Why do I do this every year? Housekeeping hell

[CheeryCat]

Why, every single year, do I attempt to combine Christmas with spring cleaning and clearing out of spare rooms ready for guests and addressing my laundry mountain and general clutter?

Why can’t I either (a) have better housekeeping standards all year round or (b) have a more ‘take us as you find us’ attitude?

I feel like my own worst enemy as Christmas always seems to merge Christmas into some major life laundry event.

Anyone else do this? I wonder what the answer is. I wish I could have the ‘just one day’ Christmas attitude. I’m making this harder than it needs to be, I suspect.

Ah no, well, yes, you see - I'm not daft - I don't do the hoovering

Just finished hoovering. About to start ironing. Then making white sauce for Christmas Day, getting supper, having a video call with my best friend who moved abroad three months ago. And despite my wreath being attached via the letterbox (we have a mailbox), and it's bright red, eighteen inches across, bloody neighbour (male, obviously) trying to stuff a card through claims he didn't see it.

So jealous!! Daughter who I haven’t seen since April has dropped her kitten off at a cattery. She’s so upset about the kitten she’s talking about going home early and she hasn’t even got here!! She’s a five hour train ride away.

I'm just about to start tackling the house. Shopped for final Xmas presents this morning. Have worn the dog out with a long walk. Kids are in front of the TV (poorly but on the mend). DH is out Xmas shopping. I am going to hoover downstairs first and wash the floors. Then hoover upstairs, wash floors and blitz bathrooms. Dog blankets need to go in the wash but she is lying on them.

@Ducksurprise your place sounds awesome. Made me feel a bit nostalgic (I grew up on a farm).

I managed to clean upstairs. Will do downstairs tomorrow. Feel utterly exhausted - this bloody virus thing is the absolute pits. I am so fed up with coughing and feeling crap.

Oh thank you Snowy 😊

It helps to know someone else was in the sane boat!

Sadly, despite my plumber's best efforts, it wasn't sorted. But I'm more sanguine now. I have a open fire, I bought an electric heater, we have a little heat upstairs.

I'm so tired tho. As you say, all the chasing, dealing with the chaos etc ...

Still. It's Christmas. And all the important things are in place (more or less!)

Have a great Christmas.

@AllotmentTime I'll set an October calendar reminder. It may or may not jog my memory🤣
@CheeryCat I'm not really sure how it all actually worked out this time. I've often had grand ideas of pre-Christmas decluttering and only realise on the 24th I've not done any of it. Very glad I did though- spent last night up with DD who has developed an excruciatingly sore ear and ping ponging in and out of DS room because he was worried about his sister!

Agree. Tonight DH hoovered while I bathed DS, and earlier we stripped and changed the beds.

After DS went to bed DH and I tidied, dusted, mopped, cleaned the loos and sinks, emptied bins and recycling, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher, washed up and I sewed homemade stockings for my in laws. Madness. But at least now everything is done and the house looks nice.

Just the cat food bowls to wash out tomorrow, and DH will clean the bottom of the ovens.

Today we need to:

Change beds
Hoover downstairs and preferably mop if time (requires tidying first but should be ok)
Last minute shopping (DH 🙄)
Small amount of wrapping
Make 2 pavlova bases (overnight in oven)
Host party food lunch for 11 people at 1pm
Last minute tidying

This morning I toyed with re-hanging the pictures I took down months ago in order to paint but I thought of this thread and had a word with myself! Essentially tidying, cleaning, cooking and wrapping only.

Once the kids are asleep that's when the real fun begins 🙂

Well. I am NOT doing this next year. Just finished wrapping. Every bloody year its the same.