Childfree MN - what do you do on your A/L days?

[gudetamathelazyegg]

Hi Childfree MN board! I was pleased to find this little corner and have been thinking about what would be interesting to talk about when this question came to mind. A lot of parents I work with use their leave to handle childcare emergencies or do nice things with the kids etc and I realise I'm quite lucky that I can do as I like.

I have leave booked this week in my new job (first senior mgmt post, I'm knackered and need a rest). Decided to take this day because the new Silent Hill game is coming out on Thursday so thought I can have a long weekend and start playing it. I know we aren't all gamers haha but game releases is one thing I have taken leave for in the past with DH as it's our shared hobby. I also have time off coming up soon after finishing a half marathon, because I know from last time I will be in no state to work the day after. For Christmas I love to take a good few weeks just to hibernate, write, bake and make a lot of mulled wine...

So, childfree/childless MNers, what about you? x

Yesterday I was home alone so I baked some scones, bought clotted cream and jam and ate one three with a glass of champagne! I felt like Joan Collins and it was excellent.

This morning I’ve done all my household tasks early and will give myself a new manicure (largely to put off having the rest of the sones and wine just yet…)

I took a week off recently which was meant to be for catching up with jobs & life admin, but it turned into a week for catching up with people, which was much nicer - I met up with different friends / relations every day.

So it’s a good thing I have enough leave left to book another week which will be for catching up with the other stuff!

I forget that other people work and my best friend has had to remind me more than once that she is not available during the week, she thinks it is hilarious.

I take long walks with my doggy and pottering around listening to books and making my house look and smells nice

How is everyone finding the darker evenings and mornings?
Does anyone have any recommendations to make aurumn more pleasant?
I'm struggling a bit at the moment with my mood

Unless I’m out, I’m spending dark evenings cozily with crochet, audiobooks & my cat.

I agree the dark mornings aren’t great though. Not long now until the clocks change.

I am never up early enough for dark mornings. I like the dark nights. Much as I love summer in general; sunshine, warm weather, bbqs, I have always hated going to bed in daylight, even when I was a kid I could not sleep if it's still light outside and if my window was open I could hear the kids from the nearby estate playing.

I live in a different country from my family so a large chunk of AL is spent visiting them or hosting them when they come over. Otherwise mostly day trips and long weekends to hike in the alps or explore country breweries, if DP can get free the same time as me.

Looking back at my leave commitments this year, I can confirm that I have used leave as follows:

1 x long weekend european city break with DH (although a last minute work issue meant I spent chunks of time in the apartment on the laptop 😡
Total of 11 days, so far, dealing with elderly mother's issues.
1 x day to go to a gig in another city.
1 x actual two-week holiday in the summer, with DH
1 x long weekend with friends
2 x family funerals
1 x day off for my birthday - just because!
1 x planned midweek christmas shopping day in December.

I used to spend annual leave on day trips, quiet time, spa days, or visiting museums, exhibitions, tourist attractions etc outside of the busy weekends but mum's advancing years have put a stop to that. I have 5 days left to take before end December - but we can also carry forward 5 days so I plan to leave those in the bank in case needed for mum stuff. It's actually quite startling, counting it up, how much of my annual leave is now spent on/with her (especially as I'm constantly getting criticism from my sister for not doing enough!) and I guess that's no different from parents who juggle actual holidays with childcare within their AL allowances - I just don't know how folk who have to do both cope with it all.

I love the darker evenings , Lego , books , jigsaws , nice wine , Netflix all curled up with my dogs