😔 Weekends in Riyadh were the hardest part before my family came over

Weekdays in Riyadh were fine. Work, sleep, work. It was the weekends that got me, every single one. Back home there was always something. A cousin's function, street cricket in the evening, tea at someone's place for 3 hours. Nobody planned any of it. It just happened because there were always people around. In Riyadh, Friday came and I'd wake up at 11 and look at the ceiling like, okay, now what. Laundry, groceries from Lulu, maybe a call home. Done by 2. Then the whole afternoon just sitting there. My roommates and I would cook sometimes or put a match on. It helped a bit. It wasn't the same. Nobody's uncle drops in without calling in Batha. Nobody's neighbour shouts from the balcony to come for tea. Every outing had to be planned, and by the time 3 people agreed on a time, half the weekend was gone. Calls home didn't fix it either. When I was free they were at a wedding, when they were free I was at work. What helped a little was a routine. Gym Friday morning, a long walk on Tahlia Street in the evening. Meeting the same 2 friends every other weekend whether we felt like it or not. Shawarma, then nothing, then home. It filled the time. It didn't fill the other thing, the being around people who know you without trying. Then my wife and kids came over in 2019 and weekends changed overnight. Too busy to miss anything after that. I'm back in Hyderabad now, but I still remember those Fridays more than any of the good stuff. For the ones out there alone right now, how do you get through it? Fixed routine, or just wait for Monday? I mostly waited for Monday, if I'm being straight with you. Wouldn't recommend it.

Ceiling at 11 on Fridays, I know that exact feeling from my 3 years in Jubail. What helped me was cooking for a small group of workers in our camp once a week. It gave the afternoon a job. Nobody remembers who made the biryani, only that someone turned up with food, and it felt a bit like home. Did you ever try something like that, or was it always the same 2 friends?