When are we going to be able to see family and friends?

[StealthPolarBear]

I don't care about the football. I want my parents and in laws to see their grandchildren.

Stealth........ the NI Executive released their 5 point plan about 10 days ago, there were no dates for each phase given. The first phase was some outdoor sports drive in pictures and churches opening, other bits and pieces, groups of 4-6 people, didn't have to be family being able to meet outside whilst socially distancing and if they could social distance immediate family members could meet indoors. This phase was "opened" on Monday evening for Tuesday. Apart from the indoor contact, we weren't quite there yet but the Executive are revisiting it tomorrow.

Some people are already doing this and have been for some time. It now increasingly seems that it is 'safe' to be exposed to risk if you are working and paying tax, or facilitating other people doing so (e.g attending school or childcare, viewing a house for sale) but it's not safe of the activity in question with the same number of contacts between people does not turn a profit for HMRC. So I guess we all have to decide whether we accept that as being in our best interests or not, and if not, how we will come to judge risks for ourselves. We have no family close enough to see in the park at 2m distance and even if we did, with young children it isnt possible. We will be travelling to the part of the UK where our family do live in the first week of june as planned. As both they and we have been observing the rules fairly strictly, I am ok with that level of risk. The benefits far outweight it, considering we are all in good health and none of us vulnerable.

Excellent planning Ethel.
Thanks implants

No bother. All.I wanted to do was see my parents and my sister for a bit, my kids missed them desperately especially the teenager. Her and my mum are really close. It was shit not seeing them and it's made a big difference to us, we saw them yesterday. I really hope you can see them soon.

It’s fucking ridiculous

Just see them

I’m now seeing my dad on a socially distanced walk every other day, which is a relief.

I still haven’t properly met my niece, who is approaching 2 months old! Born a week into lockdown......me and one grandparent have met her through a car window - we can’t really meet because my other niece is 2 and she won’t be able to do social distance so a government approved park trip still won’t work.

I wish he would have just said it in his plan- just a rough idea “in phase 3 of the plan we will allow to whole households to meet in open spaces” “in phase 5 we hope to allow household to mix in their homes once more” - but there was nothing.

I also live alone, finally seeing my dad was a relief. I was starting to talk to supermarket workers so much just for bloody human contact.

Yes that's what I was expecting. But it's all been about sports and restaurants. It's as if seeing loved ones is way down on the list.

Gardens is in Northern Ireland - thanks @Jinx2020 :)

I'm missing my family they live 2.5 hours from us the in-laws live 1.5 hours from us.
Our DCs are 3yrs and 1 yrs old far too young to understand social distancing.
I want to be able to see my parents and hug them I want my DCs to be able to hug their grandparents both sets.

I keep praying we will be allowed come end of June the latest but it hasn't helped that Wales are different to England when it comes to the lockdown restrictions I've given up watching the daily briefings now because it appears our minister is doing things differently.

Unfortunately seeing family doesn't help the economy so that is a no go. Id feel much better if we knew when there may be a time when we could visit family then it would be so much easier to deal with.

The fact that NI can visit up to 6 people is encouraging for the rest of us. Surely we may not be too far behind. Though with a Tory government if it doesn't give them any money then I'm not sure when it will be.

It’s hard for me , my family live 2 hours away , so I normally stay over 😨

@charliescar same here or they stay with us

I'll post Boris a fiver if they say we can have small family gatherings while remaining alert. Who's with me?

I live alone and to be honest I would recommend others in my position break the rules to see family. My family are abroad so sadly it’s not an option for me but being able to see the people you love is so important. To be honest I am incredibly envious of those who have been locked down with their partners and children. If you think it’s been hard not seeing your mum, imagine not seeing anyone at all. It’s shameful (though not surprising) that the government plans have little to no consideration for when families or partners who live apart may be able to meet again...

Whenever you want. No one is going to stop you.

I'm not with you, SBP, as I'm not paying Boris so that I can do something that common sense tells me is fine.

I went to see a friend earlier today. He made me a coffee. I had a chat with his wife. She showed me something on her iPad. Friend and I had our coffee. I went to the loo. I went home via Tesco. I felt a whole lot better for it. So did my friend, who has a history of MH problems which have been exacerbated by lockdown.

I doubt that any of us will become ill as a result. I am not in physical contact with anyone who is at risk.

The whole thing is bloody ridiculous.

Well my folks live the other side of London so with public transport not an option, it's a good hour's drive each way (and soon the congestion charge will be 7 days a week so even a weekend meet in the park will be tricky). My in laws live 100 miles away so it's going to be tricky to see them until we can stay overnight too. It sucks

Have the police actually been issuing fines?

People might just start accepting potentially paying them. I mean it's not like we can spend money on holidays.

True. But are there any other negative consequences?
I don't want to break the law, even if it's a silly law. Apart from anything else, if everyone's happy there will be no pressure for them to get this sorted out.

As far as I can tell police aren't really enforcing the law in this respect any more (but interested in others' experiences). I don't want to break the law either, but am beginning to consider it - I have close family and friends I really want to see and as we have all been locked down for two months the risk is absolutely minimal.

From other threads it sounds like lots of people are meeting up with family and mixing households. Is that the case?

Yes. As soon as they confirmed we can see one other person at 2m, that was it, we went to see my parents in their garden.

I'm like you stealth I don't want to break the law even if its a silly law.

If we don't get a bubble by the 1st of July I think I'm going to have to move in with my parents for 2 months though and be in a household with them so I can write my dissertation over the summer. DH would be stuck at home though.

Whilst we were there we could hear the next door neighbours had friends round, and since then weve seen lots of people visiting different houses. I think lockdown isnt taken that serious anymore.