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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think bank holidays are hard work?

53 replies

malificent7 · 26/08/2019 14:06

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!

OP posts:

Bumbags · 26/08/2019 16:21

The last thing I would do is go to the beach on a bank holiday.

I got up at 1pm.

Went to Homebase.
Waiting for pizza bbq now.

cubed123 · 26/08/2019 16:24

Only if you make them hard work! Admittedly got back from a lovely couple of days break in Europe yesterday so just recovering (sobering) up today by staying in. Even if not though - Would have probably stayed in too - far too hot today

LEELULUMPKIN · 26/08/2019 16:26

Well I've just been to Sainsbury's and it was like a scene from "The Omega Man". No one about and the roads dead too!

Purplejay · 26/08/2019 16:44

Mine isn’t hard work. Not leaving the house!

Played with the dog outside before it got too hot. Raked some leaves and pocked up windfall apples before it got to hot. Had breakfast and coffee in the garden. Emptied dishwasher, Did a bit of dog training. Sorted a bit of washing and tidied up, upstairs.

Had lunch. Binge watched 3 episodes of Stranger Things with DS. Now thinking of doing a bit more washing/tidying. Might do half an hour. All very chilled.

ukgift2016 · 26/08/2019 16:52

I think it depends where you go. Today we went to a castle with lots to do and massive grounds.

Very busy but everyone is so spread out so it was fine. You also need to be smart, example would be going for lunch early to avoid the rush etc.

YummyFoodie · 26/08/2019 16:54

Um. If you've got the Instagram herd mentality, then yes. Every day must be 'hard work' . For the rest of us a day off work is normally quite delightful.

iamthere123 · 26/08/2019 16:55

Don't feel you have to do ANYTHING! I have not even got dressed! Well I put a fresh cotton nightie on and I've sat on the sofa with Ru Paul and planned 5 lessons of computing!

Schwibble · 26/08/2019 16:56

Walked the dog while it was still cool and foggy this morning, and have since been enjoying our back garden, hot tub (which is undercover and can be a cool tub too) and being around the house. Not being smug or goady, but would hate to be on a crowded beach or stuck in traffic going anywhere today.

ForalltheSaints · 26/08/2019 17:17

You are allowed to stay at home. You don't have to do DIY. There are plenty of other weekends to visit beaches, historic houses, adventure activities. You are even allowed to do them in September.

Don't feel the need to follow the crowd.

AlRehab · 26/08/2019 17:19

We tend not to do much other than potter at bank holidays. Yesterday we sat in the garden for a bit, made a nice dinner and watched a film.
Today the kids have lazed about while we did housework and DIY and now we are off to an evening bbq with family.
I couldn’t face long drives or packed public places at all, especially in this heat. Recipe for meltdowns and arguments.

TantricTwist · 26/08/2019 17:22

I've been tending my garden after picking up some of DC's friends and dropping them all off at various points of a beach so I can have my peace and quiet
Basically giving them no choice to procrastinate or decide otherwise. They have dingy's and body boards to occupy themselves there and cash for ice cream.

jesuschristwtf · 26/08/2019 17:25

Ha ha - maybe you should move to an island, like one that hasn’t got anyone on it. Guaranteed no crowds on bank holiday :-) (or any day)

Ylvamoon · 26/08/2019 17:26

We had a lovely BBQ yesterday - our garden was crowded with lovely people ....
Today is clearing up and relaxing.

Pimmsypimms · 26/08/2019 17:39

I know what you mean op. I too feel the pressure to have to do something, this may be something we put on ourselves though. We had a totally lazy day, getting through my washing pile, a trip to Sainsbury's and a bbq dinner. I do feel a bit guilty about doing nothing substantial, but it's too stinking hot (air con not working in the car either!!) and can't be doing with the crowds.

Veronicat · 26/08/2019 17:42

Move to Scotland. It's not a bank holiday here.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/08/2019 17:51

My solution is to either go early or go late. I went to the coast at 8 am yesterday so I got there and got parked before the crowds descended and I was ready to come home by the time it got really busy.

Today I've had a pub lunch and a nice walk but because we had no breakfast and were at the pub at 12 on the dot, we got a nice table in the shade and they could serve us quickly.

Afterwards I went for a walk in a country park, which was surprisingly quiet but that's probably because everyone else had gone to the coast . I'm now relaxing in the garden with the cats and wine, which is a perfectly worthwhile activity for a day like this anyway.

I'm forever thankful to 'everyone else' for going places at the same time, as it usually means that there's quiet times available for those who want them.

wichitalinemanswoman · 26/08/2019 17:55

I don't understand people who actually enjoy going to busy places on a bank holiday but some seem to judging by social media. To me it would all just be one massive pain in the arse until I got home

Spingtrolls · 26/08/2019 18:02

No pressure here.
Im indoors for health reasons.
Teen out with mates having a water fight and riding bikes (not at the same time).
Everyone’s happy.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 26/08/2019 18:04

Why is genre pressure to do something? I have spent the day sitting in front of the fan watching TV. Best way to spend a day off.

Benjispruce · 26/08/2019 18:04

We’re at home in the garden. Gazebo up, reading , eating, drinking nice things. No stress. Wouldn’t have contemplated a day out in this heat.

DayKay · 26/08/2019 18:10

Why is there pressure to do something? Do you do nothing on any other days?
We’ve done stuff all summer so it’s nice to see family on Sunday then relax on the Monday.

PermanentPortakabin · 26/08/2019 18:14

I did all the back to school shopping today - arrived at shopping centre early, ticked off all the boring stuff (pencil case stuff, socks, school raincoat etc) by 11am, let the dc fiddle about in the Lego shop for a bit to wind down, went for lunch about 11.45, by the time we finished that, the centre was heaving - we left, came home, had a relaxed afternoon mucking about here.

Avoided the awful heat, finished off the back to school supplies stuff, had some downtime. Job done.

No way would I have tried any kind of day out today - bank holiday plus high temperatures are a recipe for disaster!

ElizaDee · 26/08/2019 18:18

I live in a seaside town. Yesterday I drove to London and back, so the opposite direction to all that traffic. After seeing the gridlock on the roads, there's no way I was attempting a day trip today.

I've spent today indoors doing sod all, trying to keep cool.

Seahawk80 · 26/08/2019 19:09

I always feel like we should be doing something special but this weekend we had just had a week in Cornwall. Drove back Saturday afternoon/ evening and then had in laws over for lunch yesterday and then today just went to a couple of local parks including one with a giant paddling pool, had lunch in a cafe and chilled out, it was great and I'm so glad we're rested and relaxed rather than exhausted from racing around. DH might even have been right for once!

berlinbabylon · 26/08/2019 19:29

I don't see the point of bank holidays. Better to keep Christmas and Easter (and NYD I guess) but get rid of the May and August ones and add the holiday to core entitlement so you can take it when you want to, not when you are told you have to.

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