It’s 5.30 on the Sunday nights of our childhoods. AIBU to ask you what you are doing?

[StudentProblems]

It is 5.30 on any Sunday night of your childhood. For me it’s approximately 1997. I am having my hair nit combed in the front room, having been told off for not eating all my roast pork. Dad is messing around with the fire because it won’t draw properly. It’s all a bit tense.

What are you doing?

Early 90s: we’d have been for Sunday lunch at my Grandma’s house and had the Yorkshire puddings for starters because she was from Yorkshire. Then I’d have played on the the stairs with my brother and sister (we could play for hours on the stairs 🤷‍♀️). Then we’d go home for a light tea, bath and Heartbeat in front of the fire (did anyone else always sit on the floor as a child, we hardly ever sat on a chair!)

Mid- nineties: we lived in Saudi Arabia so playing out all day with the other children on the compound, probably swimming and maybe dinner out in a restaurant on another compound.

Late 90s: at boarding school so church, Sunday lunch, rounders, supper, homework and showers.

Early 2000s: listening to top 40 of course.

When I primary school age

Having a high tea possibly involving crumpets before my dad went away to work for the week

When I was a teenager I'd have just been out to walk the dog and now finishing off my homework.

1970s

Still playing out if it’s summer, I expect. We were rarely indoors.

Probably already had Sunday roast.

What time did the Top 40 start on Sundays? I do remember recording it on tape cassette as an older child - never to listen to again once recorded mine you !

We lived semi rural next to a wood, canal, rivers and parklands. Only came indoors when the single sodium lamppost on our road starting coming to life.

Lovely thread, OP.
It's early 70's for me.
Around 5.30 pm, I'd be having my tea: something like sandwiches, and tinned fruit with Tip Top.
I'd be having a bath later on, ready for school the next day; DSis would go in the same water after me(!)
Listening to Junior Choice on Christmas Day always makes me think of days like these.
A couple of years later, I'd have been doing my homework at the last minute, too.

It's 1987 and I'm laying on my parents sitting room carpet recording the Top 40 on Radio 1 onto a blank Maxell cassette tape. I have to hold the red Record button ⏺ down with my finger. I'm writing each song and artist on the insert of the cassette and I'll play it in my personal stereo (didn't have a Walkman) when I'm out walking Sasha, our poodle. The song at number 1 is the Bee Gees 'You Win Again'. It's okay.

I'll be going upstairs for a bath soon using the new soap my mum bought me, it's called Cleopatra and comes in a blue and gold wrapper, it smells amazing.
I'm dreading school, I hate double maths but I'm looking forward to Howard's Way and Bread on BBC later.

Probably having Sunday tea and watching (2 channel B+W) tv until bathtime.

1970's NZ, I'd be sitting in front of the heater with my fresh washed hair drying out, eating mousetraps, watching The Wonderful World of Disney. Listening to (and sometimes trying very hard to join in with) my teen trio of sisters bickering away.

Late 90s. I most likely have had a roast with my family earlier in the day (and my dad’s terrible watery oxo cube gravy!). A drink probably got knocked over due to my siblings and I pissing about which my dad went mad at.

Would’ve had a bath and probably would be watching tv now. My mum would be talking to my auntie on the landline (who talks for England and won’t let her hang up). Dad would always be watching telly or aggressively cleaning the kitchen work tops.

I’d b wondering if I’d forgotten to do any homework and weighing up if I could get away with pulling a sickie in the morning if so..

At my grandparents. They'd have the TV on-Songs of Praise, Antiques Roadshow, Sunday serial type thing.

We'd have baked beans with bread or boiled eggs then cake that Granny made, followed by an ice cream. They got a special one that you could only get at one shop in the area called something like Theya's. It was really posh! (as opposed to my other grandparents who bought Kwik Save economy choc ices ). Then their dog would sit almost on top of you to make sure he got the end of the cone which he saw as his right!
There would be a fire at this time of year, and my Grandad would smoke and tell stories and my Granny would provide us with puzzle books and games. Sometimes we'd play cards, or help Granny make jam or that sort of thing.
We'd drive home in the dark and it would then be bed time.

I've had my weekly hair wash and I'm waiting for Bread to come on TV.

It’s mid to late 80s, we’ve just finished Sunday dinner. Dad has gone up for a nap because he’s been in the pub from 12-3pm (and is hung over from spending the entire day in the pub yesterday). Mum and I are left to clear up. When we are finished I shall wake him at 7pm for him to get up have a shower and go back to the pub till closing while Mum and I watch poirot. Then he’ll come back at 11pm and start a loud row with mum about what a shithole the house is and why does he bother doing the decorating while we can’t keep it nice for him.

It's 1987. My best friend who lives around the corner has probably just gone home, and mum is serving dinner. Dad is finishing up whatever home improvement project he'd taken on that day.

I'm probably squabbling with my sister over the Nintendo.

1980s. Mum is ironing. I might be "helping" by ironing hankies with my toy iron. We've been to Grandma's for Sunday dinner so we'll have sardines on toast for tea. Songs of Praise and Antiques Roadshow on the telly, then bath and hair wash/ nit comb before bed.

I'm watching Children of the New Forest & then having my supper which on a Sunday would be a booked egg, or kippers or something like that after having had roast dinner at lunchtime. A few years later I would be eagerly awaiting the Sunday charts countdown & waiting to record it.

Late 90s - probably playing some game with my sibling before a roast dinner, argument about who’s doing the dishes, bath and hair wash after. Would then read in my room before bed.

Early 80’s. Just had a jam sandwich for tea and I’ve popped to the corner shop with my dad to get crisps and lemonade for our Sunday night treat ready to watch Hart to Hart that evening.

early 80s - settling down to a sunday dinner in front of the tv- usually watching a disney movie. Wishing i had a pony.

Mid-90s. We would have had our dinner at McDonald's or Kentucky earlier in the day after my parents had dragged us around MFI. I would probably be stuffing my face with cheese on toast for tea, followed by my favourite chocolate bar a 'secret'. Washed down with some corona limeade which the milkman delivered to us.

I was dreading school the next day, not for any serious reason but just because I'd rather laze around at home and play on my SNES. My parents would always watch Heartbeat and like @Miffy2020 the music still gives me that horrible Sunday evening school the next day feeling

For me, let's say 1969. I am out playing in the snow with my brothers, we're building a snow lantern, but I'll have to go in soon as we eat at 6. We are allowed to play in the dark in the garden as it gets dark so early. Food is generally good, home-cooked, but no set Sunday meal. We don't have roast that often as it is quite expensive to feed a family of 6 on pure meat. Fish features more frequently, offal not uncommonly, and lots of boiled spuds. As it's winter we'll probably have a candle on the table while we're eating.
After supper, we'll read and play games. Mum will sit in her corner of the sofa in a patch of light, mending or doing embroidery or teaching us; dad will do the washing up.

Using twin tub washing machine to heat water to go in the tin bath tub for fortnightly baths.

Just back from winkle picking, so boiling them up to have with bread and butter.

When we had a television, we had Black Beauty on a Sunday.

I'm searching the cupboards for a sweet treat. Alas all there is a pot of glacé cherries. I pop a couple in my mouth and head to the sitting room to watch blind date. I'll sit near the electric fire as it's bloody freezing. I'll try to have a bath later, if there is any hot water left. School tomorrow..... I wonder if my friends will like my hair which I've spent hours styling in tiny plaits which I'll wear up in a pony tail-how cutting edge!

1970s. I’ve just finished watching the children’s classic serial (things like A Little Princess/ David Copperfield) on TV. It’s boiled eggs and toast fingers for supper because we had a roast lunch. I’m probably polishing my shoes for the week now.

1950s, we'd probably have visited my gran and cousins round the cornet in the afternoon. We had no TV, so after a bath and weekly hairwash, I'd either be reading, playing cards with my parents, or we'd listen to Take your Pick (or similar) on the radio. I might be helping my mum wind her wool into balls, she knitted all my jumpers and cardigans. Only child, so it was usually pretty quiet.

Corner

Bath, hair wash, brush out all the knots, tea (something like scrambled eggs) in front of the BBC children's programme/ antiques road show/ finish off last minute unfinished homework, sinking feeling of dread about Monday and school!