What is open on Monday 19th Sept?

[mourningafter]

For those of us lucky enough to have the day off with our kids, who don't want to watch the funeral. I would love to hear anyone's idea of how to make the most of a bonus day off. In particular if you know of anything fun that's open.

I'd prefer not to spend the day in the local park, have done that enough in the past 2 years. The only thing I've seen that's open so far is Hawksmoor which is a bit fancy for a family day!

My 10 year old wants to watch it. And my 8 year old has asked if he can go to my nans to watch it with her.

Well you can't go to B&Q or Dunelm if that helps

Pubs will be open but i imagine if they have TVs, the funeral will be on

I have been to enough funerals of people I love and care about. I won't be watching one on TV, of someone I never met, however worthy she was. I don't want to wallow in sadness, she had a good long life, and a fairly quick death without weeks of suffering, she has her own family and lots of important politicians to mourn her, she doesn't need me. I will go out with my dog, and take a picnic if it is a decent day

It’s not just any Monarch is it? It’s the longest reigning monarch and will most likely be the last female monarch any of our children will see.

Mmm, and she's dead. Watching her funeral won't do her any good now. This respect policing is mad. Do what you please and others will do as they please. Repeating monarch so often doesn't make it any more important or interesting to someone who thinks the monarchy shouldn't exist.

I'm working, don't have time or money for an arbitrary day off. Kids will be off though so I suspect we will do something for a bit together (my office is in our garden) , probably some games. Littlest wants to watch a bit of the funeral as they have been talking about it at school but he'll last 5mins. Teenager has said he doesn't want to watch it so will probably be playing fifa and we'll get him to do some Spanish with his granny.
DH is a hospital consultant and although they've cancelled clinics and non emergency stuff he'll still be in.
We have talked to the kids about it all, so there have been discussions about heads of state, death and other subjects but don't feel the need to go over the top.

LetMeSpeak
The day should be used to watch the Queens funeral. Nothing will/should be open in respect of the late Queen. I would recommend you stay home and watch the funeral and maybe go to the park after.

WTF are you talking about? There is absolutely no moral obligation on anyone to watch the funeral of someone they have no connection to. There is no moral imperative to support the monarchy at all, and many people do not. I know MN is perpetually infested with the jam 'n' Jerusalem brigade, but it's fascinating to see such antediluvian views being professed in 2022 without a trace of irony.

^THIS!!

'Let the dead bury the dead'

@LetMeSpeak who are you to dictate what I should and shouldn’t do?! I very much doubt my two year old will be happy sitting in front of the tv for hours watching something not even remotely entertaining to him.

OP we’re also looking for something to do on the day as I’ve no intention of watching. Probably a wander through the local woods and feeding the ducks in the park if the weather is ok.

MintJulia that's so good to hear - about your appointment not being cancelled, not your need for it, obviously.

I have just heard that a surgeon who lives near me is worried about his workload on Monday. He has operations scheduled but they are struggling to get enough staff to perform them safely, partly due to the need for childcare with the schools closed.

Very best wishes for your treatment.

Annoyingly I could do with going to the bank. But that will definitely be shut. Anyway some ideas:

Walk at local landmark
Beach

In afraid that's just about all I can think of without knowing your location.

We are in the middle of decorating the bedroom so probably be doing that, I will probably watch key parts of the funeral but not the whole lot.

It amazes me that people think like this. She was a 96 year old woman. It's not disrespectful to carry on with life. I think if I faked grieving then that would be disrespectful. If people want to grieve and watch the funeral then crack on but enforcing on others is weird ( we don't live in a dictator hood)

Is watching the funeral mandatory now? How will you know if we're not...?

I'll be catching up on the accounts for a club I'm involved with. I've been to 2 funerals this year, my dad and FIL, I have no interest in sitting through another of someone I've never met and who wouldn't know my name without a briefing beforehand.

Obviously if you are unfortunate enough to be at Centre Parcs you will be able to spend the day looking for a room for the night

DD is 3. She has no interest in a funeral and I'm not going to make her stay in all day and watch it. I think based on all the local announcements it's going to be the park, the park or the park though!

I don’t understand all this enforced mourning 🤷‍♀️. If you want to watch it that’s fine but everyone is entitled to their own choices so those who don’t want to shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about not watching it !!
We do still live in a democracy don’t we !!

I personally would watch it if it was just me and husband in the house. However, we have a 22 month old and a 3 week old so we will not be watching and the suggestions on here that we should make our children watch it are absurd! We usually spend a lot of time out of the house to get away from the screen so it would be great for us if something was open locally just as a focus point for the day. Well probably end up visiting relatives to make the most of the day instead.

😆

Because chances are my kids will live long enough to see the next 2 kings pop it, so can watch their funerals if they wish, they'll all be the same.

Bus station? (limited service)

My Dad has had a procedure cancelled on Monday and he will suffer because of it. I understand and support as many people being allowed to watch the funeral as possible if they wish but it won't be without adverse effects on people and I don't agree with medical things being cancelled.

But will they? For all you know they might dramatically slim the next ones down. Or be watching on some new fangled device.

Thanks everyone for the opinions. Beach, paddleboarding and Ireland are the most appealing options so far. I won't need to stay at home for my Ocado delivery that's for sure. I'm in south-west London with young primary school kids if that helps anyone for tips - but I doubt it will as nothing is open!