Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What on earth am I going to do???

27 replies

PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 09:33

OK, maybe slightly overdramatic....but our house is on the market, we've got loads of viewings booked in on Saturday so we need to be out of the house from 10-3, and the weather forecast is 4 degrees and freezing rain. Oh, and we're in tier 3 so no restaurants or anything are open.

What the hell are we going to do with DD4 and DS1 all that time? I guess it will have to be McDonalds lunch in the car but I have no idea how we can amuse them for such a long time in rubbish weather with nowhere to go! Anyone have any amazing ideas?

OP posts:
TeenPlusTwenties · 01/12/2020 09:44

Don't aim to be out of the house the whole time?

Find the least important room (one of the children's bedrooms?) and set up a DVD in there for an hour or two?

You don't want to be spread all over, but people don't spend long in eg 'bedroom 3' so they'll have to cope.

Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 09:46

@TeenPlusTwenties I think we aren't allowed to be in the house while viewings are happening because of the restrictions :-(

OP posts:
TwigTheWonderKid · 01/12/2020 09:50

Can you get EA to reschedule appointments so they are closer together? Unless you have got literally hundreds of viewers 5 hours seems like a long time.

Apart from that, make sure you are all properly dressed. The cold will be less of an issue than the rain do definitely put a change or 2 of clothes in car. A walk in the woods would be relatively sheltered but clearly you can't do that for 5 hours. And what will you do about going to the loo?

SimonJT · 01/12/2020 09:51

Dress them warmly and get their puddle suits and wellies on, long walk, park etc and a picnic in the car.

TeenPlusTwenties · 01/12/2020 09:51

Perdita Doh! I didn't think of that!

BarbaraofSeville · 01/12/2020 09:52

Are there any covered shopping centres open with takeaways where you can walk through and get a hot drink or even food?

I'd also clarify if you're expected to be out for 5 hours straight? I've never known anyone except the homeowner show people round houses anyway, so someone would need to be in for that anyway.

Divebar · 01/12/2020 09:55

Shit. That doesn’t sound fun but hopefully you get an offer out of it. I’m not in a Tier 3 area so presumably no indoor facilities at all like libraries? Are there any woodland areas with nice walks you could do if you bundle up? I’m only thinking woodland might be protected by the elements a bit. I’d probably drive a bit - do the walk - drive to get food - eat food. Bring an iPad with games for DD4 or listen to an audio story in the car ( our library lends them free through an app). Drive for ice cream? For some reason our ice cream parlour / waffle place stayed open throughout lockdown 1. Slow drive home. Not ideal but manageable.

LionLily · 01/12/2020 09:56

Do you know anyone with a camper van or caravan sitting on their drive? Ask them to run an extension to it so you at least have somewhere to sit and the dc can watch films on the laptop, you can have lunch in the dry etc.

Divebar · 01/12/2020 09:58

@BarbaraofSeville

I've never known anyone except the homeowner show people round houses anyway, so someone would need to be in for that anyway

That’s not universal - in my part of the South East the homeowner typically doesn’t do the viewings. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it in COVID times.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/12/2020 09:59

Ooh, camper van or caravan is a great idea. Will be quite the adventure for the DC too.

Or are hotels allowed to open by the weekend now that lockdown will have passed? Or a meeting room at a service station? You could see if you could book either for the day?

Cantdoitallperfectly · 01/12/2020 10:00

Get the kids togged up in warm clothes and go for a big long walk. Take hot chocolates in flasks and on the way back stop at McDonald’s for lunch.

Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:00

@TwigTheWonderKid There is one viewing every 15 minutes, as they all have to come in separately, and are there are already about 12 viewings booked so I've said they can have until 3 for any other requests that come in - I'm hoping they won't actually need the whole time.

@SimonJT yes that's what I was thinking too - just wondered if there were any great ideas that I hadn't thought of :-). Maybe a little drive too so that DS can have a nap.

@BarbaraofSeville good idea, I will look into that, will be good if we really need to warm up for a bit. Yes we do need to be out, the estate agent will be doing the viewings, and they're pretty much back to back.

OP posts:
Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:03

@LionLily great idea but I don't, sadly!

@Cantdoitallperfectlydoitall ooh you actually make that sound really nice and cosy!

OP posts:
Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:06

@Divebar no I don't think anything like that is open. We're just over the road from tier 2, which is really annoying, so I was looking into soft play but they don't want us tier 3 scum, understandably. Definitely will slowly drive from place to place to maximise time in the car!

OP posts:
Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:07

We actually already have at least 1 offer as well so really hoping this doesn't go on for multiple weekends!

OP posts:
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 01/12/2020 10:09

What a pisser. I would break the time down and spend the final chunk of it (about 1.5 hrs) outside, waterproofs and wellies on, hot choc in the rain. Do this last so you can then get straight back indoors.

Before then, takeaway in the car, covered shopping centre, garden centre, Pets at Home (are they open in tier 3), audio book in car, Ipad in car... Borrow a friend's dog to walk?

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 01/12/2020 10:12

A walk if the weather allows. Then bist a large garden centre, have a look at all the Christmas trees and decorations (they may be quieter this weekend since other shops are opening). Follower by takeaway food in the car. Take puzzle books or reading books, flask of hot chocolate and 'camp' in the car.

Xiaoxiong · 01/12/2020 10:21

We viewed a house over lockdown, and the family went and sat in the estate agent's office! (There was no one else there since the estate agent was with us, and they had a baby.)

Divebar · 01/12/2020 10:26

Our local big garden centre has a pet section with lots of fish and reptiles / hamsters etc. That could definitely kill an hour if you have similar and it’s open.

Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:28

Garden centre is a good idea! Our usual one, that has a big aquatic section, is in tier 2 though Angry

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 01/12/2020 10:34

Be aware that some big garden centres have had long queues to get in, although I suppose if other places are opening up there might be less pressure on them now.

There's one near us that often gets mentioned on here because it has indoor and outdoor play areas, large Christmas decoration shop, all sorts of fancy food and animals and there's been posts on local social media pages complaining about hour long queues to get in, probably because it's one of the few 'attractions' that's open at the weekend.

LadyCatStark · 01/12/2020 10:39

Go to a really far away McDonalds 🙈 I feel for you but I think the best suggestion so far has been to try to go to an indoor shopping centre like the Trafford Centre or wherever’s near to you.

Original poster
PerditaMacleod · 01/12/2020 10:43

@TwigTheWonderKid

Can you get EA to reschedule appointments so they are closer together? Unless you have got literally hundreds of viewers 5 hours seems like a long time.

Apart from that, make sure you are all properly dressed. The cold will be less of an issue than the rain do definitely put a change or 2 of clothes in car. A walk in the woods would be relatively sheltered but clearly you can't do that for 5 hours. And what will you do about going to the loo?

Oh god the loo!!!! We have a potette so DD can use that, DS is still in nappies of course, DH can pop in the bushes. I guess I will have use the potette as well if I get desperate Grin
OP posts:
Sarahandco · 01/12/2020 10:56

Are there any drive in movies?

Sarahandco · 01/12/2020 10:57

Things will be open this weekend though as lockdown will be ending