Sunday afternoons

I used to hate Sundays when I was a child - nothing to do, nowhere to go and having to keep out of the way of my poor mother, who worked full time and had to use Sundays to clean the house and do all the laundry. I find that even though I am well used to living alone, Sunday can be a difficult day, especially in the winter and so I take turns with one of my friends who also lives alone to cook a roast dinner. This usually works well, unless like last night, we decide it's a good idea to open a second bottle of wine!

I've never liked Sundays and can always "feel" it's a Sunday somehow when I wake up. Not sure how but there is a leaden feel to it somehow. Or that's probably just me with the ingrained bored feeling which Sundays engendered in childhood.

We had to go to Church twice (morning and evening) and were not allowed to play out. In the afternoon there was a compulsory family walk - so, so boring and I could not wait for Sunday to end.

Now, even though I never go to Church there is still the same ennui about the day for me. Perhaps I should make sure we did something special to look forward to but can't really come up with anything that appeals.

Yesterday I showered and washed my hair and went down to Waitrose meaning to spend an hour drinking free coffee and reading the papers. However, pleased to see GS1 (who lives with me) already in the café eating a bacon bap and drinking coffee so joined him and we had a chat about life (he is going through a trauma at the moment).

Meanwhile, DH was off running another GS to football training.

When I got home with the shopping I did washing up from the day before and then got on with reading through old diaries and summarising them on the computer. The diaries go from 1968 to date so it's quite a task. All diaries from the 1980s and 90s have been summarised and shredded already.

The afternoon was taken up with reading, cleaning, cooking, chatting to the next door neighbour.

It's today I'm feeling flat and lonely for some reason.

I'm another who doesn't like Sundays since I've been on my own. Yesterday I spent some time trying to reason with my 93 yr old father on the phone. I also made a casserole which I will appreciate tonight as I shan't have to cook.

Like sewsilver I miss having someone to do nothing with. I hate sundays and they always seem to last much longer than any other day. Yesterday I ate too much rubbish, didn't go for the walk I should have done, fiddled about with some paperwork and spent too long on the iPad. Blessed relief when bed time arrived.

Ours is the same as most of those here, unless we play bowls, which I do not really enjoy on Sundays, because it means I miss my Sunday roast, why does Sunday roast always taste so good on a Sunday, and not on any other day?

My Sunday Afternoons are spent looking at the TV, but I also phone a friend as well.
I have also done the normal afternoon nap even watching TV.
But feel better for that Sunday afternoon nap.
Mick

In spite of being a news freak, I rejoice that Sunday papers here don't include umpteen extra sections and magazines so if I want to read one, it takes a fairly short time. Mind you, I still maintain that British newspapers are the most comprehensive (for global news) in the world. Somehow, on Sunday afternoons I always seem to end up doing a pile of ironing - sometimes my own and sometimes absentdaughter's.

Listened to the Archer's omnibus in bed
, walked the dogs
local horse show
spent time with my horse
face time with son and grandson in Poland
long hot bath
chat with sister

I have always hated Sundays. I simply can't enjoy the day for the dread of tomorrow, Monday. When I was a child Sunday meant school the next day and now it means work. I wish i could enjoy the day but find that I am so busy trying to do everything I don't have time for during the week which usually means shopping, housework etc. Sunday nights are usually sleepless as too busy worrying about Monday.

Got up at 5, couldn't sleep for coughing.
Fed animals (mine plus daughter's dog, they're away)
Finished painting kitchen dresser
Walked dogs then went to feed daughter's kitten, took a load of clothes I'd washed, dried and ironed, put another load in her washing machine, emptied tumble drier, folded and put away clothes.
Went to car boot sale
Home for housework, dusted, Hoovered, cleaned bathroom.
Back to feed kitten.
Decided to make curtains, pinned, no thread. Up to shop. Got thread but sat down and had a nap instead.
Tea, took D's dog home, took mine for walk.
GrandD came to fix computer.
Fed animals, did a bit of gardening, rang sister.
End of productive day, sat down with crossword.Still coughing.

We usually use weekends to do all house-worky stuff so that we avoid all the workers who want to go out and enjoy themselves during the weekend. So apart from that and any entertaining we may do,we then have the week days completely free to do what we want

Our Sundays follow a pretty regular pattern.
I sleep very badly ... usually from around 3am, so if I get to sleep a bit late it's a real treat.
DH makes late breakfast. - Smoke alarm alert. That'll be the bacon.
I get up and after breakfast 'clean up the kitchen'.
Sunday papers, check emails etc.
Prepare roast and veg for family arriving around 5pm.
Hubby peels spuds and makes gravy.
Hubby watching Football.... Super Sunday does my head in !!
7.30/8pm - family gone, both of us clear up the kitchen, Sunday cryptic crossword and a drama of some sort.

Just said to DH earlier that on a Sunday, anyone 'looking on' would think we weren't on speaking terms. Both lost in our own little worlds. Comfortable silence.
Except of course when family arrive, then noone can get a word in.

Darn.... DH has just lifted the crossword before me...

Lona and Sewsilver - I had a few years where it was pretty lonely on a Sunday. My life has now changed and I had sort of forgotten those Sundays. You have reminded me to be thankful for what I have, and I wish you both well.

In crèche in Church this morning, lunch then lazy afternoon reading and knitting before back to church to actually be in the service. Great place for friendship, support as well as spiritual benefits.

Church this morning, just managed to get up in time. Then getting food ready for when my DS and his family came over. Now relaxing with a large glass of wine after running round after little ones. Sewsilver I really do feel for you as I guess most of us fear for when that time comes in our lives too.
Is autumn really here in the middle of August? Kids had their coats on in the garden this afternoon and now I've got candles lit & feeling cosy, just not right!

Sewsilver
I'm on my own all day too.
Slobbed with the papers all morning,got ready and dodged the rain at lunch time to walk down to the market.
Pootled for a while, came home, slobbed some more. Finished the papers, browsed Gn, made a huge omelette thingy with loads of veg and some bacon flavoured Spam.

Had a long therapeutic chat with a friend, and then ate some omelette.
Just had facetime with my dgd, who has come home from France to find a wooden playhouse her Daddy had built as a surprise for her.

I like Sundays.

Sundays are varied! Either really lazy days (weather dependent) or we might go out for a walk /drink, do some gardening, crosswords etc. i rarely cook on Sunday unless its a 'get together' when the DDs +SsIL and DGC are here. from August to May DH is often at football matches on Sunday so I garden /sew/crochet/read or meet up with friends.

Today we went out for a lovely lunch in Balham to celebrate a friends 65th birthday then back to hers for cake/bubbly. Next Sunday we are out with friends, in a motor launch, on the Thames from Putney.

I often take a picnic and a newspaper to the moors on Sundays.
But today I took a Victoria sponge to my eldest grandchild in her new flat
for a cup of tea and a chat... Lovely.

Really busy here, as DBH often has to work on a Saturday so Sundays are spent manically trying to finish DIY projects, or he mows and cuts hedges while I have bonfires or weed. Today however we had GCs so spent the afternoon trying to teach them to ride bikes.

I find I really hate Sundays without DH. It's a cliche , but true for me , that it's having nobody to do nothing with that's difficult. Consequently I try to keep as busy as possible and often find myself exhausted by Sunday evening. I don't think I've quite got to grips with this widow business yet.

Living here in this tiny village, Sunday is no different than any other day. Peaceful is what it is.

We're having a quiet day with very little talking, each engrossed in our own thing - me knitting, reading, on the 'web; him doing the crossword and watching sports with one eye.

Church, pub, food, telly.

The washing x2 is out, I have read the newspaper but not the magazines yet. I have been watching and thoroughly enjoying the European Athletics Championships.

There is nothing for me on TV tonight so I may catch up with paper shredding after my supper of chicken stir fry. With luck there will be sufficient for tomorrow evening also. A boring day for some but I have enjoyed it.