AIBU to ask what is the worst lockdown rule you have broken?

[EmJay19]

AIBU to say a lot of (but not all) people have broken the rules to varying degrees once or twice even when they generally stick to the rules?

What’s the worst thing you’ve done?

I went to the pub with a friend when I shouldn’t have done as not from same household. Sitting outside would have been ok at that point...

The sanctimonious ones are out in force I see 😞.

Yep, I've broken a few rules along the way, not killed anyone as far as I'm aware. The majority of people I know have caught it from their kids, the murdering little bastards.

Had our family gathering on Christmas Eve and it was several households, it was lovely and it was the first time we had all been together since before the first lockdown. I did not feel guilty as Christmas Day was always going to be just our household anyway.

Exercised twice a day most days and yes that was a rule early on although we’re rural so never saw anyone anyway

Sat outside with 7 of us when only 6 was allowed. We’re already a family of 6

We see MiL, as does SiL but I’m not sure this is against the rules as classed as care visits really? 🤷‍♀️

We’ve been sensible and not done other things that we’re allowed to do to hopefully compensate.

I met a colleague for a walk last year before it was allowed. He knew I was really struggling wfh and living alone, was with his child in a nearby park so asked if I wanted to join them.

Hugged my DP once when saying goodbye on our first permitted socially distanced walk.

Had coffee outside a coffee shop with too many relatives after my dad's funeral. We couldn't have a proper wake, I hadn't hugged anyone (though I now wish I'd hugged my sibling) and I really couldn't bear to just drive away from my family straight after coming out of the crematorium.

Drove to Scotland to get a flight to Spain to see my dad in November when flights were allowed from Scotland but not England. I hadn't seen him all year, he lives alone, and flights to his island had only resumed at the start of November before stopping again from England within a week. Glad I did as if I'd waited for the end of the November lockdown I could have missed the chance completely as again there was only a week or so of flights before they stopped again.

I'll start by making clear that where we live (not UK) is not under lockdown and we're 'advised' not to mix indoors, it's not illegal. Nor do we have any kind of bubble structure for people who live alone, which is frankly just cruel.

On Friday night we had one of my colleagues round for dinner and drinks. Nobody else has been in our flat since Christmas, I work with her anyway and as she lives alone she has been really struggling not seeing anyone at all outside of work (the weather hasn't been great for outside meets recently). If one night of not having to cook for herself and having some company and conversation boosts her mental health then I'm happy to do it.

I'm genuinely interested in why you started this thread and what you were hoping to see people saying.

Did you think about the impact it might have on someone reading who is thinking it might be OK to break a few of the rules? That they might just go out and do whatever they were thinking of doing because so many people on here have?

Not very responsible tbh.

I was sticking to the rules during the first lock down in March-June.

But since then yes I've broken the rules a bit, no I don't feel guilty and no my actions aren't leading to anyone lying in a morgue.

The kids have had friends over a few times - until Christmas the same friends they were seeing every day for 6 hours in a school setting. DD's birthday was September and she had an outside BBQ party with about 20 people when the limit here in Scotland was 12 I think, from 3 households or something.

I've had a friend round for coffee a couple of times, i've been into her house too for an illegal haircut when her hairdresser came round. Meeting people and going for walks and not saying 2m apart the whole time.

Regularly leave my council area for a host of non-essential reasons as it's practically impossible not to.

This thread is much more reflective of what I see in RL. Everyone I know without a single exception has broken or flexed the rules to one extent or another.
I don't know anyone, friend, family or colleague, regardless of age, background or vulnerability who is as strident about the rules as some MN posters purport to be.

I haven’t because I want normal life back I’m starting to feel like an idiot as everyone else like you are just not giving a fuck.

Me too. I stood outside the house on the day of my father's funeral as my area was in local lockdown at the time and it was against the rules for me to go in. Yet people around me were and are doing exactly as they please. Some people are so selfish.

the point people seem to be missing is that the rules are to.keep others safe. You may feel you have got away with it, but if you didn’t have symptoms you won’t know what damage you have caused.

Drove to London the day before pubs reopened last year to stay with my mums sister for a long weekend. My mum died early last year and my aunt is a second mum to me, it had been the longest I'd ever not seen her in my life and my god I needed that. Not a single regret at all, that hug saved me.
In August I hosted a big bbq for a friend. About 10 people. I don't think it was against any rules but it seemed really strange to do.
Went to France. Again, in August, we were allowed but it felt naughty.
Went for a walk with friends a couple of months ago, had them in for a takeaway, that one was wrong, a moment of madness.

@AllesAusLiebe

- haven't stopped DS from seeing his grandparents since the end of the first lockdown. They we're upset that we were limited to WhatsApp calls and they're old enough to make their own decisions and assessment of risk.

• had drinks with friends on boxing day

• had friends over on new year's eve.

• pretended to be from the same household as a good friend and went out numerous times for drinks and dinner when she was having a hard time with her relationship.

• quite often drive for exercise. I live in an area that is flooded with daytrippers whenever the sun is shining. Driving 40 minutes away to go for a run is safer.

What I haven't done is meandered around the supermarket with my entire family or queued in non-essential shops to load up on Christmas presents. Swings and roundabouts.

No, what you’ve done is worse!

Had a cup of tea with a lonely neighbour, 15 minutes. This happened once in last 10 months.

2nd worst:
Met up with friend (maybe 6x) for outdoor walks (no hugs) in Lockdown one. She was living with abusive partner. This activity was just as strictly forbidden as everything else so obviously I am an unforgiveably selfish firmly condemned-forever member of the Granny Murderers club.

@Rarotonga2

The only time I have broken the rules is when I went to stay at my mum's in the first lockdown with my toddler. I was working from home with a toddler and I wasn't allowed to have him around me whilst I was on Zoom calls. I had to do Zoom video sessions all day, four days a week. We isolated for seven weeks before going to my mum's so I knew we were Covid free. It was the only thing I did wrong but it was the only option.

That didn't break any rules anyway - as you were allowed to move house. Quite a few of my colleagues went home to parents for a few weeks last year and then moved back when things eased a bit in May.

For me it was going out twice for exercise in one day. Which isn't law actually, just guidance, but it's clear guidance unlike the "stay local" nonsense.

Oh and in the summer we went to a pub and sat inside with my mum and a friend of hers when it was only supposed to be two households inside. My mum said it was too cold to sit outside.

First lockdown: drove to pick up a new pet which was 40mins away. Pretty nonessential. Used to go out more than once a day for a walk now and then, or would walk and foodshop in one day which I dont think was allowed. Had a corner shop opposite us so if we needed something (like tonic) we would pop and get it so not essential.

This lockdown: spent boxing day with OH family after spending xmas day with mine, have had my dad in one day for lunch and OH brother round another day for dinner. Have met a friend with a 10 year old for a walk but not sure what shes supposed to do with her tbh.

We have been lax this lockdown after a very close family members suicide just before xmas. We are just doing what we need to do to get on tbh. The funeral there was no social distancing and there was 3 households in the funeral car but what can you do?

Had a friend in my house when we were tier 3.
Stayed overnight at a different friend's house (were allowed to visit at the time, just not stay... although I left at 6am).
Hugged a friend after meeting for a coffee.
Went for a second walk during the first lockdown.
Let my mum use the loo when garden only visits were allowed.

Sat here waiting for the police now.

People who have only left the house for a food shop do know the restrictions were hugely lifted across summer, don't you?

Started using DM for childcare again before bubbles were a thing. No choice really, DH had major surgery and couldn’t look after an active toddler especially when the hospital sent him home, barely able to walk, two days after the op with nothing but painkillers.

Other then that I’ve done my best to stick to the rules, I want this over with as soon as possible.

Went to a pub before Christmas for a quick drink after a walk and the 'substantial meal' was a chocolate brownie! The pub followed hand sanitiser, SD and sitting 2m apart so it felt and was completely safe. Bearing in mind we are a very, very low infection area now and were then even more so.

Pretty obvious what would happen on here, not broken any, but have had friends almost die, you havent killed anyone, how do you know that for a fact, these lockdowns will keep on and on and on

The powers that be at no time thought there would be 100% compliance and factor this in to the calculations.
For many people the small 'offences' are what it takes to keep them complying the rest of the time, while also maintaining some degree of wellbeing so they can continue functioning usefully.

@GlitterWasp

My ex would love this thread. He's turned into a right sanctimonious prick because he has his GF bubble & his exercise bubble so he's happy, but if he sees anybody else even talk to another person they are 'Breaking the rules!'

Also he all but called me a murderer & told me I was 'Taking slots from the vulnerable, so I hope you are happy' when I got a shopping delivery slot during the first lockdown, even though he told me that I shouldn't be taking the kids shopping (I wasn't) & ALSO he never had the kids so that I could, you know, go shopping!

Oh dear. My partner's ex is just like this. We call her the 'covid police'. Aren't they annoying!

Last year when we were coming out of lockdown but still weren’t allowed to mix. Dp took dc to in laws (only 8 miles away) and spent the day there. I was feeling unwell (not covid!) and needed some time to myself.

Last year instead of seeing family on Christmas Day when allowed we seen them on Christmas Eve.

Other than that we’ve been pretty obedient of the rules.