Walking "close to home" - what does this mean?

a walk round the block is just a phrase. Surely wherever you live you can just walk away from it for a set distance and walk back. Fresh air and exercise. We all have to do as much as we can. Only shop for essentials, get deliveries if possible, one walk a day. Only see people if essential. That is what we've got to do to help our NHS and protect everyone. It's not pleasant but thats whats needed. I feel so sorry for our NHS staff.

Perhaps, Beverley, you could do as my grandmother said that we should do with flowers for her after she was dead - have a nice vase of flowers in our house and think of her whenever we looked at them. More than fifty years later, I think of her often when I see a beautiful bouquet.

beverley10 I probably wouldn't because, unless you are going back again next week to remove them or are planting something, they will rot and end up looking horrible.

Could you make a donation to a charity in memory of your colleague?
As mourners usually do this at a funeral because family flowers only are the norm now, I think charity funds will be down this year as attendees are limited. The funeral directors will know which charity was recommended.

It will help others and you won't be breaking any rules.

A walk round the block whilst not terribly exciting is what you need to do.

Not the first time I have seen a walk round the block recommended but how many us live somewhere where we have a nice flat block to walk round?

Matt Hancock had said in reply to a journalist this evening that if you go for a long walk and find yourself 7 miles from home that’s fine..as long as you stay local!

beverly10

Will I be allowed to visit a cemetary and place flowers on the grave of a recently departed colleague when rules had dictated only so many persons be present at internment?The cemetary is four miles from my home and will drive myself but do not want to be stopped enroute and questioned 'where am I going'. Certainly not to enjoy myself.
Reminiscent of WW11?? Huge posters asking 'Is your journey really necessary

Of course you will Beverly - I think it highly unlikely anybody would take exception to that.
However if another couple of colleagues had the same idea and wanted to join you , it would breach the regulations.

NotSpaghetti

Apparently he will have a "response" soon.

I can picture them now, sitting around a table discussing what spin to put on this, based on how gullible they think we are.

beverly10

Will I be allowed to visit a cemetary and place flowers on the grave of a recently departed colleague when rules had dictated only so many persons be present at internment?The cemetary is four miles from my home and will drive myself but do not want to be stopped enroute and questioned 'where am I going'. Certainly not to enjoy myself.
Reminiscent of WW11?? Huge posters asking 'Is your journey really necessary

You'd be OK if you went by bike or on horseback.

Apparently he will have a "response" soon.

beverly10

Not Sphagetti
Borris on bike ?<Isn't it your typical 'don't do as I, do as I say.?

He's just laughing at us..

Not Sphagetti
Borris on bike ?<Isn't it your typical 'don't do as I, do as I say.?

Will I be allowed to visit a cemetary and place flowers on the grave of a recently departed colleague when rules had dictated only so many persons be present at internment?The cemetary is four miles from my home and will drive myself but do not want to be stopped enroute and questioned 'where am I going'. Certainly not to enjoy myself.
Reminiscent of WW11?? Huge posters asking 'Is your journey really necessary

I've noticed many people on bikes going past. Some in twos and threes, but many in larger groups taking up half of the road. I don't think any are wearing masks and I guess some of them will be cycling for miles. Horse riders often go past in 2s,3s,and 4s too.

If the polices are clamping down on people taking exercise they are going for the easy option by focusing on car parks at reservoirs etc..

Maybe he was just testing his eyesight.

Boris Johnson, according to the Evening Standard was cycling 7 miles from home yesterday at the Olympic Park.
He has subsequently been asked about this. According to The Guardian:

This is awkward. As government officials were telling the Guardian only this morning (see 12.49pm), the advice is that when exercising you should you “should stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live”.

At the Downing Street lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman did not have an answer as to why the PM thought that going seven miles away from home was consistent with the spirit of the rules - although he indicated that he would come back with a proper response later.

Just saying...?‍♀️

nadateturbe

I was annoyed about not being able to drive to a quiet beach and having to avoid people on pavements close to home. But having read many of the comments I believe that the only way to attempt to control the spread of the virus is if everyone sticks to the rules. Its bad luck if you don't live beside a lovely beach or NT property. You just have to make the best of it. Walking round the block will still get fresh air and exercise. And if its too busy we can go another time. If one person is allowed to break the rules then others will too. We all really need to support each other and do our best. No exceptions. No excuses.

Agree with this. The trouble with 'slight' bending of the rules is that people will look out of their windows, see on TV, photos, etc and see other people out there and think, oh, it must be okay then.

A walk round the block whilst not terribly exciting is what you need to do. Certainly shouldn't be getting in a car to get somewhere and then walk.

A few people appear to be confusing travelling for essential shopping with exercise. If your nearest shop/supermarket is 3 miles away then of course its acceptable to drive there!

Ellianne

And it says "swimming", which unless you live on a canal boat means you need to walk or drive to get to the water.

I have a canal running through the woods, across the road from me but it would be foolhardy to swim in there with the diseases you could pick up.

The government in its usual washy washinesss could have been more prescriptive

Most definitely.

I had an email from a garden that I support informing me that they are open weekends. However it's almost impossible to walk there for anyone so surely they should remain closed. How are they legally allowed to open, I am sure that they are complying with the rules? Mixed messages.

Yes we decided not to go to our nearest NT property which is about a 30 minute drive as it is not in the same town so couldn’t be deemed local. What if you had a car accident en route and had to be taken to A and E and there is no space for you? The government in its usual washy washinesss could have been more prescriptive i.e. you should not travel more than 2 or 5 miles. My relative in Italy cannot go further than 2 km from home unless it’s for essential shopping or medical reasons. The safest thing is to stay local i.e. where you can walk to or just do some gardening or pilates/gentle stretching inside your house. Instead of the NT garden we had a nice local walk to a park we rarely visit and discovered one or two interesting buildings in the backstreets including a Christopher Wren spire. You often don’t know what’s in your locality.

I was annoyed about not being able to drive to a quiet beach and having to avoid people on pavements close to home. But having read many of the comments I believe that the only way to attempt to control the spread of the virus is if everyone sticks to the rules. Its bad luck if you don't live beside a lovely beach or NT property. You just have to make the best of it. Walking round the block will still get fresh air and exercise. And if its too busy we can go another time. If one person is allowed to break the rules then others will too. We all really need to support each other and do our best. No exceptions. No excuses.

even in cities there are usually back streets and areas that are little used for walking around.
it's a matter of attitude. where there's a will...or not.

I would take it that if you live a ten minute walk from the beach, then you would walk there and have a swim.

MissAdventure

There are always going to be circumstances which don't fit exactly, because boris addressed us collectively, not individually, by name.

Which is why - I guess - people are checking and cross-referencing?