Mumsnet Talk

and would like to share it with me? and [anal retentive emoticon]

<though obv if I were truly AR I would have created my own> [lazy emoticon]

Of the driving to France with lots of kiddy kit kind. The kind of kit I can't possibly forget otherwise we're gonna have to drive back 800 miles or spend a HUGE amount of Euros replacing pushchairs etc.

And while I'm on... Best exchange rate gamble please? Buy some Euros now? Wait a coupla weeks? Buy em in France?

Ta. Now if you could just come over and actually DO my packing I'll lick your face.

<<whistles innocently in the corner>>

I do have a list. Can't do anything without the list.

But it's not a spreadsheet.

I could make it into a spreadsheet. That's a fabulous idea actually.

Do you have too much time on your hands or what?

A spreadsheet?

Come on. I bet some of you have 'critical paths' and everything.

It's divided up into sections.

And there is a "last minute" section to tell me what to do on the actual morning we leave. Eg: Make sure cat is not locked in bedroom.

Yes, I do. But I am beyond the pushchair stage now.

What's a critical path?

Puppymonkey - do you have OCD? In fact, do you all have OCD?

Surely you just sort of, chuck everything in the car, strategically place children around things and go?

I don't have a spreadsheet, but I do like lists . I cross things off and then make a new list!

I have a pre-holiday list too

Oh yes, there is nothing to beat the satisfaction of having a list and crossing things off it. We can't leave until every single thing has a tick next to it.

Lists. Now you're talking!

Bugger off though, WS, and write your own.

Quite possibly georgimama. I have a lot of strange compulsions. All books on a shelf have to be in height order, photoframes/ornaments have to be at a certain angle, cans in the cupboard have to have the label facing forward, shoes have to be properly lined up etc

Mine's a database But we're well past the baby/toddler stage so it wouldn't be any help to you I'm afraid.

Start a list and keep it somewhere handy, then add things as you notice you use them over the next week or so. Then turn that into a list for packing.

You might just be a neatfreak, it's a borderline thing.

I'm just envious/feeling inadequate once again, that this is another thing that the good women of MN do that I don't do. I just can't see what would be on such a list. We are going to Cornwall this year.

1. put dogs in kennels
2. pack clothes
3. load car
4. drive to Cornwall

I don't really need to write that down, do I - or is it me?

If you want to write a list, think of everything you use during the day, eg get up, change nappy, breakfast, dress etc etc and list all items you use, that will build up the basics, then think of holiday specific things, swimming stuff, suncream, hat etc. And add paperwork (insurance, passports, tickets etc).

No I am anal. I have a note pad/pen next to the bed so I can write things down otherwise I can't sleep. Also have a dictaphone pen in my handbag to record messages to myself when out so I remeber things

Georgi...no, no, no. You've got to break it down my love.

Pack clothes - WHAT clothes, you've got to list them all, eg. vests, knickers, jumpers, coats

Load car - with. er, what items? Pram, tent, backpacks or whatever.

My list has absolutely everything written on it. EVERYTHING!!!!!

Insanity is a wonderful thing sometimes.

Agree, nothing more satisfying than crossing things off a list. I might even be guilty of doing something, then writing it on the list and crossing it off at the same time.

LOL Sarah - i do that .

My dp loves a spreadsheet - we have them for everything.

georgimama

You might be able to do that but I will forget to find someone to feed the gerbils. And probably leave one child behind.

Actually, the three kids should probably be the first three ticks on the list, shouldn't they?

The working out a full day approach sounds good. Will make it tonight's project (over a bottle of wine )

Any other suggestions. So I don't have to turn back at Folkestone?

Come ON: post lists on here please

"Break it down"

Sorry just laughed out loud and thought "Hammer Time!"

Am calm again now.

I am going to try this. I think I shy away from lists now because I used to write them, and then not do things, and the list just hung about making me feel rubbish for not doing the things on the list.

Item 1 on list: get kitchen noticeboard on which to keep list.

I do that too Sarah.