Bored and despondent with the virus.

Take up the ukulele! Truly you will not look back! I have made so so many new friends through this. It’s what I do now!!!

We've been ok here in mid-USA, never seem to be done with it. Like all of you, just as we get the word that it's all good, the federal government comes on with the most dire predictions and instructions which change, sometimes daily. Parts of the country are very well, other parts seem never to get over the hump. We have children in school with masks, without masks; then we have whole swaths of the country where teachers refuse to come back to school for one reason or another. All kinds of accommodation has been made and money poured into the school systems to make them safer, but nothing seems to satisfy. Kids are way behind where they should be and parents are tearing their hair out. I understand how people are just sick to death and fed up! Everyday we all do our best and try to pump ourselves up and realize how fortunate, compared to others, we may be. However, I think what might actually help is for an organized group of people to go out and tear down a house in the slums, or set fire to a pile of rubbish, or gather on a side street (socially distanced) and just use up all their excess energy jumping up and down, throwing things and swearing. I'm thinking of storing aboard a train or something! I'm mid-rehab for a TKR, so I can't run away. Best I can do is limp away!! Best wishes to you all!!

Stow away, not store, of course.

Thank you to lily pollen and Cs783 and all the other kind people out there for your wonderfully kind comments and my heart goes out to you, MaggsMcG for what you’ve been through - sending much sympathy. What a wonderful lot you all are. Now I’ve “ taken the plunge” it’s so good to know that you’re all out there and listening to each other.

The best thing I did when I retired was volunteer with the National Trust. I went to my nearest property and volunteered. I just do one day a week but you can do more and you get your travel expenses paid. It is interesting, great to get to know more about the property and impart this to visitors and you make like minded friends. Our property was not closed last year but the hours were reduced and lots of measures were taken re distancing etc. On other days I was able to meet and go for walks with friends who I met when volunteering. We are getting ready for the new season now and are hopeful the house will be open. Give it a try, nothing to lose.

I’m learning Spanish through DuoLingo free. I am also writing a short story to send to a National magazine, which I’m really enjoying. I bought some coloured chalks and a book on drawing and having a go at that.

However I completely understand your frustration. I am sick to death of avoiding others and not having the free life I did before Covid.

One day we will return to some normality but I have no idea when.

Netflixfan I totally agree with your frustrations! I just feel like chucking away the mask and saying to hell with it all!! I cancelled my gym membership when omicron raised it's ugly head, but after discussing with my husband who is a health and safety consultant in a big secondary school and does all their covid testing etc, I'm rejoining the gym with immediate effect as it is so vital to my mental and physical health. Husband's thinking is I'm fully (3) jabbed, I go during the day when it's not so busy and I'm in robust health - we have to get our lives back at some time!

Just another thought …. For those of you who live on your own, but don’t like walking on your own, there are now soooo many dogs in ‘rehoming’ centres. People who got dogs during the lockdowns and then discovered they couldn’t cope with them when they returned to work. It’s possible to foster, rather than adopt, so you could maybe ‘trial’ having a dog as a walking and house companion and see how you go? Might even want to adopt… Well done CD24 for taking up the ukulele - brilliant fun!

@SaraC I love that. With a dog you have to walk, rain or shine. So good for you!

I work part time,18 hours a week, three days, six hours a day and the other days I go to the gym so that’s three days work and three days at the gym. Keeps me relatively sane!

I do a weekly art class on zoom. Much more fun than face to face . Have a look #SueClaytonArts

We’re all in the same boat really,
Do you have a dog, nothing like the companionship and the amount of people you meet while out walking with your best friend .. might give you a whole new outlook on this the way it is now with covid
but still happy days can be ahead

Septimia

Could you join a walking group? I'm sure there must be some that just do gentle walks if you'd prefer that - or maybe you could start one.

There are several advantages to this - it's good for your mental and physical well-being, you'd meet people to chat to and, being outdoors, it's far safer with regard to Covid.

They could tackle rubbish on walks, too. Take bags and long armed grabbers to pick up rubbish. They'd feel better for having done something to tidy up their area, even if in vain for some messy prat to come and drop their litter again!

Me and my partner make up a flask and sarnies and just go walking. It really helps to be out doors. We visit national trust places or just local woodland walks etc. It really helps when so many other things are cancelled etc. Chin up things are going to get better