Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Really fed up of having to book in advance

49 replies

olderthanyouthink · 28/06/2021 22:53

I hate having to book everything in advance, I either can't get a place or manage it and then have to cancel because something has come up or most likely because DD is sick AGAIN

I've been trying to take her swimming since pools reopened and I've managed to book 4 times I think and attend once, a couple house things came up so I had to stay in and now she's got D&V so obviously can't go in a pool. I just want to be able to go whenever we get a moment, booking a week in advance is shit because I have no idea if she'll have yet another cough or fever and we have to isolate and test (she's had about 7/8 tests since starting nursery in September). The booking system is so shit that I can't even cancel, I've tried speaking to them and they are useless. Similar issue with the local museum, aquarium, playgroups, sports groups etc.

It's not easy to get book stuff as the competition is so high and then it's such a waste of money and opportunity to not go.

When will we be able to wake up and just go somewhere????

OP posts:

BarbarianMum · 28/06/2021 23:39

How sick is your dd that you are constantly missing things? Booking ahead has always been pretty standard for lots of kids stuff.

Original poster

olderthanyouthink · 29/06/2021 06:18

Not super sick most of the time just a cough often but you can't go anywhere with a new cough till you've done a test at least.

Never used to have to book to go swimming or aquarium just pay at the door. And you just walked in to the museum or playgroup, on an average Tuesday those things weren't very busy at all but now they are fully booked.

OP posts:

Terminallysleepdeprived · 29/06/2021 06:24

A new cough is not a reason to isolate and test, only if it is persistent. I think you are possibly taking things to the extreme.

And as previous poster says, a lot of what you mention ie museums and aquariums had to be booked in advance ore covid to ensure the time slot you wanted.

AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying · 29/06/2021 06:24

My swimming pool. That I'm a paying member of. Charges me if I miss a booked session! SO annoying! 😡

Lesina · 29/06/2021 06:29

Completely sympathise. The lack of spontaneity in life at the moment is utterly depressing. Just no bloody joy anymore.

TheMotherlode · 29/06/2021 06:42

I completely agree, I hate the loss of all spontaneity.

skausbsk · 29/06/2021 06:44

I'm actually preferring going to things with the kids at the moment. Yes thinking ahead and booking in advance is a bit of a pain but no where is overcrowded and horrendously busy. It's actually enjoyable going out with them. Maybe I've been lucky but I haven't had to cancel any for illness recently.

niceupthedance · 29/06/2021 06:47

I agree. I have a chronic illness so if I book something then have a bad day I can't go and it makes it all feel 100 times worse.

MoreAloneTime · 29/06/2021 06:49

I also find booking any outdoor activity in advance seems to guarantee shit weather. The stuff where you can book the night before isn't so bad sometimes but when you factor in all the restrictions a lot of things aren't worth doing.

I also suspect a lot of places just aren't trying because they have people paying in advance so no need to treat them well. We went to something and had prebooked food. It was pouring down and no one had bothered to put up the big umbrellas over the tables, why bother when they've already got our money right? Those massive queues outside Alton Towers because they could only be bothered to get 2 people checking temperatures sounded similar.

SpringRainbow · 29/06/2021 06:56

This is part the reason we haven’t actually bothered doing anything.

I just can’t be bothered with trying to book something and then finding out for whatever reason we can’t go.

None of the things we have thought about doing you had to book in advance, but now you do.

I just don’t think it’s worth it.

I am hoping that the booking system doesn’t stay and they scrap it as soon as they can.

OliveTree75 · 29/06/2021 06:58

It is impossible to get a swimming slot here. Driving me mad!

Wilkolampshade · 29/06/2021 06:58

Agreed OP.

woodfort · 29/06/2021 06:59

It’s not just booking ahead. I actually don’t mind that, I used to really worry travelling to places pre-Covid that I hadn’t booked in case we were turned away, but it’s the rescued capacity meaning that tickets go so, so fast. I’m a member / supporter or whatever it’s called of our local museum and slots go the same day they get put up.

Saying that, I go swimming several times a week and don’t book (private leisure centre that doesn’t do any slots or booking or anything) and it’s bloody fantastic.

Lemons1571 · 29/06/2021 07:00

As an aside I don’t understand why places are still taking peoples temperatures. Our large renouned teaching hospital has signs up saying they don’t do this for any patients or visitors as it’s a really poor way of identifying people with covid. If a large nhs trust has scrapped this as pointless, why does Alton towers still have to do it? The government have been so lazy in not updating guidance as the science evolves.

colincarrot · 29/06/2021 07:07

I just booked the open air pool for Saturday. weather doesn't look great but that's why there were loads of slots. when the weather is nice it's impossible to get a slot. haven't been swimming since covid started so sort of looking forward to it anyway

Newchallenge · 29/06/2021 07:10

Agree OP.

MarcelineMissouri · 29/06/2021 07:18

Yes I completely agree.

I just want to be able to wake up in the morning and think oh yes, I fancy doing whatever today, and turning up with no worry that there won’t be a space or at least being able to book that morning! Especially for outdoor activities with our lovely changeable weather.

ZoBo123 · 29/06/2021 07:19

I hate it to. The National Trust is terrible for this. Used to love just going to our local place during the week with my son. Now I have to think about it a week before

PartyNeeded · 29/06/2021 07:25

@ZoBo123

I hate it to. The National Trust is terrible for this. Used to love just going to our local place during the week with my son. Now I have to think about it a week before

I've just tried to book one which said no need! Not sure if policy has changed or just this location

OP I agree!!

GreenCrayon · 29/06/2021 07:30

As a parent of an toddler I completely sympathise. I cannot wait to experience life as a parent where you can wake up in the morning and decide to do something the same day. Spontaneous days out that are not just the park sound wonderful.

pollylocketpickedapocket · 29/06/2021 07:37

@Terminallysleepdeprived

A new cough is not a reason to isolate and test, only if it is persistent. I think you are possibly taking things to the extreme.

And as previous poster says, a lot of what you mention ie museums and aquariums had to be booked in advance ore covid to ensure the time slot you wanted.

I’ve literally never booked museum, aquarium, soft play, swimming before Covid.

SmallPrawnEnergy · 29/06/2021 07:37

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

My swimming pool. That I'm a paying member of. Charges me if I miss a booked session! SO annoying! 😡

Well yes of course they should. I used to work in a leisure centre way before covid and the monthly members would utterly take the piss with booking things in advance and not turning up, meaning then other people couldn’t book them and the sessions ended up half full. We started black listing the worst offenders as it meant people paying session by session, or even other laid members couldn’t ever get a look in because of their entitlement. It’s easy enough to ring up and cancel your slot.

SorrySoldOut · 29/06/2021 07:39

So you want these type of places to put their staff at risk by allowing multiple people to turn up en masse whenever they feel like it?? Bit selfish isn’t it?

Peoniesandpeaches · 29/06/2021 07:41

Our swimming pool just has 2 lanes at all times so no use for kids and I hate it.

mrsrobin · 29/06/2021 07:45

@Lesina

Completely sympathise. The lack of spontaneity in life at the moment is utterly depressing. Just no bloody joy anymore.

I totally agree - exact words here

Flip

1 2