Life after Lockdown [Split from Current Affairs]

[Mervyn and Trish]

Let's move on from hindsight and pessimism and try some foresight and optimism.

Without speculating when it's going to be (that's the media's favourite job), lockdown will ease eventually. Assuming it is a bit at a time, which seems the pattern elsewhere and likely here too, what would you like to see re-opening or changing first?

In terms of change the thing I most want is to be able to see close family, subject to neither us nor them having symptoms. I really miss hugging our daughter and granddaughters. And in opening I'd like to see DIY and Garden Centres, with sensible distancing measures as supermarkets have now. I have plenty of jobs need doing to fill my time but don't have a lot of the materials I need.

[Manoverboard]

I don't expect to hug our Grandchildren or anybody else for that matter unless or until we have had a jab ... without it we could be brown bread. That is the truth of the situation. Meanwhile I cannot see why DIY materials couldn't be delivered and selfishly I would welcome the footy Premier League being played out albeit in closed stadiums and subject to total safety of course.

[Kendhni]

I would welcome the footy Premier League being played out albeit in closed stadiums and subject to total safety of course.

Could be an interesting match if they maintain the correct social distancing

[Kendhni]

Let's move on from hindsight and pessimism and try some foresight and optimism.

Without speculating when it's going to be (that's the media's favourite job), lockdown will ease eventually. Assuming it is a bit at a time, which seems the pattern elsewhere and likely here too, what would you like to see re-opening or changing first?

I really need a haircut and I have a chipped tooth ... so obviously I want the pubs to open.

[Manoverboard]

I would welcome the footy Premier League being played out albeit in closed stadiums and subject to total safety of course.

Could be an interesting match if they maintain the correct social distancing

It'll never catch on

[Frank Manning]

Same here Mervyn. I plan to change all the door handles upstairs to match those down stairs. I would like them to let me use my car to collect the parts, and to visit our daughter. However because of Sue's condition I cant afford to risk infection. Personally I endorse what you say about pessimism and hindsight especially in the media. I admire a lot of what BBC do but I groan inwardly when they start the news, and are always so negative. I am not surprised every time Piers Morgan opens his extremely large mouth mostly without engaging his brain . His contribution so far has been to try to increase CO2 and hot air emissions. In that context he is ever successful.

[Mervyn and Trish]

My immediate DIY needs are things I need to browse to select, things like some new laminate floor and some bits and pieces to finish off a bathroom refurb I started a couple of months ago. So I need to go into stores to choose them.

[towny44]

I would welcome the footy Premier League being played out albeit in closed stadiums and subject to total safety of course.

Could be an interesting match if they maintain the correct social distancing

That's hilarious Ken, but the best passing teams like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and just maybe Leicesters long ball to Vardy will probably fair best.

[Kendhni]

I would welcome the footy Premier League being played out albeit in closed stadiums and subject to total safety of course.

Could be an interesting match if they maintain the correct social distancing

That's hilarious Ken, but the best passing teams like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and just maybe Leicesters long ball to Vardy will probably fair best.

The goalie having to stop to give the ball a quick wipe with anti bacterial wipes might slow the action down.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Could be an interesting match if they maintain the correct social distancing

That's hilarious Ken, but the best passing teams like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and just maybe Leicesters long ball to Vardy will probably fair best.

The goalie having to stop to give the ball a quick wipe with anti bacterial wipes might slow the action down.

And they might sneak one past him while he's washing his hands...

[Gill W]

We were lucky that our kitchen refit was completed at the start of March. We’ve ordered a new blind for the kitchen and blinds for the bedrooms - they are all ready to be fitted, so I’m looking forward to the Blind company getting back to work so that this can be done. Although it would mean allowing someone into the house.

Apart from seeing friends at a social distance, the only other realistic aim I have for this year is to go to the seaside again. I love being by the sea.

[david63]

Well seeing, and hugging, grandchildren will be a non starter as they are 12k miles away!

I'm with Ken (not literally) with a haircut quickly followed by a visit to the optician as I need new specs.

What I am really looking forward to though is just being able to go out when I want, where I want - not that I have anywhere in particular to go but just being able to do it.

[barney]

We have a new kitchen starting as soon as they can supply. The builder is ready to go.

Mrs B’s shop is looking a bit lonely.
We popped up this morning just to check.
She’s contemplating the reopening with a private shopping experience for her best clients.
She has a shop full of beautiful clothes, shoes and bags to move before Autumn/Winter arrives in late August.
So far, year on year about 10k down but hopefully this won’t last too much longer.

[towny44]

Unfortunately Chris Witty, doing his Grinch impersonation, told us today not to expect a return to normality for many months, and that social distancing may be with us for years. Now that means that we need to get used to a much different world in future, with a significantly reduced economy and massive unemployment, and far fewer social venues anyway, so we won't be tempted to spend it in bars, cafes, restaurants, theatres and holidays anyway.
Not an attractive scenario at all.

[david63]

Ah but - he is only an "advisor"

[towny44]

Ah but - he is only an "advisor"

Yes and let us hope he is proved wrong, but I suspect he will be closer to the actual outcome, unfortunately.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Unfortunately Chris Witty, doing his Grinch impersonation, told us today not to expect a return to normality for many months, and that social distancing may be with us for years. Now that means that we need to get used to a much different world in future, with a significantly reduced economy and massive unemployment, and far fewer social venues anyway, so we won't be tempted to spend it in bars, cafes, restaurants, theatres and holidays anyway.
Not an attractive scenario at all.

I think he may be managing expectations. Now there are suggestions we may be passing or have passed the peak there are some who expect full normality within days. I suspect it will be a slow process bit by bit but the clincher will be an effective vaccine or treatment. But that's not going to be tomorrow.

[Stephen]

Just getting back to some sort of normality will do for me.

Mrs S cuts my hair with clippers. And no it doesn't take long

[Kendhni]

We were lucky that our kitchen refit was completed at the start of March. We’ve ordered a new blind for the kitchen and blinds for the bedrooms - they are all ready to be fitted, so I’m looking forward to the Blind company getting back to work so that this can be done. Although it would mean allowing someone into the house.

We were meant to have a new kitchen fitted while on holiday - unfortunately it is less than half done. All the cupboards are in but many of the shelves are not there and we have no worktops, sink, fridge or dishwasher (and only half an oven). Fortunately we have a utility room with a sink and a microwave and have an old fridge in the garage (that was waiting to be taken to the recycling centre).

On the plus side we have our lovely new blinds - but we can't put them up yet

[Kendhni]

Just getting back to some sort of normality will do for me.

Mrs S cuts my hair with clippers. And no it doesn't take long

I thought you were more a Mr Sheen man

[Manoverboard]

We have a wooden slatted blind that needs fitting in one of the bedrooms following minor alterations. I'm going to fit it myself given that it looks pig simple.

ps ... at a later date I may be selling a bargain priced second hand blind with some parts missing

[Mervyn and Trish]

And looking for a glacier....

[Quizzical Bob]

My immediate DIY needs are things I need to browse to select, things like some new laminate floor and some bits and pieces to finish off a bathroom refurb I started a couple of months ago. So I need to go into stores to choose them.

B&Q have re-opened 61 stores to the public. Unfortunately it is not easy to find out which ones they are through the B&Q website which is operating a queue system.

If you’re lucky there might be one on this list near you :-

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/li ... ning-hours

Aberdeen
Bamber Bridge
Basildon
Blackpool
Bolton
Bury
Cardiff
Cardiff (Culverhouse Cross)
Cheetham Hill
Chester
Chiswick
Coventry (Brandon Road)
Crewe
Croydon
Darnley
Dearne Valley
Derby
Doncaster
Dundee
East Kilbride
Edinburgh
Enfield
Erdington
Exeter
Fareham
Farnborough
Gillingham
Glasshoughton
Gloucester
Great Western Rd
Great Yarmouth
Grimsby
Halesowen
Hartcliffe
Havant
Huddersfield
Ipswich
Leeds
Leicester
Meir Park
Milton Keynes
New Malden
Newtownabbey
North Shields
Northampton
Norwich
Nottingham
Nursling, Paisley
Peterborough
Plymouth
Queens Road
Reading
Romford
Scotswood
Slough
Solihull
Southend
St Andrews Quay
St.Helens
Stockport
Stockton
Sutton
Sutton in Ashfield
Swansea
Trafford Park
Wallasey
Warrington
Washington
Watford
Wednesbury
West Thurrock
Wigan

[CaroleF]

All I want is a family meal and more specifically to be able to hug my daughters and grandaughters, maybe unrealistic I know but that's what I want more than anything! A haircut would be really good too!

Carole

[screwy]

Happy St George’s day one and all.