Lockdown blues how are you avoiding it?

My sister and I are spending some of our pension money commissioning books to be written on our four lovely grandmas x 2 and great aunts x 2. This involves research, family conversations on zoom and discussions with Storyterrace and the authors.

I have just delivered the papers to one author - a single
work journey by car to a car park for distanced handover (papers in files in bags in box on wheels, masks, handsanitizeer etc.). And am now on finalizing the files for the next author.

I think we have become resigned to it, the first time it was terrifying, now yes running out of steam just about sums it up. Just hoping the vaccinations will make a difference.

Not wishing time away but I will be happy when Spring is here. I live on a narrow boat and am fed up of trudging through mud to get to my car. Off to get click and collect in a minute. Will bring all groceries back from car in my wagon. Difficult pulling it across muddy uneven ground.

Now that I've had my first dose of the vaccine, I can see - in the distance - an escape route opening up. But I'm not counting chickens!

I think the current situation affects us all in different ways and at different times,sometimes when we least expect it. I felt my worst the week before last,everything seemed so grim. I couldnt be bothered to do anything other than essential basics! Last week I avoided all live news and tv. I keep an eye on the headlines briefly once a day but dont see/ hear the endless speculation. It has made a massive difference to my wellbeing and motivation. I also think the slowly lengthening days are helping.

As it’s been difficult for me to get out for walks during the last three weeks, due to bad weather conditions and because I live on a hill, quite dangerous at times.
I’ve discovered that Y-Tube have many different VR walks, either in woods, or alongside a canal, or by the sea and even better in different cities around the world.
I can watch them on my iPad or my Occulus Go.
It’s really helped me not to feel so ‘locked in’.

marq66

Without the delight of trips to plan, it has felt quite grey. So I've taken up yoga for the first time in my life (at 67). thanks to Denman College (Women's institute) on line. No joining fee, £5 per session. So I wobble and groan, but my camera is off and we're all muted! I've also done some cookery sessions with them. It breaks up the week. With my husband I watch live streaming from Ronnie Scotts Jazz club Mon & Thurs, donation optional. It's great seeing these enthusiastic musicians delighting in playing. Podcasts are also great and come on a huge range of topics. I love Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell, two fascinating American journalists, despairing of the departing president! I have just started reading with my 6 year old grand daughter online via readeo.com. We are so lucky to have so much technology!

I can recommend Ben Holder Music on UTube. A very talented your man,. Miss his live sessions but he’s trying to entertain during these lock in days. Also just been pointed to Max Out in the Lake District which is very uplifting

Jigsaws, Joe Wicks, daily walks, writing letters, learning Italian, cooking, baking, book groups on zoom and now a co-opted town councillor so plenty learn. Listen to the radio, watch limited TV but hooked on junior bake off as the children are amazing. Want to hug/ see my daughter but she 100 mikes away so no go at the moment. Hanging on for vaccination. Some days I just chill !!

I feel I am really hitting a barrier. DD died April 2019. Hadn't got to grips with that when Covid kicked in. DH has cancer and is now on the end stage treatment for the disease . He has very little energy for going for a walk Was given 2 years but one of those has been used up with Covid restrictions. Discovered through research my GS has a learning disability. He is 10 and school has put his issues down to everything but a disability. All those years he has struggled and to get a formal, education department accepted assessment we may have to pay or wait months as waiting lists for any school funded assessments are huge. SIL (deceased DD's husband) is struggling with the isolation, he has a bubble of a friend but he doesn't want to impose on him and his family. I don't live near him. I can't remember when I had a night's sleep. I feel I should contact GP but I know if I am diagnosed as depressed my husband will feel he is a main part of the cause. I go into the garage get on the exercise bike and can just weep buckets at times. And some folk think it's terrible not to be able to go to a pub!

Like Lexisgranny and others who agreed with her, I've lost my mojo.
I've been on my own since this started and coped well until recently, but now have lost all oomph/motivation whatsoever. Have bouts of arthritis or gout or whatever which means that my feet hurt a lot and often my knees too so walking is a real struggle and so I haven't had much fresh air since well before Christmas, which I spent on my own.
I'm not a particularly sociable person, so can be very content being solitary, but I just can't get myself doing very much. I' m spending far too much time on the computer and/or watching TV.

EmilyHarburn

My sister and I are spending some of our pension money commissioning books to be written on our four lovely grandmas x 2 and great aunts x 2. This involves research, family conversations on zoom and discussions with Storyterrace and the authors.

I have just delivered the papers to one author - a single
work journey by car to a car park for distanced handover (papers in files in bags in box on wheels, masks, handsanitizeer etc.). And am now on finalizing the files for the next author.

Wow! How brilliant. How did you find the author?

4allweknow what a difficult time you’re going through, how sad your situation is for you and your family without COVID adding to the other problems you’re facing. I hope your husband is well enough to be vaccinated and that you are able to get out more by the spring. In the meantime try to look after yourself as well as everybody else.

4allweknow such a draining awful time for you

Some of us don't have gardens.I have noisy neighbour. Everything I do or try to enjoy all I can hear is her on loud speaker on her phone.I don't feel well enough to go out.

Anyone feeling down should try and reassess.
Through no fault of my own - I've worked, as required, shopped for groceries and walked my dogs for the last 10 months - I've just spent 10 days in hospital, 8 of those in ICU with a fairly bad case of Covid.
Anyone thinking of bending the rules because they're bored might want to consider not only their own health but that of everyone they intereact with.
The sooner we ALL think of each other the sooner this will be over.
Do you want to spend time in hospital? Not knowing whether you'll recover? Would you wish that on anyone else?

I'm struggling, feel like there's really no point in anything. I live in a house full of people but I'm lonely

I have maintained a routine to help me through this. I start the day with a walk if the weather is fine, followed by a leisurely bath. This is followed by some household chores, and cooking/baking/jam or chutney making. I phone friends regularly, speaking to someone different every day, and several of my friends enjoy a FaceTime chat too. I belong to the WI., and we have Zoom meetings, book club discussions, craft afternoons, and coffee mornings. On Facebook, there is a group called WI Wanderers, and by joining this group I am able to join other WIs up and down the country for their meetings and talks. I have a very full diary.
I have started a four week Spanish course - free on FutureLearn, and a four week Mandala drawing course - also free - on Eventbrite.
I am so thankful that I have my health and am doing my bit to remain so. I remain positive and cheerful.

I put dance music on and jig around the lounge. Reading is a great escape, a daily walk, trying new recipes out.Baking teacakes is a favourite.Facetiming friends and family.Making plans for the future.

January is always a long tedious month so for years we have remedied this by at least 2 weeks in Tenerife where we’ve enjoyed fabulous entertainment at Hole in the Wall Irish Bar. Since the beginning of lockdown the lovely owner/singer Fergal Flaherty has been online on Facebook providing brilliant entertainment for us all. There is a regular following who post messages & it’s a forum in itself. Couldn’t believe our luck when Dee Daniels, another great entertainer started to put on her own couple of hours as well. We’re now treated to a weeks entertainment instead of an annual fortnight.

I feel positive much of the time and the days seem to go so quickly. Much of what I do each day depends on how my back is when I get out of bed. On a good day will cycle 10 to 15 miles straight after breakfast, then its reclining on the bed time with a hotter bottle and a book for a short while. I will often bake, knit or do my jigsaw. At the moment I trying to knit a pair of mitts and line them with sheepskin so my hands will be warm when cycling. I can but try. We also tend to get a takeaway meal from our favourite cafe, just to support it and hope they stay in business. Also makes us feel near normal.

4allwe know Always feel supported on Gransnet and never alone.

4allweknow

I feel I am really hitting a barrier. DD died April 2019. Hadn't got to grips with that when Covid kicked in. DH has cancer and is now on the end stage treatment for the disease . He has very little energy for going for a walk Was given 2 years but one of those has been used up with Covid restrictions. Discovered through research my GS has a learning disability. He is 10 and school has put his issues down to everything but a disability. All those years he has struggled and to get a formal, education department accepted assessment we may have to pay or wait months as waiting lists for any school funded assessments are huge. SIL (deceased DD's husband) is struggling with the isolation, he has a bubble of a friend but he doesn't want to impose on him and his family. I don't live near him. I can't remember when I had a night's sleep. I feel I should contact GP but I know if I am diagnosed as depressed my husband will feel he is a main part of the cause. I go into the garage get on the exercise bike and can just weep buckets at times. And some folk think it's terrible not to be able to go to a pub!

Bloody hell, 4allweknow you definitely need help. I’m so very sad to hear how badly life is treating you. No one should have to cope with all you face, on their own. You should definitely speak to your Doctor - your DH would surely benefit too if you had more support. Make that a priority, please. You owe that to yourself and you must say how you feel because there is no shame in admitting it’s all got too much for you.

If you can, come back and let us know how you are, what you’ve been able to change. Grans are here to listen, any old time. Try the Good Morning thread, or Soop’s Kitchen. Always lovely people to speak to through the night on the Night Owl thread. Please don’t cry alone, that’s crazy - people do care.
Sending you a hug, and every good wish that you’ll find some small relief from all your pain at this awful time. ??‍♀️

I find that I go through up and down days. On down days I let it wash over me, acknowledge I am p*** off and then move on. On up days I keep busy in the house and walk or cycle outdoors every day that I can

I'm so sorry for all experiencing loss

What helps me is wrapping up warm and going in the garden to sit on my favorite bench in the sun. (I wear thermals and at least four layers and a hat for this) Also gardening and going for my hour's exercise walking outside and dancing at home to give myself good endorphins.

I take vitamins and gave up sugar apart from having a couple of squares of dark choc each day. On two days I'll have a glass of red wine for the antioxidants, but avoid other alcohol. Talking to friends and family helps as does keeping my hands busy. Hoping these things might help some of you and sending hugs.

Training a puppy! No time for anything else!