To be really sad that we're not doing anything for the Jubilee

[WannaBeWildCosMyLifesSoTame]

I know a lot of people on here are not very pro-royalty but I am and I also love a good knees up. But we've got nothing planned for the coming weekend except a bit of decorating and I'm feeling really glum.

Most of our mates are going away and if there are any get-togethers going on we haven't been invited :( Our house isn't big enough to have more than a couple of people over so I can't arrange anything and there doesn't seem to be much going on locally - well I think there's a picnic on the Monday but we'll look a right bunch of billy no mates turning up to that on our own. There are bigger events in the local town but I know my anti social DH will hate them because he's not big on a royalty, b) crowds, c) letting his hair down.

Everywhere I turn people seem to be talking about what they're doing for the Jubilee weekend - even Tesco was full of bloody bunting and party stuff tonight - and I just feel really sad not to be a part of something. Instead it will be the usual bank holiday weekend where DD plays with her mates and I probably end up working for lack of anything more exciting to do :(

I've posted before recently about how pissed off I am with the lack of fun in my life and I know it's down to me to make something happen but lack of time/money/people to do stuff with always seem to get in the way.

[PoppyWearer]

Go to your nearest big event. Make your own fun. Stick up some bunting.

We have no plans but hope to get to our nearest picnic/event.

[VolvoMo]

It sounds like you need more support from DH. Go to the local picnic as a family, there's no reason to think "billy no mates" its a local all sorts of people will be there. If that picnic isn't what you fancy, find another, practically every village and area in the land is doing something. Don't read too much into the Jubilee decorations in Tesco, they are just trying to sell products as they do at Christmas, Easter and any other occasion or season. You need to do the little things and let the bigger things (parties, gatherings, etc) find you when you're ready. You don't need to have fun, but you need to get out a bit so try giving the decorating or work a miss over Jubilee weekend and see what happens.

[Whatmeworry]

No interest in teh Jubilee but we will probably go and see the boats.

[ZZZenAgain]

no-one will bat an eyelid if you turn up as a family to the picnic. Do it. Get some cheapo bunting and what not and string it up if you want. Have you googled a bit to find out if anything is happening near you? If dh doesn't want to go, you still can, can't you? He can be at home with the dc if they are small and just getting on with the dyi.

[RedBlanket]

Go to the local picnic, so what if if it's just the 3 of you.
Put some bunting up
Invite a few people round

Tell DH it's happening and don't back down.

[WannaBeWildCosMyLifesSoTame]

It's true my DH is not at all a celebration type of person but I am - I don't do much now because it's not his thing but in my family we always made an occasion of things, even daft things like decorating the house for the Cup Final or something, maybe a bit tacky but life can be so miserable, what's wrong with creating a bit of fun?

Someone I know on FB posted a pic of her kids dressed up for Eurovision last week, they'd made a scoreboard and had England stuff to cheer on The Hump fat lot of good it did. Again it might seem a bit tacky but it looked like really good fun - I suggested to DH that we watch it and give points to the different singers etc like I used to do with my family as kids but he wasn't up for it at all and that sort of thing is not much fun with just me and DD :(

DH is a good man but sometimes we are so far apart in what we want out of life - he seems happy (ish) plodding along but I need a bit of excitement now and then - nothing amazing, just something to liven things up a bit. He rarely seems excited about anything whereas I am happy if we've got something different for tea! I enjoy looking forward to things, the build up is often as much fun as the event but he seems to get no pleasure out of anything things like that.

[Flyingwithoutwings]

I feel exactly the same
We are going to the inlaws for the weekend, up in Scotland.
I checked with MIL: no jubilee events going on

I'm truly gutted.

However, I've bought lots of bunting and flags and am holding a party in our garden the following weekend

Better late than never

[Flyingwithoutwings]

And my DH is a bah-humbug type so I've ignored him and just organised it (he does know its going on... He doesn't know about the bunting, the flags and the red, white and blue flowers that are in every basket and pot in the garden... They haven't come into flower yet )

[AngryFeet]

My dh isn't the celebration type either. So I just do my own thing! I have organised a big BBQ here in Sunday with lots of friends and family. I am happy to sort everything out and be the hostess for the day. He will probably help me set up gazebos and stuff but will undoubtedly hide away for most of the day as he is not that social and hates big groups of people. Just do what you want to do and if he joins in it is a bonus

[VolvoMo]

Oh dear WannaBe, that is a bit sad. Can't you stick DH in the shed or somewhere and get on with your family fun. It's no wonder you are having a hard time having to constantly curtail your ideas for his sense of propriety. You need to do what is "you" whether it is tacky or not. Maybe if he sees what fun you having he will start to rethink his ways.

[JellyBoatsAndPirates]

I sympathise, as my husband's a bit like that - he's a miserable bah humbug when it comes to going anywhere and half the time is quite happy staying at home and grumbles if he has to go anywhere.
Whereas I'm the opposite, and any excuse for a change of scenery/bit of excitement!
Do you know what I'd do? I'd take the kids and we'd go without him to the picnic. I've done it before when there's been things on and he hasn't wanted to go.
Why should you all miss out just because he doesn't want to go?

[TenMinutesLate]

I just had to post before I went to bed....GO TO THE PICNIC!! Honestly, GO! Make a food list with your DD and get down Tesco and have fun filling up your basket full of lovely treats, get her a disposable camera & scrapbook (next weekend fill it up with all your photos and cut outs from magazines....it'll be a lovely keepsake) and see if another Mum wants to join you. Make cupcakes with your DD and take them along (another cheap, fun activity) and if DH doesn't want to join you, then more fool him. Excitement is infectious, especially coming from a child.

And, I was pretty disapointed we werent doing anything for Jubilee so on Friday I popped a letter in every postbox in our road (45 houses) to see if theyd be interested in a street party. Roughly 25% going away, 50% not yet responded, but 25% interested, and not only that Ive had neighbours come round with money for the kitty (even though they cant make it) and friends who also wanted to do something but hadnt got round to arranging anything.
So about 30 adults, and 15 kids....

From that, myself and 2 other mums have so far arranged a bouncey castle, face painting, an indian running buffet, a cake competition, games for the kids, a crafty corner...all for £15 per adult. This has been arranged this afternoon - the 3 of us all have 9 children between us, 2 mad dogs, tesco's and school runs, a phd to study for, job interviews oh and im planning wedding of the century (!) so I know that time is precious but it can be done....not sure how well it'll be executed but I just wanted you to know that if you feel this way, so will other people and sometimes it just takes a bit of effort and team work....(yes I admit, I am a nauseating neighbour!)

But please go to the picnic and make some lovely memories for your DD XX

[TheHouseOnTheCorner]

Yes go to the picnic! we are going to ours....we have never thought of it as a billy no mates thiing to do! It's a famil thing! TELL Dh he is going, buy some paper plates and all that, make a lovely picnic and get out there! I am making some biscuits and cakes with the DC on the night before...get some red, white and blue sweets and bake! Pack them up...DD will love it. You have to make a celebration...they dont just arrive. We are also werinf red white and blue like saddos!

My DH wouldn't think of the things you suggest....I have to arrange them and then tell him...this is what we're doing....I also like making a fuss out of nothing and turning things into a "do".

My sister has bought a tonne of bunting and crap for the 4th and is having a jubilee tea....only her and her Dh and her 2 dc! She's not got the world coing round but they will have a nice tea and a nice time...

[EightiesChick]

Yes, definitely go to the picnic. Could you take some of your DD's mates with you so the kids will hae company to enjoy the activities?

Also, if you have a big shopping place (eg Bluewater, Trafford Centre) nearby there will almost certainly be stuff on there on one of the days. Just go and join in.

[TenMinutesLate]

Am just wondering if you did do anything? x

[WhyTheBigPaws]

Hi Ten - you'll be pleased to hear we did! I threw a minor strop and told DH I didn't want to just waste the weekend and I think he was a bit shocked (but also sympathetic as he knows I've been working really hard lately).

We looked into going away but it was really a bit last minute so we decided instead to do days out. We went to a local city and did the tourist thing on the Saturday, went to a Jubilee fete and got absolutely drenched then had lunch in a pub on Sunday, did kids' activities and had a cream tea at a local place on the Monday and were unexpectedly invited to a Beacon lighting in the evening which was great fun. The only day we chilled at home was the Tuesday and by then I was quite happy to! I also made bunting with DD and decorated her room and we dressed her teddy bear up as a king for a competition and she won first prize!

I'm not sure if the local picnic happened in the end due to the weather but we had a great time and I am so glad - DD and I will always remember what we did on the Diamond Jubilee just as I remember the Silver Jubilee. I think even DH enjoyed it in his own more low-key way. I took the line of just saying 'DD are going to x tomorrow, it's up to you if you want to come'. Each time he said he didn't fancy it then decided at the last minute to come and ended up having fun - I just think it's not in his nature to be enthusiastic and positive and spontaneous but he gets there in the end sometimes!

Thanks for thinking of us and for all the suggestions, hope everyone else's weekend was good fun and you're not slightly sick of the sight of Union Jacks now like I am.

[TenMinutesLate]

Oh yay!!!!!!! Am so pleased it sounds you had such a great time, and DH came round....double yay!!!! Well done, and I know that sounds really tripe but I know it takes monumental effort sometimes to organize and get out, especially when it's raining and putting a DVD is soooo much easier!

Our party was brilliant, about 70 in all including children, dodged the rain as it was Monday and I've been happily wearing
my smug neighbor smile all week!!

Thanks for letting me know how you got on....I do love a happy ending!!

[BackforGood]

I think sometimes you just have to get on and 'do it'.
My dh doesn't get excited about things like those you've listed either, but I just stick flags up (for the Euro12 football at the moment, for eg then we'll carry on for the Olympics), get the rattles and funny hats out to wear, and me and the dcs sit and cheer on the teams and dh sits and looks at us like this --> but that's OK - he does his way, and we do ours. It's no big deal.