To think this particular Covid rule is fucking stupid?

[PPNC]

So I need to go and pick up my kids from ex’s, to do the journey there and back in a day will mean around 9-10 hrs driving give or take.

But I can’t get a hotel to break the journey as I would any other time, because “Covid”. Would require a letter from a company saying I’m on essential work purposes and I’m a keyworker, no exceptions.

Because a 10hr drive that’s SO much safer than the risk of a virus ARGH. And yes I know “they can’t make exceptions or people will take the piss Yada Yada” but I’m too frustrated to be reasonable this evening. Guess I’ll be napping in my cold car.

Agree you should stay on the English side of the border. I'm travelling for work soon and have had to just tick a box to say my stay is within the rules.

Wales does seem much more strict.

Sorry I meant to PP that I couldn’t not do it as it isn’t just contact iyswim.

You’d think it would be allowed and the link given says it is in England, but got a big “computer says no” from the Welsh hotels I’ve called! Even when I explained the length of drive and reasons, and offered a copy of mine and his address. Insane!

But thank you all, looks like I have some solutions, I either fake a letter, book an English border hotel or try AirBnB. Got to love MN solutions! 😊

I travel for work, including Wales, and haven't been asked for proof.

If you have a look on hotels. com, booking. com etc you will have a bit more choice of independent pubs and hotels that will be more flexible than the chains

Would require a letter from a company saying I’m on essential work purposes and I’m a keyworker, no exceptions.
Not true to the letter of the law in England or NI, so can you stay on the England side of the border? Any reason where you can't return to your home, you can stay in a hotel. I was in one last week because I was moving house (28 hours of driving) and had nowhere to stay. Holiday Inn Express were lovely and very welcoming, their Covid cleaning was decent and they're just a bit nicer than a Travelodge. Before Xmas (NI has been in lockdown FOREVERR) I had to stay in a Hilton as no electric and they were being really OTT and wanted "proof of keyworker status" in the email they sent me. I rang them, explained I had no electric and a young baby and I quoted the law as it stands and they backed down, if they hadn't I wouldn't have stayed with them at any point in the future. There is literally no reason for this stupid "keyworker only" policy when that's not the letter of the law.

That is ridiculous it is an essential journey with a rest in the middle. Afaik no heating is an essential stay? You could fib and say your boiler is broke, or write your own letter pretend you are a window cleaner.

Does this help?
naccc.org.uk/covid-19-and-child-contact-in-wales/

I hate this crap. You are required to drive for those hours, and you shouldn't be. Meanwhile, old Mrs Ignorant has friends visiting and breaking the rules (she's already in a bubble) and insists she won't be told what to do.

I despair: your case is contact between child and parents. That's allowed. The rules are clear.

YANBU. This is all getting ridiculous.

How much don’t you want to stay at your ex’s?

Unless he was actually abusive or has an annoying girlfriend, then kipping on his sofa probably is your easiest option in the current circumstances .

Over the border is a good plan, but don't try Monmouth. That's definitely in Wales.

Strictly I believe the rules are you can stay overnight in an hotel if you are unable to continue your journey/get home. In that context overtiredness and risk of an accident is a good enough reason.

Glad you have some solutions. And wanted to say how much I love Bob Bobberson, just reading the name and he instantly became a full character in my head! A very affable chap.

My DH has had to stay in a couple of hotels for work in this last lockdown. He runs his own company so wrote himself a letter on his own headed paper saying it was a work trip and signed it himself. Hotel didn’t even ask to see it, just made him check the ‘business’ box on check in. (He was asked for it at the train station by the police when he was leaving but they accepted it quite happily). Can you knock up a similar letter, I’d be astounded if anyone actually checked the validity of it, how could they?

Hope you find somewhere that will let you stay, know it’s not ideal but would sleeping in your locked car be an option if nothing else pans out?

@dahliaManNamara please explain what level of idiot I am for living in Wales for years and always believing Monmouth was over the border!! 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

I think BobBobberson would be a lovely old gent with a cheeky smile 😃

I’ve cheered up now, thanks to A - solutions B - drinking a bottle of wine and deciding what outfit I’ll wear when I join the revolution against the madness! I’m thinking a beret...

Some rules really are barmy. Agree try and get something on the English side- you have a valid reason and it will be fine. Welsh police are far more fussy unfortunately. We didn’t do it in the end but looked into a hotel and the rules for a similar reason and decided it was reasonable.

Btw your ex is an idiot for not meeting half way

Don't be mad at yourself - Monmouth is only relatively recently (ha!) part of Wales and bits of it are still considered to be English!

"When was Monmouthshire part of England?
1933
However, most Acts of Parliament listed Monmouthshire as part of England; for example, the Local Government Act 1933 listed both the administrative county of Monmouth and county borough of Newport as part of England."

it is Wales now though.
"From the 16th to the early 20th century Monmouthshire was sometimes considered administratively a part of England and sometimes a part of Wales, but today it is recognized as an integral part of the latter, and it elects representatives to the National Assembly for Wales."

Also agree that your ex is a PITA for refusing to meet halfway - guess that's part of the reason why he's an ex, hey.

I know England/Wales are small countries but 10 hours really is fine for a days drive. Back home I would never get anyway if I was to stop in hotels every few hours!

10 hours, 5 of which would be with children, is a LONG time.
We've done it in Australia a couple of times and would happily NEVER do it again.
And the roads in Australia are a lot easier to deal with than in the UK. You can do a couple of hours drive in Aus like it would be half an hour drive in the UK - there and back, no issues, just a standard day out. 2h drive in the UK to visit anywhere in one day would be a bit of a mission!
I don't understand exactly why it is this way, apart from traffic and extra concentration required, but it is very much the case.

Why the hell is you DC’s father not facilitating the journey by meeting you half way? Some people are absolute knob so

*knobs

As PP said, there is a reason he’s an ex! Cant give me a break every 6-12 months without a bit of punishment thrown in!

Oh, so your DC are currently at his and need to return to yours for their school return but ExP is refusing to drive them back to yours for whatever reason ? Even though he rarely has them so it's hardly a regular "burden" on him. What an horrid man he is. He could easily hire a car if there are problems with his car... or whatever his excuse is so I don't doubt he's being awkward.

So... drive down and get them, staying in English hotel just before the border like you planned- with a lovely breakfast before you set off . Then pick them up... and set off home.

I'd find a hotel or b&b that accepts it's for childcare contact essential travel which sounds more likely on English side of the border. I don't blame welsh hotels for being hotter in checks as their nhs hospitals tend not to have same capacity as some other areas do.

2h drive in the UK to visit anywhere in one day would be a bit of a mission!

WTF!? That’s my normal commute! I’d have no issue with a 10hr drive as long as there are a few breaks.