What did you take for granted before lock down that you vow not to after?

My parents

HeidiHeidi

Sailing and tennis.



First time in about 20 years I took the entire winter off sailing (because I'd taken up tennis again recently). I'm suffering serious withdrawals from both now.


Should have been heading to Ibiza this week for an annual race

Better Than Christ

eviltwin wrote: »

Walking into a supermarket. Such a simple, mundane thing is now so much more complicated.

I really appreciate my local SuperValu right now. It's a bit crap (one of the former 'Superquinn Select' stores) and has quite a poor range of overpriced food. Which means that there's no queue to get in. Just stroll in, sanitise your hands and prepare for the usual mild disappointment. This is in stark contrast with the local Tesco's and Dunnes, where people queue around the car park to get in. As my dear old nana used to say, fuck that shit.

I miss being able to buy a coffee and freshly baked almond croissant on the way to work in the mornings.

Still waters

I miss the gym and the pool, other than that my life hasn't changed a whole lot, i swing in to my mother to see if she needs anything from the shops (keeping my distance of course) when I'm going to my yard, I've replaced the gym with walking 3 or 4 kms twice a day

snowstorm445

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Not speaking for myself here, since I always valued my health, but I hope people will walk away from this with a whole new appreciation for how lucky they are to be healthy and safe. Maybe put less energy towards shallow pursuits like drinking and travelling.

Is visiting relatives who have been forced to emigrate "shallow"? Meeting up with old friends from different countries? Couples visiting each other in ongoing long-distance relationships?

I think you'll find very few people who would dispute that travel must be curtailed under the current circumstances. And of course if you happen to be one of the lucky few people nowadays who's life and social circle exist within a square mile of your house, then more power to you for being so fortunate.

But sanctimonious moralising about travelling as if it were some sort of hedonistic vice can eff right off. For people living abroad (including myself), this quarantine has made me even more acutely aware of the value of being able to travel freely back to Ireland and around the world to visit the people I care about, even if my career is elsewhere. It is far from shallow; it makes the distance that bit more bearable and keeps precious contacts going.

There have been many excesses related to mass-tourism in recent years, but there are other ways to tackle that rather than finger-wagging about something which is a necessity for millions of people in the modern world.

KungPao

Match of the Day, Monday Night Football, Super Sunday. Football basically. Can't believe there is no Euros this summer.

Shops being open. Was taking the chance of being home to do a few DIY jobs in the house, but now can't get the stuff I need. That was giving me something to focus on.

The worst thing is, the less I do, the more unmotivated I get. I really think cabin fever has set in and it's not nice.

April looks like a write-off. Really hope May brings some easing of restrictions and falling numbers of infection.

Strumms

Still waters wrote: »

I miss the gym and the pool, other than that my life hasn't changed a whole lot, i swing in to my mother to see if she needs anything from the shops (keeping my distance of course) when I'm going to my yard, I've replaced the gym with walking 3 or 4 kms twice a day

Gym and pool being missed here, especially gym... as I said I’m lucky I have a park 3 minutes from home. But not great walking weather today. Still reliant on exercise for rehabilitation from a problem so not ideal but thankfully the weather will be improving over the next six weeks, brighter evenings too so over the 10-14 or so hours of brightness upcoming there should be plenty of opportunities to hopefully pick gaps between bad weather and keep fit and stave off the boredom too.

Manc_Red

Premier League footy which obviously leads into Champions League and the others too.

That Friday feeling in work......

Gynoid

Was thinking today when can the children come back home for the weekend again and mess the place up? When can my sister in law and her family come up again for a few days? When can my good friend drop in again for a chat? When? All my family live far quite away from here, so when will we see each other again? It's a bit hard to think about.

Edgware

KungPao wrote: »

Match of the Day, Monday Night Football, Super Sunday. Football basically. Can't believe there is no Euros this summer.

Shops being open. Was taking the chance of being home to do a few DIY jobs in the house, but now can't get the stuff I need. That was giving me something to focus on.

The worst thing is, the less I do, the more unmotivated I get. I really think cabin fever has set in and it's not nice.

April looks like a write-off. Really hope May brings some easing of restrictions and falling numbers of infection.

No Euros. We'll miss the stories coming back from the " greatest supporters in the world" and their one goal every two games heroes

HeidiHeidi

Edgware wrote: »

No Euros. We'll miss the stories coming back from the " greatest supporters in the world" and their one goal every two games heroes

Bet you'd take them over the current situation, though!

Gynoid

Gynoid wrote: »

Was thinking today when can the children come back home for the weekend again and mess the place up? When can my sister in law and her family come up again for a few days? When can my good friend drop in again for a chat? When? All my family live far quite away from here, so when will we see each other again? It's a bit hard to think about.

The human contact and closeness we take for granted - usually.

I wish I knew when it would end too, and the eventual cost. It's the taking it day by day and trying not to think too much about the future that's wearing me down. The open-ended nature of this nightmare is the part I'm finding hardest to cope with.

It will end though, and we will come out of it. A bit (or a lot) sadder and probably a fair bit wiser, but hopefully a lot more appreciative of all the little things that make life good.

Edgware

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Bet you'd take them over the current situation, though!

"Far cry from kids playing in the park, jumpers for goalposts"

Wtf ?

Sam Hain wrote: »

Dogging

Swinging has gone quiet too !

Potential-Monke

Deleted User wrote: »

Nixers....used enjoy (and complain about) going off doing bits and bobs in evenings for extra cash

So you miss not paying taxes? Cool.

Mam of 4 wrote: »

Truthfully, simply hugging people (not randomers btw!) . Never realised how many of us greet each other with a hug , family or otherwise , until you don't have that option anymore.

I think we should continue to not hug everyone we meet. Family, fair enough. But beyond that, no. I'll still be reluctant to shake hands with people after this. People will very quickly forget how to stay hygenic once this blows over, and you'll be back to hugging people who don't wash their hands after going to the jacks. I'll stick with distance hello.

Strumms wrote: »

This, it’s the weekend and there should be a wall of sport, including football seasons heading to a climax.

I think this is one of the better things to come out of Covid. I understand a lot of people have been brainwashed to like sport, but due to many negative experiences as a child with sport, I'm not a fan. Especially soccer, which is up there with Cricket as the most boring sport to watch. Granted, I don't watch tv anyway, but if it was going to be sport free (including those f'king ads), I'd nearly start watching again.

---

Suppose I took just meandering up to the shop for some munchies for granted. Actually hoping this will help me cut back on crap food tbh. Have given up the rollies 5 weeks at this stage. I'm less annoyed at the world, and as i've even less contact with humans now, i'm happier.

People are the disease. When this is all over, and everything is back to 'normal', it'll only be a matter of time before this happens again.

Purple Mountain

Wtf ? wrote: »

Swinging has gone quiet too !

How can you be sure?

ladyella

Going to my parents/in-laws for dinner. Sometimes it was a chore. It wont be after this

Carry

A bit late to this discussion.

But as Candie mentioned, the human contact.

I live on my own in the countryside and work from home since ever. I thought that I'm the lucky one, not to see any difference to my usual routine in this situation. Even felt smug about it.

But...
...I never noticed before how much I actually manually touched people, as in touching their arms when animately talking, hugging people, fingering and admiring a nice new jewellery or scarf a friend is wearing, having casual chats or that friendly gossip sticking your heads together, popping in at my neighbour for a chat, having a snorting laugh about some silly stuff, and yes, snogging and cuddling the man in my life (who doesn't live with me).

My life goes on as per usual. Only not. I took the world for granted, but the world has changed and so has my world view.

As per OP question: I vow that I cherish the real people in my life more, cherish human contact and never ever be smug about my solitude. The people in my life will have preference to my work.

Jenneke87

For me it's a little different. My looks are such that random people will make hurtful comments when I pass them on the streets. It started during middle school and have been living with It ever since. It's not every day but enough that I prefer just to stay in to avoid It. But right now people have bigger issues than my face and I can walk outside and no-one cares. No pointing or laughing or having abuse hurled my way. I should be able to experience this every day but for now, I won't take for granted that I can walk the streets completely invisible.

Pac1Man

Carry wrote: »

fingering and admiring a nice new jewellery or scarf a friend is wearing,

DaisyFay

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Not speaking for myself here, since I always valued my health, but I hope people will walk away from this with a whole new appreciation for how lucky they are to be healthy and safe. Maybe put less energy towards shallow pursuits like drinking and travelling.

And more energy towards deeper pursuits such as..?

Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain wrote: »

How can you be sure?

Not in my local woods, plenty of evidence of funtimes left lieing around !

khaldrogo

Being on my own.......

storker

Enjoying a meal out with the family.

iamstop

Jenneke87 wrote: »

For me it's a little different. My looks are such that random people will make hurtful comments when I pass them on the streets. It started during middle school and have been living with It ever since. It's not every day but enough that I prefer just to stay in to avoid It. But right now people have bigger issues than my face and I can walk outside and no-one cares. No pointing or laughing or having abuse hurled my way. I should be able to experience this every day but for now, I won't take for granted that I can walk the streets completely invisible.

Sorry to hear that randomers feel obliged to go out of their way to have a go at you when you're just going about your business. People can be such ****. I hope this gives you a new found confidence and that you can walk down the street from now on with no forks given.

Jenneke87

iamstop wrote: »

Sorry to hear that randomers feel obliged to go out of their way to have a go at you when you're just going about your business. People can be such ****. I hope this gives you a new found confidence and that you can walk down the street from now on with no forks given.

Thanks, that's very kind of you. I hope I'll be able to, or maybe people will be a little bit kinder. I didn't choose my looks, it's what it is, no need to make my life miserable because of it. But it's had it's affect on me over time, so the respite, at least for now, is nice.

Feisar

I miss the pub which is funny as I rarely go since buying a house four years ago.

Shooting, god I'm dying to go for a shot.

Foweva Awone

I miss having my hair, nails and eyebrows done. I'm not even a real girly girl, but I feel so much more "together" when I've those wee bits done regularly.

And I miss a nice meandering aimless stroll around the shops of a Saturday, not looking for anything in particular, just passing time.

And I miss stuffing my face in Eddie Rockets with my bestie.

Obviously I miss my family etc too, but to be honest I never really took time with them for granted "before".

Rufeo

Going to Insomnia jervis. Hate that i can't go out for a coffee.

fryup

Boris Johnson

Away With The Fairies

Going for a pee in the pub. There's nowhere to go now.

BPKS

From around Easter time til September when I would be working in another county I'd often stop off in a shop on my way home for a 99. The combination of the flake, the ice cream and the wafer while trying to change gears on a winding country road... Oh how I miss it

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^^^

oh how very irish

I've been thinking about this. There are many many things that I get so much out of. There are few things that I take for granted. So I'm thinking about what I miss. Lots of people talk about the connection they share with others and how hard it is to be away from those they love. For me I don't feel my connections to be in any way lessened. There are people I can't see but it's ok. Talking regularly is enough. I do miss them but I don't long for them.

Instead it's the way I have lived my life which I miss the most. All the things I like to do that are so simple and that I do alone. Going for a coffee, a walk up the mountains, a pint, wandering around the shops, really small but really important to me. I miss the train and looking at other people and the busyness of the world.

I miss my cooler head and less reactionary nature. I hate to use the word "triggered" but that seems to be happening more, especially here. Someone will post something innocuous and I'll think "you absolute gobshìte" or I'll think a joke was a dig and feel sad that x or y sees me as such. Forgetting that this is just a forum and I usually don't care what is thought of me.

I expect my usual self to return in approximately 12 weeks. It will be a Friday and Leo will declare pubs, coffee shops and Liffey Valley to reopen.

Winston Spencer

I miss meeting and talking to people

bilbot79

I'll miss the peacefulness, pause for thought and lack of pollution when we go back

Arghus

God, so many simple things.

Meeting someone on the street and being able to shake their hand.

Being able to browse in a bookshop. Or to go to a coffee shop to start reading a new book.

Going to the cinema.

Going to the pub, being around people and laughing and singing along to music.

Being able to hug my parents.

Not getting agitated when people stand within six feet of me.

Just normal human life.

If I or those close to me manage to get through this unscathed I feel like I'll have an enhanced appreciation of life. The things we take for granted are wonderful and we've all seen now how they can be taken away in a blink of an eye.

I miss the complete absence of dread.

cannotlogin

Everything to be honest.

Had a very comfortable life, enjoyed it, could go where I wanted, see who I wanted, travel as much as I wanted, good health, no money concerns, no worries at all. Total charmed existence without any real appreciation of it.

I worry about my parents and not being able to go see them. I miss siblings who used to wreck my head. I miss friends, and just simple things like a catch up over dinner or drinks, I miss being able to head for the hills or an open space at the weekends. Hugs, kisses, human contact. I miss work, every annoying co-worker and stupid process there was.

But I'm healthy and safe & most of my friends and family are too which is the main thing.

This will pass & hopefully I won't take any of the above for granted again.

Arghus

Being able to watch a movie or a TV show without it fcking with my head and making me sad because it's full of things that make me nostalgic. Things like people walking around and saying hello to each other.

the beer revolu

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I miss having my hair, nails and eyebrows done. I'm not even a real girly girl, but I feel so much more "together" when I've those wee bits done regularly.
.

Sorry, but the standards have changed somewhat.
So now, someone who gets their nails and eyebrows done, professionally and regularly isn't a girly girl??

Don't get it.

Foweva Awone

the beer revolu wrote: »

Sorry, but the standards have changed somewhat.
So now, someone who gets their nails and eyebrows done, professionally and regularly isn't a girly girl??

Don't get it.

I'd consider it essential basic personal maintenance. I work in a professional job so it's important to look groomed. I wouldn't be able to maintain my nails or eyebrows myself, wouldn't even know where to begin really. So it's just easier and faster to pay the experts to do it.

Candie

Candie wrote: »

I miss the complete absence of dread.

Its awful isn't it? Dread. It's so suffocating. I know it well. It will be ok though Candie. Just keep holding on to that thought. It will be ok.

the beer revolu

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I'd consider it essential basic personal maintenance. I work in a professional job so it's important to look groomed. I wouldn't be able to maintain my nails or eyebrows myself, wouldn't even know where to begin really. So it's just easier and faster to pay the experts to do it.

You're a girly girl, by my standards, if you having your nails and eyebrows done as being essential basic personal maintenance.

Do you think that women with clean, trimmed nails and natural eyebrows are slovenly and not fit for a professional work environment?
Are we in Madmen days?

Foweva Awone

the beer revolu wrote: »

You're a girly girl, by my standards, if you having your nails and eyebrows done as being essential basic personal maintenance.

Do you think that women with clean, trimmed nails and natural eyebrows are slovenly and not fit for a professional work environment?
Are we in Madmen days?

I don't really think about how other women present themselves.

I've very thick scraggly eyebrows that need to be shaped and trimmed regularly. Believe me if I could get away without needing them done (like plenty of women can), I would.

And I could trim my own nails, but I'd be no good at shaping them or doing the cuticle work. I mean, obviously they're not done now, and it's no big deal. But I like to look down and see nicely manicured nails, plus I like the whole ritual of having them done every second week.

iamstop

I had Rage Against The Machine supported by Run The Jewels tickets. Show was due in May. - Cancelled.
I had tickets to a festival in the south of France I love going to due in July. - Cancelled.

I know there woulda be plenty of other show and events I would have gone to but they are or will all be cancelled also.
The uptick in online streaming from DJs and artists is cool but hardly a substitute.

Jenneke87

iamstop wrote: »

I had Rage Against The Machine supported by Run The Jewels tickets. Show was due in May. - Cancelled.
I had tickets to a festival in the south of France I love going to due in July. - Cancelled.

I know there woulda be plenty of other show and events I would have gone to but they are or will all be cancelled also.
The uptick in online streaming from DJs and artists is cool but hardly a substitute.[/quote

Same here. Vacation to Spain tot cancelled as well as a concert in April. Not getting my time off back either.

Ich liebe Berlin

Travel is my life and I am absolutely going out of my mind.

the beer revolu

Picking my nose.

De Danann

I used to go out for coffee with a friend every second Sunday to have a catch-up chat. We still have coffee in our own homes and a video call but it's just not the same. That will be one of the first treats I took for granted that I will be indulging in again after all this.

I like to picture what that first day out will be like. Will there be a vaccine/treatment developed by then, will we be as relaxed as we were before? Or will there still be a sense of anxiety in the air?

I know for sure that our usual catch-up chat will be full of talk of this virus either way..and probably laughing at how wild our hair has gone :pac: