A free day!

I think that we are singing from the same hymn sheet .
I think that some people can't believe that you don't share the same interests .
Going to the new senior coffee morning means a hike up the hill , a long bus ride and the risk of seeing two women that I used to know .
They are both complete nightmares . One of them regularly shouted and swore at me - finally assaulting me .
The other was really possessive and is capable of temper tantrums and then moods . She's also dishonest .
It took me over two years for them to accept that we aren't chums anymore and I'm not starting that again .
I told my kind friend that I was avoiding a couple of old friends and I got the
"yes but " reaction .
If she feels that it's marvellous she can go .
And all for the sake of a free coffee and bun .
No thanks !

Esmay

Dickens -
You are right , of course .
I am getting better at getting out of things .
People's persistence absolutely amazes me .
I've had a whole year of being asked to go to things .
One of my friends is exceptionally nice to me and I'm grateful to her for many kind acts - she's the one who volunteers my services or insists on some new senior group .
I'm very different from her .
She hates being alone and has go out with her friends all the time whereas I enjoy my company listening to classical music and reading , writing or doing my art work .

People's persistence absolutely amazes me

Me too. I learned the hard way - explaining that I couldn't do such and such because... Which prompted the "Oh, but you can do that another day, can't you" type of response. Basically, I was allowing other people to dictate how I conducted my life and which activities I got involved in, and when.

It came to a head one evening when a friend was almost bullying me into doing something I really didn't want to do. Tired of the bullying, I blurted out the truth and said simply that I did not want to do what she was asking of me because it was something that I really would not enjoy at all and would she please stop trying to coerce me. The truth is that this friend simply needed another person to accompany her - anyone - she just didn't want to go to the venue alone.

After that, I stopped making excuses or giving reasons.

I would never do this to a friend (unless it was an emergency) and so don't accept it being done to me.

Your friend hates being alone - therein lies the problem. She's attempting to organise your life to fit around her need. Don't be intimidated by her kind acts, if she values you as a person in your own right, she wouldn't keep attempting to manipulate you.

Dickens -
You are right , of course .
I am getting better at getting out of things .
People's persistence absolutely amazes me .
I've had a whole year of being asked to go to things .
One of my friends is exceptionally nice to me and I'm grateful to her for many kind acts - she's the one who volunteers my services or insists on some new senior group .
I'm very different from her .
She hates being alone and has go out with her friends all the time whereas I enjoy my company listening to classical music and reading , writing or doing my art work .

kircubbin2000

I was going to go to a forest walk but an accident had closed the road and also it's raining. Instead I have batched cooked chili con carne for the freezer and am now in bed doing crosswords.

... Oh, what a pity - the forest walk might have been lovely.

Walking in woods or forests at this time of year would be something I'd really enjoy - but I'm thinking of Autumns past when the weather has been dry, and warm enough to sit outside somewhere drinking coffee along the way.

What did you do in the end?

This happened to me on Wednesday. I took myself off to an rspb sanctuary I’ve been meaning to visit. Had a nice walk and saw lots of birds.

Esmay

I actually long for a free day and my heart really sinks when someone says what are you doing on Wednesday , because there's a new
coffee morning for seniors .
And then , seems to insist in my going .
I've wriggled out of lunch for seniors on that day . I don't enjoy it .
I've had something on every single day .
I get pressurised over the craft group .
One of my friends volunteered me for knitting blanket squares .
I've given donations of wool and I don't enjoy knitting -never have .
I have to prioritise yoga over it otherwise my body is really deteriorating .
At times , I feel like I have to justify my activities .
I 've lost count the number of times I've been asked to join in the bible study group . Explaining to people that I have my art work to do or my writing falls on deaf ears .

Explaining to people that I have my art work to do or my writing falls on deaf ears .

The mistake is to explain. When you do that, it gives people the opportunity to counter-argue your reasons. You don't have to explain, a simple "sorry, that doesn't work for me" or even just "no, thank you" should be enough. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

And if friends "volunteer" you for some activity, they should be politely reminded that it's not up to them to decide your voluntary work or social life!

Don't be pressured or guilt-tripped into doing things you'd rather not be involved in. Life's too short...

I actually long for a free day and my heart really sinks when someone says what are you doing on Wednesday , because there's a new
coffee morning for seniors .
And then , seems to insist in my going .
I've wriggled out of lunch for seniors on that day . I don't enjoy it .
I've had something on every single day .
I get pressurised over the craft group .
One of my friends volunteered me for knitting blanket squares .
I've given donations of wool and I don't enjoy knitting -never have .
I have to prioritise yoga over it otherwise my body is really deteriorating .
At times , I feel like I have to justify my activities .
I 've lost count the number of times I've been asked to join in the bible study group . Explaining to people that I have my art work to do or my writing falls on deaf ears .

Same thing as me ziggy

Your whims may change from hour to hour. Follow whatever your heart is telling you to do - whether you go on a solo day trip, go to the salon for a new haircut, shop for your next dinner (tastebuds change from hour to hour too), sit and read, call a friend for a last minute movie… or take nap.

My retirement has given me the blessings of many days like this.

I had a free evening last night that I wasn’t expecting as one of my DS’s arranged a golf night at a local driving range for him, his dad and his two brothers. So it telly off, music on, nice glass of wine and a book. Bliss

"When Paw was more or less housebound and only got out when I took him anywhere I used to long for an “empty” - to have the house to myself….be careful what you wish for.
#justsaying"
ah! I have done that , now in my late eighties!! and on my own, when I was first married, very early 20`s, and so wanted a day at home,not going to work!! now!!!!

not really answering the question,, but then, I too often have a day ... to do whatever..... apologies....

ginny

I have a free day too.
Baking this morning and start work this afternoon. Lovely !

Enjoy your day.

That should read ‘art work’. !!!

How lucky to be living near museums - I love any type of museum. Although not a car fanatic, I even enjoyed the Automobile Museum - loved it. When I was a member of our 50+ club, we did many such trips. These days, I just drive to the seaside, park on a cliff, and watch the sunset. Beautiful 🌅

I was going to go to a forest walk but an accident had closed the road and also it's raining. Instead I have batched cooked chili con carne for the freezer and am now in bed doing crosswords.

I would do absolutely nothing just chill and relax! I live in a lovely rural area and find there are lots of things to do and places to go. There are places to walk, bus into nearest town, stop for a coffee, browse the charity shops, go to the theatre a little further afield perhaps for a matinee performance.

I’d hate to live in a big city but how lovely, if you do, to use an unexpected free day at a museum, art gallery or harbour.
My choice would be a tour of the charity shops or gardening. I live somewhere very attractive but there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go.

I have off work the 6th and 7th of this month so on Sunday I'm sleeping as much as I can and Monday I'll drive out to somewhere and find a cafe and a book shop and some charity shops! I'm after something animal related, maybe a scarf with dogs on or a mug with cats on etc.

I'm starting another shift tonight from 6pm to 6am so am looking forward to those 2 days off!

If it's dry, I would go out for a walk followed by lunch
If it's wet, stay in, snuggled up with a good book

I have a free day too.
Baking this morning and start work this afternoon. Lovely !

Enjoy your day.

I would do something I had been meaning to do for a long time i.e. visit new shop/cafe/museum/old part of town/take camera out for a walk along the seafront.

Im a planner so I always have a list of things to do and many of them are interchangeable.

I had someone cancel an arrangement for this afternoon. Not a problem. I had things I was going to do tomorrow so I just swapped them to today. Now I have a space tomorrow afternoon. When you run a business there is no such thing as "idle" time.

Shop for a while then take the dog out prepare the dinner then sit and chill.

I'd go to our city's museum and art gallery then treat myself to something nice to eat. After that, time permitting, I'd wander around the Harbour and look at the boats (I live in Bristol) and maybe drop into the local history museum down there.

I find it can leave you at a loose end when you have a routine and someone cancels. I'd probably start a new project or finish one I've been meaning to do for ages.