Page 4 | To think I'm the only one still living a distanced life...

bridgetreilly · 27/08/2020 19:27

OP, please go and read the current rules and guidance. Things have changed. Not as much as some people seem to think, admittedly, but they have changed. You can have people from another household in your home, provided you stay distanced. You can have people from up to six households in you garden, again with distancing. You can go out for meals and coffees and the cafes have changed their layout and systems to allow for distancing.

If you or your mother is a single-adult household, then you can be a bubble and have normal contact with each other, including physical contact.

firstimemamma · 27/08/2020 19:28

Just the other day there were only 800 or so new cases and 4 deaths in the whole of the uk (and that's with loads of people not SD or wearing masks etc etc). Do you want to continue to live your life the way u are because of the rules? If so then fine but hopefully u can at least see why I don't. I hope you reach a decision you're happy with soon and congratulations on the baby.

postboxes · 27/08/2020 19:28

I am, but I'm having fertility treatment so I want to be safe rather than sorry

user1497207191 · 27/08/2020 19:33

@firstimemamma

Just the other day there were only 800 or so new cases and 4 deaths in the whole of the uk (and that's with loads of people not SD or wearing masks etc etc). Do you want to continue to live your life the way u are because of the rules? If so then fine but hopefully u can at least see why I don't. I hope you reach a decision you're happy with soon and congratulations on the baby.

Actually the numbers are low because the VAST MAJORITY are taking covid seriously, social distancing when they can, avoiding large gatherings, etc., not to mention all the high risk things that are still outlawed such as nightclubs, sports stadia, festivals, theatres, etc.

Do you seriously think the numbers would stay low if everyone went back to how it was in January?

The fact that some people aren't taking it seriously anymore has minimal impact as long as the majority are.

Polkadotties · 27/08/2020 19:34

This graph is useful. The blue bars show the extrapolated positives number if we were testing earlier in the year at the rate we are testing now.

To think I'm the only one still living a distanced life...

Babs709 · 27/08/2020 19:36

OP, please go and read the current rules and guidance. Things have changed. Not as much as some people seem to think, admittedly, but they have changed. You can have people from another household in your home, provided you stay distanced. You can have people from up to six households in you garden, again with distancing. You can go out for meals and coffees and the cafes have changed their layout and systems to allow for distancing.

This, 1000 times.

HesterShaw1 · 27/08/2020 19:38

If you don't want to any more and you say no one else is...stop. You choose.

Seems pointless if you're only doing it because you're following a set of arbitrary rules, rather than seeing any sense in them 🤷‍♀️

nc600 · 27/08/2020 19:38

"how can you have a coffee or a meal with a friend and stay 2m apart.
Is that possible?"

Well if course it's possible. But if you are going to insist on ignoring the fact that it is now in fact 1m and has been for quite some time then you won't get far.

Coffee shop with 2 sofas sitting at opposite ends and you'll be 2 metres if you really must. Or go outside?

Holyrivolli · 27/08/2020 19:39

Your risk of catching covid is tiny and the risk of you or your baby suffering badly or dying is even more minuscule.

You’re wasting your life hiding away and obsessing over something which is not going to damage you or your baby. It’s very sad.

Lemondrops41 · 27/08/2020 19:41

Up until today I was living a social distance life too.

Unfortunately DP has now decided it is safe to visit MIL in her own home. She is 79 and we have two children under five. We are in Scotland so although DP and I have to social distance in her house the children do not. MIL can hug and kiss them and pass on any Coronavirus she has caught. The children, particularly the toddler who is bf and co-sleeps with me can pass it on to me/us. DP has told MIL to go ahead and have other family visit her at home too. Some of them I do not trust to social distance in her house nor do I trust MIL not to hug and kiss visitor's on arrival or departure. I am not happy about these visits which will be weekly but DP says MIL is allowed to have these visitors and not breaking any rules.

So I have decided it's time to return to some kind of normality. I've made an appointment for us to get our hair cut for the first time since January, really looking forward to getting rid of my grey roots. We do our main food shop online but I'm now going to nip into the supermarket for things we run out of rather than go without. I'm going to get my eyes tested so I can replace the glasses the children broke in lockdown! I'm going to take my children to the swing park and let them play with other children their age (allowed in Scotland). I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be following the rules - wearing my mask, keeping 2m apart from others, using my hand sanitiser, not going to anywhere crowded, not going anywhere unless it's necessary. There's not going to be a vaccine this winter, I can't stay indoors until Christmas just to protect MIL from getting Coronavirus from us when she and DP are not going to make the same effort for me. I might even treat myself and the kids to lunch out as I have some vouchers from Christmas.

firstimemamma · 27/08/2020 19:42

@user1497207191 if u think the vast majority of people are bothering then let's respectfully agree to disagree. All I see on the news is illegal crowded raves that need dispersing, crowded beaches and packed restaurants etc etc. Every day I see loads of people not wearing masks (yes there are exemptions obviously). Every day on mumsnet there are countless threads which illustrate people aren't bothered any more. Even the op herself has said she feels in the minority. I respect your opinion though and I'm guessing u live in an area where the majority of people are doing things.

AlrightTreacle · 27/08/2020 19:43

"I've barely seen friends because the weather is rubbish for outdoor meet ups!"

Really? The weather where I live has been mostly lovely. It rained today but I wrapped up and went off for walk with my friend and her baby and dog in the drizzle this morning, staying 2m apart as we walked, and then we had a coffee at a cafe that has outdoor seating with a rain cover, again with chairs 2m apart. A lot of places around me have increased their outdoor seating and built a gazebo/marquee for rain cover. My partners vulnerable relatives have also built a gazebo in the garden so we can visit if it's raining and stay outside, it's honestly not that bad as long as you are wrapped up...not sure how it will be in actual winter though!

"We can't go for coffee because how do you stay 2m away from someone and drink a coffee in a shop together?!"

When we've gone out to restaurants with parents we've sat at the next table (only done this when it's been quiet, so not on a eat out to help out day).

Can you not invite people round to your house? We've rearranged our place for social distancing, so sofas are 2m+ apart, window open, a table to leave drinks on for guests to pick up, bathroom cleaned before and after guests come, and individual hand towels and dettol spray available for them to use.

vanillandhoney · 27/08/2020 19:46

but how can you have a coffee or a meal with a friend and stay 2m apart. Is that possible?

You don't need to stay 2m apart. Social distancing has been relaxed and you can stay 1m apart.

Why on earth are you placing non-existent restrictions on yourself like this? That's no way to live.

SueEllenMishke · 27/08/2020 19:48

Really? The weather where I live has been mostly lovely. It rained today but I wrapped up and went off for walk with my friend and her baby and dog in the drizzle this morning, staying 2m apart as we walked, and then we had a coffee at a cafe that has outdoor seating with a rain cover, again with chairs 2m apart. A lot of places around me have increased their outdoor seating and built a gazebo/marquee for rain cover. My partners vulnerable relatives have also built a gazebo in the garden so we can visit if it's raining and stay outside, it's honestly not that bad as long as you are wrapped up...not sure how it will be in actual winter though!

I really can't understand people who don't realise the weather is variable across the uk....I've driven from South Wales to Manchester today in torrential rain. My friends had to abandon a camping trip in Yorkshire earlier this week due to storms and gale force winds.

Jaxhog · 27/08/2020 19:50

@MissBPotter if you don't want people to criticize, don't make stupid statements then!

I actually agree (as I said in my post) that it is fine to go out provided you take precautions. But there is no getting away from the fact that unless everyone follows SD and wears masks etc. that there will be a second wave, we will have a second lockdown and people will die.

Original poster

ciarachats · 27/08/2020 19:52

@vanillandhoney

but how can you have a coffee or a meal with a friend and stay 2m apart. Is that possible?

You don't need to stay 2m apart. Social distancing has been relaxed and you can stay 1m apart.

Why on earth are you placing non-existent restrictions on yourself like this? That's no way to live.

@vanillandhoney how is that non existent?!

The rule is 2m. Or one meter with precautions such as a face mask!!

OP posts:

RichardMarxisinnocent · 27/08/2020 19:55

But if you are going to insist on ignoring the fact that it is now in fact 1m and has been for quite some time then you won't get far.
Once again, it is NOT 1 metre. It's 1 metre with mitigations. You can't wear a mask in a coffee shop as you'd have to keep taking it off to drink. So you need to either be outside (I believe being outside is a motivation) , or sit side by side 1 metre apart, or have a screen between you. You can't just pop into the coffee shop and sit at whatever tiny table for 2 is available, you need a bigger table or two adjacent tables to allow distancing. So yes it is possible, but needs to be planned for a non-busy time and you might need to try more than one place.

AlrightTreacle · 27/08/2020 19:56

@SueEllenMishke

Yes, it is variable, and there has been storm Francis this week. But it's not been impossible to go outside for the last few months overall.

Original poster

ciarachats · 27/08/2020 19:57

@RichardMarxisinnocent

But if you are going to insist on ignoring the fact that it is now in fact 1m and has been for quite some time then you won't get far. Once again, it is NOT 1 metre. It's 1 metre with mitigations. You can't wear a mask in a coffee shop as you'd have to keep taking it off to drink. So you need to either be outside (I believe being outside is a motivation) , or sit side by side 1 metre apart, or have a screen between you. You can't just pop into the coffee shop and sit at whatever tiny table for 2 is available, you need a bigger table or two adjacent tables to allow distancing. So yes it is possible, but needs to be planned for a non-busy time and you might need to try more than one place.

@RichardMarxisinnocent

My point exactly!

OP posts:

Original poster

ciarachats · 27/08/2020 19:58

[quote AlrightTreacle]@SueEllenMishke

Yes, it is variable, and there has been storm Francis this week. But it's not been impossible to go outside for the last few months overall.[/quote]
@AlrightTreacle

Yeah we've had awful rain recently.

Yes we've had some lovely weather but over the last few weeks it's been awful!

OP posts:

gingganggooleywotsit · 27/08/2020 19:59

It's your choice to live the way you are op, but you shouldn't be complaining about it. Nobody is forcing you, you have chosen to live that life. I dont understand why you and others are taking it to extremes.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 27/08/2020 20:00

I've been wondering whether restaurants would be willing to accommodate people from two households wanting to sit at adjacent tables, so good to know you've been able to do it.

Original poster

ciarachats · 27/08/2020 20:00

@gingganggooleywotsit

It's your choice to live the way you are op, but you shouldn't be complaining about it. Nobody is forcing you, you have chosen to live that life. I dont understand why you and others are taking it to extremes.

@gingganggooleywotsit

I don't really feel like I'm taking it to extremes. Just following the guidelines.

OP posts:

vanillandhoney · 27/08/2020 20:01

how is that non existent?! The rule is 2m. Or one meter with precautions such as a face mask!!

No, it's not. Ideally you should stay 2m apart but if that's not possible then 1m is acceptable. If you want to continue to restrict yourself in the manner you are, you can do, but why? You're making yourself miserable - and to what end?

There are so many options available to you if you want to see your family and friends. The fact that you're choosing to restrict yourself unnecessarily is nobody's fault but your own.

AlrightTreacle · 27/08/2020 20:04

@ciarachats

You can invite a friend round to your house for a cup of tea and follow the guidelines?