I completely forgot the pandemic

Three weeks ago I had an appointment with a well known company to measure my suite for loose covers. I planned a safe route from the kitchen door and had mask and gloves to hand. A giant of a man arrived mask under chin. Yes I know what I should have done but I allowed him in where he measures then filled in forms whilst I stood outside choosing fabric. He had 2 enormous sneezes!
and used the downstairs loo twice. Unbelievable! Me not him.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

So are we not allowed to do that?? We’ve been in our daughters garden several times and had a drink there. I’m pretty sure that there’s very little risk. I have come to the conclusion that we have to take some risks ...we take risks in life all the time! However I’m feeling bad because my son and family asked to come and stay this week and I said I’d rather they didn’t. Mainly because they are both working and their girls are seeing their friends. I don’t have a problem having my daughters family here because I know they are not going anywhere else!

I think posters are offering good advice. I'm sure you and your neighbour will be fine, but as someone said, should you show any symptoms in the next couple of weeks, book a test and inform your neighbour if it proves positive, but don't lose any sleep over what happened. I'm sure you both benefitted from the social contact.

DON’T worry!!!
Your risk is minimal because most of the time you have followed the guidelines for 4 months 3 weeks, 6 days and 23 hrs and not followed them for a mere hour.
Just continue to follow guidelines again from now on.

I wouldn't worry. Obviously the pandemic is dreadful, but sometimes other things trump it, purely in the interests of compassion and kindness.

Boris's latest buzzword is "Be Alert" - you were alert, but alert to your friend's needs, rather than this blessed virus - temporarily that's all.

It's done and I'd have done the same - maybe washing hands etc before and after of course, but I'd still have done it and I think others would too.

Its happened and you can't change things now. Lessons learnt. Xx

I visited an elderly neighbour and had coffee and biscuits. We sat over 2 meters apart but I had my coffee in a mug and my biscuit on a plate. She is over 80 & lonely and enjoys a good chat. Her family live away and don't ring often. I've not been far during lockdown and only last week went for my first coffee in a coffee shop. I think the visits/chats with my neighbour are doing us both the world of good and she has said she doesn't know what she'd do without them. So don't worry it was probably just the thing to lift her spirits after losing a loved pet.

You should be fine. The r rate is still Quite low. You have both been sensible so unlikely you are carriers and it sounded like you both needed this meeting. All the best to you.

I’ve always been seen as a caring, sympathetic person (blows own trumpet!).
Went to my friend’s son’s funeral weeks ago and found myself being wept on by both his parents and two siblings!

What can you do, but hold them and let them sob?
Still here to tell the tale. X

Thing is, we’re allowed to go into coffee shops now and have a coffee, why is going into your neighbours house any different?

Try to put it out of your mind. If you're well in two weeks, no harm done.

If you're REALLY anxious, invent a symptom and book a test. The drive in ones are very easy to do. But she's one person. Your risk is minimal.

oh Starblaze, I have crying moments, but occasionally when I admit to it , to some people, I feel that I am a wimp and shouldn`t be crying, I am wondering if many of us have crying bouts, but don`t admit to it.. so thank you for that.

now this thread..
well I am 84, no underlying health issues so far as I know,
but yes, I have forgotten , on occasions , hugs are really hard not to do, just about manage not to.
but yes, getting too close.. and sharing cups etc... I have done it quite recently.

try to put it out of your mind... try.... cyber hugs!

I am 71 and have been doing stupid things all my life. There comes a time when mental health has to start being considered. With you and your neighbour, this was the time. Don’t worry, keep well.

It's easy to forget when we are with friends and family. We tend to be much more cautious with people we don't know such as other customers when shopping.

Last week I went to work for 3 days after months of working from home apart from one day. They were staff training days in school with no students present and I know I got too close to colleagues on a number of occasions though some were distancing religiously. The risks are low, as the prevalence of the virus is low in most communities, but nowhere is risk free.

If you have been following the rules most of the time it is unlikely that one slip will result in infection so I'm sure you will be fine, but be ready to get a test at the first sign of any symptoms.

It’s so easy to forget so don’t beat yourselves up over it. We had our best friends over a couple of weeks ago and our friend has been shielding. We socially distanced very well in the evening as we have a large kitchen diner and all was great. My friend then shouted ‘you have a fox on your patio’ so we all ran to our French windows and literally the four of us could have stood on our doormat. We did laugh later in the evening when we realised. We’ve all got to our 50s and 60s and never had to distance before so it’s hard to always remember. Take care

It’s a very small risk....a bit too close to someone for just an hour...not done it before or since...I’d forget about it.

Try not to worry. It's easy to forget and you were being kind. The chances of any damage done are slim so chalk it up to experience...

Please stop worrying. What's done is done, and anyway, you did nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that can be called "dangerous behaviour". Frankly, it was amiss of your granddaughter to mention nit, even, because she made you worry about something you can't alter.

Why are people going nowhere and letting this virus changed their life and control it
I have just come back from a lovely holiday in wales were social distance is strictly 2 meters no mask.Restuarnts cafes pubs only open outside.We had glorious weather and wonderful time.I go shopping wear a mask it not the end of the world.I live my life but take precautions

I forget about it most of the time. That's probably do do with the fact that I don't read/listen to the news.
OH has always done the shopping so that doesn't affect me. Also, at the beginning of lockdown my daughter and I worked out that neither of us were going anywhere so we carried more or less as normal.
I think if people were honest more people were carrying on as normal than we know about.

I think it's actually beautiful that you dropped all thought for yourself to comfort a friend.

Recently a friend called me and I had been crying, she could hear it in my voice and immediately comforted me. I later found out she had been crying herself and needed me when she called. She said it was distracted away and actually helped.

Your risk is minimal I am absolutely sure and you will have practiced hygiene afterwards. Your friend however is now less at risk of being hugely unhappy. That's a good thing. Don't let it worry you too much

It is easy to forget, especially when normal manners and kindness kick in. I visited an elderly neighbour, we had a safely distanced coffee and chat in her garden, four of us all obeying the rules and as we got up to leave, I picked up the tray with the used coffee cups and walked in, put it in her kitchen......duh!

Oh for heavens sake. What are you actually worried about? Do you think that she and her home are covered in this virus? You both benefitted very much from this social occasion, be grateful she invited you and you both did a great deal for your mental health.

I haven’t forgotten and still try to be sensible but it does seem a long time ago now