My neighbours have found the solution to not visiting vulnerable people

[MyNameHasBeenTaken]

It really is genius! 😷😄
Next door family have had sore throats and runny noses.
Done the right thing by isolating themselves. (Mum, dad and 2 primary age kids).
Her parents have called around for about an hour. Nothing urgent. Just wanted to say hello and chat.
So they stood in the back garden and all yelled at each other through a crack in the window!
They have been isolated for a week now. Parents live a few miles away, so had to drive here. All are fine with tech/phone/facetime

My friends have tea with granny every day - she eats in her house, they eat on theirs at the same time and they FaceTime the meal!

my inner introvert is quietly content

Mine too! I feel guilty about it but I have been so relaxed since we started self isolating. No stressing about people turning up at the house, or getting invited out and having to see people. It’s my one silver lining to this cloud.

Completely agree everyone should learn it. Dead useful in all sorts of situations, like through the bus window or from the other side of a room.

As well as the obvious use of talking to people who speak it as a main language, of course.

I don't live with DP. I'm talking to him through his glass porch door.

My daughter had a virtual drinks party with her lovely team last night using one of the on-line video chat things after office hours. They had a great time, each with their own tipple at home sharing banter and chats.

It’s my mother in laws 83rd birthday today - we dropped presents & cards off a week ago but this morning 3 of her grandchildren went to her house with a small cake & candles. They sang Happy Birthday to her from outside the front window and she blew the candles out through the letter box.

We just did this to our friends (not self isolating just social distancing) as dropped off present for their dc’s birthday - stood well back & had quick catch up through open window. Video, FaceTime etc are all great but there’s still something about seeing a person in the flesh, even from 2m away.

Just to say, a runny nose is a sure fire sign it isn’t C19.

Good for your neighbours! If only everyone was so sensible.

It's what we plan to do although my parents will come out to the garden too.
They are gutted as DD is only 5 months old so they are already missing baby cuddles. At least they can still see her and it gives me something to do to as we no longer do baby classes or meet up with other mums/ babies.

@YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus

I think 5% of people do get a runny nose. Perhaps it’s sneezing you’re thinking of.

My parents are 100 miles away. I’m seriously considering going to see them on a warmer, sunny day and sitting in the garden with them. A couple of meters apart, not touching any surfaces, will even wear gloves so I don’t leave anything on the garden bench!

That would be ok, wouldn’t it? If I am well and if I don’t touch them or anything else?

I read a story to my grandson last night over video messenger. He loved it.

Just to say, a runny nose is a sure fire sign it isn’t C19.

A word of caution.

At this time of year a lot of us have constantly runny noses, due to the massive amounts of tree pollen in the air.

Some people who are allergic to tree pollen will have runny noses, so please don't use a runny nose as a reason to disregard the social distancing and self isolating rules. It's perfectly possible for people with allergies to carry and spread the virus.

Lol
Lots of people are doing that around here as well, dispensing with telephones and just shouting through windows, occasionally joining in with each other’s conversations, like a real life « group chat «.
It’s very entertaining, but also quite nice.

she blew the candles out through the letter box

I love this.

We set up our garden table and chairs in our garden today, below a balcony. We had visitors go round the outside of the house and use the garden (they live in a flat) then before they approached the table we put coffee and biscuits out. We retreated into house and went out onto balcony and had a nice chat from there. Table, chairs and crockery can stay out there untouched in quarantine. Nice bit of social interaction. Will be even nicer in better weather.

justasking111 that’s lovely. I think I’ll get my parents to do the same.

I made my grandparents get their coats on and sit in the garden with me. Even brought my own cup of tea so we could have a cuppa and a chat.

I’m driving 200 miles on Sunday to stand outside mum’s window and shout at her.

I’ve not seen her for a month, she has a serious illness and won’t survive corona so I want to see her again in case she dies.

Why not put your phone on speaker phone, then you can hear each other without shouting, if the older people don’t having hearing issues?

I’m so sorry about your poor mum, Janice.

Love this. My inlaws have a very elderly widowed neighbour and they are arranging regular catch-ups, shouting over the fence at her to give her some company.

I must admit that currently the freeness of uninvited inlays visiting plus not having to socialize is quite nice. Not nice having people Ill but I have been so anxious I needed to hunker down. I'm not enjoying the situation though. Worrying.