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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:
Girlmama3 · 20/04/2021 14:12

Why should it be one rule for one and one for others? If she went to a beer garden it would be a group of 6.

YellowTwinklyStar · 20/04/2021 14:13

a 7th person maybe but not 20!

Oblomov21 · 20/04/2021 14:23

If it 8, no problem, but 20? Really? No way.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 20/04/2021 15:40

If you live in a smart neighbourhood where houses have a lot more space and people have got better things to do with their time than curtain-twitching, you will probably be less at risk of being reported than if you live in a densely populated area with semi/terraced housing.

MintyMabel · 20/04/2021 15:40

However, I do find it illogical that 50-100 people are allowed to sit in a pub garden but not 20 in a private garden. It just doesn’t make much sense?

Oh FGS, how can people be this far in and still not realise why there are different sets of rules for different situations? It isn’t rocket science to work out why.

But hey, if you think you’re more important than everyone else, then you just go for it.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 20/04/2021 15:41

If you live in a detached house on a large plot, people are less likely to be aware of comings and goings than if you have neighbours who can hear everytime someone knocks on your door!

Rockbird · 20/04/2021 16:23

Agree with everyone else that 7 or 8 would be ok but 20 is taking the piss, even if the rules are nonsensical. You can see from here how many people would report you given half the chance.

Also interesting to note that special has been spelled speshul 11 times on this thread. Do people think this helps their argument?

Blubellwood · 20/04/2021 16:29

We all have birthdays. Sorry but yours isn’t more special.

Magic1231 · 20/04/2021 16:30

I also thought you were gonna say 7 or 8, 20 is a bit too much, it becomes more of a party when you're talking that many people xxx

VaVaGloom · 20/04/2021 16:36

Of course it’s frustrating but is it worth the fine to you and your guests? On a case by case the ‘rules’ can seem nonsensical but you have to look at them on a society wide basis. As others have suggested spread it out to smaller groups over the weekend.

LST · 20/04/2021 16:43

@Girlmama3

Why should it be one rule for one and one for others? If she went to a beer garden it would be a group of 6.
The beer gardens i have been to have not bothered about if it were 6 to a table and the tables were all less than a metre apart too
inmyslippers · 20/04/2021 17:01

The beer gardens i have been to have not bothered about if it were 6 to a table and the tables were all less than a metre apart too

^^ my friend booked three tables for her birthday, we all mixed and mingled. Kids from different households groups all played together in the play area.

LST · 20/04/2021 17:06

@inmyslippers

The beer gardens i have been to have not bothered about if it were 6 to a table and the tables were all less than a metre apart too

^^ my friend booked three tables for her birthday, we all mixed and mingled. Kids from different households groups all played together in the play area.

Exactly! There are pp on here that actually think people stick to not mixing in a beer garden which makes that ok but more than 6 in your garden not ok!
tedsletterofthelaw · 20/04/2021 17:15

I would do it if I was absolutely sure I wouldn't get reported by a neighbour.

Could you do two days with 10 each? A bit less conspicuous?

mumwalk · 20/04/2021 18:57

We've all missed celebrating birthdays with friends and families, not to mention other celebrations. Not sure why you think there should be an exception for you? Just wait until next year ...

user1487194234 · 20/04/2021 19:09

Went to a friend’s birthday on Saturday
People came and went but there were about 16 people on average at any one time
Great day
I think people have had enough of the restrictions

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 20/04/2021 19:21

I’d have no hesitation in reporting a breach like that.

Just because you disagree with a law doesn’t make it ok to break it.

Lots of people have missed birthday parties, mainly children I would suspect, but it’s just one of the those things. There are far worse things in life.

beginningoftheend · 20/04/2021 19:29

Oh for goodness' sake!

I think you do understand but choose to pretend not to, or you really are not very well-educated.

It is just not the same situation.

beginningoftheend · 20/04/2021 19:29

Sorry that was to the OP, I meant to quote but in my exasperation managed to remove the quote!

GameSetMatch · 20/04/2021 19:32

If children can understand they can’t have birthday parties at the moment then why can't grown men and women??

LindaEllen · 20/04/2021 19:38

Explain to my why YOUR birthday is more special than everyone else's. Perhaps you have some kind of reason, for example a terminal illness that means it's your last birthday. If that's the case I'm sure you'll have everyone's blessing. Otherwise, stick to the rules like we've all had to.

BlackberrySky · 20/04/2021 19:44

It's amazing how people can come up with reasons to justify why they are special and don't need to comply with the law.

Babygotblueyes · 20/04/2021 20:33

Really sad that there are still people more motivated by whether they would get caught rather than what is right for the bigger society. OP I think you have already made your decision and are just on here for validation.

userxx · 20/04/2021 21:05

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.

That's your choice, but it's allowed and happening. Tough luck, we ain't all staying in for the rest of our miserable bitter lives.

Katie517 · 20/04/2021 21:24

I would do it if your neighbours won’t report you. It’s no different to booking 4 separate tables in a beer garden which everyone is doing!

Also the state of indoor shopping centres where people are arranging to meet up in groups indoors while pretending to be mask exempt! And no one enforces rules there. It’s the same old thing of if you get your credit card out and spend money it’s safe but if it’s in your own home or garden then it’s not!