Family just too far away.

Thank heavens you don’t live here in the U.K. Annifrance. We don’t want or need stuck up people forcing their smug and supposed superiority down our throats.

Perhaps Annifrance if we, in our grossly overcrowded island, didn’t have 1m illegal immigrants living here, mainly passing through France with b****y Macron turning a blind eye, life would be easier for us too.

If the other Europeans looked after the immigrants who arrived on their shores instead of forwarding them on to us that would help too.

Don’t blame the immigrants not wanting to stay in France or Europe as those from Algeria and French colonies are stuck in appalling Ghettos with no hope at all for the future. Hungry and treated like 2nd class citizens. Hardly a country to boast about.

I won’t even get started on the huge trawlers 35 x times the size of U.K. trawlers, that are emptying the sea of fish and every living thing on the ocean floor.

What a legacy you are leaving for future generations!

I feel for you Gingergirl . We are in the same position. Our son and his family live a five hour drive from Wales where we are supposed to stay in a 5 mile radius of home. We have missed one GD’s birthday and another is coming up. Also they always came to stay with us in August. I doubt this will happen this year.

Sussexborn ??

Juicyluicy- it's a support bubble where one household is a single parent or a person who lives on their own. I have been tempted to ask my husband or son in law to move away for a few weeks but I don't think that's quite the spirit of the guidelines!?

I realise many people are in this situation anyway with children living the other side of the world but it is hard. I have 2 grandchildren who live just over the border from Wales and are 25 miles away, we have been shielding and they have been closely observing the rules so there would be little problem if we went to see them but it is against the rules (and we are glad Wales rules are clear), our one year old granddaughter is in London and we see her on WhatsApp most days, she always smiles when she sees us, but goodness knows when we will see them, I had hoped they could hire a car and come in summer but that looks unlikely, they both work at home, have food etc delivered, socially distance etc so little risk but if we start breaking the rules where does it stop? The second wave is on its way I fear, let's not make it worse. It does seem illogical a single grandparent living alone can visit a family but not two grandparents from the same household, I think it is preparing the way for childcare while parents work

Although it’s obviously true that we are able to get out without the fear of bombs dropping on us, for some older people they/we , might never see their family again due to ill health, we might not all still be around to see our GCs or ACs when we get back to some kind of normality.
We are being very careful, I’m not going to risk getting the virus before I’ve had the chance to see our family, who live too far away to visit in one day.
We last saw my husbands mother in March, her care home went into lockdown early and she died in May without any of her family able to visit or communicate with her.
That is why the older people are afraid Annefrance. Meanwhile we grin and bear it.

You state in you post we live to far a way. Not I.
The rules have changed for people who have been on their on throughout the lockdown.

I think this is a problem for many which I posted about yesterday. We too live a long way from my only son and only grandson, 250 miles or so as we are Devon and they are Hertfordshire and also they have a tiny terraced house and since my grandson was born we always stay in a local hotel or take the campervan to a camp site close by, both of which are impossible.
I admit to feeling very very jealous and envious of those who see grandchildren every day even if only in the garden at least they have spoken to them for real.
Trying so hard to obey rules but getting harder as I have the odd bad day, sorry

Our youngest daughter and her family live 80 miles away and we hadn't seem them since February. However since driving further is now allowed, she surprised us on Tuesday by turning up unannounced bringing our two young grandsons. We were delighted! We had a lovely afternoon, but she had been very cautious. They say on the patio whilst we sat in the conservatory with the door open so we could chat. She had brought sandwiches, snacks and fruit and drinks and a portable camping toilet, which she put in the garage! They didn't enter the house at all. They say on some of our garden chairs, but before they left, she cleaned everything they had touched with antibacterial wipes. It wasn't as a family visit should be, with hugs and having a meal together, but it was still a brilliant day after not seeing them for so long.

Same here. My son lives in Sydney with my grandson and there's no chance of seeing him soon. WhatsApp's OK but Leo's only 4 and can't sit still for 5 minutes - but to see him for 5 minutes is a bonus.

My eldest son and grandchildren, Evie and Jimmy, live in Doncaster and can't wait to see them. We video each Sunday and it's so good to see them all, but they get fidgety which is only natural. Miss them all so much.

Grans who have family close by are so lucky

I know how you feel. We live fairly close so are lucky and have been able to meet in the park for a picnic but even then the 2 metre rule is impossible with very young children. I just could not ignore my 2 year old granddaughter when she went to take my hand or not pass something to the 4 year old. I did feel anxious about it and still do, we have followed every rule before to the letter. But I consoled myself by thinking we were outdoors and if my daughter was a single parent she and the children could come to the house and stay overnight. So allowing our toddler grandchildren to touch us is less risky than that.
I hope you get to see your grandchildren soon. It really is a horrible situation.

The old and the young and those living some distance away are definitely suffering and frankly BJ’s offering is abysmal in the face of what Dominic Cummings did - at the start more or less he decided to get all his family together using a complicated web of excuses - I am lucky in living close to my grandchildren but my son-in-law’s parents aren’t and I feel for them so much because we are closely knit as a family and they pose no risk nor we to them - they are not socialising and could easily make the 2 hour journey without stopping at a garage or service station so they wouldn’t be bursting out of any bubble to get here where we too are in our bubble - Boris has put together such a confusing set of do’s and don’ts that many people are now ignoring them because they see the inherent contradictions. It’s time he recognised that grandparents can make sensible decisions according to their circumstances to allow families to come together.

My fear is that those of us who have followed the guidelines and avoided temptation to travel to see our loved ones may have an even longer wait thanks to the reckless who have broken free.

Thanks to those who are ignoring social distancing guidelines a second wave seems inevitable. This could happen before the rules are relaxed enough for us all to see our grandchildren.

My family all live at least 150 miles away. I cannot travel because of my health. My son visited me for the day in February. He is 71 and has a heart problem. I last saw my grand daughter and her three small children on my 94th birthday three years ago. A grandson and his wife at Christmas and other grandson and great granddaughter seven years ago. We all had a Zoom party on my birthday last month but keep in touch via Messenger.

Well said Sussexborn. Annifrance I suggest you stay there. You chose to go and are now complaining about it.
I am another grandma who lives miles away from my now grown up grandsons. They are near Glasgow, we are in Liverpool.
My husband was in the army and we spent the first 20 years of our marriage moving around, including six years in Germany. Contact with our families was by letter and the occasional phone call.

I think it is unkind to criticise people for being sad at not seeing their DGC, DC etc. Of course there are people who are worse off but that doesn't make it better for those who are sad.
Every situation is different so please do not judge.

There was a very smug poster on the Good Morning thread from NZ. They are lucky there the pandemic is over - easy when you have a small isolated country.

We are all different and need to be treated that way.

I only have one much loved GC (who lives near the other grandparents 250 miles away) and no hope of any more. So, first of all, lucky you who have several to take an interest in,wherever they may live.

Yes, it's not easy under the present circumstances. I have missed my 'big birthday' family celebrations this year; and also a family holiday, which was going to make up for a year of going without visits at all due to two of our immediate circle being in and out of hospital with life threatening conditions last year (luckily, they survived).

But we are not at war; everyone in our little family is still alive and staying in touch; and we look forward to seeing them again when this becomes possible.

In the meantime, Zoom meetings that we can all attend together, where we can play games and show each other things we have made or grown, have made a lot of difference.

I appreciate it is difficult for all Grandparent couples, but having said that you have each other for company. Grandparents or any person who have lived alone during covid19 have had no one. Now is the chance for them to chose their bubble, which in itself is causing a lot of grief, unless you chose someone completely outside the family. For partners living separately who have been separated for 3 months this is a huge step forward. Every case has its advantages and disadvantages sadly.

Juicylucy I am really sorry and know you mean well BUT please be careful when giving advise, that it is correct and within the guide lines. It is only single people living completely alone who can go and stay overnight at their chosen "bubble" place. couples cannot chose that one of them have a bubble separately that is NOT the guide lines.

It's obviously hard for couples to see single grandparents being able to visit their grandchildren. But you know lockdown has been very hard for people who live alone! I know when I've been having a "down day" I've felt so envious of the people who were able to say "we".do this or "we" went for a walk etc. It must of course make you feel more deprived now when you see the singles allowed to do something you would love to do but are not allowed to do yet. But your time will come surely and in the meantime just keep on enjoying your "we" time. Incidentally I'm in Scotland so cannot travel more than 5 miles. My nearest family are 80 miles away and it looks as if we might be able to see each other towards the end of July if all continues to go smoothly ???. Maybe if Boris were to give you some indication of when people might be permitted to travel further you would feel better? It would be something positive to look forward to. Sending ? and ? to cheer us all up ?

Trying to think positive thoughts, I’m hoping that if the hospitality industry opens up on July 4th, as planned, and that includes hotels, keeping families apart indoors and overnight can no longer be possible.
Maybe hotels won’t be open yet but holiday cottages will be so what’s to stop grandparents and other family members booking them?
Logically, nothing..... so I’m optimistic that the new ‘bubble’ relaxation will soon be extended to include more of us.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My 4 year old grandson lives about hour and half drive away. We haven't got a car so would have to 2 trains. Don't think it's fair to expect them to drive your and half to sit in the garden I know my grandson will want to go inside get all the toys out. And also he would want cuddles. My daughter was in tears yesterday as she misses us so much, but I live with my husband so not a single household. We nun normally see them about every 6 weeks. It's been quite difficult some days. But will not break the rules.

It is hard but they are safe you are safe and you can use all the technology of today to keep in touch

Be glad it’s only for a few months many on here have their grandkids in different countries and rarely see them This is a blip for you It will end and fade

Thank your lucky stars that a) You have grandchildren at all .
Many people who would love them have none and b) that if you do have grandchildren who live in this Country you will be able to meet them hopefully In the not too far distant future.
Most grandparents I have noticed with children and grand children who live in foreign Countries don't seem to complain about their lot.
They accept the situation