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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:
Mrsjayy · 07/05/2020 21:39

Your mum wouldn't arrested you can go and see her she sounds so sad you are "allowed" to see and care for somebody in need.

I go to my mums garden my stepdad can be hard to live with ! I go to be somebody to break up her day sometimes i have shopping sometimes not.

TinRoofRusty · 07/05/2020 21:42

I've been using my common sense not blindly following stuff the government seems to be arbitrarily making up as they go along.

homeschoolmyarse · 07/05/2020 21:47

The many and varied valid reasons on this thread are exactly the reason why no-one should judge

If the govt are starting to lift restrictions it really is about not overwhelming the nhs, not getting the numbers down to zero

pennow · 07/05/2020 21:49

My son committed suicide on 1st April. Me and DH drove 30 miles to visit my mum and sister who were devastated like us and we needed to be together as a family. They then drove up to attend the funeral.

Mrsjayy · 07/05/2020 21:51

pennow Flowers

MsHeffaPiglet · 07/05/2020 21:52

And so it begins with little tiny instances where you perceive the risk to be negligible.

Then those same people can't believe why there are so many more deaths than in other European countries. All the people who cannot follow a few simple rules to protect the wider community. But hey, their needs outweigh other people's.

I'm with you OP in wondering what is it with some people.

Mumshappy · 07/05/2020 21:54

My friend (isolating for 6 weeks) picked myself and my dcs up today and took me to my gp surgery for a blood test re thyroid. I was diagnosed just as we went into lockdown. We havent left the house since. Dd16 isnt living here atm and I couldnt leave dd9 and ds2 alone. I deemed this safer than public transport plus dcs stayed in my friends car rather than come into gps with me. Single mum so no other option really.

Mascotte · 07/05/2020 21:54

@pennow so sorry 💐

TinRoofRusty · 07/05/2020 21:54

pennow I am so sorry Flowers.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 07/05/2020 21:54

If Boris doesn't ease the restrictions on Sunday, DH and I have agreed that we'll be less compliant than we have been hitherto. There's only so long I can blindly follow the guidelines of a government with all the decision making skills of a flock of sheep who have escaped from their field and found themselves unexpectedly loose in the local village.

MsHeffaPiglet · 07/05/2020 21:55

Oh Pennow!

That is so awful. My heart goes out to you. Flowers

Mascotte · 07/05/2020 21:56

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross 😃seems fair. Love your username too

MrsPnut · 07/05/2020 21:56

We had to collect my 85 year old MIL to move her into a residential home because lockdown made her dementia much much worse. She’d spent a few days in hospital with an unexplained chemical burn to her skin and then fell once discharged.
We had her here overnight then delivered her to the home and we have had only phone contact since.

Ohdeariedear · 07/05/2020 21:59

I’ve stood in my parents garden and had a chat with them from 4m away while delivering their shopping. I’ve been out for exercise more than once a day.

VeruccaSalted · 07/05/2020 22:01

My sister bruised a disc in her back, went to A&E and has been laid up in bed in terrible pain. Her husband is at risk at losing his job due to repeated absences (they have had the most unbelievably horrendous year). I have been round to their house to look after their three small children as my husband is furloughed and can stay home with ours. Does it constitute a reasonable breaking of the rules? I don't know but I would go to prison for my sister.

Gunpowder · 07/05/2020 22:05

Pennow Flowers so very sorry.

Verucca I don’t think anyone would put you in prison for that. And I would absolutely do the same for my sister.

coronabeer23 · 07/05/2020 22:06

I’ve sat in my parents garden. I was widowed 6 months ago, I need them. I have socially distance walked with another widow. We need it to preserve our mental health. I’m not going to apologise. I’ve had the shittest few years.

hiredandsqueak · 07/05/2020 22:07

I've walked the dog twice a day because the stupid mutt won't toilet in the garden and at ten and a half she's a bit too set in her ways to be able to change it. I've not been in a shop, or met with friends or family and very often I've seen nobody on either walk so don't feel I've done anything particularly wrong tbh.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 07/05/2020 22:08

I wanted to and I assessed the risk as low.

SanFrancisco49er · 07/05/2020 22:08

Ive been for a 20 minute drive once a week as we live near a long main road and I was sick of that being the only walk available. Does me the world of good to see some fields and trees for 20 mins a week.

Mascotte · 07/05/2020 22:22

@hiredandsqueak again, unless you're in Wales that's not against the regulations. No limit on times or number of exercise outings

1981m · 07/05/2020 22:30

We broke it a few times today, twice without meaning too. Neighbours and friends came round unexpectedly. We chatted 2m apart on the doorstep but it was impossible to keep the kids a party, although we did try.

Then we bumped into a friend in the park on a cycle ride. Again, the adults kept apart but it was very hard to keep the kids apart the whole time. This is the first time I really felt like I had broken the rule.

Why- it was unexpected both times, I didn't feel like we could not come out to chat when they turned up on our doorstep and it would have been awkward to constantly tell our dcs to stay away. They go to school together so potentially will be together in a few weeks anyway. Afterwards I feel a little nervous as I know the mum has broken the rules many times herself.

I have been out in the car on non-essential journeys a few times. Driving to the post office/return items to a shop, dropping off and collecting my sons bike that needed a repair, DH going to a shop to buy bikes, driving only to buy chocolate and wine.

Worse one is probably driving to exercise. 7 minute drive to a nearby exercising space for a 45 minute run, alone. I didn't feel fit enough to run there from home but have started running there and not driving now.

Have been out multiple times in a day a few times, trip to the shop, run by myself, exercise with the children. Why? I don't want to take the kids to the shops with me, I need to run alone for my own mental health I need a break, kids can't run 7.5k, want to get the kids out exercising and for fresh air as a family.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 07/05/2020 22:33

Well. Because I'm a murderer.

user127819 · 07/05/2020 22:37

@MrsHampshire2017

Merging households is still allowed, so no rules broken there!

Rosieposy4 · 07/05/2020 22:38

Pennow 💐