Hasn't everyone broken the rules at least once?

[Jourdain11]

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?

I have done everything asked of me, within the parameters of the guidelines except keep the kids apart. It has destroyed my previously robust MH. Sitting outside with friends 2m apart has been so restorative. I still don't go to shops or inside with non-family other than my mum in her bubble.

I am 52 and fit. I am aghast at the papers this morning, I cannot go back to my pre-June existence.

I will also say, the Cummings/Barnard Castle fiasco was the moment I decided that this Government could go and fuck right off. Add to that the allowance of marches and the balls up with face-masks and airbridges and they can fuck off some more.

I will also say, the Cummings/Barnard Castle fiasco was the moment I decided that this Government could go and fuck right off.

Then use your democratic right to vote them out next time. You can't just ignore rules and law. If we all do that it's anarchy (and I agree with you the marches should never have been allowed during lockdown).

I've been out for 2 walks every day - otherwise I feel suffocated.

Apart from that, 100% adherence - no touching, mask on and hand washing.

@PiataMaiNei in Scotland it was very definitely the case that you were only allowed to go out once a day for exercise. I'm sure that was the case in England as well.

[quote rookiemere]@PiataMaiNei in Scotland it was very definitely the case that you were only allowed to go out once a day for exercise. I'm sure that was the case in England as well.[/quote]
I said outside per se as that's what the poster said, not outside for exercise. And no, there was never a rule limiting people in England to going out once a day for exercise. People just thought there was because Michael Gove suggested it. It was not in the legislation. Look it up if you dont believe me.

Yeah, but my husband's mum and his sister apparently popped into a Coop on the way back from a walk, to buy some drinks, and were told by the man at the checkout that it wasn't essential shopping, so he wouldn't serve them
That is just ridiculous and misguided.
There was announcement from Downing street a few months ago saying if a shop was open they were were allowed to sell what they had in stock.
I think some people got over zealous and made their own rules up!
Fortunately our co op carried on selling chocolate!

That's exactly what happened yes! Unfortunately that did on some occasions include the police...

@sirfredfredgeorge

The law, no I've not broken any.

Random mumsnetters assertions of what the law is, then I've broken loads!

Same here! People seem to forget there's the rules and the MN rules.

Yes thank you @annabel85, I'm bearing that in mind for 5 years time

I have, but only to hug my dad when we met in his garden for the first time in over three months. I also hugged my in laws in the same circumstances a week later. But that's it, and I'm not sorry, our mental health required it and no infections occurred as a result.

We've never broken the law. The guidelines allowed for everything that we have done. We have stuck to social distancing, essential travel and only leaving the house for good reason ( the actual law). Given the Barnard Castle incident was ok due to safeguarding, we could have been even more out and about legitimately and will do so in any future lockdowns.

Just used my common sense to keep myself, family and friends safe, was wearing a mask in the shops and delivering shopping in March.

Could not give a shit what rules this cluster fuck of a Government come up with.

Also over 50 and will not be taking any notice of this over 50 lock down if it comes in.

I went out twice some days. I'd go for an early morning run and then walk the dog. For the first week I felt awful about it, but then my common sense kicked in and realised I wasn't actually doing any harm as I never saw anyone (rural area) and if I did see the odd person a good 2 meters were easy to keep.

I bought Easter eggs. This was a regular occurrence. I like an Easter egg as does the rest of the family. They don't last long in our house and are certainly not kept for Easter Sunday. OK so not an official law, but certainly against the law of MN.

We sat INSIDE at my parents and MILs. The first time was the same weekend (end of May) that the news story about DC and Barnard Castle was breaking, but we did plan it the week before. This was the first time we took the 50 mile trip to visit them since March.

As soon as we were allowed to meet up outside in groups of 6 I messaged the mum of DD2s best friend and we have been having weekly walks. We may not have kept 2 meters apart for the whole time and the children certainly didn't.

Not sure how frowned upon it was, but the amount of unessential internet orders we made was higher than usual throughout March and April. Well I kept working from home throughout so on full pay yet my monthly bills went down rather a lot (living rurally means the average monthly petrol bought is fairly high)

No raves, no hugging, no symptoms so no need to shield, no going to crowded places either. Everything was just common sense for me (although accept it might not have been for everyone)

I think I actually have abided by all the rules (the real ones, not the insane MN ones!).
I have however done so with extremely bad grace as I consider many of them ridiculous!

It kind of reminds me of saying confession as a child. For those who aren't familiar, after stating the nature of our sin/whatever commandment we'd sinned against, we would be asked "In deed, thought or word?" I may not have committed many offences against the lockdown rules in deed, but I have certainly have done so in thought and word 😀

I imagine most people didn't break the law, but as far as I could see there is and was a lot of "interpretation" going on.

@WhentheDealGoesDown

I think I may be breaking them soon though as I see in the DM today that Boris is planning on telling the over 50s to stay at home to prevent a national lockdown, fuck that

Haha that means I’ll be allowed out but dh won’t. 😁

Only for a few months though. Over 50’s...suddenly I feel really old!!

Lots of comments about guiltily buying non essentials at the shop... I agreed with the lady who works at my local corner shop ( who also has small children) that wine is definitely an essential. No irony.

If Boris wants all over fifties to stay at home then he will have to stay at home himself, as will a lot of his colleagues.

I’ve broken several here & there. Mostly related to my child. I don’t expect my 3 year old to distance. She plays with her cousins & grandparents as normal.

I’ve kept to most of the rules and haven’t relaxed as much as we now can as it doesn’t feel right to have different people in my house everyday.
Saying that I had more than one walk a day and the other day I didn’t socially distance from a sobbing teen you had hurt herself. I comforted her till her Mum turned up and don’t regret it.

We have tried, but no doubt have done something wrong at some stage.

I have found that the most vocal about other breaking rules, seem to be those breaking rules themselves. IE. I had a 'friend' who was going down peoples necks about meeting people in parks (which was allowed at the time) who had been allowing her mother to come up a few times per week for indoor meets, for a few hours at a time!

I went shopping more than once a week for groceries. According to MN at the time I should have told everyone in the house to cut down to 2 meals a day...

I have young dc and haven't asked them to socially distance with their friends. They know not to hug, kiss or hold hands but apart from that they play as normal. It's just too much to ask young children not to play with their friends for 6 months.