Should I drive 7 hr round trip to see my dad

[disconnecteddrifter]

It's his 80th. Hes all alone. Me and my son would drive down. Stay in the garden. Drive back. What would you do as they are lifting restrictions next week anyway. No symptoms been following the rules until now. Need an answer quickly thanks

@NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite further clarification was published stating that it was one person meeting one other person and had to be in a public space like a park and not your garden.

Boris said last night that he will announce next week further easing of lockdown.

Sitting in the garden, distancing, taking your own chairs, food can be covered. It's the toilet issue, can you go that long without going? Public toilets aren't open around here yet, so I guess it's the case for most areas.

Yes and pop to a local beauty spot too for a walk by the river. I say local but 30 miles is probably about right. If your dad gets ill it won’t be your fault as it’s essential travel isn’t it?

Yes go, Cummings has confirmed it is a free for all now. Do whatever suits you and yours.

Absolutely yes, it’s good enough for the Tories...also if you’ve been self isolating properly it’s unlikely you have The Covids.

Having previously stuck to the rules I would now do it (safely).

I've read so many posts from people now hating themselves for following the rules and not visiting parents. I truly feel for those that now have to come to terms with not seeing parents or even attending funerals and think there will be a lot of anger and guilt related mental health issues arising from this.

Stay safe and enjoy your day.

I'm concerned about the amount of driving. Its a lot in one day. Accidents can happen if you are tired.

Just go. The man is 80. If he’s okay with it, go and give him a hug. The chances of infecting someone from a quick hug is minuscule.

Enjoy.

I'd g. Take a bleach spray with you as you will need to use his bathroom loo. . Clean the toilet and bathroom surfaces before and after use with a normal spray and cloth. Then spray the bleach spray and let it sit after using .It will disinfect any germs after use. Open the window after use as well.

Go and enjoy

It's ok for C Tom to have cards in school, aeroplanes flying past, socially distant visitors etc

But the rest of us can't visit our relatives for a birthday ?

Hope you are on your way OP, enjoy your day

We're going to our caravan today, we're not allowed to stay over as caravan sites aren't allowed open (despite the fact we could isolate even better there) but we can check it over.

DH's mum lives on site, will be seeing her and we've also got a slot to see his grandparents in the local care home for 15 minutes, over a fence.

All bets are off now I think, as long as people use their instinct and common sense.

I say that as an NHS worker.

It's also a 7 hour round trip, 3.5 hours each way with a break in the middle. More than doable for most people I would have thought. I drive similar to visit my friend for the day.

Just make sure you are mentally able to cope with the rigours of a long journey.

You’d stop off at services, eat and use toilets and then go visit your 80 year old father? Seriously?

Yes I’d do it now things are clearly much more relaxed after yesterday.

I would, if it's good enough for Cummings

This is such poor reasoning. Firstly, that isn't why he went, and secondly, you don't disobey the law just because someone else does!

If you do go, don't stop for petrol, don't stop to buy food and don't have an accident. All of these will increase the risk of you spreading the virus.

Yes from me. Take your own food, a special cake and things like hand gel if you feel you must. Enjoy ....

Go.

There's a massive difference between the estimated 200,000 new infections a day they reckon there was in March/early April, and approx. 10,000 a day now in England. So we ought to feel good, not guilty, that we were all following the rules a few weeks to 2 months ago, but now is different.

I would let the elderly relative take the lead on the decision, as they are statistically more at risk. My dad is also on his own, problem with visiting him, he's in London so I feel public transport is too high risk, but would make loo visits easier.

If driving I couldn't just wee behind a bush in London or 20 miles away near the M1! Can't go more than 4-5 hours without the loo (20 years ago before DC I could have managed 7-8 hours!). I wouldn't feel up to driving there and back in a day - 400 miles/8 hours!

absolutely, if you can drive and your car can do the journey.

Of course you should go! Enjoy!

As for people telling you stopping for petrol will be deadly- just use gloves and then dispose of them- problem solved!

I don't see why not; if you and son and your dad have been self isolating there would be virtually no risk of transmitting infection. It's a heck of a long drive though, I would not go just for a visit and sit in garden, but would stay a day or so. You could take supplies with you so you don't need to go to the shops near your dad.

Personally I’d wait until the rules change