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Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

"you should only be leaving the house for essential reasons"

82 replies

RaspberryCoulis · 04/03/2021 08:15

Says Jeanne Freeman and Sturgeon and Jason Leitch every day at the briefing.

But nobody's doing that, are they? This isn't one of those threads where a poster moans about people being in parks or Asda being busy. It's more a general recognition that the message being sent out - stay at home, do not leave home - just isn't reflecting reality any more.

Most people I know are stretching the definition of "essential reasons" to leave the house and quite right too. Seeing elderly relatives they've been banned from seeing for a year. Allowing teenagers to meet in each others houses. Meeting friends for a social wander and a takeaway coffee and not "exercise". Kids playing football in large groups in the park. I even texted my hairdresser (who comes to the house) last night to tell her the very second she was back to work I wanted booked in and she texted back "well actually I've started doing wee sneaky cuts/colours so just let me know when suits" - she's not a selfish covidiot, she's just a self-employed worker who has had her income slashed for a year and has 3 kids.

So the messaging needs to change quickly, doesn't it? Because it really doesn't reflect the reality of the situation and the more out of touch the government appears, the less we'll all comply.

OP posts:
Loopyloututu2 · 04/03/2021 15:02

No one I know has been following the rules fully for quite a while now, including me. People are doing the best they can.

If by the end of this madness you have topped yourself because life doesn’t seem worth living anymore (through isolation, losing your livelihood whatever) it all seems a bit pointless doesn’t it? People are doing what they have to do to survive - most people will always look out for themselves and their close family members above random statistics in the news.
I know loads and loads and loads of people and of the handful I know who’ve had covid, everyone has been fine - it was a mild illness even for the older people I know.

I can’t bring myself to care much anymore.

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/03/2021 15:07

I am one of the few following the rules then!! I only leave the house to go shopping or take the kids to the park.

Bytheloch · 04/03/2021 15:27

It’s sad we have to define it as rule followers and rule breakers. Staying within your council area is arbitrary and nonsensical. Today I’ve enjoyed a drive outside my Council area, bought a takeaway coffee (from an independent trader who needs the business) and met two friends for a walk outside in the middle of the countryside.
Rule breaking or being a grown up using my common sense?

Chimeraforce · 04/03/2021 15:31

I want to break the rules but can't find anyone else in my circle who wants to break them.
I'd happily have ppl over in the garden😊
But with pubs, holidays and shops shut I can't break the rules even though I want to.
I wfh, walk, supermarket once weekly. If I fancy choc I will nip to the local small shop.

Original poster
RaspberryCoulis · 04/03/2021 15:36

@Bytheloch this morning I went to Aldi and bought knitting wool and chocolate.

That's an essential purchase and if anyone says otherwise i'll stab them with my knitting needles.

OP posts:
WouldBeGood · 04/03/2021 15:47

@NigellaSeed it’s not a bubble - hang on

WouldBeGood · 04/03/2021 15:52

On the infinitiers thread :

"you should only be leaving the house for essential reasons"
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 04/03/2021 15:54

I'm staying within my council area (it's a big one). I'm only meeting one friend at a time. I'm doing a lot of click/collect and deliveries. I left the house with dh and the kids at 9.30am on Saturday and got home roughly 12 hours later having had a lovely day...oh and I've had Irish coffees outside with a friend!

StarryEyeSurprise · 04/03/2021 15:58

@florafoxtrot

We are following the rules. A friend lost her grandfather last week (to Covid) and is finding it very hard that it has happened at this stage in the pandemic when he was very close to being vaccinated.

I know I would feel that same sadness and regret to know that my parents and in-laws are so close to be vaccinated so we won’t take the risk for the sake of a few weeks.

Oh that is so sad.

Most of the women who work in my school and are in their 60s have now been vaccinated. I was quite worried for them.

rawalpindithelabrador · 04/03/2021 16:12

Mine have both been in school since January. DD goes to work.

rawalpindithelabrador · 04/03/2021 16:33

Same here, Raspberry. My DD is 18 in Summer, works in a care home, had Covid last year as did her boyfriend who is 18, also going to work (auto mechanics). They can go to work and school but it's illegal to see each other? Yeah, right! They both drive, too. Should ban cars, they're not safe!

WouldBeGood · 04/03/2021 16:56

I overheard two Sainsbury’s staff, both middle aged women, saying that everyone was doing their own thing now. Just chatting, not outraged.

WouldBeGood · 04/03/2021 16:57

The government is way behind the public on this, and they better step things up or the law will really be an ass.

NigellaSeed · 04/03/2021 17:08

@WouldBeGood

On the infinitiers thread :
What does that mean.... Do I get a secret key to all the cafes? Cake

@OP don't blame you. Supermarkets and the pinnacle of my social calendar

rawalpindithelabrador · 04/03/2021 17:36

@Lidlfix

I haven't drank kool aid nor have I lost any plot. Have your own view I respect your right to it. But me having mine which is different does not make me addled or deluded. Some of us work in professions where a Covid breach allegation amounts to Gross Professional Misconduct so regardless of you may think of the rules we are not prepared to risk our careers and incomes Hmm.
That's why the reference was to the government. Hmm

The hotel quarantine one is especially unworkable and stupid because the border with England must remain legally open so obviously, airlines are no longer landing flights international into Scotland at all, even from non red list countries and people are going through England and Ireland.

When England lifts its restrictions these 'rules' will become even more unworkable. It's nothing short of political posturing to do this on the part of the Scottish government.

BlueThursday · 04/03/2021 17:44

I feel that the message has constantly been that what the public is doing isn’t good enough so I understand when people say “oh fuck it then”

anon444877 · 04/03/2021 17:58

I'm following all the rules but I feel it's gone too far for a long while in the direction of rules and not personal responsibility, I can't blame people for bending them with other people who are not high risk from covid.

Lidlfix · 04/03/2021 18:11

Fair enough Rawalpindi but your post in no way made that clear and looked like a dig at the posters who were following the rules.

Pootle40 · 04/03/2021 18:13

@backaftera2yearbreak

One thing I’d love to do is escape my council area!
Just do it! I have never made a point of following this......
Pootle40 · 04/03/2021 18:15

My in laws came for dinner two weeks ago. Nothing since then. Going to the zoo at the weekend - not my local authority as kids are climbing the bloody walls. Visiting my friend (outside) in Edinburgh on Saturday

Groovee · 04/03/2021 18:32

Found out a family member who gives me grief over going for walks etc... has been travelling from Perth and Kinross to Edinburgh for no reason than she wants a change of scene. 🤬🤬

Sturmundcalm · 04/03/2021 18:32

I haven't had anyone inside the house or been inside someone else's house since the day of my dad's funeral (which was in the current lockdown). I have looked after my DN to give my single-parent sibling a break, the only reason we're not now in a bubble is because my DH's sibling has had a cancer diagnosis in the past month and we need to support them too.

Having lost both my parents to non-Covid reasons in the last 5 months I feel quite bitter when people say things like "sacrifice this Christmas for all the future ones" because actually none of us know how long we've got - had two more (extended) family deaths in the past week.

I'm stretching the rules rather than breaking them but am getting very close to breaking point... I feel like there's nothing but bad news and if I can't even give or get a hug then what's the bloody point in being alive? I feel as though the governments (both UK and Scottish) have prioritised the economy over mental health, and I understand the reasoning behind that but I don't agree with it - and I'm very aware that I have been one of the lucky ones because (a) I was in level 2 for a chunk of last year and (b) I could afford to go out for a cup of tea.

polarisation · 04/03/2021 19:38

@Lidlfix

I haven't drank kool aid nor have I lost any plot. Have your own view I respect your right to it. But me having mine which is different does not make me addled or deluded. Some of us work in professions where a Covid breach allegation amounts to Gross Professional Misconduct so regardless of you may think of the rules we are not prepared to risk our careers and incomes Hmm.
Am I right thinking you're a teacher @Lidlfix? Do you have a link for this, as DH is a teacher and we'd been using "it could affect his job" as an excuse not to join rule-breaking friends but I had no idea it was actually true!! We're stretching the rules but might have to think again if he could get disciplined 👎🏻
prettybird · 04/03/2021 19:39

Dh, my dad (84) and I are all still following the rules. Dad is in our extended household so he's the only one who's been into our house and us into his since going into other households was restricted. He's in East Dunbartonshire and we're in Glasgow so that's also the only time we've crossed the boundary.

Both dh and I have delivered wine across the boundary (our wee business has an off-sales licence) but it has been contactless delivery - literally ringing the door bell and stepping back, although we do say hello (and when we could, would have a longer chat outside) Smile.

We go for a daily walk the local ducks are very well fed Wink and I go to the supermarket once a week (and once extra when we're going to my dad's for lunch to get lunch).

Dad relies on me to tell him what the rules are when they've changed (which I do with screenshots from the Scottish Government website) as we have a mutual friend who is always nipping his ear to get him to visit and he keeps telling them No (ironic as they work in a sector that should know better).

Last week I cut my dad's hair as he was complaining that it was getting a bit long. Used dh's clippers and if I say so myself, I did a reasonable job Grin

Closest we've come to breaking the rules was taking ds back to Aberdeen after Christmas - but his books were up there and the lease on his flat didn't allow him to leave it unoccupied for more than 3 or 4 weeks - and his flat mate had broken his ankle so couldn't go back Shock

I have a big birthday coming up early next month and I'm hoping that the rules will be relaxed enough to be able even just to have people (even just one other couple) over on the patio - but the dates in the roadmap are cutting it fine Sad Am hoping that they'll bring them forward slightly - but where I live is apparently a hotspot Sad

Sootess · 04/03/2021 19:51

I have had 5 people n my house in the last year. FIL been to stay, 1 friend of mine, and other 3 are DCs friends

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