Deeming Workshop of Leather and Motorcycle Maintenance, Faculty of Mech. Eng. at the UMN

[SupermassiveLBD]

Who's first, me or Small?

Goodness, RP, that does sound a bit of a task :( Will it be really hard for you having your parents emigrate or do you not see them much anyway? I hope you get on ok with it all.

Massive, I was in your state with clutter a few years ago but now I'm almost free of it, so I really do empathise. I was getting extremely overwhelmed with it all but then I hit on a new tactic and it really worked. What I did was to stick with one room at a time and do only that room until every last bit was dealt with - no saying "I'll put that to one side and think about it later". Do you have Freecycle or charity shops on the island? Or ebay if you have time, though that takes ages (I am still plodding through that very slowly). If you have any way of selling their stuff then maybe if the SuperBoys might let you if they realised they could make some cash from it! I put things into the following categories:

Things to keep which are in use: find a place for it
Things to keep but don't need ie. for sentimental reasons: box it up and put in loft or cupboard
Might be worth some money on eBay
Freecycle or charity shop

Are the SuperBoys of an age where they have toys? Good toy storage is crucial - that's really revolutionised our playroom.

The last thing is that I have a cupboard where I temporarily put things that the little darlings have brought home - crayon-scribbled nonsense priceless works of art, toys from party bags etc. - they stay in the secret cupboard for a few weeks and if they don't get mentioned then they get binned.

On commuter train!! So glad I've left these days behind me - squashed together everyone pretending to work away!! the kids are being v good amusing themselves so far!

Clutter is something we have v little of thanks to moving every 18 months or so. You get v good at throwing things away so you don't keep packing it up!!

My parents on the otherhand have lived in same house for over 40 years and my word the clutter is incredible! They've been sensible though and given themselves a year to declutter before hopefully selling next spring!

TBH twigs I don't see my parents v often as home is miles away from where we live and dad already spend most of his time abroad so mum splits her time between countries - very exciting life they lead! But mum's decided enough is enough and she's fed up with NHS service and commuting especially as none of come home to visit anymore -mainly because the house is always empty so it's a catch 22 situation! But one bro and sis already live abroad, the other bro is always travelling with work and i never stays anywhere for long so visiting them abroad will be just as easy to be honest in fact thinking about it we already see them more abroad than home! See what an interesting life I lead!!

Keeping my eyes peeled for tall dwarfs while I pass through the town!

Where are you all?? Your my entertainment for my journey!!!

Just on train out of the big smoke now heading north!! No sign of PSM that I could notice while laden down with kids, bags and my coffee I just needed to get!

Can I just say - what happened to spending a penny! ?! If the nice lady hadn't taken pity on us we would have had to pay 90p for 3 of us!!

The latest few confessions are quite harmless and sweet at the moment! Love the one who says we'll all support his future wife rather than hate her -what planet is she on? Unless it was any one of us we'd obviously be Trés supportive!!

I'm glad that them moving abroad won't be too much of a strain for you then. Hope they are going somewhere nice and warm so that you can have lovely free holidays :)

I have just got back from the docs and poor little TwigBoy has Hand, Foot & Mouth disease! He is absolutely fine with it (this must be what he had last week, when he had a temperature but nothing else) but he has little blisters all over his feet LadyD, have PM'd you but in case you don't see it, we won't be able to meet you after all as he is infectious :( I am really worried about not being able to do anything with them in half-term now! Extra annoying too as it means another week with no parental help (why don't want to catch it, understandably) and I had loads I wanted to get on with today as well.

they don't want to catch it, not why don't...

Poor twig boy. How long is he infectious for? Forgotten you and lady d had a hot date!! Shame you've had to cancel!

We're getting further north and guess what it's getting cloudier!

Mum doesn't do heat but yes free/cheap holidays I'm very lucky with!!

They are infectious from a few days before the blisters appear and until they disappear - they reckon 7-10 days. He is fine in himself at the moment, just hoping he is alright to walk! I had thought I could take them for a stomp about in the woods where there won't be other kids around to catch it but if he can't walk then that'll be out too.

Twigs - have just checked the poster in our office. According to the Health Protection Agency there is no recommended period of time that dc's with HF&M need to be kept away from others - don't know if that'll help with convincing your olds to still visit!

Sounds plausible Spiro. Twigs advice sounds like chicken pox recommendations but they're all pesky viruses! Dr Alec needs to wipe them out!

Nearly there now so be good everyone.

Thanks, Spiro! GP said that they are infectious until the blisters heal, 'cos the virus is in the blisters

Morning, or afternoon, or whatever -- hello anyway, dear frends.

Twigs, thank you so much for your Master Class in De-cluttiering, specaily when you are so sore beset yourself with Twigboy's Ailment - which is a new one on me, I hought only animals got that. . am so sad for you that you had to cancel a lovely Armitagey girly meet with LadyD because of it.

I think I am going to print your instructions out, as they are so useful. Though my only way of removing anything from the premises is just to chuck it, no charity shops, freecycle, ebay and the like here. I also have a family that is extremely allergic to throwing anything away. hence the feeling of riding out a snowstorm in a tent on the North Col or whatever it was they have on Everest.

Loving the outside broadcast. It gives me a lovely wordwide feel. I live in hopes of one of us announcing they are going to Mount Gisborne, on their holidays. [hshock]

It's apparently nothing to do with Foot & Mouth that animals get.

We might be alright to meet next week, I will see how he is.

What outside broadcast? What havw I missed?

Do you have a loft? If so, what about giving them a box (or more likely 4 boxes!) each and saying that anything they want to keep for sentimental reasons or which isn't regularly being used has to go in the box in the loft. So they still have it, it's just not in your way. Chances are in a year's time you can chuck the lot :) Shoving things in boxes so that I know they are still there but they aren't in my way has really helped me.

Can't praise this storage system enough

Fingers crossed for you, Twigs. I hate it when the DCs are poorly, i'd almost rather be poorly myself. Almost. Which reminds me, one of my toes has now come out in sympathy with poor Maudie's. i dropped something on it last night and now it's throbbing somewhat, and the nail is an interesting and fashionable shade of angry purple.

I am afraid we have no loft or cellar or outhouse or anything of that type, unfortunately, Twigster. The boxes should work, except with MrM, whose boxes we have been lugging about unopened for x amount of years. And they seem to breed somehow, between moves One of these days i shall throw a Gizzy-fit, pile the whole lot in the garden and attack it with a flame-thrower.

By outside broadcast, I meant that RP has been checking in with us, while she is on her travels.

Tahnks, Massive. At least he seems perfectly well (he has spent the last half an hour jumping all over me - it's his favourite game and he calls it Climbing On The Mummy*). He seems to have got the ill part over with last week and now just has the spotty part.

Goodness me, what IS it with toes and feet in this place?! Ouch, I hoep it's better soon.

Heh, I like the phrase 'Gizzy-fit'! I think MrM needs an ultimatum!

• I wonder if Lucas would like to play that?

It's nothing serious. Twigs, I can wriggle it perfectly well and still get my shoe on.

Twigboy's Game sounds most inventive and should defintely be introduced into the chaRActers' repertoire. Now you need to invent one of your own, perhaps, called Climbing all over the Twigboy.

As for Ultimatums, methinks I need to borrow the Big Sword.

Afternoon all.

Maud glad to hear your toes is not broken although they told me the same three times before admitting it was.

Twigs the Small Boys have had H,Fand M - SB Minor had it twice! No biggy unless they get blisters in their mouth and then it's a bit painful to eat. My two weren't bothered at all.

I have commented on your thread and am about to upload a pic.

Have fun on your trip Vampy!

Twigs, didn't mean to sound dismissive there - more trying to be reassuring!

Massive - hope you haven't broken your toe now!

* I wonder if Lucas would like to play that? ROFL!

Hope everyone is well, toes and spotty blisters notwithstanding, and that your trip has been reasonably uneventful RP.

If I'm missing anything/anyone else out this week do ignore me - I'm having an end of half term slump - am soooo tired, and having to do four days in a row at work this week has come as a bit of a shock to the system after getting used to my mid-week me time, but am finally finished now for half term - yippee!!!

Thanks, Small. As it's not displaying the chipolata effect, and is infinitely wrigglable, I reckon it's safe to say it's only bruised. Serves me right for not wearing boots with steel toecaps around the house, though.

Poor you, Spiro. Want a pick me up?