What's caused some confusion is the conflict between keeping, wherever possible, at least 2 meters from people you don't live with and stay indoors, unless you're going out for one of the permitted reasons.
I live in a block of 16 flats and one beautifully sunny afternoon about half the block came out onto their separate balconies and we had what was the most social of gatherings with wines, beers and other drinks much in evidence. The rules were widely discussed and their differing interpretations.
We live well away from the town centre in one direction and about a ten minute walk from the out-of-town shopping centre in the other. Opposite we have playing fields, open to the public. The main roads have increasing traffic but few pedestrians and there are miles of side roads where only a few local residents ever walk.
All in all it is possible to walk around all day if one wanted to and stay three or even four meters away from any other person encountered.
Is this wrong? Why is it OK to walk the dog once or twice a day, but not three times? Why is it wrong to take the kids to play on the field for several hours or just walk for miles if there is no-one near you? At first the police drove around the playing fields from time to time, checking for illicit gatherings or sun-bathing. They gave that up after a couple of days.
At first I dutifully cancelled all my gardening work and stayed in as much as possible, thinking mowing lawns etc. non-essential. Try telling that to some elderly ladies several weeks in a row, to them it most definitely is essential. Especially when the council has been sending men out to cut verges along their roads. So I have been doing some work, when asked and after making very clear my rules on distancing. They're very simple. They give me any instructions by phone before I arrive. They stay in the house while I'm working.
Around here I'd say that almost everyone is keeping to the rules where large numbers must congregate, like shops. I've seen no evidence of rule breaking social gatherings on the fields or non-family groups together on the pavements. But in the quiet back-streets they are obeyed more in the spirit and with safety in mind.
I see neighbours sitting in their gardens chatting but ten feet from each other. Elderly parents talking over the garden wall to their offspring still in their car. Most seem to be adapting to a life that includes distancing but with degrees of strictness that vary according to the number of strangers around.
