I’d be interested on views on this

Harrigran, OMG! How awful for that other neighbours family- now theyre ALL having to isolate i would imagine? And how bad they must feel,passing it on like that..guess theres a hard lesson to be learned there though,from others mistakes.

My daughter brings our groceries. Yesterday was my birthday and with the groceries she brought chocolate and cake which we opened after they had gone. The grandchildren came and they sat in the garden at a distance and we had a chat. We have a large garden and the children ran around and climbed trees. I can’t see that this harmed anyone. They were only here for about half an hour.

My son and daughter in law do my shopping, so they ring the bell or phone to say they are outside, and then retreat a safe distance whilst we have a chat. I from inside my house, but with the door open and them at the end of the drive.
I can’t see that this is a problem. So I agree that Grannynannywanny’s friend could reroute her walk to pass their home and chat from outside.

My son lives a forty minute drive away and says he wouldn't be allowed to travel so far. My husband is quite content alone and doesn't chat much hardly at all. I miss my friends. We get food deliveries. If this goes on much longer what is the point. Really. The novelty has worn off. I'm feeling very down.

We have two friends (well, we have more than two, but YKWIM) who are nearly in their eighties. They live a distance apart, alone. They have discovered they love each other... The other day, they met at a park, took a picnic each and walked together.

I thought that was rather sweet.

Im not sure i like the sound of the neighbourhood 'get-togethers' though...

The rules are there for the good of us all. I rarely see my daughter mid week in normal times as she works full time. Just a quick Hi and
Bye when she collects GS couple of times a week.

There are other 'rules' such as stay home apart from vital things. Having a chat through a window isn't vital.

Both my children are working from home. I never interrupt their day. Hard enough to cope with young children whilst working!

We speak or video call and that's it.

Accept what's happening and Please God we'll all stay safe and see our nearest and dearest when the time is right.

Oh dear Nannan2, don’t be unkind to Redhead56 and call her stupid. It was a joke not that she thought Chestnut might pitch herself from the window ! Lighten up and see a joke for what it is, life is hard enough now for us all.

As long as people keep their distance, whether over a hedge, end of a drive etc I don't see why people can't keep in touch with each other. I chat with my next door neighbour from the pavement and occasionally pop a note through the letterbox. After all 'Street parties' have featured in news items lately, observing social distancing. The need for contact with friends and family is very important, particularly for those with mental health issues, yet mental health as usual takes a back seat to physical health. Provided social distancing is observed there should not be restrictions on local contact maintenance with one'stone neatest and dearest.

annep1,its not a novelty,its a pandemic..its not something that will just blow over anytime soon.I also think,the 'after lockdown' thing isnt going to be an overnight miracle ending either.Unless absolutely EVERYONE in the world is tested& treated & vaccinated how can we ever flit about as normal again? If they lift lockdown it will start a second wave again I'm sure of it.

Pippa22- Oh dear yourself! I DID NOT CALL REDHEAD56 STUPID- - if you'd read my post correctly- i said that Chestnut is NOT stupid- and wouldn't lean out too far! If you're going to pull me up on things- read it properly first please!

And Redhead56's didnt read as a joke like SueW11's did- it read as advice.

Keeping strictly to the rules I don’t see that it is worse than going to a supermarket. I’m in total lockdown and we all know how much we miss those hugs

Maybe all these "cups of tea" between some are going too far as well- what if someone asymptomatic has it and it gets passed on a cup? You dont need a brew to have chat.

Aw SueDonim (ha ha great name) 'If only I could walk on water to visit my son 4,000 miles away.' That made me really feel for you. I have, once, sat in a friend's garden at a great distance from her and chatted but it didn't feel right so I won't do it again.

Salsaqueen,maybe you could 'advise' your neighbour that he really should not be giving a party right now?

While walking my dogs yesterday afternoon I came across two ladies sitting at each end of a garden path, each with a cuppa in hand, having a good chat. Apparently they are next door neighbours! Nothing wrong with that.

Don't worry Redhead56, I won't lean out of the window too far! And no-one said you were stupid, you were just concerned, maybe you imagined me actually hanging which is what I said, but didn't really mean!

My granddaughter brings the shopping and pops it through the patio doors. She then takes a chair and goes and sits down the bottom of the garden while I put my gloves on and deal with the shopping and make myself a cuppa. I then go and sit in my arbour some 12 feet or more away from her and we chat
She often brings her own lunch and a drink. Sometimes she is with her mother as they live in the same house.
I really cannot see a problem with that
Both my daughters put me under house arrest at the beginning of March, long before the government did as I have had recurring health issues (pulmonary embolisms) due to having HHT and they wanted to ensure my safety.
I am well so far and so are they and we are not taking any chances but I am not giving up my garden chats unless somebody physically refrains us. They are sensible and so am I.

If your friend chats from pavement to family at window there isn't a problem unless of course it's the family who asked her not to

I am fortunate to live by the beach now (having lived in the EU for 21 years) on my daily walk I see loads of families either walking along the beach, cycling, at a distance from each other (although not always the joggers !!!! grr) BUT I also pass a block of care apartments where I see children and grandchildren waving to Granny at the window (first floor as well !) and a lot have drawn pictures which are stuck on the window....and some photographs of happier times ...the children seem to think this is great and so far is still a novelty ….and Grandma looks happy ….so why not do that ? or SKYPE ….I am sure someone would show you how if you don't know …..mostly we are all sensible adults and know how to keep ourselves and others safe so my message to the government is, to quote Helen Shapiro in the late 50's early 60's ///PLEASE DON'T TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD …..I am also fortunate in that a friends in Germany sent me a survival package ...ha ha ….masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitized surface wipes ….oh and a bar of chocolate ! …..they had heard news reports that the general public in the UK cannot buy these as there is no stock …..they were amazed ! They have all been tested for anti bodies and so far are good, but can return to their own doctor regularly for further tests if they wish (at present they have to pay privately 30 Euros but are happy to do that !) ….comes to something when the Germans are coming to OUR rescue !!!! Stay safe, stay distanced and think of the good times …..

I live alone, a ten minute walk away from my daughter and her family. I moved to be close to them from nearly 200 miles away when she was expecting her first child, and have loved being close to them and providing support . The family will walk to my house a couple of times a week, usually with supplies. She lets me know when they are on the way and I open the back gate into the garden and they walk straight in while I remain in the house. As the children are small they have made a barrier out of garden chairs and they all stay behind it and I sit in the house by the patio door. It is wonderful to see them and it helps to keep me sane. I also want the grandchildren to maintain a relationship with me as far as possible as I hope to be able to help with childcare again one day. They are too young to sit and chat for long on facetime, and I am not very comfortable with it either. There are no drinks or snacks for anyone, my daughter brings what they need. They stay for 20 minutes to half an hour in case of needing the toilet, which hasn't been a problem so far. It is also good for the children and their parents to have a break.

Doesn't seem any different from me coming out from my back gate to have a chat with the neighbour across the lane. If she's happy to walk the mile each way then why not?

As I’ve said before, this is one of the few disadvantages of living in a free country. We aren’t ‘told’ what not to do I. The same way as people in more ‘controlled’ countries.

There is a residential retirement home near me (not a nursing home) that has a beautiful garden, and the residents are allowed to sit in the garden provided they keep the required distance. This seems sensible but some would see it as bending the rules of lockdown. It is a conundrum.

As long as you follow guidelines during the situation the world finds itself in you are safe However there are those who believe they know better.These are the ones to avoid regardless whether family or friends.Be it on the heads of those, thinking they know better, should this lockdown be extended to the end of 2020 or even longer.