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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to plan on having a BBQ

439 replies

Numptydumptyfelloffthewall · 02/04/2020 12:58

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.

OP posts:
Bella2020 · 02/04/2020 14:40

Enjoy your BBQ. Nothing wrong at all with this idea and I suspect there will be lots of BBQs if the weather is good.

notangelinajolie · 02/04/2020 14:47

There are no rules that say where you can cook or eat your food. People you don't live you can't come round obviously but there is no reason why you can't cook your family meal outside.

We have lots of charcoal in the shed. And plenty of burgers and barms and in the freezer so we will definitely be having a barbeque once it warms up a bit. Our garden is the most utilized space in our home right now. DH in on furlough and has taken up permanent residence in his greenhouse thank God which will hopefully pay off giving us lots of salad and veg in a few weeks. And I'm itching to get out and do some pruning ready for spring. Once the chairs are out DD's will join us no doubt.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 02/04/2020 14:49

Do what you want in your garden it's not North Korea

BaconAndAvocado · 02/04/2020 14:54

We had a BBQlast weekend, it was nice. Bloody freezing but nice.

Trying to plan different stuff at the weekend to break the monotony.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 02/04/2020 15:04

In your own garden do what you like!

On one or the warmer days, the dc were out in the garden playing so we used ours to cook our meat and do the dc bbq chocolate bananas. We can’t take the dc out at the moment so we are having as much fun as we can at home

MrsTumbletap · 02/04/2020 15:14

No only is it fine, you have inspired me to have one!

Sunday is due to be the best weather we have had in ages, let's enjoy it.

I have just text DH and told him it's happening. We have everything we need, I'm going get a playlist ready, and have already decided we are having sausages, I will make veggie skewers and do new potatoes in butter.

Thanks OP, you have given me something to look forward to.

amymel2016 · 02/04/2020 15:16

Go for it op! We had one last week and are planning one on Sunday Smile

mbosnz · 02/04/2020 15:22

You know what?

If I end up in the hospital, fighting for my life, I want to be able to go back to my last moment of happiness, having a barbie with the whanau (family). It harms bloody no-one, it just might piss off a few corona dementors. . .

Winterwoollies · 02/04/2020 15:23

Are people getting muddled between having a barbecue with your household, which is of course allowed, and having a barbecue where you invite others households to join you, which obviously isn’t allowed?

I think people on here have said about their neighbours “having a barbecue”, in which they’ve invited guests around and have been rightly criticised, but people have got muddled and focused on the barbecue element and thought that’s what is not allowed...?

caperplips · 02/04/2020 15:39

We BBQ all year round no matter what the weather as we use it to cook steak and chicken and there's no comparison. We take it inside to eat unless there's a heatwave!

We live in the country and if the smoke bothers the assholes who built a shit McMansion RIGHT ON TOP of us, well....that would be a shame...wouldn't it!

thenightsky · 02/04/2020 15:42

I'm planning one for Sunday for just me, DH and DS. We've got the charcoal and everything already.

Its my birthday and I had so much planned which has now fallen through Sad

tallah · 02/04/2020 15:44

We just bought a bbq. Can't wait to have one every day :-)

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 02/04/2020 15:49

I’ve just placed a large meat order with the local butcher so I hope this nice weather happens.
Only downside is il have to dig out and clean the filthy barbie!

Dongdingdong · 02/04/2020 15:53

Of course you can have a barbecue OP. Enjoy!

I wouldn't personally. My neighbours are clearly avoiding using their gardens when others nearby are using theirs

Eye roll. Either you have very small gardens or you're being ridiculous.

Dongdingdong · 02/04/2020 15:54

Do what you want in your garden it's not North Korea

Actually, I think some of the posters on this thread should move to North Korea - they'd be much happier!

sonjadog · 02/04/2020 15:55

I hadn't thought about a bbq, but now I am thinking it could be nice for Easter weekend...

Topseyt · 02/04/2020 15:55

Covid causes breathing problems so if anyone has it, it will make things worse. It will mean they can't hav e their windows open or use their gardens

What utter bollocks.

OP, enjoying yourself in your own garden is not banned. You are just cooking your family meal outside rather than inside in this instance, and why not? Go for it. There is nothing in any of the legilsation saying that families cannot cook on a barbie in their own gardens.

mbosnz · 02/04/2020 15:56

Our poor neighbours.

On the weekend, in the warmer months, we tend to have the bbq out twice a day. . .

Ilikefreshias · 02/04/2020 16:06

Great plan OP! I’m doing my weekly shop tomorrow and if I can get suitable meat / buns / salad in the one shop I go to we will BBQ this weekend too Smile

Vaginandtonic · 02/04/2020 16:23

DH actually asked me if we could this weekend and I said no. I’m just not in the mood. It feels like a joyful thing to do and I don’t feel like that. I’m down and sad and I don’t want others feeling the same, looking out their window and see us firing up a bbq. Can’t explain why but it just feels wrong.

Christ on a crumpet... Is there some kind of competition running that I'm not aware of, where the most miserable person gets automatic immunity from Covid 19 or something?

We are totally BBQing on Sunday (if we can get hold of meat!) - it's going to be lovely weather, and no commute to get up for the next day either, chin chin!

MintyMabel · 02/04/2020 16:25

Covid causes breathing problems so if anyone has it, it will make things worse. It will mean they can't hav e their windows open or use their gardens

A neighbouring street has coal fired which have been lit in the past few weeks. Should they stop doing that?

Saddler · 02/04/2020 16:26

Why would it be an issue?

MistyIsland · 02/04/2020 16:28

We are having one Sunday! Can’t wait Smile

I’ve got some sausages and burgers in the freezer and will make some potato/pasta salad and do some chips will be fun for the kids and better than another boring meal sat at the table.

Might even invite the dogs Grin

fourquenelles · 02/04/2020 16:33

Deux thank you for my new word. Conniptions. Had to look it up but will try to use it when relevant in the future.

SpillTheTea · 02/04/2020 16:35

I would if I had a garden.