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Original poster

To wonder what retirees do on a grey, wet Tuesday morning

241 replies

BeaQuiet · 02/08/2026 10:50

I'm just a few years from State Pension age but can't imagine giving up work completely (work 28 hours pw at the moment).

Summers like this, yes, I'd be perfectly content but AIBU to ask what retired people do on a wet Tuesday morning in winter. Especially as Wed, Thur, Fri etc are likely to be wet or grey too.

This was raised on a Mel Robbins podcast on ageing and it got me thinking.

OP posts:
MandemChickenShop · 02/08/2026 12:39

hahabahbag · 02/08/2026 10:54

My dh volunteers on Tuesdays, meets a friend on Wednesdays and seems to be at the end of the runway regularly too (more regularly then he tells me i suspect!) apparently at the end of the runway it’s pretty busy even in rain (go figure!) I go to work

you married to Craig David?

Teenagerantruns · 02/08/2026 12:39

I work two days a week, if its cold and wet I'm happy to read my book or watch netflix

MsGreying · 02/08/2026 12:38

The extra things are the millions of events that councils etc put on during the day.

What hobbies do you have now?

chirrupybird · 02/08/2026 12:37

Same as everyone else that happens to be home. Housework, washing, shopping, a bit of scrolling on MN, watch a bit of tv, meet friends for a coffee, indulge in your favourite hobby, life goes on.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 02/08/2026 12:35

The current crop of retirees are amongst the most affluent retirees we have seen, and massively more so than those coming behind them in the next 10-20 years. They have plenty of money to spend shopping, going to galleries, Rock choir and a plethora of activities set up by people realising that this generation have both time and money on their hands. Most of them, will be hoping that the grey wet weather brings enough rain to offset the hosepipe bans (although, they will likely have registered as priority users and be exempt anyway) so that their gardens and pots are able to recover.

Sorry, not feeling hugely concerned…

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:34

No wonder you're desperate to do Pilates then 😕

BMW58 · 02/08/2026 12:34

Read. Decorate. Potter. Go on Mumsnet.

ShanghaiDiva · 02/08/2026 12:32

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:29

@ShanghaiDiva good Lord? Really. There must've been somewhere you did even if you worked in like... finance.

How depressing otherwise.

Not depressing at all. Lived in five countries and had an amazing time.

RaraRachael · 02/08/2026 12:31

Our summer has been very underwhelming so I'vd just carried on my usual - reading, walking, going to the gym, meeting friends for coffee and lunch.

I hate organised activities so wouldn't join any groups and have no interest in meeting new people.

alteredimage · 02/08/2026 12:31

You asked about Tuesdays.

Specifically Odeon silvers are on a Tuesday. Morning and an early afternoon screenings of a current film. (Last two I saw were the Christophers, and Project Hail Mary.) £2.00 including a cup of tea and two biscuits.

Sounds naff, but it is a good reason to take the bus into town, meet friends and, weather permitting, walk home.

FWIW no one asks your age, at least at my local Odeon.

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:29

@ShanghaiDiva good Lord? Really. There must've been somewhere you did even if you worked in like... finance.

How depressing otherwise.

cheapskatemum · 02/08/2026 12:29

Yes, as someone stated upthread, I go to Pilates.

KnickerlessParsons · 02/08/2026 12:29

I’m with you. I’m 60s and work FT. Partly because I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I was home all day.
there’s a limit to how many museums, cinemas, art galleries and nice lunches you can do, particularly if you don’t live in a city. And they all cost money - I’d be spending more when I don’t work than when I do, and we can’t have that!

Sproutling · 02/08/2026 12:28

It all depends on your interests really doesnt it? I retired early from a full-on full time job, I couldnt fit my interests in as I would have liked- now I'm retired, i genuinely wonder how I found time to work, Im fitter and healthier than when I was working, and am enjoying life so much! My time is filled with, not in any particular order;
allotment-3-4 days a week
volunteering job 2 ams per week
fossil hunting at local beaches
country/hill walking
meet friends for lunch/catch ups
theatre/opera/ballet/cinema evenings
NT and EH visits
RHS visits
Weekend and overnight stays
Holidays
a wet Tuesday morning downtime would be very welcome lol

NCyuk · 02/08/2026 12:26

Dunno but it won’t be listening to a Mel robbins podcast. Talks a load of patronising shite

ShanghaiDiva · 02/08/2026 12:24

Rumpledandcrumpled · 02/08/2026 12:21

Yeah you seem the sort.

Show quote history

indeed!
I can say with complete confidence that when I was working I made absolutely no difference to anyone’s life.
Must be so satisfying to be so worthy.

Epoisses · 02/08/2026 12:23

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:18

I'm laughing because everybody who's retired on here and say that they do interesting things and then list them, or things look really fucking boring.
genealogy, gardening and pottery ffs

shoot me now

Edited

Come back when you' re 70.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 02/08/2026 12:23

Draw the curtains and have wild rampant sex.🤣
Or maybe another cup of coffee.

PermanentTemporary · 02/08/2026 12:22

I had some time off work after a bereavement and went to the gym a lot. The best class of the week was a weightlifting circuits class at 1130 on a Tuesday attended almost exclusively by retired women. Lots of fun.

Rumpledandcrumpled · 02/08/2026 12:21

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:20

id carry on working and making a difference to the people's lives.
I combine this with voluntary stuff already, so I don't need to give up work to do that

Yeah you seem the sort.

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:20

id carry on working and making a difference to the people's lives.
I combine this with voluntary stuff already, so I don't need to give up work to do that

Rumpledandcrumpled · 02/08/2026 12:19

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:18

I'm laughing because everybody who's retired on here and say that they do interesting things and then list them, or things look really fucking boring.
genealogy, gardening and pottery ffs

shoot me now

Edited

Gladly.

what would you do then?

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:19

Or I move wood around oh my God

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:18

I'm laughing because everybody who's retired on here and say that they do interesting things and then list them, or things look really fucking boring.
genealogy, gardening and pottery ffs

shoot me now

principalskinna · 02/08/2026 12:16

Oh, something really boring and they become really narrowminded and tedious

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