what do you do in the evenings when dcs are in bed?

[ImNotBloody14]

apart from MN or telly (do both anyway) or drink (don't drink on my own)

i'm feeling so bloody bored and frustrated. i'm unbelieveably skint, no friends to call in for a natter, exp had the dcs today for the afternoon and I did nothing, they're home now and going to bed soon. I have cleaned as much of the house as i'm willing to do on a Saturday (it's pretty clean anyway) I need a hobby I can do at home that's not going to cost lots of money (or any if possible) what can I do?

last night I had a bath and gave myself a mani/pedi and fake tanned. I normally only do that if it's a blue moon I get invited out somewhere, but I was bored.

I've read all the books in the house.
I've sorted through all our wardrobes to charity shop/sell
I've brushed the dog
I've gone through the photo albums to pass 10 minutes (it's all online now-photo albums used to pass a whole evening!)

Bake, sew (badly), dick about on facebook.

What are you good at/interested in?

I don't know tbh. I know- how can you not know? but I don't. i'm not good at anything really.

Maybe use this as an opportunity to try something new? Are you thinking crafts or something? Maybe pick something at random or that you've always wondered about and look up tutorials on the internet or YouTube?

How old are DC? I felt like that for a while but they grow up so quick they are up with you before you know it and you wish they were in bed because you have thought of all the brilliant things you could be doing.

I mn way too much!!

dcs are 8 and 4.

i'm browsing free online courses right now- maybe learn german or something. I think i'd prefer to get away from screens though- I already spend too much time watching tv or on the laptop. obviously if i'm to learn something new i'll have to look at the screen to learn it though

Good idea OP - I always find the best things come out of a seemingly bad situation. Get an audio course

I mumsnet, I Facebook. I watch tv. And since last October I do open uni sometimes :-D I get it all on tuition loans, thirty credit modules at a time, keeps my brain active :-D

Knit or crochet. I make pretty much all the presents I give so it kills two birds with one stone. I' m currently making a blanket in ice cream colours for 10year DN to have on her bad.

smokinaces what courses are you doing on OU?

I have a few things I watch - Luther, New Girl and The White Queen atm. Oh and Who do you think you are has just started. I have a LoveFilm account and watch a couple of films a week on there too. Between that and MN and reading I find I never have enough time in the evenings!
Interested in the online courses idea but haven't written an essay in about 15 years, so not sure I would be very coherent!

I run a business teaching knitting, sewing, crochet and crafts from my kitchen three evenings a week-it's a lovely way to make a modest income. I also have an ebay shop selling crafts supplies.

If you want to get away from screens try to find a good author and get a series. I didn't realise how much I missed reading until I found Rivers of London about a year ago and chewed through the series quicker than a pack of chocolate hobnobs.

Isis im working towards a full degree, aiming for maths and statistics. My friend is doing history, another is doing creative writing. There's so many to choose from.

well i climbed up into the roofspace and found my old knitting bag and a project I thought I hadn't finished but have! which has made me happy as it's for the dcs so they can have that tomorrow. I also found my measuring tape and measured my boobs been waiting to do that for ages since reading the bra threads and couldn't find the measuring tape so now i'm going to go work out what bra size I am.

Sounds like a very productive evening, I'mNot, what bra size ARE you, then?

smokinaces, that's fab, I'd love to do something like that!

well I got 31 and 38 so I think that makes me either a 30E or 32E according to the bra guide thread- that's tomorrow afternoon sorted- bra trying on expedition in town

Isis, its taken me years to get up the halls. And im doing it part time, simply as working and can't afford to lose all my income and rely on student loans. But in six to ten years I should hopefully have a degree. And the kids will be teenagers and that should enable me to look for better work. I hope! Only coming to the end of my first year now and its hard going!

Imnot, bloody love underwear shopping, very jealous!! I'm a 34dd to 34e, so not too disimilliar and there are some lovely styles out. Even places like asda. Only thing is for every bra I have to buy two pairs of matching knickers!

To get up the halls?? To get up the balls!!

I haven't bra shopped in years. I get all my bras from my sister when she's done with them don't think i'll buy anything tomorrow (haven't got the cash) but it will be interesting to see if my measurements work out right and it will pass a few hours.

I also started a psychology course with OU when ds2 was born but I just couldn't discipline myself enough to meet the deadlines and had to drop out of it.

I've just finished a full time nursing degree (that took me an extra year as I had DD in the middle) so I may be slightly unhinged to be considering taking on another one for fun! But I would love to do psychology or something similar. Well done for getting up the halls And I am vair impressed at you doing maths, I can only add up using my fingers

you two are putting me to shame- I felt I had accomplished something by climbing into the roofspace- never mind doing a degree!!

I read books, drink wine or have sex