Dating Thread 186 - Heading into Spring with thicker skin and a new outlook on dating

[Dancerinthemoonlight]

The Rules:

1. The first rule about the dating thread is don't talk about it with people you're dating. 2. Develop a thick skin.
2. Do not invest emotionally too soon.
3. It's all BS until it actually happens.
4. Trust your gut instinct.
5. People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault.
6. Know your worth.
7. If it's not fun, stop.
8. Loo update is mandatory.

10. No dating the thread. 11. Treat others as you'd like to be treated 12. Any relationship you have that could get ruined by having a conversation about your feelings, standards and/or expectations wasn't really stable enough to begin with 13. The things you choose to ignore/ tolerate now are the reasons you will break up in the future 14. OLD can get very time consuming. Keep doing other activities you enjoy.

Optional: Please give your irons (potential dates you are talking to) nicknames like Mr Scottish. Initials are allowed (Mr S) when you are an item.

unambiguous Mr GN works here in the week but always drives back up north for his DC at the weekend. He’s on a course this week out west, but when that’s over his work are saying WFH, so I’m assuming that will be up north, not here. I’m driving way up north for a week anyway (isolating in a wilderness) so the earliest we could see each other again before all this hit was next Wednesday. Who knows, 7 days is a long time these days!

I’m see mr g tomrorow then we are going to see . If you and they both totally isolate for 3 weeks then in theory you’d be safe to see them as you Are virus free. I think this will be make or break for a lot of new relationships. I don’t know what will happen in my case but keeping my own family safe is most important

Tbh the advice doesn’t make sense to me. Surely what needs to happen is for people under 70 without health conditions to get the virus so they are immune and can get back to normal, while the vulnerable isolate until a vaccine is found? The problem with isolating everyone, limiting social contact etc is economic activity collapses and society as a whole is screwed. Genuine question.

@TigerDater I totally agree with you. Keep the vulnerable away, let us get it, test for it, then we can keep running everything! That's why closing schools is a nonsense. I know I'm inviting argument....

@TigerDater I see your point but I think one issue is in most homes there is one vulnerable person. If we count things like being pregnant or asthma as high risk that’s a lot of households

@TigerDater 'Moderate symptoms' can include pneumonia. 20% of people that catch it end up in ICU. If we all caught it we would lose lives across all age groups because we do not have the capacity to deal with it. Social distancing spreads the illness out over time so the NHS can cope. Economic activity etc is going to collapse no matter what at this point.

They are 7 weeks too late and they were told by every country what was happening. I'm sodding furious

I am seeing Mr Photography tonight. Neither of us has any symptoms or anyone close to us either. I think if we remain well we will continue to see each other. My amateur play was due to start today but it's been pulled until further notice. And my daughter works FOH at a big theatre which has also closed. Technically she is zero hours contract. She's fine but others who have rent and bills are in a very difficult position. Not good.
I don't intend to meet any new irons but as long as any that I have already met are symptom free I will see how things go. Fortunately no one close to me is in any of the at risk groups but it must be a very concerning time for some of you.

Looks like Mr Mobile and I are still having a date this weekend - we've spoke this morning. Instead of going to a pub we're going to meet for a walk around a park instead - so all out in the open no confined space, after all exersize is still being encouraged! We've checked neither of us has any immediate family who are in a vulnerable group so I honestly am comfortable with this approach. It doesn't look good for matching with any new irons though as I imagine both men and women are disappearing off the apps in their droves - so hope the date with Mr Mobile is a hit! Meanwhile Mr Muddy is still in touch but all the cheeky comments and flirtation has dropped off so I'm not holding out any hope for him.
What this virus is going to do to the economy is far more of a worry to me than the virus itself to be honest. But I don't know anyone in a vulnerable group. I imagine I would feel differently if my family were at particular risk.

supercali I see that point entirely. I suppose I’m thinking that, given where we are (too late), as 80% don’t end up in ICU it is an approach that may be better than what we are facing: an impasse without time limit where economic activity (ie generating electricity, feeding people) effectively grinds to a halt.

jane I totally agree, where there is anyone vulnerable in a household then that household has to distance. I don’t know what percentage of households that might be.

@tigerdater I’d say thinking about my friends and colleagues 30/40 % at least have someone with a condition or pregnant / small baby.

I don’t think we can know what will happen the spread in Italy seems to have been far more than China for example

@jane1978xx it's hard to say. Pregnant women and children don't actually seem to be at risk form this particular virus, but lots of other pre-existing conditions do make people high risk. So do lots of unseen disabilities, having had cancer ever a long time ago etc. It's really hard to judge, hence the blanket instructions to everyone.

I'm usually pretty sceptical about this government, but in this case they really do seem to be following expert advice to the letter.

That's what they were doing @tigerdater until hey realised it would result in 250k deaths. Hence the change in position.

Fellow single parent friends are wondering if/ for how long the kids are going to be able to keep going to the non resident parent for, at the moment. Now that's a sobering thought....Will XP be prepared to have them for some extra days over the Easter holidays? Will the concept of Easter holidays have ceased to have any meaning by then?? Will he be prepared to have them AT ALL soon ?? I'm sure any visits to his parents in Wales will be off the cards. My parents were supposed to be coming down this weekend, but have just cancelled.

I plan to keep seeing Mr Shipwreck as much as I can (it's usually only once a fortnight anyway, but if he wants to meet up for a walk and a chat and a hug in the daytime before that, then I'm up for it).

I would in theory be happy to meet up with Mr Sparky- he works in the daytime though, we'll have to see if he'd be happy to go to a pub in the evening. I can't help noticing that diabetes is on the list of conditions that make you more vulnerable though, and I was admiring the way that he can check his blood sugar just by scanning a little device implanted in his arm with his phone, so.....

I've seen my guy a few times in pubs and bars etc and I've known him 10 years
He has asthma and I do we both have children, I have one of school age who is goin to be bringing back germs with her anyway, I am constantly on it with hand washing etc
This Friday he's due over mine for a meal and drinks as long as he doesn't display symptoms and me neither I should think it would be ok, i can't imagine not seeing him and I'm not meeting anyone else new! I was sent this today however
What does everyone think of it ?

@dollface19 you can have it with no symptoms that’s the issue as well esp kids. Idris Elba put something on Twitter he has it but no symptoms. If your bf has severe asthma he should be isolating when they trigger that.

@crackofdoom once schools close I am not going out and I’ll be keeping dd in. If her dads not going out and going into work he can have her at his but if he’s going out and about then I’m going to stand my ground.

I don’t have any of the conditions but I have a blood clot in my neck and severe coughing could dislodge it and kill me. So I don’t fancy getting it.

Wow this virus thing is moving fast. I often work in Shoreditch @SimonJT (though live up North) bit won't be travelling to London in the foreseeable. My DDs friend has just moved in with is so she can continue to go to college as her mum is in a high risk group and self isolating (though not sure how long college will stay open). A colleague's parents are both in ICU in induced comas with Covid19. I went out last night for my hotel date though and everything was busy as ever. And wouldn't you know it, MrBeard was fucking amazing, the sex was incredible... and now I have no idea when I might see him again with this virus... though neither of us are high risk ...

My son's school have sent out an email today with a PC spec required for them to work from home. Think they'll be closing soon.
My mate who I saw on Sunday came down with cold, cough and headache yesterday, so is self isolating along with rest of his family. So I've cancelled a visit to my dad's later this week as he's over 70.

@UtterSocks so glad you had a good time! 👏👏

Ah uttersocks I meant to ask how it went! Sounds fantastic, good for you 😊

I guess we are where we are with this virus, 💐 a little 🍹 and big hugs to all. Keep posting

My 'date' doesn't have severe asthma and mine is very controlled so I think asking as we don't display symptoms then I need some loving !! 😂 how was the sex then ?!! X

Hey guys. I am so far behind the thread but it’s over with Mr Big. He’s a twat. Deleted his number, all pics and chat. Onwards and upwards I guess. Feels worse with everything else going on in the world at the moment

@Marlboroandmalbec34 sorry to hear that, hope you're ok and he hasn't treated you too badly
If it's any consolation at least you gave it a try knowing he might not be capable of a proper relationship, doesn't help I'm sure

So sorry @Marlboroandmalbec34 I had the exact same outcome with Mr S. At least we know there are no more what ifs. Sending flowers 💐