opportunities with no masks, yet I have to wear one to get milk at a newsagent ...

Bouledeneige · 11/10/2021 11:20

Glad to hear the update from OP. I'm a bit tired of the bashing of London on MN. I live here and regularly use public transport, shops, restaurants etc. At the weekends I have been regularly going out of town - to Suffolk, Manchester, the Peaks, Kent. Everywhere I've been the level of mask wearing is much less than London. My experience only.

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