What fresh hell is this? National VE day

[wetpants]

This has popped up on my local FB page, villagers are all up for it too. Apparently it’s a nationwide incentive??

The thing is, most front gardens are tiny or non existent here. There’s no way you could be 2m away from your next door. Also these villagers who are up for this are the same people who few weeks ago cried about a lone bloke sitting on a crass verge, well away from any pedestrians. How is this any different?

I’m not British (have lived here a long time though) so maybe I’m just not getting the fervent VE day misty eyeness

And don’t get me started on 9pm nationwide singalong WHO comes up with these things???

In what way was it an experiment? The government didn't say go out and party, people, individuals chose to. Yes we could have had police out with spray cannons I suppose, or gone back in time to change VE day to a more convenient date.

@JudyCoolibar same here. Quite normal until about 5pm when the massive soundsystem came out and people started mixing with the neighbours. When we went out for our walk about 8pm I had to ask someone approaching me (I think for a hug) to stop a couple of metres away. Awful.

There was even a man having a wee in his front garden. People who are that level of drunk aren't able to socially distance.

I agree fluffy cloud. Lots of positive press on the VE celebrations. Government knew lots of people planning this- a clear statement specifically telling people lockdown doesn’t include street parties of any kind and that police would be checking would have stopped some of this silliness but they didn’t.
So on Sunday we’ll be told the lockdown will continue for another 2-3 weeks- most people accept and expect this to happen. Cases spike in 2-3 weeks due to these parties and ‘its very frustrating ladies and gents but due to spark rise in new infections lockdown will remain in place’ and the narrative will be ‘its all your own fault’ .

No street parties around here. Some of the neighbours were chatting loudly in their gardens and drinking well into the evening but that’s every weekend! I had a couple of beers on my own in my back garden, it was lovely.

A couple of houses down our street had flags or buntingnout but most didn't. Our road is quite busy as we have a small shop and in places houses are quite spread out and/or separated by cars: hedges and fences. It doesn’t lend itself to a socially distanced street party but hey it’s not compulsory to have one!

From 7-10 I watched the news and VE day commemorations on BBC with my 13 yo. We both thought it was nicely done. We discussed a lot of things moving from covid 19 to captain tom, onto WW2, the role of women in the war and then to racism and slavery as well as war in general. It was a good opportunity for him to learn something (and me, I had to google the answers to some of his questions). We talked about his grandparents and how old they would have been at the time and family members who were called up or otherwise affected. I think that it is important to remember and for young people to remember. I also marvelled at how old some celebrities were (who were children or young adults in the war)!

VE undoubtedly was a day to celebrate 75 years ago. Whether in order to remember this, you do that quietly, or like we did, or have a socially distanced street party or something else it doesn't matter. Lots of people like to decorate and at the first sniff of anything are putting up bunting and making things with the kids. Fine, crack on. It isn’t glorifying war, It is remembering the suffering and loss and the relief that it was (almost) over. By remembering we reduce the chances of it happening again. Nothing is enforced. If you don’t want to put up bunting and eat cucumber sandwiches in your front garden then don’t. Just accept that some people might want to do that and so long as they can safely social distance where is the harm? Yes it is likely that some didn’t follow the guidance but they are idiots and no different from those who would have had friends or family round anyway on a sunny bank holiday thinking the rules don’t apply to them.

its all your own fault’

Well it will be, the rules are clear, and it's clear that street parties aren't acceptable. But people are selfish and decided to crack on anyway, they knew it was wrong. If anything the police should have actually been patrolling and doing something, did anyone report their neighbours? Did the police come out?

Agree sandy it will be...too many fucking idiots around i do wish the police would have been more on top of it so obvious.

I guess if you have a front garden, and the ability to be socially distant, it could be fun, a bit of light relief in these times.
it is not glorification of war, that is ridiculous, it is commemorating our freedom and remembering those who lost their lives.
it is very sad particularly for those isolating in care homes

@Sandybval Because it’s the first time in over 6 weeks they’ve encouraged people to come together and celebrate something outdoors, not long they were closing parks.

If there’s a spike in two weeks they’ve got an event to tie it into. It will be useful data to them, basically.

@Sandybval I'm a social pariah who reported my neighbours. They were still outside partying until midnight, so I can safely assume that the police didn't attend.

You're right - this will lead to a spike in infections and a further extension to the lockdown. I just hope that the party was worth it for the idiots.

@Alsohuman Totally agree x

That's on the police, they should have attended, 100%. I just don't think the government needs to tell us every little thing, people knew they shouldn't have done it, and those that were selfish enough to wouldn't have listened to someone in government dont do what we have not told you to do anyway. The police should have been you know, actually policing it.

Noticable lack of reporting in the papers and on the news today in relation to the extensive breaches. It's weirdly been ignored. It wasn't long ago that they were hiding in bushes to photograph people buying paint before publically shaming them. Maybe they have realised they are more than partly responsible.

It was very busy in the park yesterday. Really busy - large groups (7+) of young people sitting on the grass. Police only speaking to small family groups playing football.

They also didn’t stop the stupid bloody woman who thought it was very funny when her dog (off the lead where it shouldn’t have been) chased a swan and jumped in the lake where there were ducklings (or goslings not sure which). Grrrrr

I have just watched the VE 75 programme on BBC and found it v moving. I am so grateful to my grandparents generation and all those across Europe who showed such fortitude during those long dark years of Nazi aggression.

I also read a translation of the German President’s speech yesterday which showed so much dignity, honesty and wisdom.

The thing that makes me sad is Brexit and this awful govt. I wish we had better leaders and a more balanced press.

Government knew lots of people planning this- a clear statement specifically telling people lockdown doesn’t include street parties of any kind and that police would be checking would have stopped some of this silliness but they didn’t.
They shouldn't have to be that specific, and the police shouldn't need to check. People should be able to use common sense and be responsible. Nobody could possibly read the rules and then ask themselves if street parties are still allowed.

Completely agree you’d think that it would be pretty bloody obvious to anyone with an ounce of sense sadly it was not.

It’s the timing of tonight’s announcement everyone’s gone “fuck it, we are out Monday anyway”

That’s on the media.