Any other ideas of how to pass the day ?
Hi @Enorac. Ive got dozens of ideas, but the problem is that they are all things âIâ want to do, and probably not what âyou,â want to do.
Thatâs unless you want to join a ukulele band, or learn to play a guitar!
Why not make a list of things which interest you, and then think how you could expand that interest.
For example, I love chatting to new people. Strangely, people I dont know never come round to chat. So I take myself out where they are. I have two little dogs, who have an abundance of charm. So whenever I go shopping (and the weather is ok, I always find myself in a pavement cafe, having a cup of coffee and a cake. My dogs, Rosie and Crumpet, spend all their time charming people on adjacent tables, and that very often starts lovely chats.
What do you enjoy, or what interests you?
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Hi @Enorac - someone suggested jigsaws to me. & I now always have one on the go, I find I need to concentrate so cannot think about things I donât want to think about. Works for me on long evenings, TV or music on in the background.
Also walking.
xx
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Ive just thought of another example!
Penny loved her garden, and the wildlife it brought in. Ive always been interested in bees. Did you know there are 130 different types of bee in our gardens?
So Ive decided to try and photograph as many insects as I can find in my garden, identify them, and write a blog about them. The shame is that the insects have disappeared for the winter but I know very little about photography, so winter will be spent becoming David Bailey.
I didnt have a suitable camera, so Ive spent time learning a bit about them, and bought one last week.
I cant wait for spring.
So again, one simple interest has expanded into photography, and blogging.
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After we came back from our 3 week holiday on the Scottish Isles last year Keef decided that his camera wasnât good enough and bought a brand new one. Unfortunately he never got to grips with it before he got really ill and grumpy at the end of last year so itâs still sitting upstairs in the spare room in itâs box. I gave the old one to our daughter and have decided I will learn how to use this one over the winter.
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@Enorac I have started doing diamond painting which will take months as it has thirty thousand diamonds. I have chosen a nice picture of my husband and me and will hang it up once done.
Have you thought about volunteering. Not sure what age you are but U3A is meant to have lots of activities for older people, such as arts and crafts, lunches, days out ect. Hope you find something to pass these long lonely days xx
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Hi Enorac, The best thing I have done is to join a Rock Choir. I didnât know a soul there and went thinking well if I donât like it Iâii just go home⌠but I really loved it. No auditioning as itâs a fun choir and Iâve been going since April. They go to different venues to sing which you can join in or not which as yet I havenât. Other folk there in the same boat as us so you know that others have trodden the same road.
My choir is âGot to SIngâ and I think theyâre all over the country.
Just a thought⌠Love Jenny.
Good you have found singing has really cheered you up. Brave to just walk in. I used to be in the church choir before the pandemic but it has been so long since I went it is more challenging now to go there. I tried once when my husband was still alive but it wasnât the same as I used to feel. But I still sing to cheer myself up.
I had an invitation today to be considered to borrow an e bike for six months in December. I was quite interested in way. But December is cold. Not too sure at the moment.
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I do volunteer already by maintaining the outside planters by the chapel and sending card to all the children. Not much I know. I look after my three grandsons.
I am too tired these days to do much.
I used to be in the U3A. It worked alright for a while
Think best for me to try to find a walking friend. I would like to borrow someoneâs dog really like I did before. I did for a bit my sonâs puppy but he wasnât very good with my cat. A big soppy old Labrador.
I sometimes make friends with the dogs round here.
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Oh thatâs good that you got to do some volunteering. Yes I heard that you can foster dogs, and walk dogs for people who canât get out and about. I suppose with the weather and dark nights it is harder to get out. What about a phone buddy or walking buddy. X
Yes I had a phone buddy in the pandemic but she didnât want to continue. Spose could rejoin Cinnamon Trust as I once fostered a lovely dog I wanted to keep and could have but my husband refused. I left the scheme when I had an unpleasant experience. If course I always said I would get my own dog if Nothing happened to my husband and it has but now I find the cat a challenge.
Still see how I feel in a while. Still keep dropping hints about local dog owners whose dog I like saying let me know if you get stuck
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Yes I like easy jigsaws
Canât do others.
Sometimes stick my nose in a book.
Do a bit colouring although mindless.
Hi all,
@tykey I love bees too, I have a booklet with all the different bees on, so I can identify the different ones. 
Coffee & cake sounds great, itâs nice to treat yourself, & at the moment Costa have their winter hot chocolate range, I can recommend their black forest hot chocolate, or the after 8 hot chocolate, itâs my favourite winter treat.
@Enorac , there are always ideas of things you can do, but it depends what kind of things you enjoy or are interested in, & whether itâs something you want to do as a hobby, just to take up some free time, or as a bigger project, 
⌠Thinking about it, there are always new things to do & experience, eg- painting 
, sketching, start writing your own autobiography, going for walks, sewing, knitting, do a class in something, bird watching 
, crossword puzzles or word searches, baking, 
, reading, 
, learn to play an instrument 
, learn star constellations, astrology, origami, the only limit is your imagination.
I think one of the most important things is that we try new things which leave us better people, with achievements to build on, rather than filling time in. If we were feeling down, and just filled in an hour or two, we feel no better.
I joined a couple of ukulele bands, as part of the U3a. The U3a activities are all focussed on retired, semi-retired, or bereaved people.Each week we get better, meeting every week to bash out songs, sometimes practicing at home, but making loads of lovely friends.
If a novice turns up to see what we are about, someone will sit them down, put a uke in their hands, and within 5 minutes they are strumming along (in a simple fashion, to start).
Last weekend we did a gig in a church hall for charity, and Sweet Caroline had them all singing along, dancing in the isles. An amazing experience! I have a video for you, I hope to post it, when I manage to change it into an acceptable format.
I think the point is, take the plunge into getting out there, do new things, which lead to more new things, more fun, and more new pals.
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Iâve joined a patchwork and quilting class, met some lovely people of all ages and find that I have to really concentrate to do it. It helps to stop your brain for a little while. Well done on the volunteering, doesnât matter how much you do, itâs all a contribution. I also go to yoga classes which helps with relaxation. Thereâs all different levels, even chair yoga if sitting/laying down is difficult.
The hospice that supported my husband do walks for bereaved relatives. I havenât gone on one yet but can see the benefit of being with people who know how youâre feeling.
I hope you found something to fill your time but equally if you need to rest/sleep/watch mindless tv thatâs just as beneficial xx
Horses for courses as they say. We all different. So glad it working for you. I used to be in U3A.
I kinda grew out of it.
Lots people leave when they get older and issues with their own health.
I left because it was too awkward to get to crowded meetings. I used to nod off boring talks.
Ok when it was on zoom did not matter.
But yes great for you younger folk semi retired over 50s.
Yesterday I went for the second time to a tea and cake quizz.
Last time it wasnât so crowded. But this time wasnât enough seats so was a bit too cosy.
I went to try if the e bikes would be suitable but Iâm too short for the bikes in stock. But upside was I got an offer to repair my own bike.
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