old style pastimes

ceridwen

Be aware - be VERY aware - that this might be the last "break" you get before retirement.

I dont know how far away retirement is for you personally - not knowing your age and financial circumstances.

BUT - I was aware/VERY aware during time that I was unemployed that I really had to make the best of it - because it might be the last "break" I got before retirement. It has always been extremely clear in my mind that even a pretty "standard" length workweek is actually too long to be able to "have a life" and that I needed to cram in what usefulness/enjoyableness I could into periods of unemployment before I found the next job and had to go back into "being on the treadmill" again.

That outlook was a godsend in hindsight - as I had no idea just how bad things would get (both for me personally and as regards people generally in The World of Work) before I would be able to "hang my coat up" at last at retirement.

So - I'm very thankful I took that attitude and made the best I could of my unexpected extra free time that I had at that point.

RAS

lucylema wrote: »

I find myself looking at being unemployed very soon and wonder whilst applying for jobs, going for interviews to keep myself active and out of the house what can I do.....

Visit the Library - check out if you can get free internet access or free access to newspapers and trade magazines
Visit Museums - many parks and other attractions are free
Work for a charitable organisation - also check out your local organisations like festivals, bonfire or panto committee

What else........

Bearing in mind autumn and winter are fast approaching

If you have any growing space at all, sow mizuna, land cress, corn salad and giant red mustard. Those large boxes that restaurants throw out are good. Check the £1 shops for seeds - stir fry mixes are good.

Take a hike - each day walk outside for a while as this will improve your mood, help raise your Vit D levels and keep you fit. Or cycle.

Consider volunteering at your local school? many libraries have a foster an elder scheme, where you choose books and tapes for someone every other week and spend a little time talking to them.

If you want to expand your CV, then volunteering in an area where you want work can open up opportunities.

Learn new practical skills - from insulating or draught excluding to sewing so you can adapt clothes to making pickles from very low cost or free produce.

There is a lot of tree fruit that goes to waste in the autumn, get cheeky and ask if you can pick some in exchange for leaving some for the owner?

Little_Vics

So, the weather's getting a little grim, and it seems like the long dark autumn/winter is upon us.

I was wondering what OS things you did to keep your spirits up? A good book with a glass of wine sorts me out, but I'm keen to do more this season than my annual hibernation!

xLV

adelight

I do tonnes more knitting and sewing during the winter. Scarves, snoods and socks usually but I'm going to attempt a cardigan this year! If you have lots of old clothes, update the ones in good condition and turn the others into cushion covers and patchworks. You don't need a sewing machine, sitting in front of the tv sewing a patchwork cushion cover by hand can be very theraputic.

If you have space on your window sils, after christmas you could start growing vegetables ready for spring. I grow vegetables indoors and this year I plan to start peppers, tomatoes and squash from seed in January in hope they'll be ready to start producing fruit (or go outside) around Easter. It won't take up that much time but it's nice to have some green around when it's so grey outside and you could have fresh home grown veggies in spring

seafarers_wife

we play a lot of boardgames when he is here, or snuggle down and watch a dvd with glass of wine.

this time im buying dvds we ment to go see at the cinema and keeping them for when he is home so that we have a stash of new films to watch.

when he is away i tend to read alot, watch a lot of trash tv on an evening, or while away time on here or playing facebook games and doing cross stich.

zippychick

Hi Little vics

hopefully this thread will help . Ill merge this later on for you

Zip

Little_Vics

Thanks! I don't really mean hobbies though - I mean those little things that keep your spirits up like a long country blustery walk, a hot bath....a new magazine!

Fruball

I like to have a 'summer day' in winter. I put all the lights and lamps on, close all the curtains, whack up the heating, put on summertime type music and pretend its not winter!!! We even all put a summer dress on or shorts and T shirts. The DDs love it, esp when I put a blue blanket on the floor, along with a yellow towel and we pretend its a beach - they cut out paper fish from left over orange halloween paper and play on their 'beach' for ages

[Deleted User]

I have done loads of preserving, in a variety of ways and believe me you do get a very good feeling knowing that you have used your skills to help ease the winter path. There is certainly no winter blues on the scene in this house as we have been too busy in a very productive way

During winter I am looking forward to reading, knitting, browsing seed catalogues and planning my allotment. We have a load of dvds to watch and I`ll be getting the chocolate in next week. Plenty of home made wine also ready and available. Dh has re-started making small wooden toys and will use his turbo trainer when the weather is too bad to go cycling

In november I will start to plan and prepare for christmas, making a cake and so on. I love the smell of rum soaked fruit while beating eggs to the sound of the archers. Ahhh, simple pleasures

Little_Vics

I LOVE the idea of a summer day! That's brilliant!