Routines, are you stuck in one?

I had a friend (well, acquaintance) once who I used to go meetings with. One time the meeting was brought forward by 30 minutes and when I rang to let her know she got into a right tizz as it would impinge on her supper time! I could hardly believe I was hearing right. When I queried it she got defensive and quite hostile.

Also, a friend's mum used to be kind enough to host me sometimes at weekends. She lived down in Hastings and I used to drive there from West London. If I said I'd be there about 9pm she'd complain if I was 10 minutes early or late. Having driven about 85 miles!

Forgot to say, Swedes are notorious for routines regarding meals. Monday its left overs, Tuesday I cant remember Wednesdays its fish, Thursday its this special soup, thick pea soup,Fridays sea food or tacos,Saturday I am not sure, Sunday pizza or something of their own choice. You do NOT eat anything else on the given days,thats routine, or tradition gone mad! just saying.

I dont like having a routine I take things as they come, however husband has definate routines,one which irritates most is the exact time of our evening meal, it has to be dead on 5pm or its a catastrophy, why I dont know, I ask and he says its because I am hungry then, but I ask you is anyone hungry at the exact same time every day.
I dont want to get into a rut

silvercollie

This puts me in mind of something that happened almost fifty years ago. After a long and tiring flight from New Zealand my with my four little ones - ages 3,4,5 and 6 - I decided to visit their father's parents a couple of short bus journeys away. Their father was still in NZ. My thinking being that as these grandparents had never met any of the children, it would be a lovely surprise. How wrong could I be?
I was met at the front door by my father-in-law who told me it was not convenient and that they always go out on Tuesday afternoons. He would fetch his car to take us back to my mother's flat where my family were staying. I insisted on saying hello to my mother-in-law and introducing her grandchildren, but was whisked away as time was getting short for their excursion.
My mother was hugely surprised, not to mention shocked, as the car stopped outside her place just as she had returned from the towous trips!!
My insensitivity to other people's routines I guess.

Tbh I'd be gobsmacked too! And you thought it a "good idea" ? Doubt it took any thought at all!

#VACUUM!!!!!

Not that you'd notice? I routinely do cleaning but only when it looks ready to do in the dusting/windows/vaccine depts. Other essential stuff yes routine is needed for keeping clean environment.but "tea at 5.45 prompt!" ? No siree Bob!. We have moveable feasts depending on what I fancy cooking, eat out for lunch/mid afternoon then late snax! Change beds routinely that's normal behaviour but I'd detest a DH who demands his "tea on't table at six, " ??? ecky thump attitude

I do have a routine but not by things. Before I go to bed or first thing in the morning it is coffee and the radio times. It will be a quick look at what concerts are on (radio 3 tends to get top billing) and when, if there is a gardening programme and if I am at home Only Connect is marked up as I enjoy having a go at the questions. Then the main routine is what is the weather like and how my back is and if I can manage a walk or at least sit outside or something. So it is all a moveable feast especially in the winter time. Sunshine wins over any other plans - not involving other people of course - so whatever I plan if the weather is good it can all be ditched, in favour of making the most of the sun. Then if there is music or a programme on say in the afternoon that I dislike that is the time to be hoovering or doing any sort of noisy jobs. Writing emails whilst listening to a play or poetry please and so on . It makes being on my own a bit more positive as I am sure we have all spent years running families and jobs and being tied to a set routine. Now I may not have any company but if I want to eat a sandwich at 11am 1pm or 2.30, for my lunch I can and do. BC i,e, before covid and also before the fuel prices went up so much, a day like today with lovely sunny view I would ring my friend up and say do you want to drop everything and we will go to Saltburn for a walk on the beach etc and we would scurry round and set off. I deliberately keep an old towel and my tattiest costume in a bag, plus my picnic box is always in the boot with cutlery and plates and kitchen roll ready for a fish and chip or take away curry or whatever. small binoculars , spare sox and walking boots and an umbrella and sunglasses., all reside in the car. No doubt diminishs the mpg but so useful and can just get up and go whenever it is possible . So thats my kind of routine. On not so good days when it is just plodding through the minimum , it is good to have days to look back on . Well speaking of which , I shall take my own advice and go out to enjoy the sunshine. Hope you all have sunny day today too

I usually go for my daily walk at 3 pm unless the weather is seriously bad.

This puts me in mind of something that happened almost fifty years ago. After a long and tiring flight from New Zealand my with my four little ones - ages 3,4,5 and 6 - I decided to visit their father's parents a couple of short bus journeys away. Their father was still in NZ. My thinking being that as these grandparents had never met any of the children, it would be a lovely surprise. How wrong could I be?
I was met at the front door by my father-in-law who told me it was not convenient and that they always go out on Tuesday afternoons. He would fetch his car to take us back to my mother's flat where my family were staying. I insisted on saying hello to my mother-in-law and introducing her grandchildren, but was whisked away as time was getting short for their excursion.
My mother was hugely surprised, not to mention shocked, as the car stopped outside her place just as she had returned from the towous trips!!
My insensitivity to other people's routines I guess.

No i don't have a strict routine. I spent my working life doing routine things and when I am at home I get to do what I like and better still do what I want. I hate routine.

I am happier with a routine everything in its own place. We find it is far less stressful. Having IBS and osteoarthritis I find that this is the best way for me, can prepare food ahead of time as need a special diet.
We have a nervous dog who is getting older now and she likes a routine too.

My beloved dad was a typical watchmaker- lunch at 12, on the dot, and supper at 6. Perhaps the reason I am not and never have been a routine person. Every day is different- depending on weather, activities planned, whether hungry or not, etc, etc.

I'm in a routine for dog walks and meal times, other than that I just go shopping when I'm low on items, laundry when it starts to gather up, etc.

Not rigid but many are just to save me thinking about boring stuff.

No routine here. Every day is a muddle.

Interesting that the ‘Washing on Monday’ seems to be universal!

The ‘tea at 5.45’ man reminded me of FiL and his sister, dh’s old aunt. They had to have their meals on the dot - I swear their mother had told them they’d sicken and die if they didn’t.

The aunt used to stay sometimes with friends in France - she’d get into a right old state because she’d be ‘all out’ with her meals, because of the one hour time difference!

Weirdly when we are on holiday he goes with the flow.

Dogs like routine, gives them confidence and security, so we do walk and feed him much the same time every day as well as knowing when it is time for bed, go into the garden, at his reminder if course

Two days routine when we look after our granddaughter. The weather tends to dictate us a bit the other days. If it is nice and sunny then out we go walking. All jobs and shopping can wait!

No I don’t it’s mundane, I’d hate getting up knowing it was a clean the bathrooms day ?
My mum had a day for everything , mon washing , Tues kitchen Wed bedrooms etc etc used to drive me mad she wouldn’t consider changing even if it was for a day at the coast, she simply couldn’t come out of the house until after 1.30pm then had to be home by 4pm to prepare tea. If I feel like cleaning one day I’ll do it if not so be it.

I invited a friend for coffee, suggested Monday morning but she declined as that’s when she does her ironing. ?

Dinner usually at about 7.30, but apart from that, no. I do things as and when I feel like it.

Both off us like order but I would say we have patterns rather than routines which we are happy to flex and do more interesting things.

FarNorth It was clearly worrying him! I think he would have been very discombobulated but recovered eventually!
Poor man?