To hate this every Friday question?

[Pollyanna9]

"Oh, what are you doing this weekend?". Fair enough of course, but it's the somewhat judgemental look I often seem to get which really bloody annoys me!

I'm SORRY I can't tell you that I'm abseiling on Saturday morning, out with A list celebs on the evening and having a massive roast dinner with my huge fabulous family on the Sunday.

So I just say oh not much what about you? Or this Friday I got asked the question and described a little bit that really, I wouldn't be doing anything. The colleague actually seemed almost offended like I was trying to bring him down by not having something glittery and inspiring to advise him of.

I had to replace a major household appliance 3 days before Xmas which was £2,000 which totally wiped out my savings and also had the added joy of being informed one week before Xmas that my XH would be unable to give me CM as he'd lost his job (that ran for four months in total). I'm trying to get things back on track, spend inordinate amounts of time during every week reviewing and controlling spending. At the weekend I do my laundry, ironing and housework. I have no friends in the area, no family in the area - so I'm really sorry all you people pressing me to tell you something riveting, I can't! Because my weekends aren't like yours clearly are - I don't do anything, I don't go anywhere - you would think people might be prepared to contemplate that not everyone is surrounded by family and mates or even has the money to do fun things of a weekend.

Does anyone else get this strange reaction?

Well we've just had a very exciting month which included the death and funeral of my MIL, a week's luxury hotel holiday and driving 360 miles.
I prefer the Pot Noodle and wank option.

I think it's just one of those polite questions. No ones really interested. They're just making conversation.

My stock answer is 'as little as possible'

Perhaps they have no housework to do? In which case they must live in a right dump!

'Having some quiet time away from pointless questions'

major household appliance 3 days before Xmas which was £2,000

Wow- a boiler maybe?

I prefer to have not much to do TBH, week is often busy enough with work and pets and kids stuff.

Well earned rest - is the best answer IMHO

Yabu. Play the game

You just put a bit of a spin on it and reply with enthusiasm "I am having a lovely chilled out weekend, relaxing and enjoying some much needed down time" (or words to that effect), to which they reply, "Oh, sounds great"

I try to do as much housework/grocery shopping/socialising after work as possible so on my days off i can laze about in my pyjamas and do nothing 😂 Idk how some people have the ENERGY to do something 7 days a week, maybe I'm just old, but I'm exhausted!

The colleague actually seemed almost offended like I was trying to bring him down by not having something glittery and inspiring to advise him of

Oh come on now, really?

Has it not occurred to you that he more than likely literally couldn't care less, and was just making polite conversation?

I say this with kindness but I'm 99% sure they don't give a shiny shit what you're doing (or not doing).

I'm sure you're imagining any sort of real reaction, positive or negative.

I'm a teacher so often spend a lot of my weekends doing schoolwork. I normally answer "doing my marking/planning", "busy being mum" or "catching up with the housework". Sometimes if pushed I'll say I'll take my son to the park and maybe spend time in the garden. I have then had a follow up questionon Monday about how my gardening went!

Not exactly the same but I can't work or really even leave the house, so I've been avoiding talking to a lot of people as there's always the awkward so what have you been up to ? What are you doing now? Questions

One thing I've learnt from Mumsnet is that there is no remark, however neutral or commonplace, that you can make to another human being that doesn't seriously piss off someone.

The ability of some on here to get upset/offended by a rountine pleasantry is amazing. You must end each day in a corner rocking with suspicion and paranoia.

No one gives a fuck what you're doing at the weekend, they're being polite. Just say anything, I doubt they're really listening anyway.
I'm just honest. A bit of weeding, shopping, laundry etc. I've never felt people were judging.

Just say, 'Chilling.' A woman I worked with used to say that when people asked her and I was impressed that she made staying in in your PJs all weekend sound like a positive, active choice.

Oyster has the right of it, no-one actually gives a fuck. I doubt very much your colleague looked disappointed t your answer, he was just being polite. People make conversation about bollocks.

My weekend response is always 'As little as possible'. I work hard, weekednds are downtime, horse, dogs, husband if he's not working.

I always ask my staff this . They are all younger than me and most of them are child free so I imagine they have interesting weekends (like I used to have...) I didn't think anyone would be annoyed with me for asking!! Mumsnet paranoia will prevent me from asking next week (and then they'll no doubt be offended that I have no interest in their lives outside work!)

I agree-I don 't think anyone is interested really. They are just asking to make conversation, they don't actually care what you are doing or will even remember.

I disagree that people aren't interested...i work in a team of 28-35 year olds without children who have very packed weekends of social events and they have lots to talk about on a Monday morning. I try various tactics to disguise the fact that my typical weekend involves long periods of time in bed reading or sleeping, then some very unexciting household chores and if I'm lucky, an unsatisfying date!

I work with several competitive weekend types, it tends to be on a Mon morning that all the analysis goes on...so the ones with little kids are all like 'yes on Sat morning had swimming classes, we walked home through the park and fed the ducks, back home we all made pizza from scratch for lunch, in the afternoon we met up at softplay with friends/ popped along to the school fete/ took DC to a friends party (delete as applicable) then on Sunday

I try various tactics to disguise the fact that my typical weekend involves long periods of time in bed reading or sleeping, then some very unexciting household chores and if I'm lucky, an unsatisfying date!

But why go to the bother of trying to 'disguise' it?

If you stop doing that, that's when you'll realise that of course they don't care. They'll just end up listening to those who have had more interesting weekends.

Yes Shadow perhaps I need to go down the fantasy route, but say it totally deadpan!

Ebaer - sound dreadful. You shouldn't feel that everyone has to be forced to join in with these conversations if they don't want to.

Yes Cailleach - I'm still traumatised by it to be honest!!! Bloody boiler.

Definitely make stuff up. See how outrageous you can make it and still keep a straight face. Or pretend you've developed religion and ask if they want to hear about your newfound faith as well.

Next time the Jehova's come to the door I'll ask for a bulk amount of the Watchtower..... :-)