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Original poster

Is this ok for me to do?

58 replies

Circletime27 · 05/04/2020 16:44

My parents live 30 minutes away, they’ve not needed any shopping yet but are obviously now running low. DH will do a big shop for them tomorrow before work then I’ll drive to their house and leave it in their porch.

I’ll have to take DS with me. There’s a big green opposite their house. If I take our dog too can I walk him on the green on lead before we drive home?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 05/04/2020 17:37

Because they have said it is not okay to drive somewhere to exercise and you need to stay close to home.

She isn’t. She’s driving to drop off supplies to a vulnerable person and exercising while she’s there. That’s not the same thing.

PotholeParadise · 05/04/2020 17:42

Walk your dog at the same time. It's sensible.

bellabelly · 05/04/2020 17:54

I think that given you are driving to drop the shopping off anyway, it's fine to grab the chance to exercise on the green - you're going to be in the area anyway. It would not be OK to drive there specially for a nicer dog walk. And tbh, if the green is full of other people, then give it a miss.

mochajoes · 05/04/2020 17:58

Surely it makes more sense to
combine the two then do separate trips.

Barton10 · 05/04/2020 17:58

I would if I was going anyway

Rosalie49 · 05/04/2020 18:05

Wow. People on this thread infuriate me. So many horrible, negative people around.

OP, do what ever you need to do provided your keeping your distance and you’re not going out unnecessarily which you aren’t. My mum too is in the vulnerable category and I sympathise that delivery slots are not available for those who need it most, unfortunately. Although, I hope that changes.

You’re going there anyway so why not take the dog and walk him? Gosh. Someone mentioned earlier “why are so many people involved” it’s not unnecessary people, it’s people you’re always in contact with anyway, makes no difference. Just stay away from your mum, which you’ve stated you’re going too anyway. Smile stay safe.

Haffiana · 05/04/2020 18:07

Yes. It is completely within the spirit of leaving your home as little as possible. The alternative would be going and dropping the shopping off, going back home and going out again to take the dog out.

Original poster
Circletime27 · 05/04/2020 18:17

Thanks for all the replies. I’m going with the majority and I will take the dog and walk around the green. It’s usually empty, it’s an area with very few children/mainly pensioners who are in isolation-they’ll probably enjoy watching DS and the dog having a bit of fun, most of the neighbours have know me since I was born and they’re lovely so I can’t see any of them being spiteful about my parents having ‘visitors’ (if you can call waving to us through the window having visitors!)

OP posts:
maybelou · 05/04/2020 18:23

No it's not okay. If everyone did this then there'd be no social distancing - the only reason you can is because everyone else is observing the lockdown.

Stop looking for loopholes. I really hope the government does impose stricter restrictions to stop people taking advantage and making exceptions for themselves. Why is your son going with you? He should stay at home with DH. You should drop the shopping and come straight home, limit your time out of the house. If the police were to stop you and ask what you were doing, ask your address, do you think they'd accept your explanation? No.

Babyroobs · 05/04/2020 18:23

Some of these responses are ridiculous. Op is minimising shopping trips by combining her own shopping and her parents. It is completely allowed to deliver shopping to vulnerable people and whilst she is out she is walking the dog safely away from others. As long as she leaves the shopping on the doorstep so as not to put her parents at risk there really is no problem.

coronarona · 05/04/2020 18:25

I'd do it.

PurpleDaisies · 05/04/2020 18:25

No it's not okay. If everyone did this then there'd be no social distancing - the only reason you can is because everyone else is observing the lockdown.

What a load of rubbish.

People are allowed to take children and dogs out for walks.
People are allowed to take shopping to vulnerable people.
Why can’t those things be combined?

PotholeParadise · 05/04/2020 18:27

No it's not okay. If everyone did this then there'd be no social distancing - the only reason you can is because everyone else is observing the lockdown.

Don't be ridiculous. The OP is following the spirit of the guidelines and the letter, and people like the OP are why the streets are so quiet!

dementedpixie · 05/04/2020 18:27

How can she leave her child with her dh if he is at work? Did you even read her posts??

Babyroobs · 05/04/2020 18:27

Op I have done exactly the same today- combined my elderly dad's shopping with my own, dropped it to him and walked my dog in an isolated field nearby.

PotholeParadise · 05/04/2020 18:28

You should drop the shopping and come straight home, limit your time out of the house.

But then she will have to go out again to walk the dog!

Original poster
Circletime27 · 05/04/2020 18:29

maybelou DS can’t stay at home with DH as he’s working his arse off to allow every bugger else to stay at home!

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 05/04/2020 18:30

I'd say the only thing you could do further would be to leave the shopping in the bags packed by your dh so that you are not touching the items ( making it another person touching items) although you will have to touch the bag handles but not individual items.

Rosalie49 · 05/04/2020 18:30

@maybelou why is it not okay? “If everyone did this then there would be no social distancing” why would they not be? She’s not coming into contact with anyone! She’s simply, dropping some shopping off and then walking her dog around the green and going home. It would be worse, in my opinion, if she was to go drop the shopping off at her mums, go home and then go out AGAIN to walk the dog, she’s combining dropping shopping off to her VULNERABLE parents house, getting exercise AND walking the dog. As for her son, again, what difference does this make if he was to stay at home or go with her? Besides, her son needs exercise too.

Nacreous · 05/04/2020 18:31

I think this is totally fine. Zero extra trips, zero extra time spent outside or driving, all activities allowable and necessary.

Yes we need to socially distance, but it's not a contest in being the most miserable. If someone can have a nicer day with zero additional risk because they are relocating one essential activity to the location of another essential activity, what is the harm?

Babyroobs · 05/04/2020 18:31

It's all about minimising risk and adopting common sense op and you are doing both.

Divebar · 05/04/2020 18:33

If the police were to stop you and ask what you were doing, ask your address, do you think they'd accept your explanation? No

Yes they probably would.. the OP is providing care for vulnerable people which is allowed and combining it with exercise which makes complete sense. ( ps. I do not speak for the entire police community but I am a police officer)

1happyhippie · 05/04/2020 18:34

I would.

poppet31 · 05/04/2020 18:35

Sounds absolutely fine to me. The lack of common sense on this board astounds me.

Cuddling57 · 05/04/2020 18:35

I agree with all the yes people above.
Hopefully your isolating vulnerable Parents get a big mental boost from seeing your son from a safe distance. (As a one off, ofcourse Grin)