A lot more people out and about in groups today I noticed, anyone else?

[Lollipop1234]

We do our daily walk in a local forest. Usually very early on a weekday and at about 8:30/9am at the weekend.

Generally come into contact with a few people, mainly in pairs or household groups like us. All in line with the guidance.

It was very different today, same time, same place, weather ok, a bit rainy....but lots more people and many in bigger groups 6+ exercising together, obviously non household.

It personally doesn’t bother me too much, as I feel it’s healthier to be out exercising than cooped up indoors. But it did make me wonder if lockdown fatigue had started to creep in and people were starting to vote with their feet?

Has anyone else noticed this?

This is the one rule I've seen broken the most - live in an area popular with walkers/families etc. Lots of big family groups, groups of women pushing buggies etc. I'm not sure I blame them, I don't do it but that's because I don't have extended family locally, so either walk with DH and children or a friend

@Daisysflowers

More and more people have had enough now and for their own mental health and their families are now starting to meet up. This is going to be happening more as the weeks go on. Everyone needs to do what they think is best for their own family.

Unfortunately the best thing for my family and our mental health would be for DD to get the health care she's been waiting over a year for. And she won't get that until the hospital is no longer overflowing with Covid patients and treatment backlog is cleared. Which isn't something my family on its own can influence.

Yep met with two friends and their children at the park today for the first time.

@RedskyBynight A fellow worker lost his wife to cancer last year as her treatment was suddenly stopped. I also have 2 grandparents waiting for treatment as well that has been put back time and time again due to the covid situation. Totally understand where you are coming from that it’s not just your family that can stick to the rules and that alone will help you get your daughter the help she needs. My post was saying that I understand some families are finding it hard and I can understand some are breaking the rules for their own mental health and I would not judge them for that - I know personally of 2 suicides in the last couple of months who felt very alone. Its a very vicious circle at the moment.

Hope your daughter is ok and gets the health care she needs soon

Yes, it was very busy out on my walk today, which includes a shingle beach by the river. The car park was packed and people had parked carelessly near the entrance, which was makimg life awkward for some (not us, we went there on foot). I think the glorious sunshine tempted people out, especially as the forecast is for bitterly cold weather tomorrow.

The pavements were much busier than usual and there were plenty of times we walked into the road to avoid families... which we're happy to do, but there were some people with no manners, who didn't even bother to acknowledge with a nod or a smile, let alone thanks. I think a lot of young people are just complacent about SD anyway, but most people are polite.

It will get easier when the schools are open again, as we will be able to take walks during school hours... roll on March 8th! I might even start taking walks after dark for the next 4 weeks, as I'm so tired of dodging out of the way constantly, and it will defo get worse as spring arrives.

I’ve noticed it the last few weekends. Lots of groups of more than 2 who i strongly suspect aren’t from the same household. In some areas I would give the benefit of the doubt to them being students or flatsharing young adults but my local park doesn’t really have a local student population and that’s a lot of what appear to be large multi-generation households that I’ve noticed before!
During the first lockdown when we weren’t allowed to meet anyone outside there seemed to be a noticeable presence of same sex couples with a dog each in my local park

“Unfortunately the best thing for my family and our mental health would be for DD to get the health care she's been waiting over a year for. And she won't get that until the hospital is no longer overflowing with Covid patients and treatment backlog is cleared. Which isn't something my family on its own can influence.”

Yes I can imagine that’s frustrating. I have always heard that outdoor transmission is low though, that was definitely what the scientists said. I think generally people are trying to be safe and keep distance when meeting outside.

I know the new variant is more transmissible, if there is more chance of catching it outside, or from greater distance, I wish someone would flag it up. Surely they must have some idea?

Same but not too much so. Group of 7 playing rugby, group of 5 walking (but could have been a family with older age range kids and three mums sat on a bench watching kids play. It’s a bit concerning as if the rates rise again lockdown will carry on longer.

Yes, I agree. Lots of people out walking today. But here in the southeast it has been quite sunny and pleasant, and we all know that we're in for snow, sleet, rain and freezing weather from tomorrow and for the next week , so I imagine people were making the most of it while it's fine.

I always wonder if people are judging us for being a big group- family of 6 but older DSD is taller than me and so we could easily look like three adults and three children.

I did about 3 hours of walking around village/town today - no groups.

Correction: I walked with 2 DC. I suppose we were a group.

@KeyboardWorriers Not judging, but whether it's a family from one household, or multiple households mixing in a group of 6, the result is the same, in that a group of 6 will basically fill the pavement, so making SD difficult for anyone else taking a walk. It's just one of those things, but all the same it's much appreciated if groups fall into single (or even double) file sometimes, rather than leaving single walkers, or couples, to go out into the road. I do understand though that it can be difficult to shepherd young children to one side, as they don't always understand. That's why I might start doing my daily walks after dark, and leave the pavements to families during the day.

@Defenbaker yes that probably makes sense. I don't think you can live your life getting stressed out by people doing completely legal things like exercising as a family so if you have got to that point then exercising at night is probably best.

I have generally found far more adults to be bad at social distancing than children.