Life in 5 months??

Here in France we are on the third week of 'déconfinement'
and yet it still feels strangely not normal. People go out to
shop but don't linger, its still quiet everywhere. Hopefully
this week when the bars and restaurants can open it will
start to feel better, Hopefully.

I’m interested in how UK death rates compare to other countries and UK recovery is pitifully slow. Germany is easier to explain, they followed WHO on January 23rd and started planning ( UK did nothing much until March) Germany hospitalised people fast, concentrated on testing, people observed lockdown, and even now no one would walk into a shop without a mask , and Angela Merkel is a scientist and surrounded herself with doctors plus Germany started with 29000 beds against UK 4000 ( reduced from 6000 a couple of years ago. But even little Croatia , poor country , is now Covid free. They had a very strict lockdown! People do as they are asked to do and it works.

I think in five months we will possibly have a bit more freedom, but we will be suspicious of all around us. There will be traffic jams as we use our cars instead of public transport. I so look forward to a vaccine 'cause the idea of getting Covid 19 scares me.

The cafe/restaurant manager at my local (quite large) Garden Centre told me on Friday that he does not think they will be able to open the cafe/restaurant until next year.

I will so miss popping in cafes when I go out and about.

LJP1, I fear your comments are overly optimistic. Saw recently that Carnival Cruises had received tentative bookings for next year, 600 times over capacity, and they are one of the worst polluters. Also traffic around here, Notts, is virtually back to 'normal'. The riverside yesterday resembled 'Brighton on Trent', and local parks are littered with tons of plastic packaging and used barbecues. In an area that is supposed to have a well educated population. But, listening to Boris Johnsons ramblings does not let me believe that expensive education necessarily qualifies anyone to even speak in coherent sentences.

I don't have any idea how life will be in 5 months, because despite following all the rules, my beloved husband had to go into hospital with an unrelated problem and caught Covid-19 whilst in there. He died (I was so lucky, the Consultant arranged that I could wear PPE and be with him at the end, I couldn't have borne it at all otherwise) on 13th May, and for me there just doesn't feel like there will ever be a future, right now. I'm only still here for my son and for the animals my husband - and I - love so much. Also, I don't know what God thinks of suicide. But I do hope there's light at the end of the tunnel.

In five months, I suspect I will thinking about how to approach Christmas without subjecting myself to shopping crowds. I don't think the need for caution will go away for a long time yet.

Poshpaws, I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. That's still so fresh. I'm glad you were able to be with him at the end. This is a terrible time to experience loss, especially such a close one as a husband. I'm sure it's little comfort now, but time does help and you do find little things to find joy in over time. <3

Well, it can not possibly do any harm if we all continue to be careful about hand washing etc. but unfortunately that is no really likely to happen, human nature being what it is.

A vaccine will be available fairly soon, and of course, the virus may, like the one that causes the Spanish flu, more or less disappear again. No-one is making any qualified guesses at the moment.

During this pandemic various treatments have been found to work, and will presumably continue to do so.

I think we should all try to look on the bright side, spreading despondency was considered wrong in wartime and should be wrong now, as well.

Bijou let's never say never!
Poshpaws I can only say how sorry I am about the loss of your DH in such circumstances.

Before all this I used to see Chinese people wearing masks in London and always thought how sensible. Mask wearing MUST help. The UK population is too large for the size of the place. Someone from New Zealand described it as "feeling unhealthily crowded". I agree. When I was young in the 50s and 60s there was far more room to move. Not saying this would stop any virus but we do all need to be more aware particularly if the population is set to increase even more. I doubt if I'll use public transport again and would think hard about going to a theatre or cinema. Life will never be as we knew it -maybe for the younger ones but not us oldies. Sad but true I fear.

I am so sorry Poshpaws...don’t think of ending it all.

GrandMattie, I think our problem in UK is that people just didn’t their own thing’ and made up the rules, instead of staying at home as much as possible. We live in a much freer country than Spain, Greece and Italy, where police make arrests more freely than here.

Poshpaws sorry for your loss I'm sending these for you ?

Poshpaws so sorry to hear your sad news. Please keep strong.

poshpaws that was so awful for you and so very recent..
I'm sending you a virtual hug because I cant say anything to ease your pain.
Try and hang on in there and keep talking

"We live in a much freer country than Spain, Greece and Italy, where police make arrests more freely than here."

If that is true why does the UK have the highest prison population in the EU?

poshpaws Sun 31-May-20 11:34:13

I'm so very sorry.
You must carry on. You have your son and lovely pets that love and need you. Take one day at a time.
Hugs and

Totally agree with ladymuck!

poshpaws ((hugs)) I’m so sorry about yr husband.

Posh paws, so sorry for your loss

Perhaps our death rate per population may have something to do with the size of the UK. Look at the size of France, Spain for example. They are huge but with less population. UK has millions of folk crammed into cities, more so in England. More than just the numbers of deaths per thousands of population has to be considered. And isn't it wonderful those who have been shielding are now being allowed out. Makes them sound like convicts being released for good behaviour!

Poshpaws I am so sorry for your loss.I lost my husband just seven months ago and I know how I felt at your stage.
I am slowly moving on and it is definitely a slow process but things do stop looking as bleak.I think the hardest thing for me is friends and family not bringing up his name in conversation in case it upsets me.
Sometimes I think they don't care although I'm sure they do .
A virtual hug and a shoulder to cry on .much love xx

Poshpaws, I am so very sorry for your loss. I wish there were words to express my sympathy but everything seems inadequate. Please hang on in there for the sake of your son, and take comfort in your animals.

Justwidowed, I am also very sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. I hope that things continue to get a little easier for you, as time passes. I know it's a slow process when you have lost someone you love.

poshpaws what a heartbreaking story. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

In the hope that some good may come of this strange time, so much hand washing and so many face masks may mean that the common cold will virtually disappear, and cases of stomach bugs, food poisoning etc. may drop dramatically.