Lockdown Three: have you followed the rules, broken them a bit, or broken them a lot?

[ElizabethofYork]

Stuck to the rules rigidly. Still got covid though. That's almost certainly because my husband is still having to go to work every day in a big, busy warehouse.

 

[xenon]

I'm not counting as against the rules, stopping to have a socially distanced drink whilst out for a walk with 1 friend, , as I'm not a Derbishire copper.

So my one infraction is I saw a mate just after Christmas at his house, inside, had a cup of tea. We both live alone. On the other hand, I haven't been part of a bubble this time round and not been in anyone else's house since.

Maybe this counts. ,I did get a lift to go for a walk with a mate and his dog. The open area is in the adjacent postcode as me but the other end, - not somewhere I'd walk to there's more space there than the local park.

 

[moomoo]

I go to work as usual in a busy supermarket, see my bubble, and go for one dog walk a day when I’m not working. I often meet my daughter for the walk which is allowed but last week she had her 8 year old with her and that’s not allowed so we made him cycle off ahead. And I was keeping a close eye out for the police. Bizarrely, if it had been the 3 year old who is at a germ filled nursery all day, then that would have been within the rules. But hey ho, rules are rules.

 

[killer b]

last week she had her 8 year old with her and that’s not allowed

Is this not allowed? I've always assumed kids don't count, though I'll admit I've not bothered looking at this part of the rules...

 

[BigMoaner]

Followed them near religiously. Sat on a park bench for a sit down and a read once, for about 20 mins. Not exactly Ted Bundy country but made a note to self a few 10s of k deaths later not to do it. If anything sets a precedent for others by sitting around in public space.

 

[moomoo]

Is this not allowed? I've always assumed kids don't count, though I'll admit I've not bothered looking at this part of the rules...

I think that children under 5 don’t count. But she couldn’t leave him alone at home. And we socially distance so...

 

[sojourner]

Probably been going to the shops for supplies a bit too often #stockpilingfail but otherwise sticking to the rules.

This. I've been driving the fella to and from his care jobs, which isn't technically my work, but keeps him (and therefore his clients) safer cos he's not on public transport or having to walk through swathes of knobheads in town.

I try to get out every day for a one hour walk. If I didn't, I would seriously lose it. This is on top of the half hour I do on the treadmill/exercise bike first thing of a morning. I honestly don't know how folk keep their shit together without having the release of physical exercise.

 

[PursuedByBears]

I don't count the six year old's exercise as my exercise so take him out in the morning and then go out on my bike when his mum comes in from school. I'm also interpreting my local area as within the bounds of the City of Lancaster, which stretches from Garstang up to the Cumbria/ North Yorkshire border. But I haven't been in any shop other than two supermarkets since last March or met someone who I don't live with since August.

 

[Roadkill]

Probably stricter than the rules. I'm technically in a support bubble but we see one another via Zoom atm, I'm not meeting with other friends outside or in, I've not had friends over or gone to their houses since lockdown started, and exercise consists of walking within a couple of miles of home. The only respect in which I'm being a bit slack is that I shop a couple of times a week, but since one of those trips consists only of a few minutes at a time in a handful of open-fronted shops it doesn't feel like much of a risk.

 

[campanula]

Have been going out with the dog everyday (apart from when I didn't have her) and have seen all 3 of my offspring (although outside apart from youngest who is in my support set-up). Have also been to the allotment quite a bit (by bike) and I do a Waitrose shop most days when it's empty (cos it is in the town centre and by 7pm, the only people in the shop are 3 staff and Deliveroo riders lurking outside). I can only afford this because they have a scab till (where I get 'bonus buys') and I am very matey with the security guys. There is a homeless hostel nearby so I tend to share some of the extra booty with any loiterers. A moral redistribution service, sorta. Have not been in a proper supermarket for months and months though.

 

[quiet guy]

Another anti-social old git who luckily is able to occasionally visit work locations to discuss job requests for quotations and then to pop in to confirm work progress on larger jobs. No face to face family contact as they are all in N Wales and I'm in rural Derbyshire. I do go out for local walks for fresh air and a modicum of exercise and go to the local supermarket for food shopping as I can't be bothered with online ordering and prefer to leave the slots to those who really need them.

 

[Cloo]

Pretty much stuck with it, other than seeing our parents in their gardens twice, staying well over 2m away. And my parents are in next borough, but it's only 20 mins away.

Otherwise not left Barnet other than me going to Hackney three times for some volunteering, which is allowed.

 

[Geri]

I've accidentally broken the rules twice, I think. First I went to my sisters for my mum's birthday and there were people there from four households when only three were allowed.

Second time I went out with my friend for pizza and didn't realise we weren't supposed to as it was only people from the same household that were allowed. It was confusing because one month before, I had gone out with three friends from different households for pizza and that was allowed then.

Oh and when my mum came over to bring Christmas presents she wanted to come in for a cup of coffee and I didn't have the heart to say no. I knew that was against the rules but she had a 20 mile round trip and it seemed very harsh to say no.

 

[Looby]

I haven’t met up with anyone since just after Christmas when I met a friend outside.
I’ve been in a few shops but mostly send my husband if we need anything between click and collect orders.
He shops for his mum fortnightly.
He walks the dogs early before the park gets busy.
I keep meaning to go for a walk with them but don’t.
He works from home and hasn’t been to the office since last January.
I mostly work from home and have only popped into the office a couple of times since December. We have a huge amount of temp staff travelling from other areas so I’m not going in.

But, I have to visit homes and schools. 3 tomorrow, same the next day probably. I wear PPE and they do not. I feel constantly at risk which means I don’t feel like I can take any chances at all anywhere else.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

I have kept to the rules as much as possible but there are at times at work when social distancing is difficult and I've been guilty of standing or sitting too close to people there.

Plus I hugged a friend I unexpectedly saw on the street on Christmas Eve.

Other than that we've not been out of our local area since, well, September possibly, apart from my regular hospital appointments.

We've not seen family or friends in months nor have we been in anyone else's house in months.

 

[Cloo]

Not been on tube since late October, not inside anyone else's house since, I dunno, maybe early September.

 

[Elpenor]

I’ve popped into a few friends houses (for the loo) when I’ve had a sudden and urgent need to go and been miles from home.

I’ve visited my dad a few times, which is a 150 mile drive. Stayed over the second time for 2 nights but able to use a separate bathroom and the house is frankly huge for 2 people. I also stopped over with a friend shortly after my mum died as I needed to be with someone and have a face to face conversation.

I have been living in Airbnb’s on 4 week rentals as no landlord it seems will rent to someone without a job (even though they have the cash to pay rent). In between Airbnb’s I spent 2 nights in a hotel which said it was open for key workers only, but fortunately I had a letter from my old work which satisfied them.

I keep the letter in my car for when I’m travelling, and try and travel in work attire too just in case the cops stop me.

So, some breaches which I’m not proud of but were probably needed for my mental / physical health.

 

[mx wcfc]

Stuck to the rules rigidly. Still got covid though. That's almost certainly because my husband is still having to go to work every day in a big, busy warehouse.

My daughter had to go to a warehouse to do a stock take on 4 Jan (she's got a job as a trainee auditor). She wore a mask all day, but was horrified at the lack of social distancing going on.

The "PPE" kit from her employer (gloves/mask/hand gel etc) arrived a week later.

The number of employers who have declared themselves essential services and demanded that staff go in is a disgrace. We ain't going to defeat this virus while anyone can order anything from anywhere.

 

[Orang Utan]

I’ve hugged small relatives but think that’s it

 

[campanula]

I am adhering to sensible lockdown behaviour out of a sense of collective responsibility and certainly not because of governmental diktats. So I haven't been fussed about staying local (escaping to the wood as often as I can afford) I haven't counted how many other dog-walkers I might chat with in the graveyard...but it may well be more than 6 or whatever. Without coming across as an arrogant arse,I trust my own judgement, as well as some notable posters on this thread, quite a bit more than Westminster wankers. I would have thought this was pretty much the case for most of us.

 

[Voley]

Lots of people mentioning shopping more than once a week. Is that a rule? Passed me by if it is!

Think I've heard it mentioned but it's hardly enforceable is it? Sort of irrelevant to me as I get a delivery but it's not something I've been thinking about.

 

[Badgers]

Lots of people mentioning shopping more than once a week. Is that a rule? Passed me by if it is!

Think I've heard it mentioned but it's hardly enforceable is it? Sort of irrelevant to me as I get a delivery but it's not something I've been thinking about.

It is not a rule. More common sense I think. The ideal is to have things delivered or bulk buy. However that is not possibly for a lot of folk due to finances and transport.

I go shopping twice a week. Mainly for salad/veg buy have been able to stock up on tins and dry goods.

Ideally being in shops/buses/etc should be kept to an absolute minimum which most people understand and follow. No need for two or more people to shop together.

 

[Kanda]

Been back in the country for 4 months and seen my mother once, none of my friends.

I am out driving every day for my job though, which I think keeps me sane.

All the South East Coast National Parks are full of people, it's fucking crazy.

Thank fuck for computer games

 

[ElizabethofYork]

The number of employers who have declared themselves essential services and demanded that staff go in is a disgrace. We ain't going to defeat this virus while anyone can order anything from anywhere.

Yes. My husband works in a warehouse that picks and packs clothes. Definitely not essential at this time but the employer is insisting they carry on working. 40 people were off with covid last week.

 

[Espresso]

I've stuck to it.
I have not got a job to go to, so I am in the house all of the time. I've just checked and I have been to Sainsbury's twice this year. The only other inside place I've been in is my parent's house, as I do their shopping and I am in a bubble with them. Not been out for daily exercise every day; I have done it some days, going for a walk on my own. Though on two occasions this year I have met one friend for a socially distanced walk. Last week, he gave me a hand to jump over a massive puddle. Was perfectly ordinary at the time, but the moment he did it we both did a comedy sort of look at our respective hands, then broke out our individual hand sanitisers.
Sign of the times.