How has life changed?

[Toril]

Thanks, shopperholic, and six days after it I’m still waiting to receive my presents. I suppose the family could throw them at the front door if they go out shopping. Failing that, they can stick Christmas paper on them and give them to me in December.

 

[maymorganlondon]

Today is day 13 for me - working from home.

Essential purchases: Cadbury Creme Eggs and Haribo - I do buy "real" food too, honest!

Discovered that not going to supermarkets suits me fine. I have small local branches of Waitrose and M&S where I can get what I need without having queues and too many tense/hostile people around.

New vocabulary added to the "self-isolation" and "social distancing" are "retained" and "furloughed". I'm seeing a number of colleagues disappearing, while I carry on working. I'm glad, in a way, to be working still as it forces me into a formal routine.

I know of 2 confirmed cases of C-19 among my colleagues.

I've watched the gardeners where I live out doing their work in the flowerbeds and lawns - I'm very glad to see them, even from a distance... and highly amused by their meetings while social distancing.

 

[stratobuddy]

A bit morbid, but as my son lives abroad and my daughter is 100s miles away, I have been spending days arranging my funeral!

Not that I have anything wrong with me, but am in the process of finalising a will, setting up a funeral plan, and buying a plot in a cemetery.

Then all they will have to do is ring one number and everything will be taken care of, at no cost to them.

I am even discussing getting a tombstone made in advance, so it will be exactly what I want.

So that is "how life has changed". Should have done it many years ago, and it would have been much cheaper.

 

[Twilight]

A bit morbid, but as my son lives abroad and my daughter is 100s miles away, I have been spending days arranging my funeral!

Not that I have anything wrong with me, but am in the process of finalising a will, setting up a funeral plan, and buying a plot in a cemetery.

Then all they will have to do is ring one number and everything will be taken care of, at no cost to them.

I am even discussing getting a tombstone made in advance, so it will be exactly what I want.

So that is "how life has changed". Should have done it many years ago, and it would have been much cheaper.
[/QUOTE]
That's not being morbid, it's being organised. We had new wills & power of attorney drawn up two years ago. My funeral's been planned for years & my Mr T's told me what he wants. Having done all we can these arrangement don't have to be thought about again & we just carry on living in the moment.

 

[Twilight]

I've dithered about posting this but life changed for me this morning when I saw my neighbour's son run up their garden naked. He's 14 & the only thing he had with him was his phone. Having worked in a high school for years, & attended more e safety sessions that I can count, I know what he was doing. I'm still in a dilemma over what I should do but one thing's for certain I'll never sit by that window again when doing my hair.

 

[shopperholic]

I've dithered about posting this but life changed for me this morning when I saw my neighbour's son run up their garden naked. He's 14 & the only thing he had with him was his phone. Having worked in a high school for years, & attended more e safety sessions that I can count, I know what he was doing. I'm still in a dilemma over what I should do but one thing's for certain I'll never sit by that window again when doing my hair.

That is so worrying on so many levels, I can’t think what he was doing but the fact that a 14 year old was out in public naked is cause for concern. Do what your mind tells you to do T, I know you’ll do what you think is right xx

 

[Twilight]

That is so worrying on so many levels, I can’t think what he was doing but the fact that a 14 year old was out in public naked is cause for concern. Do what your mind tells you to do T, I know you’ll do what you think is right xx

Thank you Shopps ❤

 

[maymorganlondon]

19 days in. Last supermarket shop was on 20 March. I don't have a family, so I can get by on shopping at the small convenience branches of food retailers (mainly Waitrose as it's my nearest).

Working from home is going really well for me. Being very productive, although I do miss the office banter and socialising we used to have. We have a virtual coffee break every morning - although I've missed 2 out of 3 this week. We're also going to have a virtual pub once a week! Alcofrol optional.

Everyone seems to be making more of an effort to be sociable, in the only ways we can.

Normally I'm allergic to the telephone, but it's been getting a great workout in the past 4 weeks. Usually you text people and think "oh, I'll talk to them when I see them" but with that not an option, picking up the phone has been great for keeping in touch.

I know of 2 people who have actually been tested and confirmed to have had C-19, and two who had milder symptoms and have not been tested.

I can't say I've been getting on with lots of projects, as I keep seeing things I could be doing, but then not doing them

I'm also not really eating the best, as I'm trying to go as long as I can between trips - so fresh fruit and veg tend to be only for the few days after my food shop.

I'm also not always getting out to exercise. Going to make an exception today though and go for a decent length walk.

I'm still sleeping really well compared with normal, and being disciplined about not working too long into the evening - especially as I'm starting work much earlier now.

I watched the Queen's speech at the weekend, and was moved by it, especially the We will meet again sign off. I've done both weekly claps so far, and felt moved by that too...

Life is definitely moving at a slower pace, and I think that could well be why I'm sleeping better.

How is it going for you now, when we are into officially our 3rd week of lockdown?

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

Where I live people keep very much to themselves (I have neighbours I know virtually nothing about except the car they drive as them driving past is the only time I see them) but I have to say that rather than just a quick wave people have taken the time to stop and chat albeit about the lockdown which will get a bit repetitive in another couple of weeks!

There is a lady in a wheelchair down the road. I would have spoken to her husband as he was a classic car guy and was usually polishing them but never to his wife. He died last year and in the past couple of weeks she has taken to sitting at her door so we have had a chat if we are out walking. She said to me today that she had looked out for me yesterday but I wasn’t out as I was painting my fence.

I am in furlough from work so absolutely no contact - I could be living or dead for all they know (or care)!

 

[Twilight]

This may bite me on the bum but I'm enjoying myself, I have no control over what's happening so have decided to live in a bubble. I love gardening & enjoy housework so I'm doing loads of both. I've painted the kitchen, organised thousands of photos, started reading the Sandro Cellini novels, put up a shelf &, after watching several YouTube tutorials, cut my Mr T's hair. I've written previously that I've had to stop thinking about what might be going on elsewhere & I've had to do the same about the days I usually look after our granddaughter. The thing that's surprised me is that I haven't missed anyone, other than our daughters & grandchildren, & it's been nice not having to listen to so much "He said, she said", of course they may well feel the same about me but I'm not that bothered. In addition we have a happy cat, he's always been nervous & so the lack of visitors is his idea of bliss

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

About 18 months ago I reduced to 2 days a week fearing a full 7 days a week at home would drive me around the bend as there is only so much housework to do or in my case want to do. It worked well but I knew full retirement would come eventually and sort of dreaded it.
However I’m not finding it as bad as I expected considering we are virtually under house arrest, and under normal circumstances would be able to get out and about so I’m using this as a dry run! Mind you I find that Mr L and I are being extra careful not to start a row over daft things as it would be pretty awful not being able to clear the air cooped up and I’m sure that under normal circumstances it wouldn’t be as civilised as this.

 

[Toril]

Life is pretty much the same as I’m retired and so am used to occupying myself during the day, rather than working. The only difference is that I can no longer go out for lunch with friends, grab a coffee with them, or neighbours, or just dive into the car to go out wherever I fancy. Instead I now have coffee and a good old natter with friends on FaceTime.

I am a very sociable person but also don’t mind my own company and can always keep myself busy, but it will be fantastic to see family and friends in person again when all of this is over. And of course, I’ll be able to spend time with my partner again. We’re in daily (and usually lengthy) contact, but that’s not the same as spending time together although, after being together for 17 years, we’ll survive.

 

[GenieDi]

I remember hearing of a lady who had a birthday during the winter and all her life the weather didn’t make parties easy so when she got to a certain age she announced that she would celebrate in June and since then has had BBQs, picnics etc and has enjoyed every one of them.

I like that idea. Mine is next month and I reach the massive age of 60!! Cannot get over that one!! My idea this year - as I haven't had any kind of holiday or break for at least 15 years - was to go for a weekend to the Isle of Wight and visit Osborne House again. I've only been once before and that was likely 20 years back and couldn't really look around as I would have liked with children there as well. So my so called 2020 being "my year" has failed miserably. We don't do much usually for birthdays or Christmas, being just us 2 and Loki. I've been on my own since my divorce 14 years ago. Now it will likely be lunch with a couple of local friends nearby. xx

 

[maymorganlondon]

Even when the lockdown was eased, life didn't go back to anything remotely normal. I have been back into my office probably less than 5 times across as many months
I've moved my home office setup from the back of my living room to the bay window to get as much natural daylight as possible.
My hair is longer, and I've changed to a lighter hair colour.
I rarely go anywhere other than the supermarket or my chiropractor.
I check the bbc website for any news reports, but I've completely stopped watching news on the telly. I want to be entertained rather than infuriated or depressed!
I decluttered loads of stuff which hasn't left my house yet.
My washable face mask collection has grown. I try not to side-eye those wearing under-jaw masks or no masks at all and just give them a wide berth.
I still forget about social distancing.

 

[Twilight]

I've just looked at my previous post, I didn't get bitten on the bum I got side swiped. Six months on from that post one of my closest friends lost her husband & I lost a relative because the NHS became the CHS & decided to ignore all other health concerns, my older daughter & SiL have kept their children away from all relatives & friends meaning that I haven't met our youngest grandchild & my Mr T has only seen the top of her head from a distance of 2 metres & my weight has plunged to 8 stones 11 pounds which is ridiculous. Looking on the positive side I have a garden that rivals any at Chelsea Flower Show, have discovered many new books & writers & have had wonderful support from the members of this forum ❤

 

[Toril]

Unfortunately I think this way of life is going to be the new “normal” well into next year. The main difference for me, apart from not being able to see my partner because his area is in a local lockdown , is that I now only go out if I have to as donning a mask and all the copious hand washing that accompanies my return home is such a faff. Even getting mail means more hand washing and spraying the surfaces with anti viral spray .... ditto with packages. I always observe social distancing and my neighbours and I are getting very adept at conducting conversations at a 2+ metre distance.

The only good thing about it, if there is anything good about it, is that my bank balance is looking pretty healthy, which is nice with Christmas fast approaching, as I’m no longer spending money on petrol for the weekly trips to Yorkshire to see him that I used to take, although I’d give anything to be doing that again.

Still they do say that patience is a virtue ......

 

[Twilight]

Toril you used my favourite word to describe 2020 - faff. I absolutely, completely & utterly detest FAFF.
As for patience being a virtue I always think of the rhyme by Dick King-Smith:
'Patience is a virtue,
Virtue is a grace,
Grace was a little girl who would not wash her face'

I'm sick of being told off by unelected scientific boffins so have a great deal of sympathy for Grace who obviously doesn't want to conform.

 

[Vienna]

I live in the NW and according to the press we`re in for further restrictions. Boris is supposedly spelling it out today or at least trying to spell it out. Am i the only person who shouts at the telly telling him to get on it with it man and stop waffling ?

 

[Toril]

Am i the only person who shouts at the telly telling him to get on it with it man and stop waffling ?

No, you’re not. He needs to be more decisive as it always seems that he’s more keen on trying to please everyone than he is to try to halt this current outbreak. This virus doesn’t differentiate and most intelligent people know what should be done. I’m in a low risk area (at the moment) but think that the track and trace initiative should have been sorted out in March. It’s now become farcical as it has so many blips and I’m certainly not going to download the app.

Even with the new three tier system, what’s the betting that it will still be as clear as mud. It was also great (not) to see people out and about over the weekend, trying to cram in their possible last social activity for a while, not wearing masks and not observing social distancing. And they wonder why the rate of infection has increased.

 

[maymorganlondon]

My hair is officially the longest it has been in about 30 years...and I like it!
I have become a mask collector and connoisseur. I definitely have favourites and ones to be avoided.
My eyesight has improved.
I start work earlier routinely.
I'm more up to date with my housework and laundry.
I cook more.
My weight has increased considerably, however I have the time to do something about it.
I've joined the growing ranks of the partially vaccinated.
I've learned how to facetime, though I'm hesitant about zoom.
I never thought this would all last for so long!
So many changes have happened. High Street brands that have disappeared, never to return...
The hero we never knew we needed has raised nearly £40 million (with gift aid), been knighted, and sadly passed from the cruel disease that brought him to the world's attention. RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Covid totally stole Brexit's thunder, which was a bit of a bright spot.
As we crawl back towards a normality we may still remember, there's going to be one hell of a reckoning.