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Housekeeping

Spring cleaning, list making, or just plain procrastinating? Join us here!

609 replies

JKSLtd · 16/03/2013 13:49

Welcome one and all, especially if you love writing a great list, then sitting back and MNing crossing everything off.

And extra welcomes to those of us who write something we've already done on the list just for the satisfaction of getting to cross it off Grin

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JKSLtd · 16/03/2013 13:51

Here's mine for the weekend & ongoing (i.e. never get round to doing...):

Sat/Sun:
one lie in each Mine DONE
DS2 footie DONE
DS1 friend for lunch & play Doing
other productive stuff; tidy & sort out Art Area of Doom DONE

watch some rugby (children-dependent)
DH out to football Sat afternoon
poss visit to B&Q for black electrical tape (& excuse to go out)

  • all usual stuff

    Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; nudge DH; Have discussed
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 13 listed; add one more
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me (before end of March as I have a voucher)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
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Minimammoth · 16/03/2013 14:46

Nice start JKS. I am going to USA on sort of work trip. Largely at my own expense, but have a couple of meetings to attend and then a bit of finding out what is happening in our field of work then a sightseeing day. It is a bit scary and exiting at the same time. I am going alone. To eastern seaboard (historical) city. Interestingly my cousin has done a bit of ancestry research and reckons our ancestors were among the first settlers.
Any way it's all booked and stuff. Eek

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SlatternismyMiddlename · 16/03/2013 15:10

Hello, I'm in, again.

Will list in a bit.

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SlatternismyMiddlename · 16/03/2013 15:12

Oh JKS - I was looking at your list. Rumour has it that I might know a bit about wills - if you have any general type questions post or pm me.

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dikkertjedap · 16/03/2013 16:02

We are all ill with flu at the moment, but when back on our feet (hopefully very soon), my list for next week is:

  • cleaning all windows inside and ground floor windows outside - weather permitting
  • spring clean dd's room (step 1) starting with emptying all bookshelves and cupboards and wet clean cupboards and dust contents
  • finish knitting jumper
  • shorten DH new trousers (Confused always buys the long ones and needs regular)
  • finish job application
  • make some Easter decorations with my dc and their friends after school


and of course ordinary cleaning, cooking, entertaining kids, homework with kids, teaching at school stuff.

I really really should start sorting out photos, selecting the ones to print and/or load on electronic frames, but there are so many Shock and it will take ages to just load them all.
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JKSLtd · 16/03/2013 16:43

Slattern - thanks. Our/my main questions are:

  • do we need one for non-DC stuff? we are married so everything surely just goes to the other if one dies right?
  • is there anything non-DC to do for if we both died?
  • what to do about the DC, ie guardianship if we both died?

This is where we get stuck every time. No siblings are really suitable (have 4 between us, 3 live abroad, 1 is living with GF in a 1-bed flat).
GPs are getting older rapidly. Mine are too old to take them on f-t. PIL would do, and MIL has said she would 'take them' Hmm so not to worry. We want all 4 (or however many are left I suppose) to make joint decisions.
DS2 needs to stay in his SN school, I would hate for them to be uprooted and made to move to either GP house. Can we stipulate that they stay here/in this area? what on earth do we say? (there will be money from DH & my life insurance, i think)

Dikkert - years ago I started printing out/ordering photos and put them in DC-specific albums. Of course that was when I just had DS1.
Then I started again with DS2, even printing duplicates if both boys were in a good shot.
Now I have DD, she is 2 next month and I have yet to print a single photo of her....Blush Hmm

Mini - trip sounds good, I have done lots of family tree too, no old US connections, more modern ones in Pittsburgh of DH's family.

Sat/Sun:
one lie in each Mine DONE
DS2 footie DONE
DS1 friend for lunch & play DONE
other productive stuff; tidy & sort out Art Area of Doom DONE
watch some rugby (children-dependent) Some Done, Boo Ireland!
DH out to football Sat afternoon Doing

poss visit to B&Q for black electrical tape (& excuse to go out)
+ all usual stuff

Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; nudge DH; Have discussed
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 13 listed; add one more; 2 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me (before end of March as I have a voucher)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop



PS ooh I rather like having my posts highlighted Grin
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twinklesparkles · 17/03/2013 12:58

Bloody hell jks ... Stop it you're making me jealous

I really should put some stuff on ebay, can't cope with all the charges though, barely seems worth it sometimes :( hope you're sucsessful.

Yay! My first post on a shiny new thread :) :)

And to kick it off I've done .... Nothing! :)

Have some laundry folded from the other day, gonna sit on the floor and put it all on hangers in a bit.

Dh put up our new mirrors and did the dishes :)

My dm and step dad came over earlier.. Ds and dm kind of cleaned ds room.. He's not been into doing it recently, he is very young. But sometimes he goes through phases where his room has to be tidy for weeks then he just trashes it and lives like that for a few weeks before he tidies again

:) bless him he's only 5 so guess he has an excuse

Have a great day everyone

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FreakoidOrganisoid · 17/03/2013 13:37

Jks your dd is never nearly 2????? How did that happen?

Have posted my list on another thread today. Where do I start or something. Thought she could do with a bit of moral support to help her get stuff done. May suggest she comes over here

I should also do some work. But I feel poooooorly!

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JKSLtd · 17/03/2013 15:14

I know Freak! How time flies. And with the whole will we/won't we DC4 debate I don't know if she's my last baby :( She most probably is and I can't believe she's not a baby anymore. I still call her my baby of course!

Twinkle - the charges are annoying I agree, hopefully I'll get enough to topup my Paypal a little bit - then I can shop for birthday nonsense guilt-free Grin

Sat/Sun:
one lie in each DONE
DS2 footie DONE
DS1 friend for lunch & play DONE
other productive stuff; tidy & sort out Art Area of Doom DONE
watch some rugby DONE
DH out to football Sat afternoon DONE
shopping trip to Factory Shop & Waitrose DONE

DS1 homework & reading
pack school bags x 2
anything else?

  • all usual stuff

    Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 13 listed; add one more; 4 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me (before end of March as I have a voucher)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
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JKSLtd · 17/03/2013 15:14

Oh and Happy St Patrick's Day! Shamrock

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twinklesparkles · 17/03/2013 15:35

Happy st patricks day

I did the clothes and put them away, also sorted 2 carrier bags of old bedding which dh took to the fabric recycle bins in town.

Doing a roast dinner now, washed a few dishes I used during prep

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SlatternismyMiddlename · 17/03/2013 18:23

JKS - depending on the size of your estate it is not automatic that everything goes to each other. Although it is usual to hold your home jointly as joint tenants and therefore the other spouse will get the house, this point needs to be checked. You can indicate in your will who you would like to look after your DC's but it is not legally binding. You can also indicate your wishes regarding living arrangements and schooling, but again not legally binding. You will need to say who looks after the funds until your DC's are the appropriate age (your trustees), they can be the people who will look after your DCs on a day to day basis but they don't have to be.

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JKSLtd · 17/03/2013 20:17

Hmm, OK, pretty sure the house thing is fine, will ask DH.
So, trustees are the way to go, perhaps naming the 4 siblings as trustees, or should there be an odd number? would it be a nuisance for them living abroad to be consulted for every expenditure?
Maybe the 4 GPs and my brother who lives in the UK?

Sat/Sun:
one lie in each DONE
DS2 footie DONE
DS1 friend for lunch & play DONE
other productive stuff; tidy & sort out Art Area of Doom DONE
watch some rugby DONE
DH out to football Sat afternoon DONE
shopping trip to Factory Shop & Waitrose DONE
DS1 homework & reading DONE
pack school bags x 2 DONE

Mon:

  • morning routine
  • town with DD? get her feet measured plus other bits
  • lunch & DD nap
  • laundry, ironing, tidy kitchen
  • general house/toy tidy
  • sch runs
  • early tea
  • Beavers
  • DC to bed/early night for me


Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 14 listed; add one more; 5 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me (before end of March as I have a voucher)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
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SlatternismyMiddlename · 18/03/2013 09:06

JKS - you can appoint 4 trustees but it is going to cause logistical problems. Also I tend to advise against appointing people the generation older than you purely because they are more likely to pass away before you. This is not a set rule, just something to think about.

Today I am off work for St. Patricks day. This is the one day of the year when I am off but the school is not so I have a freeeeeeeeeee day, the joy. How will I spend it? Doing housework. So here is my list.

Tidy lounge
Tidy dining room (dishes still in it from Saturday night Blush)
Ironing
Washing in washing machine
Count PTA money
Phone insurance company (we had our oil stolen Sad)
Tidy kitchen
Hang up random clothes
Relocate the mass of coats, gloves, scarves etc that have accumulated
Deal with kitchen table of doooooooom

I will check in later.

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givemeaclue · 18/03/2013 09:12

My "to do" list of tasks to be done is 3 pages. (That isn't normal day to day things thoug)

I make a weekly to do list with 7 things on it, one per day, off the big list plus new things that come up eg get present for party, call dentist or whatever.

I am doing 1 hour garden per week, included in the 7 tasks.

1 small home improvement task per week, this week get drawer organisers for dcs draw.

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Minimammoth · 18/03/2013 12:03

You sound ever so organised givemeaclue.
Send in FIT reading done
Filing getting to doom status
Garden - bulbs, MUST BE PLANTED NOW. ashamed emoticon.

Wotgotdun- beds, washing, clean manky bits of dishy.

Enjoying warm sun on my back in conservatory, it's tea break. Honest.

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JKSLtd · 18/03/2013 13:02

Givemeaclue - that does sound organised. :)

Mini - you are good with your garden, i think about planting stuff once it'ss summer then obviously it's too late!

Slattern - 2 trustees then? If we didn't name any of the GPs (valid point) but then they ended up looking after the DC would a separate trustee be a problem? (Bet you wish you'd never offered to help!!) Say we picked..O have no idea who to pick!...if we don't go for all siblings, then surely we kind of have to say my BIL (not my fave person and lives in Oz) and one of my siblings. Just one sibling lives in the UK currently, and it's likely he could move abroad with his job anyway. Maybe one of the couple who picked us to be their DC Godparents? And one other who's good with money?
But then they would be saying to PIL (in all probability) how to spend the money.
It's all too confusing Confused.

Managed town with DD, no new shoes needed (yet), yey. some other useful bits bought, no luck with party/lego stuff yet but plenty of time still.

Mon:

  • morning routine DONE
  • town with DD? get her feet measured plus other bits DONE
  • lunch & DD nap DONE/Doing
  • laundry, ironing, tidy kitchen; Kitchen DONE
  • general house/toy tidy DONE


  • rehang more expensive clothes on new smart hangers bought today
  • put away other shopping
  • start list on laptop of DS1's & DD's presents for birthdays (so I don't get carried away!!)
  • more party planning for DS1 & DD
  • sch runs
  • early tea (pasta bake experiment)
  • Beavers
  • DC to bed/early night for me


Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 14 listed; 5 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me; appt Wed
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
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FreakoidOrganisoid · 18/03/2013 13:44

Today
Manage to stop vomiting - done
Get dc ready for school - done
Lie down - done lots, still doing

Just like to say that bf is the best. He came over last night when I called to say I was ill, fed the dc, washed up, got the dc ready for bed and tucked me up with plenty of water.

Today he came over with bread and bananas, made me dry toast and put clean sheets on my bed before goibg back to work Smile

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Minimammoth · 18/03/2013 15:09

What a star Freaki. Glad you have ticked vomiting off the list.Smile

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SlatternismyMiddlename · 18/03/2013 20:23

JKS - I shall look at your points and come back to you later.

My day did not go to plan. I started off well, went upstairs, made the bed, got in it and fell asleep until lunch time.

Aww well, it is my day off.

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JKSLtd · 18/03/2013 21:01

Slattern - I like the sound of that!

Freaki - yey for great BF, boo for vomiting in the first place.

Mon:

  • morning routine DONE
  • town with DD? get her feet measured plus other bits DONE
  • lunch & DD nap DONE/Doing
  • laundry, ironing, tidy kitchen; Kitchen DONE
  • general house/toy tidy DONE
  • rehang more expensive clothes on new smart hangers bought today DONE
  • put away other shopping DONE
  • start list on laptop of DS1's & DD's presents for birthdays (so I don't get carried away!!)
  • more party planning for DS1 & DD Done more
  • sch runs DONE
  • early tea (pasta bake experiment) DONE (successful)
  • Beavers DONE
  • DC to bed DONE /
  • ironing DONE & early night for me


Tues:
  • morning routine
  • strip beds & bathmats
  • Sing & Sign with DD
  • lunch & DD's nap
  • 'productivity time'
  • sch runs
  • DC tea, bath & bed
  • my tea & orchestra


Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 14 listed; 5 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • eye test for me; appt Wed
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
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Minimammoth · 18/03/2013 21:10

My great achievement today , a bit of filing done. No bulbs planted, not one. Even though it has been lovely out.
Time to think about starting on accounts.
List cleaning jobs, hope cleaner will help.
Sort out baking tins drawer.
Clean windows
Bring in logs

My nose has started streaming hay fever fashion. Blhurrg.
DH is not happy, his arm surgery has not quite worked, so is in pain with no clear resolution.

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JKSLtd · 19/03/2013 13:40

Mini - your poor DH :( & you with hay fever starting.

I am not at all putting off dealing with my Governor paperwork, nope. not. at. all.

Grin

Tues:

  • morning routine DONE
  • strip beds & bathmats DONE
  • Sing & Sign with DD DONE
  • lunch & DD's nap DONE (Doing)
  • 'productivity time': err....
  • print out & read Gov paperwork
  • sch runs
  • DC tea, bath & bed
  • my tea & orchestra


Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 14 listed; 6 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
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twinklesparkles · 19/03/2013 14:03

Afternoon everyone

Nothing done here, am on 2nd load of washing and 3rd of tumble drying

Dh taken ds to school and will pick him up, he's also started painting the livingroom :)

Not feeling very well today, its been a rough few days, managed to get some sleep last night though :) I'm just gonna focus on washing and tumbledrying. There's plenty of it to do lol :)

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JKSLtd · 19/03/2013 15:18

Take it easy Twinkles, you haven't got that long left have you? Some 'feet up' time is recommended Grin

Tues:

  • morning routine DONE
  • strip beds & bathmats DONE
  • Sing & Sign with DD DONE
  • lunch & DD's nap DONE (Doing)
  • 'productivity time': err....
  • print out & read Gov paperwork DONE
  • reduce Inbox Down from 40-ish to 27
  • sch runs
  • DC tea, bath & bed
  • my tea & orchestra


Ongoing:
  • family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email contacts)
  • buy picture frames to hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; get sizes into phone for TKMaxx
  • sort wills; just try and get something written down as a minimum
  • sort out my desk
  • kids photos albums; upload onto Snapfish; order printouts; put in albums. Step 1; sort all photos on iPhoto
  • eBay stuff; 14 listed; 6 bid on, yey!
  • cash in Tesco vouchers (what for - towards a day out, just which one?)
  • Apple shop trip for poorly laptop
OP posts:
Report
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