To break the rule of six for my birthday?

[44jams]

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?

I agree in theory the rules don’t make sense but 20 is a lot!

Postpone the celebrations until May when we can have more people. The weather will likely be better too.

I'd happily report you if you were my neighbour

Why though ? Beer gardens are open and there are a lot more than 20 people sat in them!!! Thats allowed but not in your own garden.

Fucking ridiculous rules.

I think this one was fishing for this response and plenty have bitten.

Don't be so ridiculous. It's people like you that risk all the good work being undone.

I don't think 7 or 8 would be a problem

Seven or eight aren't necessarily a problem anyway. It's six people or two households if that is more. We've had nine in our garden - two households of five and four.

However it's definitely not five households and twenty odd people.

I’d report you and hope you’d get fined. You’re not special and part of living in a democracy is following the bloody rules. By following your logic, everyone would be having unlimited people round to their gardens. Ffs.
If you do go ahead then as a pp said, raise a toast to Darwin - you deserve what you get.

^^ neighbours, colleagues, family, friends etc I don't know anyone still sticking to the rules religiously 🤷🏾‍♀️ everyone I care for has has the vaccine. I feel sorry for the people sat at home still feeling scared.

I know plenty of people still sticking to the rules, me included, in order to try to stop the spread.
Many, including me, have had their first vaccine. I'm not sitting at home scared, I'm realistic about the fact that the vaccine doesn't prevent catching or spreading covid.

I also agree - I’d do 7-8 without worrying, but 20 is a lot and risks someone reporting you, plus it might make your guests uncomfortable.

We broke the rule of 6 (by one person) for DD’s party last weekend - I didn’t feel so bad about that as it was 6 kids who are in a classroom together 5 days a week, plus me, so limited impact. It’s DH’s 50th soon and we’ll be sticking to the rules - doing various outside gatherings of no more than 6 over the weekend.

Like a PP said, what makes your birthday more special than everyone else’s? And if you break the rule x 4 then why can’t everyone else? Etc...

neighbours, colleagues, family, friends etc I don't know anyone still sticking to the rules religiously 🤷🏾‍♀️ everyone I care for has has the vaccine. I feel sorry for the people sat at home still feeling scared
I don’t know anyone sticking to rules religiously but I also don’t know anyone who is having anywhere near 20-person parties!

Why though ? Beer gardens are open and there are a lot more than 20 people sat in them!!! Thats allowed but not in your own garden.

Fucking ridiculous rules.

Tables in pub gardens are properly spaced out.
There is no mixing allowed between tables.
You have to stay sat at your table unless you are going to the toilet and when you dostand up and walk about you have to wear a mask.
All staff have to wear masks
Every person has to register with test and trace.
All contact points and toilets have to be regularly cleaned and signed off.

Do you seriously think that this is going to happen in a private garden with 20 friends and family there?

Also @RightOnTheEdge if the weather turned whilst everyone is sitting in a beer garden, they would either put up with it or go home. If the weather turned whilst you are having a party in the garden, the chances are you would end up with 20 people rushing indoors.

Many people also don't have a garden that is big enough to have 20 people socially distanced in their bubbles.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I'd be too concerned about being reported. There are a lot of busybodies around.

Same here, otherwise i'd probably go for it.

Bloody stupid question from someone who seems to think they are more important than everyone else in the world.

I'd be extremely concerned about the intelligence of my friendship group if I knew 6 close family friends all of whom were willing to break the rules.

I'd be furious if you were my neighbour.

Could you give reasons why your birthday is more special than anyone else's?

Does the 20 include any young children? We had 12 people in our garden at the weekend but it was within the rules in Scotland as there were only 6 adults (from 3 households), the rest were 6 and under so don't count.

20 adults is taking the piss but 6 adults plus kids taking you closer to 20 isn't something I could get upset about.

Although I wouldn't have 20 people in my garden at the moment, the slightly uncomfortable thing of course, is that in approximately 4 weeks time (17th May) we are allowed to have up to 30 people meeting outside including in private gardens.

Not that much is going to change in the next 4 weeks that will suddenly make this highly dangerous activity safe, is it? I think we are just all a bit out of practice and 'scared' to mix again.

I'd report 20. Ffs, what a stupid thread. Deal with a shit birthday like the rest of us.

@ineedaholidaynow yes that's a good point too.
I've seen the beer garden excuse used for all sorts of silly things lately and it's ridiculous it's just a rubbish comparison.

I thought you were going to say you’d have a couple of extra people! 20 is a full on gathering/party 😬🤦‍♀️

@userxx

I'd happily report you if you were my neighbour

Why though ? Beer gardens are open and there are a lot more than 20 people sat in them!!! Thats allowed but not in your own garden.

Fucking ridiculous rules.

Why? Because for the last 13 months I and many others have stuck religiously to the rules, so for people to start breaking them already by thinking they're above the exception to have 20 people to a birthday party is taking the piss. As for pub beer gardens been open, barely ever set foot in a pub pre Covid so I'm not exactly going to start now.

@99victoria

Although I wouldn't have 20 people in my garden at the moment, the slightly uncomfortable thing of course, is that in approximately 4 weeks time (17th May) we are allowed to have up to 30 people meeting outside including in private gardens.

Not that much is going to change in the next 4 weeks that will suddenly make this highly dangerous activity safe, is it? I think we are just all a bit out of practice and 'scared' to mix again.

That's an unconfirmed date and will only happen if various measures indicate that it is safe. I assume OP has neither a crystal ball nor any special inside knowledge.

And "not much is going to change in the next 4 weeks" is not necessarily true of Covid.
In 4 weeks in December my area went from one of the lowest infection rates in the country to one of the highest.

Are you really coming on line to ask people if it's ok to break the law for your birthday? Would you come online and ask if it's ok to shoot heroin for your birthday? Or drink drive.