There are been a few reports of Driveway Drinks around NZ with no one categorically saying that they are wrong.

If people sit with their own chair, their own drink and are 2 metres apart then is there an issue do you think?

I am desperately hoping that we all think they are OK.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2020 01:53AM by helen.

I think it is a wonderful idea. Our next door neighbours don't drink wine but we do chat, only in louder voices than usual.

Absolutely nothing wrong with it, if rules are being adhered to. A great way for neighbours to connect with each other

A street is doing it somewhere (Auckland?) and each night they have a theme for dressing up and they'd sit at the street edge of their properties with their drinks and nibbles and have a distantly great time! I think it's a fun idea.
Regards,
Dawn.
Edited to add unfortunately it doesn't work in rural areas,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2020 03:07AM by Dawn.

Personally I wouldn't do it as I'm in a high risk group and we don't really know enough about the virus to know what's safe. Given a woman got it just by cycling through New York, it clearly spreads further in the air than we thought.

We have done exactly that - effectively across the fence. But I can understand those not wanting to take the risk too.

Ashley Bloomfeld gave a good report from WHO on how it transmits - droplets in the air or on surfaces. Clearly anyone with a sneeze or cough should not be participating but if you are not coughing or sneezing I think a 2 m distance is suitable.

I've read that "driveway drinks" are not approved as they breach the spirit of the lockdown. I can also imagine it being really annoying to other neighbours, especially if it's a giggly dress-up occasion (rather childish in my opinion).

I wouldn't do it because of the transmission risk, which is much further than two metres if someone is sneezing, coughing, singing or laughing.

I think that the spirit of the lockdown is physical distancing (and being considerate to your neighbours and community) whilst not social distancing.

In that spirit I am happy to have a glass of my own wine across the fence with a neighbour whilst remaining on my property.

We had lovely driveway drinks with 9 of us this evening. It went from 5.30 ish - 7 and it was lovely.
Everyone was 2 metres distanced from those not in their bubble.
We are at the end of a cul de sac so can use the road without worrying about traffic..
It is amazing how little things can make you feel so much better.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2020 09:24AM by helen.

I think that is lovely Helen. I have noticed when we are walking Minnie that people are waving or having a chat from a safe distance. In such dire times which none of us expected of course, it is lovely to see neighbours coming together. A great positive in negative times

I wouldn’t take part. We have new neighbours and apart from a brief introduction initiated by us about two weeks after they moved in, there has been no interaction at all which suits us. The two young man in that household are a law unto themselves so we would not even want to sit five metres away. Sad but a reality.

It would mean stirring myself out of my happy sloppy trough: proper dressing, legs defuzzed, hair brushed and bouncy, bra back from the dead, public face also back from the dead and slapped into place. I am enjoying wallowing in my solitary bubble talking soothingly to the silverbeet which had a nasty shock a few days ago when I was transplanting some babies (green ones) with the rising moon. Always good to plant with a rising moon. Next thing, my cat who now has one life left, was found rolling all over them in ecstasy. Little green limbs were lying broken and torn so I have been getting up in the middle of the night to check on them and first thing in the morning. I think most of them will make it into a recipe one day, but it's still a close call.

On the flip side. I do have lovely neighbours and we all get on famously so it could be a jolly evening. Never say never. In fact, I may even suggest it.

I personally think if you have to ask, then as Jacinda said it is not okay. Is this what people would normally do if they had the flu, socialise outdoors with others.

I find it hard to believe that with all the information out there, that anyone thinks it is okay.

How big does your bubble need to be.

Sorry to sound grumpy, but people should and do know better.

Further to neighbourhood drinkies and community spirit, this article in Stuff is lovely

Irene, your above link links us to the main Stuff page, not to the article you intended us to see.

Lorna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Irene, your above link links us to the main Stuff
> page, not to the article you intended us to see.


Thanks for letting me know Lorna. I was trying to paste the link from my iPad. I am having difficulty in finding the page now, but this is very similar

Maybe don't do it on a windy day [www.sciencedaily.com]

[thespinoff.co.nz]

" Some of the droplets from a vigorous sneeze travelled as far as seven or eight metres. So, if you are someone who fancies having a glass of wine with neighbours from two metres away, don’t. Do it online instead."

On Seven Sharp last night there was a lovely item about neighbours coming out at 12.30 every afternoon to do exercises with an instructor who also lives in the cul de sac street. They all take a chair, and some weights i.e. back packs, bags of flour and rice etc for weights, someone takes the music and away they go. They all love it and keep strictly to the lockdown rules.

They try to get together every night about 5 p.m. for a chat and they have 'Formal Fridays'. The video clip showed everyone spread around the cul de sac dressed for the occasion of a couple's 21st wedding anniversary.

Adults and children alike all looked happy and were enjoying themselves and commented that it got them outside, doing exercises and having fun and it was good for the mind (in stressful times)! Good on them I say.
Regards,
Dawn.

Dawn, that sounds such a lovely and innovative idea. It's not compulsory so if the idea doesn't appeal, a neighbour doesn't have to join in. And if it does appeal, once again it is bringing out the neighbourly spirit.

[thespinoff.co.nz]

I just came here to post the same thing as TPANADAV. To me it violates what we have been instructed to do. Our country has the opportunity to get rid of this virus, let's not risk that for the sake of driveway drinks!

I drove past the Masterton Club today, I had to go out to do shopping for my Mum. As I drove past there were a large number of elderly people (at least 30) standing beside their cars... I'm sure they have a weekly meeting and were following their usual routine, and trying to keep safe, but the fact remains, it isn't safe.

Griz, re your comment about the people at the Masterton Club today -they were Masterton Club members who are eligible for the free flu vaccine. The Masterton Club had organised it for their members and the vaccines had finally arrived so they were able to carry out the vaccination today and this is where it was being done, with lockdown protocols in place.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2020 12:47PM by J1.

Interesting, new information coming all the time about the virus and what is an acceptable distance. All the guidelines initially had 2 metres.

I have been following the govt guidance of 2 metres distance at all times from people not inside my bubble - but I trust Siouxie Wiles advice as she keeps up to date on the evolving studies.

Hats off to NZ - low cases again today. All our efforts are working.

It's heartening isn't it. And by the sounds of it the improvements will continue as long as people don't try to bend the rules.

I have just been reading about some idiots heading off for the Easter break - the Police are out in parts of the country turning them back. It is truly unbelievable that some people still think that the rules don't apply to them - I am sure that by now they cannot use the excuse that the weren't aware of the lockdown.

Regards,

Barbara Anne

Yes J1, I saw that, but they were supposed to be waiting in their cars, and instead they didn't follow instructions and put each other at risk. Silly people.