To not understand where my Summer has gone!

Hope you're having a good first day back, OP.

I know what you're saying - the summer seems to have flown by. I did get an awful lot done - part bathroom rennovation, meeting people, dentist and doctor's appointments, 3 short holidays and a fair few day trips, but between the kids and a relatively new relationship I've hardly had any time to relax and just wind down; it feels like I've been on the go since the beginning of the holidays. It's not a bad thing and has been a lot of fun, but I'm not sure I have actually regained enough energy to start the new term.

It did help that I've been doing some of my leftover "gained time" work on and off all summer, and that I was at work for results day, just to get back in the swing of things.

Part of me is looking forward to the return to a full routine, part of me is dreading it, but mainly I dislike dark days and the wet and cold that is to come.

I booked a few things to do in September, which should take the edge off things and still gives us something to look forward to.

Lack of AC, lack of proximity to the sea, land locked sweaty mess in work and it’s just awful. Give me 35 degree heat in Thailand any day of the week. In Milton Keynes, it’s just vile.

I know hey 😂I remind myself it helps keep everything open all year round for us who live here permanently... wouldn't change it for the world, it's just 8 weeks of craziness , normality is so very very close 🎉😁

Now this I’ve not heard before! You only like the sun in places other than the UK? Why don’t you like the sun in the UK? Is it the heat and lack of A/C? Does it make you wish you were on a Mediterranean beach? I LOVE the sun in the UK because it’s not searing…but it’s getting that way sadly :(

Forgot to add to this, I’m not a teacher so I worked 8-4:30 most days of the summer anyway…got plenty done.

Back next Monday 😖 I don’t want to go, I’m having too much of a lovely time relaxing, drinking wine on a week night and no marking. Getting up at 5.45am is going to be a shock to the system, roll on half term!

My daughter has been back for a couple of weeks and I know a lot of parents look forward to the return to school, but we had a really low key summer with a lot of time at home and it still went by too fast. I miss her wee face around the house during the day even if I'm wfh. Work and endless routine is thoroughly depressing.

See autumn as a new start where you're going to live more closely to your dream summer. If daily yoga matters (and it's a great habit!) carve out some time by doing it instead of something that matters less (TV, phone). Apply this to everything you want to add into your life. Daily walk? What can go so this can happen? Turn any dead time into something enjoyable. Read while waiting for DC at activities. Talking books while doing housework and so on. Get things like ordering a blind out of the way ASAP as these little tasks all add up to feel like a lot hanging over you, when in reality they're quick to get out of the way.

Can’t wait for it to be over. I love the sun but only in places other than the U.K. I hate the lack of routine. So looking forward to structure and routine again. Roll on September.

It's been a lovely summer, but I'm very much looking forward to getting back into a routine and doing full weeks at work again. My inbox is terrifying and I only have one day at work this week (no-one else does my job when I'm off, it just piles up).

Not looking forward to the boring bits of getting my child to bed on time, up and dressed in the morning and remembering to wash uniform, but will be good to know who's where each day and reduce the daily spend.

I feel like this every single January OP.

I am in the SH so its our long summer holiday over December and into January and I have to take leave then as many businesses close down during that time. Every year I have big plans for what I will do during that time off if I am at home, and I cannot remember one year where I have actually done all the things I planned that I would.

So I just go with the fact that I rested well 😀and that it me all rested in preparation for another long year ahead.

It is so lovely to not have to be prisoner to a schedule and be able to wing it every day. The monotonous structure ahead now is lurking and you are not ready. I get it.

I always find the first week of my holiday it takes me a bit of adjusting to get into 'holiday mode". Unfortunately the same is true for the first week back to get back into 'work mode'. We all call it the easing in week and we are all just a little extra kind to each other if we are not all that productive. We are all feeling it the same.

It sounds like you have had a lovely break.

I’m in Scotland so kids already back but it did fly by! I think because the weather was so good, we did so much, we were out of the house a lot and that makes time go so fast. We had loads of stuff we didn’t even get round to, I actually felt quite sad that DD1 was back to school already. It’s been a shock to the system having to get back to routines in the morning, we haven’t quite hit our stride there yet!

Bloody tourists, eh?.😂imagine going to a popular place on the Med?!

I have loved this summer. I left teaching in July. It’s seemed to go on forever. I think it’s been my best one!

I have done a lot of lounging and bare minimum of jobs.

I actually can’t believe I have to go to work next week, every day and then keep repeating it, and it’s a new job, so I actually need to be switched on!!

I think it’s just time management to be honest
I moved house this summer and managed to arrange a hell of a lot for that…including blinds. Went on holiday for a week, did days out, took my dc swimming most days etc. I think it’s just a matter of doing it! I also don’t have social media like facebook/instagram rt. so I don’t fall into scroll holes for hours at a time.

I'm planning out my Halloween decorating, and making a costume with my youngest GC. She is being Samara from the Ring and we are making a well. I clean for my youngest and I've bought a life-size pumpkin head, who I'll put in different poses around her house. I've planned vintage pumpkin/ghost train vibes. We've also booked Halloween events.