Having the house to yourself

Trendygran what very wise words.

trendygran you are so right. My OH is currently in the other room with the TV on watching goodness knows what and I'm keeping my distance but at least I know there is someone else there even if most of the time I wish he wasn't! Grass is always greener as they say

I have a morning to myself as DH is in the Planned Care Unit having another 2 units of blood. I had allocated the time to weeding and ironing, so what am I doing still on here ?

Having the house to yourself is great when you know someone else will be returning later.It really loses it's appeal when there is no longer anyone coming back. I do still enjoy being on my own sometimes, but would give anything to know that my DH was still 'coming home later' . Even after 6 years plus since he died I miss having someone to share life with - even if he was deaf and conversation wasn't always easy!
Those of you who still have your 'other halves' make the most of the time together . It could all end in a matter of hours .as happened in my case.
I keep busy with friends, volunteering,etc during the week, but weekends and evenings alone are not easy.

Oh yes I would, Harrigran . I've been there and done that!

Another joy is that of being able to eat whatever I fancy, whether it's just a portion of frozen food I've found in the freezer, or some guilty pleasure!

DH is out for the night, you would not believe the rubbish I have watched on the TV

That was exactly the same problem that I had, Anya

I've learned my lesson now, and won't tell anyone DH is going if it happens again.

I love having the house to myself. DH is off on a golfing holiday next week, can't wait. I'll have a quick tidy through, then just clear up after myself.

Peace, calm, time and space all to myself......only trouble is the 'children' DD and DS will try to invite me round fir a meal in the mistaken belief I'll be alone and thus 'lonely' and then I'll get stressed trying to make up an excuse why fob them off

I always leave the answerphone on. DH won't answer the phone and if I'm out of reach I'm blowed if I'm going to trip over the dogs in a race to get there. If it's family I usually manage to pick up before they ring off and if it isn't I can ring them back....if I want to.

Let it ring? Answerphone will click in and you can decide later if you want to ring back or not. As for being " in demand", you could say upfront, I am going to be in my laundry/sewing room for the next two hours, if you need me only disturb in an emergency.

We have 2 handsets, but hubby won`t answer the phone anyway, daughter will, if it`s handy, but doesn`t like doing.

Number I think you want a power cut in your house. A push on the fuse board might give them both time to think of you. And buy a phone with various handsets so you can leave one with each of them and ear plugs for yourself so they have to get on with things.

Trisher, I`ve been suggesting for years that my daughter should join one of those groups, but she`s adamant that she`s not going to. She doesn`t leave the house, because it`s a work of art just getting her over the doorstep, she can only lift her feet a couple of inches, so really struggles.
Soutra, even if I could make the only unused room fit for a "den", it wouldn`t be much use, I`m always in demand for something or other. Even if the phone rings, I have to drop whatever I`m doing to go answer it, daughter can`t get up quick enough, and hubby WON`T answer the flipping thing!
I don`t want the house to myself all the time, but now and aain would be nice. When hubby was still working, and daughter went into hospital, I had it to myself so much that I ended up talking to myself a heck of a lot!

TwiceAsNice

What's with the spelling I meant to write my own not Murphy oewn where did that come from !!

I am with shysal after divorcing a controlling husband I relish time on Murphy oewn ALL the time it's wonderful I don't have to answer to anybody and I have lovely friends so I can have company when I want it should have done it years ago!

Since DH retired, I have very little me-time. In winter, he does go out twice a week on a fairly regular basis, but one of those coincides with when I have to work, and the other day I have to drop him off and go do the week's shopping. The rest of the time he just hangs about the house, and he's one of those people who wasn't blessed with the ability to do anything quietly (he can't even open a door without making the whole house shake!), making it very difficult for me to relax or concentrate on anything.

Last year, I was (secretly) over the moon when he asked if I would mind if he went of for a few days to see an old friend.
If only I hadn't told the family - first my parents decided it would be a good time to visit me, then both DSs invited me over to their houses for meals. Hmmm - I know I should be grateful that they are all so kind and considerate, but I was so looking forward to some time to myself!

Numberplease is there no way you can create a "den" for yourself in a spare room or wherever? You could call it your Sewing Room/Study/ironing room or whatever but instead of sitting downstairs with the others, the TV and the laptop you could just hide away there! It's why some men have their sheds isn't it?

I LOVE the house to myself. First of all I watch all the programmes I've recorded. I can knit while I do this so it's not a waste of time. Then I might look at interesting stuff on my laptop, for as long as i want to. There is a happy medium. I would hate to live alone, but those rare times on my own are so precious. i write this while looking after my lively three old granddaughter today. Need I say more!

I was a widow and so know full well what it is like to be alone. It doesn't mean that I still don't like the house to myself sometimes now that I am remarried. I love it- and absolute silence!
They are very different- you can wish for it without meaning that you want it all the time.

I enjoy having the house to myself and do so quite often as DH is still working. It will be interesting to see how things go when he cuts down to 3 days a week next year. I enjoy my own company and am never at a loss for something to do. I also enjoy being social. However, when I have been in a large group of people for some time , even if they are friends and family, I do feel the need to have a few minutes on my own. Just a walk around the garden or a few minutes in a quiet room and then I am ok again. Any one else feel the same ?

Love the idea of rambling and flouncing from room to room, Grannyknot. I like not having to cook meals for everyone and sometimes I think I can't wait for everyone to leave home - only two teenagers to go now. But then when everyone is away I can get a bit lonely - my grumpy daughter can be a good roadtrip and cafe-visiting companion

numberplease has your daughter looked at joining the Rheumatoid Arthritis society www.nras.org.uk ? They have local groups who organise activities. I go to a Tai Chi class and many of the women there have RA and go because it helps their condition. They seem to do lots of other things together as well. She might find it helps her.
Marmight so sorry for you. I am on my own but my son and his family visit once a week so I do get someone to cook for and it does make a difference.
I suppose it's the old saying about the grass always looking greener.....

There are quite a few widows and people who live alone on GN, and I am one of them.

I'm pretty sure they're not all wanting to throttle those who are posting in this thread - as someone said we can't be watching our p's and q's all the time in case someone is offended or upset...

Marmight I am so sorry. I was thinking before you posted- about what it would be like to have this house to myself... all the time. I couldn't I don' think