AIBU to plan on having a BBQ

[Numptydumptyfelloffthewall]

Hi,

I've seen such conflicting advice and information on this lockdown that I'm starting to doubt my own judgement. I've tried to follow the lockdown to the letter. DH and I are working full time from home and i've been out once since lockdown for food shopping. We have 2 DC (4, 6) who are home and havent been out, they run around in the garden for exercise.

I have some BBQ coal in the shed and was wondering if it would be unreasonable/ wrong for DH, me and the 2 DC to have a BBQ on Sunday when the weather is predicted to be a bit nicer. We wouldnt need to buy any supplies or meet anyone else and it would really brighten a very stressed and difficult week but I dont want to be disrespectful or undermine the lockdown, esp as I have family both on the shielding list and working in the NHS, so I really understand how important it is to delay the spread of Covid 19.

We're in a standard 1930s 3 bed semi so we have a nice sized garden but not huge. If we do go ahead, should we go in if our neighbours also come into their garden? Or set up at the bottom of the garden? I usually keep the kids inside during the actual cooking as DD4 is asthmatic but they find eating BBQ food outside to be a huge novelty/ treat.

Leflic unless you are really bad at it you aren’t burning stuff in your garden I’d have thought...no real smoke from proper charcoal, and none at all if you have a gas barbecue.

Whereabouts are you @Leflic? I’m looking on our council website to see whether ours has.

Ours are asking anyone not to burn rubbish in their gardens.

My kebabs aren't rubbish and will be going ahead

Well, we now have steaks (meat and veggie ones) for DH to sling onto the barbie, plus salad stuff, fresh bread rolls, wine and cheesecake.

I got Easter eggs for the DDs, who are aged 25, 21 and almost 18.

Looking around me in Tesco, I certainly wasn't alone in this. People are social distancing, but are determined to make the best of what they can.

Our local council has closed all the tidy tips and stopped collecting garden waste.

The result? A huge increase in fly-tipping.

Not surprising. Long before this our stupid council cut the opening hours and started charging so I bet they couldn't wait to close for this!

DH bought 2 massive cowboy steaks today, and we marinaded some turkey steak for DD. As the kitchen counters were being piled, we didn’t have a dining table either so I managed to force them both to eat outdoors too!! A tasty dinner and a really nice relaxing time.

Counters being oiled not piled....

All the allotments around the city have been locked in the past week - I have mine up a few years back when I couldn’t get to it enough but they were very restricted on access etc. But now is exactly the time to be there, and the whole point is being outdoors and still able to be distant but starting growing at the right time.

DH cleaned the BBQ today and the pork chops are defrosting ready for tomorrow. Mmmm, pork chops, garlic potatoes and sweet corn. I'm looking forward to it already!

NO YOU CANNOT HAVE A BBQ!!!!

Only because I can't come and have a bit!

Enjoy

Actually the problem we have is if our neighbour is sitting in his garden we won't be 2m away. I'm putting my trust in the 6ft fence offering some protection! If he's sitting quietly like today I won't even know he's there without standing on something and peering over the fence which seems a bit extreme!

Pretty sure a fence removes the need for 2m distance, Pink He can hardly cough on you through wood...unless your fence isn’t solid, I suppose.

That’s what I thought! It’s a normal slatted fence so a few small gaps but pretty solid in general. It’s a chance we’ll have to take, we can hardly get the steps out and peer into his garden to see where he is - once all this is over we’ll still have to live next to him!

You can do as you please in your garden OP. Carry on as you normally would.