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Share how you spend your spare time with McCarthy and Stone - £100 voucher to be won

(407 Posts)
LucyBGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 01-Sept-20 10:12:11

We all know the blissful feeling of having a spare hour or two of precious me-time to do the things that make us feel good. While some might feel productive and get a few tasks done around the house, others may prefer to cook up a storm in the kitchen, have a coffee and a cake with friends or just do nothing in peace and quiet. With this in mind, McCarthy and Stone would like to know how you like to spend your spare time.

Here’s what McCarthy & Stone have to say: “At McCarthy & Stone we offer much more than bricks and mortar, we offer a lifestyle, somewhere you can feel safe and secure, make friends and socialise, enjoy the outdoors and have easy access to local amenities like shops, pubs and restaurants. From rural retreats and seaside living, to vibrant city centres and tranquil suburbs, our developments offer something for every taste.

With over 40 years’ experience of building tight-knit retirement communities, you can be confident that we can help find the perfect environment for you. Right now we’re offering to pay up to 100% of your service charge for up to 8 years* or give you 2 months’ rent free* on selected properties, don’t miss out this is a strictly time limited offer.”

*Terms and conditions apply

So, we are asking you: How do you love using your spare time? Do you prefer to keep an active mind and body, or prefer to indulge in leisurely activities to relax? Perhaps you love to go out in nature or maybe you prefer to wander around the high street and visit your favourite shops and restaurants nearby? Is there plenty of choice of things to do to occupy your spare time where you live? How important is it to you to be near to family and friends, and how do you share your spare time with them?

Whatever you do to keep yourself busy when you’ve got a spare hour or two, share on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Gransnetter will win a £100 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
GNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

aspella Sat 12-Sept-20 12:02:37

I spend my spare time switching off from technology and trying to relax by doing jigsaw puzzles or reading. The only problem is I get carried away by saying one more piece or one more page and I often lose all track of time.

jocork Sat 12-Sept-20 12:12:14

I like puzzles and competitions and all types of crafts. I like to make things I can sell to raise money for charity or give as gifts.

kathcake Sat 12-Sept-20 12:30:04

I like to enter competitions and spend time with my friends smile

rebekahdonnelly Sat 12-Sept-20 13:36:31

I love trying out new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. I mostly try out new savoury dishes for main meals but sometimes I opt for the sweeter options. My favourite most recent trials were thyme and goose dripping roast potatoes and a lemon and basil posset with blackberries. Delicious.

emziemay Sat 12-Sept-20 15:30:30

Have really got into gardening these last 6 months. Also doing a lot more reading which I am enjoying.

Dannydog1 Sat 12-Sept-20 17:43:39

Spare time means a walk with the dog or coffee and cake with a friend

michael888 Sat 12-Sept-20 18:26:55

I like doing Sodoku puzzles.

Jilly1967 Sat 12-Sept-20 18:47:14

sometimes it is gardening, other times reading or puzzles, or crafts. Lockdown has taught me that it is important to know what I feel like doing not what I should be doing

zanon2b Sat 12-Sept-20 18:58:24

I'm mostly watching YouTube vloggers exploring abandoned properties or DVD and bluray hunting in all those shops I can't get to as often as I'd like nowadays.

linkappa Sat 12-Sept-20 20:15:00

It depends on the weather on what I do in my spare time, if the weather is dry I will try to get out in the garden, do a bit of weeding or tidying up. In bad weather I love to read and will snatch any spare time to read, I like a lot of different types of subjects and often buy books from charity shops which I then gift back to them after reading.

dragonfly63 Sat 12-Sept-20 21:11:30

Would love to spend more time with family but they are several hours drive away. As I am immune suppressed my husband and I spend many hours gardening and decorating. I have spent a lot of time knitting.

djkk Sat 12-Sept-20 21:20:30

crosswords and puzzles

100yearsofsolitude Sat 12-Sept-20 21:37:05

Reading, I’ve always got a book in my bag and three on my nightstand!

loconnor Sun 13-Sept-20 01:06:09

I love the solitude of going for a walk in the countryside, spotting the squirrels in the wood, the rabbits in the fields or the pheasants amongst the cows

cher19771977 Sun 13-Sept-20 02:48:11

I actually enjoy doing my housework as it makes me feel so much better once its finished. I also like to enter competitions, diamond painting, seeing friends and taking my beautiful dog for a long walk in the woods

mezlou84 Sun 13-Sept-20 04:52:10

I love to spend time walking round gardens in the summer and taking walks in the woods with the kids. I also love to spend time reading and doing jigsaw puzzles

bobble5366 Sun 13-Sept-20 10:44:46

Candy crush, word searches, brain training....and running a model train railway with my OH - well if you can't beat them - join them.

ottypotty Sun 13-Sept-20 10:45:53

I love a round of golf with my friends - good for mind and body.

pinktulips Sun 13-Sept-20 10:49:54

I love surfing the internet - watching webcams from places and countries far afield, when my knees allow - walking is lovely as I live in a semi-rural location with farms and animals. On rainy days I love to bake.

CleoPanda Sun 13-Sept-20 10:51:09

Photography, walking, gardening, puzzles, crosswords, competitions, Reading, selling on eBay, writing, pets, baking, movies, genealogy, bird watching, painting.
Post Covid, there will be antique hunting, browsing in book stores, coffee with friends etc.
Never a bored moment in retirement.

Funnygirly765 Sun 13-Sept-20 10:56:36

Going sailing in our dinghy and helping (well trying to help) with our 1956 Morgan + 4 restoration, just what any 69 year old lady would do I'm sure, ??

blowininthewind Sun 13-Sept-20 10:58:22

Since lockdown - astronomy - I finally bought the telescope I have ALWAYS wanted, and now watch the sky at night, research about the planets on YouTube, I love watching the moon grow in size and move across our skies - wonder how ~ Venus is doing - and when I saw the space station - well I was in awe.

Silvergran59 Sun 13-Sept-20 11:04:53

I have found a new love of dressmaking, got my old singer out of the loft, give it an oil and dust, and have started to make 60's inspired dresses - simple a-line designs - now I sell them on-line - not for much profit - but it gives me a purpose, and I love that I feel useful and invigorated again.

Nannan2 Sun 13-Sept-20 11:18:46

Spare time,whats that? I still have 2 sons at home,(21&17) with some disabilities/medical issues, so i have very little free time.What i do get, i knit, or read a bit..things i can leave& go back to later if im called to help or do anything else.

jt75 Sun 13-Sept-20 11:55:25

I do some exercises, usually walking or yoga.