Ever since lockdown first began, everyone has been talking about all the things that they can't wait to do the moment the virus is over and it's safe to live our lives again. I've even found myself daydreaming about all the things I'm going to do when it's safe again... and then I remember I have chronic illnesses and I'll still be housebound once the pandemic is over. I won't be able to just resume my old active life where I left off like a half-watched movie on Netflix, and do all the things I long to do like everyone else. I'll have to continue the mostly house-bound life of a spoonie I left off in March 2020 instead, which wasn't much different to lockdown life apart from I got to leave the house for medical appointments, and the occasional trip to the supermarket. Maybe a concert once or twice a year, if I was lucky.
The funny thing is, as boring as that life was, I still miss it. At least pre-Covid, I got out of the house from time to time, and there was no distancing, face masks, or anti-bacterial hand gel required to do simple every day things that we all took for granted. I could go get the medical care I needed, and enjoy an occasional reprieve from confinement. I could cope with being housebound because I knew I would eventually get a couple of hours out of the house, whether a week, a month or a few months later, and I had that to aim for and look forward to. A freedom I haven't had since the virus arrived.
I realised the other day that I haven't left the house in six and a half months. The last time I went out was in early February (pre-Covid), and that was only briefly... to buy a mattress topper from the supermarket. I haven't even been downstairs or in to the garden in my own home since Easter. I've been struggling a lot with worsening chronic pain this year, and was already enjoying my own personal isolation because of it before the Corona Virus arrived, and the government placed us on lockdown in March. I've ventured out a grand total of three times since Christmas. Then lockdown happened, everyone was suddenly forced to stay home to stay safe, and I both couldn't and didn't want to leave the house for fear of catching the virus and passing it on to my family. (Which makes me laugh as I thought everyone was overreacting in early March). As much as I miss the outdoors and life in the outside world, the thought of going out during a pandemic, even with distancing measures, does not appeal to me at all. It makes me feel anxious. I'd rather stay home and stay safe. I don't want to risk anyone's life to get my hair cut, have a few drinks at the pub, or spend a day at the beach. It's not worth it. It can all wait until it's safe again.
That's not to say that I don't miss pre-Covid life, and all those little things that we all used to take for granted. I'm looking forward to the day when we've beaten this terrible virus and life has returned to normal. (Or some resemblance of our old normal. Can life really be the same again after Covid)? There are so many things I can't wait to do once it's safe again, and we don't have to worry about safety measures to be able to do them. (Even if it'll be at my own pace, which could take a while). I know we can technically do most of them now lockdown restrictions have eased, but I don't personally feel safe yet. and would rather wait until the virus has dissipated or we have a vaccine before I do most of them again.
The good thing about living housebound for almost nine years is that it's taught me patience with staying home a lot and weeks or months passing between outings, whether they're essential or for fun. I've waited this long, and I know I can wait as long as it takes us to beat the virus to do all the things I want or need to do. It doesn't stop me dreaming about all the things I'm missing out on, though, and I'm looking forward to the day when normal life can resume.
So, here are fifteen things I miss and can't wait to do when Covid-19 is over.
Take a trip to the zoo
As a huge animal lover, I love a good trip to the zoo, and I'm eager to pay one a visit soon to see all the animals and plants. I think it's one of the few outings I'd feel comfortable doing during the pandemic as my local zoo has so much open space it would be easy to social distance from other visitors. I'd like to attempt a visit once the school holidays are over and most kids are back at school, so it's a bit quieter. My sister and I have also talked about taking a day trip to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park before the summer is over, which I can't wait to do. It also has loads of open space for distancing safely, and we'd take the car in to make getting around a bit easier on me as the zoo is huge, so at least that would give us somewhere to retreat to if it got too busy.
And those are some of the things I'm looking forward to doing once the Corona Virus is over. Whenever that might be.
What are you most looking forward to doing again?
The funny thing is, as boring as that life was, I still miss it. At least pre-Covid, I got out of the house from time to time, and there was no distancing, face masks, or anti-bacterial hand gel required to do simple every day things that we all took for granted. I could go get the medical care I needed, and enjoy an occasional reprieve from confinement. I could cope with being housebound because I knew I would eventually get a couple of hours out of the house, whether a week, a month or a few months later, and I had that to aim for and look forward to. A freedom I haven't had since the virus arrived.
I realised the other day that I haven't left the house in six and a half months. The last time I went out was in early February (pre-Covid), and that was only briefly... to buy a mattress topper from the supermarket. I haven't even been downstairs or in to the garden in my own home since Easter. I've been struggling a lot with worsening chronic pain this year, and was already enjoying my own personal isolation because of it before the Corona Virus arrived, and the government placed us on lockdown in March. I've ventured out a grand total of three times since Christmas. Then lockdown happened, everyone was suddenly forced to stay home to stay safe, and I both couldn't and didn't want to leave the house for fear of catching the virus and passing it on to my family. (Which makes me laugh as I thought everyone was overreacting in early March). As much as I miss the outdoors and life in the outside world, the thought of going out during a pandemic, even with distancing measures, does not appeal to me at all. It makes me feel anxious. I'd rather stay home and stay safe. I don't want to risk anyone's life to get my hair cut, have a few drinks at the pub, or spend a day at the beach. It's not worth it. It can all wait until it's safe again.
That's not to say that I don't miss pre-Covid life, and all those little things that we all used to take for granted. I'm looking forward to the day when we've beaten this terrible virus and life has returned to normal. (Or some resemblance of our old normal. Can life really be the same again after Covid)? There are so many things I can't wait to do once it's safe again, and we don't have to worry about safety measures to be able to do them. (Even if it'll be at my own pace, which could take a while). I know we can technically do most of them now lockdown restrictions have eased, but I don't personally feel safe yet. and would rather wait until the virus has dissipated or we have a vaccine before I do most of them again.
The good thing about living housebound for almost nine years is that it's taught me patience with staying home a lot and weeks or months passing between outings, whether they're essential or for fun. I've waited this long, and I know I can wait as long as it takes us to beat the virus to do all the things I want or need to do. It doesn't stop me dreaming about all the things I'm missing out on, though, and I'm looking forward to the day when normal life can resume.
So, here are fifteen things I miss and can't wait to do when Covid-19 is over.
Go to the hairdresser's and get a hair cut
I haven't had a hair cut in over three years, and what was a long bob is now about a month away from being long enough for me to sit on. I'm in danger or turning in to Cousin It, and since I don't want to resort to cutting my hair at home, a hair cut is definitely a priority when life is safe again. I can't wait to get it chopped off.
Go to the opticians and buy myself a gorgeous new pair of glasses
I'm in desperate need of new glasses since Specsavers dented my Cath Kidston frames during a glasses adjustment, and one of the lenses keeps falling out multiple times a day. I'm dying to get myself a new pair so I can stop feeling like that dorky kid at school with taped-up glasses.
Go to all the concerts
As a concert addict, I'm missing gigs so much, and am most looking forward to that first live show after lockdown. A couple of gigs I was supposed to see this summer have been rescheduled to January, but something tells me I'm going to be waiting a lot longer to see them. All I know is, once it's safe again, I'll be going to all the shows to make up for lost time.
Take a holiday to Cornwall
I was supposed to be going on holiday to Cornwall with my sister in September, but we've both agreed it's not safe, and have postponed our trip 'til next summer (or whenever the virus is under control, if it's still with us a year from now). I'm so disappointed as I've not had a holiday in years, but I'm looking forward to going back, feeling the sand between my toes, having a paddle in the sea, eating pasties and cream teas, and revisiting some of my favourite places.
See my sister and brother-in-law without distancing
I live with my parents and younger sister because of my health, and didn't see my relatives often before lockdown because we don't live close by, so I've mostly missed seeing my older sister and brother-in-law. They've just moved back to England from Germany, and it'd be great to be able to spend some time with them without social distancing and wearing face masks. Sure, socially distanced visits are better than nothing, but they're not quite the same, are they?
Resume my health care, and refer myself to pain management
As someone who is chronically ill, one of the weirdest things about this pandemic is not having stepped foot in a doctor's surgery or a hospital in six months because non-emergency health care is on hold. I would normally have at least a couple of appointments a month. I guess it's been nice to have a break from it all, but it's frustrating, too. I was just being referred to pain management when the pandemic arrived in March, but obviously, that got put on hold because of the virus, and with my chronic pain and arthritis worsening, I'm eager to explore this route again once life is back to normal. I had a bad experience with a panic clinic 8 years ago, but I want to find out if pain management from a different hospital could be beneficial, and particularly wonder if hydrotherapy could help with the arthritis in my knees, and other leg joints, and get me mobilising a bit more.
Take a cinema trip
I haven't been to the cinema since Mockingjay Part 2 as sitting in a chair for two hours was causing more back pain than I could handle. I used to go at least once a month, and I really miss seeing new films on the big screen, so I want to try going again post-Covid. Maybe if I find a cinema with luxury leather seats, I'll be able to get through an entire film without writhing in pain, and spending two weeks recovering. I think Oxford has one now, so I'll have to look in to it.
Go out for a leisurely lunch / dinner
One thing I miss doing is going out for lunch or dinner and having a chatty catch up with some good food and cocktails. I need to do more of that when life is good again.
Go book shopping
I can't wait to be able to have a good trawl through a book shop again. Online sellers are great, but I miss browsing for new books in person, discovering new reads organically, taking in the smell of paper, and admiring all the pretty clothbound and leatherbound books. You just don't get the same experience from ordering books online.
Spend a day or two in London
I miss the hustle and bustle of the city streets, sight-seeing, going to shows, shopping, being able to order food at any hour of the day or night, and even being crammed in like sardines on the Tube. I can't wait to enjoy all the city has to offer again. I'll probably end up booking my next concert there just so I have an excuse to stay over a night or two and spend some time enjoying myself there.
Get my eyebrows done
It probably sounds weird, but I miss getting my eyebrows done. They look so much better when they've been threaded, and it's a treat not to have to do them myself.
Take walks in nature
Being confined indoors makes me miss the outdoors and nature much more than frivolous things like shopping, meals out, and beauty treatments. I'm looking forward to the day when I can take walks in the woods, or by the river without worrying about avoiding the other 9853819017 people who are doing the same. I miss being outside, and enjoying the pretty Cotswolds countryside. Maybe I'll have to find some quieter spots I can visit this autumn.
See a musical at the theatre
Seeing musicals at the theatre has long been one of my favourite things to do, and boy, do I miss it. I'm gutted I never got to go see Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act this summer. When performances resume, and we're allowed to be in the audience again, I'm definitely going to book tickets for a show in Oxford or the West End.
Stock up on craft supplies at Hobbycraft
It's a silly one, but I miss visits to Hobbycraft to stock up on craft supplies. It was often the only thing I got out of the house for. I'm looking forward to returning to my local store, and stocking up on all the craft supplies I never knew I needed.
I haven't had a hair cut in over three years, and what was a long bob is now about a month away from being long enough for me to sit on. I'm in danger or turning in to Cousin It, and since I don't want to resort to cutting my hair at home, a hair cut is definitely a priority when life is safe again. I can't wait to get it chopped off.
Go to the opticians and buy myself a gorgeous new pair of glasses
I'm in desperate need of new glasses since Specsavers dented my Cath Kidston frames during a glasses adjustment, and one of the lenses keeps falling out multiple times a day. I'm dying to get myself a new pair so I can stop feeling like that dorky kid at school with taped-up glasses.
Go to all the concerts
As a concert addict, I'm missing gigs so much, and am most looking forward to that first live show after lockdown. A couple of gigs I was supposed to see this summer have been rescheduled to January, but something tells me I'm going to be waiting a lot longer to see them. All I know is, once it's safe again, I'll be going to all the shows to make up for lost time.
Take a holiday to Cornwall
I was supposed to be going on holiday to Cornwall with my sister in September, but we've both agreed it's not safe, and have postponed our trip 'til next summer (or whenever the virus is under control, if it's still with us a year from now). I'm so disappointed as I've not had a holiday in years, but I'm looking forward to going back, feeling the sand between my toes, having a paddle in the sea, eating pasties and cream teas, and revisiting some of my favourite places.
See my sister and brother-in-law without distancing
I live with my parents and younger sister because of my health, and didn't see my relatives often before lockdown because we don't live close by, so I've mostly missed seeing my older sister and brother-in-law. They've just moved back to England from Germany, and it'd be great to be able to spend some time with them without social distancing and wearing face masks. Sure, socially distanced visits are better than nothing, but they're not quite the same, are they?
Resume my health care, and refer myself to pain management
As someone who is chronically ill, one of the weirdest things about this pandemic is not having stepped foot in a doctor's surgery or a hospital in six months because non-emergency health care is on hold. I would normally have at least a couple of appointments a month. I guess it's been nice to have a break from it all, but it's frustrating, too. I was just being referred to pain management when the pandemic arrived in March, but obviously, that got put on hold because of the virus, and with my chronic pain and arthritis worsening, I'm eager to explore this route again once life is back to normal. I had a bad experience with a panic clinic 8 years ago, but I want to find out if pain management from a different hospital could be beneficial, and particularly wonder if hydrotherapy could help with the arthritis in my knees, and other leg joints, and get me mobilising a bit more.
Take a cinema trip
I haven't been to the cinema since Mockingjay Part 2 as sitting in a chair for two hours was causing more back pain than I could handle. I used to go at least once a month, and I really miss seeing new films on the big screen, so I want to try going again post-Covid. Maybe if I find a cinema with luxury leather seats, I'll be able to get through an entire film without writhing in pain, and spending two weeks recovering. I think Oxford has one now, so I'll have to look in to it.
Go out for a leisurely lunch / dinner
One thing I miss doing is going out for lunch or dinner and having a chatty catch up with some good food and cocktails. I need to do more of that when life is good again.
Go book shopping
I can't wait to be able to have a good trawl through a book shop again. Online sellers are great, but I miss browsing for new books in person, discovering new reads organically, taking in the smell of paper, and admiring all the pretty clothbound and leatherbound books. You just don't get the same experience from ordering books online.
Spend a day or two in London
I miss the hustle and bustle of the city streets, sight-seeing, going to shows, shopping, being able to order food at any hour of the day or night, and even being crammed in like sardines on the Tube. I can't wait to enjoy all the city has to offer again. I'll probably end up booking my next concert there just so I have an excuse to stay over a night or two and spend some time enjoying myself there.
Get my eyebrows done
It probably sounds weird, but I miss getting my eyebrows done. They look so much better when they've been threaded, and it's a treat not to have to do them myself.
Take walks in nature
Being confined indoors makes me miss the outdoors and nature much more than frivolous things like shopping, meals out, and beauty treatments. I'm looking forward to the day when I can take walks in the woods, or by the river without worrying about avoiding the other 9853819017 people who are doing the same. I miss being outside, and enjoying the pretty Cotswolds countryside. Maybe I'll have to find some quieter spots I can visit this autumn.
See a musical at the theatre
Seeing musicals at the theatre has long been one of my favourite things to do, and boy, do I miss it. I'm gutted I never got to go see Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act this summer. When performances resume, and we're allowed to be in the audience again, I'm definitely going to book tickets for a show in Oxford or the West End.
Stock up on craft supplies at Hobbycraft
It's a silly one, but I miss visits to Hobbycraft to stock up on craft supplies. It was often the only thing I got out of the house for. I'm looking forward to returning to my local store, and stocking up on all the craft supplies I never knew I needed.
As a huge animal lover, I love a good trip to the zoo, and I'm eager to pay one a visit soon to see all the animals and plants. I think it's one of the few outings I'd feel comfortable doing during the pandemic as my local zoo has so much open space it would be easy to social distance from other visitors. I'd like to attempt a visit once the school holidays are over and most kids are back at school, so it's a bit quieter. My sister and I have also talked about taking a day trip to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park before the summer is over, which I can't wait to do. It also has loads of open space for distancing safely, and we'd take the car in to make getting around a bit easier on me as the zoo is huge, so at least that would give us somewhere to retreat to if it got too busy.
And those are some of the things I'm looking forward to doing once the Corona Virus is over. Whenever that might be.
What are you most looking forward to doing again?
