Good things about lockdown

I’ve noticed that dd and SiL (though mostly SiL since dd is occupied with very little ones) are getting on with some major jobs in home and garden that they didn’t get around to before.

They’re both very sociable so weekends previously were mostly taken up with visiting friends/having friends round/going to stay with friends/having friends to stay.

I'm getting more exercise than before, as we go for an early walk while it's quiet to get the 10,000 or more steps in before breakfast and then stay in or in the garden the rest of the day. Like others, I appreciate the lack of pressure.

We must all be aware that others may be having a horrible time for all sorts of reasons, but IMO it would be wrong not to appreciate things that we can enjoy - that doesn't make other people's misery worse (unless we go about gloating, I suppose).

Same here, grandtanteJE65. My phone records who rang when. I'll phone back when it's convenient. I still resent the sheer amount of 'just checking you're OK' calls. Why on Earth shouldn't I be?

Sometimes I just bulk email all my kids, relatives and friends - instead of individual chats. I really do like email more than phone calls. It's just like sending or receiving a letter.

Many condolences, Cardiff Jaguar.

Heartbreaking Cardiff jaguar. So sad for you. X

You do realise, don't you, ladies that you don't HAVE to answer your phone just because it rings?

I'd get on with the decorating and let the phone ring, then ring back later. Anyone daft enough to say, "I rang you earlier." would be told, "Yes, I was standing on my painter's scaffold painting a ceiling, but I can talk now."

I have wanted for so long to thoroughly clean the house, but never had the time. This week I realised that that was not the reason. (Seen on Facebook this morning)

Im not missing the endless nuisance calls. Haven't had one yet asking if I have CV19!!

CardiffJaguar, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your son. It is good that you have found the isolation to have been a help rather than a hindrance to you in what must be a very difficult time.

Agree with that last post, except it's not painting and decorating for me but blitzing the garden ... I'm loving it!

Good things about this 'lockdown' are the fact that parents can spend more time with their children, less pollution, less noise from aeroplanes, trains and cars. Some of us may become more fitter with the name of online exercise classes that are coming on YouTube.

So glad i am retired and have a small pension so don't have to try the 'work at home' business. Have spent far too much time trying to organise delivery slots but have decided i just have to go to the shop. I am trying to catch up pn phoning friends to make sure they are OK - the phone has never been so busy. Managed facetime 'chats' with small granddaughter and her small cousin who just giggled at me. I'm quite happy, just watched Absolutely Fabulous on iplayer, giggles are compulsory. I do long for normality, but meantime DH and are are getting used to this new way of living

enforced isolation not a good thing,but choosing to do it is another thing,why do so many people go on retreats etc.
prisoners who put there head down and get on with it do better than those who don't. Our everyday lives are so distracted
its an opportunity in many ways to be alone with ourselves.
paint,read,draw,do nothing and rest after!

It’s OK so far but don’t like to look ahead. I’m still not dressed at 11.30 am but Son is delivering leeks soon for a leek and ham pie recipe. Lovely spring morning which does raise the spirit.We are rewatching The Crown series 1 on Netflix. Treat for evening. Thank goodness for the internet and the phone.GC are doing clever things with their phones and I pads etc .Isolation harder for that generation I think.

Blue sky is now actually blue. Not criss crossed with white stripes from planes. Wall to wall blue. Lovely.

Quieter roads, enabling safer crossing, including the dual carriageway and main roads nearby, that don't have a pelican crossing.

No interruptions from unwanted cold callers.

People being a lot nicer to each other.

The politest queues in the world at the moment, instead of the usual rugby scrum.

Although l have been laid off from my job, l am being retained on full pay then furlough pay, so having an extended "holiday" and being paid for it is rather novel.

Ultimately, l am so very very grateful that l live alone.
If l run out of painting and decorating, l have more books than you can shake a stick at.

As other correspondents have said, peace perfect peace: l am actually very chipper!

Our son died on 10th March just as we were going into self isolation. We have therefore had time together to grieve and support each other. We were devastated and were helped by not having to answer the door. As the days pass we feel that the isolation has been a good time for us.

How lovely. I have been feeling oddly guilty as ALL the talk is of how horrible it is and how we must be missing 'whatever'. I'm a really happy on my own doing quiet hobbies sort of person - so this is bliss. Less traffic (live on a main road), can hear the birds in the garden. Time to finish what I start without rushing. No pressure to be sociable. So long as I do not hit serious problems with supplies, life is good. We've been out of the working world for long enough to know that you keep a routine, wash, dress, eat properly - or you don't enjoy life so that is not a problem for us. I think 'they' media folk have no idea how the peasants live .

Just glad we are all well enough. Glad also for the internet and media available to us for keeping in touch. Worry about the wee local businesses who might go under. Will try to shop there as much as possible when this is over.

No more fast food litter, previously regularly thrown out of the windows of passing cars!

I am just so grateful this virus isn't airborne and we all literally had to stay in our homes with the windows shut. At least we can enjoy our gardens and really appreciate the spring flowers and are allowed out for a walk/run/bike ride.

No football on (yipee) and the bypass at the end of my garden is so much quieter.

Seeing all think kindness in our local area and experiencing it from our lovely neighbours.

Hearing from my family several times a day.

Enjoying my son enjoying being a Dad and loving the extra time he is spending with his children.

Hearing what DS & Dil are doing to keep busy and fit and doing extra work from home. DS has volunteered for the NHS too.

Giving the garden more attention that it usually gets.

Baking and leaving it out for family.

Learning a new skill - procrastination, getting good at it.

No noise from the school across the road.
Wearing my scruffiest clothes out.
Saving money (no coffees or lunches, no classes. I'm doing my best on-line shopping but not spending as much)

Its been wonderful to be able to sleep at night without the constant traffic just 10 yards from our bedroom window. We are on a busy road near the M25. Also the pub across the road is closed so no shouting screaming and singing from the beer garden (even in winter) long into the night as well as the constant comings and goings of taxis and the police to break up fights. Heaven help us when lockdown ends they will all want to celebrate!

Self isolation means you don't catch ANY colds or viruses, not just the corona virus.

Also, how strange to think working parents don’t know their children!