I’d be interested on views on this

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

I live in a sparsely populated rural area. I see my daughter & GSs a couple of times a week when she brings supplies. They are a good 10 feet away at the gate. Yesterday while on my walk, I met them in the village by chance. We had a long chat from one side of the road to the other. We have, apart from the daily walk, all been isolating for nearly 5 weeks. I can see no problem. I haven’t seen my other UK family since January but we all keep in touch on WhatsApp or Zoom along with my Oz family. Everyone has to be sensible & keep a sense of proportion. I could legally go to the supermarket, but I don’t.

Yes, go and do a safe distance visit the family. My Granddaughter has worked out a 'goodbye' dance that we do together when they are leaving. We do this instead of hugs. Nobody comes into the house. Soon we will have our masks organised too.

And Riggie,why shouldnt the 2 be chatting??If theyre at least 6 feet apart why on earth not??Do people really believe we arent allowed to actually speak to anyone ever again or something? Why does no one seem to grasp the rules? Near to people- NO! 6 feet away - yes,speak to them if you want.! Theres no rule we can't talk to anyone!

Well to be honest the two of you probablh shouldn't have been chatting....but I guess we all would

Why shouldn't they have been chatting Riggie?

Grannynannywanny - there's no difference at all - your friend is obviously feeling distraught and it would be in the interests of her own mental health for her to see her family and grandchildren under the circumstances she describes. My daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren all take turns in delivering supplies to me on foot or by car if things are too heavy and we talk in the garden at a safe distance. I know of people whose family have side entrances to back gardens that are big enough to social distance and who visit and sit for half an hour 2 m away but don't have a drink as they might need the loo and going into the house would be out of bounds. Essential business outside the house includes attending to health matters and if the isolation is severely affecting someone then it's far better to see family at a distance than to become depressed at home.

I see no reason at all why she can't go near their house, stand at the gate and have a chat. I see my son every week, he drives over on his way home from work, and stands outside for a chat. He also picks up his bags of groceries that I had bought. Its good to see family for your mental health.

Redhead56,im sure Chestnut's not stupid, why would she lean out of window too far?

Well to be honest the two of you probablh shouldn't have been chatting....but I guess we all would!!

My son brings his little daughter, when he drops my shopping off onto my front step, when out on their walk. They step back a good 4metres before I open the door and we chat for a while, keeping our distance. My granddaughter brings me pictures and flowers she's picked and leaves them on the step too. It certainly cheers me up. Unfortunately my other grandchildren live several miles away so I'm only able to see them on facetime

Its ok to chat at safe distance- but i would stay at the outside of the fence though- just in case the kiddies rushed up towards her for hugs- then shes chance to move back- same as for other friend with new baby,whats wrong with looking through window so long as far back enough to be a safe distance& just looking.(my late mums old phrase "you look with your eyes,not with your hands" comes to mind,and is good advice now & in the future, isnt it?) Sadly my new grandchild due shortly lives too far for me to do that, & may likely arrive very early anyway so would be in neonatal unit.