No social bubbles

[octoberbundle]

Reports are looking like there won't be social bubbles any time soon. Just needed to vent, have been focusing on this to get me through, the idea that my mum could come visit and stay with me, both to see her and help look after my baby and three year old so I can work easier. Absolutely gutted that it looks like this won't be happening any time soon 😢

@Nearlyalmost50 I’ve not once been able to shop in Zara for 15 minutes. I’m not entirely sure that would work.

The logic is that if 15 people only interact closely with a small group of the same people, which is formally documented and therefore easy to establish contact, it is unlikely that the virus will get into the group, and even less likely that it will pass through the group to other external people.

@StatisticalSense That makes no sense when each of those 15 people can have parents that work outside the home, siblings in other schools, and now family members who can browse Primark on a regular basis. Add to that the unknowns factors about how kids spread it, symptomless transmission etc and it’s a complete nonsense.

It’s also irrelevant now of course because a lot of people are really angry and disillusioned and fully planning on breaking the regulations if they aren’t already so who knows what will be bobbling around inside that bubble of people that cough on others without a second thought!

Way too much overthinking going on here

Yeah, this whole thread seems odd to me. Worried about who you "pick"? Surely the idea of the "social bubble" is just to allow people to expand who they see beyond their immediate family, while still enabling people to know who they have contact with (for tracing reasons). So you just say right, I'm not gonna separate from my parents or from my brother and his family any more. I'm sure my lifelong friends aren't going to give a flying F about that. If one of my close friends has no family, I'll just start spending time with them too.

Way too much overthinking going on here! Surely it will be a case of BBQ at mine on saturday, see you there.

Which is fine for the people who will be invited to BBQs but not for the people who will be at the bottom of everybody's social list if they are even on it at all. Single people are often not invited to married couples events and can get left out.

well, you need to grow up, sorry. People have families, commitments, and other friends, shared hobbies, shared sport, children who get on better together, you won't be on top of the list for everybody.

Or not even on their list in the first place. Or at the bottom of the list for everybody.

The reverse is true, if several friends ask you to be in their bubble, you'll have to pick one and reject the others

Assuming you are even asked in the first place.

I have had no phone calls, no social media messages and no social contact whatsoever since lockdown started. People don't know what to say to me so they don't say anything.

Let’s face it, we’re all just making it up as we go along now. The police aren’t going to be able to police any of this and we’re all as confused as hell. We travelled half an hour to the local beach to exercise last night. My 14yo met with her friend. I met her friends mum - my friend. My partner is staying with me for lockdown and he also came to the beach and went for a run while I had a walk with my friend and my DD did some sports training with her friend - all socially distant. My partners permanent residence is in the beach town (just outside a major city) so he popped in to check his mail, make sure his flat was still standing, and go for a wee. And then we went back home to my house. Did we break any rules? I have honestly no idea.

That makes no sense when each of those 15 people can have parents that work outside the home, siblings in other schools, and now family members who can browse Primark on a regular basis. Add to that the unknowns factors about how kids spread it, symptomless transmission etc and it’s a complete nonsense.

It makes some sense in that it's a step between "you see only your immediate family" and "you see anyone you want any time you want".

@manitobajane. I don't see the '1 person outdoors' thing changing, even if they do have 'bubbles'.

I can lend you some of my wanna be bubbles...

I'm not 'bubbling' with anyone. My OH will not be happy, but he'll have to accept it. If I 'bubble' with him I'm effectively bubbling with his DS, his Ex and ALL of her family/friends/neighbourhood/new bf & all his family/friends/workmates etc. I might as well go and lick Used CV PPE.

No thanks.

I think the "carefully mix two social bubbles" ship has long since sailed. Everyone I know is now just using their own judgement, and is mixing with whoever they like (still maintaining social distancing, as we mostly agree that social distancing makes sense). The government has completely lost whatever control they had (and I say this as a lifelong Conservative). This is largely thanks to Cummings.

My SIL lives 2 hours away & is a lone parent of 4. 3 of her DC have SEN & since MIL died unexpectedly a year ago DH & I are her respite care. She would come to us one weekend a month & then we’d go to her. We spend lots of time with her & all of the cousins love spending time together . We’ve obviously not seen them since all of this started & she’s managed brilliantly but has now started really struggling & really needs some support. We’ve stuck to lockdown guidelines, DH is a key worker (not NHS) & I’m unemployed. What’s kept her going is the idea that soon we’ll be able to go & stay with her for a couple of weeks.

Single people are often not invited to married couples events and can get left out.

I was single for a good 10 years and was invited to every event going, Jesus, I'd be massively pissed off if my mates didnt invite me just because I didnt have a plus one!!

Where have you see there won’t be social bubbles!? Any links?

Ah, so just heard on the news that it's only mixing outside. So essentially what most people are already doing?....

Do gardens count as that do you think? Like could I go to my family members for a bbq?

We've been breaking the rules for weeks as my whole family are 'bubbled'. All WFH and one couple are the nominated shoppers for the whole family. Been working wonderfully. If any of us had symptoms - were all isolated anyway. 83 year old GGmother down to 1 year old. 12 people.

Surely the Cummings fiasco has made it clear you can visit who ever you like?
I mean, you shouldn't, but you CAN

I'm at hospital with my son for a heart appointment. After this we will go social distance with my parents at their house. I may stop round a friends for a door step/car chat.

I'm shielding.

Bollocks to bubbles.

Impossible to create, impossible to police and potentially they could cause loads of upset.

Families don't fit into neat little units which slot neatly into another family like a neat trouble free little jigsaw. It's bullshit.

Possible over reliance on the word 'neat' there

Social bubbles are an awful idea that would create arguments and be hard to police. I hope they just say groups of up to x. Much more straightforward.

@heartsonacake no that’s not what I am saying at all.
Just pointing out it’s different for everyone. 🤷‍♀️

I was single for a good 10 years and was invited to every event going, Jesus, I'd be massively pissed off if my mates didnt invite me just because I didnt have a plus one!!

I haven't been invited to any events since my divorce.

@Washyourhandsyoufilthyanimal we don't need links to tell us what to do. I was already breaking the lockdown every single day before DC's transgressions came to light, but I made my own sensible risk assessment and nobody has contracted Covid as a result. I wouldn't have broken it if I had been putting anyone vulnerable at risk. You need to trust your own judgement and good sense, not the internet.

I guess it depends on how risk averse you are or in the case of the granparent above, a mug, or on a death wish.
Do what you want, the hospitals aren't busy atm you'll get a bed in ICU.

@Devlesko That "there's a bed free in ICU for you" line wore thin about a month ago.

I think part of the anger about DC is that people are finally realising that they were too quick to swallow the 'stay at home regardless' message, and are partly angry with themselves as well as with him and his arrogance.

The logic is that if 15 people only interact closely with a small group of the same people, which is formally documented and therefore easy to establish contact, it is unlikely that the virus will get into the group, and even less likely that it will pass through the group to other external people.

And there is the flaw with the government back to school plan - those 15 people, shocking as it may seem to the government, have families who they live with. All those 15 children don't live alone. Plus, why 15 children + adults - surely it should be 15 people including the adults.

Then you need to deduct the adults families and deduct the childrens families...and then it's realised that it is too risky to send the children back to school.

As you were...