Column: Breaking lockdown rules hurts everyone

The wee man turned four on Saturday.

The chalked messages on the park path ran for some distance, and the balloons which fluttered above the garden wall added colour to the landscape.

Unfortunately for the lad, his birthday surprise was a visit from two facemask clad police officers who could be seen explaining to his parents that the party was over.

As the adults hoped no-one was looking while they reached for their coats – no chance, the garden was open to every passer-by – it was hard not to feel for the wee fella, but that sympathy was limited.

Like all four-year olds he’ll get over it, but I’m not sure how the parents will live down the embarrassment of being huckled indoors in full view of their rather well to do neighbours. Edinburgh in lockdown: You’ll have had your birthday cake …

I suspect they aren’t the only ones who have staged a wee family ‘do’ during these times, and thought “och, what’s the harm” - but the whole point about lockdown is that it only work if everyone abides by the rules.

That goes for the well-heeled parents of four-year olds as much as best-selling authors who hop on a plane and fly 11,000 miles from New Zealand to Skye, and still don’t quite get the backlash which greets them when they then blog: “Hullo from Scotland, where I am in rural lockdown on my own.”

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/patients-may-have-been-moved-fife-care-homes-without-coronavirus-testing-2860721

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/fife-council-plans-taskforce-lead-lockdown-recovery-2860465

Neil Gaiman clearly felt he’d done nothing wrong in making possibly the longest journey in lockdown.

After all, the rules say you can go home. His just happened to be on the other side of the world – well, make that homes, plural, as he also has a place in Woodstock, America.

How does one self-isolate when one has so many pads to choose from?

I feel for the police who rolled up to his remote bolt hole, heaved a great sigh and said “son, a word.” They really do have better things to do.

Gaiman’s defence was long (winded) and robust.

He blogged his journey, stressing how empty the flights and airports were – there were more than one – how he used a masked car service (a what?), borrowed a friend’s spare motor, and drove in splendid isolation from London to Skye as it if was just a few miles up the road.

I have zero interest in the marital problems which prompted his departure from New Zealand. I just can’t help wondering how bad the housing shortage must be there that he couldn’t find a place to rest his literary bones.

Gaiman’s transatlantic travels stretched credibility to snapping point, and made Caroline Calderwood’s jaunts from Edinburgh to Elie to her second home look like she was just nipping round the corner.

Had he been smarter he’d have said nothing, and carried on in isolation in Skye, but both he and his wife, Amanda Palmer, blogged at tedious length about it.

From Gaiman to parents distraught their wee lad won’t get a birthday party, we can all justify why it was important to break the rules, but, if we do, then it means we all face the prospect of even longer in lockdown.

I hope Gaiman runs out of milk and then finds no-one on the island will deliver.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers; the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen, East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

The support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with your community during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this, and your continued support of our newspapers across Fife will help to protect their viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press