To think bank holidays are hard work?

[malificent7]

Don 't get me wrong...the time off is great as is extra pay if working but omg....the crowds! The pressure to do something special and thus year ...the heat! Lets keep bank holidays but ditch the crowds!

Depends where you live surely.... we have cycled to the pub, where we got served quickly and easily had a quiet table in the garden and have cycled home. Hardest part of that was determining which pudding to have....

I think the best thing to do is just use them as relaxing time (if you can!) rather than feel you have to go somewhere or do something. I know it’s harder if kids are getting antsy though.

The pressure is self imposed. I have been to the tip, that's my only plan for the day.

I got up at 11 and despite showering a dressing I haven’t moved!

We've been playing in the garden all morning. BBQ at 3pm for just us. No pressure whatsoever

I find it better to plan nothing and just relax in the garden or do.a bit.of.DIY. Then have a bbq if it's sunny or walk to a local ice cream parlour.

Too many bad experiences trying to head to seaside towns/National.Trust and ending up in traffic jams and queues which leads to grumpy kids and then grumpy parents. Will be even worse out today as its so sunny!

We are at the beach...much nicer not on a bank holiday.

I always feel like I should be doing something, but then remember how everywhere will be heaving and decide to relax at home.

Well I'm currently laid butt naked in front of the fan. Awesome bank holiday. There's no 'need' to do something just because it's a bank holiday.

I feel no pressure to do anything on a bank holiday.

Mine is great so far. I've been for a run, done a few chores, seen dd off out with a mate, dropped ds2and DH to get a train to the football, ds1 has gone to see his gf, I went for a swim (that was nice and cool!)

Now I am back in an empty house, bliss, going to watch some crap on the telly and read for a bit, no pressure here!

DH is at work. I've just texted him to say I hate the bank holiday. He's nearly always working and I can't face doing anything exciting without him (DS2 has sn and its easier if he's there too). Just feels like a wasted day off.

We feel no pressure either.

We've pottered around the house doing a few jobs before it got too hot, sorted the shed, took crap to the tip and are now slobbed out on the sofa in a darkened room to keep the sun out. Later we'll sit in the garden under the umbrella to keep the sun off sipping wine.

I have no desire to go out because A, we're too lazy and B, we hate crowds

We never go anywhere on bank holidays. Same as a pp, we don't do any housework, just do things that entertain us and children at home. Barbecue this aft with wine and maybe invite our next door neighbours if they're in the garden. Children stay up a bit later than usual then have a warm bath and bed. I'm very lucky in that my children don't grizzle when they're tired, they just quieten down and get snuggly. So relaxing compared with fighting crowds.

I'm recovering from an operation so at home. Indoors with crap on TV, dogs flopped in front of the fan, MIL flopped on the sofa and my dad making mint julep. Haven't set foot outside the house all weekend. Partner is working so won't see him til next weekend.

Bliss.

However I do live in a tourist hot spot and you can't go anywhere without hoardes of people.

@CheeryB that sounds absolute bliss!

We once made the mistake of going to Clumber Park on this bank holiday a couple of years ago. OMG the crowds, the queues, the heat, the stress!! We've never been since!

We avoid all beaches, pubs, country parks and NT/EH places on a bank holiday because of the crowds and the queues.

Today we've been to the moon festival thing in town. Busy but fun and, best of all, free ☑

We’ve currently got the beach to ourselves, but we’re in Scotland, schools are in and this is a predominantly English company bank holiday(this me being off and husband has used an annual
Leave day) so most folks are at work as normal 😃

I'm boiling my butt off at work and won't get any extra pay, just normal pay as if a normal shift. I've never felt the pressure to do something special even on the rare bank holiday I don't have to work. On a hot day like this I would be boiling my butt off but with my feet in the paddling pool in between chasing the toddler and dog

I gets too crowded for me. People everywhere. I would be happy to work it and have a day off in lieu, when it's quiet again.

SpeedyShutter I live a few miles from Clumber and we go most weekends but there is no way I’d be there on a hot bank holiday! I did it once years ago and it took an hour to get out of the car park.

Today we’ve been to the cinema now we’re playing cards in the garden. No pressure just lots of ice pops.

There’s no rule to say you have to go or do anything - so don’t do it. And if you do, do some research. We were at the beach yesterday and it was lovely and not too busy. But we knew that.

Other than that, I’ve barely left my house.

I have had to work so many bank holidays over the years (work in healthcare) that I revel in the not going anywhere! Today we have cleaned a bit, visited family (walking distance), currently watching TV with DD but I’m going to get her out in the paddling pool in a minute. BBQ later. We’ve had a proper chill out all weekend, doing odd jobs at home.

Well your mistake was going to the beach on a hot day in the holidays! We've been school stuff shopping and it wasn't busy and the shops were lovely and cool. Home now and won't be going anywhere else.

I understand the pressure, I always think I have to be doing something special. However we have tidied the garden, played in the paddling pool then ordered pizza and a movie.

We're just too tired to 'do' a bank holiday.