It's already depressing me

For many it will be soul destroying. No health issues but in the dangerous age category. Had planned flying at start of Easter break with GD to collect GS (different families) then taking them to Longleat for an escorted behind the scenes in a land rover treat. Accommodation for 2 nights. All will have to be cancelled. At least airline is offering new flights with no alteration costs. Not heard from Longleat or accommodation about cancellations. This was organised as a Make a Memory for us all following DDs death last April. Just gutted, depressed already, never mind the 4 months of restrictions. Will go for walks as often as possible and get some decorating done, possibly.

I am 68 and I am await the first person to approach me in the street and say 'should you be out dear'. Ahhhhhhh. I am fit, love going for long walks and do not feel my age but the truth is to the younger generation once you get to 60 see you as ancient and in your dotage. One good thing I am not 'retiring' by nature and if I should be asked the question they will soon learn that us oldies still have a voice and I shall use it.

The Plumbers are here today for two weeks ripping out the old bathroom and replacing with a wet room plus installing a new boiler. The noise already can be heard down the road and 3 of them are running up and down stairs all the time! No water or heating at the moment and I already feel like a spare part as really can’t do anything. I feel like I’m in isolation already- this is going to be a very long two weeks and with what’s in the pipeline about self isolating not a lot to lift the spirits. I’m not 70 yet but have underlying health conditions as does DH. We cancelled going up to see our son next weekend who’d arranged a Mother’s Day meal for me but him and his wife are both in the travel industry and completely overwhelmed working long hours and weekends trying to help people get home from abroad etc so are absolutely shattered anyway

I usually ballroom dance but now it's too risky ..it's what keeps me well and sane. I am already getting more and more isolated .....but I will walk and do housework for exercise talk to friends online. Most important to me is that my children and grandchildren stay well. It will pass in a year or so ....or less

Thanks for this Minnow0

My husband is in his seventies and I have CFS/ME. I only get out of the house once a week or once a fortnight as it is. It will affect my husband much more. Fortunately he loves gardening and growing things. He also loves cooking. I think we’ll need to stock up on crossword books too ?

Apart from not having visitors it will be pretty much the same for me. I do need to rest a lot of the time but rarely get bored. I download books and magazines from the library - a great service. Chat on the phone and online to my family and friends. I love sewing but can only do it in short time stretches but love creating something.. I have also been knitting ventilator hats as my niece works in a neo natal unit. It has taken me a while to accept my new way of life...

Sorry didn’t mean it to be such a long post. It’s just a matter of adjusting our thinking - it’s much worse knowing we can’t go out even if we wanted to.

A lot of museums and art galleries are online now, so you can spend a few hours there.
parismuseescollections.paris.fr/en
www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

i'm 72 and have no intention of staying at home for months on end. the virus where i live is not rife so i'll continue to go out until it is.
i have appointments to go to so i'll continue to go to these. my daughter who works lives with me and her two grandaughters one of which goes to college. any of them could bring the virus home with them.
i've got to go out later and will visit at least one supermarket in a quest for loo roll as we're running out (as i suppose a vast number of people are thanks to the selfish people who have stockpiled).
so until i really have to it's business as usual for me.

I fear that it is inevitable that 4 months in isolation - if it comes - will take a significant toll on mental health. We're not designed to function like that as we're social animals, and being denied human contact will be hard to cope with. Yes, we can all try to maximise the diversional therapy, but that will only help up to a point, and then we will have to fall back on our reserves. Unfortunately, some people don't have much of a reserve available, and may already be struggling, without the added impact of this awful virus. Are the authorities already on to this, and do they have contingency plans to provide emotional support? I haven't seen anything along those lines, and suspect that there could be a major, widespread need in the 70-plus population in particular for such assistance. It's all very well to broadcast platitudes about a "blitz mentality" and how "pulling together" will get us through, but this isn't 1940 and society is very different now. Worrying times...

I am 81 and my husband is 87 but still fairly active.

I had 3 theatre trips booked for next month so am very disappointed that they will not be going ahead

Just hope we are able to keep safe and the country does not end up like Italy

We are in the position of being at the top,of the chain for moving. There are four in the chain and we don’t want to let everyone down. Unfortunately we lost one that we had bid for It looks as though we shall have to go into rented accommodation until something we like comes up. We are both in our early 80’s and extremely active, out walking every day, like plenty of fresh air and even if it means going out in the very early morning or late at night we will need to go out. Occasionally see folk and they all say the same as us, they will be going out sensibly whatever.

As a note of balance here, l live alone and have never been lonely. The thought of being isolated does not bother me one bit. I have stacks of books, plenty of decorating to do and l have a phone to chat to my friends.
Please don't think l am being insensitive, but what is so wrong with enjoying your own company? How can you be bored with all the books that are available, both on-line and in shops and libraries if they are still open?
I do feel sorry for people whose travel/entertainment plans etc that have been scuppered, and left feeling fed up with all the doom and gloom, and knowing you are unable to do a thing about it.
But as a small counter balance to the worry of loneliness, some of us just aren't.

We are all in the same boat and I for one would rather self isolate by working from home but no I have to go in. Which is scary because I have to be very caution if I want to see my elderly parents. I am single and on my own.
Gransnet is going to be a lifeline for alot or all of us. But please remember through this chat no one is alone and we are all going to suffer in one way or another.

Some great replies to my post. Thanks everyone.

A good free over 50 chat site is Buzz50. You can have serious discussions there or more light hearted chat. It is very well moderated.

I have plans to finish my patchwork quilt. I have sorted all sorts of dvds out....discovered my box set of The Good Life. I am clearing the sheltered cratch of my boat out so that I can sit there and sew and watch the water. I have a garden mooring so will spend time working on that and sitting out there in the shade of the willow tree. It will be ok. I am thinking positive. Positivity is important at this time. We will get through this.

Thanks grannyactivist I have joined silversurfers which should keep me occupied. I have just taken my first step to self isolation, I have had my acrylic nails removed. I couldn't stand to look at them growing out over the next 4- months

Yes, I have to agree with everyone, I am bored already. I live alone in a very small flat. I DO have a large park across the road and I could sit in the garden. I think we should start some kind of telephone arrangement between us, so we could maybe ring each other occasionally and that would keep us company, but not sure how we would arrange it....sorry.

Well we must wait until the Govt instructions are clearer. But I hope they will trust us to be responsible. For instance, I can't see how going for a walk early or late - not in the town centre - can be harmful.
I really worry about loneliness, also the loss of physical fitness.

Mat Hancock has retracted his silly edict. He meant social distancing not isolation for those over 70. So you can go out for a walk in the country just keep your distance. That I can handle. Not being able to walk for a couple of hours a day with my dogs would have been very harmful. I mean accepting help with dogs and shopping when you are ill is welcome but not because you have reached 70! What would Jeremy Corbyn and Prince Charles and Camilla done - mind you they have enough land....thank goodness it has been corrected.

I live on my own the the prospect of not seeing family for four months is horrific. Also my son works in the hospitality industry and thinks that his company will probably have to close as there is no work at the moment. Thee are many chores like sorting out the attic that I could do but not feeling very motivated at the moment. Difficult not to feel scared and depressed.

Hi I just read 70 will be find £1000 if they go out is this true or rumours.

Just taken a parcel in for my son where you have to sign with your fingernail! Groan! Yes I have washed my hands and sung Happy Birthday!

Quite frankly how is this going to be enforced? Prison, fines? We all have to know our own limitations but some of us at 70 are healthier than those in their 50s and 60s!

Thanks curvygran! Anyone for coffee?