Long evenings

What about putting your internet habit to some use. Perhaps study something there are lots of interesting free courses (often quite short -three to six weeks) at futurelearn. Or perhaps a new interest, genealogy or writing for pleasure. Personally I am four months into learning to play the bagpipes. I am homeless but I love the company one night a week, it is quite cheap at first and gives me lots if fun, and some frustration to be honest. But learning anything new is tough but rewarding.

I was OU student back in 1981 (graduated in 88) and met and married DH when he was my summer school tutor. Desperately keen to do a second degree with them studying languages, but agree that sadly it has become unaffordable (back in the day people could afford to take one degree after another if, like me, they had an interest in a wide range of things!). Hate TV and wouldn't have a set at all if DH and DS didn't insist on watching and if I didn't play console games. During the day I play keyboard for local over-55 choir, am on the group's committee (acting Chair) and do Aqua Fit and Gentle Exercise classes weekly. When otherwise not occupied? radio, read, knit, craft, computer games, e-mail, penpals, currently doing Creative Writing course, family tree etc. - how on earth did I ever have time to go to work?

I knit (4 Aran hoodies completed for DGSs and great nephew and niece) and just started a cardigan for me. I'm also started crocheting Attic 24's Woodland blanket yesterday. I read while enjoying long soaks in the bath with bubbles and candles, do my nails and try to make inroads into an embarrassing amount of body lotions I've been given.
The evenings are a great excuse for being indulgent, something l feel guilty about in the summer when there's always something to get done in the garden!
An early night with a good book and a cup of milky coffee is bliss ☺️?

Try Ruzzle too, you WordswithFriends fans - addictive too and I have now made good friends in the US with great discussions on our different words and pronunciations!

I knit while watching tv. That way I don't feel I'm wasting my time.

Words with friends plus other word games, tv, pottering, snacking, bit of fam history, bit of crafts, otherwise not a lot

I usually potter around doing bits and bobs. Sometimes watch tv, sometimes listen to music, or find something interesting on YouTube.

For me it's jigsaws, words with friends on my phone, family history research, jewellery making, OU free Spanish course this year and Pilate's one night a week. Not much time for TV after all that but I do like the odd nature program ...

watermeadow - I have the same problem and haven't found the solution.
When we were younger we used to go out to our local bridge club on these dark evenings, but too much effort now. Especially driving home in the dark at midnight.
My other solution is to listen to music on youtube (if you like music).
You can plan your own concert.

Thanks for a variety of ideas. Lots of you do much the same as I do in the evenings.
Open University is a good idea, I need to exercise my brain but too tired tonight!
Sooner or later I’ll get a TV.

By choice|I don't have a tv, I read, knit for charity, crossword puzzles, write letters, listen to the radio, surf the internet, my evenings are never boring.

Love watching tv but I am selective not keen on reality shows but have enjoyed a couple of the recent celebrity ones real marigold hotel and celebs on a canal boat love Nigel Havers I work full-time so evening doesn't seem that long shower cooking dinner browse the internet and before you know it's time for bed

If anyone wants to link to me to play WordswithFriends then pm me! I justify it by saying that it is god brain exercise!

I agree about the OU, did it myself and completed my degree the year before the higher charges came in, luckily. They do also run good free courses - lots of choice, definitely worth a look.

I don't think we should write off TV. As others have said, there are some excellent programmes on offer. I buy a TV programme guide and go through it each week ringing the progs I want to watch. If DH disagrees negotiation takes place! I confess we do watch Corrie (well, why not?) but we also enjoy documentaries and current affairs and those progs that visit factories to see how things are made.

You could also try joining AncestryUK or one of the similar sites and researching your family tree. It is absolutely fascinating and sometimes hours go by that you have not even noticed!

Ingejones I play Forge of Empires too !! And Elvenar is another good multilayer game !

I play puzzle games with a glass of low alcohol wine most evenings. I love all the animal programmes on Quest Red too.

I have been spending the darker nights clearing all the stuff I have collected and relining all my drawers ready for spring,also been watching some really good documentries on BBC2 these past few weeks I really enjoyed the one about the house in Liverpool at 62 Faulkner Street which was very enlightening well worth catching up on if anyone is interested.

I don't watch much tv, I live alone and spend my evenings playing word games on the iPad and playing and talking to my dogs.

I am also studying with the Open University. I'm in my fourth year. I do however spend less time studying than watching TV and going on the tablet/laptop. I read when I go up to bed. I don't drive and evenings out are very rare.
I've found since my DSs left home last year, I enjoy TV better as can watch what I like with no interruptions with DS wanting to chat or playing music.

Have you considered studying with The Open University? I started after I retired precisely for that reason, to fill the long winter evenings, and five years later am still enjoying it very much. The downside is it is increasingly expensive.

I don't think anything is a waste of time if it keeps those of us who live alone happily entertained. Or even those who don't live alone. I do chores in the daytime and relax in the evenings.... television, reading, writing, games on my phone, - whatever prevents me from feeling miserable.

travelsafar you said it ( so I don’t need to)
I am appreciating tv now as in the past was too busy to ever watch much at all.We have Sky, and now catch up tv means we can download anything, and free box sets of series.DH loves any kind of sports.
I love reading, but find night’s (light) not great for books, so do any reading in the daytime.Sometimes find a good programme on the radio, phone friends,etc but all evenings when in the house are just to relax, no need to do household chores at that time, and I never feel guilty!

I love the TV too but I'm a picky watcher. DH and I sometimes just have music on in the evenings. We have our main meal between 6.30 and 7 so by the time I have cleared up, put the washing on etc there are only a couple of hours before bed - 9.30 if I can but usually 10. I don't do any crafts as I have no idea what I would do with anything I had made. I am supposed to be teaching myself to crochet from You Tube but keep putting it off.

I enjoy my TV of an evening and nothing you enjoy is a waste of time, is it? Of course I restrict myself to documentaries, nature programmes, Corrie, Gogglebox, comedy, thrillers, drama and the more challenging quizzes.

I like to do something productive at the same time, and at the moment that means knitting a Nanna blanket for Oxfam. They sell them at festivals to kids with perhaps more money than sense who like the homemade look and don't object to the odd dropped stitch and wonky square, which is just as well, as I'm no knitter. As for snacking, that's a thing of the past now I'm on the 16:8 fast regime and don't normally eat between 9pm and 1pm the next day. It does motivate you to keep away from the nibbles. I do often fit in a glass or two of wine in just before though.

There's a separate 16:8 thread on the dieting forum if anyone's interested.

At the moment I am addicted to Forge Of Empires - an online multiplayer game. Anyone else play that? Anyway what with constantly rearranging my city and fighting my neighbors it's left me little time for anything else