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

[Carrotsandcelery]

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 I am totally mortified that it is not hang gliding or rally racing or anything a bit more adventurous

Woo hoo! The ironing is finished. Just in time for school pick up too. Yay!

The next project is ds's bedroom. He is doing it - I am supervising. It could be a long afternoon. Wish me luck please.

mmmm sausage sandwich!

I am pooped. Did a Buggy Workout class this morning & I am very very sleepy now! Just had a strong cup of tea, but it was decaff so I'm not sure it will help much.

I've just realised I need to get a repeat prescription ordered, so DD2 & I are popping out for a while. Will return that coat to Next while we're out too. And maybe buy some chocolate.

'twas lovely bessie

I am stunned. Ds had remembered he had to sort his room after school and came home and got straight on it.

He was finished by just after four. I did go and help supervise as I didn't want him to be discouraged when he was being so cooperative.

He is now relaxing in front of Mr Bean with an ice lolly.

What do you reckon my chances are of achieving similar results with dd? Her mess has spilled out onto the landing in quite a spectacular fashion and she seems to be experiencing some dramatic mood swings just now. I may don full armour before suggesting it in her case.

Still, one down

BTW bessie I am v impressed with the buggy workout class.

carrots I try to go every week (don't you usually do a class on a thurs too?), but probably only make it once a fortnight. It's the only exercise I'm doing atm. I keep saying I'll start running again once DD2 sleeps through & I've got a bit more energy, but the little minx hasn't done it yet.

you need to put a good "spin" on the benefits of your DD tidying her room... not sure what that would be tbh, having some clean clothes to wear perhaps?

angel & autumn hope you got lots done?

I do normally exercise more heavily on a Thursday bessie but I had a horse riding accident last week and have a fairly severe injury just now so have been banned from heavy exercise by the doc for now.

I do have a dog though so I am responsible for walking him most days - it is better than nothing and great for my mental health if nothing else.

I do miss my class today though and can't wait to get back.

You are right about dd's bedroom. I would love to make it an easy and positive thing rather than another row. She is desperate for a new friend to come and play on Sunday so maybe a gentle hint that it would be a bit embarrassing if her dirty clothes were all over the floor might do it

I always tell DS that if there is no space in his room for more toys how can he have any at Christmas? Helps get him to donate to the loft even if not to charity shop! The main problem we have is book overload in his room.

NCT sale here next Saturday so pricing stuff is my job for Monday.

I've done nothing today apart from the basics, intended to make a Christmas pudding when my cousin came round but just chatted instead. Lovely day off. Apart from my maths course where my poor rusty brain had a workout!

I am very impressed by you doing a maths course should. I am bright enough but my maths skills are dire. I am terrified of doing a course though. Luckily dh has a physics degree so I get him to do any tricky maths with the dcs

I have finally figured out that NCT sales are what we call MerryGoRound sales up here. They are also sometimes called Humpty Dumpty sales. I sold in my first one recently and it was a real eye opener. I had no idea of all the loot I had lurking that could be turned into hard cash. I made just over £40 on things I would never miss. Not a fortune but it still decluttered.

Do you get guidance on pricing things should or do you just make it up as you go along?

Ds has a birthday coming up but looking through his toys tonight there is nothing that I could say he never plays with. I decluttered them a few weeks ago and he really does enjoy everything that is left so we will just have to buy small, easily stored toys

I'm afraid I failed on most things today but managed some washing up/drying up.
I'm hoping I will do better tomorrow.

Autumn I think you should start a fund to raise money for a dishwasher. I suspect it would revolutionise your life.

I have made and eaten fajitas with ds. Dh and dd are not in until later so they can tidy up

I am going out tonight so trying to decide whether to get dressed up a little or go casual. I am going round to a friend's house for a few drinks so wouldn't go uber glam. I should maybe wash my face and change out of my trainers though

I have decided to make the effort and tidy myself up a bit. Ds went, "Oooo" when I came through (and he is too young for tact) so hopefully I look ok.

I have been busy most of the day and dh will not be able to see any progress at all. A huge rail of ironed clothes don't look as impressive as the time take to iron them suggests.

carrots have a lovely night out, I'm hoping for a VERY early night tonight, that exercise earlier has really wiped me out!

autum I agree with carrots about the dishwasher!

should I was always very good at maths at school, but that was a looong time ago & would be quite worried about doing a course now! - well done you!

Right, I need to

• put DD2 to bed
• put all rubbish out ready for collection tomorrow
• tidy up lounge ready for carpet cleaning tomorrow
• go to bed EARLY. I'm going to try to persuade DD2 to wait a bit longer for her feed tonight, so I could be up alot tonight

Slight hiccup in the night out as dh hasn't come home yet. If he had told me he would be late I would have got a babysitter. I am all dressed up with nowhere to go

Oh no Carrots! I really hope he's home now and you're out having fun.

Thanks everyone, I can't tell you how much courage it has taken me to get on this numeracy course. I was telling someone today, just because I have a degree doesn't mean I can subtract! It's a massive challenge for me, just hope I can stick with it to the bitter end...where ever that might lead.

honestly Autumn a dish washer will change your life. You could promise yourself one as a present for all this stuff you're selling.

Not much in the way of guidence on pricing but I've been to loads so have a fair idea of what things tend to go for. Sometimes I go for a few items that are over priced and see what happens. Sometimes I'm lucky. I would probably get more on ebay but I love NCT sales and tend to buy good quality stuff use it then sell it when I've finished with it. Last time I made £60 but bought £80 of stuff! I take the children and they choose things they might like and then I put it away for Christmas so they've got a nice lot to open. They are happy and so am I. I love the whole recycling thing.

Bahhhhaaaa I beat you all on the window cleaning front I get my windows and plastics done for a measly little fiver every 6 weeks . However my clutter has moved as I still haven't sold much of it :( its gone from my bedroom to the lounge in the vain hope that someone will want it. I haven't done much flying as I went out on Tuesday night and got very drunk and was hungover yesterday however my sink is still shiny as I haven't touched it because my legs hurt so much from dancing I can hardly walk. Ds2 is in nursery tomorrow so I'm going to attack the whole house tomorrow :)

Go easy there Gossip, must dash it's past my bedtime and I've been MNing all evening AGAIN, I just keep getting sucked in aah!

Hi everyone. Dh did come home and I did get out. Yay! I am home again now though as it is a school night (for one more night). I had a lovely time and feel really refreshed by the good company.

The plan is to try to get the house civilised ready for the holidays tomorrow. I know it won't last but I also know I get much less done when the dcs are around. At least this way I will know there is, at most, 2 weeks dirt there by the time they go back to school.

Morning all! I am on fire this morning.

I have:
washed and dressed to shoes
made 2 packed lunches
got dcs to school (last time for 2 weeks - hurrah!)
loaded dishwasher
cleaned work top
decluttered the kitchen table
decluttered the hallway
decluttered the kitchen (except sideboard)
hoovered kitchen and hallway
washed stool and one sofa
listed heaps more things on ebay, scheduled to start on Sunday evening

Still to do:
pack dd's swimming bag
a small amount of ironing
some laundry folding
organise who is doing what with dcs after school
get dressed up to go out again for friends birthday night out
wrap friends birthday gift and write card

Then I will see what time I have still lurking to do stuff.

Hark at me out two nights in a row

How is everyone else getting on?

Wow Carrots You are flying

Do you like my Halloween name change?
It's Autumn here. I have done a bit of washing up this morning. will be off to do some more soon (I promise)

Autumn you either need to limit everyone in your family to one table setting each and hide all the others, or ebay the contents of your house to pay for a dishwasher, or we will have to start a campaign on Mumsnet to raise funds for your dishwasher or set up a rota of local mums to come and help you do it. Where do they all come from??? I am for you spending your days washing dishes.

I have just discovered that my dcs have eaten the soft rolls I got for lunch today I had been looking forward to one

I can't imagine what I could do with my name to make it a halloween name change. I hope I don't mix you up with Gossip.

How is the hangover and the sore feet Gossip and Angel are you feeling better?

bessie you were right about dd. She is happily working away on her room as she sees it as being for her benefit (to save her shame when her new friend comes over).

It must be all these Tea breaks I keep having (getting a new cup out each time.) I will have to cut down the amount of tea breaks I have therefore cutting down the amount of cups I use!. I might get some other work done then.

I just swish out the cup I used before while the kettle is boiling.

It drove me nuts when my SIL and her boyfriend stayed and took a new mug or glass every time and never washed ANY of them up. I felt like their personnal slave.

Maybe I'll have to try swishing out my last cup cause that would cut down how many cups I get through in a day.

carrots, I've just read your first post of the day & you obviously didn't drink enough last night!

bessie I was driving and will be tonight as well . I promise to compensate myself on Saturday night