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Original poster

If you have broken Lockdown rules then what is your reason?

181 replies

beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 18:28

I doubt I'll get a lot of responses as no one will admit but I'm getting a bit fed up of people around me clearly disregarding the rules. Having friends and family around mainly, not just dropping off shopping but going into the house, several barbeques, two families (sisters and OHs) with all their kids in their front garden in a paddling pool this afternoon). And it's not just one person, it's loads of people. Call me a curtain twitcher all you want but I'm genuinely interested in people's reasons and I'm too chicken to ask them in real life.

I am desperate to see my Mum who lives 150 miles away, My lovely Dad died 3 weeks before lockdown so she's grieving and depressed but we are sticking to the rules, even though it pains me to see her in tears on our daily messenger chats.

Many other people seem to be doing whatever the hell they want and I'm wondering if we are actually the stupid ones for sticking to it.

OP posts:
Chiyo666 · 07/05/2020 18:30

Because I wanted to?
I’ve been isolating, my best friend has been isolating, neither of us have come into contact with anyone else so she’s called in a few times on her way past.

Dora26 · 07/05/2020 18:32

Your poor Mum - was isolating with you not possible. My Dad also died earlier this year and there is no way Mum would have managed lockdown just after. Sympathy to you...

Abraid2 · 07/05/2020 18:34

My father died a few months ago and I have been into my mother’s house. She is shielding and I have had to help with probate stuff that can’t be done in FaceTime as it is so complex. We sat at the far sides of the dining Room table to do the forms. Then go outdoors as soon as we could. I have to drive 75 miles and do need to use the loo but we can do it so minimal contact is made with surfaces. I bring my own soap and hand towel and don’t touch taps or flush except through a cloth.

It counts as care for a vulnerable/elderly person and is allowed under government rules.

Original poster
beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 18:35

Thanks Dora. She wasn't ready to leave her house at that point and she really did think it would be three weeks. I tried my hardest to get her here. She hasn't got room for me DH and our DC as they have a 1 bed flat.

I don't think because I wanted to is a good enough reason tbh.

OP posts:
mayoral · 07/05/2020 18:37

Not entirely broken the rules but I caught up with a friend in the park (socially distanced) but let our children run around and play together. I needed it for my mental health, and my children needed it for theirs. Been stuck in a flat for 7 fucking weeks and I'm getting lockdown fatigue. Especially now as the rate of infection in the community is minimal and the vast majority of new infections are from 2 places: care homes and hospitals. Neither of which I live or work in.

Original poster
beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 18:37

@Abraid2 She wouldn't let me in, she thinks we'd get arrested.
She's also only 55 (big age gap) so isn't elderly. She's definitely vulnerable though. I might find that on the government website and try reasoning with her.

OP posts:
Grasspigeons · 07/05/2020 18:37

I felt my relative was a suicide risk as their twin committed suicide many years ago. We applied social distancing of around 4 meters.

Hercwasonaroll · 07/05/2020 18:38

I wanted to see my mum. We've all been isolated for 2 weeks and I walk to her garden. I deem the risk to be tiny and so does she.

Original poster
beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 18:38

@Abraid2 and @Dora26 Sorry for your losses too.

OP posts:
SpringBlossomIsBeautiful · 07/05/2020 18:43

I hugged my son last week because I hadn’t seen him in 8 weeks as he was isolating with his GF family & they all moved over an hour away last week. It was bloody marvellous.
I live on my own so had a social distancing piss up with friends in a very large garden last Sunday - they suggested it because they could see I was struggling mentally. I laughed & I thank them all for taking the time to recognise I needed to see people.

OP I’m very sorry for your loss 💐

TheGreatWave · 07/05/2020 18:45

Broken lockdown rules, No. Done things to get people frothing under made up rules, Yes.

Mascotte · 07/05/2020 18:47

I've broken them to see my partner and will continue to do so. We live separately for responsible reasons but are both otherwise in our houses and there's no greater risk than there would be if I moved him in. We're quite old and been seeing each other seriously for years. Lots of other stuff had also happened and I've been very down and quite mental. He has a chronic condition which may limit things in the future. Life's too short when there's no greater risk to others.

Honeyroar · 07/05/2020 18:47

I’ve been inside my mum’s house twice because she’s not well and I was at the point of taking her to A&E. I wrote down things she needed to remember to tell her Dr when he called.

OP that must be heartbreaking. What a shame your mum couldn’t have moved in with you before lockdown.

Original poster
beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 18:48

I know several people who have 100% definitely, no doubt broken the rules. That is within my social circle and in DH's family.

This leads me to believe there are plenty of others.

And I can froth all I want!!

OP posts:
Lucindainthesky · 07/05/2020 18:53

I'm sorry for your loss OP.

I broke the rules for the first time today. My parents live a short walk from me and I stood in their back garden for a chat.

I think the risk was tiny. Outside, way more than 2m apart. They have been isolating since before lockdown and are fastidious about post and food deliveries. We are wfh, haven't seen anybody else and only do click and collect. Don't get near people on our boris walks.

So why did I do it - because I wanted to, we'll probably be allowed to from next week anyway, and we believed the risk to be negligible.

terriblyangryattimes · 07/05/2020 18:58

Drove to see my mum twice- 20 min drive and to walk her to town and for a stroll on the seafront.

My rationale is that she had cataract surgery 2 weeks before lockdown then came down with a bad cold so on the day they announced lockdown she had already been in her (cramped, dark above noisy neighbours) flat for two weeks. This was 2 weeks into lockdown- so she had been alone for 4 weeks and hadn't left the house and was scared to go out. Shes not yet 70 but I felt like walking with her and showing her that the world hadnt ended (though it does sometimes feel like it) outside her home.

The first time was to drop food on her doorstep and top up her electricity key.

As a family (myself, DH and 2 kids) have gone for 3 longish woodland walks which we had to drive to. We live in a 2 bed flat in town with absolutely no outside area- so again I feel this is justified.

Nonononon · 07/05/2020 18:59

I went out (alone) to put petrol in my car yesterday and pump up the tires (long drive to work today so needed to be done, didn't want to leave it until this morning in case I was late) then I went BACK out in the afternoon so dd could burn off some energy on her scooter.. 😳

Abraid2 · 07/05/2020 19:00

@beesthatbuzz oh I see—she is actually a year younger than I am. Which makes it even sadder for her to be widowed. So sorry.

Weetam68 · 07/05/2020 19:10

None of your damn business, to be perfectly frank!!!

People like younshould be called out now.

You are making everyone's life a bloody misery.

Please stop.

joanneg36 · 07/05/2020 19:10

We have sat down for picnics whilst out for a walk in the country in the middle of nowhere because... I can’t see any good reason not to, the risk is tiny, and there are few enough nice things we can do as a family.

I have allowed my 5-year-old to play at a distance with a school friend he bumped into in the park. They mostly kept 2-metres apart but didn’t entirely. Why? Again because I judged the risk to be tiny and it brought him a lot of happiness.

JKSN · 07/05/2020 19:19

I have been into my mum's garden several times and sat and had a 10 minute chat when dropping her shopping off (she's not shielding but has only been going out to walk the dog). Kept over 2 metres away. My dad passed away a few years ago so she lives alone and has been struggling massively with loneliness and missing her grandson, my DS who is 6 months old. I've also driven the long way home from the supermarket a few times just to have an extra 15 minutes to myself while DH is at home with DS which probably counts as a non-essential journey!

generalh · 07/05/2020 19:19

I havent but I would love to drive the 5 hrs to see my son who is on an RAF base. I havent seen him since February and won`t probably until...

I go out once a day to provide care for a disabled person [ my other son] and I drop food and shopping off to my mum but dont go in. I also shop once or twice a week. If needed in work I drive the hour there and back. Other than that I dont go out.

So I don`t have any stories of breaking rules.

Original poster
beesthatbuzz · 07/05/2020 19:21

@Weetam68 I'm making no ones life a misery, I've not said anything to anyone as I'm a wimp and people could have very good reasons for it and I wouldn't like to upset them. They may also have anger management issues like you do!

I'm simply wondering in an anonymous internet forum. I have clearly hit a nerve though! Really no need for you to read or comment if it's a sensitive subject.

OP posts:
TheHarryFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 07/05/2020 19:22

I’ve driven to exercise. In Wales where that is against the rules. I didn’t see a soul and I judged that there was no sensible reason not to.

nex18 · 07/05/2020 19:32

I’ve been to see my partner, it’s been really hard being kept apart for such a long time with no indication of when that might change. It was suggested that partners who live apart could move in together for lockdown. I can’t fathom why the risk is supposedly greater to just visit. I went 3 whole days without crying after I had seen him and had a hug.

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