A PLEA

[YukoandHiro]

Please, if you have a garden or any alternative, do not go out and use parks etc.

My husband and I live in a damp, dark two bedroom flat with no outside space with a 2.5 year old.

A no outside exercise edict Will drive us to completely mental breakdown.

Stop being selfish and think of the people who really actually need to leave the their property to keep their child well.

I disagree, I have a small garden but occasionally walk my dog around the area. What’s not right is people congregating in parks, so maybe they should shut them. That way you can all walk rounds streets but still get some exercise

I couldn’t agree more

Those of us who have a garden but still going out for a walk each day are within our rights to do so. It’s the idiots congregating in parks, sitting in the sun, and visiting seaside spots who are to blame if we go into total lockdown. For someone to suggest upthread that only people without gardens should be allowed to go for a walk in communal areas is stupid.

It seems unfair to insist people with gardens stay in. Everyone I know with a garden has one just about big enough to fit a paddling pool and a few chairs in. I probably could run a marathon by pacing in it, but you could do this indoors too?

It's nice to get fresh air, but it's not the same as getting to leave your space and get a desperately needed change of scenery. I'm shut in with a baby and a quick walk in the pram stops the grizzling for a few minutes. Fair enough to be angry with people loitering and flouting social distance in parks, but while the restrictions allow it I will be using the spaces I have access to to preserve my sanity.

Does anyone else think it’s hilarious / really annoying that everyone is telling you to do dance videos and joe wicks with your toddler? Or do you all have compliant children who do what you suggest every hour of the day?!

There seem to be some martyrs ('I've got ten children under 5 years old and we haven't moved more than a quarter of an inch since January!') and some... well, prats ('Just got some beers, me and me mates are meeting down the park this afternoon.')

The middle ground ('I'm going out for my daily run in the park and will be respecting social distancing measures.') isn't the problem.

"Presume you've seen the news that a full, total lockdown is coming."

Are we prepared for the following riots? Is, that the real reason why we are emptying the prisons?

We might enforce what we now have in place more rigorously. But we don't even have the military numbers to enforce complete lock down, without just throwing people in prison.

People are quoting Spain, but we have just over 20 million more people here.

We have a tiny garden. There are 4 of us including 2 teenage boys (13) and it's not big enough for exercise.

They've been for a very short walk twice with my husband. We live near a park but wouldn't risk it.

Are we prepared for the following riots? Is, that the real reason why we are emptying the prisons?

Do there really have to be riots?🙄 Were there riots about lockdowns elsewhere? No.

The people who are just going out for a walk or a run are not the ones who are going to cause the restrictions to tighten.

True.

YANBU. I'm staying in this weekend. I will not risk being adding to a crowd in a park and being the last straw.

OP regarding your damp flat which you say is caused by freeholder not attending to guttering on roof. It could be gutters or broken roof tiles. Have you kept a record of damp problem with photos? Your freeholder is obliged to fix the problem. Perhaps withhold service charges if he does nothing. There is helpful org. called - leaseadvice - online will advise you of your rights.

YANBU, I wish people would think of others when doing things like that. I sadly wasnt too surprised when I seen the "3000" people in the park flouting the advice.

I really feel for people in flats with kids with nowhere to take them, and now because of others this might also be stopped.

OP and others in that situation I really hope it doesn't happen, but realistically, I think it will once they announce an extension.

Curious if exercise is banned if some people won't just buy a dig to circumvent that.

It's annoyed me today that a woman posted a huge lecture on FB "Enjoy the sunshine - but from your gardens!!" with a load of swearing calling us all selfish etc etc.

She has a HUGE garden with a playground for her kids - swings, slide, trampoline, playhouse, sandpit - big expensive barbecue, decking table and chairs and an effing hottub!! SHE'S fine - I'd stray there too!

We have a tiny patchy bit of grass. Two hyperactive boys, and a 10month old strong dog who needs walking 3x a day usually.

The walks were keeping us sane. We're not having one today because the fields near us are just packed on weekends. I've screamed at my 3 year old for pulling everything out of the fridge and spilling loads of stuff..... and been in tears twice. Practically on the verge now.

Curious if exercise is banned if some people won't just buy a dig to circumvent that.

Or just learn to exercise at home like hundreds of millions of other people did?

@middleager

Curious if exercise is banned if some people won't just buy a dig to circumvent that

Dog walking is restricted too. I doubt anybody would take on the responsibility of a dog just to gain access to the grass verge at the end of their road thrice a day.

Yes some people are going to spoil it for the people who need it
Personally, I don’t understand why anyone wants to go anywhere.

I do think it’s quite selfish that those with decent sized houses and gardens insist on exercising in busy areas. I’d absolutely love to go out walking, but as I have more than adequate indoor and outdoor space, I’ve chosen to stay at home. I think the decent think to do is let those in cramped accommodation and those without decent gardens have access to the outdoor areas. However, barbecues, get togethers and sun bathing in public areas is just bloody stupid, selfish and will ruin it for everyone. The ones that will suffer the most are those without outside spaces.

YABU - everyone has the right to exercise and outdoor space, not just you. Sorry.

yes i think yabu too op

Well if a full lockdown is imminent, there’s nothing any of us can now do to stop it.

However, barbecues, get togethers and sun bathing in public areas is just bloody stupid,

And they're the problem, not people with gardens who are still going out for walks or a jog in the park.

Why can't people blame the actual problem here, which is idiots not following the rules and deciding to have fish and chips at the beach or picnics in the park?

Doris from no.12 taking her dogs for a walk even though she has a garden is not the reason for any further clamping down of the rules

I also wish everybody would follow the rules but how do you know the other 3000 people also don’t live in flats? It’s highly probable in South London. Many of these people will also be in flat shares so 6 young people out together could be part of the same household. Also I’ve been to Brockwell park and it’s pretty large so 3000 can keep to social distancing regs.

I genuinely think most people are sticking or trying to stick to the rules. I think there is some confusion e.g. the government initially said you could go out for exercise but didn’t say you couldn’t do your walk and have a sit down in the sun halfway through etc although it should be common sense not to do that.

I have a small garden but still go for a run everyday. I used to go the the gym but obviously that’s closed now. Running around my small garden isn’t the level of exercise my body’s used to, I need time away from my children in order to stay sane and the government says it’s allowed so I will.

Also you can walk with your child, you don’t have to go to the park. Why is is it park or flat when there’s another option?

I don’t think it’s for people on the internet to reinterpret the rules to shame others out of doing what they are allowed to do. If the government tightened the restrictions I will comply but I don’t believe some pictures of people in a couple of parks which equal about 000.1% of the country will be the real reason why there are tighter restrictions across the country.

It will be because the government badly mishandled the start of the outbreak so it got massively out of control. They didn’t take it seriously initially, even Boris was very nonchalant about the infection. They need the media to take the heat off them and find other targets such as young people on South London.

Also I forgot to add in my earlier post that London is densely populated. If everyone in a neighbourhood has no work to travel to and everyone has to stay in that neighbourhood even if only 50% went out for their allotted walk once a day, it could easily end up looking very packed.

It’s very easy for people living in sparsely populated areas with big gardens to judge and call others idiots but that’s very short sighted. I’m certain the majority of people are trying their level best to comply but I live in London and sometimes you find yourselves doing zig zag dances to keep to 2 metered there’s that many people. Especially if go for walks during lunchtimes when they are all taking a break from working from home.