Do you find midweek evenings boring?
Posted by Better_Spare_5945@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 314 comments
I (35) have recently returned to the UK (a somewhat lively town, where I grew up) after spending a decade living abroad in various (hot) parts of the world. I WFH.
When living abroad I would regularly meet friends midweek to go and chill by the beach, on our rooftops, go for food/drinks, evening walks with my partner, evening shopping etc.Now, ive been back in the UK for a few months now and I havent been successful getting anyone out midweek once yet.
I get the sense that everyone in the UK after work is at home watching TV every night. I didn't even own a TV for the last few years, I did buy one since arriving here, but for me it's more of a last resort – I turn it on if there are sports I want to watch, or perhaps the odd movie.
I have been spending my time reading and going to the gym a few times a week, but I would like to do more, I am finding the adjustment through these dark evenings difficult.
How do you guys feel about this?
Important_March1933@reddit
Yes I feel the same, nobody wants to socialise, stay in and watch shit on tv glued to their phones running a dehumidifier.
Regular-Elevator-477@reddit
Dinner party, cinema, language classes, pub quizzes (often weekdays), read books, indoor sports at leisure centre etc, yoga/pilates classes, dog walks or just walks, badger hunts, reindeer milking, toy making (elves usually looking for Volunteers around now), general volunteering in the community, giraffe painting (they don’t come like that)… so much you could be doing midweek.
ActionCamry830@reddit
By the time I get home and make something to eat and shower / get changed there’s only a few hours of the evening left. It can be boring though.
DipsyDidy@reddit
People have time to be bored in the evenings lol? I finish work at 6:30, go to the gym for a workout. By the time I'm done, showered and changed, and swing by the shops on the way home for a top op, it will be 9. Then I prepare work lunches for my partner and I for the next day, we then sit down to eat (usually food we bulk cooked on the weekend). Then we start our night time routine and it's like 10:30 -11:00, time for bed because we're up at 6 the next morning lol.
There is no time for TV in the evening lol, or to be bored!
winstonywoo@reddit
Ooh get you with your no TV, active social life. Seriously though, maybe a pub quiz might be an option as they're usually mid week? On clear nights I like to go for a walk to look at stars and the moon. I also like to have a long, leisurely bath with a glass of wine when it's cold out.
Time-Kangaroo645@reddit
Yeah 100%. It’s too cold to do anything now week evenings and there is nothing good on tv
Big_Stretch3684@reddit
I get home just after five. After a workout, shower, dinner, washing up, preparing the next days lunch and getting ready for bed it’s already like 9-10pm for me and then it’s in to bed to watch TV show and then bed. How do people even have time for socialising all the time during the week?!
thepopkids@reddit
Not everyone cooks or does meal prep, you don’t HAVE to do those things, you can do other things with your time… quick slice of toast and butter and out to meet friends or go to the cinema or an art show or gig or book launch etc etc. Can’t imagine giving those things up simply to make meals over and over
thenotoriouswjg@reddit
What do you eat then? A quick slice of toast and butter every night?
heeyyyyyy@reddit
Anything really. Meals can be made in 5 minutes - slap together a sandwich, make a salad, taco, zillion options out there. Or buy prepared meals (I'm from the US and they are fairly common here).
I understand some people like to spend hours cooking hot meals every day and find it thereaupatic but OTOH I also get that it can feel like a waste of time if you want to use the time doing other things. I used to be the former because I was raised that way where my mom cooked everyday for the family, but now I don't spend over 10 minutes making dinner. Occasionally I steam chicken and some veggies, but it's thrown in the cooker for 30 minutes while I go for a run or do other things.
Grand_Act8840@reddit
Maybe some people’s exciting weekday evening IS cooking and enjoying a good meal.
heeyyyyyy@reddit
Absolutely! My comment isn't worded well but I was speaking for both sides. It's ok to cook, and also ok not to.
thenotoriouswjg@reddit
Idk if it is okay not to. Restaurant/fast/supermarket food is not as healthy as it can be advertised to be.
Big_Stretch3684@reddit
A slice of toast for dinner 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂I would die of exhaustion without proper food after dinner and THEN going out
seanypthemc@reddit
Depending on how you plan dinner / meal prep you can heat and eat a meal in 20 minutes with next to no washing up. A work-out and shower can be done in an hour, depending on where / how you work out. Am I missing something?
IcyNews5100@reddit
Yes, UK is generally very boring
mescotkat@reddit
Tell me you don’t have children without telling me you don’t have children. Enjoy the peace my friend, once the babies arrive you can enjoy the frantic stress between 5-7.30 of getting them fed bathed read to, homework, spending quality time. Then once you put them to bed you can look forward to catching up on the cleaning, washings, work you didn’t do when you left early for pick up, cooking for yourself and partner, and maybe a quick sit down on the sofa for some relaxation before you head to bed and do it all over again the next day.
saiyaniam@reddit
Sounds utterly horrible.
punekar_2018@reddit
Winters are meant for kegel exercise
Worldly-Mastodon-755@reddit
The U.K is grim . Everyone's trying to get out , what in God's name made you come back , it's like trying to break IN to a prison
Public-Guidance-9560@reddit
Yeah this is strange but "there's nowt so queer as folk" as the saying goes. Everyone I know who has moved away from the UK to live and work confidently states they would never come back. There are things they miss, but they don't outweigh the reasons for leaving by a long shot. And when they do come back to visit family or whatever, it always just reinforces their decision to leave.
We're on the lookout for opportunities to do the same having gone to stay with some of these people in their respective new countries. Its obviously not all sweetness and light; "the grass maybe greener, but it still needs mowing" to use another saying. But we can't deny that they live fabulous lifestyles by our metrics. Particularly those who live in Thailand/Vietnam or Japan or Australia. Less so the US these days, but on the flip side, you can't deny that if you're willing to graft the US is a good place for you (and its a very big, varied place with something for everyone).
Public-Guidance-9560@reddit
For us its Kids.
At least one of us is staying in because we can't just leave a 4 year old in the house unattended.
We do go out though, though its usually sport related. We both swim and my wife also plays netball so we alternate evenings out to go training.
But we don't really go out to "chill" with others...even sitting in a pub is expensive these days and you can't find anyone who isn't "busy" anyway. A lot of our friends are also sporty people: Keen cyclists, runners, badminton. Another couple run their own business so they're properly off the radar most of the time. I think between work, kids and keeping fit or keeping their eye in on their respective sports, leaves very little time for just sitting about to shoot the breeze with friends.
memorablepotato@reddit
I don't know where you were living, but aside from the dark and cold, cost of living also has an impact on how willing people are to go out on weekdays. Many will save this for the weekend.
redmagor@reddit
In fairness, my Italian friends are broke and still do more than I do with more disposable income. I think it is an attitude.
Sad-Fish-3064@reddit
Don’t Italians tend to live with their parents till their mid thirties though
redmagor@reddit
On average, many do, yes. However, the ones to which I referred all live independently.
memorablepotato@reddit
I bet the Italians' night out is a drink and dinner here or there, vs 12 pints in one night 😂
Don_Alosi@reddit
To be fair your 12 pints cost as much as 4 in my city, I used to go out about five times a week when I was in my twenties.
This is 2am in my city
https://youtube.com/shorts/zIdk8zDpeFs?feature=shared
Sly1969@reddit
I went to Rome in November once. It was about 30°C. It's 3°C here in the UK today. Much easier to sit on the terrace eating pizza under the former conditions to be honest.
redmagor@reddit
Italy is much more than just Rome, and half of it is colder than the United Kingdom as a whole during the winter months, even colder than northern Scotland.
Sly1969@reddit
And half of it isn't.
redmagor@reddit
What is your point? I am not sure I understand. I referred to Italians, not specifically those from the south of Sicily. People from Torino, Bologna, Palermo, and Cagliari all go out more than people do here, regardless of financial status and weather.
robster9090@reddit
Golf is good , you can still practice at a range in winter . I go most days in winter for a bit and summer obviously it opens right up and I can even play some 9s after finishing work
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
6 quid a pint will do that.
Daveddozey@reddit
In 2000 you could get 1.95 pints for an hour of minimum wage. In 2023 it’s 2.34 pints
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Wage_Act_1998
https://beerandpub.com/data-statistics/beer-prices/
Apple22Over7@reddit
In 2000, people weren't having to spend >50% of their income on rent.
Daveddozey@reddit
Average rent in 2024 is twice that of 2000
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/timeseries/dobp/mm23
Minimum wage is 3 times now compared with 2000
Average wage is 2.25 times that in 2000
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/averageweeklyearningsingreatbritain/november2024
Bluefingers@reddit
Interesting stuff, and unexpected. Thanks for the links. Would be interested to hear a counterargument instead of just downvotes
Daveddozey@reddit
Average rent doesn’t help for some areas. I looked at rents in a couple of places I rented over the last 20 years where I could find nearly identical places currently on the market. while some (tunbridge wells) was slightly below the rental index, another (altrincham) was way higher.
Likewise the cost of beer is far wider now - while it’s £7.50 when I buy one in London my local pub is under £4 and weatherspoons is under £3
There’s a lot of variety.
Evil_Knavel@reddit
I'm a similar age. Rarely get a chance to watch TV, evenings are for cooking the kids several different dinners, sorting out all the stuff I have to get ready for the following morning and trying to convince Mrs Knavel that no, we definitely don't need to redecorate or rearrange whatever room she's thinking about at that given moment, we just have to declutter, and yes, I am still working on the bathroom renovation even though it looks like very little progress has been made since Friday.
Tonight I was fortunate enough to have quick conversation with the bloke across the road while taking the bins out (I forget his name) that mostly consisted of complaining about the council and the works traffic from the nearby housing development. Which was nice.
Its nearly 8pm and now faced with the nightmarish challenge of trying to find a 10mm socket in the shed, in the dark. The outcome of that might dictate how much alcohol I consume between now and the time my kids are all in bed and I get to crash out before I wake up tomorrow morning and realise I forgot to buy X for Y's packed lunch, didn't iron shirts and forgot to keep an eye on the cars slow puncture.
I'm not at all bitter, post like this just remind me how much time I used to have. Go out and do something! Pub, Gigs, Warhammer, chat with the geordie guy that works in the pertrol station. Learn to play snooker or something. Join a cult. Start a cult. Get into D&D. Volunteer. Go to the gym. Get to know your neighbours, if that doesn't work, start a petty feud with them. There's plenty hobbies and projects that can occupy your time.
If you're male, check out places like Andy's Man Club. There's loads going on if you've got free time.
Volatile1989@reddit
I’ve got loads of free time. Just a shame that everything bores me and doesn’t appeal to me.
Evil_Knavel@reddit
That sounds like it could depression tbh.
Volatile1989@reddit
Meh, even if it was, I can’t say I care.
On the plus side, I’ve got loads of time to study and improve my career prospects.
Evil_Knavel@reddit
That's cool. I hope you find things you enjoy doing.
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
Yeah he is shocked by this monotony. And like it or not, you are everything he hates about being here!
Evil_Knavel@reddit
Pretty sure I haven't met OP, but hating people you don't know for quietly getting on with their lives doesn't sound like a great way to make new friends.
I also think you might have missed most of the references I was making in my post.
Living in the UK is brilliant. We've got sheds and countryside and cows n that. Fantastic. And we had Ronnie Corbett, he was brilliant. But he wasn't really small he was a huge big bloke who they made look small so he could fit on the telly. Brilliant.
Ok_Damage_8244@reddit
What if the Geordie at the garage gets a new American friend?
Evil_Knavel@reddit
Ask him what the hells going on and how many other men's been speaking too.
TheGrumble@reddit
Invite them both over for a Bondathon. Belittle the new friend by pointing out that he actually isn't actually American, he just likes American things.
heeyyyyyy@reddit
No offence but that first 2 paras of routine sounds drab to me. I dread ever having that routine but I realize it becomes that way with marriage and kids. Wanna fly free solo for as long as I can, even if means some boring evenings.
According-Evening200@reddit
The British midweek night out has changed out of recognition the last 25 years.
Impossible-Fly-2497@reddit
Gym, sports, class/clubs, cinema
ThatSamShow@reddit
You won't find many Brits who want to walk on a cold pebbly beach under a blanket of grey clouds, or chill on a roof in the rain. Good luck!
Kandschar@reddit
Summer evenings are more lively in the UK. Winter, everyone wants to be at home because it's dark and cold.
coolsimon123@reddit
Yeah winter months are for rotting inside saving money for the warmer months. Festivals and pub gardens aren't exactly cheap. Maybe OP should invite some friends round for dinner or something
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Winter months are for watching stars and sunsets, going on beach walks in the moonlight, snow, and lots of fresh air.
noradosmith@reddit
coffeewalnut05@reddit
This is why we have a depression problem in the UK
coolsimon123@reddit
I prefer watching I'm a celeb with a brew and a blanket but you do you
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Winter months are for watching stars and sunsets, going on beach walks in the moonlight, snow, and lots of fresh air.
Edit: and hearty warm stews and puddings
dazz9573@reddit
Yeah news flash, cold countries tend to stay inside when it’s…. Cold.
Swear people just need any excuse to shit on the U.K.
Automatic-Source6727@reddit
UK isn't that cold, it barely goes much below 0 the majority of the time.
Stay active and dress properly and you'll be more than comfortable temperature wise even without heating.
matomo23@reddit
Oh not this again. It’s the default Reddit answer.
Ok it might not be “that cold” but the weather is crap mate. It rains loads and is overcast a lot.
We have more days when it rains at some point in the day than almost anywhere. And very few hours of sun.
Sly1969@reddit
Don't forget the damp and fog!
RevolutionaryTale245@reddit
I like the fog.
CongealedBeanKingdom@reddit
It's minus fucking 4 right now.
Hawaiian shirts and bikinis it is!
Crack_sniffer@reddit
It is pretty shit though, let's be honest.
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Not all of us do. Winter evenings can be nice outside
Butter_the_Toast@reddit
I agree, often they can. But there are also plenty of occasions when they really aren't.
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Not all of us do. Winter evenings can be nice outside
UniqueEnigma121@reddit
That’s why I like them🥶. No noise, no people in their gardens & no animals & children running feral everywhere🙄
Slow-Ladder7503@reddit
Ditto!
SorryIGotBadNews@reddit
I’m amazed that OP really needed to ask a question to work that out to be honest, it’s quite obvious.
HAMforPastry@reddit
Mate its like -1 outside
Tayk5@reddit
Yes but what about evenings with friends at the beach or on the roof?
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Which country you were working in before to come back?
01jamham@reddit
Drinking helps
bluepizzabooks@reddit
Cost of living! Going out to a cafe a few times a week becomes expensive here. And the work culture is totally different to that of some other countries. It’s not unusual to commute for an hour here, meaning people get home at 6 after doing a 9-5 and by then it’s not only pitch black at this time of year but they also have to cook, clean and do all the other chores that need doing before the work day can begin again tomorrow.
yonthickie@reddit
I am old, but I have craft hobbies, I read, I cook, I play games, I go swimming, I watch TV, I use social media, I do housework. In the summer I sit in the garden with a cold beer, or cut the lawn, or hack down the weeds, or go for a walk. When I had a dog , I played with him, walked him and groomed him. I barely have time for everything I must do, never mind finding time to be bored!
tdaveyy@reddit
I would look into some clubs! Tennis, book club, - i have started some dance classes and life drawing classes. Then think personal hobbies.. reading, gaming, knitting, cooking, painting- find joy in your own company :)
Cak556@reddit
I genuinely don’t find midweek evenings boring. When I get back from work, I have 6 hours to do what the heck I want - a glorious prospect. Read a book, go for a run, hit the gym, have a swim, go for a cycle ride, play some games, watch a film, chat with friends online, speak with family, do some drawing, plan a hiking trip or holiday, learn something, make something, create stuff, do something. Maybe have a chilly walk to the nice warm pub meet a few mates and sit and have a pint and chat. And when it is cold that’s even better, as I don’t feel guilty if I do not go out - I can just hunker down for some me time. I love that!
Mushroom-Mycelium@reddit
I'm painting wanna give me a hand?
PazyP@reddit
Dinner is done, worktops wiped down, the dog has had his last walk. Now I'll sit on the couch till 10-10:30 watching TV and scrolling on my phone.
Kinda boring but get what you mean, none of my friends ever want to do anything mid week and I've already been to the gym and had a cycle today.
RevolutionaryTale245@reddit
Sounds like a lovely day.
TrialOfTwo@reddit
Preparing to be downvoted but… you’ll find people who still want a social life despite the temperature.
Cosy beer at pub with the fire roaring? I’m in.
Fire basket in the garden with a rummy hot chocolate? I’m in.
Friends around to watch sport/play games? Come on over.
Even a walk over the moors or similar in the fog and rain.
Plenty of things, you’ll find the people who want to do these activities if you keep at it.
IndependenceMost2581@reddit
Yeh I think it’s partially the weather , and just the tv culture and a lot of people are knacksred from work. A lot of people in this country just have different energy levels to those in other countries as wwlk
INSERT-SHAME-HERE@reddit
Did you forget? this is the UK.
marksbrothers@reddit
Pub?
Better_Spare_5945@reddit (OP)
I didnt expect this many responses!
I moved back (with my partner) in anticipation of starting a family. I was WFH in areas with many other people who also WFH. Over the past decade I generally visited over the summer, so this is my first winter back for a long time, and first WFH experience here.
I have enjoyed reading the comments (i did try chilling on my roof here, but somebody called the fire brigade), lots of great ideas and perspectives. It has given me much to research and ponder over.
A good, varied social life here through winter will take more effort on my part than I thought before arriving. But it's certainly within grasp.
Remarkable_Movie_800@reddit
Most people are overworked, underpaid and exhausted. A lot of people your age have kids too. Meaning, the majority of people don't have time, energy or funds to go out during the week. The last thing I would want to do after working a whole day is go out, I just need to lie down and decompress. I have gone out mid week in the past but that was when I WFH or could finish earlier than I do now and still be home by 7 or 8pm
thepoout@reddit
Everyone in this country just exists through winter until we get those 4 months of the year that we get to go outside!!!
JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPT
The rest is just cold, wet and dark.
Jeez... i need to leave this country.
Past_Machine_2499@reddit
This is just sort of the difference between 'indoor' and 'outdoor' culture, no? I lived in Southern California for years and was out later in the evenings (much as I do here in the UK in the summer...) and then in the winter it's a bit more of a hibernation situation. But people are still doing things, in the winters here I go to trivia, do evening classes, cinema trips with pals, runs or walks with a headlamp and dinner out. You kind of make of life what you will...
thepoout@reddit
Fuck this country when its cold.
Its fucking awful.
obsessedwtravelgal@reddit
Get a cinema subscription! Something to get you out & about time off your phone but also cost effective
secretstothegravy@reddit
Nothing we like better in this country on a nice November evening than sitting on a roof or going to the beach
Overall_Status_5828@reddit
Love me the North Sea when it’s minus 3.
Automatic-Source6727@reddit
September has the warmest sea temperature, right now isn't all that far from the peak.
mabye_iron_man@reddit
The fact that all our water seems to be full of shit doesn't exactly make it more appealing
Automatic-Source6727@reddit
Probably insulates it to a degree.
Silver lining and all that.
haywire-ES@reddit
I was out this morning and I can promise you that it feels pretty far from peak temperature at the moment
Automatic-Source6727@reddit
September is peak temperature all over the UK, now it's about the same as midsummer.
Definitely not as pleasant to swim in, but that's just air temperature.
Shoes__Buttback@reddit
After you then
Evil_Knavel@reddit
Funnily enough my neighbour was on his roof just before it was getting dark. I haven't checked if he's still up there but the ladders are still there for some reason. I'll need to ask him where he buys his thermals when I next see him.
DEADB33F@reddit
Maybe he just forgot to put his ladder away.
Maybe you should do him a favour and take it down for him.
Wojtek-tx@reddit
I'm starting to get worried about your neighbour. Is he still on his roof? Might be a good idea to take him to the beach next time.
Evil_Knavel@reddit
I'm sure he's fine. The ladder isn't quite what I'd describe as erect, but it's still upright. If he'd fallen or was stuck up there I'm sure I've have heard about it.
danddersson@reddit
The beach is great in November. Gorgeous sunrises, less busy for running or cycling along the prom, lovely seascapes. Loads of people going for dips in the morning, too.
Sly1969@reddit
Now try sitting down doing nothing for three hours and let us know how it goes.
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Tbh sunset, stars and moonlight at the beach are elite experiences. Nothing like it compares in summer
reguk32@reddit
I was at the beach today in Dornoch. First time I've been on a snow-covered beach.
Virtual_Field439@reddit
Good distillery up that way… the famous “Thompson bros” go check them out!
Dia-De-Los-Muertos@reddit
Coward, the roofs are only slightly sloped and slippy. You need to get out more.
Low-Lettuce-3622@reddit
I think OP means "go out" as in, hang out and do stuff, not necessarily outside. I would argue that this isn't 100% about it being winter over here (although I'm sure that contributes to people not wanting to leave the house) but this is a cultural thing I've noticed too, even in the summers. Visited Barcelona for a few days last year and immediately noticed the difference - loads of people out and about on a weekday evening, sometimes quite late too. Felt like it would be a lovely place to live and see friends in the evenings even on weekdays.
In the UK it just feels like there's so little to do in the evenings - many places close around 5pm, so by the time people are finished working, there's nowhere to go but home or maybe a pub.
Mclarenrob2@reddit
We're all socially isolated because we'd rather sit at home staring at our phones
Vikkio92@reddit
My phone won’t be selfish or rude, disappoint me, or treat me like shit because it’s going through a rough patch and needs someone to take its frustration out on.
So I’m pretty happy with my phone choice.
heeyyyyyy@reddit
We're social beings and a phone or app can never substitute it. It only diverts your mind away from the loneliness. Like drugs and alcohol.
Vikkio92@reddit
Being alone != being lonely.
heeyyyyyy@reddit
It's a basic human need like hunger and sleep, there's nothing to debate here.
Vikkio92@reddit
I am not debating that being sociable is a basic human need, I am saying that being alone and being lonely aren’t the same, no matter how much you argue. There is nothing to debate there either. Nice strawman though.
heeyyyyyy@reddit
I agree with that. Alone != lonely and alone time is extremely useful. I'm saying alone time with phone doesn't substitute social needs, as your original comment hinted to.
Vikkio92@reddit
Alone time with phone is certainly more pleasant most of the time. While we have a basic need for social time, some people require more than others, and the variability between individuals is quite large.
Manifestival1@reddit
Or are we all sitting at home staring at our phones because we're socially isolated?
JustGhostin@reddit
Helllllllll yeahhhhhhh
greenpowerman99@reddit
Do an evening class on Wednesdays. There’s usually a few people that are up for a beer afterwards, depending on the class…
Remote_Finish5471@reddit
nobody watches tv anymore apart from old people. We are all playing cod.
Valuable-Debt4870@reddit
Get a Racing SIM 🙏🏻
babaG2022@reddit
I'll add something different to the conversation. When visiting friends living abroad, I also find they're out most nights of the week. I think it's because people who live abroad need more community, they're away from "home" so they reach out more. That, coupled with hot weather, means plenty of nights in beach bars etc. When you're already in the country you grew up in, you have a greater in-built sense of community, so feel less need to reach out.
maultaschen4life@reddit
This is exactly it.
steak_bake_surprise@reddit
I don't get bored, but you've kinda said it all with the weather. The UK is generally always wet, grey, cold, damp, even in the summer. If we actually had warmer evenings and normal seasons I'm sure you'd see a lot more people out, chilling. I saw a stat the other day, where the sun didn't pop out for 17 days this month!
Real-Apricot-7889@reddit
Where do you live? I am early 30s and live in Lodnon, I actually often see friends more during the week than at the weekend… feel like it is easier as we all live spread across the city but on office days we’re closer together so can meet after work. And then at weekends I like to catch up on chores and spend time with my husband or go away to visit people outside London. Or course I’d never turn down plans just because it was a weekend and I wanted to be at home, but my first instinct is to plan for weeknights if it’s a casual catch up dinner/pub kind of thing.
CumUppanceToday@reddit
I go dancing on a couple of weeknights, on others I play bridge or boardgames or just go to my local, it's rare I stay home.
Critical_Inflation25@reddit
I think you made a mistake coming back
WingiestOfMirrors@reddit
Your post contains almost every strap line and marketing ploy done by the round table I'm part of
We are a mens social group for guys aged 18 to 45. We do events every 2 weeks like escape rooms or lasertag. I've been part of it for nearly 2 years now and it's helped me get some mates in my local area after moving to a new town.
Here's a link to the group finder to see if there's one near you https://www.roundtable.co.uk/table-finder
FluffyBunnyFlipFlops@reddit
"Round Table Great Britain & Ireland is open to everyone ages 18-45"
I'm 48. ☹️
WingiestOfMirrors@reddit
Sorry, those are the rules.
There is a club for those 45+ called 41 club (it used to be a 41 year cold cut off). Some tables also have an XRT club with the same 45+ age group, which is meant to be more activity focussed where 41 club tends to be more sit down meals.
If you're interested contact your local table about the 41 clubs or XRT clubs in the area and they should be able to help you out
paulmclaughlin@reddit
It's interesting that Rotary got rid of its minimum age limit many years ago but Round Table still has a maximum.
WingiestOfMirrors@reddit
We're really leaning into the young man's club angle. There's a proper push on it at the moment.
Rightly or wrongly we've been struggling to get new younger members in groups where there are still a lot of the old guard involved and by pushing them into XRT or 41club we've had groups with dwindling numbers start growing again
Sharloid@reddit
That sounds amazing, the female equivalent isn't equal. :(
WingiestOfMirrors@reddit
Sorry it's not gone well well at circle. Different groups have different cultures, so if one circle isn't for you another might be
13oundary@reddit
Dunno where you are, but in glasgow there are plenty of womens groups that do dnd/board games, climbing etc. It's just a matter of finding em.
Beginning-Leek8545@reddit
Happy to host female meet-ups at my place
bars_and_plates@reddit
Realistically this sounds like a countryside / small city problem. If you're in Manchester or London or somewhere like that you can easily find something to do any night of the week.
yourefunny@reddit
Life for me has changed a lot since I returned to the UK from Hong Kong. Mainly because of kids which is fair enough, but there is much less going on for me midweek as well.
In Hong Kong, I would walk home from work. The route was through one of the bar areas. I used to play rugby out there and have a big beard. So I was often recognised by mates or acquaintances and asked to come in to the bar for a beer. It was superb fun!
Now, where I live, in the countryside, it is hard enough to get blokes I know to go for a curry at the weekend let alone midweek.
One thing I may suggest for you, join a sports team. They usually have training midweek. When I played rugby in HK we would often go for dinner after training. I know mates who still play around London and they will have a beer or 3 after in the clubhouse.
Once my kids are a bit older I will likely join a cricket team (too broken for rugby) and a road cycling club. Unfortunately those things take too long and it is unfair on my wife at the mo.
I loved the summer evenings this past year. We bought a house with a nice garden and I was out every evening with my wife and son playing in a big paddling pool, gardening and having a BBQ pretty often. Unfortunately the cold dark evenings are a bit rubbish. I really look forward to Christmas though. It is Jan and Feb that sucks for me.
ooSPECTACULARoo@reddit
Maybe not everyone has money to go out mid week
james8807@reddit
Your sense is correct. We are living in the 80s. Slaving for money. I also returned after ten years abroad....moved back out a year later.
TheRecklessOne@reddit
Most areas will have a pub quiz mid week. I used to do one on a Thursday night.
Your local library probably runs a bunch of events - I’m part of a writing group at mine.
Join a sports team - rugby season is August to May, and local teams will usually do a mid week practice then have games on a weekend.
Look for a local performance group - my town has a Shakespeare group, a general performance group, an improv group and various amateur dramatics theatres where you can sign up to be in a play. These groups all meet mid-week and the theatre crowd generally enjoy a drink afterwards.
Join a pool team. In my local area, a lot of the pubs have a pool team. They meet once a week (on a weeknight) and play against other pubs. There’s a whole league for it. They often meet up outside of the games to just mess about playing pool for fun.
LobsterGlittering174@reddit
For me it’s standard that the midweek will be boring and save all the fun for the weekend. I WFH then after that I hit the gym and sauna and then just home to chill. I might go for a meal on the odd day but that is like once or twice a month during the week
Hendersonhero@reddit
I go mountain biking every Wednesday night with a group of friends. We have decent lights and go out all year round. Was out riding in the snow last night.
Interestingspinach6@reddit
No, i don’t get bored at home, all my stuff is there
louisesarahp@reddit
Join a sports team or club. I'm out most nights either at choir or rugby training. I also couldn't stand to just be in watching TV every night
LauraHday@reddit
I’m 30 and go out multiple times a week to meet friends for dinner, drinks etc. I live in London though - not sure if the culture is different elsewhere?
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
Yeah it’s grim up north.
Mister_V3@reddit
You can go to any northern city and have a social evening with friends in a town centre.
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
It was a joke. I didn’t mean it. I love the north.
blackcountrychips@reddit
Jokes are meant to be funny?
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
I take it you’ve never heard the expression?. Too young perhaps
Beginning-Leek8545@reddit
There’s more to do in London.
AdAggravating6730@reddit
We're all cold and tired. As much as chilling with friends on a weekday evening sounds fantastic, the reality is that once 5pm hits we're all gagging to get home and rest in the warm.
TheDeenoRheeno@reddit
Yeah it’s pretty depressing here, nothing new!
Gnome_Father@reddit
You guys have time to do anything other than drive home, cook, eat and sleep?
Constant-Rutabaga-11@reddit
Get an Xbox
Kolo_ToureHH@reddit
No, I personally don't find my mid week evenings boring.
I do a plethora of activities in the evenings during the week which include running, going to the gym, football training, going to gigs, going to the midweek football matches when they're on, visiting my parents and grandparents and what not.
lewkir@reddit
Maybe it's just your friend group, I'm a couple years younger than you but still meet with mates 2-3 times mid week to go to the pub /play board games etc
Wishmaster891@reddit
do you live close to friends?
lewkir@reddit
I wouldn't not
Wishmaster891@reddit
nice, i cannot say the same unfortunately
lewkir@reddit
I found I become incredibly depressed if I don't have regular access to friend-based banter
Double-Emphasis7011@reddit
I used to live alone in a flat in a city and knew no one. There will be literally loads going on around you, you're just not part of it (yet, sorry!). I always say this, but get involved with a charity or classes. They're very often ways to meet people, if not, a way to keep yourself busy. Food for the homeless and art classes were my thing. Add a few gym classes and suddenly my weekday evenings were social and productive. Mind you, didn't make many friends this way but still made me happy.
Diligent_Breath_643@reddit
Yeh I like to go on the roof to. Long Jon's or not. When she's indoors though
Holiday-Drawing3469@reddit
Yes, they are. Find a hobby/friend/partner
Grand_Act8840@reddit
Aside from what everybody else has said, people don’t often live conveniently close to each other to justify driving 30 minutes there and back to spend an hour or two ‘doing something’.
When you finish work at 5-530, get home, make dinner, exercise, chores etc, doesn’t leave much time in the evening before you need to sleep. Ideally, this wouldn’t be the case but unfortunately, for the majority it absolutely is.
cochlearist@reddit
It's seasonal for me.
Summertime there's often stuff happening, if the weather is good anyway, which it wasn't this year.
But the long summer evenings are one of the things I really love about home. I live in the lake district, so that helps, it's very outdoor.
Pubs are too expensive to spend much time in, though ironically last year I had a long sober spell and spent more time in the pub drinking lime sodas, so I guess that is possible.
Getting older, fewer people have the spare time to hang out, folk have things like families and responsibilities.
Then there's some like me...
Brief-Education-8498@reddit
I volunteer with a local youth group that meets one evening a week. And help out with a couple if other local organisations/clubs which rakr up a few long dark evenings
Engels33@reddit
A lot of people your age have kids. Is that part of it. Otherwise people play sports, go to the gym, work shifts, do other hobbies, and yea some go to the pub on the evening but maybe you are just past the gate where that is as common - people drink less these days.
redmagor@reddit
Would those not apply to other countries too, though?
asmiggs@reddit
Possible that more of his friends are those expat types with less responsibility than you'd normally find in UK people in their 30s.
redmagor@reddit
I happen to be an "expat", or if you prefer, an "immigrant". However, like most others who have moved to Britain and assimilated into the national culture, I tend to be more homebound. I think this tendency is merely cultural, and British are less outgoing, both socially and practically.
DontCatchThePigeon@reddit
Britain tends not to welcome kids out after a certain hour though, loads of places kick them out after 7 or so. I've been a fair few places overseas where it's much more common to see whole families out later into the evening, so no worries/ costs on babysitting and so it's less of an issue whether your friends have kids
Chevalitron@reddit
It varies, in some European countries people seem to live like students until their 30s.
bakeyyy18@reddit
Early 30s is very much a turning point though, that's when most people will be having kids
Norman_debris@reddit
Yeah I'm wondering where the kids were when OP was abroad. Unless they just happened to be in a group of 30-somethings without any children.
SUMMATMAN@reddit
I get where op is coming from. Some winter suitable options are pubs/restaurants, finding a sport/hobby, or cinema/theatre but these can be expensive which puts off other people too. I often go for a walk with my girlfriend but it depends if you can brave the cold!
BOLTINGSINE@reddit
Theres too many antisocial couch potatoes in this country
Volatile1989@reddit
And proud of it thank you very much.
midget_3111@reddit
As someone who is out every night of the week, spending evenings at home sounds incredibly boring. Look for local clubs to join. Even if it's something outrageous that you never thought you'd do. You might surprise yourself!
Volatile1989@reddit
On the other hand, local clubs sound like hell to me. I hate being social, so the more time I can spend alone, the better.
Wishmaster891@reddit
out every night? Doing what may i ask?
midget_3111@reddit
Weirdly enough, folk dancing. I play Melodeon two nights a week, play for a clog dance group the third. The other nights I'm out teaching Morris dancing. Weekends I'm travelling the UK dancing at various festivals. It's a good life and brings me joy.
SpaceGloomy1595@reddit
Local clubs, meetups, take yourself out to a restaurant, go to one of the museum/art gallery lates if they're around you, go to the theatre. There's loads to do if you look! And if you schedule something, someone is likely to join.
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
I and he may as well kill ourselves!.
Volatile1989@reddit
That’s the plan!
gloomsbury@reddit
There are few places to go or things to do past 5pm (especially in winter) which don't cost money, and less and less people have the disposable income for meals out, concerts or the cinema on a weekly basis. Not to mention a lot of people are cutting back on alcohol and might be more resistant to drinking on work nights.
Also, respectfully, having a 9-5 WFH job does allow for more flexibility in terms of lifestyle and activities than if you have a long commute or awkward shift times. I work a lot of early mornings and late evenings, which rules out doing anything else on a work day most of the time.
carlovski99@reddit
This is a big part of why my mum moved to spain - living more of your life outside.
I try and avoid staying in all the time - I play for a couple of pool teams so that's one or two nights a week. Archery too, but I much prefer shooting outside, so not much midweek at the moment.
I would do more something more sporting as well, but health issues have stopped that.
I always try and look out for comedy, music, food/drink tasting events too. Actually, probably do more midweek, than weekends!
Volatile1989@reddit
I find every evening boring.
tonybpx@reddit
Dogging?
captain-carrot@reddit
Ok but if OP doesn't already have a dog that is a lot of responsibility
ForceStories19@reddit
/thread
Its the only reasonable option OP
BroodLord1962@reddit
It's just different cultures. I also lived and worked overseas for many years, and like you I was out sometimes midweek, but here in the UK especially at this time of year people would rather stay home. Cost of living is also a factor. Most of my friends when I was overseas were Brits working overseas on tax free packages which meant they had more disposable income. You also have to factor in that people have a lot of expense coming with Christmas just round the corner.
captain-carrot@reddit
I have 2 kids so most nights I don't have time to be bored but like you I don't like watching TV every night.
If you can't get people out to the pub then it sounds like you need hobbies. Some nights I read with a glass of wine. Some nights I paint while sipping on whisky. Some nights I go to the garage and do a little amateur carpentry with a beer or two. Some nights I do just chill in front of the TV while hugging a bottle of vodka.
If you want to be more social then cook for friends or invite them over for board games or join a local club doing something that interests you like dancing or sports or film or wine tasting or anything like that.
originaldonkmeister@reddit
I dunno OP, how often did you used to spend 24 hours without entering an air-conditioned space in those hot countries? How many of the local population did you see running outside for a bit of exercise in the day time? Different climate, different activities. For one, having children ties you to staying at home in the evening as you can't really drag them to the pub. But mostly it's the weather. Look at how many people are sat outside pubs and cafes in summer, midweek. It's pretty bustling in my town then..
Hungry_Caramel6169@reddit
I fucking love it. Get home, it’s dark, play with the kids in the cozy living room until they go to bed, set on my computer and play games till bed. Perfection.
jiBjiBjiBy@reddit
Be the change you want to see, meet up with those friends, enjoy your evenings.
kingofthepumps@reddit
Pub quiz?
khanto0@reddit
I find in the summer I'm outside pretty non stop. People are always out doing things, being social after work. In winter everyone kind of goes into hibernation mode. Or maybe they're focused on cranking out the hours at work. There comes a point in the winter where a third of the people have gone on holiday or travelling
cupidstuntlegs@reddit
Join a sports club, most of them meet midweek, or a local social club which will be delighted to have your support for their events. Quiz night down the local pub is always Thursdays my way and a person on their own will always get invited into a team. Use this as an opportunity to pursue a new interest.
hunnibadja@reddit
This is what the dark does to you. The UK is surprisingly far north, many parts of the world at this latitude are in deep snow half the year.
As a result, most people stay at home most of the time, to meet the get up and go people you need to get up and go - join a gym / climbing wall / club and keep showing up until you get to know people.
You might find though that the urge to hibernate kicks in for you too by mid January once your body gets accustomed to the misery.
I think one other element is a lot of British socialising is built around drinking, but pub drinking is prohibitively expensive for many people now.
Source: spent 3 years living near the equator. Took a while to readjust afterwards.
filbert94@reddit
Get off reddit and mate some fucking friends, mate
360Saturn@reddit
I don't have a TV either. It's only just occurred to me that's probably what a lot of people do midweek evenings! I tend to run errands or call someone on the phone.
naturepeaked@reddit
I normally stay in Monday Tuesday. Wednesday go out for dinner or catch some fringe theatre. Thursday alternates between pub and poker night. Not boring at all!
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
Share
realjmk@reddit
This isn't facebook sweetheart
Mr_Cripter@reddit
Why would you move back if you had this sweet life in the sun? Don't say because of financial reasons because there are more ways to be rich than with a bank account.
Roadman2k@reddit
Monday night I go to my boxing class then an AA meeting, Tuesday and yesterday evening I had a date. Today ill go to a jazz show.
So no not really, I keep busy.
tommytruim@reddit
This might not be what you're really looking for, but I can almost guarantee that your local Scout group will need more adult volunteers (leaders, assistant leaders, people to help with admin, tea and coffee makers, etc), and if they don't, then your next closest group will.
You need zero training to get started so don't worry if you're not an outdoorsy person, the only thing you need is to have no criminal record. (They will do a DBS check for you.)
I started volunteering with my daughter's Beaver Scout group because I hated my job and I hated that my evenings were filled with thinking about my job. So I found something else to think about. I'm now the Beaver Scout leader at my local group. Made lots of (adult) friends, I'm known and respected in my local area, and I get to watch the Beavers learn and grow and develop their skills - I had one very happy Dad tell me he couldn't believe that his daughter learned to tie her shoelaces in one session.
I can't recommend it enough, honestly! It can be hard work but it's ultimately worth it.
HellPigeon1912@reddit
Waaaaaay less boring than being at work
Morazma@reddit
Depends on your job I guess. I don't get bored at work because it's so intellectually stimulating. Then I come home and look forward to "boring" evenings.
pogomelon@reddit
The people downing you are cox
Morazma@reddit
It's sad but it's classic UK crabs in a bucket mentality. This is part of why so many people are doing so badly.
prawn_features@reddit
I thought you folded the jeans in h&m?
Morazma@reddit
Is that not intellectually stimulating? There are so many ways to fold them!
Turnip_dumpster@reddit
I totally understand this feeling although I adjusted before coming home to the UK, as I spent time in the US after a few fantastic years in Asia.
Have you tried a sports club? Racquet sports maybe? (Badminton?)
postvolta@reddit
I have kids so the couple hours after they're in bed is the only time I have to myself. I just get a few bits done while listening to podcasts and maybe watch a bit of a film or play some video games.
I'd quite like to socialise more but it's hard getting to meet people when your kids are this young and dependent on you.
BlondBitch91@reddit
If I lived in Southern California or Hong Kong I absolutely would do stuff midweek evenings. But unfortunately I live in London, so the choice is walking in the freezing cold and dark to drink an overpriced pint, walking in the freezing cold and dark to do something cultural, or staying home and watching TV and playing video games.
I choose the one that costs me the least and doesn’t mean going out in the freezing cold and dark. Is it any wonder the Scandinavians, Baltics and nordics turn to alcoholism to get them through the winter months?
Sivo1400@reddit
Where did you live OP? I have always lived in UK but I really dislike the dark cold winters. I would love eventually to live somewhere with warm evenings as you discribe.
whymusti00000@reddit
On the flip side you long summer nights, always feels quite jarring in the tropics, hot as fuck but it gets dark at 6 all year.
OreoSpamBurger@reddit
Yes, and there is almost no twilight - it goes from sun setting to full darkness in about 5 minutes.
whymusti00000@reddit
Yeah that caught us out a few times, we walked up to some water falls thinking we had plenty of time to get there and back and it just went dark, thank god for torches on phones.
bananabastard@reddit
And you'll be glad of the bastard sun going down.
gaspoweredcat@reddit
theres multiple problems, often starting with our abysmal public transport system, unless you live in a major city chances are you have very limited transport options after about 6pm, then theres the issue that these days not everyone works 9-5 so a lot of people cant go out, then theres the cost and the places, all we really have are grim old pubs that havent changed in 40 odd years, people arent so keen to spend their time in a somewhat nasty old boozer paying £5+ for the same beer they could be drinking at home for half that in a nicer environment.
dont get me wrong if i lived in a proper city id likely eat out at least a few times a week if not more but im not likely to do that when the best we have is a kebab shop or KFC, i get that this is largely just a where you live issue but if youre not somewhere like london, manchester, liverpool etc i imagine the situation is pretty similar
markrenton87@reddit
Go to Wetherspoons
nbrazel@reddit
I think a lot of what you're describing whilst away is a result of lots of people your age being abroad and away from home and wanting to maintain a social life/meet new people.
Additionally the types of personalities who will move away from where they grew up for 10 years to random countries will typically be more outgoing types.
As has already been said weather plays a massive part in this too. It's minus 4 today. No way am I going to the pub after work for all the hassle it entails.
AlbertTheAlbatross@reddit
I think if people in the UK hang out midweek it's by doing things together - hobbies and activities. You might have better luck taking up a new hobby or joining a club rather than just trying to be outside with people. I'm sure there'll be stuff on if you look - I'm in a fairly remote spot in Cumbria and I'm actually having to give up some of my hobbies as I do too much on midweek evenings, and I'm burning out!
No_Beginning_612@reddit
The UK lifestyle destroys human happiness and health. It’s a sickening, indoor lifestyle - people exist inside artificially-lit homes and offices. They move around inside brand-new, leased German cars. Everyone looks 10-20 years older than their age. And an insane number of people are on anti-depressants.
prawn_features@reddit
Join a running club
Sad-Personality8493@reddit
Depends on how you define boring. I work on my own all day and when i get in around 5pm im STRAIGHT in my pj's and in bed on my phone this time of year.....and adore every single fucking second of it (my username was disastrously randomly generated because the 'username checks out lolz' comments start you little twerps)
2001Galaxy@reddit
it’s a shitole and everyone’s miserable
marxistopportunist@reddit
The social media influencers seem happy though
JewelBabeJade@reddit
Absolutely feel you on this! Transitioning back to UK vibes especially after living it up abroad sounds like a total culture shock. Maybe you could shake things up by starting a new midweek tradition? Like a trivia night at a local pub or even a board game night? Sometimes you gotta be the one to light up the spark in your social circle. Keep hitting the gym and maybe join some classes or clubs there to meet people who are down for more than just a TV binge. Hang in there, the right crowd just needs a little nudge sometimes!
NorthernSoul1977@reddit
Yes. Back in the day I'd go to the pub, but now I save that for the weekend. Plus I'm trying to eat less, which I hate. I'd often eat in the evenings and watch TV. Now I try not to eat much after 7 and TV is boring. I did have fun this evening playing Beach Buggy Racer with my sprogs, however.
LauraCurie@reddit
In a perfect world, November would be the time of the year where sexual pleasure is happening every night with plenty of kinky variations.
asmiggs@reddit
I would consider your age, in my twenties we'd be able to gather a group of friends for a night out no matter the weather but by myself and my friends and reached our mid thirties kids and more demanding jobs meant this became something of a logistical struggle even on weekends. Living aboard you probably moved in a slightly younger crowd and even some of the older ones would be free of responsibilities like this. When my friend came back from teaching aboard he was still trying to get people together with a few or no days notice, I had to introduce the idea of planning ahead most of my off are planned 6 months in advance, get out the gantt chart!
AccidentAccomplished@reddit
depend where you live and what you do man.
NewfoundRepublic@reddit
I put sand on my roof and pretend its a beach
madcaplaughed@reddit
Not a lot of beach or rooftop activity in November here. When I was young, single & lived in a city centre I’d often meet mates in the pub after work but we all worked near each other.
Chevalitron@reddit
Also our roofs are sharply angled and covered in slate tiles.
Atrixia@reddit
No, I find weeknights are for recharging after days at work. The weekend, no recharge needed - its just spending all my energy on the partner and family rather than 80% of it being depleted on a weekday
nicdic89@reddit
I do prefer to stay in weekday nights no matter the season, but I am more inclined to go out on a good hour walk after work in the spring/ summer months. I seem to stay in my warm comfy clothes in the winter and plonk myself in front of the tv and get stuck into my crafting. I do go out on Wednesday evenings once a month for quiz night though, that’s important lol.
Eye-on-Springfield@reddit
This is why until a few weeks ago I was on the verge of becoming an alcoholic. Having a few drinks every night seemed like a good way of making the evenings more exciting. It did, but the effect it had on my waistline, mental health and relationship were absolutely not worth it
oli_ramsay@reddit
Join an evening jiu jitsu class
SirScoaf@reddit
Maybe I’m tired, but there is something a little insufferable about the tone of this…
JustGhostin@reddit
Only boring people get bored
Manifestival1@reddit
Yes!
nostalgebra@reddit
People used to go to the pub and play dominos cards, pool etc but it's too expensive so everyone just watches netflix now.
Sufficient_Meal6614@reddit
Offer to host?
thepopkids@reddit
British climate + British economy. It’s cold and we’re poor. In the summer there’s lots of free things you can do, walks, picnics with friends, outdoor cinema etc etc. In the winter there are fewer activities which are free because you can’t really be outside, and being inside means spending money, which a lot of Brits don’t have right now
londonflare@reddit
I’m a bit older with kids and love a midweek catch up. Once every weeks will get the train (just over an hour) into London to see friends.
mcdonalds69whore@reddit
I can do maybe one weekday evening of socialising in a week but tbh, after a full day at work I feel so drained that I would rather just decompose on the sofa for a few hours before I have to go to bed and do it all again the next day. Life is tough.
Ok-Train5382@reddit
I often go to the pub or for food in the week with my friends or partner.
Depends on your friends, depends if they have kids. Most of mine don’t and most of my mates work in offices so are happy to get points after work. I imagine if you work long exhausting days outside or have a family you probably are less keen on midweek jaunts
QueSeRawrSeRawr@reddit
I (30s) often go out to a gig/restaurant/exercise class/comedy night this time of year. Hardly any of my friends have kids and are usually up for some nonsense
solar-powered-potato@reddit
No, I like them more than weekends sometimes honestly. Most weeks I'm out two or three evenings - a regular meet up at the library on their Thurs late opening to crochet and/or play board games, maybe a trip to the cinema (technically I'm sat on my arse watching telly, but it's not in my house and it's a really big telly so it counts as actually doing something) or give one of my siblings a shout to go a walk together if it's dry, and either going to or hosting someone for dinner. Couple of evenings for crafts in front of the telly, housework, or just phoning friends/family for a blether while I'm cooking. Weekends get consumed by bigger events or home/garden projects but weekdays are nice and low pressure, I feel like I get more time to do the things I actually like.
Academic-Bug-4597@reddit
Not at all. I find midweek evenings the most fun tbh. There is so much to do in London: theatre, comedy, gigs, cinema, restaurants, clubs, etc. and they are not packed with out-of-towners coming up for the weekend.
Weekends are packed with people coming in from the surrounding counties, so pubs and bars are a squash, and most clubs switch to more mainstream music to cater to them. I prefer to avoid London nightlife at weekends because of this; it goes down in quality compared to weeknights.
No, weekends are the time for going for long runs or bike rides, having friends round for dinner, or going to house parties.
ufb1684@reddit
For a lot of people December is a stupidly expensive month Christmas presents, few nights out, spending extra for Christmas dinner itself, New Year celebrations if you do them so November has to be quiet in order to save for them.
Also, the fact that even a half a dozen pints down the local now means spending the guts of £40 means that going out very often is just not doable anymore. I'm single and earn an ok wage and can only afford to go out a couple of times a month, how any one with kids whose mortgage has doubled in last year does it is beyond me.
Easy_Pen5217@reddit
I normally do a boardgaming session or a MeetUp group once a week. But, it depends where you are in the UK. Where I live there are loads of midweek activities happening, when I lived in the Midlands (Northants) there was nothing for some reason.
Sithfish@reddit
If staying in watching TV is boring, watch better TV.
porspeling@reddit
Summer is fine. In winter I will cook, go to the gym and work on my hobbies. It is hard to be social though.
lewisw1992@reddit
Chatting with friends on PS5 and having a laugh on some goofy games.
No-Photograph3463@reddit
I find they generally go by in a blur tbh.
Finish work at 5, then by the time I've been to the gym its 7. Cook dinner and shower takes me to 8pm ish, by which time I just sit and chill, usually with TV on in the background.
When I'm not at the gym I'll either be at a pub quiz with friends, at a concert band rehearsal or down the pub with friends.
trainpk85@reddit
Omg I lived in Latin America and returned to the uk in June and this is one of the biggest differences I found here. I’ve settled back into it but thankfully my husband moved with me so he doesn’t mind going out to eat at 9pm
Annual-Cookie1866@reddit
It’s a bit cold for the beach.
Itchy-Tip@reddit
Best time for beach is pitch dark at night in winter. Dress to the max
coffeewalnut05@reddit
Never too cold for the beach. Yeah you won’t be swimming, but winter at the coast has its own vibes
coffeewalnut05@reddit
No. I do most of those things you mentioned even in winter, besides the rooftops.
coffeewalnut05@reddit
No. I do most of those things you mentioned even in winter, besides the rooftops.
Boring-Tangerine-589@reddit
It's a bit TOO lively where I live. Once I'm behind my door after a long shift, that's it.
mikolv2@reddit
No, not at all. Quite the opposite, I don't have enough time to do all the thing I'd love to do. You obviously have to adjust your lifestyle to what climate will allow here, chances that weather will be good enough to go to the beach, chill outside or go for a walk on any given evening is a coin toss. You can still go for food/drinks, many people do, you can go shopping, most shopping centres are opened until 8/9pm. And when the weather is bad and/or it gets dark early, you need to find stuff that fulfills to do indoors. That's it really.
lalalaladididi@reddit
Never get bored.
I'm retired now. I retired very early with burnout.
Days aren't long enough for me.
Don't know what boredom is
likemindedmango@reddit
Even your sentences burn out early.
ozz9955@reddit
Swim/run/cycle throughout the week as part of a club, so that's social. Sod about with my car in the garage, go to the pub, take the wife out for dinner...I watch TV maybe once or twice at the most.
nostalgebra@reddit
People used to go to the pub and play dominos cards, pool etc but it's too expensive so everyone just watches netflix now.
jmh90027@reddit
Some of the patterns established in lockdown have been made long term by the cost of living and people working from home.
And i dont want to mention the dreaded "B word" but it meant a lot of the younger, lower-income international types who used to work in retail / cafes by day and partied by night went back home because of it and took a lot of the fun with them
hollowcrown51@reddit
They can be boring but also I’ve been to work so often I just want to come home and chill.
Usually for me after work I’ll go to the gym/sports club/running on 2 or 3 nights of the week, and usually a pub trip ever Friday and some other social thing like board games on another random day. So there is actually quite a lot of stuff to do, but it’s more variety than just meeting friends every night.
A lot of friends also live in different cities so seeing them is a weekend thing instead of week days.
Affectionate_You_858@reddit
People are boring and unsocial now
zazabizarre@reddit
It’s currently 0 degrees outside and pitch black. Why do you think we’re not all sat on the beach or having drinks on our rooftops after work?
LondonCycling@reddit
Not especially but it is what you make of it.
I play board games or go climbing with mates, do volunteering, short walks and bike rides, cinema, theatre, go out for food. Yeah sometimes I'm just at home reading a book or watching a TV or playing Xbox.
Some obviously cost more than others. Board gaming isn't a particularly expensive hobby, or at least, you can start fairly small.
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
Must try whittling my life away.
SlothsNeverGetIll@reddit
I finish work, go to the gym, shower, cook and eat dinner, wash up, maybe make a packed lunch for the next day - then it's 8pm and I want to watch a bit of TV to decompress. I also want to feel fresh at work the next day, so want to avoid alcohol if possible.
I save being sociable for the weekend.
Joshthenosh77@reddit
I get home from work At 7.30 make dinner eat dinner watch a show it’s mealy 9 at that point
Impressive-Car4131@reddit
Agreed, after 8 years abroad I’m finding it tough. I also work from home and I drive my kids to activities. where I was before parents would stay at the activity and chat, here they drop off and pick up in the car and there’s nowhere for me to watch the activity or meet the other parents
mtrd1986@reddit
(M38) I live alone so keep myself busy by going to a few pub quizzes midweek I don’t always have to drink. Other days fill my evenings with 5 a side and just started running. Exercise helps me with winter depression
Desperate_Song_7812@reddit
I’m very social but rarely see friends during week, everyone is working different shifts, other than the gym all I do is hibernate in front of the tv mid week when it’s cold.
Stifton@reddit
I really like going for a walk with my dogs after work, especially when it's dark and cold, the problem is that I want to get it done relatively quickly because I have other stuff I need to do in the evening so it's not something I would do with my friends. By the time everyone's fed and the kitchen had been cleaned it's pretty much time for me to have a shower and start getting ready for bed. I'd love to spend time with my friends during the week and I do on the odd occasion but I have stuff to do and sleep is a major priority. I only WFH once a week though so I imagine if it was more of a regular thing I wouldn't be so bothered
fullenglish91@reddit
I would still go into my city centre if invited somewhere by a friend but I don’t like to go on my own when it’s dark as that’s when the machete people are likely to come out. I mean, they come out during the day, but also at night too.
CourageBetter2842@reddit
Evenings are indeed boring. Time is just wished away waiting for the weekend or me.
KurtWuster@reddit
When working from home I try to go to the gym or at least to the shop in the evening. In the winter especially it’s too easy to not leave the house for days!
AdCurrent1125@reddit
A lot of people who did the travelling thing in their 20s are the same. It's the price to be paid.
You turned off your social life here, so you kind of have to start over again. If you'd have stayed here you'd have 10 years of accumulated social life around you.
Necessary_Doubt_9762@reddit
Just out of curiosity, but did where you live have siestas or early starts and finishes? 9-5 is shit and if most of your friends work that, there is nothing left to give after 5pm in a lot of instances. Especially if your friends have children, their tanks will be completely Empty.
Desperate_Goose_4946@reddit
Dude, you have returned to a split and lonely nation.I have little advice for you other than to return to whatever warm climate you were in. I fucking love this country but shit ain’t good man. Bad moon rising…
imminentmailing463@reddit
Not at all. Never really had a problem meeting people midweek if I want to, just takes organising. Meeting a friend for dinner and drinks midweek next week. There's plenty of stuff to do midweek if I want to.
However, I don't regularly want to do stuff midweek. I have a wife, baby and dog. I enjoy an occasional social plan, but most evenings I just want to hang out with them. That's what I love doing.
You're 35, perhaps a lot of people you know just have families and partners they want to hang out with in the evenings?
Flaky-Delivery5417@reddit
Yes. Gym 3 days. The odd pint after work maybe once a month. Date night with the other half every couple of weeks.
A stark difference to the past 6-11 years. I was living in the city centre of a major city and out 4-5 nights a week. Couldn't be bothered these days. That said I don't particularly enjoy the new normal for me. I think COVID nackered it. But then again I did end up just getting older too..
420BoofIt69@reddit
Where did you live out of curiosity.
I enjoy midweek evenings personally.
I go gym Play video games See friends Get high
SebastianHaff17@reddit
A site like Meetup is great for finding events.
And I do find people in London get hysterical whe it's the slightest bit cold or dark.
Maybe try games nights, movie nights etc.
Kamoebas@reddit
Midweek pub quiz? Friends round for games night? Cold/Wet walks?
Plenty to do if keen.
DualWheeled@reddit
Depends where you are and what is near you. Evenings are boring in suburbia, and to do anything means spending money and travelling somewhere (pub, restaurant, someone else's).
If you're in a major city you should be able to find something to do most evenings.
FriendlyPhrase2808@reddit
Welcome back yeah its pretty much dead during the week even weekends aren't as lively anymore
TheNorthernBaron@reddit
I have an eight month old. Evenings this year are trying to combat the PTSD of having a baby haha. But prior to this evening's were about cooking good food, smoking good weed and walking my good dog. Winters are also for long hot baths.
Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit
I book hobbies on a couple of nights, and then it's more punctuated.
And invite people over once a week, that'll give you something to plan and also get the momentum going for them to invite you back.
Desperate-Tomato902@reddit
Why did you go back to the UK?
Opening-Abrocoma4210@reddit
Not really no, I tend to lay out what I want to do for the week and make plans and stick to them, even if I really can’t be arsed. There’s the odd night (like tonight) I’ll likely just read and have an early night but I don’t find that boring
KingKhram@reddit
No I love it. I always enjoy going out, but I love days where not much happens more
IndustrialPet@reddit
People are skint/parents/have stupid long commutes that require them to get up early. Plus it's cold and dark and miserable at the moment making it harder to power through those obstacles.
C5Galaxy@reddit
Not boring but a routine Monday to Thursday.
Pi-creature@reddit
Yeah sad but true about TV. We're all seriously broke.
Voodoopulse@reddit
No, I find them ridiculously busy, between catching up on work, my hobbies, getting a kid to his extra curricular activities and spending time with the family it's normally seriously busy.
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