No one obeyed the rules!

My daughter, a secondary school teacher, rang me last night wanting to have a rant. Her social media was full of people she knew who had taken selfies with friends in groups, etc and clearly not following the rules.

In less than 2 weeks she will have to teach the children of these people who may well infect her and also my grandchildren. Her boyfriend's mum died of Covid 2 weeks ago, and 3 of her friends have lost a parent to Covid.

She has every right to be furious .... as do we all, because we want to get out of this mess.

Very quiet round our way but then I haven’t really been looking. So fed up with Covid...we had lovely walks on Xmas eve and 25th and have just quietly been reading, watching tv, eating Xmas food, and generally not thought much about it. I do know many people are out and about in London but that’s nothing new.I also heard pre Xmas, a woman saying she wasn’t in contact with anyone....but in the next breath, said she went out to work one day a week and had the odd visitor at home. I wonder if some people just don’t realise what they’re doing... Just hoping most had a quiet Xmas though.

Ditto Witzend and GrannyGravy.

I live in a cul-de-sac of 21 dwellings. It was very, very much quieter than normal. I only saw one additional car draw up, and that because they parked opposite my window. One smartly dressed couple of Grandparent age got out and went off to visit round the corner. An hour later they came back and drove off.

Like most people, I'm not being nosy. My wee bungalow is tiny. Unless I go to bed or to stand in the shower all day, I can't help but see out the front window, and motion catches my eye.

Nothing wrong with looking out of the window and knowing what’s going on, but the title of the thread is No one obeyed the rules!.

Until I read the last words of the OP, I’d assumed you were in Tier 4, 4xGranny. In Tier 3 in England, everything you described could have been within the rules.

And within the rules everyone is free to make their own decisions.

How many threads like this have there been over the past year with posters coming on here complaining bitterly about neighbours comings and goings without being completely aware of individual circumstances?

We have all made different plans for this Christmas.

Some people have decided to continue to isolate themselves, whilst others, like us, maybe for a variety of reasons and family circumstances, planned to spend at least part of the holiday with their loved ones.

Both decisions should be respected.

Nothing wrong with looking out the window. It's the reason I love living on a busy street.

The rules are confusing, but all my friends did their best to observe them, visiting one child/family in their bubble for Christmas Day; those with family in tier 4 did not go.
As for my cul-de-sac I have very little idea what my neighbours have done; some are away, some are here, but as we are in tier 2 I imagine they are with local family. There are no large family gatherings.

I just heard on TV that when questioned 85% of those asked said that they obeyed the rules.
Everyone in my family and my close friends did.

I have a ‘nosy’ neighbour who lives opposite. He is the kindest man who would do anything for anyone. I have been grateful many times for his ‘nosiness’ . He keeps an eye on our house when we are away and is always on hand if we need him. Don’t know what we would do without him.

Exactly Beechnut.
We are encouraged to look out for our neighbours as there is a neighbourhood watch scheme in our area.
I think it’s a good thing.

Thankfully Bluebell doesn’t live alone, and I assume isn’t
housebound , I look out of my window better that than looking at a wall all day everyday.

BlueBelle

You must have been sat by your window watching, I haven’t a clue what anyone in my vicinity did or didn’t do, I do know all my friends were staying within the regulations as did we

This has turned our society into snoopers and blamers very unattractive Dr Seuss would have a field day

I object to the idea that we are snoopers.My house is at the top of the Cul de sac and every car turns at my gate. My seat looks directly out and I can't help seeing what is going on . My bird table is at the window too and I am usually watching that.

I’m always looking out of my windows. I thought that was what they were for ?

Many of the rules are contradictory. I am in a bubble with DD. That means she travelled from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 area, quite legally to spend Christmas with me. She is here for a fortnight. She lives alone and works from home and apart from shopping and, until recently, going swimming alone several times a week is living a solitary and safe life. As I said, this is all legal. That dichotomy has now disappeared as I am now in Tier 4.

I have a single friend living down the road, in identical circumstamces (but without the swimming) I couldn't ask her to join me in my bubble, even if DD was not with me because she is not in my bubble.

It is very difficult to tell who is behaving according to the rules and who has broken them. Look after yourself and leave others to make their own decisions, and be careful about jumping to conclusions.

My mum and dads tiny bungalow looks out on a green and the road. My parents get lots of entertainment from watching the world go by. This is both wildlife and the neighbours. They are not nosy, just an elderly couple enjoying what the day brings and gives them something to talk about

I agree with Genty that not everyone looking out of a window is a snooper.

Can’t help feeling that all those who self-righteously claim to have no idea what their neighbours are doing would be the first to shout out if said neighbour was found days later prone on the bathroom floor, no kind neighbour having noticed that there had been no sign of them, or that their curtains had not been drawn back etc.

My MIL might have lain dead on her bedroom floor for much longer if vigilant neighbours had not noticed her undrawn blinds and raised the alarm.

I do hate it when people assume that people who look out their window are snoopers! I live alone and sit by my window and people watch, if I didnt I wouldnt see a soul as I am housebound! Yes its frustrating when people ignore the restrictions, just keep yourself safe and let them get on with it.

You must have been sat by your window watching, I haven’t a clue what anyone in my vicinity did or didn’t do, I do know all my friends were staying within the regulations as did we

This has turned our society into snoopers and blamers very unattractive Dr Seuss would have a field day

We also live in a Close (cul-de-sac) but I've no idea what our neighbours did. I did notice one man (wearing shorts and a t shirt!) strolling up and down the Close, clearly talking on a bluetooth ear piece, but apart from our daughter and granddaughter arriving, I didn't see anyone else coming or going.

Maybe 4xGranny was on her own and passed the time looking out of her window. Maybe her seating at home is arranged such that she has a view of the cul-de-sac she lives in. Maybe she just takes an interest in the goings on where she lives. It doesn't matter why she saw what she did. She saw it, and commented on it.

Sadly, there are so many people with the idea that the guidance and rules don't apply to them, and will carry on with their family get togethers regardless. I fear we will see the result of this arrogance in the numbers of cases and hospital admissions over the next few weeks. And of course, each and every one of those people will have family or friends who will be adamant that they were not the cause of the infection being passed on.

maybe it's cul-de-sac-itis, a kind of stir crazy.

i think the safest thing is to assume everyone has the virus and can spread it, including oneself.

Even with only three families in a "bubble" it can be quite a few people.
It's quite possible that the young man with people "popping in and out" had siblings plus their families visiting - or a bunch of friends who are housemates for example - I'm pretty sure they are treated as a family.

Please don't let this worry you. You are keeping safe. If you are particularly concerned just make sure you stay away as you have been doing.

You can only control your own actions and behaviour 4xGranny; you cannot control what any of your friends and neighbours do, much as it might annoy you. And step away from the windows, for your own peace of mind.

For my neighbours and their families their visiting lives haven't been affected throughout and not a mask to be seen.

Ditto Witzend and GrannyGravy