to think that Sunday is a normal day and people should behave accordingly.

[HookedOnHooking]

It's fucking medieval that shops are only allowed to open a few hours and not allowed to sell gin at a specific point. It is 2015 FFS.

I remember when everything shut down on a Wednesday afternoon. Banks closed at about 3 o'clock every day if I remember rightly too!

I'm torn really, selfishly I like stuff being available 24/7 but I occasionally hanker for an old fashioned Sunday.

I wonder how many people who object to shops being open on a Sunday are happy to use the likes of Amazon where all those pickers and packers on zero hour contracts will be beavering away on a Sunday behind the scenes to process your order?

'Stroppy teenagers/toddlers. Arguments. All the 'I can't do my homework'. 'Where's my pe kit'. Who moved my books. 'Put your uniform in the wash'. Pack your bag. 'I Nneed a 3 month project completely created in 2 hours'. 'I need £800 for a trip by tomorrow'. '

Actually Hooked you have a point there. Not to mention The Roast Dinner.

Sundays can be quite hard work.

Pass the gin will you?

Those of you that suggest we can shop in the week, some of us work all week Saturdays are busy with dcs clubs and dh often works Saturdays. That leaves Sunday to shop if needed. We need flexibility not archaic rules which are no longer relevant to many families where both parents work.

I work all week, DH works all week, supermarket shopping gets delivered on a Tuesday evening, I internet shop for other stuff.

Shopping on a Sunday would be a waste of a weekend to us.

but you can have a 1950's Sunday if you so wish - just don't go near the shops surely?

Not everyone has a family that they want to spend a whole day with fgs. Mine are currently killing the dog and trashing the house, whole week to have done homework and of course it won't be started until 5pm tonight... I will also discover at 8pm tonight that I forgot to wash any of the games kit that came home wet 9 days ago .. yes blissful lazy Sundays

Hooked I'm with you all the way.

So it appears that those who don't want to shop on a Sunday are still happy to Internet shop where people will be processing their orders on a Sunday

I work in a shop, it opens at 9am on a Sunday and I don't even get paid extra for it! To make it worse today my shift is 11-3. What is the point?!

Then I'll get home, try and round up the school uniform. Check all homework is done. Beg the teenagers to get in the shower and collect the dirty boxers and socks under their bed because at 8 am tomorrow they'll be trudging about saying "I can't find any socks".

I hare Sundays too.

"What I don't understand is why retail is so bloody special. Is it somehow more of a problem to work in a full shift on a Sunday in Asda than in nandos or Burger King or wetherspoons? Even some of the people who want Sunday turned into something from the western isles in the 1950s want an exception for pubs opening at lunchtime."

Agreed.

ilovesooty - I'm also happy to call out the fire brigade, use the hospital, cafe, internet, telephone, electricity, gas supply and other stuff - I just don't consciously shop on a Sunday - by any means.

When I was a kid nothing opened on a Sunday except corner shops run by Asian shopkeepers and everyone referred to those shops by the usual term thought proper in 1974.

I think it was nicer. No one needs to shop on Sundays. I work FT and it's nice to unwind with family.

I used to be a nurse and of course hospitals should open but shops no.

As for nurseries being open good grief. That would be very sad unless work placed in hospitals etc for staff.

However Op you need alcohol and have a bad back so you are allowed to rant.

Oh and 'I think it was nicer'doesn't refer to terms used in 1974.

I hated Sundays as a child, so quiet and boring and then Sunday evening was all about making sure you were ready for school.

Now I love them, we don't really go to the shops unless we need something, though we get our Tesco order so I suppose we're still making use of them. We do nothing, might go to the park or swimming, or do not much, there's no set structure we don't have to be anywhere like all the other days. Love it.

Yes, bluetone, that also puzzles me. Why is it somehow more of a problem for people to do a full shift in a giant tesco than it is for them to be doing exactly the same in a tesco metro? Why in earth does the size of the shop make any bloody difference at all?

It's also so utterly random and arbitrary.

And YY to it being absolutely possible to have a 1950s Sunday if you want.

"As for nurseries being open good grief. That would be very sad unless work placed in hospitals etc for staff."

Sad?! Do children of shift working parents magically not need childcare because it's a Sunday?

Loads of people work shifts. It's not just hospitals that require workers on Sundays. Some of them will requires childcare.

You can opt out of making Sunday like every other day? I have never shopped on a Sunday except at a garden centre(I think they were allowed to open on Sundays well before other shops?)Which I see as more of a leisure activity .I suppose we do go to the cinema/eat out on Sundays occasionally but that's been around a long time .
I too worked ft (as did DH ) with 2 children .I used to do supermarket shopping on the one night a week I knew Dh would be home early .These days it's possible to do it online and have delivered anyway.
Using (and working in) emergency /healthcare is rather different .
Early on in my working life I worked alternate Sats and had a day off in the week to compensate (we also got time and a half but that's long gone) .Until the DDs went to school it was lovely as I could go to Mother and Toddler group etc .Not so good when they went to school,as it ate into famil t but it did meanDH had to do the 'organising' on Sat .
I assume you work shifts OP so should be able to shop ' in the week'

Sunday opening is still a bit of an exception in France, especially supermarkets. I haven't seen any reports of the French going hungry or being badly dressed and the whole day seems to have a more relaxed feel.

I don't think it is medieval to allow people a day of rest. In fact, I would describe it as a sign of a civilised society. Everyone needs a rest on one day of the week.

Why are people so determined to fill up all available time they have? There are things you can do on a Sunday that aren't boring and don't involve going to the shops, like reading a book, going for a walk, watching a Sunday movie, getting together with friends, eating. There is no forced jollity about Sundays - they are just a time to relax and get your mind ready for the following week.

I don't know about being happy to use Internet shopping on a Sunday, I just do because the service is there and I can. If it wasn't I wouldn't - simples!

80schild but it's not a day of rest for shift workers, is it?

And I don't go shopping on a Sunday either, I see enough of shops during the week. Packed horrible places they are.

If anyone feels non essential services shouldn't be available on a Sunday I'd suggest they should stop using them in any form if they want their argument to have credibility.

There's a new nursery opening in my town that is going to be open 24/7 especially for shift workers. I think its a good idea.

Ive never liked Sundays. There's a feel to them. I do like the saturday feeling though.

Hope you get your gin OP.

I'm at work. I'm not getting any extra. Count yerself lucky, OP !