Are weekends still special?

Trish

SF VIP OAP
When I think back to weekends, I always looked forward to them especially when I got older and started going out with friends, later on weekends meant less about socialising and more about getting the chores done but, when I retired weekends became much like weekdays and rather than counting down to Fridays, sometimes I don't even realise that Friday has arrived!

Are weekends still special to you (assuming that they once were)? Do you arrange your week so that weekends are a little different to weekdays?

How can we put the magic back into weekends?

Happy Friday everyone :)
 
Up until 18 months ago weekends were very different for me, because it's when my husband and I would go out . We'd visit all different places, and have a drink or lunch at all different pubs or restaurants..

Now.. weekends are like any other day for me..
Life is different without a partner but, do you have any gal pals who are in the same situation and would like to meet up some weekends to visit new places etc?
 
Since I retired, every day is much the same. When I was young, Saturday was generally Football day and Sunday was church. Sunday was the worst day because my parents being staunch (but unthinking) Presbyterians observed a strict no work, no noise, no fun day.

Free from them and living in Hampshire, things were different. Judo on Sunday morning and then a pint before lunch. Shops were mainly shut.

Now I'm retired and living in Scotland, Sunday is so very different from my youth. Shops are open all day, churches are mostly closed and it's just another day. I do miss the local pubs round my old home in England, but I don't miss the crowds or the traffic heading for the coast.
 
Since I retired, every day is much the same. When I was young, Saturday was generally Football day and Sunday was church. Sunday was the worst day because my parents being staunch (but unthinking) Presbyterians observed a strict no work, no noise, no fun day.

Free from them and living in Hampshire, things were different. Judo on Sunday morning and then a pint before lunch. Shops were mainly shut.

Now I'm retired and living in Scotland, Sunday is so very different from my youth. Shops are open all day, churches are mostly closed and it's just another day. I do miss the local pubs round my old home in England, but I don't miss the crowds or the traffic heading for the coast.
Oh make it your mission to find a nice pub where you can pop in every Sunday for a pint and maybe some pub grub. If you choose to accept this mission @Capt Lightning, go forth and report back - I hear Scotland has pubs ;)

I wasn't keen on Sundays as a teenager as everything closed down by lunchtime and I thought it pretty boring but, I do like the idea that we have an afternoon where everything stops and we allow the earth to rest.
 
Oh make it your mission to find a nice pub where you can pop in every Sunday for a pint and maybe some pub grub. If you choose to accept this mission @Capt Lightning, go forth and report back - I hear Scotland has pubs ;)

I wasn't keen on Sundays as a teenager as everything closed down by lunchtime and I thought it pretty boring but, I do like the idea that we have an afternoon where everything stops and we allow the earth to rest.
Pubs don't close at lunchtime on Sundays now... not for a long time.. :D
 
Trish, We used to have a village pub. We also had a shop, school, church, garage etc.... They've all gone now and all over Britain, pubs, shops etc.. are closing at an alarming rate. For many, Covid was the last nail in their coffin. There are some reasonable pubs in town, but the nearest town to us is 14 miles away, so not really practical. Same applies to restaurants.
 
When working, I used to live for weekends and evenings. Then retirement came, and every day was pretty much the same blandness when freed from the treadmill of work. How to put the magic back into weekends? Well, my state may be legalizing recreational marijuana in the foreseeable future…. 😸
 
@hollydolly I am sure you have checked out what's available near you but, just in case, here are some things I found (and some I did myself).

People who go to the gym usually just nod but the exercise classes are more sociable and often have coffee groups. They also tend to be local and lots of singles.

You love photography. I don't know where you live but you have mentioned going to North London and there are photography groups there.

Most areas have ramblers/walkers groups (not dogwalkers) and the RHS have gardening groups in a lot of areas. A friend of mine volunteered to help out at a local garden centre, she loved it and now works there part-time.

It may be that it's too early for you to start rebuilding your social life but, when you are ready, I hope you will find friends above all else because, in my experience, good friendships are invaluable. :)
 
Trish, We used to have a village pub. We also had a shop, school, church, garage etc.... They've all gone now and all over Britain, pubs, shops etc.. are closing at an alarming rate. For many, Covid was the last nail in their coffin. There are some reasonable pubs in town, but the nearest town to us is 14 miles away, so not really practical. Same applies to restaurants.
It's a shame. Living in the city, I forget how so many villages and small towns are losing amenities :(
 
Pubs don't close at lunchtime on Sundays now... not for a long time.. :D
No they don't. I think they did in the seventies though but I may be wrong. It just felt like the whole world stopped on a Sunday afternoon. Less cars too. :)
 
@hollydolly I am sure you have checked out what's available near you but, just in case, here are some things I found (and some I did myself).

People who go to the gym usually just nod but the exercise classes are more sociable and often have coffee groups. They also tend to be local and lots of singles.

You love photography. I don't know where you live but you have mentioned going to North London and there are photography groups there.

Most areas have ramblers/walkers groups (not dogwalkers) and the RHS have gardening groups in a lot of areas. A friend of mine volunteered to help out at a local garden centre, she loved it and now works there part-time.

It may be that it's too early for you to start rebuilding your social life but, when you are ready, I hope you will find friends above all else because, in my experience, good friendships are invaluable. :)
Trish... the gyms near me are full of young people.. there are no coffee groups attached to them...

North London would mean a train journey.. or congestion charge if I drive..


Yes there are walking/rambler groups around.. and altho' I walk a lot, walking slowly with other groups is not my cup of tea, I like to stride out.. when I can, but currently I have a problem with my right knee which limits me to 20 minute walks at the most before it gives out on me

I live in a rural area.. believe me I've searched for things to do....

We have a local U3A group, but it's very small.. and the folks are much older than me.. more like an old people's group... not for me..
 
Weekends are the days we stay away from wherever everyone else is going. We’d rather go there while they’re at work.
This was my immediate reaction to the question. I like to hike with my dog on a nearby trail system for mountain bikers. Weekends are a time when I have to share. Don't get me wrong. The people I meet on the trail are happy, healthy, and enjoyable to be around, but I'm more apt to stay home on a weekend knowing I won't have the woods to myself.
 
This was my immediate reaction to the question. I like to hike with my dog on a nearby trail system for mountain bikers. Weekends are a time when I have to share. Don't get me wrong. The people I meet on the trail are happy, healthy, and enjoyable to be around, but I'm more apt to stay home on a weekend knowing I won't have the woods to myself.
LOL>.I do that with the woods behind my house. At weekends..people come from miles away to enjoy them, with the lake and the parkland... so I leave them to it, and just walk through during the week when it's only locals there..
 
My wife and I are very active on weekends. I enjoy visiting people that work through the week. We also like going out for breakfast and maybe just taking a ride along our beautiful river, especially during summer. Sometimes, we plan a weekend getaway to visit relatives out of state or maybe take a train ride up to NYC and take in a play. Maybe a matinee, if they are having one we want to see. I think I have seen “Jersey Boys” about 5 times now. I still like it. My wife, OTOH, likes to shop. Weekends are busy.

Sometimes we get weekend guests that come and visit. We have great times when my wife’s one brother comes with his wife. He’s a one-man show.
 
Life is different without a partner but, do you have any gal pals who are in the same situation and would like to meet up some weekends to visit new places etc?
Lots in life to experience just because you don't have a specific partner to go with you. Have to use your curiosity, and initiate something that excites you. Friends will see you having a good time, and ask to join you in excursions. That's how life work if you let it. Be nice, be friendly, be honest, have a personality. That's the ticket to happiness. Negativity destroys no one but yourself.
o_O
 
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