today i walked round the block [blush]

A police officer on tv said that the reason people shouldn’t be driving or hill walking is that they would tie up emergency services that are desperately needed elsewhere if they crashed the car or fell and broke their leg/hip.

Don’t feel guilty! You’re all right about needing to keep moving and getting some sun. (Does it still count if it’s behind the clouds?) We went for a short walk this am which turned out to be 1.3 miles we are getting more flexible!! When we pass houses, quite a few folk come to the door and call hello-sometimes we have a social-distance-plus conversation.

No headphones, but I must try the singing. Something with a rhythm to it. Aga doo doo doo perhaps? Or songs from the Pirates of Penzance or even The Grand Old Duke of York and This old Man, he played one, which I used to sing walking my GC to school.

In Ireland those of us over 70 are being ‘cocooned’ until Easter, which means we can’t go out at all (beyond our gardens). Arrangements have been put in place for our essential needs to be supplied safely. As it happens, I’ve been on my own for 6 months since my husband died, so I’m not finding this too difficult. Better safe than sorry - or 6 feet under!

Walking is fine. Don't touch anyone or anything and if you do happen to see another person give them a wide berth (2m)

Driving to a walking area isn't so good. The fewer cars there are on the roads, the better. Any car journey could lead to an accident or breakdown so save the car for essential trips i.e. to the supermarket.

Daily walk to pick up the newspaper is possibly not a good idea either. If it means going into a shop every day then you are putting yourself (and others) at risk every day.

So OP no need to feel bad about your walk. That's permitted.

Everyone just needs to think clearly about what they can do to prevent the spread.

I agree. Unfortunately we all have to do our bit and getting away with it is not the right attitude. If we don't want this to go on for months, if we don't want more people (which is mainly those vilnerable including the over 70s) to die we MUST STAY AT HOME as much as possible.

Optimist that was a stupid wanting to use the new powers by the policeman. You just say we walked and need to rest now or can't walk back.

Steve people do need to exercise and get fresh air. Not everyone has a garden and some need to walk. The point is not have groups and stay 2 metres away from other people. I also think it is safer in some cases to drive to a place where there is plenty of room to walk and you won't need to be close to others. The paths from here have narrow bits whereas the park a 5 minute drive away is big and has plenty of parking. First thing in the morning few people are there and I can walk around in safety.

Can you go to the start of your walk in the car?
YOU REALLY SHOULD AVOID THIS
It can dramatically increase the distance and speed of viral spread.

Imagine...

I feel very well. I drive 5 miles to lovely 'local' spot for a walk... - Stir Crazy from Clean Town 5 miles away in the opposite direction, gets in his car and drives to the same lovely 'local' spot. I open a gate along the path - so does Stir Crazy. Four days later, I get ill. By bad luck, Stir Crazy has picked it up from the gate I opened. And is unknowingly spreading it in Clean Town before he too becomes ill.

If lots of us do this simple, apparently harmless thing - you have rapid transmission into new areas.

While you can take your walk. Don’t feel guilty about it. We might be shut in for a long time. Get out, feel the sun and the wind, listen to birds. Safely lap it up while we can.

Dublingran, I too 'cocooned' (a lovely cosy- sounding word, thanks Leo) in Dublin. My son says that means we should be wrapped in soft silk and emerge later with wings ☺️.

Also as I mentioned earlier avoid driving anywhere.

If you are involved in a car crash - then the emergency services will have to be called out. They are already busy.

If your car breaks down then you could be blocking a road, meaning the police will have to come out and divert traffic. Breakdown services will have to come out - meaning another van on the road and a human who has to have contact with the driver.

Petrol pumps are a good source of transmitting Covid-19 - so the fewer trips to fill up are also a good plan.

Me, DH and DS are staying home. I plan to shop at MOST once a week so will have to drive there. In fact I couldn't find my car keys earlier

So that's why driving is best kept to the bare minimum.

I have always had the opinion that excercise is the best thing for arthritis and it works for me. So what if you do waddle like a duck, at least you're doing something for your wellbeing rather than sitting around with the attitude "poor me, I've got arthritis" ! Keep it up and whilst you do it picture this, I also waddle a bit because of arthritis! Lol. Stay healthy, stay safe. Best of luck!

You can go out for an HOUR each day so if you can do it.

Even here in France where things are more stringent we can go out for daily exercise but we have to stay within our own area.
Enjoy your walk travelasfar and don't worry.

This is the very clear announcement from our local Police Force

I'm not a walker normally and the only places to walk round here are the streets on housing estates. I like walking on holiday in the woods around our caravan site but alas that and other 'nice' places to walk are a car drive away. Walking round streets is to me, akin to walking round a prison exercise yard. Have spent the usual amount of time in the garden but having now discovered we have a female fox and her cubs resident under our garden shed, looks like I'll have to take to the streets to give them some peace and quiet!

We are lucky to live in a beautiful and rural area of the Lake District and have been doing long walks from home and rediscovering footpaths. Have seen very few people.

Get out there if you can, it's allowed.
Keeping your distance from others is essential, avoid shops if you can, and just enjoy being alive.
Stay in if you feel unwell.
Simple!

Grannycool52. Yes, I plan to emerge ad a beautiful butterfly!

I feel very fortunate in that I moved to the coast las yea ...small retirement flat BUT it is 2 seconds from the sea and I can walk in either direction ...even (so far) on the beach if the tide is out ….having said that I also live 15 minutes from the City centre and went in last Thursday afternoon ...was stopped by a Policewoman ,,,'what are you doing;.....me, 'food shopping'....'where do you live'...told her ...she said 'Do you not have a food shop>' I said yes but they were out of milk and butter....and I also wanted to go to my Bank;.....'How did you get here'...me On the Metro …..her..you should not be using public transport ….I suggest you go home …..I was just going anyway !...she also said the Police have the power to fine anyone ………..so now I stick to an hour's walk along the coast and whatever I can get from the corner shop is what I eat ! different times !

I'm in lockdown for 12 weeks and that means NOT leaving my home. So why do some people who also say they're in the same situation think it's ok to go for little walks etc. The government hasn't said Stay in your home for 12 weeks but go for a walk if you feel like it.

DH damaged his knee 10 days ago and can only hobble about with a crutch. Have been out for a walk round the area (rural) last 3 days but he is so slow it's like walking with a toddler so I deliver him home and then go for another circuit at a faster pace. Today I have walked round a hospital car park 5 times. He is in for a bone scan injection.. Will do the same when back for the actual scan later today. Fresh air, sunshine, wonderful.

I walk every day with the dog. It's essential to keep moving.

We have been very lucky, although we live near the centre of town we have a large green open space two streets away and have been out everyday for a walk.

So lovely to see the trees starting to bud and some lovely spring flowers in gardens to see on our way.

We have a walled garden but it's only 14 x 14 meters so good for sitting in but not much to walk round.

When we have met anyone we/they have have been willing to cross roads, walk in the road and so on to keep the distancing in place .

Not met any idiots so far just people trying to get some exercise and take their children out for bile rides. We saw one dad with his children having a kick about but all well away for other people.

Don't think we will get out today though as DH is "Doing a JOB" :-)

He's refitting a door that he was going to refit when we moved here 17 years ago :-) And he's only been retired since 2013 :-) Still mustn't grumble. It's only the door to the cupboard at the top of the house, his wine store so hasn't bothered me all these years :-)

Take Care all and stay healthy.

I cant walk anywhere without stopping,am awaiting dble knee ops due to osteoarthritis,not sure id dare sit on the bench though,id prob just lean on my stick instead for a bit