To ask genuinely if you aren't following the rules

[MrsKingfisher]

Why? I'm genuinely curious to know why those who can't get to grips with what's been asked of us all at this time or those who need to find a loophole are doing it.

Not key workers etc etc I'm talking about those who simply cannot do as they've been asked. It's mind boggling how simple rules can be so unclear to so many!

Some of my friends just cannot seem to stay at home, just carrying on as if the rules don't apply to them. I don't get it.

On Gransnet this morning someone asked about driving 3 miles to walk her dog on the beach. Most seemed to think that didn't break any rules and as it was deserted what was the problem. FFS - there is no hope..

I work in a school: we are on a rota to go in, but I’ve got there and been sent home when not enough children in. I also live in a townhouse with no garden and have a dog who needs to go relieve herself more than once a day. I live 2 minutes walk from the seafront so I’ve been taking her out early morning and mid-evening- about 15 mins each time (when there is next to no-one but other dog walkers in a similar situation) and my partner takes her for a very quick walk at lunchtime . There really is almost nobody about and those that are give each other a wide berth. I don’t think I’m putting myself or anyone else at risk. The rest of the time we are indoors, except for the odd shopping trip, which we need to do every other day, as we only have a very, very small fridge and no freezer. We were supposed to be moving to a new house soon, but the kibosh has been put on that.

I haven't left the house in 14 days due to self isolation but did get delivery of food that i had booked ages ago arrive today. Technically an hour or so before our self isolation was to end. I feel so naughty right now. So came in bags with lots of social distancing and stuff but still. I feel like a rebel.

Also I'm terrified about going out to the shops now. There seems to be so these new rules and I'm really nervous I am going to mess it up or forget something.

I know one person floating but everyone else is following the rules... although saying that, I had to go up the road, only next one up to my chemist... disposable gloves and mask on... broke a molar 🦷 in half no less... only 2 quarts of it left... dentist can’t do anything as it’s not infected they told me to get a temp filling... luckily had to collect my meds too.. dang forgot paracetamol... praying it doesn’t get infected.. don’t want to leave the house and looks like will have to be careful with only soft foods... urghh

Because they are selfish and thoughtless. They think no one they are close to will suffer or die from Coronavirus so they don’t care.

On the other hand I felt guilty going shopping today and I went when it was quiet. I’m all alone at home, safely tucked up working from home in my flat. But I’m SAFE and I am attempting to minimise the risk to my own and other people’s loved ones.

Even if it’s 12 weeks doing this and then still no pubs/restaurants etc it’s a small price to pay. My grandad and his brother went to war for us to have our freedom, we are being asked to stay home for a VERY short period in the grand scheme of things, whether that is 3 weeks or 3 months.

Yes it’s a massive change to what we are used to but do we really want our NHS to collapse and us have no health care? Will that not be an even bigger change?

Turdsticles? I love it!

We are key workers but we have always had the option of working from home, and can do most of our work from home and we are not doing home visits.

The two oldest in our team (in their 60s) were the only ones still going in last week (for no reason!) like they were some kind of heroes.

One of them is also caring for her elderly dad- it was really pissing me off actually.

I haven't been out in about 12 days and were not self isolating, I'm just following the advice. I have a two year old who's going mental tbh and a ten week old. DH is working from home. Oh and our house is an unfinished building site due to covid so we have no doors, no floors in places...I live on the same street as my family but there's no end of the driveway waving/chatting going on. But dya know what I think saving peoples lives is more important right now. What if my mum and dad get it, what if my nan dies... Its not a question in my mind of whether I can bend the rules. Those who do should take a hard look at those ventilators in Italy. Is that what they really want for people or god forbid their selfishness THEMSELVES...

On Gransnet this morning someone asked about driving 3 miles to walk her dog on the beach. Most seemed to think that didn't break any rules and as it was deserted what was the problem. FFS - there is no hope

No problem with that at all, in fact they'll probably be safer.

There are obviously some different rules somewhere that we haven't been told! Neighbours opposite are out visiting each day. Last week another neighbour stopped on a walk and ended up sitting next to the first guy on their garden wall, legs touching - that's how close - drinking coffee together whilst wife and another visiting family member were power washing the drive. Then they came and sat on our wall. I went out and queried why they weren't keeping two metres apart. I understand their English isn't good, but the chap kept saying 'Don't worry' ' He's my friend' and 'It's nothing to do with you'. They went back across the road, still laughing and joking with arms round each other when my other neighbour went out with the same query but he turned his back on her and said it wasn't her business. Their visitor appears to be staying with them - sometimes - and goes in and out of the house at will. The neighbours on the corner, who speak excellent English, had their families round on Mothering Sunday. We would have loved to have done that but we are following the rules. Likewise with the Clapforourcarers applause for NHS - the whole of the street was out there - except for the non-UK families. Maybe it's because we are so proud of the NHS and it's part of our heritage. This is certainly not racist - just an observation.

The problem is driving unnecessarily and risking having a crash and diverting NHS resources to you rather than to those already in hospital.

My OH is doing three walks not one.

By that I mean instead of going out for an hour for one walk, he goes out for 20 minutes, returns, swaps dogs, out for 20, returns, swaps dogs, out for 20 and home.

This is because walking all five in one go is dangerous, and not walking some having walked others is also, dangerous (proven, as I got badly bitten splitting up a fight by a very frustrated dog on day one of attempting that!)

We think this is ok because:

He is still only out for an hour.

He does not touch anything whilst out other than the dog/dog poo bag (no gates etc)

He isn't going anywhere he meets other people so is not increasing his contact or proximity with others any more than if he went out for an hour straight.

These are his only trips outside the house and I don't currently go out at all (excepting my trip to A&E earlier in the week to get stitched up, tetanus jabbed and antibiotics).

This has kept things calm and safe in my house without increasing risk of spreading the virus to anyone else.

I checked with a local police officer who thought it seemed sensible.

This is where one of my most favourite sayings applies:

'Thick as mince'

I'm still having to work one of my jobs as we're providing a community service for the elderly and vulnerable local residents. I'm a keyworker for my main job but haven't had to go in at the moment. My DH has been given furlough. Other than to attend work at our 2nd jobs, which has been home-car-work-car-home, we've not been across the doors. It's been 2 weeks on Wed for me, and a week on Tuesday for DH. DC finished school a week gone Friday.

I've not as much been to the shops, we get our milk delivered anyway and have done for some time, we have freezers filled with food and are expecting a delivery from a local company tomorrow. My parent's are sorted and shouldn't have to leave the house either. I don't understand why other people are unable to follow simple rules for the good of others.

Heard today a family member (key nhs auxiliary) hugged a strangers 2 year old who “ran up to her” at the graveyard today. Does not seem to have any concept that 1. The child may have been infectious and 2. That she is high risk of being an asymptomatic carrier. There are no words. I don’t leave the house except to walk my dog. I’ve had my elderly mothers groceries and medication set up for delivery and I haven’t seen my children or grandchildren since the lockdown started. I’d just like to add that my youngest daughter (33) was telephone diagnosed with covid19 at the weekend. She has been following the lockdown to the letter. It is presumed she caught it prior to that. She has been unwell for 6 days. Stay the heck at home. She is staring to recover without any complications thankfully.

What about the people who have a parent who are terminally ill and may only have 3 months left? I’m speaking from experience my father is terminally ill and I could spend the next 3 months not going to see him so he could be safe for the next 3 months but I know fullwell he would rather have his children come and visit him for the rest of his life regardless of wether that could be shortened by catching this virus. I know it sounds selfish to others but when your parent is dieing and only have a few months left of life you want to spend time with them!

Supermarkets now aren't letting people with children in. I'm a single parent, DC's dad and his wife are in the extremely vulnerable category. I can't get a delivery slot, because I'm not the vulnerable one (even then, exH and his DW have struggled to get a delivery slot) I also do not drive or even own a car. This means I either have to leave DC with dad and step mum thus exposing them, or my mum, a key worker, has to drive a 3 hour round trip to drop shopping off outside our door (not coming in or even having a chat through the door, of course), this would be her big shop of the week as she has her own home to shop for (my father and younger siblings who still live at home), and she then goes to work.
How is any of that safer than me walking 5 mins down the road to the supermarket with my children who are old enough to not piss around a supermarket, yet not old enough to be safely left alone?

And before anyone pipes up, it would be lovely if I had neighbours that could do shopping for us, but given that all but 2 houses around here belong to people under the age of 70 and with restrictions on how many items you can buy, it hasn't happened and won't either. Have asked on social media, made an account just to do so, people seem to be keen to advertise help but not so willing to give it? Haven't had a food shop in a week and a half, and as we were kind and didn't stock pile, we have a few slices of bread in the freezer, and half a carton of milk and odds and ends of bits in the cupboard. Enough for a few days but not longer. Certainly a weird feeling having enough money in the bank, but not being able to access food.

So I choose between mum risking an RTA and potentially exposing a lot more people, or send DC to their dad's and risk exposing them. All just for basic necessities.
Is my mum breaking the rules doing a 3 hr round trip? Would I be breaking the rules doing 30 min walk to DC's dad, to do a shop and carry what I can (not a full week's shop without a car, so would have to do this several times a week, or multiple trips in one day), go home, then another walk to pick DC up and get back? If the justification for not allowing people to just drive about is the risk of exposure and risk of RTA, why is my mother undertaking that long trip on our behalf the only choice I seem to be left with? What even is the safest choice in this scenario?

Obviously not talking about deliberately and negligently breaking rules per se but all of my available options feel like I would be breaking rules

There is no rule that says you have to walk from home , you can get in your car and stay local , which I do, as the small local woods is busy and I know places that are very near and less crowded and there is no reason not to.

I've definitely been abiding by the rules. I only go out to work, I have to as I'm a key worker. I don't want to endanger anyone life.

aspoonfulofyourownmedicine do you not like exercising at all?

So people who want to exercise are "thick as mince", but its fine for you to have two jobs

We are sticking to the rules and our DD are too. All working from our own home and only DD2 has been to the shops so far. We Face Time and Whats App but haven't seen each other since before the Lockdown.

My younger sister, however, doesn't seem to want to get her head round this "Stay at Home" message.

She's messaged me twice asking if I'll do her a favour. I would "normally" have done both things.

Once to go to her house and cut her hair because her hairdresser has cancelled her appointment and she doesn't know why. WTF

I explained 1) Hairdresser have closed due to the Covid 19 rules and 2) I can't as we are "Staying at Home" unless it's ESSENTIAL.

On Friday I got a text - can I go round and help her decorate her bedroom as I'm not busy and she has to "Stay at Home" and her son's can't come round.

No sh*t

So again it was "NO" I have to "Stay at Home" too.

I had already told her my DD went to the shops bought milk and bread for us that she left on our drive as we are "Staying at Home" and "Social Distancing".

She must have been out at some point as she didn't have the wallpaper for her bedroom the week before Lockdown started. Clearly these things are "Essential".

She's old enough to know better and selfish enough not to take any notice. I am so p*ssed off with her right now. What will it take for people to get the message?

Some time this week I will have to go shopping, I will get lists from DDs and arrange to drop their shopping off and wave as I drive away.

I suppose I'd better ask my sister if she needs anything but knowing her she'll still be going into town most days.

As DD2 say "Can't fix stupid" but their "Stupid" is killing people.

The only one I haven't been following is the one walk a day. I live by myself with no garden so am still taking my dog out at his regular times. 3 short on-lead walks with the required social distancing and 1 walk to our nearby playing field which is always dead, even before all this began. Since this started, I have only been to the nearest supermarket once to get fresh veggies for the guinea pigs, bread, milk etc and to the nearest corner shop to top up gas and electricity, again with the required social distancing.

My neighbors are carrying on regardless. They are going out on foot though as they don't want to lose their 5 parking spaces for their unnecessary vehicles. Overheard them shouting at another neighbor about it. It's a bit of a free for all here as our terraces houses don't come with drives. They stuck a really shitty note on our car once, threatening to call the council as our car was parked outside their house (legally, on the road). You can't reason with stupid.

Your dh has two jobs but is on furlough? How does thst work?

Yes, I'm following the rules. It's boring but what can you do.