How to Prevent Going Stir Crazy??

Tim tells me you're between Leeds and Doncaster.  There's a beautiful Abby in ruins in Leeds (Kirkstall Abbey) that is free to walk around. It's part of a park, too, and they even have a small train ride within the park.

what about joining a gym? excercise will help you feel better (or so my doc keeps telling me!) and will help you meet new people. swimming might be a cheaper option altho' that involves getting wet 
I think the volunteering idea is a great one to look into. Being in a village is making things harder on you. when the weather gets better I suggest getting a cheap bicycle and exploring! I would suggest shopping centres if there are any near you, good for getting out and staying warm .
good luck with it all. Hang in there presumably once the hubby's job straightens out he'll be happier and then more helpful 

I thought about the gym but the one in our village has like 4 pieces of equipment and is £20/month.  With my hubby being on strike, Christmas coming up, and me just knowing myself enough to know I won't go enough to make it worth it, I put that idea out the door.  We bought Wii Fit Plus instead and that really kicks my butt.  (Side note:  we bought a scale from Tesco a few days ago and I was SHOCKED SHOCKED SHOCKED! to see that I hadn't gained any weight since I got here.  I think it's all the extra walking.  You should see the size of the hill we have to hike up every morning and afternoon to get to school). 

I applied for a few of the volunteer opportunities last night.  Website says I should hear something in about 10 days so that would be nice.  I was actually pleasantly surprised by the variety of volunteer opportunities available, the training and free certification for a lot of things so I'm actually starting to look forward to this and hope I hear back from at least one of them.

Hubby has decided to be more helpful after I gave him a big talking to this morning (plus he's relieved that his strike will - HOPEFULLY - be over tomorrow).  He's given me some instructions and directions for how to get to a couple of places that I think I'll enjoy.  I have a nice warm waterproof coat so I think I might venture out this week and try to find some waterproof trousers and some Wellies...then I won't mind going out in the rain so much.  I have a Project 365 Blog and I've been slacking so I'd like to get into my tourist mode and start exploring with my camera in hand.

Venting here a bit (and smacking hubby in the head a few times) has given me a more positive attitude about it all (plus I just had a nice long chat with my Mommy  ). 

Thanks guys.   

Thanks guys.   

Good on you! You are sounding a lot more upbeat. And that's good that DH is responding positively too. And if the strike is resolved, that will be one major worry out of the way.

Tim tells me you're between Leeds and Doncaster.  There's a beautiful Abby in ruins in Leeds (Kirkstall Abbey) that is free to walk around. It's part of a park, too, and they even have a small train ride within the park.

Kirkstall Abbey - more: http://www.kirkstall.org.uk/abbey/

The light railway only runs on most Sundays and bank holidays, but it has a ticket fee.  For Mistress TarnLover to get to the Abbey from the Wakefield area, she would need to get into city centre (by train or bus), then get a bus out to the Abbey (it's about 3.5 miles out of city centre).

Leeds is a great walkable city centre, by the way.  If you come in on the train, go to the tourist info office in the station & pick up the free map there.

It's great just to walk around and browse the shops, and check out all the Victorian architecture all around downtown.  The Leeds Art Gallery and the Leeds City Museum are both free admission.  The latter faces Millennium Square where the German Christmas Market is going on now & it's free to walk around it.