Should I feel guilty?

I must have been left behind. Since when is it OK to meet more than one person in the park? sitting in the back garden with family who may need the toilet particularly children has never been mentioned as allowed as far as I have heard?

Do not feel guilty. It was my 60th on Friday , and I worried about friends and local family visiting.
We set the garden out , so we could easily sit well apart . I put drinks in bottles ( washed and glasses dishwasher) out for them on a table , so we could share a Prosecco ( I had my own )
They used the back gate , and we cleaned chairs and table between visits .
It was so worth it , we were outside, it was windy so the virus had no chance ??
I had a lovely day , and I was dreading it . I do not feel guilty , and not do my family .life is tough enough at the moment

My daughter lives 5 mins down the road. We has adhered to lockdown rules. And if we've been for a walk and walked past her house, we have knocked and stood at the front gate and had a chat. Today however my daughter ( who has hardly left her house in 8 weeks) as she has anxiety issues, is going to walk to our house come through our side gate, and sit at a distance and have a chat. I will spray the chair, and leave gel next to it. She will not have to come into house for anything, if she needs toilet living so close she will just go home. She will not stay to long.

Nothing illegal here - the rules now are not what they were when Cummings took off to Durham - you can travel a reasonable distance - nothing amiss in your actions so please don’t feel guilty - sounds like everyone acted reasonably and legally.

Definitely don’t feel guilty although yes, unless within one of the exceptions permitted in law (including that to care for a vulnerable person, twisted contrary to the Government’s own interpretation and guidance for the benefit of Dominic Cummings) it remains illegal to go into somebody else’s garden or indeed to leave your own home and garden without reasonable excuse. In my village, the police have been called to explain the law to people infringing the rules, but I wouldn’t think they’d even bother to come out now - why waste their time talking to people about nonsensical rules when those running the country are allowed to rely on instinct?

Don't see any harm in what you did sounds responsible as for upsetting your neighbours maybe you're over thinking which is understandable in these times I'll probably do something very similar in a couple of weeks for my birthday.

I don't think you have done anything to feel guilty about, so relax and don't worry.

Yes you should

This is such a timely post for me, it was my birthday yesterday, the big family gathering obviously didn’t happen but my 3 children arranged time slots to visit with GC. So I had 3 separate visits all with social distance etc in the garden. This morning I was wondering what the neighbours will say or think but the majority of posts favour no guilt so I’m hopeful mine will be if the same mind. We do have to start a sensible return to normality.

BlueSky I agree with your views but I do hope not! I would like to think that people won't take an attitude of 'If it's allright for them' and then ruin what we have all achieved at such terrible cost. I met my DD, in her garden, and could have wept with happiness to see her face. We kept apart, drank some tea, and then I scuttled home, for some reason feeling guilty. I can't see the rest of my family at the moment although I long to. aonk you have done nothing that could be criticised. It was all 'within the rules' as I understand them. Let's hope the latest political storm, whipped up as usual by the press, won't do too much damage and people won't sacrifice common sense.

Anok, I agree with how your feeling. I did same thing with DD & DGC last week a 40min car journey I wanted to sit in car across their garden wall with a flask. DD insisted I sat in back garden, DGC 9 & 11 struggled without hugs & general frivolity around each other, young children forget to stay apart on their excitement. It couldn’t have been a problem if I’d been allowed to stay on the curb as cruel as it seems.
Normality will reign again before too much longer I feel. Let’s save then to be our usual selves if at all possible. ?

Don't feel guilty. You saw your family from a safe distance. We are all suffering from social isolation and I'm sure you all got a lot from this. I cannot see my own GSs as they are too young not to run up for a hug, but I'm happy for those that can see family.

Lot of non social distancing going on in our village, plus second homers visiting. One set of grandparents drove 150 miles to pick up GCs at Easter. No one seems to have been shopped to the police. However those in power should be seen to do the right thing.
We haven't seen our families since December and probably won't see them until there's a vaccine.

I can see nothing to feel guilty about, you were outside you kept your distance and people are now allowed to travel! I understand you may feel guilty because you've had something your neighbour can't, but that is not your fault or problem. Don't let it spoil your enjoyment !

No need to feel guilty at all. It's time for us to be allowed to do our own risk assessments and act accordingly. On 1 June the government intends 4-6 year olds to return to school where social distancing will not happen all the time and I've just heard that footballers can now tackle in close contact training, along with boxers permitted to sparr. WHO always suggested 1m distancing and other countries chose their own interpretation eg Australia 1.5m. So no don't feel guilty. It's fine to use your common sense!

It’s fine. So much safer than sitting in the park with strangers, though we will have to get used to that eventually.

Damage has been done by such behaviour and worse still condoning it! Normally I defend Boris but this time I'm really annoyed. People will now feel free to interpret rules to suit them!

I feel you judge these visits on an individual basis . You know each other , medical history etc . I have a part time job as an agency domestic cleaner - some want me back , some want mask , gloves etc , some prefer nothing .Others seem to be holding out for the miracle vaccine. I think that when this crisis is actually deeply discussed there will be the argument about what lockdown achieved , who caught it / groups etc and how many elderly in care homes had coughs , colds , flu etc as this started getting serious in winter .
Neighbours have people round but I haven't got parents , my grandchilden are 250 miles away and I met my sister for a walk last week - instant therapy . Don't feel guilty . Assess what is best for you and your family.

My daughter lives near me. Twice last week they come down my side gate into my garden. They had their side to sit on and we have ours. They don't go into the house and we have hand gel. The kids play on their garden toys (which are obviously always sitting in the garden untouched by me). I spray down the garden chairs and table before they come. I visited my sister yesterday for the first time since lockdown ...in her garden with social distance. I met my son at a park with his partner and new baby. We sat 2 m apart on our own blankets. I think we have to start making safe judgements for ourselves now as the rules are getting ridiculous ( eg I'm a registered childminder ....I can look after another family's child but I can't have my grandchildren in my home! ). If I'm outside and 2m away I will see my family now. If it's safe to talk to a stranger in a park, or outside of a supermarket I'm going to see my own family in my garden! We'll all be going flaming crazy of we don't start easing sensibly into being able to see our families .

Four weeks ago we wouldn't have done this but the peak is (apparently) past and the government's own adviser has shown that the rules they made are to be followed only as one chooses to interpret them. Enjoy your family! I'm longing to see all mine but they're just too far away. But one day soon, we hope.

Teacheranne me too. Its upsetting really isnt it? I'm desperate to see my GCs but more importantly I'm so afraid for my elderly parents and my daughter who is running about like a headless chicken trying to help everyone. I think we just have to do what our conscience allows and stay as safe as we can. I'm one of those people who don't think that it's right just because everyone else is doing it. I'll continue to keep my family as safe as I can and keep my distance. Thank goodness for Facetime

I think we have to use common sense rather than stick rigidly to rules. I drive 20 minutes to a beach for my walk. Very uplifting and much less crowded than the local area. I still get food deliveries and haven't seen my family. I feel too nervous about that.
Only feel guilty if you're not distancing. But mental health is important too.

I'm afraid I am one of those people who obey the rules rigidly - or at least I did before watching the briefing today. I have a back garden with side access but have not allowed my daughter to visit me. However, as it appears I am one of the few people sticking to the restrictions, I might be tempted to have a friend round on a sunny day.

I went to get my click and collect order today and saw so many people in the streets in large groups enjoying the sunshine.

More and more people are looking at ‘the rules’ and applying common sense instead. Sitting in the open air, in your garden, maintaining physical distancing is safer than a ride on public transport or a visit to the supermarket.

I shouldn’t worry. The important thing is not transmitting the virus. That’s why we socially distance.
My neighbours are having family get together and parties. The local children are all out playing together. It’s like nothing is happening.
We are sitting here on our own, dutifully taking our daily exercise.
But we are not catching or spreading the virus hopefully.