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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

404 replies

blakeway45 · 17/06/2021 15:07

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????

OP posts:
Bananahana · 17/06/2021 21:49

They’re bonkers. Back off bonkers neighbours.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 17/06/2021 21:50

That's mental. I'd say,

"I'm sorry that you have concerns. We will be using our garden as advised by our doctor but if you are worried about being outside at the same time, maybe you should speak to your gp or stay inside for now."

tigger1001 · 17/06/2021 21:51

No one in my house (touch wood) has had covid but eldest has had to self isolate a couple of times. Both times he was out in the garden as he would have went stir crazy if he had to stay completely indoors and even more so if we confined him to a single room (not possible for us anyway) but he never stepped foot outside the garden.

It's allowed within the rules and people need to remember it's not all about covid. Other health issues exist and are made far worse by isolation.

Snowdropsonkittens · 17/06/2021 21:51

Where I live you are
Not allowed in your garden or outside at all if you have tested positive. Even if you are just isolating you are not allowed to let your cat out.

Honey12346 · 17/06/2021 21:56

I'm curious what do you do if you live alone, have a dog and have to isolate. Surely the dog can't go 2 weeks without a walk

Blossomtoes · 17/06/2021 21:59

@Honey12346

I'm curious what do you do if you live alone, have a dog and have to isolate. Surely the dog can't go 2 weeks without a walk
You get someone else to do it. Just like someone else has to shop for you.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/06/2021 22:03

I'm more curious as to why you can't let your cat out if you're isolating!

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 17/06/2021 22:05

Maybe you have to get someone else to let your cat out too. Or does the cat have to isolate as well?

amicissimma · 17/06/2021 22:11

Interesting. How does the person get to the door to let the cat out without being in the building in which you are isolating? How does the person walking the dog get the end of the lead from its owner?

OP, I'd just reply that of course you plan to continue being careful and do not intend to pass Covid along the street.

StressyWoman · 17/06/2021 22:19

Honey12346

I'm curious what do you do if you live alone, have a dog and have to isolate. Surely the dog can't go 2 weeks without a walk

My work colleague still took dog out for it to go to toilet as they live in a flat and they didn’t have anyone else to do it. My dog’s lazy and we have a garden so she was fine when I had to isolate, if she wasn’t I’d have asked someone to walk her.

Imnothereforthedrama · 17/06/2021 22:40

@Snowdropsonkittens

Where I live you are Not allowed in your garden or outside at all if you have tested positive. Even if you are just isolating you are not allowed to let your cat out.
Course you do
LemonySippet · 17/06/2021 22:47

OP my son had Covid last year and we were given a specialist contact to ask questions of as my husband is ECV. I specifically emailed to ask if we could use the garden as I forgot to ask on the phone and was paranoid about doing something wrong. She said of course we could, and it would do us good to get some fresh air. So I literally have it in writing, from a TTP contact.

Original poster
blakeway45 · 17/06/2021 23:21

Oh goodness, thank you for all your replies. I am glad you all agree (bar Doodlebug). I haven't yet replied to NDN but I am conscious that I don't want to aggravate the situation/encourage her anxieties so am planning on sending something tomorrow morning along the lines of:

"Following the concerns you have expressed I have checked the Government and NHS guidance as well as contacted track and trace directly, as I would hate to put you or X at any risk. I can confirm we are able to be out and about in our private garden as it is within the rules. We will be isolating until 25 June, unless another of one us tests positive, in which case it will be longer."

For those commenting on why DH is not isolating away from the me and DC, I challenge any other family in a modest house with one bathroom and two small children to do this. Impossible. This was a decision we made and I and the DC will be testing with lateral flows throughout the period as well as a PCR towards the end so we don't accidentally end isolation before we need to.

OP posts:
DdraigGoch · 17/06/2021 23:40

It's like being back in the first lockdown with neighbours snooping left, right, and centre.

fdup · 17/06/2021 23:55

they can go anywhere in the country and are choosing to be near the ONLY place you can be...also why is MIL give out your medical info?

LemonandGingerTeafor2 · 18/06/2021 01:40

Snowdropsonkittens
Where I live you are
Not allowed in your garden or outside at all if you have tested positive. Even if you are just isolating you are not allowed to let your cat out.

I really would like to know where this is please
My cat's a crazy lunatic if you have to keep him in overnight
He had to have a tooth out, the cardboard over the cat flap with duct tape didn't stop him
Cos of Covid no chance 😂

LemonandGingerTeafor2 · 18/06/2021 01:44

Where is this place

Snowdropsonkittens · 18/06/2021 05:55

You are not allowed to walk the dog or have anyone else walk it. The dog can be taken away and looked after. Cats have to isolate with you. Seems a bit odd

Snowdropsonkittens · 18/06/2021 06:01

Sorry it changed from the first lock down and now someone can walk your dog. It’s Guernsey. We had to isolate for 2 weeks as we were contact traced and the dog didn’t go out for a walk but he is old and didn’t really mind. The cat drove us crazy!

LutherRalph1 · 18/06/2021 06:06

Put Test and trace though in your message, not track and trace

icelollycraving · 18/06/2021 06:53

I do see their POV even though they are not correct. Covid has affected people in so many ways. My neighbour has some allergies/illnesses etc and was very very cautious for an extremely long time. If we had covid, I wouldn’t go in the garden if she was in hers. We live in a new build estate, the gardens are small and very close. Covid anxiety is going to be here for some time. There will be people who are overly anxious and many who are over all the restrictions.
Personally if my neighbour had Covid I wouldn’t want to go into my garden if they were out there. It may seem really illogical to 99% of you.
I had an argument with a family member who when recovering from covid, went shopping. She was still unwell but out of the isolation stage. Literally in hospital due to her symptoms and then out at the bakers and butchers a few days later.
I certainly wouldn’t take the piss or cough near the fence which some found hilarious. There was a polite reply posted up thread with a link. These are neighbours that you’ll live next to for presumably some time.
I hope your dh feels better soon, and fingers crossed it doesn’t pass to you or the kids.

Imnothereforthedrama · 18/06/2021 07:15

@icelollycraving

I do see their POV even though they are not correct. Covid has affected people in so many ways. My neighbour has some allergies/illnesses etc and was very very cautious for an extremely long time. If we had covid, I wouldn’t go in the garden if she was in hers. We live in a new build estate, the gardens are small and very close. Covid anxiety is going to be here for some time. There will be people who are overly anxious and many who are over all the restrictions. Personally if my neighbour had Covid I wouldn’t want to go into my garden if they were out there. It may seem really illogical to 99% of you. I had an argument with a family member who when recovering from covid, went shopping. She was still unwell but out of the isolation stage. Literally in hospital due to her symptoms and then out at the bakers and butchers a few days later. I certainly wouldn’t take the piss or cough near the fence which some found hilarious. There was a polite reply posted up thread with a link. These are neighbours that you’ll live next to for presumably some time. I hope your dh feels better soon, and fingers crossed it doesn’t pass to you or the kids.
There is a huge difference from sitting in your own garden to going shopping. When I isolated I didn’t go anywhere as your supposed to but I did go in my garden to peg washing out I even put the bins out . I did not go out for my daily exercise or to the shops no matter how essential that’s isolating. You are perfectly allowed to go in your garden in fact it’s encouraged you need fresh air and day light .
Imnothereforthedrama · 18/06/2021 07:16

@Snowdropsonkittens

Sorry it changed from the first lock down and now someone can walk your dog. It’s Guernsey. We had to isolate for 2 weeks as we were contact traced and the dog didn’t go out for a walk but he is old and didn’t really mind. The cat drove us crazy!
Are you quite sure the guidance was to keep the cat in too ? I very much doubt it .
icelollycraving · 18/06/2021 07:22

@Imnothereforthedrama I understand people pegging out washing, bins and going in the garden for fresh air. I was just trying (unsuccessfully) to say that I understand how nervous and afraid Covid has made some people.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 18/06/2021 07:29

That is nuts Grin

DH had Covid and we all used the garden ... he mingled with the rest of the family, as normal, and none of us caught it.

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