I’ve been out! I’ve been out!

I felt liberated when I was able to take the car out, having had Green Flag out to re-charge the battery. I've been cautious, having a brew with a friend in her garden, at more than 2 metres distance, and a couple of trips to Waitrose, in the hour before closing, when it's very quiet. I'm 79 and have my sons' approval!

It’s lovely to have an outing. My husband and I drive to the nearest Starbucks drive through a couple of times a week for a luxury coffee which we drink in the car on the way home. It’s a real treat.

I signed up to Lloyds Pharmacy's Echo service. It's free and my meds arrive through the post. They contact your GP for prescription info and permission.

Except for visits to the eye clinic I hadn't left home since beginning of March, before the official lockdown as I have health problems. Then I got the shielding letter so that made me even more cautious. However after my daughter charged up my flat car battery I decided I had to keep it charged ready for when I need it so have been going for a drive every other day, clocked up 100 miles so far to go nowhere!
The feeling of freedom is great though and at least I'm getting used to being on the road again. So go for it Merlot, it will do you both the world of good.

I have always tried to walk for at least an hour every day and have been doing the same during lockdown.

Nothing would tempt me to visit a supermarket or any other store at present and I am beginning to wonder whether the regular visits to M&S or John Lewis are a thing of the past. Groceries delivered, anything else bought on line including a cooker, extra freezer and various bits and pieces for the garden or sewing. Are we seeing the death of the High Street?

DH is the shieldee in our house so I’ve been staying in with him. We stayed in when Boris first recommended it two weeks before the official lock down date and a couple of weeks ago had reached wall head banging state. So we got in our virus free car (two metres from the front door), drove to the boatyard (still closed at the time) and went out on our little virus free boat. It was heaven.

Since then we’ve been going out regularly a couple of times a week. Driving to a deserted spot and going for a walk, then actually walking into town when it was quiet. Everyone in town (we have a high elderly population) is very sensible and distance widely and politely. It’s lovely to be able to meet and chat with people albeit at a distance, and buy from market stalls. We haven’t braved supermarkets or anywhere indoors yet. We do live in an area where the estimated R rate is .3 so the chances of meeting the virus is reasonably low.

Well done 25Avalon. I've been into the post office once, to post a present I made for my GS's birthday. It felt very strange. But DS and DiL rang yesterday to suggest we meet them at an NT site half-way between our homes, for a walk and picnic (BYO) next weekend. Can't wait!

Wonderful you feel good about your trip out. I, having been out and experienced the utter selfishness and complacency that is going on think I will be venturing out on rare occasions. Fed up with shoppers who having been forced to queue at a distance in the open air just abandon all social distancing once in a store. Can't even go for a walk in my area, backing onto a woodland park. Cyclists everywhere, pavements, paths speeding along with absolutely no consideration for others. Attempted a stroll yesterday only to be nearly mown down by 4 cyclists one behind the other speeding round the corner on the pavement. I give up.

Go for it Merlotgran because I am sure your husband will like it. I hadnt been anywhere since mid February except down the empty motorway to the hospital for my chemo treatment. Then 3 weeks ago after my treatment my DH did not drive back home via the motorway but took a long trip along the normal roads back to our house. It was like seeing everywhere for the first time. It really did me a power of good and I am sure your husband will enjoy a drive out especially with a picnic too.

Go for it Merlotgran!

I do a click and collect every 2 weeks and so enjoy the drive to Sainsbury's so can understand how you felt. A change of scenery is good for you

Yes I think it is all too easy to stay in but probably not the best idea. This will pass and then there will be no choice....better to go out every day for a few minutes at least, even if it feels nerve wracking . I just do a loop round a few roads if I don’t want to tackle shops or busy parks. It does make you feel you’re part of the real world at least. (Even if it’s not that great a world at the moment!)

I’ve been only shopping in Sainsbury’s to keep to minimum contact. On Saturday evening, I ventured to my local M&S and couldn’t believe the queues. They weren’t for M&S - they were for McDonalds Drive Through, who had commandeered part of M&S carpark to minimize tailbacks! All that for a burger?
By the way M&S was almost empty - in and out in half an hour.

No, it's not pathetic. I have been out for a couple of walks over the last few weeks but then the aim is to avoid people.
I look forward to getting a delivery for the personal interaction although it is from the other end of my flat and just hello and thanks and that makes me feel like a bit of a saddo. I don't like to get them too often because of the risk to the drivers. We are all isolating here but you still don't know what might be on the door, handrails etc.

I have been inside house 14 weeks on Tuesday. The only time I actually went out was to my DF funeral on 28 April after he got the virus. My DH is shielding. I’m looking forward this week to going for short drive in the car n will take drinks n food. I’m fortunate that I have a garden I feel desperately sorry for those that don’t or live in apartments/flats.

I am delighted that I have been able to book a place to walk at a local National Trust Property this week. So excited to have some normality to look forward to!

Thanks for your post. It made me feel very happy for you. Also for the other folk on here who are venturing out and feel as odd as I do about it all.
My family did an enormous round trip to pick me up and bring me back to their house on 23/3 so I would be safe. I haven't been in a shop since 22/3. I was due to have investigations in hospital that week but the appointment was cancelled for obvious reasons.
I only go for short walks with the dogs and the occasional trip out in the car with my daughter to just get a different perspective. There's a lovely garden here and I have my jobs around the house so am content enough, but I do miss my friends and my own home.
Yesterday for the first time I took the dogs on a slightly different route and felt very daring. Daft isn't it.
I think we are wise to be cautious. That way we stay safe and well. Little steps.

I missed adult conversation when my girls were little and used to have conversations with checkout staff, afterwards I realized they were just been polite and couldn't of cared less.... Now I'm working 2 days a week as GP receptionist and having mundane conversations with patients that phone up, I hope because the isolation we are both enjoying it, silly trivial stuff but keeps the dark clouds at bay.

I do know, we have key workers in the family, others have been working from home.
However, being shielded has meant staying at home (but not indoors).

I live on a small estate of flats with mixed aged people I'm the 1 with the highest shielding the only place I have been since the 17th march is 1 hospital aappointment I go for a 2 minute walk down the path when I know nobody is about I can assure you its driving me mad and I don't see things changing for me yet

Some of us have been going out all these weeks - I'm a key worker, so I've still been going to work. I've also been doing the shopping, standing in queues at each shop. I'm not looking forward to everything getting back to normal - already, the traffic has increased.

Yes, I think there is a danger of us all getting a bit too used to staying in and having everything we need brought to the door.
I keep making excuses for not going out!

oh I so understand.. I have been going walkies, but that does not solve the problem of being lonely.

I want to go to local pharmacy for over the counter stuff, but quite frankly I am scared to go...

don`t want to go to shopes

have visited with my one ds and dil sat in their garden, but still scared....

lets all hold hands in cyber space!

It's too cold, wet and windy today for our planned distancing get together in someone's front garden.

BlueBelle
I'm the same as you. To begin with myself and neighbours would have get togethers in our small Close and then we all agreed that my garden was no more dangerous than outside in the close. The same with my daughters back garden.
I suppose I'm lucky in that there's nothing wrong with me other than being 74 ? and I've never been worried or anxious about the virus.