Feeling so down about this - here we go again!

[julieca]

This is beginning to feel like early March 2020. Social things are being cancelled, face masks are back and the government are meeting tonight to talk about possible further restrictions. Alongside this cases have risen a lot in the last few days.
Apart from the fights over toilet roll, it almost feels like the start again. And we don't even have nice sunny weather. Instead it is cold, dark and miserable.
I have just been feeling so down about it today. Anyone else?

I went to the supermarket today. It was absolutely fine. There’s no reason to be fighting over the loo roll (in fact there wasn’t last year TBF).
I also went for something to eat and it was a usual Friday lunchtime.
I also had a hospital appointment the only thing the same as 2020 possibly is the hospital parking is still free.
Otherwise a normal December day in these parts.

Perfectly normal day around here, people Christmas shopping, cafes full. I'm sorry for those who are fretting or have had things cancelled but in my corner of Yorkshire it's business as usual.

I am a musician/music teacher, so things have been tough but have battled through. I feel utterly floored this week. All the music events I am employed to do in the next few weeks and after Christmas have just been cancelled. I have lost a long term contract due to covid. It's so depressing and feels like everything is going backwards.

@goldenlilliesdaffodillies

I am a musician/music teacher, so things have been tough but have battled through. I feel utterly floored this week. All the music events I am employed to do in the next few weeks and after Christmas have just been cancelled. I have lost a long term contract due to covid. It's so depressing and feels like everything is going backwards.

That's really shit, hope things turn around for you soon.

I don’t think it feels like March 2020 but it definitely feels a bit like December 2020. That disappointment that just as you thought things might improve we were heading into lockdown again. Was joking with ds1 yesterday about how much of the Greek alphabet we would get through before I retire.

Went to John Lewis this afternoon . Usually on the first Friday in December it would be heaving . Pretty deserted, a few fairly miserable and resigned looking people wandering around in a desultory fashion, lots of notices about masks and social distancing ( never stopped wearing mine anyway) .

Lots of people seem to be reassessing Christmas plans even if it’s just making contingency plans . Sigh

Both mine and husbands Christmas works' events have been cancelled today OP. Right at the start the CMOs were saying this would be a global event lasting at least two years in the West. We were foolish to get our hopes up any sooner.

I'm so confused why Christmas parties would be cancelled?! I'm clearly missing something.

We have been vaccinated - I am not cancelling Christmas party I don't see why it should be. We have done all we can and life MUST go on.

We need to keep hospitality in business.

No chance is our party being cancelled, and I will be attending.

Seriously though, why are people overreacting over this? And Covid isn't going anywhere do we not need to just live now?

I understand how draining it all is.

I'm in Ireland and I really hope the panic buying doesn't start again...

I'm self employed so no Christmas party (or a very Covid compliant socially distanced one alone perhaps), but DD who works for a public service has hers cancelled because of the risk of them all ending up having to isolate for 10 days if someone got omicron and then how that would look if the whole office was closed. It's appalling for hospitality though.

In the rest of my world everyone is socialising as usual, which we wouldn't be doing if we felt it was a real threat.

@daisydoh DPs Christmas do was cancelled tonight because too many people dropped out. DP has talked to some people tonight, and everyone who has dropped out is parents. They are too worried about getting the new variant and Christmas day being mucked up.

I see no reason for panic buying to start. I suspect all the panic buyers have already stocked up for Christmas anyway.

I just went to an event and most not wearing masks. We're not back in 2020, most people aren't worrying and are just cracking on

@frozendaisy

Feels nothing like March 2020

That is how I feel too.

We know more about the virus
People can have vaccinations
There are less deaths, at least at present
People are more aware now, and can make more informed personal choices
We can second guess the government easier
We know to expect more hardship in winter. In March 2020 we didnt have much of a clue what to expect.
We know what things we should personally avoid
We are much better informed

I could go on..

@Livelifeinthebuslane

I'm self employed so no Christmas party (or a very Covid compliant socially distanced one alone perhaps), but DD who works for a public service has hers cancelled because of the risk of them all ending up having to isolate for 10 days if someone got omicron and then how that would look if the whole office was closed. It's appalling for hospitality though.

In the rest of my world everyone is socialising as usual, which we wouldn't be doing if we felt it was a real threat.

So is this your party? Looks fun! 😂

The gif won't attach ☹️

Most of the panic buyers are probably wading their way through the loo rolls/long life milk/pasta and tinned tomatoes from last year's haul.

@DaisyNGO

The gif won't attach ☹️

It's attached, I don't get it though?

@DaisyNGO

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It attached, that looks just like my Christmas party for one!

Ooooh. I thought there was a Charlie Brown reference in there. More wine.

@daisydoh No idea why. Think employers are just being ultra cautious, it's unnecessary and so unfair on the hospitality trade relying on bookings.

www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/nhs-to-scrap-routine-surgeries-to-hit-no10-s-booster-deadline/ar-AARqrtX?ocid=msedgntp

So that is my DP waiting even longer for his surgery.

I'm CEV. Jabbed and boosted a month ago. 2 dc have had covid recently. Youngest has avoided it so far but has a school outing next week to a panto and a nativity play the week after. He's not fussed about either event and I'm considering pulling him out of both. It's my dds birthday soon and I'd hate for us to be isolating for that. Things feel uncertain and scary again after I'd felt better about things. A friend got covid a couple of months ago and ended up in hospital. Double jabbed and no underlying conditions and she was ill for weeks. That's what triggered my anxiety again and now we have a new variant and cases are rising again. I'm happy to go to the local shops but I'm not going on public transport now and am avoiding busy places. A panto and a school hall packed with the families of two year groups is too risky and I'm amazed they are going ahead.

It feels nothing like March 2020. My day today, gym class this morning full as usual, coffee after with friends, cafe full everyone having a great time, city centre trip with my little one to look at the lights, everywhere busy, lots of happy faces, restaurants busy, cafes bustling, girls dinner and drinks tonight at a local pub again busy and 2 function rooms being used for office parties. Tomorrow night we are going to a light trail and then the theatre on Sunday. No idea what people are talking about on this thread saying everywhere is quiet and everything’s getting cancelled!?

@Katie517 no one where I'm from seems to care much either! No one wears masks hardly and people are seeming normal - restaurants are busy etc.

I'm confused by this thread too tbh!

@Katie517 I said it is like early March. You could have done all those things in early March as well.