What would you do with one child free hour to yourself each week?

[DarlingCoffee]

Posting here for traffic really.

My employers are introducing half days on Friday and as I start early I can finish one whole hour before I would normally collect my children from nursery.

The thing is I so rarely have time like this to myself that I just don't know what to do with this golden hour each week! I don't want to waste it. Ideas so far include going swimming and taking a long leisurely lunch. Do you have any better ideas wise mumsnetters?

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

If i had time to get home I'd have a bath in peace.

if not a wander round the oxfam bookshop (I love that place so much) and then hot chocolate and cake in a cafe.

[QueSera]

Yoga, read, work out, italian study, ccok, bake. Reality probably pay bills, errands, laundry, housecleaning :(

[Kim82]

I'd do the food shopping. I used to have 1.5 hours on a Tuesday after finishing work before the dc got home from school (I finished at 2pm, they finish at 3.30pm) and I did the weekly shop in peace. Hopefully I'll go back to my normal hours soon and can recommence my peaceful Tuesday afternoon shop.

[elodie2000]

Boring but I would drink tea & eat cake in a coffee shop.
I'd probably end up doing the supermarket shop though & get it out of the way.

[KitKat1985]

I'd find a nice little tea shop, and sit and have a lovely hot drink and slice of cake (without sharing!) in peace and quiet whilst reading a good book.

I really miss being able to properly sit and read since having kids.

[AGinForEachMakesThree]

Gym!

[miserableandinpain]

SLEEP

[ladytrader]

Read a juicy book in a Coffee shop. Bliss!

[gingercoffee]

I would read a book, watch a favourite TV show or sleep.

[beela]

I have carved out a child free hour between finishing work and doing the school run on a Friday.

Often I pop into town to do errands, or come home and tidy. Sometimes I do an exercise dvd or go for a bike ride, and have a shower. Or bake. Or go to sainsburys and get in food for the weekend... because doing it on a Saturday morning basically ends up taking the whole morning.

Having read this thread I might start taking myself to a coffee shop with a magazine though

[Chickoletta]

Potter around town looking in naice shops (I could happily kill half an hour in the White Company smelling candles and stroking towels or Waterstone's looking at new books - luckily, they're next door to each other in our town!) have a coffee, get hair/nails done.

[MummysBusy]

My lovely OH gives me an hour every friday where I don't have to look after anyone or clean anything. I usually end up plugging my earphones in and dancing around the living room, or playing some video games upstairs, also with earphones.

The earphones are crucial, otherwise I can hear DD screaming at OH and spend the whole hour wondering if I should intervene.

[Doesitreallymatteranyway]

I most definitely would knit

[Sweetcheeks21]

I'd either run or go shopping which is what I do with my 7.5 child free hours each week!

[Cleanermaidcook]

Coffee shop, slice of cake in peace and a book :D

[theonlygeorgie]

I would vary what you do. One week get your hair done. Another read a book with a tea and cake. The week after go window shopping or actual shopping! Go to the gym. Get your nails done. Go for coffee with a friend. Read a book. Learn a language. Watch telly. The world is your oyster!

[BikeRunSki]

Swim or run

[squizita]

Go to a shop I can't take a toddler into without looks.

Fucking swear a fucking lot.

[ScrapThatThen]

Coffee and a newspaper in a coffee shop.

[StrawberryShortcake32]

Drink tea, smoke and play world of warcraft

[gincredible]

I finish 1.5 hours earlier on one of my working days. I take my running stuff to work, go out and do a circular route from my office and then collect my daughter from the nursery at my workplace. It's heaven!

[toffeeboffin]

Go cycling.
Pedicure.
Coffee on a nice cafe.
Swimming if i lived somewhere hot. Not really to actually swim, just to float around and relax.

I wouldn't cook, clean or do laundry, errands etc.

[littlefrog3]

Costa, nose in a book, or a walk.

[deliverdaniel]

depends what there is around where you work, but a lovely long walk- either round the city exploring new streets/ areas, or park/ countryside (if nearby) with some good music on. Followed by a cup of tea and cake in a nice cafe.

[longestlurkerever]

Oh I am also considering a weekly ice skating session at lunchtime on teh day I work near a rink.