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Coronavirus

Hypocritical neighbours

(183 Posts)
kangaroo73 Thu 07-May-20 20:31:27

My next door neighbours have had a continuous flow of guests today. I think it was somebody’s birthday. They’ve been in the garden drinking etc. Also they went outside to collect a gift from somebody and hugged them just about the time of clapping for the NHS. They had the audacity to join in with the clapping. Am I being a Grinch by being angry w it’s this hypocritical gesture?

Kestrel Sat 09-May-20 10:33:22

It sounds like they're banking on everyone else's efforts and thinking it'll be fine because most people are doing the right thing. Let's hope they're right. I'd phone the police non emergency number anyway, as CarlyD7 said.

MissAdventure Sat 09-May-20 10:33:14

Is the tide turning?
A few weeks back, those commenting on neighbours' lack of social distancing got a real roasting.

I posted then that my neighbour was going out and about, on the bus, visiting her adult children (4 of them, also doing their own thing) and she still is.

Nendels Sat 09-May-20 10:31:07

One of my neighbours had a BBQ with guests! I fumed. He is the first to complain.
I can't understand it. I haven't been out since 21 March. I want us to overcome this virus.

Frosty60 Sat 09-May-20 10:29:58

Appalling, it’s disgusting that people don’t follow the guidelines, they are been selfish and not thinking of others. I know my family mean more to me than anything else and I so miss not having my granddaughters, but all I keep telling myself is that following the rules that one day we will be here to welcome them back in our home with a huge hug. We will be here for them. Thank goodness for FaceTime. I have lupus, but it’s only mild so I’m not self isolating. Even so I haven’t been in a supermarket since the Friday before Mother’s Day. I just go on my daily walks around our village and go to a drive through farm shop once a week.

Barmeyoldbat Sat 09-May-20 10:27:53

I have a friend and we speak over the phone about once a week. When I tell her I have just been out for my exercise or done a large shop, she boasts that both of them haven't been off the premises for over 6 weeks and have their food delivered. But yesterday when we spoke she had been out in the street at a street party and had made friends with so many people she didn't know. She was going back out in about half an hour to finish off the party and blamed fireworks. Words failed me.

patricia1958 Sat 09-May-20 10:27:20

Your so right to feel how you do my daughter WhatsApp me to say some of the neighbours at the back of her was having a ve day party outside she was so angry she has followed all the rules and it's been hard because my 2 grandsons are only 10 and 7 and from what she said later it went on till late at night people just don't care

Nicky7of7 Sat 09-May-20 10:26:14

Oh dear, this post has made me feel so guilty I live alone and am vulnerable with COPD. Yesterday my son and his wife came over with my weekly shopping ( which they get with their own delivery) and stayed to chat for half an hour. They have both been in isolation since lockdown began as my DIL is on the highly vulnerable list. This was her first outing. I have not been out at all! They did not come inside the house. We walked around the garden keeping our 2 metres apart. It was amazing how uplifted I felt just to actually have some human contact after so long. Your post has made me paranoid that my neighbours; who all have families living with them, will think I am flouting the rules and being being a Covidiot. ?

CarlyD7 Sat 09-May-20 10:24:16

They do it because they get away with it. If it was me I would ring the non-emergency police number 101 (not 999) and ask the police's advice about it. They;ll either respond or they won't, but at least you will have done something (and I suspect you'll feel better, whatever the result).

SkyBird Sat 09-May-20 10:22:15

Unfortunately we have neighbours who have flouted our extremely strict lockdown rules from day one. We live in Spain. Last week they held a full blown party in their garden until at least three in the morning. I despair at their mentality and/or their supposed elevated status. Incidentally we are all the same nationality.

Acciaccatura Sat 09-May-20 10:19:06

We did have a VE Day celebration of sorts in our village. However, the houses are so far apart that it made 'social distancing' look positively intimate ?

Justwidowed Sat 09-May-20 10:17:28

On tv yesterday a street party was shown in Madrid but was stopped and all participants fined €1000 .Our police are too soft.

mistymitts Sat 09-May-20 10:17:24

Some people don't get it. But at the same time can someone please explain why people are still being allowed to fly in, vet off the plane, no temperature check, no test, no quarantine, but get straight off the Airport and either into the underground or taxi, thereby immediately and very possibly shedding the virus and bring it into the community. This is one reason why new infections are still so high. Countries that have stopped all flights and imposed strict quarantine on any travellers coming in have succeeded the best in bringing down new infections. The Government has now said that yes, they will be imposing quarantine from the end of the month. This is totally ludicrous, once again, too little too late. Why not with immediate effect? And please tell me it will be strictly imposed quarantine, and not just asking travellers that they will be required to quarantine at home, as if the journey home was in isolation, and as if we can trust all travellers to do this. Why is it also that countries with a woman in charge are having much better results controlling this virus than the men?

Applegran Sat 09-May-20 10:16:44

I can see how worrying it is for you if your neighbours break the lock down rules - but maybe its the worst of all worlds if you put energy into being angry while feeling helpless. So how about either speaking to them about it, or if that seems too difficult, maybe telling the police (though they may take no action, but you could try) - and then turning your mind to other things. There is a famous prayer - which I think is useful regardless of whether you are someone who prays or not. It says something like this: Give me the strenght to change the things which can and should be changed, the patience to accept the things which cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference. Not always easy to follow! But seems to me to be good guidance. Whichever way you choose to go, I hope things will improve for you soon.

EthelJ Sat 09-May-20 10:16:35

I am also very frustrated by the Street parties that took place yesterday. People were very close together and had family from other households visiting to take part and they are the same people who clap NHS every night.They also don't see the irony of remembering people who made huge sacrifices when they can't even follow the lockdown rules
Sorry if it makes me sound a spoilsport but I spent most of yesterday feeling very anxious about it.

Jaycee5 Sat 09-May-20 10:13:54

My neighbours opposite have a steady stream of visitors some days. I think because they stick to the rules most times, they and that they are probably family, they think it is ok. The family a next door to them are almost the same.
So far as I can tell they are the only families on the estate doing this which is pretty good but it only takes one or two. They will be going to the shops like others and putting the shopkeepers and other shoppers at risk.
There isn't much you can do though.

Garfield1 Sat 09-May-20 10:13:48

Hi all. I have only just posted about bouncy castle and soooo annoyed they are having a third one delivered as i speak 3 days in a row. I understand her child is prob bored but dad turns up with his new kids and mum the neighbours current x on an off bf . Then cousins am i wrong im so stressing yet they dont seem to understand. Wish they could see what my D is seing daily of pts dying for it to hit home sorry to moan. confusedthanks

hugaby Sat 09-May-20 10:12:15

In Singapore, the fine is $10,000 for a first offence and then doubles ie $20,000, $40,000 etc and if necessary prison for at least 6 weeks. Also if one is an ex-pat, the work visa will not be renewed (if they haven't deported you!). They also have to have a tracker on their phones and are being monitored as to where people have been/ visited etc! Sounds harsh, but it seems to work.

pennykins Sat 09-May-20 10:12:14

This is going on everywhere, some people are incredibly selfish and this is why the virus is still continuing to infect and kill people and the rest of us are doing our bit by staying inside. Everyone should report their neighbours for doing this.

polnan Sat 09-May-20 10:11:10

From what I have seen on BBC tv, showing us the streets of people doing the VE celebrations, very few of those people are observing the 2 metre rule! and BBC say they are!

is there something wrong with my eyesight then?

Garfield1 Sat 09-May-20 10:05:37

I have a young neighbour with a five yr old D. They have over last two day bouncy castle in front garden an then three cars turned up with more people. I sit in my little inlet front to read for sanity. Thankfully i could escape to my back gdn. But really are bouncy castles essential. May have been a birthday and for childs mental health but im shealding even tho only 54 but have comomex health needs. So am i wrong to be annoyed when i am an x front line worker and both my girls are on the frontline one of which has contacted covid via her poor patients. Thankfully recovered now but still petrified of going to work. Try all to stay safe and well thank yousunshinethanks

SeaWatcher Sat 09-May-20 10:05:15

My next door neighbour (who has always thought it fine to open her back door and window wide, both of which are very close to ours, then play VERY loud music) has had people coming round increasingly as the lockdown has gone on and yesterday had a very noisy barbecue party with about 10 people there. Only she and her daughter actually live there. NO regard for others and the infection which may be being passed on.

Rene72 Sat 09-May-20 10:05:01

Round where I live too, woman across the road had a load of kids round 2 days ago, she’s had her father, brother and another man too (girls father maybe?) at Easter she was ‘away’ for 4 days, I know because her curtains were closed. Totally irresponsible!

Craftycat Sat 09-May-20 10:04:58

Safe celebrating can be done. Our cul de sac had a big party with bunting, barbqs music etc but they all stayed on road outside their own front gardens. The children did play on the road but near their own families.
We did walk down middle of road to chat but kept safe distance apart. TBH I was not too bothered about it as I preferred to sunbathe & don't really 'DO' nostalgia especially as I wasn't even born until years after but I joined DH for chats with neighbours & a bottle of wine towards end of afternoon.

annecordelia Sat 09-May-20 10:03:20

There are two types of people- those who obey the law and those who think it's fine for everyone else but not for them. You've only got to see how some people drive to know that they don't give a monkeys for the well-being of anyone but themselves.

Pumpkinpie Sat 09-May-20 10:02:12

At the back of my house the adjourning couple in their 70s had 2 friends round, stayed for two hours laughing loudly on the garden closely sat together . To get into the garden the entrance is narrow & they were very close
They’ve been getting deliveries because they have been self isolating.
So frustrating