Would you be annoyed if someone did this?

[nightimebrowser]

Background:
Obviously been social distancing and taking all the necessary precautions (not seeing anyone outside household, staying in except for essential trips etc) for the past 9 weeks. My mental health has seriously declined due to this (already diagnosed with depression and anxiety) and the lockdown really has not helped plus being dropped by the adult mental health team as they don't have the resources right now.😣

My 2 friends have suggested meeting up for a walk tomorrow and having a picnic- we would obviously not touch each other and stay 2 meters apart at all times and we are going to a large, isolated open space. I know the rules are only 1:1 meetings though, would you be annoyed if you saw 3 people?

I really need this right now, I've been struggling so much. Obviously it's easier to meet as a 3 than do two separate meetings 1:1.

Reallynowdear either you misread my posts or you’re being wilfully disingenuous, because you keep claiming I said the OP said she’d be swapping friends, which I did not say. I said the exact opposite of what you keep claiming I said.

You appear to think I am against lockdown, which is bizarre. The “dangerous rules” I object to are the ones encouraging people to go outside and encouraging people to endanger themselves and others. Not the opposite way round.

For example the government’s new rule that it’s permissible to meet up with your parents as long as they take turns is clearly completely illogical and increases the risk of exposure.

It's not, the clapping has become an excuse for social gathering and virtue signalling. We don't want claps we want people to be a bit less selfish for a change and let us get on with our jobs, so this can be dealt with as quickly as possible with as few deaths as we can manage at this stage

@IPityThePontipines

be sensible.however you are not listening.
you seem to think you are special, are you covid resistant?

YABU. You say you “really need this right now” for your mental health, but you don’t need three people. It would work just as well with two.

Pick one person or don’t go at all. Don’t flout the rules and attempt to use your mental health as an excuse for it.

It was a very badly thought out rule.

If someone agreed to meet their mum in a park, why couldn't they meet their dad, too? If they did happen to pass something on to their mum, their dad would get it whether he was there or not. It doesn't make any sense at all.

It's a hassle doing two trips to see two friends each week

So it’s about convenience for you; nothing to do with your mental health.

this is what I don't get with this meeting but not allowed to meet at distance in your own back garden - its perfectly ok to pay someone come & do your gardening
logical?

Exactly.

According to the rules it’s perfectly fine for your mum and dad to travel to your house together, but strictly forbidden for them to enter your front garden at the same time. However it is fine for your mum to come for a chat while your dad waits on the pavement, then for them to swap over, before they both travel together to their shared home.

Of course none of the posters insisting the government advice is all perfect and logical are willing to explain this.

my boyfriend is talking to his friend in the garden as I write this.

We have kept up social distancing, washing hands etc but have not stopped our friends/family from visiting.

No one has been sick.

Go and have a chat and you don't need to ask permission on MN x

I was kind of sympathetic at first, but after OP's last post, feel a bit miffed. If you have already decided to go anyway, asking for validation from people to feel better for breaking the rule is a bit selfish under the circumstances. Many people are suffering, but not everyone breaks rule. I wish you just did it without asking.

I wouldn't notice and I'd just assume you lived together.

I’m so annoyed by threads like this. I am working my arse off to deliver a response to the pandemic (not a nurse but other front line role that isn’t even mentioned anywhere)

What role would that be?

It’s really not that difficult is it, to just stay home

For many people it is

I get that people are suffering with mental health issues, I really do, but why do you think this is ok when it’s clearly outside of the rules

Umm because people with mental health issues are not coping being cooped up indoors, on their own, 24/7.

I’m guessing none of you have actually lost friends or family to the virus yet

My family have lost 2 family members to Covid 19. Both died as a result of contacting the virus whilst in hospital. My 18 year old lost a very dear friend to Covid 19. My eldest son has lost colleagues (front line workers) to Covid 19 - because there was no effective PPE available.

OP could go and spend the day in a supermarket, amongst people who are unable, or unwilling, to follow the arrows on the floor. She could then join a queue of people standing around at a garden centre and finish her day queuing for the burger van, with 50 others who have no intention of social distancing.

Why is she putting the country at great risk by meeting with 2 friends, in an outdoor, private area and keeping social distance of the recommended 2m?

Why is it that my grandchildren can go to nursery to be looked after by someone else’s grandmother - who probably doesn’t want to look after them - for their parents to work, but I am not allowed to look after my GC for their parents to work?

Why would I want to walk my dogs in my local area, when the only walk in my local area is inundated with families crowding the paths, making social distancing impossible 😞

The “rules” state I cannot drive for exercise. Why not? if a couple of miles down the road there is a large woods where social distancing is no problem?

The rules as they stand are nonsensical

I’m sorry you’re feeling crappy but please follow the guidance. It’s there for a reason.

It's a hassle doing two trips to see two friends each week as I said, I don't drive and we don't live particularly close to each other so makes sense to do it in just one trip.

Then see one friend one week, and the other the following week.

Definitely go!!! We all need to get out and a about for the sake of our mental health. Just make sure if you see other people there is enough room for them to get past safety:)

You must go and you must have a lovely time

How did Mumsnet get so lucky as to have so many posters who know better than the countries top doctors & scientists.

Perhaps everyone should post what their PhDs are in, which medical/scientific area they currently work in and link to all the peer reviews papers they have published.

Exactly what “top scientists” said it’s fine and not a risk for your mum and dad to drive to your house in the same car, but somehow a massive risk for them to be in the same front garden, so they have to take it in turns before getting back in the same car?

What peer-reviewed study said it’s fine for corporations who give politicians loads of dosh to force employees to work without PPE or social distancing measures?

There’s a reason Johnson and Hancock are the laughing stock of the rest of the world, and the despair of the international scientific community.

And I’m not linking to my peer-reviewed papers (which you’d need a JSTOR log-in for, anyway) because I’m not going to dox myself.

Thing is we're not all doing it so the argument if we all did it is shit. We aren't all experiencing this the same either. Lots of people saying their mental health is suffering because they're stressed with the kids etc. But it's really not the same as having a diagnosed mental health issue. (I have a mh issue so understand the difference) do it op. We all have to make risk assessments re surviving this. Take care

Just do it. I saw my 2 eldest DC today for the first time in weeks and I can't explain how happy I feel now, and what a huge boost to my mental health it was.

@nightimebrowser Go and have a great time. Take what you need from the support offered by your friends.

I like the comment 'We are all in this storm in different boats.' As well as the analogy that we all have different plates to carry our loads.

There don't need to be aggressive, lengthy posts attacking posters who are against this and demanding they explain themselves. It's prohibited, so the OP should not go. No excuses, no need to twist things. Don't go. Stay at home as much as possible is the idea.