It's already depressing me

Thank you Gran, we may have to make other plans if the funeral is cancelled, so much worry.

My husband retired recently and I am retiring next week. We had planned to travel through France/Italy for a few months and were looking forward not to being tied to annual leave. Now it looks like we won’t be able to travel.

I’m feeling a bit upset and it’s taking the edge off looking forward to retirement but I’m trying to remain positive and reminding myself that there are people far worse off than me.

Short, interesting , online courses where you engage with others from all over the world are fantastic. No experience or qualifications required. Do as much as you want.
Try Futurelearn.
Also, the radio is great company.

There is always some one worse off than you well that's my thinking so l will get through this and maybe appreciate the little things in life much more Take care every one

We are in lock down here in Spain. All bars, restaurants, meeting places, beaches and non essential shops are closed. We are only allowed one person per household to go shopping. The supermarkets are regulating the number of people in the stores, one in one out. The people outside have to stand one metre apart. Payment is requested by card wherever possible. You are not permitted to go for a walk or bicycle ride. The police have the power to stop your car and request proof of your need to travel. Fines have been issued. If you own a dog you can take it out for a toilet break but then you must return home. There is talk of the lock down being extended.

It is going to be a very long two weeks but my goodness my house will be clean.

I’m never bored so isolation isn’t a problem there is a lot you can do I suggest downloading Pinterest app and finding lots of crafts you can try.

Or write the book you always meant to!

Billybob4491 Truly sorry to read your sad news, it must be an awful time for you. All our thoughts are with you.

Oh Billybob So sorry to hear of your loss. My heart goes out to you.

Billy Bob. My thoughts are with you. So sorry that you have to endure all this.

Billybob4491 that is terribly sad.
I hope you have support from someone.

Less stressful if you don't listen to or watch the news.

EVERYTHING is shut down in the state of Washington. All restaurants, theaters, hair salons, nail salons, fitness/gym places. We just canceled flying to Austin, Texas to celebrate our twin grandsons' 14th birthday. So sad.

Did last food shop today before resigning myself to staying in. Will miss my granddaughter like crazy but with hubbie diabetic and with heart problems I daren’t risk her passing anything on via school. So glad we have a garden to potter in and attic and garage full of junk to clear out so
will find things to do. Like all other posts we have had to cancel holidays and visit to son and family in Denmark (Denmark has closed borders) thank heavens for FaceTime and these forums. We’ll get through it together. Keep well and sane everyone

Billybob4491 - I have recently lost my OH too, but thankfully the funeral was able to go ahead. I can my imagine how you must be feeling.

Apparently the Berlin Philharmonic has put their concerts on line free of charge during this crisis, if you are feeling the lack of good music. www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/news

Thanks for the link, Maw

Flats or apartments for the 'over 55s' are the best things ever made for retirees. I agree it can look like you are imprisoned from the outside BUT there won't be any isolation here. The ladies and gents will still gather for their coffee morning, in the large communal lounge, quizzes, films, etc. No one is alone unless they choose to be. Lovely gardens to sit in if the weather gets warmer. There is never a dull moment here and far nicer than sitting lonely in a house with all your neighbours at work and no one to talk to. Oh yes and a good supply of hand gel

I'm sorry for those of you who think you'll be climbing the walls during your enforced isolation and hope that your worst fears don't come to pass.

From the end of August until January I was pretty much in isolation due to illness. My husband was working away until mid-December (unfortunate timing!), only returning home at weekends to wash, clean, shop and cook - and wait on me. Apart from medical people I saw hardly anybody else during that time; my family called me often, we FaceTimed and WhatsApped, but they rarely visited for fear of passing on an infection (pretty much like now). At Christmas time I got up and dressed and my only permitted contribution to the family gathering was that I made the gravy.

Because I was so ill I welcomed the rest and when I was able to I occupied myself with various entertainments, but the time passed and I got well. Then, when I was hardly back on my feet and only just eased back into work, I was felled by two infections one after the other. I finished my last lot of antibiotics less than a week ago and went into immediate isolation - not social distancing, the full monty.

So having missed September, October, November, December, half of January and most of February and March, you can imagine how much I relish being isolated for yet another four months. But, I do want to live a whole lot longer yet, so I shall find me a task or two and be grateful that I'm well enough to keep occupied while I'm cooped up.

Every night when I go.to.bed I.get stressed about boredom and having nothing to fill the.day. however.there is no.reason why we can't pack a picnic and head off into.the alps which we live near and have a picnic. Very isolated from.people but.so quiet and restful. I do say to.myself in.bed ok what will I do tomorrow. I plan to do one thing but I.can rest easy knowing I.have a plan.

Billybob Bless you. I can only begin to imagine what you are going through.

I’ve mentioned these before but I am a fan of Leslie Sansone indoor walking exercise videos available free on YouTube from 5 mins to over an hour. Also Pahla Bowers does great over 50s ones also on YouTube - I’m currently working my way through ‘weight loss for women over 50’ from her a 20 minute a day series. She does chatter a lot but actually has a lot of interesting stuff to say and is great fun. There are also seated worked available online, and ballet based movement which is mother and daughter doing very basic ballet exercises if you fancy a change. Lots to choose from don’t lose heart!

I do think we need to find a balance here.
If we feel vulnerable then exposing ourselves to infection in groups or clubs should be considered carefully, but while we still have around 10 million children plus teachers at school daily, I can't imagine a round of open air golf with a couple of chums is going to hurt.
Avalon has given great advice too, re taking up a new hobby you have always fancied but never had time for, and writing up your memories would be a marvellous thing for the GC.

You can go out for walks as long as you keep 6 feet away from others. You can also drive.

We are refitting the kitchen ourselves. It will probably take a whole year!

Good luck everyone. I don't want to say much more than that. When I think of all the people who are ill or died from this illness, isolation or social distancing seems the least of my worries.