Is it ok to see family in the garden social distancing ?

[starrynight19]

Just that really if we stick to the 2m guidelines.

[Angel2702]

We all live within walking distance. So will wave or talk on driveway a few mins if passing. If one is going shopping we try and get bits for each other and drop off to avoid so many supermarket trips. We will drop off and will stop to chat a few mins.

It has helped get through this so much.

[LST]

I live a 10 second walk from my mum and dad so we do this most days. We also stand in my nans garden and talk to her through a window. We aren't breaking any rules.

[Tangledyarn]

I dont but I probably would if my mum lived nearer. I do chat to my older neighbour in my garden..theres no fence between our gardens so we wander between but i keep my distance, and I drop off shopping and things to her backdoor step.

[MissHoskins]

I think that it's fine, no harm in it, social distancing is being observed, yes, technically it's against THE RULES but you're using common sense. So imo carry on.
@Redolent this isn't Reddit, there are no subs.

[NoMoreDickheads]

No, we're supposed to avoid all unnecessary socializing, not just be social distancing now.

[squigglepants]

We have visited my parents so my boys could have a bounce on their trampoline. They stayed inside the house and we chatted through the window while the boys burnt off energy. I let them know when I am on my way and they leave a cuppa on the outside windowsill for me. It has kept me sane and my mum loves seeing the boys.

[Passtherioja]

My parents are in their 80s and live in the middle of nowhere and I do this. I take their shopping round and put it all in the shed (mum opens the door before I get there and I don't touch anything). I take my picnic blanket and flask and they sit 4 or 5m away. We chat from there, they make their cups of tea and the weather has been so lovely that it almost feels normal because we'd usually sit in the garden whenever possible. It's just the part when I can't hug them when I leave...I am finally at the point where I don't cry...and I'm nearly 50!

[1forsorrow]

My teenage GSs do this, call round to see how gran and granddad are, check if we need any bread or milk (I've managed to get a delivery every week but have needed bread a couple of times.) They live within walking distance, never come in the house, we sit by the open window and have a chat. They do it a couple of times a week. I'd be very upset if they got criticised for it, teenagers get run down alot and I think they are great that they put themselves out for us.

[olympicsrock]

I think this is the sort of thing we need to be trusted to do as part of the relaxation of luck down - outdoor contact over 2 m away , take your own drinks , don’t share cups / plates etc.

[Akrotiri1]

I, and/or my oh, visit his Mum a couple of times a week, usually when we drop off any supplies so no unnecessary travelling.

She sits in her kitchen and we have set up a chairs and a parasol in the garden, with a good 4 metres distance, and we chat through the doorway.

If she needs us to do anything in the house, we swap places. If she wants us to check any post, she puts it on a mat and we wear gloves if handling anything.

She is 80 and lost her husband only 4 mnths ago - she is not coping well and the last thing she needs is to be totally isolated.

She has said to us on several occasions she would rather die of Covid than lonliness……..

[user1487194234]

Hell yes !

[Mrsjayy]

I live near my parents i will walk over and see if they need anything and chat from a distance no coffee or anything but it is nice to see my mum, my sister is still working they dog sit so she sees them most days.

[LynetteScavo]

I sit in my mums garden when I drop off her shopping. Much more than 2 meters away from from her and her house.

All of her neighbours must know how it's going with me 🙄

[BillyAndTheSillies]

IL's are about a mile away so we tend to walk over there once a fortnight. If we go any more it really affects DS1(4)'s mood, he gets upset about not being able to go in their house or have cuddles.

They are detached, so yesterday opened the side gate and we sat in their garden and my two DS's stayed in their buggy so they weren't running riot.

Last week a friend of mine who lives down the road sat at one end of our garden and I sat at the other, she came to the garden via the side gate, bought her own chair, her own wine and her own glass. It was refreshing to have a chat with someone outside of DH and DS's.

My parents are about three miles away and they cycle over to wave to my DS's through the window and we have a chat - aka talk loudly across the driveway - it's kept us sane. This started when we were isolating due to suspected covid and my parents were dropping off prescriptions and shopping for us. They're not even in their 60's yet and arguably healthier and fitter than DH and I.

Under normal circumstances we would see our parents three or four times a week, DS1 usually stays with them a few nights a week and DS2 is only 7 months old so it's been nice for us to be able to feel like they're familiar to DS2.

[BrightYellowDaffodil]

I do this - I drop things off for my parents and we have a socially distanced chat while I’m there.

we're supposed to avoid all unnecessary socializing

I haven’t seen any advice, guidelines or laws about avoiding socialising, however brief or inadvertent, just that we need to social distance. If I chat to the person next to me in a queue for the supermarket am I breaking the rules? Does it differ if we knew each other beforehand? Care to share your source?

[Campervan69]

It is absolutely fine to do this. We have been following all the guidelines and we know none of us are poorly however we do still stick to the two metre guidelines. One day I will walk around to my mums who is on her own and sit in the garden and have a cup of tea with her. Another day my Father-in-Law who is recently bereaved will come and sit in our garden and have a cup of tea with us. In fact he was saying today it's the only thing that's keeping him going. As he is 85 he feels he should have have the choice as to whether or not to go out - he thinks it's against his civil rights to be stuck in all the time. He feels he might not have much time left to live in any event and doesn't want to be stuck in the house for his last years all alone.

[wildcherries]

Well if it's ok for everyone to pile into their front gardens at the same time for VE day i can't see why it's not ok to sit and talk to family at the right distance.

I wish there was a like button.

[Casiloco]

Sounds like a reasonable interpretation of the rules - certainly less risky than people regularly milling around in a supermarket where you come into indirect contact with dozens of people.

The scientists on the daily update have already talked about the minimising of risk when people are outdoors, as opposed to inside. It's been so great for my DH's mental health just to have half an hour in the garden with DS and DIL when they pop shopping round.

We position 2 garden benches about 8-10 ft apart and just have a little chat. We have all been healthy for weeks now after both DSs were convinced they had v mild versions of the virus at end of January when someone they share an office with was coughing and had temp, no taste, etc.

In all other respects we are all super-strict so I think the chances of us infecting each other are pretty much zero.

[TheFormidableMrsC]

I walk past my friend's house while exercising with my little boy most days. Some days I knock and stand well back to say hello. She's struggling and it puts a smile on her face. On Saturdays I have "across the drive wine" with a neighbour. She sits around 10 feet away and we have a glass of wine and a chat for an hour. Next week I have a hospital appointment very near to my Dad's house. I haven't seen him in weeks as he's shielding and he also has Alzheimers. I am going to drop by and see him and stepmum from the drive. They live a long way from me and would not justify "essential travel" so now I can do that at the same time as my hospital appointment, I've grabbed it. What I won't do is "mix" children because they are too excited to see eachother and the risk of social distancing going out of the window is too great. I think it's fine as long as the "rules" are properly observed.

[veryboredtoday]

Yes I do this when I drop off shopping for my mum. Go through the garage and sit in the garden more than 2m apart. She's been very unwell recently (not coronavirus) and needs the company so in my mind, the risk of not doing it is probably worse for her mental health/recovery than the risk of corona virus. We are quite careful.

[WhippedCreamInARoll]

I've been visiting my Mum for weeks. We sit in her garden. She's very unwell mentally and has been her whole life. She is struggling at the moment. Her house is within walking distance.

[Bloodybridget]

I'm glad to see that a lot of people on this thread are having chats and think it's ok. We've done it a couple of times with a friend, walked over to hers, gone into her garden through the back gate, sat a couple of yards away from her. So good for all of us.

[inlectorecumbit]

I did this toay with our friendsdirectly across the road. They sat on their porch- we sat on the edge of the grass a good 3 metres away, If anyone had complained we would have sat at the edge of our garden and them on theirs and with a single width road between us - would have probably been just as close.
It has really improved my mental health tonight

[ToPea]

Zzzz....

I don't mean to be cruel, but have you ever thought of thinking for yourself OP?

Britain is becoming dumb and dumber. Nobody seems to have an independent, common-sense thought in their head. So sad.

[Khione]

The lockdown is about keeping safe.

Initially everything but food shops close but, as we get used to the new normal, various businesses have worked out safer ways of doing things. Even supermarkets have, with screens etc.

As we work out safe ways of being together/apart then we can move forward safely. All the rules are about safety not control for the sake of it.

It's not about finding ways round the rules - it's about finding ways to live safely.

Yes - it's safe and it's fine AND the police will not be interested (except for the exeptional odd one who is enjoying being a bully)