Before covid I used to go away during the Easter holidays, and for a month in the summer. People underestimate the cost of it though! I can only really go away for a month in the summer because we have a 2nd home (my family is dual-national), so I pay flights but not accommodation. My rent and bills don’t stop just cos I’m out of the country and school hols are a really expensive time to travel.
I will go on the odd break away. My friends are going inter railing in august so I’ve managed to arrange it to join them for some of that, for example. But otherwise, I just relax. I’ll catch up on some of the series I’ve not watched yet, I’ll go for long drives to listen to my music, I’ll go for walks in places I like, or I do some of the arts/crafts I’ve been too tired to do during term time (for example, I like diamond painting, but I’m still currently on the one I started towards the end of the summer because I haven’t got the energy or patience to sit down and complete it at the moment). You may be different, but I really find I need time to just switch off.
I go on holiday. Every holiday except Christmas. Usually book a flight for the friday evening and aim to be back 3 days before work to do the work I told myself I was going to do and my washing! I sadly have no plans yet for the summer and due to rising bills I probably won’t be able to afford anywhere.
This hobby is also useful for completely shutting down most students when they ask you what you did over half term when they should be getting on with something. Just give them an honest, cripplingly boring reply. Works every time.

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Mine are similar - I was initially a bit down about the fact that I don’t have the cash to go away like a lot of colleagues higher up the pay scale do. But I’ve decided to just make the best of it and not worry about what other people are doing - I love trees and walking, so I’ve been working my way through a list of notable trees in London and going for long walks to see them! Treating myself to a coffee or an ice cream along the way. Taking a book with me to read in a park or café. It’s probably really boring for some people but I’ve loved being out every day in the sunshine and feeling like I’m learning a lot about where I live. Before covid I was in the habit of booking a few days away at a hostel somewhere pretty, ideally with bad internet so I’m forced to read books! I’d like to get back to that in summer, and maybe venture a little further afield.
Life admin mostly. Dentist, doctors, opticians, car stuff, hair dresser, repairing and replacing clothes/shoes/homeware that I don't have time to sort in the term time. I spend some time playing games, binge watching Netflix and reading because I usually don't have the time to commit to one task for 3-4 hours. A little bit of planning saved for the last few days and no marking (unless it's mock exams - I hate marking books). I have a rule that I don't go away in the October, Christmas or February holidays because work is so manic until Easter. I might do 2 days away in Easter/May holidays but I usually wait til the summer and it'll be jam packed because I have a few groups of teacher friends to do things with.
I'm a PGCE student, so this is the first time I'm encountering these 'holidays' (which, for me, are basically recovery periods). Days out with granddaughter (we like castles), some quality time with my hugely supportive partner (because I couldn't even be doing this is he wasn't taking on all the domestic responsibility right now and so I acknowledge that), some nice chilled walks with the doggo, working on my allotment (curiously, or perhaps not, holidays line up with busy times), having a massage, getting my hair cut, riding my motorbike, catching up with admin.
I’m fairly similar - I try to make the most of my holidays when I am by myself going for hikes in some of the national parks…there are a few of my colleagues that like to do the same a little as well. I like using the holidays to really recharge - so far a week off and I’m sleeping 9hrs a night, my Fitbit stress score is looking good and my sleep scores are brilliant as well. I also make the most of time to go to the gym and exercise loads - I never have the energy to go as much (read: at all) during term time

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No offense, but I truly hate when people speak for others like this. You assume everyone wants to be with their family or has one to be with on holidays. I worked retail in undergrad, and I loved working holidays. I got time and a half pay and really needed the money, and I had a shitty home life. And for everyone who didn’t want to work, there was someone who was more than happy to work in their place and get the extra pay. So I’m fine with it. But when a company caves to social pressure from ppl who don’t know what they’re talking about instead of listening to their employees, that pisses me off.
I definitely feel like no one aside from gas station clerks should have to work on major holidays. Every one deserves and needs a break from work to spend with what's truly important, family. People should just fucking plan ahead well and there would be no need to go to Walmart last minute. People work to live and very few actually live to work so give everyone a few fucking breaks a year.
Eh. I get paid extra and I can just celebrate the holiday a few days early or late. I knew what I was signing up for getting into healthcare. Honestly it's mostly just annoying that a lot of places are closed, I remember last Christmas getting off a 12 hour night shift and I went to buy some beer...but the grocery store wasn't open yet
Never bothered me when I worked at whole foods and starbucks. Whole foods especially since Thanksgiving was always double pay. Although it is pretty nice getting the days off now that I work in an office. Also I have a friend who used to work at a Starbucks at the Marquis in NY. She was making $30 as a shift supervisor, making $45 during holidays so it can really help depending on where you work.
I hated working on Christmas Eve and Christmas, but I always volunteered for New Year's Eve and New ?year's Day--kind of evened out. I also covered for my Jewish friends on their holidays/holy days and they covered mine.
Work for the government and you work what is dealt you. I worked every holiday from New Year's to Christmas and everything in between. I didn't like it much, but I made a damn good living, and didn't have to sacrifice very much family time.
It still isn't ideal, but we rotate being on call. If I get a trapped passenger out on Christmas morning, we both get to go home to our families. If I get an elevator back online, it could be the determining factor of a tired emergency room employee having to not only work on Thanksgiving, but also climb 85 flights of stairs over the course of a 12 hour shift.

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Lots of long weekends and a week off in late summertime. I don’t mind working on the non-BH Xmas days, so that saves a few days. I usually do a few 2 or 3 day motorcycle trips. This year I’ll also be taking a week to go to Italy for the Stella Alpina followed by heading South on the Route Napoleon to the south coast of France.
I have 32 days plus bank holidays. I have busy periods throughout the year so I build up TOIL during these times and use it for time off later. I tend to take 2 weeks at Christmas, a week at Easter, then odd days/weeks through out the year as a mixture of AL and TOIL, planning around bank holidays to maximum time off.
I always take 8 days early May plus the early May bank holiday, 5 late May plus the bank holiday, 9 days in August plus the bank holiday m, 5 days around Christmas plus the 3 bank holidays, then I have 6 days I randomly use.
I usually take 1 week in February as I don't take any leave over Christmas and by then I need a break. I always take 2 weeks in September and I take a couple of days off over my birthday. I try and spread the other days through the summer to make the most of the nice weather. I wish I could have the option to take a month off unpaid leave in June or July.
By the end of the year I invariably panic and realise I've got loads of days left. It's the same of year that everyone else tries to get their leave in, so I grab all the overtime I can get and then use my annual leave to still give me some time off.
A long weekend in March for some concerts I go to each year, a week in June for holiday, a week on October to visit my parents (this week occasionally moves based on their schedule) beyond that at random as and when things come up. Two days will be taken in late November generally as they're saved for unexpectedness throughout the year which without tempting fate doesn't seem to occur and leave is limited in December.
Last year from January - December (our holiday year) I managed a week in March, another just after Easter, 11 days (giving me 2 1/2 weeks) in August, a week at the end of both October & November, then 13 days (giving me 17 days) at Xmas. We aren’t allowed AL in January/February as it’s our busiest months, & I had a large refurb project from the beginning of September to mid-October, but otherwise I took holiday every month except May-Jul. I have to take four full weeks off (broadly - one in the spring, two in the summer, one in the autumn), and they’re allocated too although we can swap around so everyone usually ends up with what they want. I struggle to know what to do with the rest though - I work all sorts of shifts, but I get a long weekend (five days) off every third weekend and a couple of midweek rest days off in between, so I just plan most things around those.

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I made, am making smoked ham for us and turkey for the in-laws. The seasoning happened last night, over seasoned the turkey. Now its a herb crusted smoked turkey. The fire in the smoker was a bitch to get lit, because its 30° outside with 30+ mph winds. Ham was supposed to be done 1.5 hours ago now. Still have 40° to go. Dishwasher broke last night so handwash dishes until landlord can get us a new one. Its been a great 2 days. Supposed to zoom with my grandparents tomorrow, gonna probably miss it because of work.....I'm probably going to take an additional 3 weeks more than my standard 6 weeks late summer to close the summer with my kid before he starts kindergarden. Since I live where my employer is legally obliged to accept unpaid leave during the first 72 weeks of life of a kid, I have a lot of leeway regarding vacation time right now!
I work in the states. I take whatever I have available to me - PTO (3 weeks), 10 holidays (8 + 2 floating). My medical time (~1 week) carries indefinitely so I just take that as needed but I'm trying to build that up in the event something ever happens.
U.S. 12-13 holidays (depending on when Christmas is, we get the week between Christmas and New Year's off, plus Christmas Eve if it's on a weekday), three weeks of vacation plus the option to buy another week. Can't remember sick leave, either two or three weeks, plus dependent care days for those with kids.
Definitely not as appetizing nor as beautiful as yours! What a lovely photograph!
Yeah I'm at the end of a week off I booked ages ago, we were meant to be going away on holiday but ended up pro drinking in the garden. Doing the odd job the wife asks, such as will you cut the grass? Knowing that's a good excuse to have a beer or 2 and get an early start. Wash the cars? Ok love....crack open a beer. I've waited until after noon each day though which shows some restraint.
We have to take 25% of our annual leave by the end of june. Off next week, my plans involve reading, playing pc games and seeing my mum and the dog on my birthday. I was supposed to be going to the spa for my birthday but obviously that's not happening.
I'm thinking of just booking random weeks off from Sept-Dec and hoping that we're allowed to travel by then. If restrictions are lifted everyone will stampede to book time off but if I do this i'll have the dates already locked in. You could try that too?
I was supposed to be going to Glastonbury and had already booked time off, same for a holiday abroad in the middle of July. My company doesn't do paid holiday time, but I am still going to take the time off that I would have been at Glasto. Been working from home and it's been more stressful than actually going to work, so I feel like I need that break.

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One of my best Christmases ever. As a teacher I get 2 weeks off and its the first I've had where I didn't take any work home with me. Normally xmas is low key, disappointing at best and highly dysfunctional at worst with my family. But I spent most of it with my SOs family who were amazing, they have all these fun traditions like hiding the presents xmas morning so its a scavenger hunt, playing lots of neat party games and omg the presents...so many presents! I popped home for about 4 hrs to see my family and it was actually alright or perhaps I missed the drama but they seemed to get along this year! I think though I was in such a great mood from xmas with my SO that I could ignore any negativity. Then on boxing day, I played DnD which was fun. The day after my friends came by to play boardgames. Yesterday I saw Star Wars. All in all, I've had an amazing holiday. Truly the best xmas I can remember.

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I spent some time with family, but the holidays this year have mostly just reminded me how much I miss my friends.
Well.. my SO's grandma noticed an "I Love Planned Parenthood" pin on my purse when we were just about to leave her house on Christmas, then proceeded to call me a baby killer and asked how I could live with myself.
Then I got pissed and then got upset and wept in the back seat of his mom's car as we drove back to her house, where I then demanded my SO take me out for drinks because royally fuck that. I've never EVER felt bad about getting an abortion and know it was the right choice for me, but I'll be damned if that woman didn't make me feel like an absolute pile of shit on Christmas in front of my boyfriend and his entire family.
The week before Christmas was rough. The kid was sick, we weren't sleeping, my car died, I had to buy a new car battery, found out that my kid has a penicillin allergy, I got sick, and I walked into the wall, which gave me a bloody nose. As of Saturday, things have picked up quite a bit. My nose is still tender, but all the sickness is gone, I can exercise again, everyone is sleeping. Life is good.
Great! Today I got to argue with an idiot who thinks all women hate and bully guys with small penises! And, I think he thinks we can somehow sense it, maybe? He is pretty incoherent in his thoughts and points. He also is backpedaling a lot. So much fun! This month my husband lost his job, I found a lump in my right breast, I got vomiting drunk for the first time in years and one of my favourite people was too sick to come to Christmas dinner. I was a bit upset that I didn't have the budget to get presents for everyone I would have liked to have bought for.
Christmas Eve and Day were wonderful! Exhausting with all of the family visits, cooking, etc-but I wouldn't change it. I went into work today but tomorrow is my first official day of vacation. I had off Thursday-Sunday, but it was so busy and not really relaxing lol. Now I get Tuesday-next monday off-woohoo! Day after Christmas was rough as we had terrible storms and tornadoes here. My fiance and I were about to leave the mall when we first heard, so we decided to stay to wait it out. It was just a tornado watch at that point but it was storming pretty bad. Soon after we started getting more alerts on the phone-you could hear everyones iphone alerts going off. They came over the system saying everyone needed to come away from any glass. So we went to Macys-they closed all the stores, wouldn't let anyone leave the mall, and we got stuck there for two hours. I was worried the whole time for my dog and cat at home. We got lucky as the tornadoes just missed our apartment. My mom saw one of the tornadoes from her backyard-it was huuuge. Leveled so many homes here. It sucks seeing all the missing pet posts on facebook-a lot are being reunited though! It was just a few streets away from the house my fiance grew up in/the street his best friend lives on.

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I remember my mom slapped me in the face one and only one time. My brother was getting his piano lessons and my mom and I were waiting during the lessons. Apparently I just kept talking and talking and talking after she repeatedly told me to be quiet. She must have been having a bad day because after I kept going she slapped me right in the cheek. I sat the fuck up in my chair and didn't say another word. Didn't change our relationship at all, though. I love my mom, and I'm sure when I have kids I'll understand the urge to slap them in the head way more than just once.
My mom used to hit me with her sandals when I was a kid... She had a bit of an anger problem and I wasn't the best role model sometimes. Well I honestly turned out just fine and have a very very nice relationship with my mom nowadays. It definitely made me learn not to step too much out of line and think twice before I raised my voice!
My parents beat me until i was 12 (17 now) and because of it i have deep rooted self esteem, self confidence, abandonment, trust, and relationship issues in every day life. I also have slight OCD (things need to be symmetrical, clean, in line, organized) and im very closed off from my parents. I woukdnt change it for the world tho, because its made me into who i am and the person i am is a mentally strong person.
Yes. Both as a deserved punitive measure and as a domination technique. The former was fine, I was a shit and deserved it. The latter was not, and in many ways left me a fearful, angry child. Took years of effort to change who I was. Still working on it, probably will until I die.
I ended up being rescued by the neighbors, and I remember sitting in their house for a few hours until my stepdad drove off somewhere. Neither my mom nor my neighbors called the police. My stepdad was on his last straw with them for "being accused" of hitting his son, so if he had another child abuse claim against him he would have stayed in jail. My mom explained to me that he didn't actually want to hurt me, he was just trying to scare me, and that I hurt him more than he hurt me. He didn't mean to punch my fucking face twice, but it happened when my mom tore his shirt. And since his favorite, irreplaceable shirt was torn, he has probably had enough punishment and learned his lesson. It was infuriating hearing this. I still hate my mom for defending him to this day. He completed ruined her life. He spent all of her money on Facebook games and gifts for his side chick (who by the way was the 18 year old daughter of an ex girlfriend). He was too disabled because of diabetes to work, so he just stayed home all day, made messes, played games, and harrassed my siblings and I. He never even tried to help my mom or our situation, and the only reason my mom married him was because he promised to get all of her kids back with her instead of our dad. Pretty fucking ironic that he would use the "it's me or the kids" threat every time he didn't get his way.

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Well, in my childhood it happened quite often. This was due to having an abusive father. My family is pretty fucked up, my mother abandoned us when I was quite young, leaving my father depressed. I assume this is what caused him to be abusive my entire childhood. Most everyday, he would grab a broom and just beat me with it till I was on the ground crying for my life. He would do this if I just made him slightly mad, such as saying no when he said to do my homework. Instead of asking again, he would beat me. This went on for quite a few years, but subsided later on.
Dad and mom spanked me, hit me with a belt, my dad dragged me up the stairs by my shirt, he would kick me while I ran up the stairs cause I did not go to my room fast enough. I remember the one time I was running away and one was holding me down so the other could hit me... They never beat me to a pulp or or all over. I find they psychological pain was much worse. I feel sad thinking about it. Mom tried slapping me once and I blocked it as a reflex, she got mad and told me i was bad for defending myself, she told me I had to let her hit me. She was trying to slap me in the face...My dad had a high stress job and took it out on us, and my mom took that stress out on us. They would over react for little things. I eventually got bigger and got Into fights with them and ran away for a few days. My dad changed jobs when I was 16 ish and went on medication. He is a completely different person now. We can ussualy talk it out now. I still can't forget some of the memories though. I know I deserved some spankings, but I think the belt, face slapping and kicking was unwarranted. I've had a talk with them that I will never raise my kids like they did, and I have no idea what kind of sick shit had to go threw their head to kick a 8 year old boy who was running away to his room from his father cause he was scared...
My dad was a drunken asshole who liked to take his anger out on me often. The world is a better place without him. I didn't see him for 15 years when he died and didn't even know that he died because of the whore (not a joke) he married didn't tell any of his family. Which is a good thing because I'm not 13 years old anymore and had some issues that I wanted to take care of...
My parents never would hit anywhere besides the ass, but my dad would wail on us when we were younger. His father was abusive, so that was(is) the only way he knew how to punish. Thankfully, I never received much worse. I'm lucky. My father raised his hand to me when he was drunk a few times. But I stood up to him and dared him to do it. He always backed down. Too bad because I wanted him to do it so I could call 911 and get him thrown out of the house. I used to antagonize him weekly to try to get it to happen.

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