I've been in strict lockdown for about six weeks (apart from strolls in the park for 15 minutes when there are very few people around).
I decided today I would do 'essential shopping' myself. Out comes my scooter, I go to the bank, butchers, bakers - all together about 40 minutes (one in one out)! Back home I struggled to lift, entered the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. That happened 1 1/2 hrs ago. I am knackered!!!
The moral of this story - just don't believe getting "back to normal" is going to be a doddle. Obviously things don't 'work' as we expected them to.
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Constance13
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I think everything is going to take longer to do - as you say one in, one out - and be more stressful wondering if everybody is okay and/or socially distancing!
I’m not in shielding group and go out most days around the village for a walk - but must admit I’m in not in any hurry to go shopping again - quite happy with online!
I’ll wait until it’s safe to have a cup of coffee and meet friends.
It's not just the physical strain but the mental strain. Keep resting! 🥵😁
Bless you. I know how you feel. It makes you feel institutionalised being at home for so long then all of a sudden you are out in the big wide world it’s quite a shock. Think you did was too much. Take it easy next time maybe go to one place then come home. Take care
Bet your husband isn’t speaking from experience, believe me I’ve done it some many times. I get so caught up in what I want to do and forget that I’m no longer 20 years old and no longer very well. Life sucks but on the positive side of thing the pressure I put on myself gives me a boast of achievement right or wrongly.
Exactly - parking, getting off, getting into the shop with no trolley to lean on I presume? Carrying whatever back to the scooter, getting on, concentrating on driving.
It's like being in hospital and thinking you feel well - until you get home!!!!
It must have felt quite liberating though. I have been shielding since my OH qualifies for this on three counts, transplant, high blood pressure and diabetes all well managed. He also has bi polar which, though managed, his mood is not helped by lockdown / isolation. So whilst he was having a nap I went round to my son's house for first time. My ulterior motive was that my sons partner is a hairdresser. They have been isolating for weeks with just my son going for weekly shopping, therefore I knew where they had been!
So equipped with masks, towel, gloves, alcohol hand spray I drove 5 mins journey (like a learner driver again since changing to an automatic a couple of months prior to lockdown), and went into their garden via side gate. Used the hose to wet my hair, and had a hair cut! Left 20 minutes later and, apart from all the grey now showing, feel much better for it!
Sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to get through the next six weeks!
I don't know what hit me really. I go out for "mini" strolls with my OH (and it's my knees and ankles that I'm in such pain with) and I'm OK, but 'sitting on a scooter'???
Not really sure I'll be doing any shopping in the near future.👵🏻👵🏻
My hair grows very slowly and this is the first time I've ever been grateful for that. But it is beginning to get unmanageable - shall have to buy a summer hat when the shops open again - that will look fun with the face mask!
Never mind you gave it a try - got it out of your system and presumably won’t be rushing into it again - until next time! Thought you were going to say you drove to the park and back - not all the rest.....
Thanks Terrie!😎 I can't get my head round the fact that driving a scooter is 'exhausting' - I expected the opposite.👵🏻 If I drive round the park for half an hour the same thing happens. Not so bad though!
Hope life is treating you and OH kindly (or 'kindlier'). It's good Spring is here.🌞😎
For half an hour you are sitting in a restricted position, using muscles more than when you are getting up and wandering around in the flat from time to time, then you are also concentrating more on what is going on around you - that is tiring too.
You use different muscles more so than when indoors. It’s the same as when recovering from anything - especially being in hospital- you might feel over the episode you were in for but getting back to normal takes it out of you more than you realise - which you already know - baby steps......
We’re doing okay and happy, thank you, I’m back on antis for another UTI but enjoying the beautiful weather and spotting what’s growing in this new (to us) garden.
Anything nice yet? I have had some treasures in new gardens in the past - and then there was the prime crop of ground elder in Durham! I think the previous incumbents thought it was good ground cover ...
Lovely bulbs - tulips like I’ve never seen - and pretty wild flowers I’m keepImg but all amidst weeds - again! Had it all weeded once but it’s bindweed that’s the biggie - it’s so established - previous owners were disabled and never paid anyone to garden or clean. Have used expensive weedkillers so going to make my own that’s recommended for bindweed.
I still love it all and will put my stamp on It. Some trees haven’t got the names of yet either but all well established.
Just had wardrobes delivered and wouldn’t bring indoors so currently standing in the front garden - have sprayed all the packaging so waiting until son gets home from work.
I love established trees - our very first garden had the most amazing deep red Japanese maple, Durham was a bit so-so - sycamores at the bottom of the garden and an oak I think but the trunk was split and had to be felled. Had to ask permission! But when it was cut down the entire middle was rotten - could have flattened the back of the house had it fallen the wrong way!
We have two black acers here with a light green under-leaf and berries! never see berries on an acer.
Sounds like stitch in time with the rotten tree!
Previous owners had a wheelchair ramp to the front door which son has just put his foot through! It wasn’t staying but got to repair it or remove all of it now. Put Giant notice warning postie path unsafe and where to leave post for now. These things come to try us. OH been delegated to Post Watch.....
Did you find a solution to the ground elder? We have a sudden crop of it. My theory is that the roots were dormant deep underground and have somehow been reactivated when foundations were dug for a new fence between my neighbours’ garden and mine around 2 years ago but I could be wrong...it’s very annoying though! On the plus side the mice that lived under the neighbours’ hut beside the old fence seem to have moved on...
I covered everything around it and carefully sprayed the leaves with the only weedkiller that deals with it! Not something I would usually have done! The bits that had reached the lawn I actually sat on the lawn and painted the leaves by hand. Then I waited until the weedkiller had reached the roots before starting to remove the above ground growth. It took me about 3 years to get rid of it all - but I won!
Please do try to find an environmentally acceptable weedkiller - we need the bees! I know persistent weeds are a pain but I'm sure there are good alternatives to the glyphosates.
Strange - I can walk a couple of miles on a good day but can not stand. Even if I wanted to shop, which I don't, I couldn't do the queues. I feel really guilty with other people doing my shopping and wish I could choose the fruit and veg according to quality, but realising I can not stand in queues helps me to accept keeping things as they are shopping wise, is probably the way to go. When I do get there, it will be 1 shop and several days, if not a week, rest!!
So much will have changed it will be like going to a foreign country and not knowing lingo, customs.
I have been trying to ease the strain on my daughter - she stood in a queue for 45mins last week and it made me feel guilty. Online shopping is expensive, when you can get a slot that is, but it does spare her this and any other risks involved
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It's been like that here all along - so I suppose I'm more used to it. 
Help me understand this? LOL
Pmr and brownies
