Following the rules

[Liloosmum]

I just wondered how closely people are following the rules in their areas. My area is in tier 2. Talking to a few friends recently and I was surprised that:

• 1 is arranging a sleepover for her teenager's birthday with another school friend
• 1 went to visit her parents
• 1 was out in the car with her mother
• 1 is going shopping with another friend

None of the people involved could have been in support bubbles.

I fully appreciate that we all need to do what we need to do to get through this, everyone is different and I am not being judgmental, but I just wondered what it's like for everyone else.

Tier 2 here too and plenty of rule breaking. Some because of rule confusion (a lot of people seem to think we’ve gone back to Rule of Six indoors), some people bending the rules a little because “no-one can check” and some who have just given up altogether.

Very frustrating - it’s starting to feel like anyone who’s following the rules is considered uptight about it 🙁

I'm in Tier 3 and know people who are breaking the rules, their explanation "it's only guidance, it's not law so we're allowed to ignore the guidance if we want to". That's actually true unfortunately.

Judging from photos on FB plenty are still breaking hte rules (tier 2). Lots of meals in restaurants with friends not family. Entertaining others in their homes. School kids meeting up outside of school in cafes etc.

I have visited my Mum, but she is in her 80s and fell and hurt her wrist badly, so needed some assistance with household tasks, shopping etc. If I went in the house, we both wore a mask and kept our distance. I think you are allowed to help the elderly?

I know no one, including myself, who's followed them entirely

Nope. I stopped following the draconian, ridiculous, cruel rules months ago. Over it.

I largely follow the rules, but pretty grudgingly at this stage. I live in an area that was very unfairly put into tier 3 - lots of people very pissed off.

Tier 3 and being careful but no - not following

My household and my extended family are following the rules (Tier 2). I don't know much about what other friends are up to as I've barely had contact with them this year. TBH I think it's because we're quite introverted and aren't interested in meeting up with other people anyway. We always tended to do days out just as a family unit and taking DD to toddler activities, so we've continued doing that and have been able to carry on as usual while sticking to the rules.
My sisters have older dc but have never enjoyed play dates or sleepovers so I think they're glad for the excuse to stop doing them! I do see lots of groups of people meeting up when we're out and about though, though they could be in support bubbles, who knows.

Nope. The guidelines are nonsensical.

I have. I'm bubbled with a friend as a single adult house hold. I've been for a walk with one other adult, but I've not been in others houses or out for dinner with friends.

My ex husband who lives with his girlfriend has bubbled with the neighbours, another couple and thinks he's following the rules. I give up!!

We are filling them now but we weren’t before. The difference being we have formed a support bubble with our friends as we both have babies under one. Before this was allowed we didn’t strictly follow them as it was just unfair and cruel not to allow new parents social interaction during the week, it’s so isolating. We now stock to the rules to keep our support bubble safe, so I guess allowing something like that is actually beneficial.

Tier 3 and I think broadly speaking that people are complying, on the whole. Any rule breaking is either due to genuine confusion about what's allowed or is a calculated risk.