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Original poster

To break the rule of six for my birthday?

286 replies

44jams · 20/04/2021 06:42

It’s my birthday on Sunday and I’m planning to have a small gathering in the garden with friends. I know I’m meant to stick to the rule of six, but it just seems so nonsensical, considering that we will all be outdoors so our risk of catching the virus is tiny. Would you break the rules and have say five or six households (or 20ish people) round? Or stick to the rule of six even though as I say, the chance of catching it outside is tiny?

OP posts:
glitterelf · 20/04/2021 07:07

It's my sons 18th today and we've staggered visits / meet-ups over the weekend so that we can stick within the rules. Tonight it's the rule of six at the local pub.
Are you prepared to pay any fines should someone report you ?

Pheebs2021 · 20/04/2021 07:07

Nope definitely not for 20 people, would I break it as my friend have four children so it'll be 8 of us outside probably would. Would I if I was out with 6 and I saw a friend in the distance welcome them over and have a drink with us probably.

beela · 20/04/2021 07:09

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo

My soon to be 7 yr old is able to understand and accept that she can only have 4 friends round to the back garden for her birthday party because of coronavirus. If she can be mature enough to accept and be happy with that, why can't you?
Same situation here.

My 6yo dd really agonised over which of her friends should have the 4th invitation, but has made a decision. This is in the context of having had a zoom call with 2 friends for her 5th birthday last year. If a nearly 7yo can manage this then you can too.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 20/04/2021 07:09

no way,
and who is going to want to use the loo.?
stick to the rules.

Starryskiesinthesky · 20/04/2021 07:10

That’s not just having a few extra that’s going over the top. I suspect most of your guests wouldn’t be happy to attend with that number anyway.

Notonthestairs · 20/04/2021 07:10

Could you do a couple of birthday lunches - spread it out a bit and that way you'd chance to chat with everyone.

And when you say 20 ish do you mean 21/22 or quite a bit more?

Desmondo2021 · 20/04/2021 07:12

I did on Sunday (not 20 though, about 12) We all took lateral flow tests first to minimise the risk. We have had zero cases in my area since Christmas. My property is rural and no risk of being reported. Time to get your lives back people.

LovingBob · 20/04/2021 07:12

I would for 7-8 but not for 20. Can you split it over 3 occasions

beginningoftheend · 20/04/2021 07:13

I think you are a touch pathetic as an adult for even asking this.

Of course yabu, you know it too.

gamerchick · 20/04/2021 07:13

@FasterthanBolt

This is why this pandemic has gone on for so long - because everyone thinks they are too special to follow the rules. Whatever is said here, you will do what you selfishly want so I would, as a pp said, make sure all your guests are very clear that you intend to invite so many people. Hopefully the majority won't be as stupid as you and you'll end up with less than 6.
Yep and why more evil mutations are happening.

Tbh I'm hoping the bugger mutates into something that'll wipe most of us out because as a species we're too arrogant to deserve to live through it.

Just let your guests know what you're planning so they can make their own choice. I wouldn't be happy to turn up somewhere heaving with people.

LovingBob · 20/04/2021 07:14

It also depends where you live, big and rural more ok than small and townhouse

rainbowstardrops · 20/04/2021 07:16

No. It's selfish and pathetic. It's a birthday, get over it.

FoxgloveBee · 20/04/2021 07:16

No, you'll get reported unless you're in the middle of nowhere. You risk a fine AND damaging your relationship with your neighbours.

If you'd said someone needed to bring their kids then I'd say you could risk it but not if it's 20 adults.

Although it seems contradictory as all of the pubs we drove past at the weekend had 20-30 people crammed together in one little area outside.

Batshitkerazy · 20/04/2021 07:16

7 or maybe 8, yes. 20 is ridiculous, sorry

Mrgrinch · 20/04/2021 07:17

Are you a joke? You want to break the rules and have a gathering of 20 people, just for an adult birthday?

Absolutely ridiculous. People won't distance. They'll be in and out of the toilet. They will all be touching the same items, bottle opener/ snack bowls/ door handles etc.

Scarby9 · 20/04/2021 07:17

No.
3 or 4 gatherings of smaller groups instead.

newmumwithquestions · 20/04/2021 07:18

I’m not particularly rule following and expected this to be one where 2 households made 8 people and you were tying yourself in knots trying to stick to an arbitrary 6 when it made no real difference in risk.

But 20 people? For your birthday? No.

RuggeryBuggery · 20/04/2021 07:18

I’ve had this thought as I have a ‘big birthday’ coming up.
Am having people round to the garden in two groups and one group it’s annoying as there are naturally 7 people I’d like to invite rather than 5, and am worried about the 2 that are missed out feeling offended.
I can’t see the difference with 7 or us sitting round the fire in the garden instead of 6.

But I know that not all (most to be fair) of my friends are as relaxed as me so I don’t want to put them in a difficult position. I’d have to ask them all individually I think whether they mind if we’re more than 6.
It’s all such a pain.

So with your 20... are you sure they’d all be happy with that anyway?

KatherineJaneway · 20/04/2021 07:18

I'd stick to the rules. You can have a party in a few months when the restrictions are lifted.

LalalalalalaLand123 · 20/04/2021 07:18

What you are proposing is extremely unreasonable and extremely selfish.

starfish4 · 20/04/2021 07:22

Why, do you ask, the answer is no.

We've got another couple coming around for a special occasion on Friday, they will be distanced and will have sole use of our downstairs toilet. If you want to see a number of people, why not have a birthday week and have one family around at at a time. You can distance, much safer.

Ohdoleavemealone · 20/04/2021 07:23

It is too many people.
I visisted family at the weekend and there were 9 of us.

10 or less I could get on board with with but 20 is taking the piss.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/04/2021 07:24

It wouldn't work in my garden.

If your garden was huge and you could pull it off subtly, I can see the temptation, and those types of location tend to be free of the virus. So if you're all low-risk, vaccinated, etc, the actual risk of harm is very, very low.

If it was my neighbours, I'd leave it be.

CoffeandPancakes · 20/04/2021 07:26

I understand why you're tempted, but honestly, no.

I will be having a second lockdown birthday in a few weeks and dps is just around the corner and we're just having to suck it up.

Of course it's not exactly what we want. It sucks, but in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.

beginningoftheend · 20/04/2021 07:26

For me it isn't the specific risk of seven vs six, it is the fact I think the rules apply to me as much as to others, so if I was invited by someone to a party of seven 'because it's my birthday' I would think them a bit of a brat.

I'm sick of all the special people with their special reasons for not having to follow the rules.