To think people shouldn't walk to my village?

[Bohwens]

Hello,

With the knowledge that this will make me sound quite snooty, I firstly apologise and explain it is because I worry for my own and family's safety as we are all asthmatic and at heightened risk from COVID-19.

We live in a very pretty little village, in a small conservation area in a semi rural location. We are about 2 miles from the nearest modern housing estate. Usually, the lane through the village has a couple of regular dog walkers.

Now that we are lockdown and people are getting out to exercise in the sun (great), the lane is like a motorway. There is a constant stream of people from the housing estate coming for their walk to the village. I understand it must be dull to walk around a modern housing estate. Over 500m there were 30 people. Usually you might see 1. We can't even go for a short walk without risk of coming into contact with people.

Entire large families are coming with 5-6 children out of control on bikes etc, treating the lane past our houses like a park. I've spotted people touching our walls, gates etc, even caught one nosing in the garden!

Many of these people are not staying into the side to observe social distancing, and have dogs off the lead that need to be fetched away.

AIBU to think people should stick to their own areas for their exercise? In a way, I something feel that if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here...

Who the hell do you think you are op?
Pure and utter snob. I bet there is a right nasty group in your village that regularly slag off the commoners that live on the housing estate. I used to live in small village as a child and my mum and dad ended up moving as they were fed up of gossip and people being nasty

Jacon Rees Mogadishu has made my morining @SerenDippitty

Jacob Rees Mogadishu

I thought that was some sort of reference - not entirely inappropriate on this thread - to the observation that the early cases in Africa were mostly privileged wealthy people (including politicians) who travelled a lot. And who usually would go abroad for all medical treatment but are now stuck with their inadequate local services.

Oh bugger feel for a troll. I’m usually good at spotting a troll,

Ooops OP.

Made yourself out to be a bit of a twat, haven't you?

I'm loving Jacob Rees Mogadishu too.

2 miles isn’t far; I live rurally and consider those within 5-10 miles “local” to me, so an estate a mere two miles away are akin to close neighbours in the countryside.

Two miles is easy walking distance. You sound ridiculous and somewhat deluded about your location?

@etopp we both know this virus has zero respect for anyone's bush. Neatly trimmed, over pruned or (as my DH describes my somewhat out of control clematis) a bloody brute of a thing.

I'd say if the wall to your lady garden has been fingered by Covid carrying locals you are probably doomed.

Luckily I live in a less affluent area and don't have a wall for fingering. I have witnessed a neighbour touching up my Aquilegia but I just let it go.

He really needs to change his name to Jacob Rees Mogadishu

It seems the OP was actually genuine and has now done a runner.

No wonder. She is prob sat in her garden with a tally chart counting how many commoners from the housing estate pass by

YABVU
And I say that as someone who also lives no a pretty village that has suddenly become a walking destination. There was no need for the last comment either. It makes you sound very spiteful.

Because of those awful brand new estates, my 5 year old and I have a home again after losing our more expensive house during a marriage broke up. What a disgusting attitude indeed.

We live in a rural conservation area and would consider 'local' to be up to about 5 miles, give or take a bit. Within that, I don't mind where people live or who they are or think they are, as long as they behave with consideration for others, including following the law and guidelines around the current emergency. Whether someone lives in an ancient stately home or in a 2-bed social housing new build isn't the deciding factor on how they behave, IME, or whether they'd be welcome in 'my' lane. I count my blessings that, despite other challenges, my family do have a bit more greenery around us than most.

In normal times, we are inundated with tourists, walkers and cyclists - some great, some ok, some dreadful. It can get a bit much, especially with the dreadful ones, but with the great and ok ones, I remind myself that my family are sometimes the visitors elsewhere.

I'd have more sympathy with the OP if they were complaining about the cyclists who think they are above the law and guidelines just now. I have seen it reported in the media about another National Park area, and it's happening here too. Apparently it's ok for them to cycle out here from the nearest virus-hotspot cities and towns, often in groups, and even going in our village shops to buy refreshments or other things. I feel very sorry for the staff at the moment, who are already putting themselves at risk on our behalf to provide an essential service as we do not have easy access to supermarkets or home delivery. Some days, cyclists and others travelling out in cars to go for a walk or just a drive, outstrip locals - and some are even abusive.

You need to get yourself into one of those gated communities OP. Or some sort of island...

Glad Jacob Rees Mogadishu caused some amusement!

I obviously can't walk anywhere because we rent our house from the housing association so even our privately owned neighbours' houses, that are only worth around £90-110K, are out of our league. Oh no, what should we do?!

TwoZero
Rule 27.4.3(b) in the Compendium of Random Made Up Coronavirus Lockdown Rules states:-
People in social housing adjacent to owner occupied housing may leave their property during the hours of darkness every other Wednesday.

Rule 14.7.1 (d)
People may not travel by foot or any form of mechanical conveyance to an area where the average property price exceeds the average property price in their usual residential area by more than 27.35% without signed permission of a constable.

Oh shit I broke the rules! Dh, dc and I walked 5 miles up to & around a nearby wood and went past all the houses we can't afford

if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here

Jesus. What a cow. What a nasty person you must be

I suggest you hide in your house for the next 3 weeks leaving only for essential journeys, work or exercise and hope nobody noticed.

Hyacinth Bucket indeed. How very dare the common people from the estate stray into your enclave? If they can walk, then it's local, and you, OP, need to adjust your attitude. Have you ever considered that they may all be coming to have a look at the impossibly snooty lady in the pretty village. It's probably common knowledge. Do you stand at your door shouting "Heloooo Vicar!" by any chance?!?

Our Hyacinth, is that you?
Me and Hounslow are missin you in lockdown. Cant wait to come round yours and touch your walls and Royal Doulton dinner service with the hand paintid perrrywinkles.
Love
Daisy

Actually, it’s Onslow.

Not Hounslow.
HTH.