My husband and I went out on tuesday for the first time in sixteen weeks. We took a picnic and drove out to a beautiful secluded spot in the countryside overlooking fields of sheep and lambs and the coast spread out in the distance below. It was beautiful and I felt very emotional. The only people we saw were a few walkers in the distance. I was definitely nervous beforehand but once I was out there I felt amazingly liberated. We took everything with us to sanitize and keep us safe, sprays, wipes, gels, gloves, masks etc. We sat on a bench that we could have performed open heart surgery on after all the cleaning we did. It has certainly raised our spirits and brought us a sense of normality if only for a couple of hours. Looking forward to the next trip. x
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Sheila_G
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That sounds wonderful, I hope that you're planning your next expedition now. We walk out dog every day driving out to secluded rural spot where we are almost no one and can easily avoid them. It does my emotional health no end of good.
Bet it felt great! It sounds like you both had a wonderful day out. I think we took a lot of our freedom for granted until the lockdown and now we’re getting that sense of Freedom!!!! when we take a little trip out of our doorstep. Enjoy your next adventure! 🤗X
We were only out for two hours and 1 hour of that was driving but it was bliss. Will be treading very carefully. You are welcome to tag along if you are at least 10 feet behind us. 😂I have never gone along with 2 metres. Far too close for my liking. A sneeze goes further than that. x
Haha - don't worry - I plod along so slowly that I will probably be at least half a mile behind you at all times.😁😁 I'm used to going along at my own speed and walking alone. With one of my friend's in particular, I don't think I've walked alongside her since about 1984!!😁😁 Still, at least she doesn't stand there huffing any more while she waits for me like when we were teenagers! Nowadays they try to get me in my wheelchair if we go for a day out - they can keep me under control then - and as they point out, it gives them something to hang shopping bags on, so really I'm doing them a favour .......😉😆
Seriously though, you are quite right to be cautious and I hope you enjoy many more safe days out 😊
So pleased to hear this uplifting news and am glad that you felt so liberated and were able to enjoy your first venture out again. I hope there will be more to come! Little steps I feel in getting our confidence back. It's Ok for those who are healthy and well, but for those of us who have been shielding away or having to make drastic changes to our life and living, we are returning to some sense of semblance at a slower and more cautionary pace. So here's to the next visit out, take care and pleased that has given a much needed boost to your wellbeing. x
Thank you Pippy. You are absolutely right about confidence. I don't like to admit it to most people because they wouldn't understand. We only drove about 10 miles, down roads we have driven literally hundreds of times and to a place we love and know so well but l felt like I was going to the gallows. I was so nervous. No confidence at all. Thankfully, once I was out my nerves started to disappear and I felt much better. There are lots of people with mental health issues because of this horrible virus and I can understand why. We soon become institutionalised and it takes a lot longer to come out of it than get into it. I so hope everyone manages to get out soon. x
I totally agree, I don't think we realise how much of an impact it has had (for some) until we do start to venture out. I unfortunately had to go to the bank yesterday, something I would normally just have taken for granted but it became a logistical experience and one which I wont be repeating again for some time if I'm honest. I found the attitude of the staff less than satisfactory and found myself crying in the car after it. Being told to 'back off' because I and others couldn't see a sign as to where we should stand and then fumbling for my card as my glasses steamed up with my mask on didn't help. Stupid I know, but for me it was a big effort and despite me apologising for being slow and that I'd been shielding I was greeted with 'well we are all in the same boat' which was not helpful to me what so ever. So I think enjoy visits out like yours to places of beauty and that energise us, give us confidence and leave (unless it is necessary which sadly that was) trips to banks, supermarkets etc until we feel ready or safe to do so. It warmed my heart to hear of your visit out to a familiar place which holds tranquillity and beauty. A little kindness, empathy and understanding goes a long way and more so for those of us who have been 'shut away' from our communities for so long and are doing our best to become part of it again. xx
Oh that was awful. I don't understand the attitude of some people. Like you say it is hard enough for us without being spoken to in that manner. I can't see me ever going in a shop again. In fact any building is a no no. The reason we were only out for 2 hours is the toilet situation. I hate public toilets anyway, always have but I won't be venturing so far that I can't get home to use my own loo. x
It's funny really, my first drive out I felt that while nothing appeared to have changed, I felt I had in respect of as you say buildings....I looked at the shops I drove past and that's how I described them as buildings and my feelings towards them have changed. So like you I think going somewhere as relaxing and beautiful is far better for our health and wellbeing right now and am so glad you got there x
My friends have 3000 sheep and lambs on their marsh. I walk across there regularly with my friend and its lovely, the closest person would be in Essex the other side of the river Thames. Living here isolation is not real a problem and I feel privileged to live in the country yet so close to London. I know it sounds silly but I've been watching Call the Midwife, and gosh its made me think being born in the 50's how very lucky I was to grow up in the countryside, home grown food and a bathroom. I remember the first telephone we had and mum shopped and cooked every day. How did the End Enders survive such conditions which in reality were in living memory for people like my mum.
That sounds bliss so glad you enjoyed it and such lovely scenery too.
I've been in 16 weeks apart from taking the car out twice without getting out of it, and today was to be my first trip where I would get out of the car. I intended trying the local garden centre as it is all outside and extremely well thought out for visitors. I had mask, scarf, gloves, sanitiser, wipes, sunglasses, credit card ready in my pocket, and guess what the car wouldn't start. I had to call the AA! Anyway it all took time, so I'm going to try again tomorrow, daren't go Sat or Sun too busy.
I know what you mean about mental health and confidence, I need to get out.
Anyway, I hope your next trip is as enjoyable and I'm so glad your confidence is returning. x
Oh no. Well you weren't meant to go then. I hope when you do go out it is,a positive experience for you. I was only out of the car for 5 mins. It was really cold up there. Just having different scenery to look at was amazing. x
I love it when hubby drives me out I have windows down and face out like a dog with a big beam on the face!
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