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Housekeeping

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We have finished the babysteps - cautiously moving into toddler sized steps now.

808 replies

Carrotsandcelery · 03/10/2011 12:54

You are all going to be so disappointed. My hobby is horse riding. Ta da!! I really wasn't trying to be coy. I didn't realise you were all so nosey took such an interest in fellow thread members Grin I am totally mortified that it is not hang gliding or rally racing or anything a bit more adventurous Blush

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missmakesstuff · 06/11/2011 21:18

Hi all, you have all been busy - makes me feel a bit lazy...
I felt better after the reflexologist, so helped Dh with a little bit of painting yesterday - then felt loads worse again this morning..I never learn. I am off again tomorrow - I feel like a fraud, I think I could get in and probably would manage ok, but I know if I overdo it I will just feel worse, and my year 11 have an exam all day Tuesday, I need to be ok for that. Also I think I would have to take lots of the painkillers if I went in, and whilst it is manageable with them, it's just they make me feel a bit woo, so I am trying to not use them too much.

The good thing is DH worked really hard all weekend and finished painting the kitchen - only thing is, now it is a mess, and we still have all the woodwork to do, plus some coving to put up, and all the coving to paint - but it is something we can do over a couple of weekends I guess - just it would have been lovely to have the whole room done for the in-laws visit. Not to be though. I will settle for not having the entire contents of the kitchen on the table for now!

So have decided to try to at least catch up (very gently) on a little bit of washing and tidying. Think I will be going back to baby steps for a while at least!
Let us know how you get on with those slow cooker recipes Bessie , we have one as a present from last christmas, but so far have only done Kleftico in it, dead easy though.

BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 06/11/2011 21:20

Hi all,

Carrots I just wondered if you are watching the program on BBC 2."Will it snow?" It started at 9.00pm.

I feel like I am still in a state of shock about Fridays accident on the motorway.
I am waiting for them to release all the names of the people involved. As far as we know there were no family involved. We used to live in Bridgwater so about 10 miles from where it happened. We moved up north to be near my family.
DH used to know lots of people in Bridgwater so we are just hoping it wasn't anyone we know.

Where would I buy Lavender oil?

Carrotsandcelery · 06/11/2011 21:27

We are watching "The Walking Dead" just now. It is frightening the pants of me tbh.

My local chemist sells Lavendar oil and we live in the middle of nowhere so I imagine most chemists would. You can also buy special Lavendar pillows but the oil should do the job.

Black I feel for you. Living where I do there have been lots of oil rig disasters and it is terrifying every time.

Can you find any meditation music or talk throughs on the internet. It might get you through tonight until you can buy some Lavendar oil.

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BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 07/11/2011 09:38

Morning all, managed to sleep a bit better last night.Think I went to sleep at 11.30pm and was up at 6.40am.

Carrots are you sleeping any better?
I remember you said DS has sleep problems.

Bessie Is your DD any better?

I am hoping to keep busy today.
To do:
hang wet washing
wash up/ dry up
Hoover up
Then maybe some decluttering.

What do you all have planned?

missmakesstuff · 07/11/2011 12:05

Glad you slept better blackcat. I didn't sleep well, first night without painkillers to see if I could, was awake a fair bit. I am taking it easy today as need to be back at work tomorrow. Back still really bad first thing but settles after a couple of hours at least, have easy day tomorrow too. Still keep worrying about the in laws coming Thursday and the state of the house, but there isn't much I can do about it. Just will try and do a little everyday to kep it so that they can at least get through the door!

Plans for today -
get out of the house for a bit at least (poor DD has been stuck in with me for days now)
Try and sort out the kitchen a bit
do some washing
do some washing up
put away the tesco food delivery
possibly do some hoovering
get myself ready fr getting up for work tomorrow morning..not looking forward to that as it took me an hour this morning just to get out of bed.

And I think that will be about all I can manage.

Carrotsandcelery · 07/11/2011 12:29

blackcat glad you slept better. I hope you get lavendar today.

miss step away from the hoover - it doesn't sound like a good idea. Good luck with the rest of your plan.

So far today I have:
Washed and dressed to shoes
Made 2 packed lunches
Made batch of chocolate crispies for packed lunches
Taken dcs to school
Spent an hour in the bank opening a bank account
Taken a car load to the charity shop
Taken the dog on an extra long walk since it is such a beautiful day Grin
Folded a load of washing
Hung a load of washing
Put on another load of washing
Sorted a massive pile of clothes I have been given to ebay for charity - it stinks!
Posted an ebay parcel

And dd swept kitchen floor

Still to do:
Unload dishwasher, reload and clean work tops
Hang the next load of washing
Take the next lot of ebay photos and do the write up
Hoover
Tidy ds's new toys which are currently all over the kitchen table. Hmm

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BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 07/11/2011 13:49

I have done ALL Washing up again! TA DA!Grin

The only other jobs I have done are:
Make beds
DS to school
hang wet washing
and play on MN.

Am having a tea break now and maybe some cake!Wink

You have done lots Carrots.Smile

bessie26 · 07/11/2011 16:14

miss don't try to do too much, I'm sure the ILs won't care! Will they offer to help?

carrots you have done loads! Am very impressed

And well done black, sounds like that sleep has done you the world of good!

I took DD1 for her swimming lesson this morning, fed the GPs for lunch (they come round to look after DD2) Once the DDs were in bed & the GPs had gone home, I thought I'd just have a lie down for 15mins (assuming DD2 would wake me up) but I slept for a hour & was woken up by the cat!

It's my birthday today DH was going to get me take-away, but my favourite place is closed on Mondays, so we're having it tomorrow instead & tonight he's making curry, while I go for a run with my friend! Grin

missmakesstuff · 07/11/2011 16:20

you both have done lots, I am just having a sit down, I only did 5 mins of hoovering, I had to, there was enough food on the floor for another meal!

I have managed to sort the kitchen out a little bit, we can manage anyway, just have lots of things that don't have a home not that DH will have to sort out, most of it to go in the loft I should think.

DD has been great again, has had a good long sleep and is now full of beans, throwing herself on and off the sofa whilst talking to someone on a brick as if it's a phone...have also sat on the floor and sorted DD's toys, she has so many, it's ridiculous. she barely plays with any of them, mainly she just gets all the bowls and saucepans out of the cupboard and sits in them talking on her bricks.

I feel a charity shop purge going on.

Just going to have a rest, I actually feel better for getting stuff done, I don't have the horrible nerve pain so much at the moment, just a very achey back and legs, haven't taken many painkillers today either which is good.

To do for the rest of the day - finish tidying kitchen
hang out a bit of washing
Give dh a pile to sort in front of the TV
ring a lady about Pilates classes
write menus for week
put dinner in oven

and then just evening routine stuff, ready to try and hoist my hideous body out of bed tomorrow morning. Think I will ask DH to get DD up and put her in bed with me in the morning, that way I can get her dressed whilst lying down, all I have to do is get her down stairs then.

BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 07/11/2011 16:58

I feel I may be busy for the next few hours.
I need to:
Clean table
Do dinner
Wash up/ dry up (after dinner)
Do some more washing.

Have already helped DS gets his homework done.

Right must get on.

Carrotsandcelery · 07/11/2011 17:09

This is getting to be a habit! Grin

I have done the rest of my list except putting away ds's new toys, as he has a friend round and they are playing with them.

missmakes my dmil has a nerve problem and she find that she can't sit too long, or do too much either. She has to do a bit of both. She has also found a memory foam pillow very helpful. I don't know if it would help you too.

I heartily recommend a trip to the charity shop. I wish I had been able to do it in small bits from when my dcs were little. Then I wouldn't be in such a mess now.

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missmakesstuff · 07/11/2011 19:21

Happy Birthday bessie, hope you enjoy your curry, well done you going for a run on your birthday..I wish I could. I am very active normally and this is doing my head in. Carrots it's just sciatica really, but the worst bit is the pain down my legs, although doing a bit today has helped a bit, I have just had to take some painkillers as it was starting to get a bit much, going to take it easy this evening, just a bit of work on the 'puter and then I will have an early night.

As for getting some help, although MIL will do stuff with DD which will be great, they are an interesting pair...he has never done anything more than make a cup of tea for himself, he is very odd generally, doesn't cope well with mess and chaos..she has always done EVERYTHING for both him and the sons, it has taken 10 years of being together to get my DH to do anything around the house in terms of housework. They are in their 60's and act like they are in their 80's, they don't drink, and she worries all the time about literally everything. They only see DD every 6 months or so, and are just not used to small children, oh, and she has never worked outside of the home and runs a B and B now, although only to give her stuff to clean I think! She won't let me cook when they come, never have eaten anything I have made - we go out, or she cooks when they are here, which is nice, but just a bit of a snub!
Whenever they come she finds something in the house that is 'filthy' and spends her time cleaning it. Now I agree, there is always going to be something, but generally we don't live like pigs..she does come over all nice and helpful, but there is always an undercurrent of 'you don't look after my son as well as a good catholic irish colleen would do...' oh, and I had a child and went back to work and still currently can't bear the thought of having another one for a good while, so obviously am not a proper wife and mother..she dotes on DD though, but after a week the 'ahh, look at my little dollen' and 'little cucheen' and other words that she makes up (and also gaelic words for her that mean 'little waif') get a bit grating..esepecially as she does it in a 'poor little thing' voice, as if we don't look after her properly!

So ridiculously, whenever they visit, I feel the need to have the house sparkling clean and tidy and everything to be perfect - I run around like a loon for weeks before trying to do it all - but this time I really thought I would be on top of it all, but it just has gone so wrong...

And breathe..sorry for the rant! Just got started and couldn't stop!

Just going to have to spend the week drunk I think, only way to cope...good job I have some good painkillers, might need to dull the pain of them being here!!

BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 07/11/2011 21:07

Happy Birthday Bessie. Smile
I meant to say it earlier but got distracted by the DC.

AngelDog · 07/11/2011 21:43

Agh, lost what I wrote - silly computer.

Happy birthday, bessie.

Hope you continue to improve, missmakes.

Well done on the to-do lists, Carrots & BlackCat.

Not much flying done here (as usual) but we had a lovely time away at my PILs. DS hasn't been sleeping well but I've been re-reading the No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers so I feel like I have A Plan (even though I don't really). A Plan always makes me feel cheerful. :)

Carrotsandcelery · 07/11/2011 21:53

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESSIE I hope you had a lovely meal tonight and enjoy your take away tomorrow.

missmakes I am also married to a good Catholic boy who was going to be a priest until I corrupted him (the fact that he was at University studying Physics and didn't go to mass hadn't sunk in it seems). My dmil was also a clean freak and the very few times she has visited I have cleaned like my life depended upon it before she came, only for her to start cleaning within about 30 minutes of entering the house. Her excuse? Apparently she wouldn't like anyone to think she left it behind her Shock

If it helps she has mellowed quite nicely over the years. She no longer visits but when we visit her the house is less than immaculate (which is far more comfortable) and she is more proud of her dgc than she is of her non existent priest for a son (and no longer goes to mass herself).

I have no problem with Catholics btw - just the stereotypical overbearing Catholic MIL Grin

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Carrotsandcelery · 07/11/2011 21:54

Oh and I have realised it is Lavender Blush (not great from an English teacher)

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bessie26 · 08/11/2011 09:57

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone!

miss that must be really annoying to have MIL come round & clean like that (I would never clean someone else's house) but could you try to take some deep breaths & use it to your advantage? If you see her cleaning something, you could say "oh, the mess is driving me crazy - I haven't been able to clean properly because of my back for ages, I don't suppose you could have a go at the bathroom for me could you?" How could she refuse?!

black how's that washing-up today? Wink

angel have you seen www.babysleepanswers.co.uk/ ? I found them to be really useful with DD2 (we did PUPD) - well worth the £10 IMO

My spreadsheety list worked well last week, so I'll be printing that out again later. I've got the washing machine & the dishwasher on. Need to prep up DD2s lunch & then start the house blessing.

Have you been to the flylady site lately? Its changed & has a nice box on the home page with quick links to what to do today. In case you are interested, this week's zone is the kitchen & this month's habit is menu planning

Carrotsandcelery · 08/11/2011 10:16

I like your plan for the MIL bessie. It makes sense miss to maximise on her habits and you might grow to love them. Grin If it helps at all, I think my dmil did it because she felt awkward and didn't know what to do with herself in my house. She isn't highly sociable so wouldn't go visiting anyone else, even just for a coffee, so had no idea how to behave in someone else's house.

Thanks for the links bessie. I haven't looked for a while. It looks much easier to navigate. A house blessing sounds like a good plan as it is rainy and grey here. I also have a lot of ironing to do so should make a dent in that at least.

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Carrotsandcelery · 08/11/2011 10:54

Master bedroom and spare room tidied, dusted and hoovered. What a difference! It only took a wee while too.

I have to nip out now but when I get back it will be the bathrooms. Grin

Thanks for the wee kick bessie.

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BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 08/11/2011 11:07

Morning all, So far i have: Made beds, DS to school and done one load of washing.

To do:
Put away dry washing
Hang wet washing
Wash up/ dry up
do another load of washing

That will do for now
I am a bit tired again. Still not sleeping enough! Bed at 11.00pm and up at 5.00am(thanks to DD).
I think I will have to get some of that Lavender oil like you suggested.
The trouble is I don't feel that tired at bed time but am tired in the morningsConfused. I think I am more of an evening person rather than a morning person. I seem to be more capable in the evening.

If the tiredness/lack of sleep goes on for too long I may have to visit the GP.
I was supposed to go back and get my bloods checked before too long anyway.
Still I do seem to be making more progress on the housework lately. Smile
Hope I haven't bored you too much!

bessie26 · 08/11/2011 12:03

black was it you with anemia? You should def get your bloods checked if you're still feeling rubbish. I had mine re-done last week & have a phone consultation booked for thurs where i suspect they're going to say my dosage should be lowered (i have underactive thyroid & symptoms are worse during & just after pg)

my MIL doesn't take her shoes off in our house, even the other day when she was stood next to my mum who was taking her shoes off while commenting on how nice the carpets were looking since I had them cleaned. Also, if she (or FIL) wash up I have to re-wash everything as they leave bits of food on things

  • laundry load 1 in tumble dryer
  • laundry load 2 in washing machine
  • oven repair booked for tomorrow
  • cars both booked in for service next week
  • bank balance checked
  • squash & pear puree made for DD2s lunch
  • soup defrosting for my lunch
  • loos cleaned
  • downstairs vacuumed
  • windows in hall cleaned - I plan to put some film on them for insulation

after lunch, i need to

  • pick order up from Next
  • return clothes to Sainsbury's
  • clean the hob - it's filthy & the oven man is going to need to take it off to repair the oven tomorrow
BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 08/11/2011 12:27

Bessie Yes I did/do have anaemia. I am feeling better than I used to, it's just the lack of sleep/tiredness that is worrying me. I have been a bit lazy forgetful at taking my tablets so I should make more of an effort to remember them.
You have done well with your list.

Housework,I have also done:
Another load of washing in machine
and hanged wet wash on airers.

Have stopped for lunch now.

bessie26 · 08/11/2011 12:27

PS - are you on fb? if so, check out Fly Lady bingo, might be a good idea to do something similar with the DC?

BlackCatinaWoollyhat · 08/11/2011 12:34

I'm not on fb. Don't know if the others are.

Carrotsandcelery · 08/11/2011 13:20

Blackcat are you taking vitamin c with your iron? It absorbs better if you do. eg glass of orange juice to wash it down with. I have probably said but just in case.

I am just back. It was supposed to be about an hour but we got a bit side tracked. Grin

The house feels better to come home to knowing that all the bedrooms are nice Smile

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