not Looking forward to the lockdown easing

I completely agree with you. It has been a peaceful and thoroughly enjoyable interlude, but we have all been so fortunate in our family to stay virus free. I really worry that lockdown will be lifted too soon.

Yes, dreading it because we're not ready, there are still too many deaths per day for it to be safe yet. But can't wait for crowds again. I miss people! I miss my daughter. I miss my grandson, who hasn't a clue who I am anymore And miss, miss, miss going to football matches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am swinging between wanting to stay at home and feeling cocooned, and desperately wanting the restrictions to be (safely) lifted. Not because I want to rush out and do everything, but I want to have the choice whether or not to do these things.

In all honesty, apart from desperately wanting to see the family, which will absolutely be the first thing I will do, I don't think I will be in a hurry to do anything. I fear I am becoming institutionalised.

I was always someone who said I could never ever work from home, as I would be too distracted and be having a quick peek at the TV, or putting washing on, or running a duster over etc. I was the last of our team to stop going into the office every day.

But actually, since setting myself up in my son's old bedroom, I find that working from home suits me far better than being in the office - where I actually get distracted . I will find it a wrench to have to finally return to being based in the office. I think I will be wary of working closely with colleagues again.

I'm not sure how they can send workers back without first reopening schools. Anyway that doesn't affect me.

I like how quiet it is, like an old fashioned Sunday every day! I do miss meeting friends in a coffee shop though, but think it unlikely they'll be able to open yet.

Surely anyone in their right mind would not want to be stuck indoors for the foreseeable future.

Once the death rate slows down, hopefully we can relax a little more.

We must try to reastablish some semblance of normality, for sanity’s sake, if nothing else.

We have all been brainwashed into staying in. When the time comes to re-emerge, grab it and go forward.
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Willow, thats exactly what worries me. People going back to their old 'unclean' bad habits. Nothing will be normal. I just hope good hand hygiene doesn't fall by the wayside and some folk now have no idea about social distancing. This virus aint going anywhere. Places will end up packed and if people drop/forget these practices, we will end up back where we started. As it is this weekend shows us just how some people don't bother.

I'm not looking forward to returning to work only to be infected with covid 19.

The lock down has been a time to reflect, I like this new life, apart from missing children, grandchildren... love the slow pace and makes me want to get out of this rat race and move somewhere quieter and enjoy nature.... don’t want to go back

My husband and me stood still for 3 minutes yesterday staring up at a vapour trail of an aircraft..... we haven’t seen one for over two weeks.....the police helicopter which is buzzing over our district 3-4 times a day is NOT missed at all.... but the best thing is the ambulance sirens , which have made my blood freeze, have nearly disappeared over the past week.....I’m just thankful one of them hasn’t been for me. Yet!

Yes, me!
I think it's far too soon.
Yes like others I miss my friends and family.... So I'm staying at home and looking forward to Christmas..... Maybe! Too many unknowns for me to chose to become another statistic.

Whilst we are all waiting to see what Boris has to say this evening, my question would be why does he have very special slots and only appears when there is an apparent announcement when all other leaders across the country do the daily briefing themselves. Come on Boris you wanted the job step up and show us you can do it.

Not dreading it, not wanting it, but resigned to it eventually happening.
I echo the first few posters.
Loving the peace and quiet.

no not dreading it,, wish the virus would go away! I will stay with online shopping,

what I do want is to be able to go out more than once, and to see my family..

well church is out of the question it would seem, and that, for me includes the get togethers we had during the week..

so this next step is not going to do anything for me, save reduce the panic, and need to get out...

I am concerned about those that have to go to work,

I think I will stay this way thank you, no racing around, husband does the shopping I could live this way forever

Some people haven't been observing the current guidance, I hate to think what they will be doing when the restrictions are eased.

No I'm looking forward to visiting all my family who live 100miles away. We used to visit once a month or every 3 weeks. Sometimes they would come to us. All have been very careful in keeping to the rules so will be safe.

Lock down is not being lifted. Shops are not going to be opened up We will be lucky if garden centres are opened. The government have always said it will be a little at a time Nobody will be forcing you to go out Why panic?

‘Letting Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales create their own way’ ?

Lockdown isn't exactly lifting, the slogan is changing to 'Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save lives'.

No real change, garden centres (those not open anyway for DIY) will open on Wednesday with social distancing, and probably only one household member in at a time, so long queues at first.
Those who can't work from home, the furloughed, will be encouraged to go back to work, which will mean more cars on the road as public transport will be busier and people will avoid it.
And there will be no limit on how long you can go out to exercise, but you must stay local, no trips out to beauty spots.
I hope that will see the end of police moving on those who have stopped to rest, and will permit households having socially distanced picnics. We have to get people stuck inside flats out into the fresh air.

I am not terrified of going out. I will wear a mask to offer some small protection to others, I will keep my distance, and I will enjoy the sunshine and the walks. This is a lovely time of year and I don't want to miss it.

It is a sad fact that older people taken into hospital very quickly become institutionalised, used to having everything done for them, and cannot cope with release. We have had 7 weeks of a very restricted way of life, and many will be reluctant, or finding it very difficult to move on.

Exactly Hetty if we are retired we are lucky in being able to continue with the lockdown if we want to. Of course we worry about our children and grandchildren who have the be out there especially if they need to use public transport. But there will be safety measures in place everywhere and we'll eventually get used to it.

All those intending to be like greyhounds out of the traps will be the next wave of infection.
As long as my family are safe and well I will be in no hurry to put myself out there.

It will not happen like that , maybe a new slogan but the same rules apply .
relaxing of rules will be slow ,and if there is a decline in the death rate.
Considering its a United Kingdom , they are letting Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales create there own way.
Mick

I think lockdown and the easing of lockdown has many different avenues for different people.

For me personally I have still been working as normal in a busy well know supermarket.

I have seen the ones come in for their bbqs/boxes and boxes of beer/burgers etc etc in their vest tops all bronzed and brown due to the fantiatic weather. Good for them, I hope they enjoyed.

Then I have had the older people who have scuttled in to buy essentials, worrying they may catch something because they have ventured out, full of anxiety (presuming they had no one to fetch supplies, maybe they just wanted to chat to someone I don't know.)

The new dads that have dashed in for last minute baby items.

Mums with the meal vouchers enabling then to help feed their flock. Buying chalks and craft stuff to amuse.

The nhs front line workers first thing in a morning grabbing a few items as they come off their long nightshifts.

Its been a very very strange world of late.

I for one am not a crowd person, I would love to have a wander round my favourite garden center, but I think I will let the crowds get sorted first.

A trip to the seaside I would imagine be one huge traffic jam.

We shall see.

I think many of us have started to evaluate what is important and what we choose to spend our money on - or not going forward. Pensioners have a protected income so we are lucky. We can choose to go out and join in, or not as we don’t have to go out to work.

In that respect I’m glad the under 50’s are less vulnerable because they are the bulk of the people who need to go out to work and children need to go to school. Teens need to socialise and meet new people.

We’ve had our time doing all that. Now we have choices.

Grans who were factored in for childcare won’t be able to help out in the foreseeable. I think that why so many who were tired and busy are now enjoying some ‘me’ time!

What seemed important two months ago (buying stuff) seems so much less so now. We’ve realised we don’t need as much as we thought we did.

But this quarantine time will come to an end eventually and most people will ease back into what they did before.

Choices I suppose.

A lot of us are fortunate in that we have the choice to continue our own little lockdown.

I'm really worried for the people who will be forced into going back to work, using public transport - or face losing their jobs.

Their risk of getting ill is higher than before lockdown.