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Original poster

Hasn't everyone broken the rules at least once?

174 replies

Jourdain11 · 01/08/2020 18:23

I'm not (intentionally) stirring, but genuinely curious. I come across so many people who say, "I've followed every rule" but has anyone actually, literally, done this? I struggle to imagine that anyone can have complied with the letter and spirit of the regulations every minute of every day, since 23 March. Even if it was something as benign as going to the supermarket for non-essentials or going out for an extra, non-necessary walk.

Hmm?

OP posts:
iVampire · 01/08/2020 20:31

I went out for an early morning run about 4 times (March-May) before shielders were allowed our exercise

I also went to see my mum (also shielding) about a week before I should

cologne4711 · 01/08/2020 20:43

I think I accidentally went out twice in one day in the early days (walked to the shops, and then went again when DH went in the car later, but then the first time could have been classed as daily exercise).

Took the car round the block a couple of times in the early weeks as I decided a £30 fine was cheaper than paying for the car to be fixed if it seized up.

That's it.

Anyone who put crisps/biscuits/squash into their trolleys during lockdown broke the rules (only go out for essential shopping

The (UK) government did not say at any time that you weren't allowed to buy "non-essential" items.

cologne4711 · 01/08/2020 20:44

I went out for an early morning run about 4 times (March-May) before shielders were allowed our exercise

That wasn't breaking the rules. That was guidance for the benefit of shielders.

Linemanfort · 01/08/2020 20:46

I went out to the shop for milk rather than use cheese in my coffee. 👌

carly2803 · 01/08/2020 20:55

yes

i walked 3/4xa day throughout lockdown. Outside, in the middle of nowhere.

never ever drove, but just walked else id go insaine!!

carly2803 · 01/08/2020 20:55

yes

i walked 3/4xa day throughout lockdown. Outside, in the middle of nowhere.

never ever drove, but just walked else id go insaine!!

carly2803 · 01/08/2020 20:55

yes

i walked 3/4xa day throughout lockdown. Outside, in the middle of nowhere.

never ever drove, but just walked else id go insaine!!

Redcrayons · 01/08/2020 20:55

I met up with my parents in their garden when you were only allowed to meet one person. It was my birthday and 2 days before the rules were relaxed.

I also crossed paths with my brother at my parents house, so mixing 3 households (that was his fault though).

I probably haven’t socially distanced every time I’ve been out, but apart from that I’ve kept to the rules.

gallbladderpain · 01/08/2020 21:01

Followed every single guideline and rule still am. Have been in the house since beginning of March before it all kicked out. Have gone for walks but not even one every day. Have been doing all online shopping. DP nips to the local shop if we need something that can't wait until the next online delivery he has worn a mask from the start and strict social distsncing. I'm currently off work unpaid and dp work from home. We have had one set of parents in our garden at at least 3m distance between us they brought all their own drinks etc so no sharing of anything at all.
Was hoping at some point it would be safe for us to go out again didn't think we would still be in this position now but it feels worse than ever out there no social distsncing happening at all anymore and we are no longer having family meet ups because they are now meeting a ridiculous amount of people with little to no social distancing

iVampire · 01/08/2020 21:03

That wasn't breaking the rules. That was guidance for the benefit of shielders

I needed to shield

Maria53 · 01/08/2020 21:04

I met a relative outdoors one week before I was supposed to. I live alone and had been struggling with mental health issues before this...I was really starting to go downhill after 3 months alone. We socially distanced and all was fine.

FluffyKittensinabasket · 01/08/2020 21:07

I stayed over at my parents.
I went out to buy Easter eggs.

x2boys · 01/08/2020 21:08

Mainly ,we did visit my parents though and went in their house after a few weeks ,a couple of times my Dh is high risk and I have a disabled child,but now we have extra restrictions ( as I'm in Greater Manchester) I'm trying to stick to it .

RedskyAtnight · 01/08/2020 21:12

I've followed the rules as have the majority of people I know.

In "strict" lockdown I only left the house to exercise once a day and for a weekly food shop. Since restriction have been lifted I've only met up with people individually or in small groups (socially distancing) and always outside. I've deliberately exercised in places with lots of space and not many people and shopped at less buys times. I've not been in anyone else's house and no one outside the family has been in mine.

The people I know who've broken the rules have done what I would consider to be fairly benign things such as meeting in a group of more then 6 people outside. My impression is that the majority are still pretty rule abiding.

Spacemonkey2016 · 01/08/2020 21:18

I let my mum hug my 3 year old and 6 month old.

labyrinthloafer · 01/08/2020 21:19

No, honestly don't think so. I'm not hiding, am going out, but I'm just probably more cautious than average. I locked down before the country and cancelled a big trip in February.

I've some friends who slightly break rules, and hear of some Hmm interpretations. I think they don't really understand risk as in the national picture, they think it's about individual risk.

EmilyDickinson · 01/08/2020 21:33

I’ve kept to the rules because I’m very law abiding, very cautious and don’t really trust the government. Plus the long term effects of Covid are unknown so I’m going to do my level best to avoid it. And I absolutely hate the thought that I could unknowingly infect someone else and be responsible for someone dying or being seriously ill. I’m still several steps behind the rest of the U.K. in what I’m doing. No trips to the pub or restaurants, friends met singly outdoor las with social distancing and I’ve worn a mask in shops for a long time before it was required. I can see from Facebook that friends and family are meeting up with multiple people with no social distancing and it troubles me.

Pillypocket666 · 01/08/2020 21:42

Absolutely didn't until 2 days before the 5 mile restriction changed in Scotland. If I had wanted to go over 5 miles to visit friends or family and go inside and use their toilet I could have. DP and I and our dogs wanted to go to the beach, not speak to anyone, or go in a shop but that wasn't permitted. As such that's the only thing we've done out with the rules.

Babyroobs · 01/08/2020 21:42

I have broken the rules once by letting my 15 year old daughter stay at a friends house for a couple of nights. The other girls dad was literally begging me to allow my daughter to go as his daughter was getting severely depressed. It was a few days before lockdown eased. I probably shouldn't have done it but I felt the risk was low.

JoeCalFuckingZaghe · 01/08/2020 21:50

Not until today and will do tomorrow. And I’m a massive fucking hypocrite too. But I’m 6 doors away from the lockdown zone in Leicester (pay council tax to city but can see the boundary zone from my window). It was dps birthday today so we drove to see his family (parents and brother). We sat in their garden and socially distanced. I will break the rules tomorrow when we drive to the coast to visit my parents who are actually on holiday 2hrs away. They’re usually 4 hrs away, I’ve not seen them since mid February and my dad has just found out he has a growth on his kidney. I don’t give a fuck if the police stop me anymore. If the elite can drive to a castle I can go see my dad during a worrying time.

MrsKCastle · 01/08/2020 22:03

I have followed the rules most of the time. I believe that the only times I have broken them were because of my Dad becoming ill and passing away with COVID. Most notably when we went and sat in my Dad's partner's garden after the funeral, and just chatted. She needed the moral support. Even then we were as careful as we could be and socially distanced.

DamnYouAutocucumber · 01/08/2020 22:04

I pushed some of the rules very hard, so I combined daily exercise for the children with essential dropping off of my parents shopping all through lockdown. We used common sense, stayed outside and at least 2m apart, so I don't feel put anyone at risk, but I felt the human cost of keeping grandparents and grandchildren completely apart was worse than a bit of boundary pushing.
On the first day you could drive for exercise, before officially allowed to see family, we 'happened' to drive to the same place as a family member for exercise. Again we stayed well apart.
Some people who abided by the rules to the letter, chose to move in with grandparents so it was legal for them to provide childcare. However the risk of transmitting the virus within the household would be far higher than for us outside and 2m apart, so I feel comfortable with the choices we made and risks we took.

Galaboutbal · 01/08/2020 22:10

I did my best but have three small children often went for a 6am run myself, then took the children out. It’s all roads round here so I
often drove up to 4 miles to take them where there wasn’t traffic. Sometimes I needed to go to the shop too! That might be 3 Outings in one day.

I have no idea what the guidelines are now so just doing my own thing and wearing a mask in the shops etc. I still try and stay apart from people but my kids aren’t. I hugged my sister yesterday which I know wasn’t allowed.

pourmeanotherglass · 01/08/2020 22:16

I tried to keep to the rules but couldn't stop DH popping to the corner shop for non essentials.

MandosHatHair · 01/08/2020 22:29

I kept to every guideline until earlier this month. We went to stay at my MIL's and I didn't stop my DCs from hugging thier Nanna. My son also had a last playdate with his friend who is moving away, they probably wont see each other again as it's a long distance move, as if me and his mum were going to stop them hugging goodbye. Both of these breaches have done wonders for the DC's mental health, I weighed up the risks and the benefits.