Is it just me?

I have just made my second 10 minute walk to the postbox since the middle of March. I wonder whether I shall ever feel confident to use a bus or taxi again. I’m coping and content but missing my children and their children who live 100 miles away.

I know what you mean maw B. I live alone and my social life used to consist of going out to groups and activities with much travelling to visit close friends and family, all of whom live over 100 miles away and so my social life now depends on technology. I live in a flat and in former times would simply decamp to one of the local parks to enjoy fine weather, but they are now so crowded that I stopped doing that.

It does feel a bit them and us but on the other hand I have plenty of like minded friends who prefer to truck on as before and who think the lockdown has been eased too early. I'm not sheilding but I am 71. All my shopping has been delivered.

A friend who has a lovely garden has declined to invite friends who suggested they should come to see her. She said to me that this is analagous to a sexual disease in that if when you start to sleep with someone you are effectively sleeping with everyone they have ever slept with, when you meet someone now you risk coming into contact with all the other people they have met.

I feel quite content having decided to just carry on as before and hope that those breaking out of lockdown stay safe.

mawB i saw my daughter for an hour this morning for the first time. I felt nothing but apprehension prior to this and to be honest was glad to get in my car and come home. Although it was lovely to see her it felt so unnatural, no hugging or kissing, me with my own bottle of water, her wearing a mask 'just in case mum' chairs set out in the garden at required distance and her telling me not to touch the garden gate and of course no using the Loo!!!! I don't think this will be happening again for quite a while. I feel safer on the phone or texting her. Originally we were going to go for a walk, but as such a nice day felt it would mean encountering lots of others with the same idea.

dragonfly Your comment about big girl's knickers made me chuckle and reminded me that another advantage of lockdown is that I can wear what I want - at least from the waist down because on Zoom people only see what I'm wearing on the top half.

Fair comment!
I haven’t seen any of the family since mid-March but in a funny way I have seen more of the two youngest grandchildren as youngest DD FaceTimes me every day somthat I can say hello to Otis, now 14 months and so that he recognises me and middle DD likewise so that I can read Flynn (4) a granny bedtime story, (having learned to turn the iPad camera round to show the pictures while I peer round it to read the words! ) So in a funny way I have seen more of them than ever!
Not a lot to complain about really. I think it was reading the GM thread where people seemed to be heading off hither and thither that made me feel left behind!

I don’t think many of us are heading off to hither and thither Maw. We’re all in much the same boat, except those of us with partners at least have someone to talk to during this difficult time. I’ll be glad to see my 92 year old mother tomorrow, but it’ll be difficult to not hug and kiss her.

We still need to be usimg social distance and mass in crowded places.I went to Doverdale last week early found a space were could keep social distancing

In some ways the lockdown was a chance to slow down and reflect and it felt more peaceful generally ..a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you are a quieter sort of person this slower pace of life is definitely more preferable but of course the threat of the virus is never far from your mind. It does feel now as if there are people having mass gatherings and bbq’s in every garden! and if your family circle is very small this is amplified

My mum, for whom I am full time carer, is in the very vulnerable category, so I will not be easing my own, personal lockdown any time soon.

Maybe yes I can see exactly where you are coming from. I think there was a strong sense of all being in it together and although not everywhere a strong sense of community. I think a nice by product of the weekly clap was seeing neighbours,a distance chat etc which very important to those living alone. I have a friend who is widowed and who was happily attending MeetUp groups for coffee etc or going to the cinema and of course that has all disappeared and she is feeling quite lonely at times. I also heard people express concern that as people return to work a lot of volunteers may also disappear. I live on my own but on the whole am happy with my own company. I must admit though that at the weekend a friend suggested a distanced meet up at her house for the 6 of us. For various reasons we decided not to. I love my friends dearly and I'm sure it is reciprocated but as I am high risk and they are not it did occur to me that in the future there maybe quite a few occasions I might miss out on.
Certainly at moment I think maybe the next month will be a time of wait and see and continuing to be sensible!

Hoping to see DD in the garden this afternoon, first time for 10 weeks but other than that no desire to go rushing off anywhere. That 'all in it together' feeling has certainly slipped away and I think the age divide is becoming apparent. We were both used to going to clubs and out and about but I just can't picture it at present. We are going to have to arrange our own lockdowns now. I am pleased with the amount of technology I've got to grips with and yes there has been a lot more on line contact.

I know what you mean Maw. We have both had the virus started on March 15th. I recovered in around a month DH still feeling the effects ( he has immune/lung issues prior to contracting virus) it’s been peaceful and given us time for recovery. Family have stood on drive and waved and brought us treats which has been lovely. I’m a little apprehensive now about going out for the first time. We’ve had delivery slots for food deliveries and newspapers delivered, ordered plants on line for delivery too. Think self isolating suits us in a way! Chin up Maw you are always a source of strength to quite a few of us❤️

Ok I am not yet 70 (not quite- another 3 weeks!) but I have been going out all the time. I have had a daily walk & taken car to shops at least twice a week. I have shopped for neighbours & friends who were too nervous to go out so have been to all the local supermarkets every week.
I am not nervous about it. I take sensible precautions although I have never worn a mask ( I do have one in my bag but everyone is very good about distancing in shops round here).
I have never felt uneasy at all.
However seeing those morons climbing at Durdle Door yesterday & the mess left in London parks by the crowds who flocked to them & left all their rubbish behind makes me so cross. Does it not occur to them that someone has to pick it all up! I despair at times. Even my youngest DGC knows that if we picnic while out we take all our rubbish home.
It makes me wonder what their houses are like inside!

totally agree with PARKY

I agree with Parky. We are all different and some people need to be more careful than others. I also agree with craftycat I get very annoyed at the idiocy of some. Overall I think it is easy to think everyone is out there having a great time, but it is just what you see on the news, there are a lot of people like yourself. I go out to exercise and shop and have had tea in a friend's garden (6' apart) and saw my granchildren yesterday. I feel it is important for my mental health to get some face to face contact.

I feel we of the "mature generation" consider others generally, and as this virus is due to be around for a long time, we are sensible to keep distancing, washing hands and hand sanitizing often, as we do now. And point out to people not distancing, for example in shops, politely to keep a distance.

I have lived alone for the last 14 years and had more or less made a new life after loosing my husband and moving near daughter. However the lockdown hit me quite hard as I am high risk even though daughter doing shopping and having meet up on line once a week with rest of family. Eldest daughter is lead nurse specialist of renal unit and is on front line but she still rings up on regular basis about washing hands etc Tomorrow for first time I am meeting two friends in local park but keeping distance. Really looking forward to that.

Your feelings are well founded. All you described has from what I have seen has been going on before easing of restrictions. The roads have been used as race tracks by many. Only on Saturday did I encounter 3 cars obviously racing one another and I have witnessed visitors in gardens sitting under sun umbrellas in gardens having coffees etc. hardly a foot between them. Childmibders next door is the worst- all the parents having a seat and chat. They must be key workers, think they would have more concern. I watched the series on Dunkirk last week, happened on The Railway Man film and am utterly disgusted at the behaviour being displayed in this country. So so selfish.

I’m still staying in apart from walks and like today a trip to the pharmacy. I just don’t feel comfortable in crowds.
But it is up to the individual and if you feel comfortable with whatever you are doing then that’s ok.
In some ways this enforced lock down was very comfortable and cozy and I have certainly got used to it.
I’m looking forward to my husband playing golf seems he’s starting to veer between manic and sloth like. It’s doing my head in. He needs to be out and about.

The biggest problem I see is that parts of the country are still high risk. It seems as if the South of England is over the worst whereas the North of England and Scotland are still in the danger zone. I also cannot understand letting 4-6 year olds back to school where there is no way they can social distance nor would we want them to. They may be less likely to be seriously ill from Corvid 19 BUT they are like little carrier pigeons spreading all sorts so could be puting all teaching staff, cleaners etc in danger. There is always an increase in various germs and viruses at the start term with snotty noses, coughs and colds which staff usually end up with too. Apart from all the above little ones need someone to take them to school so parents will have to stand 2m away from each other and I know a great many children are taken and picked up by grandparents but they also have to be 2m away with no hugs etc. Let common sense prevail. It is only 3 or so months out of our lives but at least we may have a life at the end of it all. I could go on and on but rant over.

As I have a blood condition I have been staying home, I walk my dog and as I live in a village it is very quiet and easy to avoid people. I will not be going out until I feel it is safer, at the moment I think it is all too soon.

I am not going anywhere. I feel safe at home. As my daughter said this morning...you may do everything right but others don't. So I will stay hone other than collecting my cluck and collect order.

Is the past few months of life with Covid worse than life during 39-45..

I agree that people must make their own risk assessments but they should still consider others. Even if they don't have the virus they can still be carriers and I don't want to be standing next to them. Of course there are some people who have ignored the advice right from day one - I thought they were foolish, now I just think they are ignorant.

I’m not going to any social gatherings I am seeing daughters and their babies and some relatives forced themselves on us yesterday just for a coffee in the garden but stayed over 2 hours? my family understand with the babies we don’t want to take any risks so will stick to that for now.
TBH I’m quite content chatting in a queue and weekly FaceTime quiz and don’t need friends or wider family calling in and all the extra work involved with cleaning and bleaching everything!