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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm missing something and the rules have changed for social gatherings? Genuinely confused

59 replies

Peterbishopssarcasticsmile · 15/06/2020 07:54

This isnt goady...
Lots of people I know seem to have had parties or gatherings in their houses this weekend
I have to admit I haven't been watching all the daily briefings now but thought it was only single person households that could go into another chosen household?
Are we okay to go visit our parents etc now? I've looked online but can't see anything

OP posts:
Cantata · 15/06/2020 08:38

Just do what you like. The government's advice is about a month behind what most people have been doing anyway.

drspouse · 15/06/2020 08:40

We have a bubble with my single friend up the road. The DCs were SO excited to play in her garden yesterday.

DameFanny · 15/06/2020 08:42

@ptumbi "The infections round here are 0.2% of population - so in my town, about 24 people. That's 24 people who may GET IT, not die of it. "

No, that's 24 people who have tested positive and are hopefully isolated, but if 1 in 5 people don't show symptoms and don't get tested then that's another 4 and a bit people currently unknowingly spreading it. And we know that covid is highly infectious, so it won't take long for that number to rocket of precautions aren't taken. It doubled every 3 to 4 days before lockdown, so without caution you've got a thousand cases in 24 days. That's the point of the caution.

Pinkyyy · 15/06/2020 08:49

Outdoor gatherings of up to 6 (nom-shielding) people are permitted, provided that social distancing is applied.

namechangenumber2 · 15/06/2020 08:51

I think the problem is, opening up to say that some people from different households can be together without social distancing and no maximum number has left others thinking that if it's ok for them it's ok for me. I can totally understand why they've done it, but think that's made others think it's ok to have a party if others can do similar as they're a single person

Saying that I don't know anyone personally who has started really pushing the rules. One of our neighbours has been having visitors the entire way through - even having posted on the local Facebook page in rage about how many cars she counted on the roads Hmm

Giganticshark · 15/06/2020 08:52

I'm pretty much seeing what family I please now. They live a short walk. Hang out in their garden and have a glass of wine. Let the kids play.

I'm not shopping in a non essential shop, I'm not at a rave. I'll do as I please with my family though

summerfruitssquash · 15/06/2020 08:54

Ever since the protests started (the non socially distanced or peaceful ones) and Boris did fuck all about them I don’t think anyone cares anymore

BobbieDraper · 15/06/2020 09:02

@UncleShady

She can form a bubble with you. She is loving alone; she can bubble with any household. Doesnt matter if that household has 1 or 10 people living in it and it doesnt matter what kind of relationship she has with you.

IncrediblySadToo · 15/06/2020 09:09

@UncleShady

What @Bobbie said!

CecilyP · 15/06/2020 09:09

My sister lives alone and hasnt formed a bubble with anyone, but since she's not got any children and isn't having sex with anyone in my house, she can't form a bubble with us

How on earth did you take that from the new rules. There was no mention of sex, though obviously now non-cohabitating couples can get together. It is perfectly within the rules for your sister to form a bubble with your household.

SummerMeadows20 · 15/06/2020 09:21

We’ve had people over this weekend both days, only a couple each day so no more than 4 of us in total. We sat in the garden, I spaced the garden furniture out so we were all 2 metres apart. They didn’t come into the house except to use the toilet and they used the downstairs and DH and I used upstairs and I cleaned it after they went.

I’m sure some people would’ve had a problem with that, but it’s perfectly within the rules. If you can socialise outside safely again then why wouldn’t you?! The virus isn’t going away, we have to adapt!

Original poster
Peterbishopssarcasticsmile · 15/06/2020 09:30

I'm not talking about six people sitting in a garden. I'm talking about people who had 20+ people over all grouped together in gardens
Or clearly having a party with lots of people
Plenty of people in our park picnicking in big groups with no social distancing as well
In fact people around here aren't social distancing much at all - taking DS out for a walk in the pram is hard as people don't even move out of the way like they would normally (I always do but sometimes if they're walking three abreast there's nowhere to go!)
It does seem that everyone has just given up and is doing their own thing

Will be interesting to see if it does cause a.second spike or if the figures continue to fall

OP posts:
IndiaMay · 15/06/2020 09:33

What are you on about @UncleShady. The new rules were invented literally for someone in your sisters situation. ANY single adult household can form a bubble with ANY other household and act as if they were one household (so no social distancing) you can then meet up with any other household and maintain social distancing. So your sister could meet your father in his garden/for a walk and keep social distancing.

TabbyMumz · 15/06/2020 09:43

Honestly, so many people sticking diligently to the rules, not going over 6 etc.....then so many others encouraging people to go to blm protests and sit with thousands. Just crazy. .

UncleShady · 15/06/2020 09:45

So we are ok then?

Chewbecca · 15/06/2020 09:47

We’ve had people in the garden all weekend, there is no problem with that.

I don’t foresee a second spike as a result of low level, relatively distanced socialising. We are still not going to offices, schools, public transport etc, 95% of usual interactions are still absent.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 15/06/2020 09:49

My MIL wants to form bubbles with all her children, but visit at different times. It’s funny to watch it unfold.

She’s the highest risk, she’s been shopping loads and meeting friends.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 15/06/2020 09:50

A friend is coming over with 3 of her dcs today, 2 of mine are here. So we will actually be 7. The kids are going to have to take turns for one of them to go and sit in the car for an hour, so we keep to 6.

Or alternatively, we can apply common sense and social distance as much as possible in the garden.

But OP I know what you mean. Tbh the pics of queues outside shops/protests over the weekend show it has all gone pearshaped anyway. As long as people are as careful as possible then what can be done?

PuntoEBasta · 15/06/2020 09:55

@UncleShady

So we are ok then?
Yes. Your sister is a single adult household and can bubble with you.
Quarantimespringclean · 15/06/2020 09:56

I don’t recognise this behaviour at all. I live on a quiet road so I notice if a car drives by and I can also see several neighbours houses. None of them have had any visitors since all this started. We had 2 friends over for a distanced BBQ last week and my adult daughter came for dinner this week as she is now part of our ‘bubble’.

I had a lengthy Zoom chat with 9 friends yesterday and we are all very similar. A distanced picnic in the park for one couple to see their daughter. A trip to a deserted beach for someone else to see their grandchildren after 12 weeks of isolation. Tomorrow my D.C. will take garden chairs and flasks of tea to sit in my mums front garden and celebrate her 79th birthday. We are all respecting the rules because the more of us that do, the quicker this can be over.

Zaphodsotherhead · 15/06/2020 10:12

I think that incidence of infection is far less if you are outdoors. So I wouldn't worry too much about groups of people meeting outside and not socially distancing (although better if they do, of course). The danger is going to come as the weather worsens over autumn/winter and people are indoors with no movement of air or travelling in cars together.

But that's just my take on it. I'm meeting a few of my adult kids next weekend for a picnic. We will be outdoors, but probably share food and not distance rigidly. Only time will tell...

SeasonFinale · 15/06/2020 10:13

Yes UncleShady if your sister has said she can't it is because she doesn't want to! Grin

Iwantacookie · 15/06/2020 10:19

Honestly op everytime I look on fb I see more friends posting hugging selfies and "missed this face" captions I think every day I've missed an announcement.
I dont know what the rules are anymore but I'm just going to try keep away from people and hope I catch an announcement soon.

ginnybag · 15/06/2020 10:28

I definitely thought i'd missed something Saturday night!

The house across the road were straight back to their all-night karaoke parties in the garden. Huge group of people all pissed, all signing and shouting till around 2am.

They don't all live there - it's one couple. No way were they distancing - not enough room. It's ridiculous!

GrannyBags · 15/06/2020 10:36

We had socially distanced drinks in the garden yesterday - me, DH and two other couples. We told DS he had to stay in the house as he would have taken the number up to 7 - which was fine with him as he is a teen and much preferred to be on the X box!