Are you doing anything to your house to make it ready for a second lockdown?

[Rainallnight]

If we go into lockdown again, I’m not doing it without a tumble drier. I can just about cope with clothes on a clothes horse and the radiators in the winter in normal circumstances, but I can’t face it if I’m home all the time.

I’d also like to do a big declutter so it’s easier to keep everything tidy while everyone’s home.

And if I was really splashing out, I’d love to get a deep clean done so everything at least starts off really clean.

Anyone thinking along similar lines? Anything else I could be doing?

I've also ordered a couple of battery operated lights to use on the garden table. It gets dark so early in winter, that if friends or family come down later for a cuppa, we're not sitting outside in the dark. They'll also be handy in case there's ever a power cut.

I'm thinking of buying a firepit so we can still sit in garden if dry but cold to get fresh air.

I've bought some new baking tins in case of another lockdown.

I am sorting out spare room/store room as DH home office so decluttering.

Need to go and get some more paint to do dc bedroom. Good to have a project if the worst happens.

No because I can't see a second lockdown happening, not on the level we had in March. They can't do that without offering financial support again to people which we can't afford as a country.

I'm thinking of sharpening the ends of some large wooden stakes and then installing them at a 45 degree angle at the front, with barbed wire around any gaps. Should stop the looters.

@Waxonwaxoff0

No because I can't see a second lockdown happening, not on the level we had in March. They can't do that without offering financial support again to people which we can't afford as a country.

They are offering support. Just not to everyone!

@neveradullmoment99 yes, so people won't comply with another lockdown. I certainly won't if it means losing my job and my home.

I'm going to make a nicer WFH space, I'm going to go to Ikea to see some of the furniture I liked the look of and then I'll have it delivered.

Change the blinds and curtains in the living room, the blinds look grubby and I'm sick of the curtains.

Get a new Wii Fit Board (well second hand) so I can haul out all of the old fitness games.

I'm open to suggestions!

I’ve been told I’ll be working from home until March 2021 at least so instead of setting up at the dining room table or in the kitchen, I’ve made myself a more permanent space in a spare room. My son is doing hybrid school right now and I’m guessing that will last the entire academic year so I’ve let him set himself up with a study area in the basment, gave him a budget to order what he needs and make it his own space.

I’m not ready to go back to the gym and I was making only a half-hearted attempt to do stuff at home so I decided to set up a workout area and it’s really worked. I’ve found a live online yoga class and hope my gym start zoom classes soon.

No as I'm a worker so business as usual for us. But also no because during lockdown last time when I hadn't yet gone back to work I bought the entity of a craft shop and what feels like the whole Playmobil universe.....so my kids have quite a lot to keep them busy!!!

Key worker*

I'm buying paint tomorrow to finish decorating the front room. I already did the hard slog prepping it at the beginning of lockdown. The lovely summer we had in London meant that I spent several months in the garden and made huge progress.
I need to have a project to keep me sane.
Good luck everyone. Stay safe and sane. We're all here 😊

I've already got a second freezer so I can store more food just in case deliveries become impossible again. TBH that was on my to do list before covid because I find it easier to do one massive shop per month, then just top up bread/milk/fruit/veg when needed.

I need to get new blinds for DCs bedrooms and get someone with a drill to put them up, or lend me the drill.

Maybe try and do some more clearing out and see if someone will do a tip run for me in case they close again.

And Xmas can sod off. Albeit I've bought two tubs of chocolates already and I have last year's Xmas pudding

I've decluttered and paid someone to remove rubbish. There's a load of stuff going to the charity shop next week. I've got hair, eye test and dentist appointments for the next ten days, while we won't go into lock down, we might go into further restrictions. I'm trying to book tear trough filler. I'm on Merseyside and our rates are rising. I've got my Christmas treats in and Christmas presents are going to be partly practical, roblox gift cards, money towards tech and teaching etc. I've bought big plastic storage boxes to have a stockpile of tinned stuff, toilet roll and a separate one for Christmas food. My house is a winter spider holiday home, so I like things contained. I'm waiting for the orange/salted caramel Baileys to go on sale and then I'm done, Christmas treat wise. Last time stocks ran short of our favourite wines.

I've ordered a spare cover for my DryBuddy, which is my clothes dryer. I've finished my Christmas decoration shopping and got winter nail colours in. Just to cut down on visiting shops. I've bought bits of winter clothes, but I'm mostly making do.

Albeit I've bought two tubs of chocolates already

No a chance they'll make it to Xmas!

@Pachonga I love the idea of getting winter nail colours in! Just the pick me up I need.

I was bought a dehydrator as a present so I'm busying away storing foods like a squirrel. We have a glut of tomatoes so I'm working through them.

I'm trying to get rid of at least one thing a day to gently declutter and there's a MN thread for that.

Trying to plan for Christmas now.

Wow, I love these ideas. Lots of very organised people on here.

I didn’t declutter during the earlier lockdown because we were living abroad temporarily because my mum was dying, so we’d gone there to be with her. Now I’m back, that feels like the major priority but I’d love to do some more of the ambitious things described here.

No. I live in a rented one bedroom flat and there’s nothing I could do with it even if I wanted to 😂 my logic is that schools won’t shut again and even if they do, they will still be open for key workers, so I will probably be out of the house most of the day every day anyway. If I keep repeating it hopefully it will be true!

We have stocked up on loads of stationary for the children so they can do any school work they are asked. Last time they had to make things out of clay (greek topic) and had to try and track some down, so now I have a stock of art materials and ink for our printer as well as every type of paper they may need.

We have kitted out the spare bedroom as a bedroom, instead of dumping ground, incase either my husband or I get unwell so we can sleep separately and isolate.

We have also built a large summerhouse in the garden and bought a pool table, projector and screen, and arcade games so everyone can be entertained at home. We have bought some more board games too.

@PermanentMarkerSniffer

I'm thinking of sharpening the ends of some large wooden stakes and then installing them at a 45 degree angle at the front, with barbed wire around any gaps. Should stop the looters.

I'll add this to my list.

I've stocked up on reading books for my DC. A charity shop near me is fabulous for this, 20p for paperbacks & I got a few series which I think DD & DS1 will enjoy. Already had loads at DS2's level so the bookcases are groaning! They prefer reading actual books but I love my kindle.

Been through the cupboards & removed/donated anything outgrown & replaced with warm comfy clothes. Made sure we all have walking boots/wellies in the correct sizes & waterproofs.

Bought most of the Christmas presents & will start wrapping soon so that I can enjoy it spread out in the lounge & not be doing it in the garage in the evening if school suddenly closes.

DH has worked throughout but we have managed to get a few jobs done & last week filled the car 3 times, 1 to the charity shop & 2 trips to the dump/recycling centre.

Bought paint to freshen up the lounge & new picture frames which need to be hung.

Topped up stationery & craft supplies in the recent sales & have just ordered printer ink.

Cupboards are well stocked (which is normal for us).

I'm mentally preparing for home schooling again. Our school was quite full on with the work they sent home which was great but took some adjusting to. I'm happy to do it but I'm someone who enjoys being alone for some of the day just for the peace which obviously didn't happen so found with 3 different lots of school work to supervise (& with my youngest, actively teach) I was never alone! I'm more ready for that now.

I hope it doesn't happen & none of the stuff bought will be wasted but I feel better being prepared.

We sorted our garden out in lockdown and built dd a tower to climb and play out of loads of old wood that was cluttering up the bottom of the garden. We’ve just ordered her a desk from Ikea as she’s outgrown her play table and chair in case of homeschooling but also for crafts and drawing. I’ve got lots of craft things in and a few new board and card games for dark evenings. The wood store gets filled over summer so we can have fires.

Dh is now starting work on the garage - decluttering so he can use his bike in there to get exercise. He used to do this a couple of years ago until the garage got too full!

This thread has realised I need to set myself up a better wfh space and some sort of exercise set up.