Those of us with family/friends at a distance have been forgotten again

[Thecoppertree]

My family and close friends live too far away to visit for the day and we have a toddler so the journey would be unbearable as it’s 4 hours there and 4 hours back.
I thought overnight stays with one household or bubble would be permitted by Easter, but I’m reading/hearing possibly June?! So that means I won’t see my family until then. There is an option to meet somewhere halfway, but as my parents don’t drive and they have physical limitations on getting around, it would be difficult to organise. I just feel gutted that everyone is feeling happy about the rule of 6 outdoors in parks and gardens, but those of us who don’t have family/friends nearby have nothing to look forward to.
Sorry for the downer post, but it’s making me feel really sad.

Though I'm pleased by 8th March return for schools and know the gradual relaxing of other stuff is for the best I'm disappointed that I won't get to see family for some time. They are all 3-4 hrs drive away and getting there is more complex given we don't have a car (I'm not sure when non essential journeys on public transport are allowed). I think when Xmas was more restricted the mood music was delay seeing family til Easter, well unless your family live local that's not going to happen. I turn 40 on Easter Monday. When I had my birthday in lockdown last year I thought, 'well at least it'll be over for the big one next year'. Rather a naive thought it would seem. Gutted, all I want to do is go and get drunk with my sister who I haven't seen since last summer (and that was only brief due to covid).

Yep. I think May 17th is too far away for family get togethers indoors for those that need to travel. They are asking us to wait another three months.

I’ve not seen my mum since December 2019 she lives 500 miles away and has multiple health issues and is terrified of catching covid and dying as she gets v poorly with anything chest related. So not sure she’ll even see us till autumn she’s getting first vaccine tomorrow but I’ve a feeling that’ll change nothing!!. I guess she’s safe and well but I do worry about the other viruses she’ll catch due to being in a bubble for so long.

Just go. People who don’t have covid mixing with people who also don’t have covid (and who have also been vaccinated) = nobody having covid.

This insanity has gone on long enough. I have never had the covid fear, my mind boggles that people remain so fearful even post vaccine.

For the record all our parents have been vaccinated live 2-4 hours away and refuse to see us because its against the rules. It’s like submitting to lockdown has taken away their ability to think for themselves. We’ve given up seeing them. It will never be “safe” enough.

People who have family on the other side of on of the UK borders (e.g. Welsh border) have been forgotten about too.

Why don’t you just go see them? Especially once the “stay home” tag line ends.

It's awful. Another three months when I can't see my family but will be forced into close indoor contact with others.

Just make your own personal risk assessment. Once the ‘stay at home’ message has gone how will having family to stay be policed?

It's difficult to "just go" when your family is one of 6 houses on a quiet cul de sac and they're worried a disgruntled neighbour will report them. It's not subtle turning up 200 miles away with a toddler and their assorted paraphernaelia.

I'm just devastated. Mid May is another 12 weeks. And I can't just go see them regardless as I will be in front of 100s of students in the next few weeks and we are not allowed time off at random

That's just for stays at houses - obviously visiting but staying nearby needs accommodation to open first anyway.

12th April for overnight stays with your own household.

angel2702 -how does that help any of us? I can see my own household every day!

Staying nearby and meeting up outside would be all well and good if we lived in california but driving 300 miles to stay in and airbnb with every likelihood it will piss down every day isn't exactly what I would consider a good option.

@Boohooyouho

Same here. It’s 3.5 hours to my parents. I’d anticipated not being able to meet indoors so I booked a holiday let nearby for us to stay in so we could meet up outside. Looks like that won’t be allowed to happen. We’re all just desperate to see each other. I’m actually tempted to drive there for the day. Because apparently that’s safer than us staying on our own in a holiday let.

Just do it.

You can’t just do it if holiday lets and hotels aren’t allowed to open!

@Singlenotsingle

I'm surprised that people are so obedient, even though all this is causing misery and depression. I've always worked on the basis that if I'm free of covid then I can't pass it on, so I just take a test if I want to visit family. (I am in a support bubble and a separate childcare bubble anyway so strictly speaking it's legal). And now I've had my first dose of vaccination, it'll be even safer. I know I'll get flamed for this, but I just think people's mental health is important.

You’ll not get any flames from me. I don’t understand how as a nation we’ve just rolled over and allowed ourselves to be dictated to in such a fashion. Mental health is just as import As physical health. No one should be making themselves miserable, and depressed over this. It’s time to live and do our own risk assessments

@korawick12345

angel2702 -how does that help any of us? I can see my own household every day!

You can travel and stay somewhere overnight to visit family.

@korawick12345

angel2702 -how does that help any of us? I can see my own household every day!

Because you can stay near family in a let and then visit their garden?!

Already booked mine on...12th April!

I just don’t have the money to spend on flights and self catering accommodation so can’t go see family until overnight stays are possible
Still no clue when that is in Scotland