PA ‘friend’ bitching about me exercising

[PoppliosBubble]

I have a mum friend in the village I live in. Not massively close friends with her but kids go to each other’s parties, we do the odd event together etc.

I’ve been taking dc’s out for a walk across the fields every day. We live in a very old village and our house is in the original part with no garden, just a courtyard that’s now our drive. Dc’s are young, we’ve been encouraged to go out, the fields are fallow this year so no issue of us stepping off the path to let other people pass with a 2 metre gap and we rarely see others anyway.

This woman lives in a mansion, acres of land, animals, could probably happily stay there for months without running out of things to do. She’s been posting on FB for days about fuckers going out of the house, how hard is it to understand that if you go out we’ll have to stay in lockdown forever, that she spotted 10 people today, what a bunch of fuckwits they are to think the rules don’t apply to them etc etc.

Now she’s posted this lovely rock for people to find. Quite a few people have been painting rocks with little messages on them for people to see on their walks. Not really my thing but if it keeps people busy and cheers others up then I thinks it’s all good.

Now I’m feeling completely watched every time I pass her house. I’m not doing anything wrong am I? Taking dc’s for a couple of mile walk once a day. I thought that’s what we were being encouraged to do.

[FOJN]

No you are not doing anything wrong. Despite her privileged lockdown she clearly doesn't have enough to do. Ignore and carry on unless a stricter lockdown is implemented.

[elQuintoConyo]

That photo has made me laugh so hard! What a bunch of utter fuckers! I'd be so tempted to paint a PA stone and chuck it in her park-sized "garden".

"Fuck you Janet"

What you're doing sounds fine, you're keeping your distance. We're in a Spanish flat no garden, DC not been outside since 15th March.

[RiftGibbon]

You're not doing anything wrong. Sine people seem to be rather hard if understanding as to what the current rules do and don't permit.

[elQuintoConyo]

Btw she's not a friend. I'd be distancing myself from her/them after all this is over. It's making us see who are "friends" are and which neighbours are totally barking.

[TorkTorkBam]

Smile and wave with great exaggeration as you go past her house. Own it. You are doing nothing wrong. Remember, proper friends gently take the piss when one of them is being daft.

[StandWithYou]

No you’re sticking to the guidelines of an hour exercise a day. I assume the picture is one that she posted on Facebook? What are the responses to it and who are the 25 idiots who liked it?

[TinnedPearsForPudding]

I've seen that rock in at least 3 different FB groups this morning. All painted at home, all their own "original" idea

[Glenthebattleostrich]

I'm finding some people would have relished living in Nazi Germany. The tattling and self riteous behaviour is just horrendous.

I've been on a massive social media cull because of it. I think my block list is currently longer than my friends lists.

A neighbour actually texted me yesterday because she saw me leave the house twice. I did, once to walk the dog for exercise and a second time to deliver some emergency Calpol to someone FFS. She actually threatened to speak to a police officer who lives nearby about 'my behaviour'.

My response, as yours should be, was 'if you have nothing of value to add to an already unpleasant situation can I suggest you find something to do with your life? Perhaps some volunteering, spending time doing something for others could make you less of a bitter nasty person. At the very least it would take away some of the time you clearly have on your hands'

[Reallybadidea]

I would put money on her finding that rock in her own house next to a window and some broken glass. What an absolute twat.

[NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite]

Just because she lives in a mansion that doesn't mean she can't comment on people not staying indoors. She may have been commenting generally on what she has seen on the news and then thought that seeing 10 people out and about in the village is a lot more than usual. She's allowed to comment if she wishes.

If you aren't doing anything wrong then you are just being paranoid in feeling watched when you pass her house. It doesn't mean she is referring to you.

Just wondering how you manage to pass her house anyway if she lives in "a mansion with acres of land". Is her mansion on the periphery of her land or are you taking your walk on her land?

I thought that’s what we were being encouraged to do.
We are not being encouraged to walk our DCs for 2 miles every day. The Govt recognise that exercise is good for both physical and mental health and allow us to do that each day. They aren't suggesting that anyone who doesn't should do so are they? That would be encouraging us.

[PoppliosBubble]

tinnedpears maybe she didn’t actually paint it then and is just reposting it as she found it funny. That’s slightly better I guess.

I’ll make sure I do my best ‘smile and wave’ as I pass later

[Soontobe60]

Yep, that pic was on my local fb page last night. Are you my neighbour???

[NataliaOsipova]

A neighbour actually texted me yesterday because she saw me leave the house twice.

Blimey! Good for you for giving it straight back to her....

[PoppliosBubble]

noteverythingisblackandwhite we’re being encouraged to go out to exercise, which is what I’m doing. And no, I’m obviously not walking through her garden .

[Selfsettling3]

Well they must have been going out to put these stones out.

[Whiskersandtwitch]

Well she is making a holy show of herself.

Carry on walking. Maybe give a friendly wave towards her twitching curtains or blow her a kiss.

[FOJN]

My response, as yours should be, was 'if you have nothing of value to add to an already unpleasant situation can I suggest you find something to do with your life? Perhaps some volunteering, spending time doing something for others could make you less of a bitter nasty person. At the very least it would take away some of the time you clearly have on your hands'

Perfect response.

[QualityFeet]

You can go out to exercise and there is no hour restriction as someone above posted, also a rural walk is clearly a very very very low risk for viral transmission. The parks by me are busy runners, dog walkers and teens meeting up. Yesterday a police car drove past a gang of seven teens on bikes. I circumvent the park and take the kids over fields, we saw 4 people in total - all at a distance- we touched no stiles, fences and did 13km. If some people think I am an arse for going down the same footpath everyday with my kids I think they are hard of understanding, both of the rules and realities of transmission. At one point I can see the queue for Asda - now that doesn’t look appealing!

[ThanosSavedMe]

Unless she actually named you then you don’t know she’s talking about you

[Divebar]

You’re actually being encouraged ( instructed) to stay at home but exercise is permitted. That being said your “ friend” sounds like an arse.

[Milicentbystander72]

Some people have interpreted the guidelines wrongly and weirdly.

I just had a friend (who's garden backs into a small woodland) post on fb about all the irresponsible people she saw walking in the woods yesterday. Apparently some 'fuckwits' were even in pairs or with children. Why can't people just stay home?

A mutual friend who gets up and jogs 10 miles a day down to our local harbour and back has just commented about how irresponsible all these people are.

I don't get, that they don't get that there's nothing really wrong here?

[LittleRa]

I’ve seen that rock picture shared on Facebook a few times by different people, I don’t think your acquaintance painted it.

[PoppliosBubble]

millicent my local FB page is almost entirely dedicated to posting photos of people out and about who are then shamed, all these photos have been taken by other people who are also out and about.

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

Well there’s a useful marker of stupidity.

I’m fairly sure leaving your home to litter your village with a sweary stone isn’t on the permitted list of essential activities. ooooh I’m telling.

[IntermittentParps]

I would put that aggressive stone through her window myself.