To burst all of these bloody bubbles

[kirktonhouse]

A single person can bubble with one single other household, yes, I get it, it's really useful for those living alone, however there are so many other bloody fake bubbles.

Single elderly parents having 'bubbles' with every one of their children's families

Work bubbles

School bubbles (different in the morning and the afternoon)

Sport bubbles (stupid fucking footballers)

Camping bubbles (yes really, some friends in the summer)

Play bubbles (with whoever happens to be at the park/beach)

Dog walk bubbles

You can't call everyday life a fucking bubble. Just stop seeing so many bloody people and calling it a bubble to pretend that it's ok when it really, really isn't.

I feel better for that. I'm going back to my miserable bastard bubble, does anyone want to join me?

That Costa Bubble - words just fail me!

How can people be so stupid and selfish. Speaking about coffee - what is all the obsession with coffee. I have to go through a very upmarket high street on the way to the supermarket, lots of snazzy coffee shops and the queues outside, people hanging around waiting for god knows what, toasted sandwiches, sitting on the kerb and eating their food along with members of their household/friends who just happen to be there at the same time...

I would honestly shut these take ways TEMPORARILY. We have got to sharpen up on this.

What deluded person thinks there is such a thing as a Costa Bubble!

I agree, I live alone and I am facing the prospect of spending months alone because people are taking the piss!

Its sad for genuine people such as a single work colleague who lives alone has bubbled with her elderly mum who also lives alone to support her. A close friend of ex work colleague also single with no family living nearby asked friend if she wanted to bubble and she said she would love to but can’t as other friend works in a school and she needs to be in a bubble with a mum as her siblings live too far away to support her mum.
Whilst others not even entitled to bubbles just abuse the phrase and quote bubble to
Justify their actions.

I think the Government comms team made a mistake in using the term 'bubble' in too many different contexts (single person, school, Christmas etc). The rules around each type of bubble have actually been pretty clear, IMO, but people seem to have used it as an opportunity to invent their own definitions of bubbles.

I think it would be hugely disappointing to remove single-person support bubbles. My mother (local, lives alone, sees no-one) is in a bubble with us (all working/schooling from home, online groceries only, seeing no-one). I would be very pissed off to have this support removed from her.

@Glitterb

I agree, I live alone and I am facing the prospect of spending months alone because people are taking the piss!

Thats not true. As a single person you are entitled and expected to seek support if you need it.

Yes, it should have been if you live alone you can see one person/family.

Childcare/caring responsibilities should have been dealt with as a separate issue.

think the Government comms team made a mistake in using the term 'bubble' in too many different contexts (single person, school, Christmas etc). The rules around each type of bubble have actually been pretty clear, IMO, but people seem to have used it as an opportunity to invent their own definitions of bubbles.

Yes, I completely agree

@DumplingsAndStew I am currently bubbled with my partner (he lives alone as well) however this could change if they ban support bubbles. I know it might not seem like a big deal but if they do enforce this then I’m not sure how I will get through the next few months.

I'm really quite shocked by all these stories of people carrying on seeing family and friends as 'bubbles'. We haven't had anyone except a plumber in our house since March. Or been in anyone else's house. We could have my MIL as a bubble as she's widowed, but until recently we had a child in nursery so it was too risky. Now she's more of a risk to us than we are to her, as she's still popping to the Co-Op every day and working part-time (very socially distanced but still in contact with people).

This is why so many people are dying.

At the briefing last night Matt Hancock said they would not withdraw support bubbles but they would be enforcing the rules more strictly.

[quote Glitterb]@DumplingsAndStew I am currently bubbled with my partner (he lives alone as well) however this could change if they ban support bubbles. I know it might not seem like a big deal but if they do enforce this then I’m not sure how I will get through the next few months.[/quote]
They are not going to ban support bubbles.

Same here GlitterB. And yes, it is a big deal for me and other people in our situation.

My seeing my partner who I don't currently live with is not causing any extra risk to anyone that living with him would not.

I think the government made a mistake calling them bubbles in the first place because it implies safety. As someone said upthread, they are not intended to protect you from catching or spreading the virus, they're just intended to limit the number of people you infect.

Wasn't it London dwelling Lynda Robson who was on Loose Women saying that she spent Xmas with her grown up kids because 'they are in my bubble'.... Wha?

I agree the bubble thing is totally being abused and it's a shame for the people who genuinely need it.

Some people are not very understanding of what is meant by a bubble (or just ignore guidance). I’ve seen so much of this. Oh their in my bubble etc when they don’t even meet the bleddy criteria to have a bubble.

I absolutely think bubbles are wonderful for single
Occupant households and single parents etc.

But it’s not to be abused.

I'm going back to my miserable bastard bubble, does anyone want to join me?

No, thanks.

I'm not in any bubbles. I would be pleased to join the miserable bastard bubble as I assume we shall all continue to avoid meeting.

@HarrietteNightingale

think the Government comms team made a mistake in using the term 'bubble' in too many different contexts (single person, school, Christmas etc). The rules around each type of bubble have actually been pretty clear, IMO, but people seem to have used it as an opportunity to invent their own definitions of bubbles.

Yes, I completely agree

Thirded!

@alreadytaken

I'm not in any bubbles. I would be pleased to join the miserable bastard bubble as I assume we shall all continue to avoid meeting.

IF the government felt they had to get rid of bubbles it won't be because of a thread on an internet forum complaining about how they are being abused, it will be because they believe the abuse of the system is increasing transmission rates.

I would feel quite bitter under those circumstances.

I think that the rules are quite clear and MOST people can pop on the GOV uk site and read them - IF they want to .

But some people just claim to be confused because it suits them

And yes the rules change - as the risk changes .

A lot of people have got away with this so far because , however with the new variant these people are going to be in for a shock .

so I do think if there are people in your family breaking the rues ( like someone I know who has formed 3 bubbles - each of which are in contact with their own families ) then politely you should refer them to the rules and explain how many people they are exposing themselves to.

Work bubbles - are just a phrase really - trying to keep teams who don't overlap so that if one team goes down the other can carry on so limiting exposure . But we all know that workmates have families who also could have the virus . As it spreads Whitty is right - you should treat everyone you meet as if they have the virus.

I never heard the words Christmas bubble ?

I thought the government just talked about mixing of households and the limitations?

Doesnt matter the rules, people will break them!

The rules are going to get stricter and i really hope people start listening

(I agree some people should be in bubbles, noone should be lonely)

@Dongdingdong

Wish they would just say every family can have 1 bubble and that's it.

@Frouby Errr, no! Why do you think every family needs a bubble?

Because 1 family having 1 bubble, for childcare, support, whatever is better than some families having 3 bubbles, which they do. I don't need support, or childcare or anything like that. So it means for the duration of the lockdown my 7 year old ds is stuck with me and dp and my 16 yr old dd.

Under the current rules, I can go trot off and meet a friend for exercise as can dd and dh, independently and meeting 1 person. Ds, who I would argue needs and benefits more from socialisation with his peers,can't because he's too young to go and meet a friend for a walk.

A few weeks or a month is fine, but longer than that I think is detrimental to his mental health and social skills.

Non of the bubbles apply to him or his needs, non of the bubbles support single children. Only adults.

If they said 'right 1 family can form 3 bubbles (a childcare one, a support one and a single person one, which they absolutely are doing regardless of the rules) and that doesn't seem to be controlling the spread of the virus so it's down to one bubble, call it what you want but it's your household and 1 other, end of chat then the rules will be clearer and dcs have a chance to go out and benefit from exercise with another household rather than 1 from each family.

Seems daft to me that adults can socially exercise but dcs can't. I don't even want to have a banana on a bench or go in anyones house, just go for a walk once a week with his school friend, legally without breaking any rules.

Totally agree