Thinking of going out

I go out to Waitrose or the Garden Centre about once a week. I go when I think it will be the quietest with my well fitting, daily laundered mask and hand gel in my bag and the car. I did this even before having the vaccine four weeks ago. I wont be going to a large shopping centre when they reopen although I am longing to go and buy some new clothes I shall pick my moment in some of the small local stores. The one I have in mind only allows 2 customers in the shop at a time.

The advice is to wait three weeks after the second vaccine before going "back to normal." And even then to continue mask-wearing and social distancing.

Of course you can go out. Wear a mask indoors in shops but go for a nice walk every day & get some fresh air- I go out every day -just round the roads near me. I have found that perfect strangers are saying a cheery Good Morning & everyone seems happier than usual- I think it is the fact they are out & about.
On a lovely day like this it is a real tonic.

So far I have done nothing different to usual ....gone out to shop, seen friends in my bubble .....travel on the Metro, the bus and the train (train only if I carry something to say I have to travel by train, and what for).....M & S food halls where I live even have CLOTHES and other goodies to browse, on the same floor. Lovely to walk around the city when it is so quiet, but I am sorely missing theatres, concerts, travel ....all booked from 2019 and early 2020 ....now re booked (but likely to be cancelled) for this year ....as soon as I can, I am OFF travelling on a plane (did go to Rhodes last September in between lockdowns.....and Amsterdam, where life was almost normal) ...I;m not gonna live in Silence, I;m not gonna live in fear ...oh ...(words from Labi Siffre) and if I die my funeral is paid for and my Will is made. and for all of those who say this is a selfish attitude, then never forget someone else must have had the same attitude which would probably be how I would catch anything anyway !!!! Shame I cannot travel abroad until after my second dose in May ...........desperate also for a hair cut ! Still going to hospital and GP surgery for necessary things ......makes a day trip there and back !

I had my vaccine a month ago and had been toying with a brief visit to a shop next week for the first time after a year of shielding. Bizarrely I was really looking forward to it but then an NHS letter arrived this morning reminding me I am still at high risk and to stay at home except for short period of exercise. Feeling like the kid not invited to the party

It is purely your devision. If you don’t feel comfortable, just take small steps - don’t go everywhere on day 1.

Go for it!! Just be careful, I am clinically vulnerable, have had one jab so have a bit of immunity, I couldn't resist the chance when DH was giving the car a run but calling in B & Q for gardening stuff. Next doo - Aldi! I felt so exhilarated, I' m sure it did me good!!

Some of us have had to go out almost throughout. My DH has been back at work since last June. Now 70 he retires on 1 April. We have had to take DGD, aged 6 to school during June/ July then the Autumn term in 2020 and now from 8 March.
For some people, their daily routine has been little changed other than restrictions preventing them from socialising.
Yes we do need to get back to normal but for many of us getting our confidence back will be challenging.

Still no vaccine for me yet, but I go out to supermarket at 8am weekdays and they are quiet. As long as you sanitise your trolley, etc you should be fine. I didn't go near any 1st lockdown, but hated having to ask people to get me things so this time I put on my big girl pants and went myself lol. Once I got over the first couple of nervous trips I was ok.

I am classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable but I have had my first vaccine and did pop out early last Friday and again yesterday morning at 8am. Both times it was not busy and yesterday was even quieter than Friday. I do not need to go to that shop again for a while. This morning I popped to Aldi. It was very quiet. I wear a mask and gloves and wash my hands probably far too much when I get in and certainly make sure I keep my distance. Now that I am stocked up with the things I like I shall stay in for a while. It was just lovely to get out.

I went out to Pets at Home yesterday to take my dog for a groom. It was fine. The store and salon were very well organised. I wore my mask and used hand sanitiser.

I've continued to use Supermarkets and Public Transport since the first Lockdown - complete with mask (with one of those disposable carbon filter liners inside).

I also carry a small spray-bottle of Dettol (for spraying on trolley handles / bus handrails etc) and my hand-bag size bottle of hand-gel.

I avoid the crowded areas - just go back again a few minutes later, when the crowd has cleared.

Like others have said, I also get myself a cup of coffee and sit (solo, like Billy-no-mates) on a bench to enjoy it in the sunshine. I use a walking stick and shopper/walker, so IF challenged, I can honestly say that I needed a sit down as my legs won't carry me any further without a rest.

My DH is ECV, which is why we are shielding. I do walk the dog daily and that's it. Such a lovely day, may go to the garden centre this afternoon. Thanks for the responses, interesting to hear different views.

Cant wait for a bit more normality. Will be glad when masks go hate them
We managed a holiday last year and ate out a few times certainly went out when we were allowed to
Have a uk holiday booked for half term in May taking our children and grandchildren this was cancelled last year. Hopefully this time it can go ahead.
Certainly dont intend to stay in longer than absolutely necessary.

Please remember that the infection is still spreading. My mother, 92, lives in a nursing home. This week they have 5 new infections among residents and 3 among staff, yet have been in lockdown since before Christmas.

I've been out daily throughout LD. Simply keep my space and wear mask when required. Like everyone else, I simply miss up close and comfortable. I will watch friends' reaction and accommodate any of their foibles when we gradually get back together. Joy will return........

I went shopping today for the first time since December, I arrived at 8am as they opened and there were 3 customers it was lovely. Scooted round got everything I needed and was out in 15 minutes and there were still only 6 customers wandering round.

I was very wary and nervous but it was fine, kept to the guidelines and am happy I did it. But still doing click and collect tomorrow?.

I think you’ve all been very lucky to be so active and escape the virus. We have friends who have not left their house for a year apart from one of them goes for a daily walk at 5 a.m. in the morning. He won’t go any later because it gets a bit busier. They have all food etc delivered. They still managed to catch COVID and have no idea how! Luckily they were both ok despite being clinically vulnerable.

Oh Daisymae, you’re just like us. We haven’t been out of the garden centres or shops for over a year now! And no, we’re not shielding. Just very careful not to become infected or spread the disease to others. However, yesterday we took the bull by the horns, the car out of its hibernation and went to a garden centre and M and S food hall. Strangely it wasn’t as exciting as I’d imagined.

I go anywhere i can that’s open. I’m not lowering my immune system for anyone.

Menopauselbitch

I go anywhere i can that’s open. I’m not lowering my immune system for anyone.

I did wonder if we are going to catch everything going about once June gets here
Hopefully when June gets here all restrictions are due to be lifted
There will be cases of coronavirus it’s not going any wear like the flu and the common cold but hopefully the vaccine will do it’s job and stop the death rate being so high
My son is in our bubble and he has his children regularly who have been in full time education and I have still seen them and my granddaughter who I have once a week
My husband is still working and his office is in our house with staff coming in when unable to work from home
I haven’t been to the supermarket since last March but nip round the corner shop on occasions
But life is going to return to normal and we are just going to have to get on with it.

Baffled as to how some people have interpreted “stay at home” as going to the shops every single day?
I guess this why the virus has continued to spread for over a year?

Right now I’d like some time in
At the start of the first lockdown a friends gardener said he was too worried to come and do her garden. So would I do it. That carried on until winter started.
She told a friend, and that friend told a friend. So about 3 weeks ago they all wanted their gardens tidied up and pruned. Have my own garden to do and my diy projects.
Still, saves me exercising ?

CleoPanda

Baffled as to how some people have interpreted “stay at home” as going to the shops every single day?
I guess this why the virus has continued to spread for over a year?

I doubt going to the shops has prolonged the virus loads of people are still out at work everyday staying home is not an option for many
Also the most likely place to catch coronavirus is within hospital which is a bit worrying

rosie1959

CleoPanda

Baffled as to how some people have interpreted “stay at home” as going to the shops every single day?
I guess this why the virus has continued to spread for over a year?

I doubt going to the shops has prolonged the virus loads of people are still out at work everyday staying home is not an option for many
Also the most likely place to catch coronavirus is within hospital which is a bit worrying

Yes you are right rosie1959 that's where my husband caught it and died from it. In our local hospital. He was negative when he went in and negative at least once if not twice whilst in there. Still got it. I'm not sure their isolation and protocols were strong enough. I'm waiting for the adverts on the TV about "Did your loved one catch COVID-19 in hospital? Claim compensation now?" I am really angry as we kept him safe for almost a year.