Getting nothing done? Procrastinators, pottering here.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

Welcome to the new thread ladies :)

I bought my Oven Pride weeks ago, haven't got round to using it yet though. Pretty sure mine isn't self-cleaning

This week:

• as much gardening as poss
• maybe jetwash the patio if poss
• parents anniversary presents; Started
• unsold stuff to charity shop
• wrap parents presents/see what else to get
• packing for week away at parents
• tidy house as much as poss
• start TQs from DS1 (only 9 to do as some done back in May)
• more dry laundry in & sorted DONE
• ironing (not today too hot) DONE
• BF group (Tues am + give back borrowed CD) DONE
• strip beds/clean bedding DONE
• fresh bathmats & towels DONE
• sailing stuff washed & hung out DONE

Tomorrow:

• SN playgroup (10-2)
• afternoon orchestra (2-4)
• poss beach time later on
• check on birthdays pre-week away

Ongoing:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• bathroom needs a blitz; Shower head descaled; kids step washed & stored (don't need it atm)
• check length/take down/shorten front door curtains & store in vacuum bag until winter
• finish hand & foot casts of DD; sand rough edges; leave to dry out; paint; dry; glue in frame

Still warm isnt it?

Managed a few bits today:

One load of washing done and on line / HI fetched it in off the line
Next load ready to go on in the morning
Emptied dishwasher
Washed up sink contents and put away
Wiped kitchen sides down
Removed remnants of DS lunch and dinner (such a mess)
Brief mooch about on horse
First online shopping done, delivery on Thurs

Still to do:
Clean tack and my boots
Passports
Find storage or toy box for lounge
Put remaining clean laundry away
Continue battle with laundry basket
Try and stay on top of general tidying and cleaning
Invest CTF voucher ASAP
Buy new bras/clothes for work and shoes
Gut car and clean and have sort out
Put away DS clothes that are outgrown and into loft

I had a read of that madwoman FlyLady and I was pleasantly surprised. I like the theory and I am going to try and replicate it, well a version that works for me. Got to at least have the gaff visitor ready rather than dread every knock at the door thinking UH OH who's that and will they want to come in????

Silversky Fly Lady is encouraging but I do love the slatterns, not as scary when your list is: can't be bothered to do anything today!

I'm waiting on a chocolate cake to cool then I'm off to bed,

then tomorrow I will
cull self multiplying washing (just as I got it under control)
carve cake & ice
wash inside windows

Silversky - I'm impressed you were planning on cleaning your tack!

Flylady is fab when you want to get stuff done, but are lacking the enthusiasm. If you have a very busy day however or really don't want/can't be arsed it is just irritating and makes you feel guilty.
The fledglings thread is just like this one though, relaxed and friendly.

No list yet, we are eating breakfast and the telly is not working - grrr

Dedalus I haven't cleaned my tack for ages, well over a year when I wound down competing. It used to get cleaned before each outing. I knew a girl who cleaned her's everytime she rode!

I've had my boots in my car for weeks and they still haven't been touched!

The bits in the FlyLady I liked were using my time better so tidying the kitchen before bed. If I can be arsed which usually I can't.

What I also need is a way to train HI to be tidier. He went to bed leaving empty bear bottles on the coffee table. It's a losing battle!

Today I will

Complete passport form
Walk dog
Take car to garage as steering column mKing a noise
At least one laundry load as gonna rain tmw!

I always clean mine if we go out anywhere but we just don't anymore. Although we may jump next weekend and there is a sponsered ride on 4th september we have entered.

DONE
Make beds
Get dressed
Breakfast
Clear up breakfast
Hang washing out
Empty dishy
Reload dishy
Swish and swipe bathroom sink
Wipe over loo
Referee dcs fighting thought i had another year or two before this

TO DO
Get dcs dressed
Brush DD hair (quick nit check - fun)
Go to horses - get stables mucked out and leave beds up
Drinks and snacks - drink water!!!
Put some clean washing away
Lunch
Take dcs to my friends
Get horse food
Ride out with DH
Get horses finished
Pop to Homebase?
Pick up dcs
Dinner (some bolognese in the freezer)
DCs bed
Clear up
Washload on
Dishy on
Wine?

Morning all (new and not so new)
I have decided for the last month of the holidays that I am just going to keep on top of things and no deep cleanings. Going to save that for September when all the DC are at school (sob).As soon as DD3 goes to 2pm pick ups I shall be ordering a skip! Put up a rota yesterday so the all DC have a job to do after lunch! They are all big enough and I was getting stressed out doing all!

TO DO
Clean Sitting Room
Pull out couches and clean behind them
Hoover
Dust
Wash Floor
Hoover Hall
Downstairs Loo
Wash Breakfast Dishes
Clean over Kitchen
Put Clothes Away
Washing
Hoover Dining area Floor
Wash Floors???

JKS- also wished my oven was self cleaning but alas, no! I suppose the 'cleaning fairy' will have to do that as well! My 2 DC had little sleep last night due to the heat = I had little sleep! And I still have a grotty cold so it's gonna be another long day!

-everyone up, showered and dresses done
-everyone breakfast done
-clean up after breakfast, wipe down surfaces etc
-general tidy up and make beds done
-empty and re-fill dishwasher done done
-put a wash load on
-fold up dry washing
-lunch
-DD nap
-hoover and mop floors
-ironing
-wipe over bathroom
-make dinner
-DS and DD bath and bed
-dishwasher on (again!)

Ongoing:
-clean windows inside and outside
-clean oven (it's disgusting blush!)
-get some euros for holiday
-make a list of things to take on holiday!
-take dresses x2 to dry cleaners done

Well, how about that? Self cleaning actually works..... though you do still need to put the racks in the magic Oven Pride bag (which then effectively self clean in there!!!!). WOW. I am amazed!!!! Probably cost about 3 quid in electricity, but if it saves scrubbing I can see this happening every few weeks...... Hoorah to that.

Daily

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• General tidy, make beds etc
• Fill/Run/Empty DW
• Washing
• Hoovering
• Ironing
• On line banking and check credit card - IMPORTANT
• Repack spare bedding for loft
• Clean oven DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Send back appliance guarantee forms
• Bottle bank/cardboard recycling
• Change Dentist appt DONE
• Maths/phonics workbooks and cards
• Chickens
• Dog
• Reading with DC
• August budget itemise everything DOING
• Make dinner

One off things this week/soon:

• Renew car insurance
• Organise DS's party
• Call about tennis lesson
• Get spare gas for BBQ
• Plan to meet DH on his cycle trip??
• Some uniform/trainers and school shoes for DC
• Back up photos
• Choose photos for the wall
• Work out parental controls on Mac and Sky
• Life insurance to finalise
• List eBay
• Set up weather station
• Travel insurance and Euros
• DVD's to take on holiday
• Register with Anthony Nolan Trust

TO DO
Clean Sitting Room DONE
Pull out couches and clean behind them DONE
Hoover BRUSHED INSTEAD
Dust
Wash Floor
Hoover Hall
Downstairs Loo
Wash Breakfast Dishes
Clean over Kitchen
Put Clothes Away
Washing
Hoover Dining area Floor
Wash Floors???

Anon at your self cleaning oven! I need to get the man to come and do ours, I can't face it with the boys trying to climb all over me while I do it!!

It is so hot and muggy here, really horrid. DS2 is very thirsty so am mainly BFing him. DS1 seems to have regressed with the potty training - number 1s and 2s on the floor this morning Nightmare.

TODAY
Me up and exercise - done
Boys up and dressed - done
Breakfast and tidy kitchen - done
Run DW - done
Me showered and dressed - done
Make beds and tidy upstairs - done
Wipe over bathroom - done
Hoover and sweep downstairs - done
1 load of washing - on the line
15 mins general tidy and small jobs - done
Water plants
Lunch and tidy kitchen
Meal planning and Waitrose order for Friday
Online banking
Prep dinner
DH home
Dinner (burgers, wedges and salad)
Baths
Boys to bed
Tidy downstairs
Nappies on to wash
Kitchen clear before bed

THIS WEEK
Investigate spa for while we are on holiday
Confirm music workshops for DS1 this month
Birthday card and present for DNiece
Decide on pudding for Sunday

I am truly gobsmacked that it did in fact work.

Anyway, not made any further progress on my list, so not reposting it! Just been too darned hot.... barely moved unless absolutely necessary. DC playing cricket in the garden. Don't know how they do it. All off for cool showers shortly....

bonsoir les souillons

I see some new names since I last posted, excellent!

Had lovely 5 days in Whitstable (staying with my friend and dd like I did last year), was really ill the first 2 days which was annoying but in a way it kind of forced me to just be totally lazy and by the end I was so chilled. Just spent most of the time on the beach or doing nothing at her house It's always quite nice for both of us to have a co-parent when we stay with each other.

Ali you asked about the wc situation aaages ago but I haven't posted since. If you're ready for the essay... Basically his gf found out about me and was not happy (understandably)so didn;t see him for ages but he kept insisting he still wanted to be friends and would be able to see me soon, I called him on it when I noticed he was no longer contacting me other than to reply to my texts or answer my calls (if I called him he'd answer but he wasn't being the one to make the calls anymore) plus my windows were well overdue so I wanted to know if i should find a new wc. He said his gf had told him he wasn't allowed to do my windows anymore, or see me at all, or call or text me. He had told her ok but he would talk to me if he saw me in the street and would reply if I text him etc. I was just really pissed off that he hadn't bothered to tell me that and had kind of just disappeared, if he'd said "gf doesn't want me to contact you anymore" then I'd have been upset but would have understood and been fine with it but him just stopping contacting me and leaving me hanging really hurt me. Anyway he was STILL insisting that he cared about me and wanted us to be friends but I told him that what he was offering me wasn't a friendship and that unless he was able to be a real friend to me then I'd rather stop all contact. Right decision but I feel like I've been grieving ever since (Not to offend anyone who is actually grieving - I know he's not dead but it's almost lke he is to me, the amount of times I've thought oh I must tell wc that or wanted to show him something etc and then realised I can't contact him and will probably never speak to him again, it's been really hard.) The dc have taken it really hard as well, keep asking when he is coming to see them etc and both cried when the new wc came because it wasn't him I think it is starting to get a little easier now, I've kind of accepted losing his friendship now but it still really hurts.

Anyhow...
I still have the same ironing to do that I did about 3 weeks ago, the pile is just getting bigger!

Oh Freaki hugs my lovely. The whole situation is crap. He is a cowardly arse and once you are over the initial hurt then you will be better off without him (((hugs)))
Glad you had a lovely holiday :)

TODAY
Me up and exercise - done
Boys up and dressed - done
Breakfast and tidy kitchen - done
Run DW - done
Me showered and dressed - done
Make beds and tidy upstairs - done
Wipe over bathroom - done
Hoover and sweep downstairs - done
1 load of washing - done
15 mins general tidy and small jobs - done
Sort out airing cupboard and put away clean clothes mountain - done
Water plants - done
Lunch and tidy kitchen - done
Meal planning and Waitrose order for Friday - done
Online banking - done
Prep dinner - done
DH home - done
Dinner (burgers, wedges and salad) - done
Baths - done
Boys to bed - DS1 done, DS2 still awake
Tidy downstairs - done
Nappies on to wash
Kitchen clear before bed - done

THIS WEEK
Investigate spa for while we are on holiday
Confirm music workshops for DS1 this month
Birthday card and present for DNiece
Decide on pudding for Sunday - done
Birthday present for Grandma

Freaki, you are worth so much more than his crap half friendship, he is such a coward. So glad you had a lovely break, sorry you were ill though.

We are going to IKEA today (i love IKEA :o)

I love fish n chips at IKEA!

I love Ikea too, fabulous shop. What are you going to buy?

Raining here, pouring in fact. Think we will stay at home. I'm not quite over my cold still and DS1 is loving having lots of time to just potter around and do his own thing.
Must do a few jobs though.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for evening meals? I am so bored of having the same things all the time! DS1 won't eat mince except in spag bol, and then he eats more of the spag than the bol! Any good ideas???

Freak - :( esp for the DC too. but you are better off without him messing you around.

Love Ikea too but not too often.

Not getting much done here at all, and have loads to do pre-going away/house sitters moving in/end of sailing week.

This week:

• as much gardening as poss
• maybe jetwash the patio if poss
• parents anniversary presents; Started
• unsold stuff to charity shop
• wrap parents presents/see what else to get; garden centre for rose
• packing for week away at parents
• tidy house as much as poss
• start TQs from DS1 (only 9 to do as some done back in May)
• check on birthdays pre-week away

Ongoing:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• bathroom needs a blitz; Shower head descaled; kids step washed & stored; Shower grout scrubbed
• check length/take down/shorten front door curtains & store in vacuum bag until winter
• finish hand & foot casts of DD; sand rough edges DONE; leave to dry out DONE; paint DONE; dryDONE; glue in frame one is too big, needs more sanding

Ooohh Ikea, I love it but my wallet doesn't! Does anyone else find that they go in there for just a few things and come out with a trolley full?!

-everyone up, showered and dresses done
-everyone breakfast done
-clean up after breakfast, wipe down surfaces etc done
-general tidy up done
-change beds DCs done (OH still in ours after night shift!)
-empty and re-fill dishwasher done
-put a wash load on done
-fold up dry washing
-lunch done
-DD nap done
-hoover and mop floors
-wipe over bathroom
-make dinner
-DS and DD bath and bed
-dishwasher on (again!)

Ongoing:
-clean windows inside and outside
-clean oven (it's disgusting [blush!])
-get some euros for holiday
-make a list of things to take on holiday!
-take dresses x2 to dry cleaners done

Funnily enough we find it hard to spend in there. I tend to go for plastic tupperware type stuff. Got cupboards full of it.
Same with John Lewis. Go there to look for gifts and always come out disappointed.

Today I'm doing the bare minimum chores wise. CBA.

I'm shattered. It's the dread of returning to work freaking me out.

We're back! Actually the cheapest visit so far! We got a couple of Billy bookcases, some more Trofast, some more tupperware, some bowls, a white wooden slat blind for our room and some other bits and bobs, oh yes some cot bedding. I love their kids section, the bedding is all 100% cotton but not expensive. Bloody long day though.

SilverSky - I had the fish and chips :o

Oh Freaki, I can only ditto what others have said... really tough on you and DC now, but you've done the right thing.. be strong my friend, things will improve.

IKEA - Hmm, I am rather 50/50 - I "love" it in that it has everything and we have recently acquired some cracking stuff for our "new" house which has worked a treat and I know it will last for years. However, I am not very good at the actual going to IKEA thing. Ugh. I get rather overwhelmed by it all so need to really focus on what I am actually there for otherwise my head spins and I start to shake and sweat (mad I know, but true!)...

Mind you, I generally dislike shopping, so going to somewhere on that scale is hardly going to be my ideal!!

Ali - our favourite meals with/for DC are:

• stir fry and rice/noodles
• meatballs with rice/pasta/potatoes
• Roast dinner style meal (ie. square meat and two veg)
• burgers in pitta with salad and sautes
• Mac cheese
• Spag bol (naturally!)
• Sheps/cottage/fish pies plus veg
• Toad in the hole plus gravy and veg
• Chorizo/chickpea stew thing with any of rice/pasta/spuds
• Sticky Spare ribs/chicken drumsticks with anything....

Well done on making it out without spending too much!

This week:

• as much gardening as poss
• maybe jetwash the patio if poss
• parents anniversary presents; Nearly Done
• unsold stuff to charity shop
• packing for week away at parents; Started
• tidy house as much as poss; Started
• start TQs from DS1 (only 9 to do as some done back in May)
• check on birthdays pre-week away

Ongoing:

• Find new dentist that is taking on NHS nervous patients for me/investigate private; DH thinks his will take me on too
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• bathroom needs a blitz; Shower head descaled; kids step washed & stored; Shower grout scrubbed
• check length/take down/shorten front door curtains & store in vacuum bag until winter
• finish hand & foot casts of DD; sand rough edges DONE; leave to dry out DONE; paint DONE; dryDONE; glue - in frame one is too big, needs more sanding; finished sanding & touched up paint

anon - you can order Ikea things online! No good for a new thing, but for example if you know that you need X many bookcases and have seen the ones you like or are buying more to go with existing stuff then v.easy to order things online to avoid having to go there. Delivery charges are v.reasonable when you factor in the cost of going - petrol, food, coffees, spur of the moment purchases totalling £xxx
Thanks for the menu ideas - I had forgotten about toad in the hole, he likes that. It is such a PITA that he won't really do mince, otherwise cottage pie, lasagne, mild chilli etc etc would all be staples! We must try him again on stir-fry, he wasn't keen the last time.

mazbourne - yes inevitably! I remember going there once years and years ago and coming to the checkout and the total was £600 odd. It was about two-thirds of my monthly pay at that stage (I had not long graduated) and I had to put it on my credit card and take several months to pay it off. Lesson learnt!! I still have a few of the things I bought on that trip, so perhaps not such bad value after all :)

I have been rubbish today. I feel really unwell and we have all watched too much telly.

Ali - I know, I did get stuff I'd used/seen before delivered but for new stuff I want to see it before I buy it... and lots of the little tutt that I wanted recently was not available for delivery!!!!!

Anyway, no list today - we've been out for the day, in the pouring rain touring some "cultural" spots of East Anglia.... got a touch damp but DC didn't seem to mind and as I had no dog to worry about, it did mean we could actually go out for a whole day... so was worth it. I've driven 160 miles, and I'm pooped!