Weekends
Weekends are precious when you are working.
During my schooldays, weekends started at lunchtime on Saturday.
Yes, our school day was from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 16.10pm with a lunch time break from 12.30pm until 13.55pm. Class on Saturdays started at 9.00am and finished four classes later at 12.30pm and there were hockey matches in the afternoon. I hated sport and I think it was that my body went into shock from the cold. No consideration was ever given to this and I was perpetually told to stop shivering! I avoided outdoor games at every chance I could.
I mostly worked five days a week. In some companies we finished at 4.00pm on a Friday. In winter we often adjourned to the local hostelry for a drink and wind down after a busy week. In summer people were more inclined to head away for the weekend.
In those early days one of my friends had a little Fiat 850 car and we travelled all over the country. Whoever sat in the front passenger seat needed to be careful where she put her feet as there was a large hole in the floor! We didn’t care as we tootled about all over the place. Salthill, Donegal, Bunratty, Clonakilty and Curracloe all provided adventure at some point. Achill Island off the west coast of Ireland was a favourite for a long Bank Holiday weekend.
I remember one particular weekend when four of us girls headed across to Achill all set to camp out for the weekend. One of the girls was embarking on her first weekend under canvas. Once we had the tent erected we began to unpack the car. Our newbie carried in her bag and started to empty it. I have no idea how we kept straight faces as she produced silk negligee and bedroom mules with swansdown tassels!
One time we travelled to Paris and felt so sophisticated attending a late showing of the film Last Tango in Paris with Marlon Brando – it was banned in Ireland at the time. Later that night as we walked along the Champs-Elysées a man lurched drunkenly at me and I felt the full weight of him hit me. I ducked away and as we walked on my hand seemed damp. I looked down only to discover it was blood and to my horror there was blood all down the front of my outfit! The only conclusion I could think of was that the man had been injured or stabbed. Looking back there was no sign of him and since I spoke no French, little point in making a fuss.
Another time I went to Dusseldorf, but the longest weekend journey I ever undertook was from Wiesbaden in Germany, to St Anton in Austria; a distance of 13 hours by train each way, to meet up with a cousin out there on holiday from Ireland!
So how did you spend your weekends?
Conortje said,
January 9, 2009 at 10:30 am
Hope this weekend is blood-free and full of fun for you
Nancy said,
January 9, 2009 at 11:53 am
Well, Grannymar, this is an account of my typical weekend.
The telephone will ring and depending on whether it’s Brad Pitt or George Clooney, plans will be made.
Brad likes to sneak away from Angelina and spend a couple of days in seclusion with me in St.Moritz or Cannes. Depends on the weather. I have told no one about this so would appreciate your descretion. If Angelina ever found out there would be a terrible scene. You see, she is very jealous of my friendsip with Brad.
Now, George is a bit different. He is not married and so we can go to Malibu and spend time on the beach drinking Long Island Iced Tea or we can go to Long Island and drink Malibu Martinis. Oh! It’s all so exhilerating…
Your trip to St. Anton to meet your cousin from Ireland sounds exciting,too!
Geri said,
January 9, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Sounds as though you’ve had some really fun weekends Grannymar!
Can’t remember much about my own childhood ones - except when I was 14 and we lived in Malta and spent every weekend swimming in the Med! Before going there though, we also lived in Norway for a couple of years and I can relate to those shivering outdoor sports..brr..! However, since I was always catching bronchitis I was eventually issued a permanent ‘excused note’ (hoorah!).
Teenage weekends..? Hmm.. can’t really remember one without kids being around (married at 19, mum at 20!) but I seem to remember taking them on a lot of hectic picnics, zoo trips, swimming and bowling parties and to fun fairs and cinemas etc….
Oh Grannymar, now you’ve got me going down memory lane, I feel the need to dust off the photo albums!
Just as well - the old ribs still need to rest and I’m all zombied out on T.V ’soaps’!
Phil O'Kane said,
January 9, 2009 at 12:36 pm
For me the weekends are for getting real work done; photo, web, blogging and such.
On friday’s I tell myself I wont drink ‘cos i want to get work done/try to get up early on sat to get work done. most of the time that doesnt work out and I am really tired and relieved that its the weekend so call a couple of friends and go for a few pints, normally one of the bars on the ormeau rd, then back to friends’ house with a few cans of beer and chill out - and thats exactly what I have planned for tonight.
Recently on Saturdays I will get up early - and again, doing that this sat due to meeting Andy for coffee at 10am. Then I hear there is a rally against the violence in Gazza at the Art College and City hall at around midday so that seems like a good opporunity for photographs, I think. Back to edit photos and get blogging.
Sat evening - cinema and meal in Victoria Sq with friends, then out for drinks for friends b’day.
Sundays are always very chilled out. Normally getting up at around midday - which really doesnt help with getting up for work on Mon. At about 3pm I go to my Grannys house for ‘buns’ and tea (read: coffee) and hang out with my cousins.
Then I regret not having done more of the work I had planned and go back to work on Monday wishing it was the wkend again…
An Endless cycle.
For now.
Nick said,
January 9, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Weekends as a kid my parents and sister often went for a picnic somewhere scenic (by train not car in those days). When I was older and living on my own, I often took the train to the seaside at weekends. I went all over the south coast of England and know all the resorts very well. Now I’m with Jenny we tend to spend the weekend slobbing out - drinking, reading the papers, watching TV etc. If the weather’s good I’ll take myself off to the Mournes or Redburn Country Park or the Coastal Path or somewhere and have a really good leg-stretch.
Nick said,
January 9, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Loved the bit about the silk negligee and bedroom mules btw. Hilarious! The only time I ever went camping (as a teenager) big wellies and an umbrella would have been more appropriate - it was a sea of mud for a fortnight!
kenju said,
January 9, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Well, I certainly did not go to Paris and get blood all over me! Or go camping with a diva!
We often went on picnics in the summer, but in the winter we stayed indoors. I shiver from the cold like you do and I hate to be out in it.
wisewebwoman said,
January 9, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I was lucky enough to have free travel all over Europe so “The Continent” was often a destination on the w/e. Danced a lot too. A bunch of us would often rent a house in Crosshaven for the weekend and hang out. I spent a lot of of time in swinging London back then.
Great memories, GM.
Today I meet friends for dinner or cook it here, and of course the grandgirl and I hang out. A lot. My second childhood. ;^)
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
January 9, 2009 at 3:34 pm
@Conor - Thanks, but alas I will say farewell to a neighbour and friend as I attend his funeral in the morning.
@Nancy - You lead such an exciting life!
@Geri - Enjoy the trip down memory lane.
@Phil - Belfast…. last time I was there was with The Doyler, Niamh, Andy, Davy and your good self! Nearly time I had another day out!
@Nick - I miss having someone to chill out with at weekends… or at anytime for that matter!
@Judy - Some of our summer camping weekends felt like it was winter! Weather in Ireland is very unpridictable and we can have four seasons in any one day!
@WWW - Free travel all around Europe…. now that was the way to go!
Darlene said,
January 9, 2009 at 5:01 pm
You all had such exciting weekends (especially Nancy). Mine was usually spent catching up on housework.
If I were to have an imagination weekend it would be with Mark Harmon. And I won’t tell you what we would be doing.
Grannymar said,
January 9, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Darlene,
Nice eye candy!
Ian said,
January 9, 2009 at 5:12 pm
The weekend?
It’s the only time I work
Grannymar said,
January 9, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Ian,
I am sure you work plenty during the week too!
steph said,
January 9, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Grannymar,
I had Saturday morning school too which I always thought unfair especially as my brother’s school was only Mon-Fri.
And to make matters worse, we had singing lessons with a very strict teacher for the final TWO HOURS!
Summer weekends for me, have always revolved around sailing. Every Saturday involved racing locally but special events often took me away for the whole weekend to race offshore. These days the only sailing activity I do is one that involves a steady hand to pour the G&T!
Winter weekends are all about ‘catch-up’ for me. Catch-up at home, catch-up with outdoor exercise, catch-up with friends and catch-up at the pub!
Travel wise, I love to pick-up a deal for a 3-night winter w/e break to a European city. It’s a great way to see other cultures without the expense of high season. Not quite as exotic as Nancy’s w/e exploits but refreshing all the same!
Grannymar said,
January 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Steph,
I have a very steady hand when it comes to the G&T’s and my bag is always packed!
Baino said,
January 10, 2009 at 7:51 am
Oh Grannymar . . weekends . . .love ‘em. My favourite time, anal as it might be is about 4pm on a Saturday, washing’s done, house is clean and I pour a glass of something cold and either sit in the garden with my Sister In Law and Brother In Law, the kids or catch up on the blogs . . for just a few short hours, it’s peace in my time. Sundays? Whatever happens . . slobbing, swimming, touring, walking the dog, barbecue with friends . . .they’re never long enough. BTW you should start your little audio bytes again, I can hear your voice in this post.
Grannymar said,
January 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Baino,
Podcasts….. perhaps a weekend would be a good time to start.