Will life not go back to pre-covid 19? Is o/s the new way forward?

sheilavw

its been lovely seeing families out walking and enjoying the local countryside. Quite often now kids only do stuff that costs, cinemas, play areas, shopping centres with meals out etc. These are the norm for many, not a treat. It would be lovely to see them continue to enjoy simple things like picnics and walks

suki1964

Tbh I haven't been affected by the lockdown, other then not having the grandchildren here to stay as Mum has to be shielded 

Ive carried on working, Ive always cooked daily, Mr S has always grown veg and made do and mended

And I like the queue for the supermarket, shopping is so much more friendlier and everyone is so more helpful and kind and mindful of those around them

I feel sorry for Moneysaver1 if she seriously hasn't seen any good points of these times, I see them daily, people coming together to help their neighbours and even complete strangers, how thousands have volunteered to the NHS,  people sitting at home making masks and gowns, knitting ( I myself have joined a group to make for the preemies ), businesses that cater for the hospitality trade turning their businesses around over night to supply the public giving us more options on where we source our food. The lack of cars on the roads, ( Ive only seen one roadkill since lockdown ), whole families out and about on bikes or just walking, parents being around more for their children, the list goes on

Sure I miss my trips to the beach to walk and sit on the harbour wall to eat a fish supper, or going for a drive along the coast route with the lid off but those days will come back

I hope that we as a country demand change in the future. If anything we have learned through this is our elderly care system doesn't work, nor does our social care. I hope that once we come out of all this we carry on with the kindness and mindfulness and keep the community spirit that has sprung up in places where there was none before

thumpthump

At times I like the lockdown.
At times I hate it.
I miss my parents
I miss my children
I miss my grandchildren
I miss my customers.
I won't be open until September at the earliest.


I enjoy my own company (does that even sound sane?)
I have a 10yo DS who is pretty damn amazing at this schooling stuff.
My 18 yo DD and 20yoDS are both shielding as per Drs instructions and my DD is getting regular phone calls from her medical team.
Ds20 is able to go back to work from next week and we are lucky enough to have a flat he can use if he comes into contact with this awful disease.

I video chat to my DS22 and his children every day 💞
And my 25yoDS I chat to him on via various means fb, texts and the very odd phone call (his excuse is he can't hear me properly on his mobile)

I always cooked daily meals until I went self employed now the DD and DS make a meal a week.

DH works for NHS and he also makes 2 meals a week.

I'm finding lockdown okay!
I'm grateful for what we have!

dolly84

sheilavw said:

its been lovely seeing families out walking and enjoying the local countryside. Quite often now kids only do stuff that costs, cinemas, play areas, shopping centres with meals out etc. These are the norm for many, not a treat. It would be lovely to see them continue to enjoy simple things like picnics and walks

I agree with this.

suki1964 - I wonder if you will enjoy the supermarket queues quite so much in the freezing pouring rain and driving winds of winter.  It's not good to have an 'I'm alright Jack' attitude, many people on here will still be seeing their pensions drop into their accounts every month and know that that will continue uninterrupted, but imagine you are a couple both working in the travel or leisure industry, you both work full time have school age children an £800+ a month mortgage etc, how do you think you would feel right now?   They don't have the luxury of previous generations of easily going from one job to another, retiring younger, excellent private pension schemes, incredible increases in property values.  Every generation has something that comes along and challenges them but the older generation seem to think imo that they are the only ones who have had and continue to have all the hardships.

-taff

Funny, what I got from Suki's post was that she was coping well, and heartened by the majority positive attitude around her.

It is alright to have an 'I'm alright Jack attitude' anyway,we can't sit there depressing ourselves with the thought of how many people are in hardship or can't have this or that. If you spent all your time concentrating on the bad things, on hardship, on how bad things are for some people then where's your mental health going to be then? Do what you can where you can but if you're OK, be thankful for it. 

[Deleted User]

Well said -taff, it's good  thinking  to 'count blessings' not to see everything 'not as good as it used to be'.  I am an annoyingly 'half full' not 'half empty' person and I know I annoy the hell out of people by being bouncy positive and posting positivity and giving the impression that life is 'hunky dory' in all ways.  Not so, but what did sitting and brooding over what you can't change ever achieve? we have our annoyances just like everyone else, this mornings was a very amended Morrissons delivery where lots of things just weren't available and some of the substitutions were very unfathomable! however, we got most of what we needed (not wanted mind you) and we're not likely to starve and there's always next time when they might actually send me what I order…..life is a lottery and we've all got used to everything being available all the time.  I think it's good once in a while to have the challenge of NOT getting everything and having to manage with what you DO have, it kicks you out of your complacency and makes you think harder which is good for all of us!

MoneySeeker1

Dolly - I get what you're saying - and do sympathise.

I'm in the position, thankfully, that my income is pension just coming into my bank account each month and my home is my own (no mortgage). So one of my first thoughts trying to cheer myself up about Lockdown each day is "At least thankfully my home and income are safe". 

But I would be worried sick if one or both of my income and home were suffering problems because of Lockdown. I confess I wouldn't know which way to turn if I was both being shut out of darn nearly everything because of Lockdown and had income problems and, obviously, the income problems would be by far the biggest concern I'd have out of loss of freedom and loss of income.

I do think it's insensitive for those who aren't too bothered about Lockdown and maybe even making comments about "enjoying" aspects of it to do so when there are millions of people worried sick about their income and some also being under threat of losing their homes because of it. 

I've never been in a "comfortable" position income-wise yet (always both low-paid and single) - but there have definitely been periods of greater discomfort and having to fight hard to get a job or manage to hang onto a job I already had - so I get it.

Nargleblast

Suggesting that someone has an "I'm all right, Jack" perspective implies that they don't give a monkey's about anyone else, and I did not read anything like that in suki1964's post. This goes to show how our own perception of our personal situation can colour the way we view or interpret the words of others, especially when the words are written down and lack the presence of tone of voice or body language. It is possible to count one's own blessings whilst being aware of the misfortunes of others, and trying to give help and support for the same.

Happycas

I'm in the annoying category of retired with a decent pension, but  I do fear for many young people who will see their income/ livelihood vanish overight.  It must be very difficult to see any positives from the current situation for them.. Even in my situation, I find it hard to think of any positives that outweigh the many negatives.

Regarding OS ways, I don't think everyone will continue with them.  At the moment, some people have more time at home than usual, but when back to a full day with long commutes, baking bread and pickling onions will be forgotten again.
However, I suppose those who have lost their jobs, and I think there will be many, may be grateful for new skills they have learned.
Not much consolation though, is it?

Rowan9

I’m still working full time but from home for now. 

I’ve always done the cooking from scratch, batch cooking etc and have fitted that in with work and study. 

Going forward I will keep the farm shop veg box as it has been a real joy to drive out to collect it. I’ll also carry on with a couple of independent shops. I know I am lucky to be in the position to be able to do this financially. 

I’ve really enjoyed more day time walks with my lovely dog. 

I hope, going forward, that people keep looking out for each other and that kindness becomes more of a way of life. I hope too that people fully use the lovely parks the towns and cities offer, also would love to see a return to families exploring the countryside more rather than staying in (someone else mentioned that).