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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you chose to go abroad during a pandemic it serves you right?

366 replies

FunnysInLaJardin · 13/08/2020 23:04

I get that folk feel they deserve a holiday, but if you travel during the current pandemic you shouldn't complain if rules suddenly change before you get home.

Anyone with half a wit could see that it was a risky thing to do to take a holiday at this time.

OP posts:
Pixxie7 · 14/08/2020 07:08

The other countries have a good track and trace system we haven’t so we don’t really know our figures.

Fletchings · 14/08/2020 07:10

Because, Lemon, because! Planes are just full of Covid, everyone knows this!

no, they aren't! probably saver than the supermarket or pub covidwise!

JuniperFather · 14/08/2020 07:10

@Aridane

Aren't people allowed to post controversial things on AIBU anymore? Clearly we don't just have Covid police but Mumsnet ones too!

Of course they are - just like posters are free to say the poster and post is unpleasant

Got an STD? Serves you right

Husband a waste of space / cheating bastard? Serves you right for being such a poor judge of character

House burns down and your favourite bit of sentimental jewellery isn’t covered because above individual item limit? Serves you right - should have read insurance policy better

Child does badly at school and worse? Serves you right

How can you compare things which are tragic or disturbing events that happen TO someone, to a set of choices such as going on holiday which are taken BY someone?

Seriously....

Ethelfleda · 14/08/2020 07:13

What in fucks name is the point of this thread? Why not keep your self-important little smuggeries to yourself?

This.

Drumple · 14/08/2020 07:13

It is a really mean thread.

Friendsoftheearth · 14/08/2020 07:14

Apart from Germany (their system still has weaknesses) no country in Europe has an effective track and trace system!

OnceUponACat · 14/08/2020 07:14

YANBU but you are certainly charming in your tone.

We accepted the risks and went anyway and are enjoying ourselves immensely in a perfectly safe way in a country that is safer and has stricter rules than the UK. If I have ti self isolate so be it. It was all considered before hand.

Friendsoftheearth · 14/08/2020 07:15

I think op is really expressing what most people are thinking in the UK if I am honest.

Bollss · 14/08/2020 07:18

@Friendsoftheearth

I think op is really expressing what most people are thinking in the UK if I am honest.
Speak for yourself. I don't think it's "most" people at all.
whittingtonmum · 14/08/2020 07:18

I think 'serves them right' is an incredibly nasty attitude to have. I find this quite appalling actually. Indication where this country goes wrong and how we have become such a devided, vindictive society lacking empathy and compassion.

And I say this as someone who cancelled my holiday abroad this year which means that my children won't see their godparents for at least another year. I just couldn't face taking the risk and being swept up in another wave of COVID-19 would have cancelled out any enjoyment/relaxation I would have hoped to get.

But it was a relatively easy thing for me to decide:
I had arranged a home exchange which I could cancel by mutual agreement so no loss financially. I have a second home at the seaside so I just went there instead. Good standard accommodation, easy to socially distance and not paying a premium financially. Everything around us is fully booked. I know because I have been struggling to support friends who want to come to the area for a holiday because their own plans have fallen through. All is fully booked. Only totally overpriced substandard accommodation left, or hotels in the nearest city which isn't great for families and not exactly near the beach.

So while I chose to stay put in the UK I feel for everyone who had their travel plans disrupted. If there's one thing I know it is this: after lockdown, homeschooling, juggling it all, losing loved ones and facing a potential second wave, job losses and economic meltdown in the autumn we all need to come up for air a little bit this summer so we can get through all this. My heart goes out to everyone whose break turned into another COVID related disruption and stress.

OnceUponACat · 14/08/2020 07:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Friendsoftheearth · 14/08/2020 07:22

I will save my sympathy and compassion for those that have died from covid, those that are dealing with long standing health implications from being ill and those thousands that are about to lose their jobs.

I have limited capacity to feel sorry for those needing to cut their beach holidays short in the middle of a pandemic to be honest whittington
They knew the risks and threw caution to the wind, those that booked before covid will still be insured.

heartsonacake · 14/08/2020 07:26

YANBU. I hope they won’t be expecting help if they get stranded anywhere.

Tallandall · 14/08/2020 07:28

I love my holidays but cancelled our family holiday abroad in May loosing our deposit. But a lot of selfish behaviour going on at the minute.

SheWranglesRugRats · 14/08/2020 07:29

YABVU for assuming that everyone is travelling for holidays.

leftovercoffeecake · 14/08/2020 07:29

There are some really miserable people on this thread, who seem to thrive on other people’s misfortune. People are allowed to be sad and gutted about their holidays. The attitude ‘I have it worse than you so your feelings are invalid’ is pathetic.

There are people who booked their holidays pre covid and in many cases, due to insurance loopholes, they’ll lose a lot of money if they don’t go. There are people who want to visit family. There are people who have had their mental health in pieces and need a break.

There’s no need to kick people who are already feeling down just so you can wear your goody two shoes badge and get a nice pat on the back from all the other sanctimonious mn posters.

You can be glad the travel ban has come back but still be kind to people who are affected.

Friendsoftheearth · 14/08/2020 07:30

It would be the decent thing to do to quarantine from any country in Europe at the moment, regardless of government instructions.
If I were travelling, I certainly would, as I would not want to be responsible for infecting others, and possibly killing someone.

Batmanandbobbin · 14/08/2020 07:31

Hasn’t this post been done 60 times when the quarantine was placed for Spain?

SengaStrawberry · 14/08/2020 07:31

I think “serves them right” is a bit mean but yes they did take a risk and need to live with the consequences.

CrumpetsAndPuzzles · 14/08/2020 07:32

I agree with you up to a certain extent, but for instance I went abroad to see my family I hadn’t seen since Christmas, including an elderly and unwell grandparent I may never see again.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 14/08/2020 07:32

A family member is there now. She knew there was a chance of quarantine & checked that they could both work from home as needed on return. She also timed the holiday to ensure they would be out of quarantine before her kids are due back to school.

They are staying in a family owned apartment & barely mixing with locals indoors at all, I dont begrudge her this.

jessstan2 · 14/08/2020 07:32

I agree it is irresponsible to go away on holiday this year but if i knew someone who did who was then inconvenienced by quarantine or anything else, I wouldn't gloat about it. What's the point? They're having the consequences, it's not my place to add to them. I would ask them not to moan though.

Drivingdownthe101 · 14/08/2020 07:33

Oh look, the 15th iteration of the same thread. Goodie, I haven’t read the same thing over and over again since the quarantine period was reintroduced for Spain! I was missing it.

Pikachubaby · 14/08/2020 07:33

I was in two minds about visiting my elderly parents there.

I did not go

But it’s nice to know that OP thinks it would have served me right to have to quarantine (and/or lose my job) as a consequence for being selfish enough to want to see my 85 yr old folks

So kind, so gentle, so mature OP. Are you generally so full of empathy?

Friendsoftheearth · 14/08/2020 07:35

Everyone is tired, everyone's mental health is in pieces, we all felt disappointed not to go on holiday left but I think you are forgetting that we have lost over 40,000 people, we do NOT want a repeat this autumn! So I don't think it is unreasonable for people to feel frightened and worried that the infection rate will increase due to all of the travelling and cross border infection.

There is a good reason why places like New Zealand and others have the virus under control.
We are an island nation we could have the same health security if we were focused and energised to do so. Least of all because it does seem very likely a vaccine will be available by the end of the year, so this would be a short term sacrifice to save tens of thousands of lives.