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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is there one rule for the rich and another for the poor

151 replies

Therichhavenorules · 04/04/2020 18:24

I know I'm not BU, but I have to rant and hopefully get some replies. Maybe I am?

We live as 'staff' on a rural estate in Norfolk where the owners are multi-millionaires with houses all over the world. We look after their country retreat all year round. We live in a cottage in the grounds. Not a bad situation, but it has its drawbacks. One is, when they are here they have loud parties that take over and zero consideration for us. There are several cottages in the grounds, mostly empty most of the year except for these parties.

They have three children (30s) who live in London. TODAY, middle of lockdown their three adult children decide to arrive with their partners, six adults in total. They've moved into the cottages in the grounds. Its a private estate so no Police to tell them to go indoors. Apparently they'll quarantine, but already they're drinking and starting to party.

They've driven down from London and are blatantly flaunting the rules. The rich are immune to rules. The poor stick to them. If the examples are to be believed and one infected person could infect up to almost 500 people eventually, that means they've potentially brought the virus and could infect up to 3000 people.

I hate them all, they're rude, entitled, snobby, unpleasant cruel people most of the time. We have no choice at the moment, but I for one will be looking to move on as soon as I can.

OP posts:
Kisskiss · 05/04/2020 18:59

@roarfeckingroar Grin

ElaineMarieBenes · 06/04/2020 17:17

@TinklyLittleLaugh - sorry it wasn’t clear - I was paraphrasing Anatole French - the quote is meant to be both ironic and sceptical.

CorianderLord · 06/04/2020 17:57

I can guarantee you that many of the poor round here in S London are not adhering to the rules. It's their property so there's not much you can do 🤷‍♀️

Oh and the supermarkets here are fine in C London. They had some empty shelves for a week or two and now all back to normal. It's not a den of diseased people all dying in the streets - everything's pretty normal bar queuing for the shop and bars etc being shut

HeIenaDove · 06/04/2020 19:25

I can gurantee you that it wasnt poorer people who went on skiing trips to Northern Italy AFTER the fact It wasnt poorer people who kept on boarding cruise ships. It wasnt/isnt poorer people travelling to their second homes.

MarieQueenofScots · 06/04/2020 19:28

So what you’re saying Helena is that it’s equally poor people and less poor people who have been bending the rules?

HeIenaDove · 06/04/2020 19:30

My estate has been bloody quiet. People have been indoors here.

Iwalkinmyclothing · 06/04/2020 19:52

I really enjoyed this cartoon today

Is there one rule for the rich and another for the poor
MarieQueenofScots · 06/04/2020 20:00

My estate has been bloody quiet. People have been indoors here

That wasn’t what I asked is it?

I asked whether you agree it is equally the poor and wealthy causing issues?

Lynda07 · 06/04/2020 22:15

Arnoldthecat Sun 05-Apr-20 18:06:40
I'd suggest the OP considers deleting their post or they may find themselves living in the cottage on the big estate.
...
Doesn't she already?

I do not get her moaning about her employers and their family when she is happy to work for them in normal times and live on their property. If you are so resentful, op, when this crisis ends try to find other jobs and buy your own flipping home. Or rent somewhere, if you're lucky you'll get a council place but will not be as nice as where you are now, neither can you guarantee you won't have noisy neighbours.

Just suck it up, it isn't going to last forever.

OhTheRoses · 06/04/2020 22:28

But Helena if yours is a big estate you must be pretty well off. Sorry couldn't resist Wink

longwayoff · 06/04/2020 23:08

What? I've got to like my employers now as well as working for them? Give me a break. I work, they pay. We don't hate each other but we have a professional relationship. If either of us are compelled to like one another as a condition of employment we'll need to revise the terms and conditions.Grin

HeIenaDove · 07/04/2020 00:47

Lol at @OhTheRoses Hope all is well with you. Smile

SinisterBumFacedCat · 07/04/2020 00:55

Well I am glad I’m not rich. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than leaving my home right now and having to self isolate with extended family!

HeIenaDove · 07/04/2020 01:03

graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/isolating-ex-coronavirus/

"Things You Only Know If: You End Up Self-Isolating With An Ex
Kate Riordan’s former husband was about to move to France – until a global pandemic got in the way"

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 07/04/2020 01:09

not the horrors of the London supermarkets
Have you been to any London supermarkets recently? Mine were a bit decimated by idiot hoarders/panic buyers the first weekend, generally back to normal more than a week ago, aside from queuing to go in, and one local Tesco appearing to have a new 'one way' route daily, which is a bit confusing..

Your post does make it sound as if you are in they wrong job. If you resent the owners/your employers that much, maybe think about a career change.

At least if you experience any CV19 symptoms, you could well have the ex chief medical officer for Scotland on hand.

RabbityMcRabbit · 07/04/2020 03:59

OP, I'd get this thread taken down if I were you, it could be very identifying and/or end up in one of the tabloids

Lynda07 · 07/04/2020 04:21

Therichhavenorules
I hate them all, they're rude, entitled, snobby, unpleasant cruel people most of the time. We have no choice at the moment, but I for one will be looking to move on as soon as I can.
........
I'm glad you're thinking of moving on when you can but, honestly, even if you don't like your employers all that much, they can't all be terrible people. There's nothing morally wrong with being rich. it's just the way some people are and are used to it. I've always been content with having a reasonable relationship with employers and mutual respect, they probably think they have that with you.

You are so resentful!

Marieo · 07/04/2020 04:37

Bitter much OP? No, they shouldn't have travelled down, but plenty of people have, regardless of how much money they have in the bank. If they are staying on their own land and not mixing with the general populace, aside from the potential strain on the local healthcare system, it's probably safer than people who have come back from university or houseshares etc.

Marieo · 07/04/2020 04:38

Also I don't think you will have to make the choice about moving on, it might be made for you if they see this thread or it gets printed somewhere.

Dita73 · 07/04/2020 04:48

YABU. This isn’t even about Covid. You just sound jealous and bitter and clearly have an enormous chip on your shoulder. What’s even more sad is that even though you resent them so much,you still don’t mind working for them and taking a wage

Shitsgettingcrazy · 07/04/2020 05:11

The rich don't upset me if they apply the same rules to themselves as everyone else. It's their rule breaking that's pissed me off, not their wealth.

It's not the rule breaking though.

Look at how you describe them. Surely you werent find with them, and this has made you describe them as butter and cruel.

I mean one if you complaints is that they have parties.....on their own estate. Isnt that the point of having your own estate. So you have the room to do what you want.

Its clear, that at least part of this is dislike of wealthy people (and weirdly a dislike of london).

The adult children and their families should not have gone there. But this isnt just about their behaviour now.

And also, people in all financial situations are breaking the rules. The fact that they are rich has little to do with it. It's just certain people think they dont have to abide by the rules. That's not exclusive to the rich.

Bloodybridget · 07/04/2020 05:35

Those saying the OP's employers and their family aren't putting anyone else at risk by gathering together - have you forgotten about not meeting up with people you don't live with? They are potentially spreading infection to each other, as well as to the OP and any other staff on the estate.

Casino218 · 07/04/2020 05:38

I know what you mean op. I've got an old school friend on my Facebook and 2 weeks ago he was in Miami sending pics saying isolating on his balcony. Then last week he obviously jumped in his private jet when it was starting to go to shit in USA and flew to the UK and now he's at his country retreat in the Lakes! One rule for them and another for us!

Shitsgettingcrazy · 07/04/2020 05:49

@Casino218 that's not a difference in rules it's a difference in ability.

Nobody was made to come home from their holidays unless the hotel/country was kicking them out. The US wasnt.

Citizens of this country are being brought back, the government is fronting the money and the citizen has to pay it back. Not all these people are rich.

He came back under his own steam, given he has the means and ability to sort it himself.

No british citizen, rich or poor is being refused access to the country

Casino218 · 07/04/2020 06:24

@Shitsgettingcrazy he lives in Miami. His business is in Miami.!!

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