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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder why anyone sans-children would choose to take annual leave during the summer school holidays?

85 replies

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 14:35

Everything is crowded and expensive.

And more importantly those poor buggers who are tied to school holidays to get time away are then stuck. There was a sudden run on booking leave today and it turns out that most of August is now booked - 2 weeks of which by someone with no children. It doesn't mean I can't take any leave but I will have to book the last few days of July and a few days at start of Sept. And if I whinge enough to my boss I might be able to get him to agree to my taking a week in August as long as I'm unofficially 'on call' ie I go nowhere without my mobile.

Arse!

OP posts:

GettinTrimmer · 29/01/2010 15:58

YANBU, I used to avoid August before dc, a valid moan . If they're going away, why pay inflated rates for hols if they have an alternative.

upahill · 29/01/2010 16:06

Gettintrimmer.... Not all destinations are dearer in August though and worth visiting for the warm weather and the beautiful countries as I said in my post.

I understand OP's gripe but the point of having a/l is so that you can do things in your own time. Each team will have it's own way of operating whether it is a first come first served policy when booking leave in which case Orm will have to be ready waving the leave card as soon as she can next year. Or the holidays get divided up and shared fairly amongst the team in which case Orm will have to suck it up and next year point out that she worked August 2010 and she would like to have August 2011 off.

emsyj · 29/01/2010 16:08

"And it's not about getting preference emsy, it's about being considerate. If one person can't go on leave apart from during a smallish window, wouldn't it be nicer to try not to use that window when you don't need to?"

But who decides whether you 'need' to use that window or not? I would sometimes quite like to take advantage of the bank holidays (e.g. Easter week, when we're already off for Good Friday and Easter Monday, so 4 days' holiday can 'buy' you a week and a bit off work). Is there some special reason why I should have to use 6 days to take the same amount of holidays just because someone else wants time off in school holiday time? It might be 'considerate' for managers and colleagues to collectively agree when holidays are scheduled, as opposed to the situation we have here which is that one arsehole man books all the holidays he wants on 1 January before anyone else gets chance to take a breath and then we all have to work around him. Now that IS inconsiderate.

NotActuallyAMum · 29/01/2010 16:09

Some companies do still shut down, including the one my DH works for - last week in July/first week in August plus 2 weeks over Christmas, leaving everyone just 5 days to have when they like

We would love to be able to go away at a cheaper/quieter time of year

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 16:10

"as opposed to the situation we have here which is that one arsehole man books all the holidays he wants on 1 January before anyone else gets chance to take a breath and then we all have to work around him"

Well exactly! That is what happened today .

OP posts:

grumpypants · 29/01/2010 16:11

I am that the op actually thinks someone else should book their holidays on the basis that it may suit the op's life better. Nothing more.

madwomanintheattic · 29/01/2010 16:13

lol grumpy, i think the op just wishes she could go on holiday in term time, and is bemused by the fact that people who can, choose not to, which means she can't go on holiday at all.

tis a funny old world.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 16:13

Oh dear didn't mean to you grumpy.

It appears that they are quite happy to force me to arrange my life to suit them.

OP posts:

princessparty · 29/01/2010 16:14

1 Holidaying with a family with kids

2 married to a teacher

3 got a timeshare then

grumpypants · 29/01/2010 16:16

They aren't forcing you to do anything - it's not a personal attack by your colleague. It just means a side effect of his booking a holiday is that you can't do it then. I doubt very much any thought at all was given to you and your preferences.

agedknees · 29/01/2010 16:16

I can understand the OP's position tbh. What should happen is that the hols are booked when everyone can put their holiday dates to the manager at the same time.

cece · 29/01/2010 16:18

Perhaps they are married to a teacher.

Perhaps they have a wedding to attend in some far flung plce.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 16:18

Agedknees - I suspect that won't happen. I shall just have to say 'fuck you' like everyone else and take my 2 weeks in August.

OP posts:

imgonnaliveforever · 29/01/2010 16:25

Maybe because their a teacher. And unlike pupils teachers aren't allowed to take their holidays out of term time just because it's cheaper.

niamhanddanismum · 29/01/2010 16:27

As a teacher who had to take overpriced and overfull holidays before children I can remember being amazed and annoyed by coach parties of old people making tourist spoys even busier. Why they needed to go away in the Easter holidays when they could go any time I never understood. They aleays walked REALLY slowly and held us up even further.

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 16:29

imgonnaliveforever - Garghhh!! DH is a teacher! I've mentioned this fact twice but should have put it in the OP. So we can't take holidays in term time either.

OP posts:

emsyj · 29/01/2010 16:31

By the same token, those with children shouldn't take them shopping on a Saturday if they have a day off during the week when they could go instead.

[retreats and hides under desk emoticon]

upahill · 29/01/2010 16:38

Oh you stirrer emsyj!!

LetThereBeRock · 29/01/2010 16:40

How dare old people walk slowly when on holiday? Any doing so should be shot upon sight. That'd soon quicken their pace.

Quattrocento · 29/01/2010 16:41

I do have an awful lot of sympathy for childless teachers.

Imagine the horror of being surrounded by other people's children throughout your working life, and then the structure of your job is such that even when you go on holiday you have to be surrounded by children ...

upahill · 29/01/2010 16:49

Orm Why can't you go in July? The schools break up round the 21st which gives you a good week before August.

Northernlurker · 29/01/2010 16:50

I think it's just hard luck unfortunately. Assuming you had the same chance as everybody else to get in first and therefore have your pick?

I suspect I have annoyed one of my colleagues by booking my holiday for the summer in November last year. Well I can't help that - I booked it when I booked the holiday itself. The same opportunity was available to her and to all the other staff. I've never had a problem getting my holiday in because I do book it as soon as I can. I then stick to what I've picked and don't fanny around changing my mind. I also check school holiday dates/Bank Holidays etc BEFORE booking. If the weather is shit, it's shit - I just live with that!

(Can you tell I've had years of aggro with other people's annual leave...?)

Original poster

OrmRenewed · 29/01/2010 16:50

I might be able to. But I have a feeling that week was booked by my manager for his wedding anniversary.

I am hopeful for Whitsun atm.

OP posts:

pooexplosions · 29/01/2010 16:57

See this is why people without children get pissed off with those who do. Those people who think that shouting "but I have a baaabeee" is some kind of ticket to walk over other people. I mean, obviously you should get your holidays when you want and they should share out the scraps amongst themselves when your little darlings are on school.

In case I wasn't clear, YABEU.

Heated · 29/01/2010 16:57

Have every sympathy with OrmRenewed, since because her children are school aged and her dh is a teacher, her holiday time is always going to be prescripted and it doesn't sound as if her colleague's holiday time is (as far as she is aware).

How different is it holidaying two weeks in mid July/first two weeks in Sept, apart from being a darn sight cheaper and quieter?

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