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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think i should be able to go out

179 replies

Snufflesdog · 25/03/2020 18:14

Without coming into contact with people?!

I can’t get to my car (medical trips today) without getting close to children playing in the road

And I can’t walk our dog without crossing paths with about 100 other people. In addition to all the children on the estate playing out in the road, many others are playing in their front gardens - meaning I would have to walk in the road to stay 6ft from them. Down one road there was at least 5 groups of people (who are not one family or from one household) hanging around just on the pavement having a chat and many of whole were drinking beers(!) out in the sun
There were also people filing in and out of all the local shops for ‘essential’ shopping - such as an ice cream, or a can of coke.

This is not a summer holiday!

What is so hard about these guidelines and why does no one care?!

OP posts:
Chillicheese123 · 25/03/2020 19:48

Don’t get people bring slagged off for being in their own gardens ?

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/03/2020 19:49

@Alsohuman dogs can carry it in their hair so its very important people keep them on leads.

Ivebeentohellanditscalledikea · 25/03/2020 19:51

It's the opposite here. I live on what is thought of as a rough estate that usually has kids everywhere but now it's eerily quiet as no one other than the odd dog walker and people going to work are out. I've never known it to be so quiet.

Chottie · 25/03/2020 19:52

SE London here and the roads are so quiet. People are crossing the roads to avoid each other. Supermarket and other shops are insisting on 2m gap and limiting number of shoppers inside.

Where are the areas that are treating today like a BH?

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/03/2020 19:54

Its important everybody including children get their exercise once a day and for some fresh air. I think riding a bike is fine as long as keeping their distance.

maddiemookins16mum · 25/03/2020 19:54

I am working still, office of 190 people empty apart from two of us - sitting miles apart. I drive 6 miles there, 6 miles back. Large SE Town. I saw about 4 people in both directions today, that was all.

TwatCat · 25/03/2020 19:58

@Areyoufree it's like that here. People are going out for exercise but they are taking it seriously and staying well away if you need to pass them. There are no kids out playing.

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 25/03/2020 19:58

When I went for my run this morning I only saw a few people and it was easy to keep our distance. However on the way back a couple were walking towards me with their dog on the path and didn’t bother trying to move to one side, forcing me into the bushes. The dickhead guy then threw his dogs ball near me which hit my foot and the dog bounded over to me Angry. The woman apologised but not the idiot man.

If it happens again I’m going to say “you do realise we’re supposed to be social distancing?” I’m really annoyed now I didn’t say anything.

winterinmadeira · 25/03/2020 19:59

It’s generally been very quiet here with most people behaving but I couldn’t believe (who I thought was) a sensible neighbour talking a another mother on our estate and her friend with less than a foot between them and their children and 1 dog all playing on their bikes or running around.

I thought what is it about staying a distance away from other people and households that they just don’t get?

Praiseyou · 25/03/2020 20:00

YABU to expect to have a completely empty road to walk your dog. It's no more essential than those people buying ice-cream. And as for expecting children to keep out of their front gardens so you can walk by their houses! Don't you realise you are one of the people you are complaining about?

panicstationsready · 25/03/2020 20:01

I agree, it’s amazing how the majority of my neighbours have suddenly taken up exercising today.

My neighbours are probably saying that about me - however I am WAH and do about 300 steps in a day - if I was in the office it would be way more than that and I would go out at lunchtime etc. So yes, I am now going out actually exercising.

TheArchSorcererofContwaraburg · 25/03/2020 20:02

Enjoy it now! Because so many entitled gits think it's their God-given right to do whatever they please in the name of 'daily exercise' and 'fresh air' we will soon wind up like Spain and Italy where you can go out to the end of your road and that's it.

FunkyKingston · 25/03/2020 20:02

BetteDavis what was to prevent you from stopping, crossing to the other side or moving a good distance away from the couple? They don't have to leap out the way as you come towards them. Seems from your description that you just ploughed on without dropping the speed you were moving.

bobstersmum · 25/03/2020 20:05

It's dead around here. From our house its very open and can see quite far and I couldn't see any movement at all today cars or people, it's been eerie! I'm in a town too.

Stoic123 · 25/03/2020 20:05

Middle of small city here. Lots of folks out running, biking and running but everyone kept their distance/politely moved out the way of each other. Easy to maintain at least a 2 metre gap.

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 25/03/2020 20:07

Funky

No, when dh and I are walking along the same path atm we move into single file on one side to allow others to pass at a safe distance. This couple were spread across the path and didn’t make any effort to move over, as would be sensible. As I said I was forced to walk into the bush to try and keep away from them.
Maybe they are just ignorant to what is going on? To throw his dogs ball at my feet though was rude and stupid, even if we weren’t in the grip of a pandemic!

Daffodil55 · 25/03/2020 20:08

This afternoon I took my daily walk to the local shops which meant I could pick up my regular prescription from Boots. I had to pass a park with an area of swings, slides etc. and was so impressed there was not a single child in there. Some were playing footie with their dads or riding their scooters on the grassed areas and keeping well away from others so I could see everyone was sticking by the rules. I went to the door of Boots and saw it was manned (well womaned) by an assistant who was checking the very small queue going in and asking what their visit was for. I went in and stood my allocated distance behind the man in front (only up to 3 at any time in the queue) and while waiting I saw a lady come in and go to the make up shelves. A few seconds later she had disappeared. Not sure if she was asked to leave as makeup is non essential.

More and more people are realising how serious all this is but on my local news I saw that the police had to break up some groups of young people who thought this lovely warm sunny day meant they could gather outdoors and have a few cans of lager. So still a number of people and I think it tends to be the youths who think this is all some joke and OTT fuss over a f+++++g virus.

As the weather is warming up and we see much more sunshine it could bring out the rebels who will get so fed up of lockdown they will break free and stick two fingers up while they excercise their rights to freedom. News for them, their rights are no longer what they thought they were.

IndecentFeminist · 25/03/2020 20:10

In honesty, you'd need to be closer to someone for longer than it takes to walk past to get to your car in order to catch anything.

Loooobyloo · 25/03/2020 20:11

I've seen loads of children playing out today, neighbours chatting whilst standing close to each other, people sat on benches having a chat. In fact I've never seen so many people out and about as I have today.

As much as I hate the idea, I think Boris needs to do a full lockdown.

Doilooklikeatourist · 25/03/2020 20:13

We chatted ( shouted ) over the fence at a friend while he was out for a walk , we were weeding the front drive
Walked down to post a birthday card , very civilised , we all kept to the social distancing rules , and shouted chat over the road when we saw people we know
Been to Tesco for some essentials , and that was nice and quiet too
Everyone keeping to the rules here it seems

Loooobyloo · 25/03/2020 20:15

A friend on Facebook asked whether to get a gas BBQ or not, she got into a chat with someone and he's going round for tea tomorrow. I despair.

Alsohuman · 25/03/2020 20:15

I saw two people sitting at opposite ends of a bench today. They were 2 metres apart. Can’t see the problem.

Bringringbring12 · 25/03/2020 20:15

You live in a different town to me OP

Lovely SE commuter town and absolutely completely dead. I think I was only one in Marks today getting some bits. Park - people there but no children and everyone enormously respectful of the distance recommendation.

Loooobyloo · 25/03/2020 20:17

Oh and my local Aldi was full this morning, there was distancing but it was difficult when there were so many in there. I think I need to move.

CorianderLord · 25/03/2020 20:17

It's hot out 🤷‍♀️

Here in C London it's 2 people in the shop at a time and the only people at the park are walking dogs or jogging