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Original poster

Are most people obeying the rules?

74 replies

IrishGirl2020 · 08/02/2021 14:23

I went for a walk yesterday evening where I live (west London) and passed 2 houses where people were leaving looking very much as if they’d just been round for Sunday lunch. One couple weren’t even very discreet waving goodbye to another couple standing on the doorstep and saying ‘Thanks, that was lovely etc’ as they got in a taxi to leave.

Similarly have had a few friends be very cagey as to what they’re up to at the weekends, saying they’re not free but not saying why. Another friend openly admitted they’d had a dinner party the other week for some close friends.

I haven’t had anyone else in my house for a social visit since last March and now starting to feel a bit stupid and like maybe I’m the only one actually obeying the rules. Please tell me I’m not!
And what do you think? Are most people obeying the lockdown rules where you are?

Btw I’m not shielding or clinically vulnerable - I’m just doing what I’m told and what I hoped everyone else was doing too!

OP posts:
Lollipop1234 · 08/02/2021 15:27

We are pretty much following them. I have met a friend a couple of times for a walk outside with my 7 year old for sanity, but otherwise we are compliant.

Lindy2 · 08/02/2021 15:53

We've followed all the rules. Unfortunately we still caught Covid through DH's keyworker job. All of the Covid secure precautions and weekly testing couldn't stop the virus once it got in.

We will keep following the rules though and taking every precaution we can. I absolutely don't want to ever go through what we have again. It is truly horrific.

My only comfort at the moment is that because we followed the rules we didn't spread the virus to anyone else.

I know several people who have broken rules though, particularly about Christmas mixing. One of them has just had her partner die from Covid because of that mixing.

IcedPurple · 08/02/2021 15:55

People aren't going to confess to breaking the 'rules', even on an anonymous forum. However, I suspect that many are quietly visiting family and friends.

As for me, I will admit that I go shopping whenever I need or - gasp! - want something. Including 'non-essentials'. Other than that I'm keeping to the rules.

Changi · 08/02/2021 15:59

We are 100%, although not blindly. We recognise that following the rules/guidelines offers protection to society as a whole.

Pastanred · 08/02/2021 16:29

Lollipop

Like I said I know most my colleagues break the rules too

I don’t know a single person who isn’t having family round
Letting their kids out
Meeting someone they shouldn’t

I know on here teachers and nhs are militant but it’s not my experience - mos honestly don’t care

My nhs less so as they don’t see it as a worry for people our age - yes you’re ae admitted but they’re not the main demographic

nicky7654 · 08/02/2021 16:34

Nope! I know tons of people tweaking the rules and I'm not surprised. You cannot shut people away for a year and expect them to obey!!! I do not care who breaks the rules and I will not report them.

cptartapp · 08/02/2021 16:40

Most of my work colleagues aren't (nurses). All tweaking and bending the rules in their own little way including weekend and Xmas gatherings. One elderly member of a family just died from Covid likely due to this. At least five households met up she let slip.
Neither are PIL in their 80's with health conditions. Driving round with neighbours in the car.
Or SIL and family. 'Just ' doing this and 'just' doing that.
My teacher friend had a New Years Eve party.

legosnowqueen · 08/02/2021 16:41

We are totally following the rules, as well as wanting to protect ourselves we feel a responsibility to society to do so. DS age 14 is upset that his group of friends are meeting up, seemingly with parental approval...so hard to hold the line in these circumstances.

cherrypop86 · 08/02/2021 16:56

I don't know anyone holding mass gatherings but most people I know are seeing people and going into their homes.

rhowton · 08/02/2021 17:02

I'm still seeing my parents! I don't care that it breaks the rules!!

LH1987 · 08/02/2021 17:07

We are 100%, the majority of my friends and colleagues seem to be too.

I think social bubbles are being used too liberally, some people seem to have 5 or 6. However, who am I to judge, it’s been a rough year and some people have just had enough!

delightfuldaisy19 · 08/02/2021 17:09

Yes and no. Haven't been in anyone's house for months etc.

However, have been outside with more than 1 other person. Met a friend and her child (so we were a 4) a couple of times and it was lovely.

I think they should relax the rules - back to rule of 6 outside. I'm dreading half term with the dreadful weather forecast and nowhere to go and not allowed to see anybody.

deathbyprocrastination · 08/02/2021 17:09

Sticking to the rules here.

NiknicK · 08/02/2021 17:12

At the moment, yes 100%. However I’ll admit that in the coming weeks this won’t be the case. I am one of the seemingly few who have stuck to the rules (and I mean not one tiny slip up) from the beginning of all this last March, but I have made plans with my family. That being that once myself, my parents and my dsis have had our second vaccinations (and waited 3 weeks for the additional immunity to kick in) we plan on meeting up, and no, it won’t be outdoors. I really don’t care if people don’t agree. Everyone has experienced lockdown differently, and whilst I won’t go into detail or explain why I feel I’m entitled to see my family, I’ll simply say it’s been unbearable at times for us all for various reasons, and therefore once our immunity to covid is at its maximum we will use our own judgment going forward, whilst still reducing risks to others. Some won’t like it but I’m past caring.

tappitytaptap · 08/02/2021 17:12

We have a childcare bubble with my parents but they also sometimes eat with us, stay for a bit and chat when they drop off the kids and my DF came to help DH with some DIY. Other than that, no, but I do meet friends outside occasionally and if there are more than 2 adults we just don’t stand in the same group.

HazelWong · 08/02/2021 17:14

We are sticking to the rules for now. If there is no sign of the rules changing in a month or so, I will be getting close to deciding to see my parents who will by then be a few weeks post vaccination

tappitytaptap · 08/02/2021 17:15

The only people I know not seeing their parents in one way are either those that live far away or where the parents are very cautious/anxious about covid.

NiknicK · 08/02/2021 17:20

Well I live approximately half a mile away from my parents, they aren’t anxious about covid, they’re late 50’s and very healthy, yet up to now I haven’t seen them except from across my street when they go for a walk and text me to tell me they’ll be walking past my house. My ds then shouts across the street and waves to them. Like I said in my post though once we’ve all had our second vaccinations (in the next 4-6 weeks) I will be seeing them inside my home.

GintyMcGinty · 08/02/2021 17:20

We are seeing my parents indoors and my sister and her partner.

Both me and husband work from home and see no one else.
Both sister and her partner work from home and see no one else.
My parents are retired see no one else.
We all shop online and have it delivered.
The children are all at home.

So between us we are very confident we are not mixing with others.
Our local area cases are less than 70 per 100,000

So based on all that we feel pretty comfortable about our rule breaking.

Vargas · 08/02/2021 17:21

Most people I know are following the rules 99% of the time. Certainly no signs of parties or anything like that, but I know some teenage boyfriend/girlfriend combos who are meeting up indoors. But the ones we know of have all had Covid so I can't imagine it's very high risk.

Daisysflowers · 08/02/2021 17:24

To be fair you don’t know for certain you saw people breaking the guidelines. You saw a quick snippet of something, they may have been in a bubble etc.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 08/02/2021 17:27

People I know are meeting family and friends- they’ve had enough and I think it’s inevitable more and more people will follow suit

TisConfusion · 08/02/2021 17:30

We are following the rules but unfortunately I know lots of people who aren't. My neighbours both sides have had people over the whole time (pretty sure they are not in bubbles) and before anyone says I'm a curtain twitcher - we have very thin walls so we can't help but hear everything! And I wished we didn't. Ignorance is bliss.
I have a friend who lives in a different county to me and she says her neighbours are the same and there are even people on her local online group asking for people to do their eyelashes etc!
DH has a friend who doesn't believe any of this is as bad as its made out to be so he has carried on the whole time as normal, he won't even wear a mask. He's even messaged DH to see if we wanted meet up and when DH replied that we can when lockdown is over, he replied with the eye roll emoji.
And loads more. Which makes me half angry and half sad really.

user1494050295 · 08/02/2021 17:30

We have our neighbour round once a week for drinks and dinner. Support bubble. She is single with a small child. And we do lots of our door exercise with friends (one at a time) cycling or walking etc. Apart from that....