Spring into action Slatterns, it's Cheap, Easy and Quick here...

[Anonymousbird]

New thread ladies!! Welcome back.

Bring your lists, bring whatever you want, but remember we love it cheap easy and quick .

Who mentioned Shake n Vac??? Cor, that takes me back, those adverts! I used to love the stuff!!!

Oh, and JKS - the ebay stuff keeps getting up on the bed (naughty ebay stuff) and then I have to take it off again each night. How silly is that.

Anyway

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• Major tidy up DONE (except playroom)
• General tidy, make beds etc DONE
• DC to school DONE
• Fill/Run/Empty DW DONE
• Washing DONE
• Ironing DONE
• On line banking DONE
• 24th DONE and 25th Jan ? credit card payments
• Check dehumidifier DONE
• Building project finances
• Collect post from house DONE
• Go see builders
• Collect dog food
• Chickens DONE
• Dog DONE
• Find/buy photo frames DONE
• Check photo printing DONE
• Pay Utilities Warehouse Bill
• Sort stuff to list on Ebay
• Refix with EON ? part done, but need to shop around for a possible ?switch?
• Call Builder re costings
• Feb house budget Started - needs more work
• Babysitter for school quiz night
• Gloves and other warm gear for DD
• Get fire going
• Make dinner

Wasting - 'lovely porridge' these words surely never go together.
Moan alert.
My DH has got a weird swollen gland virus thingy, and is STILL grumpy. SIGH, he's had more virus/flu/ god knows what else this winter than I've ever known and is really fed up. As am I. He is normally a warm, funny kind person. Perhaps aliens have taken him and swapped. I wish he would get better NOW.
OK Moan over.

Not doing well on the list front either. HUMPH

print notes
meeting with C done
shopping
washing part
revise brochure
update accounts for VAT
ring A

Other stuff
accred. form
w s amendments
plan food
tidy bedroom, change bed
sort out spare room

Sorry, I know you lot have all your dcs to care for too, so my lot is much lighter.
Just having a moment.

[pokes head round door] can I come in?

I was inspired by a fellow mnr yesterday saying she can do her whole house in less than an hour, so have written my list and am going to time myself doing it.

Here's my list:

Laundry, about 3 loads to wash and dry
Vacuum
Dust
Floors
Dishwasher, empty and reload
Put out recycling
Change beds
Bathrooms (3)
Ironing, 2 foot high pile
Clean out guinea pig cage

Time starts......now.

Wish me luck.

Hello WhiteLight - and good luck with the list! :)

Hugs all round this morning ladies ((hugs))

JKS no wonder you are tearful :( I cannot believe how little sleep he seems to need! Once the weather is a bit better then you can let him out in the garden to let off steam and hopefully that will help.

Mini - a grumpy husband is a draining thing, worse than a grumpy child I think because you have (rightly) much higher expectations of them. Hope he improves soon!

Wasting I love porridge - yum yum :)

Very lazy start here - went to bed too late, DH came in even later and woke me up, plus 3 wakings for a wee (sodding bladder) and then DS was awake at 5.15 because of a bad dream. He did go back to sleep, but I don't think I've had more than an hour in one go all night

Must get breakfast organised and then I'll be back with a proper list.

QUICK LIST
Check cash for fireplace fitters coming this afternoon - yay!
Ring hospital about tomorrow's appointment
DS' pre-school form

Hi Whitelight.

I love porridge now I know about putting salt in, yum. DS calls it 'horridge'

• fold dry washing and re-arrange airers done
• dry pots done
• another coffee done

Next -

• supermarket

at 'horridge'. I love all the mispronunciations at this age, they are brilliant.

TODAY
All up and dressed - DS and I still in pjs
DH to work - done
Spatone + vitamins
Breakfast and tidy kitchen - done
Unload dishwasher
Make beds and tidy upstairs
Hoover and sweep downstairs if needed
Check cash for fireplace fitters - done
Ring hospital about tomorrow's appointment
Lunch and tidy kitchen
Fitters here 'about lunchtime', whatever that means
Must sort DS' preschool form
Afternoon - ? Need to be here but can't be in living room
Dinner
Clear up
DS bath and bed
Post DS-to-bed tidy
Kitchen clear before bed

ONGOING
E-mail out some recent photos of DS
Confirm DS preschool sessions - have got the form
Strip wash and sort through cloth nappies to see how many new ones we need for DC2 (love buying new cloth nappies )
Apply for HIP grant
Ring new NHS dental practice
Buy and hang a mirror in the spare room

SPRING CLEANING LIST
Clean living room and dining room carpets
Spare bedroom bookcase
Nag DH into sorting out his growing stacks of shite paperwork - getting there
Call furniture donation scheme about stuff in garage - have rung, need to check it has the relevant fire label
Polish the silver
Sideboard (this is a mega task) - one cupboard done
Sort and shred old paperwork

OK, one hour has passed, and I've had a 10 min phone call and fed my 4yo.

I'm going to have to work faster..

Laundry, about 3 loads to wash and dry 1 load in
Vacuum downstairs done
Dust
Floors
Dishwasher, empty and reload done
Put out recycling done
Change beds
Bathrooms (3)
Ironing, 2 foot high pile
Clean out guinea pig cage

Hi Whitelight :)

Re DS2 and his sleep - i know! it's like he's had a lifetime's worth already so doesn't need anymore. If i encourage him, he will nap after lunch, and then is a bugger to wake up, and then is v lively at bedtime, but seems to get up at the same time the next day
Will try a nap + late bedtime tonight and see how that goes.

I've had a nap already :) so feeling much better.

Mini - oh poorly husbands are no fun at all! I hope he's on the mend soon.

Wed:

• all up & breakfasted & tidy kitchen DONE
• all dressed DONE
• DS1 to sch DONE
• DS2 & N to pre-sch DONE
• bath & book for me DONE
• nap DONE
• swap bathmats & towels DONE

• risotto
• strip & remake beds
• vacuum pack the spare duvets in baby room
• lunch & tidy up
• poss nap for DS2?
• collect DS1
• baking (if i cba)
• tea x 3 (fish fingers i think)
• boys bath & bed (aim for later than 7)
• early night again

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options

Bad day today. H came to walk dc to school and started yelling at me on the doorstep. All because I asked him to at least acknowledge me and not to refuse to come in if the dc weren't ready.

The effect on dd has really upset me.

Been looking at jobs online. Literally nothing out there. Well a few care home night jobs, an apprenticeship for school leavers and a teaching job.

Feeling very down and useless and stuck-in-a-rut-with-no-way-out-of-it-ey today.

I love 'horridge' that is definitely going into my dictionary.
Good you managed a nap JKS.
Freaki, it must be the stars or something, hope your dd was not too unsettled. Hope that the job situation picks up soon. I am fed up with the coalition already.
My morning has not gone to plan either I had a big pile of printing to do, put new cartridge in printer and it's just turning out scratching half lines of print. ARGHH. I dont know what to do, tha manual doesn't make sense. any clues anybody. Or I am going into terminal sulk.

Freak - :( esp about H shouting at you.

Mini - have you tried shaking the cartridge? sounds like some of the ink has settled. But...do the shaking outside/over the sink & carefully, lol!

Wed:

• all up & breakfasted & tidy kitchen DONE
• all dressed DONE
• DS1 to sch DONE
• DS2 & N to pre-sch DONE
• bath & book for me DONE
• nap DONE
• swap bathmats & towels DONE
• risotto (maybe tomorrow?)
• strip & remake beds N doing
• vacuum pack the spare duvets in baby room
• lunch & tidy up DONE
• finish BF course homework DONE
• poss nap for DS2 Doing
• collect DS1
• baking (if i cba)
• tea x 3 (fish fingers i think)
• boys bath & bed (aim for later than 7)
• early night again

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options

I have located a troubleshooting thing on the help program and am running a head cleaning program. This kind of stuff makes me panic and feel completely out of my depth. I have to give myself a talking to and try to fathom it. If that doesn't work will try the shaking thing.

Thanks guys. Find it harder because I have always been a very positive person so when I find myself getting down I get annoyed with myself for whinging/being negative and then I feel even more down! And I'm afraid you bear the brunt of the whinging

Mini I second the shaking

Head cleaning also good - if only there was a similar human version :)

Baby room actually looks usable now
Spare single mattress still there but i need that for random PIL friend coming in a few weeks.

Now need DH to get the baby clothes down from loft (or give up on him and do it myself).

Anyone ever used those vacuum bags? Got some good ones from Lakeland but my 2 double duvets in there look pretty deformed now! Nanny & I vvv unconvinced that they'll ever go back to normal, lol!!

Wed:

• all up & breakfasted & tidy kitchen DONE
• all dressed DONE
• DS1 to sch DONE
• DS2 & N to pre-sch DONE
• bath & book for me DONE
• nap DONE
• swap bathmats & towels DONE
• risotto (maybe tomorrow?)
• strip & remake beds N DONE
• vacuum pack the spare duvets in baby room DONE
• lunch & tidy up DONE
• finish BF course homework DONE
• poss nap for DS2 Doing

• collect DS1
• baking; Ingredients ready
• tea x 3 (fish fingers i think)
• boys bath & bed (aim for later than 7)
• early night again

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options

It worked! it worked! jumps up and down waving arms.
Printing underway.
JKS is nanny's ankle better?
Freaki, y've got to have a whinge somewhere, its good to get it out. in the immortal words of the frog chorus, whilst swaying. 'We all whinge together'

Aw, Freaky, that's a crappy morning. Hope things are looking up soon.

Hurrah Mini! Things like that drive me nuts.

JKS I hope those bags are good, all the baby stuff is in them for storage, and I will want them back at some point in a usable shape!

Right, we went to the supermarket and had lunch, but decided not to go out this afternoon. I've been pottering a bit but need motivating to look like we've done something by the time DH gets back from work.

• tidying started
• clean sink
• empty hoover and take rubbish out
• hoover, a lot

Back at 4.

Afternoon ladies :)

Raaahh - fireplace not being done after all. Got a call at 2.15 to say they had got held up on their morning job. Am really pissed off because the whole reason we are still ongoing with this is that there is a bloody great stain in the marble on the hearth that was delivered so we had to wait a month for a new one to be made.
Had a bit of a rant at the shop owner on the phone, we will definitely be talking about a discount when the time comes to pay the invoice

Mini - glad the printing is working, well done!

Freak - whinge away. Your H really is an arse, but it will all be his loss in the end because the DCs won't want to spend time with him when they are older.

JKS - yes I am waiting for DH to get the crates of baby clothes out of the garage. I can't do it myself, he has stacked them so high that I can't reach the top one to start dismantling the stack!!

TODAY
All up and dressed - done
DH to work - done
Spatone + vitamins
Breakfast and tidy kitchen - done
Unload dishwasher - done
Make beds and tidy upstairs - done
Hoover and sweep downstairs if needed
Check cash for fireplace fitters - done
Ring hospital about tomorrow's appointment - done midwife is going to call me around 10.30am
Lunch and tidy kitchen - done
Fitters here 'about lunchtime', whatever that means - NOT DONE
Must sort DS' preschool form
Afternoon - chilling and playing Octonauts with DS
Dinner
Clear up
DS bath and bed
Post DS-to-bed tidy
Kitchen clear before bed

ONGOING
E-mail out some recent photos of DS
Confirm DS preschool sessions - have got the form
Strip wash and sort through cloth nappies to see how many new ones we need for DC2 (love buying new cloth nappies )
Apply for HIP grant
Ring new NHS dental practice
Buy and hang a mirror in the spare room

SPRING CLEANING LIST
Clean living room and dining room carpets
Spare bedroom bookcase
Nag DH into sorting out his growing stacks of shite paperwork - getting there
Call furniture donation scheme about stuff in garage - have rung, need to check it has the relevant fire label
Polish the silver
Sideboard (this is a mega task) - one cupboard done
Sort and shred old paperwork

The bags are good - we've been using them for a couple of years and have had duvets and pillows etc in and out of them. They puff back up again really quickly.

Ali, that's discount definitely needed.

Back before 4, Things don't take as long to do as I think they do. I should demand a little more of myself I think.

• tidying started more
• clean sink done
• empty hoover and take rubbish out done
• hoover, a lot done (bedroom, landing and stairs done)

Next -

• coffee + t'internet
• start getting DS tea ready (want to do this earlier than we have in the past)
• washing pots

Ali. Why do things take soooo long. And a fireplace is an important focal point. So am in full sympathy.
Am feeling smug now cos all printing is done. So am catching up on admin bis and pieces.
trying to avoid office of semi doom. Yes its getting that way again.

Hello peeps.
Sorry, with DH home, I have no time to post!

Mini - was going to recommend clean heads, I had exactly the same when i was trying to print photos a couple of weeks ago with new printer cartridges... glad it worked.

JKS - I have about 20 vac bags full of stuff in storage. However, Dh mentioned today that he thought one in the loft looked mouldy, so sounds like the vaccuum seal has broken.... Grr. Will check tomorrow. But in my experience, everything bounces just fine!

Ali - Grr re fireplace - you definitely need to be discussing a discount.. no question!

Freaki - sorry to hear re DH, that sounds completely unfair, especially upsetting DD. And rant away - even the most positive people need to let off steam or whatever and hey, this is the place, you will always have willing listeners, so never fear!!

Right, must put the oven on...

Byeeeee.

Well I guess people wouldn't keep using the bags if they wrecked the stuff in them.

Wed:

• collect DS1 DONE
• baking DONE (ran out of icing sugar so need to get more tomorrow)
• tea x 3 DONE
• boys bath & bed (aim for later than 7) DONE (bed at 8 so fingers crossed for tomorrow morning)

• early night again

Thurs:

• all up & breakfasted
• all dressed
• sch runs
• DS2's IEP meeting (9.30)
• buy some icing sugar
• cook risotto
• meet friend for lunch (remember borrowed book)
• collect DS1
• chill out time/finish decorating cakes with DS1
• tea x 2 & tidy up (what?)
• boys to bed
• DH home at some point
• dinner x 2

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options
• get DH to get baby clothes down from loft

Well DS2 woke at 3.53. I was ready to find a cliff at that point, but i managed to: shout at him , give him some inhaler (for his cough) and some water, then put him back in bed. He muttered away for a while & i was awake for ages, but then he woke properly at 6.15
could this be the corner we are turning???

I just couldn't face starting my day that early.

Thurs:

• all up & breakfasted DONE
• all dressed DONE
• sch runs DONE

• DS2's IEP meeting (9.30)
• buy some icing sugar
• cook risotto
• meet friend for lunch (remember borrowed book)
• collect DS1
• chill out time/finish decorating cakes with DS1
• tea x 2 & tidy up (what?)
• boys to bed
• DH home at some point
• forgot I am going out with other mums for Nando's tonight :)

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options
• get DH to get baby clothes down from loft

JKS, 4 am is far to early, in fact it's night.
Thursday is my mad work day, so this is just a quick wave hello and have a good day everyone.

JKS - ! Thank god he went back to sleep!

Hectic day here today. Music class later which necessitates an early lunch, and then straight down to my parents to get my hair cut. Going to give DS his tea there before I drive back, otherwise he will sleep in the car and not want any dinner when we get home.

TODAY
All up and dressed - done
DH to work - done
Spatone + vitamins
Breakfast and tidy kitchen - done
Unload dishwasher - half done
Make beds and tidy upstairs
Sweep kitchen floor
Call from midwife at 10.30ish
Finalise Waitrose order for tomorrow
Remember to cancel Ocado order! (and delivery pass??)
Lunch and tidy kitchen
Music
Drive to parents for haircut
DS tea
Drive home
DS bath and bed (hopefully DH will be here when we get back)
Our dinner
Put a wash on
Clear up
Post DS-to-bed tidy
Kitchen clear before bed
Collapse

I know, imagine starting your day at 3-something, too awful.

Ali - why are you cancelling ocado?

Thurs:

• all up & breakfasted DONE
• all dressed DONE
• sch runs DONE
• DS2's IEP meeting (9.30) DONE (had bit of a moan about Ed Psych too, helps to spread the word that she's awful!)
• cook risotto DONE
• tidy DS2's files DONE

• buy some icing sugar
• meet friend for lunch (remember borrowed book)
• collect DS1
• chill out time/finish decorating cakes with DS1
• tea x 2 & tidy up (what?)
• boys to bed
• DH home at some point
• forgot I am going out with other mums for Nando's tonight

Longer term:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• make boys dentist appts
• Photos: upload select photos of DC to Snapfish & order
• order door curtain for front door, curtain for kitchen door & curtains for playroom
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• pile of blankets & bedding to homeless centre (some basic shopping first & go through towels too)
• research motability options for if/when we get mobility; Done More/DH doing
• see if any toys can go/be put away?? Done More
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started
• Freecycle blinds; Emailed 3rd person & again
• ebay/freecycle Dance Mat
• analyse heating/electricity for cheaper options
• get DH to get baby clothes down from loft