Things you've actually found to be better in lockdown

[G B Young]

Some great stuff already on the wildlife and gardening threads but just wondering if anyone has discovered any day to day things which have been improved by being in lockdown.

[Jones28]

It goes without saying but traffic is immensely improved. My 45/50 minute journey is down to 22 minutes without having to put the boot down, so my diesel is lasting me 3/4 weeks.

I’d love to see what this kind of change is doing for the planet, probably not as radical a change as I’d hope to see but it must be making a difference.

[Smartie]

I haven't slept this much or this well at any point during my adult life.

[hibsbollah]

Both alcohol and coffee taste much better and I use both much more as a result.

[Smartie]

Both alcohol and coffee taste much better and I use both much more as a result.

I've gone the other way - barely touched a drop of either, which is probably why my sleep has been good.

[G B Young]

Both alcohol and coffee taste much better and I use both much more as a result.

:greengrin Definitely upped the intake of both as well.

A bit of a random one, but I happened upon Question Time last week which is a programme I generally can't stand. However, without the audience it appears to have become more of a chat show type programme featuring a panel either observing social distancing or taking part remotely. I might just have picked a good week but the discussion was measured and interesting with nobody shouting over each other. Much better than its usual format so I'd recommend to the BBC that they keep it this way and scrap the annoying audience.

[G B Young]

It goes without saying but traffic is immensely improved. My 45/50 minute journey is down to 22 minutes without having to put the boot down, so my diesel is lasting me 3/4 weeks.

I’d love to see what this kind of change is doing for the planet, probably not as radical a change as I’d hope to see but it must be making a difference.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/lockdowns-trigger-dramatic-fall-global-carbon-emissions

[JeMeSouviens]

:greengrin Definitely upped the intake of both as well.

A bit of a random one, but I happened upon Question Time last week which is a programme I generally can't stand. However, without the audience it appears to have become more of a chat show type programme featuring a panel either observing social distancing or taking part remotely. I might just have picked a good week but the discussion was measured and interesting with nobody shouting over each other. Much better than its usual format so I'd recommend to the BBC that they keep it this way and scrap the annoying audience.

:agree:

I saw it a bit of it the other week for the first time in ages and was amazed by not wanting to instantly turn it off or throw the telly out the window.

[Jones28]

:greengrin Definitely upped the intake of both as well.

A bit of a random one, but I happened upon Question Time last week which is a programme I generally can't stand. However, without the audience it appears to have become more of a chat show type programme featuring a panel either observing social distancing or taking part remotely. I might just have picked a good week but the discussion was measured and interesting with nobody shouting over each other. Much better than its usual format so I'd recommend to the BBC that they keep it this way and scrap the annoying audience.

It’s amazing how much more conducive not having an audience is to productive conversation.

My favourite audience member on question time was the guy who thought earning £80k a year didn’t even have him in the top 50% of earners, told the labour rep on the panel he was lying and refused to believe he was in the top 5%.

[Jones28]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/lockdowns-trigger-dramatic-fall-global-carbon-emissions

Thanks GB 👍🏻

[JeMeSouviens]

I know it's a cliche, but I've been learning to bake. Here's this week's effort (unfortunately now run out of yeast).

https://i.ibb.co/prJFm9G/bread-oats.jpg

My wife's extended family who have kind of drifted apart as the older generation died off have started a whatsapp group that's been really nice to reconnect.

We've had a virtual pub with a bunch of friends we've not been great at keeping in touch with.

Hopefully, these things will have taken root.

[Pretty Boy]

40 minute drive to work now takes between 12 and 15 minutes.

It's given me a kick up the arse to actually get back in touch with people and agree to meet up post lockdown. I'm terrible for letting friendships fizzle out because I never make plans. I love my own company but I now realise I need people as well.

The majority of people just seem far more polite as well. There are dicks of course but on the whole I get a lot more please and thanks at work and out walking or running loads of people say hello, good morning or whatever

[G B Young]

I know it's a cliche, but I've been learning to bake. Here's this week's effort (unfortunately now run out of yeast).

https://i.ibb.co/prJFm9G/bread-oats.jpg

My wife's extended family who have kind of drifted apart as the older generation died off have started a whatsapp group that's been really nice to reconnect.

We've had a virtual pub with a bunch of friends we've not been great at keeping in touch with.

Hopefully, these things will have taken root.

That looks a fine effort. Yes, yeast remains a scare commodity due to the number of home baking converts!

[hibsbollah]

The weather is way better under the current Covid regime. It doesn’t rain in Scotland anymore by the looks of things.

[ronaldo7]

The weather is way better under the current Covid regime. It doesn’t rain in Scotland anymore by the looks of things.

I was just going to say, topping up the tan.

The weather has been absolutely fantastic.

[Mibbes Aye]

The weather is way better under the current Covid regime. It doesn’t rain in Scotland anymore by the looks of things.


I was just going to say, topping up the tan.

The weather has been absolutely fantastic.

:agree:

Should have enough vitamin D for the next five years :greengrin. Just the liver to worry about.

[lapsedhibee]

Should have enough vitamin D for the next five years :greengrin. Just the liver to worry about.

Vitamin D manufacture's maxed out after about 30 mins a day. Beyond that it's just ramping up the skin cancer risk. So skin and liver. :wink:

[Mibbes Aye]

Vitamin D manufacture's maxed out after about 30 mins a day. Beyond that it's just ramping up the skin cancer risk. So skin and liver. :wink:

I’ve got a George Michael tan though. To go with the George Foreman physique.

[greenlex]

I haven’t lost a golf ball in months.

[Logie Green]

Fewer taxis on the roads.

[Hibby Bairn]

I haven't slept this much or this well at any point during my adult life.

This is so true. I’m probably sleeping about 9 hours a night. I have no idea how I used to get up at 7am.

Better diet. Much more fresh air and exercise. And less noise on roads and in the air probably helps.

[RyeSloan]

I haven’t lost a golf ball in months.

Hee hee liked that one [emoji3516]

[stu in nottingham]

Waking up.

Following that 'where the ****** am I' feeling, that gradual realisation that you do don't have to do battle with public transport in the pissing down rain, waiting for buses that don't come. That your only commute for the day is going to be a trip downstairs to the coffee pot, feed the cat and open up the lid on your laptop to start work..

[Sylar]

Our daughter not being able to stay with grandparents has her in the most settled sleeping pattern we've known for quite some time. Though this current heat is threatening to undo that a little...

I've scarcely had to put any fuel in my car as I've been working from home solid for 10 weeks and going very few places. If we had childcare available from somewhere, I'd genuinely be enjoying working from home more (as it is, half days at best).

We're well on top of housework, because we can spend 20 minutes getting a load of washing in/out/ironed, hoovering, cleaning as a wee break from work.

I'm cooking more at nights, because I don't finish work, have to do the commute home from Glasgow and feel like a burst baw and just order takeaway as a lazy option (though our local takeaways ARE being frequented a couple of days a week to keep them going of course :greengrin)

I'm getting out for a 3-4 mile walk every day in the various natural beauty spots around us, which is vastly helping to counterbalance the uptake in alcohol intake and maintaining my mental wellbeing on the more challenging days.

[Antifa Hibs]

Our daughter not being able to stay with grandparents has her in the most settled sleeping pattern we've known for quite some time. Though this current heat is threatening to undo that a little...

I've scarcely had to put any fuel in my car as I've been working from home solid for 10 weeks and going very few places. If we had childcare available from somewhere, I'd genuinely be enjoying working from home more (as it is, half days at best).

We're well on top of housework, because we can spend 20 minutes getting a load of washing in/out/ironed, hoovering, cleaning as a wee break from work.

I'm cooking more at nights, because I don't finish work, have to do the commute home from Glasgow and feel like a burst baw and just order takeaway as a lazy option (though our local takeaways ARE being frequented a couple of days a week to keep them going of course :greengrin)

I'm getting out for a 3-4 mile walk every day in the various natural beauty spots around us, which is vastly helping to counterbalance the uptake in alcohol intake and maintaining my mental wellbeing on the more challenging days.

Cooking more yet still visiting takeaways a couple of times a week?

That's scary.

[Sylar]

Cooking more yet still visiting takeaways a couple of times a week?

That's scary.

:confused:

It's no real reflection on previously bad cooking habits - maybe bad breakfast/lunch habits when we were working. I'm now cooking/properly preparing 3 meals a day, rather than relying on the old sandwich etc at lunch (more often than not bought some a shop somewhere near work), and often forgoing breakfast or grabbing something quick near work too.

I've always cooked dinner most nights, but we do eat out a lot under normal circumstances at the weekend, and normally one night a week after work, we'll stay in Glasgow and have dinner while gran has our daughter. We weren't a 'chippy 3 days, kebab one night, Chinese 2 nights and a cheeky Indian' household prior to lockdown :greengrin

[Pretty Boy]

:confused:

It's no real reflection on previously bad cooking habits - maybe bad breakfast/lunch habits when we were working. I'm now cooking/properly preparing 3 meals a day, rather than relying on the old sandwich etc at lunch (more often than not bought some a shop somewhere near work), and often forgoing breakfast or grabbing something quick near work too.

I've always cooked dinner most nights, but we do eat out a lot under normal circumstances at the weekend, and normally one night a week after work, we'll stay in Glasgow and have dinner while gran has our daughter. We weren't a 'chippy 3 days, kebab one night, Chinese 2 nights and a cheeky Indian' household prior to lockdown :greengrin

I'm the same as you.

We always ate well in the evening; I enjoy cooking and I'm good at it so had no issue prepping in advance and then I'd finish cooking something nice every night. However breakfast was usually just coffee and toast or cereal and whilst I always had the best of intentions about lunch I still ate a suspiscious number of meal deals.

I'm back at work now but when I was on furlough I suddenly had loads of time. It meant breakfast became far more adventurous and lunch could be cooked from scratch as well and I had time to make some really nice dishes, often lunch replaced dinner and we'd just have something light in the evening. I've tried to carry the habit on since going back to work and have thus far managed to take some nice salads and open sandwiches for lunch.

On the flip side we used to have a takeaway once a fortnight as a treat, that shifted to once a week. I didn't eat badly before, I'm eating far better now and I enjoy my takeaway treat.

[Smartie]

The "meals thing" is actually huge.

We've been far more likely to sit down properly at the table as a family and have a meal as well - certainly every evening meal but also sometimes lunch and breakfast when it suits.

I've been working from home but it has been amazing to have those opportunities just to see my partner and daughter and have a bit of interaction with them.

It's probably saved us a fortune on buying sandwiches etc, arguably been healthier too.

[judas]

:greengrin Definitely upped the intake of both as well.

A bit of a random one, but I happened upon Question Time last week which is a programme I generally can't stand. However, without the audience it appears to have become more of a chat show type programme featuring a panel either observing social distancing or taking part remotely. I might just have picked a good week but the discussion was measured and interesting with nobody shouting over each other. Much better than its usual format so I'd recommend to the BBC that they keep it this way and scrap the annoying audience.

This.

The programme has reached a higher place without the moronic, factional baying and heckling.

[overdrive]

This.

The programme has reached a higher place without the moronic, factional baying and heckling.

Unfortunately it had a Jambo on it last night.

[JeMeSouviens]

Unfortunately it had a Jambo on it last night.

2!

Massie is a Jambo an all.