Should I feel guilty?

Well we have now been told that rules are not compulsory only advisory...

Thank you all so much for your kind and thoughtful responses. I feel much better now that I have read them.

Please don't feel guilty. Both my husband and I (separately) went to see our DGC in their back garden. We sat at the bottom by their back gate and they were playing on their trampoline at least 20 feet away. It's the only time we've seen them in person, and bearing in mind that before lockdown we had the younger one twice a week when he wasn't at nursery and collected the older one twice a week and had her after school, it's been a bit of a shock to the system!

You are being sensible, not taking unnecessary risks and coping in the best way you can. Not something to feel guilty about at all.

BTW, as I type our next door neighbour, who is due to give birth next week, and her husband are entertaining two friends and their child in their garden. Pizza and beer being served, pizza all taken from the same plate, their child and their friends' child playing on the trampoline. Now THEY are being totally irresponsible, IMO! Can't believe they think they are following any rules or restrictions - but then they are the sort who don't believe any rules apply to them............

No need to feel guilty; you’ve done nothing wrong.

I wouldn't feel guilty, many people seem to be visiting back gardens now. It seems safer than a crowded park specially if you have a side gate and they don't go in the house, no food or drink passed around. We have to start somewhere. Interested to see what happens Bank Holiday Monday.

You should certainly not feel guilty. It will have done you the world of good, and not put anyone at risk. It is very difficult to catch the virus outdoors, even more so if you were 2m apart. None of you were coughing, so no aerosol risk.

You could have set off for a local park, and set up your picnics, far apart, and then taken turns in approaching each other one at a time coming within two metres. But if you were in a back garden, you were in effect further removed from other people. Please don't beat yourself up, you have been sensible.

Some people will shut themselves away in fear long after lockdown is eased. That is their decision of course. We will all need to do our own risk assessments as to what is right for us. You have done yours and well done you!

Nothing to feel guilty about. I'm planning to do the very same thing myself this week. Family will be able to access my back garden via the side gate, which I can secure back so that they won't need to touch it, and we can sit 2 metres apart and chat. Can't see any problem with that.

You haven't seen your family in 3 months and our routine has been upside down compared to what we did before.

Of course you are feeling guilty as you care about your family and dont want to harm them.

Get ready to feel guilty as soon as lockdown ends and we start interacting more with other people.

You were taking no risks at all. I would love to have my GC visit me, but 150 miles is not easy calling distance - unless you're a government adviser, of course.

I think that was fine. We’ve done similar things. Anyhow, the rules are there to interpret as we wish, shown by the “ Do as I say, not what I do “ Dominic Cummins.

Totally reasonable and safe.
People are going to have to start coming out of the cocoon of their homes at sometime. Of course, tens of thousands do so daily in order to go to work.
If your neighbours feel jealous and upset then they can make a similar arrangements.
Just enjoy those moments - no need for any guilt whatsoever.

I wouldn’t worry about it, we have to start to get to a stage where we can all cope with the change in our lives and you were all very sensible.
Sadly seeing our children and grandchildren might have to be at a safe distance for a long time.
Plus you can drive anywhere nowadays as long as you are home the same day. ( although others are really taking the P* on that one)

Perfectly reasonable no guilty feeling required.

Seems reasonable to me!