Grandchildren are next-door!!!

[Redwoodmaz]

I am fuming. I haven't seen my son [27] since before lockdown.
And our nextdoor neighbours have their adult children and grandchildren in their garden!!!
What don't they understand about 'Don't visit family or friends who don't live with you" ????

If the bloody football comes over the fence they're not having it back.

To the posters on here defending what OP's neighbours are doing and telling her to mind her own business, you are precisely why I'm so worried for my doctor dh going into work every day. Its the ignorance, stupidity and selfishness of others that could kill him.

OP I would be equally pissed off and I totally understand you needing to vent about it.

What has the OP actually done about other peoples’ behaviour though? What have any of you done other than follow the advice yourself? That is all we can do. Follow the advice. Abusing others achieves nothing.

Coming onto MN to complain and starting a thread where others call people names and tut tut is not constructive.

And if you really think that it is your business then go and tell them. As many posters suggest, it would be saving lives.

Come back, Oliver Cromwell. Mumsnet needs you.

We are probably all going to be exposed to it anyway so I am not sure it makes too much difference whether it is now or later

It makes a huge difference, we need to stagger/delay infections so that those needing hospital care can access it.

The rules are so simple, it's infuriating people are disregarding them.

if I didn't go round with their shopping they wouldn't have any food.

Then it's necessary travel because you're ensuring that vulnerable people (as you say they wouldn't have food otherwise) are able to eat.

Totally different situation to OP's neighbours.

Can you see them all mixing with each other in the garden? Or is it possible the parents and kids are in the garden and the grandparents are in the house? I've been going to my parents to take their shopping and I sit outside their window (also 6 feet away) and have a chat for ten minutes.

And if you really think that it is your business then go and tell them. As many posters suggest, it would be saving lives.

There has been ample news coverage, public information campaigns, adverts, newspaper articles, Government statements, TV appeals and more. If these people have ignored all of the above, then I highly doubt the OP telling them the guidance over the fence will make any different.

OP- I presume this family is going to continue with this pattern regardless of the increasing virus numbers we’re getting. They need the rules explaining to them. I wouldn’t ring the police, because they’re probably inundated. But if your local police force has an online method of reporting, I’d use it.

BlueGheko
DH and I also drop shopping round for a vulnerable relative. We say hello from across the front garden and check they're ok. Like you, we consider this reasonable, but helping a vulnerable relative is not going round to socialise.

I wouldn't be going round for a coffee, nor a BBQ, nor any other reason that some MN posters will defend because there's some ridiculous excuse why they're simply must ignore the rules.

Our neighbours kids and young grandkids are visiting them every other day which is totally unnecessary. Our neighbours are early 50s, no health conditions that require carers so they BU considering the risk to others.

We are keeping our disabled son inside as he is high risk of complications, unlikely to be prioritised for a ventilator and generally trying to shield him from the idiots who refuse to stay at home.

I bet any money tomorrow they will have a BBQ together albeit 2m apart and have a big old laugh about how funny it is. Their garden isn't 2m from ours and they don't realise their actions impact on us who are literally scared to death of our son catching it. Idiots.

Well I don't think staying for a 10 minute chat sitting at different ends of a large garden poses any risk and it helps keep their spirits up. I work in infection control implementing biosecurity protocols so I'm happy I'm not putting them at risk .

I don't do it, haven't been out for weeks and couldn't care less about seeing people but if I did and was sure none of us would be spreading the virus, there's nothing wrong.
The govt have ruled that we are not to mix households. It isn't a request, it's an instruction.

You are not in a position to know whether you or anyone else have the virus and are asymptomatic. You can therefore never be sure none if you are spreading the virus.

I am still amazed at the number of people who are simply refusing to understand what the rules are and why the rules are there. Unfortunately you can’t fix stupid and that’s what will prolong this situation.

I'm just back from parents, we sat in the garden chatting for 10 minutes several meters apart, if I didn't go round with their shopping they wouldn't have any food. I don't enter their house, disinfect their shopping and my hands so what exactly is the problem with that when social distancing is being adhered to? This is what GC are doing for us, teenagers but parents are keyworkers, mother nurse, so can't do it so teenage GC keeping an eye on us. If I manage to get delivery slots it isn't such a problem but they have got shopping when we couldn't get a slot and got medication. I'm sure my neighbours are probably frothing about it but their frothing isn't my problem.

@BlueGheko, you might not THINK staying for a chat at another household poses any risk, but it could do and it is NOT one of the activities we are permitted to do at the current time. Drop the food and go. Why are you so special that you're able to ignore Government instructions?

They've gone home now....

Thanks everyone for your support [well, most of you!!!]

I don't see an issue with what (for example) BlueGheko and LolaSmiles are doing. I think many people will be contriving the same thing - delivering essential food and chatting for a few minutes from some distance away. What is the issue?

missmouse the instructions are quite prescriptive but they aren't definitive because volunteers drop off food and essential items - that's not the same household. You and buggeroff are sounding a bit brainwashed about people who are following the rules yet applying commonsense to taking care of family members who may be vulnerable. Yes, it will be convenient in many cases. What are they to do - drop the items and scuttle off? What's the point?

Because you and (so many) other posters are so rude about it, you're getting an echo. There's no need either, you're not providing any sort of public service.

A reminder for those don’t understand what they can and can’t do.

Restrictions state that everybody must stay at home where possible, and only leave if they have a "reasonable excuse". This includes;
Exercise - alone, or with members of your household
Shopping for basic necessities
Any medical need, or providing care for a vulnerable person
Travel to or from work, but only when you cannot work from home

So many posters who would have been jostling for a good view at Nuremberg in 30s

Much more ARP wardens during the Blitz, don’t you think, telling people who didn’t think the rules applied to them to put their lights out?

It’s quite a fair analogy actually - because those showing a light during the Blitz weren’t just risking their own lives, they were risking the lives of who knows how many others.

Quite a neat encapsulation of that Blitz spirit we’re all supposed to be showing.

We don’t need Neighbourhood Enforcers. We do need more kindness.

Oh remind me, what's kind about spreading a deadly disease?

I haven't seen my adult children since February. It's my daughter's 21st birthday in May - I hoped we would be able to see her but that's not going to happen because of numpties who think the rules don't apply to them. How about them showing some kindness?

Michael Gove just announced that seven healthcare workers have died - how about the kindness that should have been shown to them and to the rest of the NHS staff?

As for calling us curtain twitchers - if you saw a house being burgled or a neighbour beating his wife would you ignore it cos none of your business?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe
If it's genuinely tied in with caring responsibilities or genuinely tied in with doing a vulnerable person's shopping then it's worth getting on with it.

I've never felt defensive about our actions, never felt the need to say "but my situation is unique and special so nerrrr" because I know genuinely that I'm dropping shopping off, not going to socialise, not justifying staying for a cup of coffee and so on.

Equally, I really hate the number of people on MN who seem to think the most basic rules don't apply to them, that they can and will do what they like because they can't be arrested. If we end up with tighter restrictions it will be because of selfish idiots, not those caring for and helping vulnerable people in a responsible way.

Oh if only those previous posters, too numerous to list, accusing people of 'curtain-twitching' lives here in Singapore where there are massive fines for non compliance, or cancellation of visas if you are foreign residents, and the Brits are getting deported at quite a rate! Definitely due to the 'oh it's only one trip to the bar' attitude which I frankly hadn't believed existed until I read the cuckoos on this thread.
OP, you are right to complain and they should be reported. The whole danger is that people can asymptomatic while having and spreading it.

missmouse I'm not special, just taking care of family. I understand better than most how virus transmission works. Sitting 20ft away outside poses no risk. I'm not popping round for a social everyday, I'm dropping shopping off twice a week
Are you particularly bored today?

Children who spend time split between parents have been told they can't go back and forth between houses at the moment as it to much of a risk