What do you think your 'new normal' will be after the lockdowns?

i think it can get to the point , with some. where you have been on your own for so long that you begin by feeling lonely etc, then move on to being on your own is the norm. you can get a bit institutionalised

It strikes me that all those who aim to revert to their previous lives - have learnt nothing at all from all this. It's been a dire warning, a wake-up call. I despair, I really do!

I think I'm now a lifelong frequent hand washer, a 'keep your distance' person, a bit more cautious, more committed to action on environmental concerns, less inclined to travel, waste resources - or take anything for granted.

I'm far more appreciative of everything we have, quality of life, family and our wonderful world. We need to take the greatest care of it.

I’m with bluebelle. Much the same and will try not to take anything for granted ever again.

I shall be living my best life, embracing each day as it comes. Still supporting my local corner shop, they have been fantastic for the past year.
Maybe the big stores will stay with the Click and Collect now that they realise it’s cheaper to have less staff and will not open up the big stores. Whilst out walking yesterday I saw this quite attractive converted van and the cooks/chefs inside were making pizza, kebabs etc, quite similar to the street food served in the Philippines and Thailand. I have seen a few of these now and they deliver to houses as well. My son enjoys working from home (I don’t think I would).
“The new normal” is a lifestyle I adopted four years ago with the other C disease, I am used to not going to crowded places, hand gel and wipes second nature, and giving anyone that coughs and sneezes the swerve.

Another one here whose life won't change much. I expect I'll be reluctantly back to taxi duties, providing meals, baby sitting and looking after sick grand children. I can honestly say I have enjoyed this year more than any in my life so far. No responsibilities and more time to do what I want without feeling guilty. I hate shopping, am not a hugger and look forward to there being fewer people on my walks. I have become much closer to old friends online and may meet up with them again after many years. Apart from that there's only live choir. I have actually loved my online choir and the recordings we have done and feel that I now know so many more people from all over the country, though I'm not particularly anxious to meet them in person. I guess I'm just anti-social!!

My new normal will be knowing what day of the week it is. Swimming on Mon, Tues, Thurs, voluntary work at charity book shop, Tues, Fri, seeing my friend on Thursday and out for tea on Fri. Church on Sun. All mundane stuff but the week will go back to having a structure instead of this morass we seem to be wading through. I would imagine we'll be wearing masks for some time to come in shops. Hopefully that won't become the new normal.

Well, I shall continue to wear my mask, and I'd appeal to you all to do likewise in shops etc. I usually get at least one long-lasting chest infection every winter, and spend months coughing and breathless - but this year (fingers crossed) I haven't had one for over 12 months - it's been wonderful..!
I also suffer from allergic asthmatic hsyfever and take antihistamines all through the summer months because I cough do much...not this year..!
Looking at the figures for winter flu (not ONE case this winter..!) surely mask-wearing - and fewer crowds - have contributed hugely to this..? So let's keep it up - please..? ?

I'm looking forward to eating out with friends and playing bridge again. Not too sure when we'll be able to get get our choir back in full rehearsal.

I wouldn't be surprised of masks become more of a fixture than some would wish. Particularly in the Winter months when the virus is likely to be stronger, despite the vaccine.

I think we'll be keeping our distance on public transport, too. I know I will.

Good analogy Sickofweddingcake, I think we will be exactly like the Munchkins, blinded by the sheer excitement of being able to do ‘normal’ things - even my 24 year old son said to me won’t it be nice to go to M&S for a coffee again - shows how expectations have lowered in the last year.

Once again, I get a picture in my head of Glenda, the good witch in the Wizard of Oz. The bit where she sings: "Come out, come out, wherever you are" and all these little Munchkins rub their eyes in the sunlight. That was set in Kansas...was it not Kansas where the last pandemic was supposed to have materialised?.
The end, where the wizard is exposed from behind his curtains saying: "I am the great and powerful Oz!" made me think of the 'hold' that Trump had on the Republicans. Maybe I read too much into things!

My life won't change a great deal apart from being allowed to socialise, I've missed my Coffee Mornings & outings/meals with my Meet Up group.

I have continued food shopping locally, rarely use any of the big Supermarkets & I've always shopped at quieter times. I have missed going to NT Properties & exploring further away from home but I will start doing that in September when the Schools start the Autumn Term, the downside of living in a tourist area, I usually stay close to home from early July to early September.

I have seen my DD & DGSs ever since we could form a bubble so that won't change. I have carried hand sanitizer for years, so no change there. I believe masks will be a requirement for a long time to come in shops etc

I don't have any issues with confidence as I've been attending medical appointments throughout the lockdown, usually I have to drive & haven't been confined as people who were shielding have been. I also think we will continue with social distancing in many situations

I don't miss hugging or kissing as I am not a tactile person but I miss my choir. According to scientists there will never be a normal again and social distancing is here to stay.

All the things l used to do,but at first lots of people in a confined spacè will take some getting used too

We have a completely different shopping regimen going on now and I think we will carry on using the farm shop and other small shops combined with a bit of online. Looking forward to seeing family and friends probably in the garden to start with, some will want to hug others not I imagine. Only slight worry is that we both feel we have aged a lot this year and on bad days we wonder how we will cope with the socialising we are longing to do. We will no longer be needed for school runs or child minding as GC are now capable of looking after themselves for a short while. Holiday only in UK if we can find somewhere to go and eternal hand washing.

Supporting our independent shops going forward. Many will have had such a tough time of it and will be hoping we all go in and spend some money. Less kissing in general for me for sure. A smile & ‘hello’ to non family members.

Remembering to hand wash when we get home from anywhere is second nature now and it would be good to continue.

I can’t wait to go abroad. I miss the warmth. It’s lovely here in the UK but we’re lucky if we get a few good days strung together!

I haven't seen my two daughters and three grandchild since January last year and am looking forward to seeing them again. Once things start to open up again and it seems safe I will have a celebration buffet party and ask my daughters and family to visit me. I can't wait. I am 79 and I feel as though I have had a year stolen from me. One daughter lives in Oxford and the other one in Leeds.

I led quite an unspectacular life before lockdown so I suppose I will not be much different when the 21st June gets here.
It has been such a big part of life always wearing a mask in the shops it will feel strange at first not to have to do that and the social distancing. I have never been a huggy kissy person only towards family and will not be hugging and kissing strangers.
I feel like I have followed the rules too carefully as my brother even through lockdown travels 10 miles to shop going by train, He told me that he is going on the train to meet our cousin in two weeks that is a journey of over 15 miles and she has encouraged him to visit her. He is 72 and she is a few years older and they have both had the vaccine
and they just say at our age we might not have much time left so just enjoy yourself. I feel like the party pooper because I shop locally take the dogs out and have no friends etc, into my home.
I would like some sort of family part when this is all over to mark the occasion.

To return to the old/new? normal as quickly as possible, whatever that will be and consign the ** masks to the bin.

I won't be sorry not to be kissed by people I hardly know too.
Normal is also a bit of an untried situation for me because I retired in June last year. Not quite the retirement that I anticipated, so will have to wait and see how it goes.
You all sound very positive, which is good news.

Hope to go back to church and sing at some point.

So want to go back to Wales and see my friends and stay with best friend, I haven’t been back for 14 months so far.

I would like to do some proper browsing shopping again. I have done almost everything on line for a year but miss a day out shopping with friends with a nice lunch in the middle so hope to do that again when it’s safe.

Don’t want to go on a plane ( hadn’t for several years anyway ) but would love to go to France with my family for a holiday ( something we did twice a year in normal times ) and we have all missed it a lot.

Also be nice to go back to my volunteering mornings again , I am already going back to work on education in March.

Think I will always keep up with the extra hand washing and using of gel ( never without some in my handbag) but that’s no bad thing anyway

Hope masks go eventually but won’t feel safer until after second injection ( and not completely even then) I too think we will all have COVID jab every year same time as flu and I’m ok with that .

Would really like to be able to sit outside a cafe with a coffee

I am really looking forward to everything returning to normal, including hugging certain friends who we have always done that with. Not having to queue for supermarket shopping. And as soon as advised it is safe to do so, the horrible masks will be binned! Maybe even a ceremonial burning in the garden. It will be so good not to see the vile things discarded irresponsibly on the ground, in hedges and gardens, by selfish people.

Stand well clear then Ladies , I’ve always been a hugger and will probably be like a kid in a sweetshop when we’re allowed!!?

The owner of our corner shop was anxious when the school next door had to close and he lost income. He rose to the challenge, increased his stock and became the place to find those basics which were sold out in supermarkets. The tiny shop is now a treasure trove. I'll continue to support him as he supported us.

There will be no return to 'normality' for me. Now a widow, I'll not be returning to Care Home visiting every other day, nor helping with the activities and fundraisers. Our Council run Swimming pool has deteriorated so badly due to lack of use and regular maintenance that it will never re-open, putting an end to my weekly swim session. I am no longer needed for grandchild minding and the school run - kids now old enough to be 'home alone' for short periods.

Both my late DH's small pte pensions died with him and his savings were almost totally depleted paying Care Home Costs, so I am facing a future with much reduced income, and a house and big garden, sadly neglected over the past 5 years and now in need of repairs. DH always did all the maintenance work himself until he became ill but now, if I cannot manage to DIY, I have to pay for tradesmen, though still (just) managing to tend to the garden and grow fruit and veg myself, collect and saw up wood for my open fire.

So it will be a new 'normal' for me, which I suspect will be much the same as life in Lockdown, except that I will be able to do my own food shopping and perhaps meet up for coffee and a blether with old friends. Looking forward to seeing the sea again when we are allowed to travel more than 5 miles.

Oh - I forgot. The cinema, theatre and gigs. I go as much as I can.