Neighbours pis*ed off we're in our garden when isolating

[blakeway45]

Me, DH and 2x DC (age 4 and 2) are isolating due to DH testing positive (the issues that come with this could be a whole other post in itself!).

Neighbours know we are isolating as they know my MIL well.

Yesterday we spent most of the day in and out of the garden. We're all feeling fine, kids have been playing in their paddling pool and on their slide and I've been pottering about and sunbathing. We also had lunch in the garden as a family.

Neighbours are livid we're in the garden when isolating because we could pass it to them over the fence?! I appreciate COVID is making everyone worry in lots of ways, but we are not breaking ANY rules in doing and it's OUR garden?! I'd be going insane if we had no outside space! Although the gardens run alongside each other all the way down, the gardens are pretty wide, it's not like we're sharing a space or are massively on top of each other?! There's a fence and a great big bush between us for goodness sake!!!

They have text me and called my MIL saying they're not pleased we're outside while we have COVID and they'd appreciate it if we'd be more careful and not pass it along the street?!

AIBU????

I'd reply "thank you for your care, we would appreciate if you'd look into your garden more than in our" what stupid people, if they are so worried not to catch the virus they better stay indise by themselves.

@FinallyFluid and @Topseyt are spot on! YANBU either ignore or tell them to stay in their lane. As for MIL that would really piss me, why is discussing the health of your household with the neighbours. Know them or know them not that's not okay.

Oh gos. People are bonkers

YANBU!

They should p#ss off and do to live on a dessert island. Or shut up, put up and stay indoors! I would give them a large piece of my mind...

@Moonshine11

Tell your MIL to stop telling people your business

This......

The world has officially gone mad!! I just have no words! I bet they have had their vaccines too which means this is the most safe they will ever be from covid. We need to seriously move on from this even isolating healthy people is ridiculous after so many vaccines!

Your neighbours and MIL are morons

If the subject is brought up again it might be worth having to hand the data on the very very very minimal risk of passing on covid when outdoors and at least 2 metres apart ...which you presumably would be from your neighbours when in your garden

I do think this one is a bit more complex than others have said. The purpose of self isolation is to, well, isolate from others. Really imo you should all be isolating from your DH and generally staying indoors.

We know that covid is airborne so a fence will not prevent your neighbours catching it. I can see why they’d be concerned- personally I’d apologise to them and promise to stay indoors for the remainder of the isolation period.

I also think there’s something a bit ‘disrespectful’ about someone with covid behaving basically as normal while nurses are rushed off their feet in ICU.

WRT the mil, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them making your neighbours aware of the situation so they can protect themselves. My MIL takes it upon herself to report news around the family.

^^
Pinkcadillac

YANBU but your DH should be isolating himself from you and your children, shouldn't he?

I would agree with the above. My fail had Covid and had to isolate from my dd & dgs by staying in the bedroom while they camped out downstairs for 10 days.

Dsil not fail 🤦🏻‍♀️

@blakeway45

Thanks everyone. I sent a shortened version of my draft I shared with you and she came straight back to say we'll agree to disagree. As far as I'm concerned we shan't talk of it again.

Let her disagree with the guidelines if she wants. You know you aren't doing anything wrong.

@blakeway45

Me, DH and 2x DC (age 4 and 2) are isolating due to DH testing positive (the issues that come with this could be a whole other post in itself!).

Neighbours know we are isolating as they know my MIL well.

Yesterday we spent most of the day in and out of the garden. We're all feeling fine, kids have been playing in their paddling pool and on their slide and I've been pottering about and sunbathing. We also had lunch in the garden as a family.

Neighbours are livid we're in the garden when isolating because we could pass it to them over the fence?! I appreciate COVID is making everyone worry in lots of ways, but we are not breaking ANY rules in doing and it's OUR garden?! I'd be going insane if we had no outside space! Although the gardens run alongside each other all the way down, the gardens are pretty wide, it's not like we're sharing a space or are massively on top of each other?! There's a fence and a great big bush between us for goodness sake!!!

They have text me and called my MIL saying they're not pleased we're outside while we have COVID and they'd appreciate it if we'd be more careful and not pass it along the street?!

AIBU????

I don't get why everyone seems to be encouraging a neighbour war. You guys need to live together for a long time I presume? Either ignore it or accept their anxiety and advise them you will keep away from the fence. The media has caused much anxiety and the headlines change constantly. Maybe the neighbours have experienced loss? It's not been an easy time. Yes they sound a bit ridiculous but if elderly just be kind.

Oh god
Someone has trotted out the "disrespectful to nurses rushed off their feet in icu"
Line
Well if they are rushed off their feet it isn't currently looking after covid patients and I can guarantee you they don't want your "respect" staying out of the garden
I doubt they'd give the shiniest of shits what you are doing in your own back garden

YANBU. If they are bothered then they are free to use other outside spaces, you only have your garden.

Ohhhh Jez, another neighbour of hell haha
What amazes me ever more is the way you say it feeling sooooo guilty !

Tell them to fuck off inside tô their holes and leave you all alone. You know you are not doing anything wrong, so why do you even care ?

Thank you for sharing though,,, we know how awful people/ neighbours are out there !

Good luck and enjoy your garden and your family x

Your neighbours are ill informed. WHich seems to apply to a large proportion of the population. Ignore them, they're ignorant.

I had the same issue recently when my son tested positive. He is a keen footballer so spent his time practicing football skills in the garden and my neighbour questioned him on whether he should be out of the house. It is actually on the NHS website that you can use your garden and that you should just keep 2m distance if you have to bypass neighbour’s doors etc so YANBU. Tell your neighbours that it is allowed an did they are not happy then nobody is forcing them to leave the comfort of their front room!

@iwannafurloughmydp

Ohhhh Jez, another neighbour of hell haha What amazes me ever more is the way you say it feeling sooooo guilty !

Tell them to fuck off inside tô their holes and leave you all alone. You know you are not doing anything wrong, so why do you even care ?

Thank you for sharing though,,, we know how awful people/ neighbours are out there !

Good luck and enjoy your garden and your family x

Love your response, pretty much what my son told our neighbour when he questioned him on being in the garden (although in a more childlike way without the swearing) 😂

@Hobnobswantshernameback

Nurses have made huge sacrifices over the past year to keep us all safe. They have been putting themselves at risk away from their families.

And yet people who actually have covid can’t stay indoors for 2 weeks

I’d understand their worries if your fence is a low one or they’ve had the Astra Zenica vaccine which is 35% less effective than Pfizer or moderne. The virus is airborn and can be moved by wind so the size of your fence is important especially with the Indian variant.

Personally I wouldn’t be out in my garden if I had confirmed covid or near my family members. If I was isolating on a ‘maybe came in to contact’ scenario then I would.

UANBU! Ridiculous over reaction from them, haven't they had their jabs anyway?

[quote TreeLeaf4]@Hobnobswantshernameback

Nurses have made huge sacrifices over the past year to keep us all safe. They have been putting themselves at risk away from their families.

And yet people who actually have covid can’t stay indoors for 2 weeks [/quote]
This.

People insisting they'll become exempt from mask wearing if this continues.

"We're not doing anything wrong." Yes, you are. You are supposed to keep separate from the CV+ person. You're not.

With everything you've posted, OP, I'm not remotely surprised your neighbours are pissed off with you.