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Fun and Laughter

(64 Posts)
beautybumble Thu 08-Jun-23 20:56:54

I would be interested to know if you've got anywhere you can go for enjoyment. Where I live all there is for retired people is coffee and chat at the church, knit and natter or being a volunteer. All of those things are important to help people who are lonely or just like to do them, but to be honest, I would love to go out dancing or to a social club to have a bit of a laugh. I'm 73 but I still would love to have a little fun. Where's the life?

MerylStreep Thu 08-Jun-23 21:15:35

I suppose it depends on where you live. I’m spoilt for choice, really as I live in Southend.
Btw, I volunteer and I’m not lonely

Jaxjacky Thu 08-Jun-23 21:24:32

Our local pub, they have live music, there are new people joining in all the time, lots of dancing!

Kate1949 Thu 08-Jun-23 23:32:12

Our local pub too. Quiz night, live acts, fund raising events. Great fun.

Aveline Fri 09-Jun-23 06:37:24

Depends on your idea of fun I suppose. I've had great fun and lots of laughs in a volunteer job.

NotSpaghetti Fri 09-Jun-23 06:45:13

Have you done any Googling for social clubs in your area?
There are lots in mine.
One is a community pub.

I have to add I've only ever been to one of them.

kittylester Fri 09-Jun-23 07:05:30

I suggest volunteering- I have lots of fun.

Your community library might have notices of things that are on locally. Or, you could try your local fb page or Spotted page.

hulahoop Fri 09-Jun-23 09:27:22

We have nothing where I live I keep looking but to no avail.

merlotgran Fri 09-Jun-23 09:42:21

Do you have a U3A group near you? I joined when I moved 18 months ago as I didn’t know anybody and it’s the best thing I could have done. There are lots of different activities to suit all interests.

Lathyrus Fri 09-Jun-23 09:54:27

Do you mean sort of clubbing for oldies?

I ask because to me volunteer and things like knit and natter provide plenty of opportunities for fun and a laugh.

NotSpaghetti Fri 09-Jun-23 10:01:37

I just put "social clubs" into Google and got loads of them. Way more than I expected!
I am on the edge of a small town.

NotSpaghetti Fri 09-Jun-23 10:06:42

- 22 within 5 miles. Admittedly some !(maybe 7 or 8) are sports clubs but I have been a member of sports clubs in the past and they are used by regulars so wouldn't rule them out unless I was totally disinterested.

My mother-in-law joined a boules club and a country dancing one via U3A (much older than 73).
As others have said, take a look at U3A

Judy54 Fri 09-Jun-23 16:22:55

I like a coffee and a chat, don't knit but definitely like a natter. If you like dancing try a Zumba gold class, silver swans or line dancing. Yes volunteering is also a great way of meeting people. I do a Tai Chi class every week which is very beneficial and gives an opportunity to socialise too.

BlueBelle Fri 09-Jun-23 16:27:42

I volunteer 3 times a week and we all have a real hoot
There’s all ages, types, male, female and anything else and it’s great fun

Paperbackwriter Sun 11-Jun-23 11:20:29

Music venues are good. I go to gigs at two local blues clubs and everyone seems to have a great time. Dance if you want to - and you'll never know who you'll meet.

Amalegra Sun 11-Jun-23 11:20:45

I volunteer too and it is great fun. So are the coffee mornings depending on the mix of people. I also have children and grandchildren near who keep me busy. But it can get quite lonely in the evenings and I would love to find the kind of enjoyment I used to have when younger. The, mostly ladies, I meet at these events are lovely but many have husbands to go home to or are perhaps more content with the quiet life! An evening out a week would be great! Perhaps a ‘youth’ club type thing for us older ones! Sadly there’s nothing much where I live. I did try the local Conservative club a few years back but they weren’t very welcoming to single people like me, as all ‘coupled up’, so I gave it up as a bad job! No other clubs near. So I’ll just keep my ears/eyes open (perhaps Google the Meet-up organisation pages again) and cross my fingers. I refuse to written off fun wise at 66!

vampirequeen Sun 11-Jun-23 11:23:46

It depends where you live and what you like to do. If you're in W Yorks and like Rock and Roll music/dancing then there are lots of dances held in different parts of the county. People who go to Rock and Roll dances are very friendly. The same goes for anyone who goes to a Forties dance.

If you like walking why not join a ramblers group or, if that's a bit strenuous to start with, a walking for health group.

It's a bit difficult to give ideas without knowing roughly where you are. Can you give us a clue?

Coconut Sun 11-Jun-23 11:23:47

I have lots fun on all the singles holidays I go on. I’m also trying London clubs Boisdale and other Jazz clubs, festivals etc. It depends what you like and where you live. We all have to hunt for what makes us happy, good luck …..

Callistemon21 Sun 11-Jun-23 11:25:35

WI, TWG, not all Jam and Jerusalem
U3A dancing groups as well as languages, craft, walking, etc etc
Pubs with live music
Volunteer; there are lots of groups, it's not only working in a charity shop

Summerfly Sun 11-Jun-23 11:29:00

I love music so I go to acoustic clubs, country music clubs etc. with DH. I’ve made so many like minded friends over the years. It’s a wonderful way to make new friends. Walking clubs are another way to meet new people too. Good luck.

Charleygirl5 Sun 11-Jun-23 11:29:36

Depends where you live. I meet up with two separate lots of GNs for coffee and a natter and we have an enjoyable time.

I meet up monthly with another group of friends, mainly for coffee but a couple of times a year we go out for lunch.

Bella23 Sun 11-Jun-23 11:38:49

Not where I live Beauty Bumble. There's one monthly coffee morning that has been known to be called "The Coffin Dodgers". Our village publican has banned nearly everyone in the village his reason being " For not using the pub". He even sent solicitors letters to some people one I know is teetotal. We never go near the place.
Entertainment has to be found elsewhere.

icanhandthemback Sun 11-Jun-23 11:45:35

Somebody in our area put up a post asking if any ladies in their later years would fancy going to places with other ladies of a similar age, especially during the day. Within hours loads of people responded and now we have a really full social calendar which includes cinema trips, theatre trips, gigs, eating out, walking, painting classes, pool parties, etc. It was eye opening how much there was a need for it.
Basically, people volunteer to 'host' an event and it goes out in the newsletter. I run dog walks and have done a theatre trip. Somebody else arranges to go to a quiz night, some do coffee mornings, etc. Two people send a monthly newsletter and we pick and choose what we want to do.
Maybe you could start something like this for say, people aged in their Sassy Sixties and Sprightly Seventies. Our group is for women only which means you all feel safe.

Severnsider Sun 11-Jun-23 11:53:59

Find your local U3A group - their motto is Learn, Laugh, Live.

What more?

nanna8 Sun 11-Jun-23 11:58:53

My Probus group gives me lots of laughs and social connections. Loads of sub groups, dining out, music, walking, camping, holidays, wine tasting, theatre etc. I don’t go to the cinema group because sitting in front of a big screen doesn’t float my boat- I can do that at home in front of the telly.