Procrastinating Pumpkins: The Autumn Relaunch

[FreakoidOrganisoid]

AKA 'Oh yikes, a new thread cometh...'

I Freak, do solemnly swear to post regularly on the new thread so as to avoid an unseasonal title.

Thanks JKS, Sorry you feel lousy.

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• DC to school DONE
• General tidy, make beds etc DONE
• Fill/Run/Empty DW DONE
• Washing DONE
• Hoovering
• Trainers for DS
• DH?s tax return
• Loft to find several things
• Window locks - still waiting to hear
• Venue for Christmas do Booked
• Ebay pile sort and photos NEARLY DONE
• Ebay packing and sending First batch packed. Post office Tuesday
• Search for lego bundles on ebay for DS
• Christmas Play costume for DD
• Drop round DNiece's birthday present DONE
• Check out Clubcard deals
• Ironing HALF DONE
• Bathrooms DONE
• DD thank yous DONE
• Get book club book
• On line banking/budget **IMPORTANT****
• Chickens DONE
• Dog DONE
• DC to tidy playroom
• Reading and homework with DC Part done
• Make dinner

Anon - how much did you make on eBay?

My nose will not stop running, how much is in there fgs?! gross.

In good news however, DS2 will get in the bath again, yey! Almost a month off.

Monday:

• morning routine DONE
• laundry Doing more
• ironing & putting away
• maybe rearrange furniture downstairs Done some
• maybe fill up drawer unit upstairs/tidy spare room Started
• strip spare bed DONE & wash bedding Drying
• lunch & tidy kitchen DONE
• slob on sofa with tv DONE lots
• GP/chemist for DS2 prescription DONE
• DS1 getting lift home, reading & check bag DONE
• DS2 home & check bag DONE
• tea & tidy up DONE
• walk round block DONE
• DC to bed DONE
• early night on my own Tv then bed

Tues:

• morning usual
• strip beds & find clean bedding
• swap bathmats & towels
• BF group
• straight to lunch with friend
• collect DS1, reading, etc
• DS2 home, check bag
• tea for everyone & tidy up
• DS1 swimming
• DC bath & bed/ready for bed
• orchestra (as usual need cash for sitter/stop for milk on way home)

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft
• cancel Ocado; Emailed - need to find account info & ring DONE
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of all DC clothes; DS1 DONE & DS2 started
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC

JKS - my running total of sold items is over £350. However, there was one item worth a lot - an old model of DH's which we just don't have house room for which he has had for donkeys years and is a real collectible so that went for £140 alone...... More listed, but smaller value items and don't know if they will sell or not, but it was free listing at the weekend, so I just thought, stick em on and see.

However, it does mean the dreaded Post Office run.. always takes so long and I get really conscious of the queue building up behind me!

I know it sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but the money is sorely needed to balance the books before the big Christmas rush and we end up broke again!

I have a list as long as my arm, but I need to go to see the Doc to find out more about why I've fallen down the stairs twice in 3 weeks....

Hasta luego! Hope that nose stops running for soon, it's miserable isn't it? Nose gets SO SORE!

Wow well done anon.

JKS I think you've given me your cold, sore throat, tingly nose and fuzzy head. Taking lots of vitamins to tyr to ward it off.

Anon that is amazing! I really need to list some items, but it is a question of finding a couple of hours to do photos and listings without interruptions

Happy Anniversary for Monday, that is an impressive run. Earlier today I was wondering whether DH and I would make it to 5, we had a blazing row, but all fine now and we are laughing at ourselves

JKS - hope you feel better soon.

We are limping along here, the necessary things are getting done but Christmas is looming!

Do you think it is acceptable to send DS1 to preschool in the Children in Need pyjamas because that was all I could find? Obviously not the trousers, just the top half.

Ali - sounds perfect :)

Anon - that is good going, and well done for managing to do it pre-Christmas :)

Both boys are meant to wear something spotty so I have cheated and got paint pens + old t-shirts. Have done DS2's, will get DS1 to do his own. Then they can wear normal trousers. No spotty clothes for boys as far as i can see, esp that are cheap.

Re eBay time - i try and do one stage at a time, ie all the photos then stop, then uploading the photos to laptop, then stop, etc. that way it doesn't feel such a huge task.

Cold still going but i'm coping :)

Tues:

• morning usual DONE
• strip beds & find clean bedding DONE
• swap bathmats & towels Half done
• BF group DONE
• straight to lunch with friend DONE
• collect DS1, reading, etc DONE
• DS2 home, check bag DONE
• tea for everyone & tidy up DONE
• DS1 swimming DONE
• DC bath & bed/ready for bed DONE
• orchestra (as usual need cash for sitter/stop for milk on way home) DONE (got cash but forgot milk)

Wed:

• morning routine
• DS2's sch for Makaton session
• get milk
• pop to Asda to collect clothes order
• labels on new uniform
• library (ins and outs)
• lunch & tidy up
• afternoon orchestra
• sch runs & bags
• tea & tidy up
• walk round block
• DC to bed (maybe bath if i cba)
• DH home late

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of all DC clothes; DS1 DONE & DS2 DONE
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC

Thanks JKS - it is a minefield all this business of fancy dress etc for preschool! There are no spotty clothes for boys, at all. I scoured the web, even tried load of the french and scandinavian brands but zilch.

With iPhoto - I just plug my phone in and it uploads them. All our photos are on our server, and I can view them through iPhoto over our internal network. I do have to download them though to be able to attach them to an e-mail.

Morning all.

List is just getting longer and longer.... ....

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• DC to school DONE
• General tidy, make beds etc
• Fill/Run/Empty DW running
• Washing first load in
• Hoovering
• Change all the beds
• Trainers for DS
• DH?s tax return
• Loft to find several things
• Window locks - still waiting to hear
• Book Christmas cinema tickets
• Venue for Christmas do Booked
• Ebay pile sort and photos NEARLY DONE
• Ebay packing and sending DONE FOR NOW
• Search for lego bundles on ebay for DS
• Christmas Play costume for DD tights ordered
• Meal plan this week and weekend
• Check out Clubcard deals
• Ironing
• Bathrooms
• Get book club book
• On line banking/budget **IMPORTANT****
• Chickens
• Dog
• DC to tidy playroom
• Reading and homework with DC
• Make dinner

One off things this week/soon:

• Mum's birthday
• Find supplier for Oysters
• Musical instrument lessons for DS?
• Book NYE transport
• Clean oven
• Garden furniture to put away
• Renew house insurance by 15th Nov DONE
• New socks for DS and DD
• Inspect and possibly object to local planning monstrosity application
• Music downloads with vouchers
• Start to think about Christmas
• Holiday plans for Summer 2012
• Booze run to France - early December?
• Call about tennis lesson
• Addresses onto computer
• Piano practice
• Time Machine for Mac to set up
• Choose photos for the wall
• Work out parental controls on Mac and Sky
• Life insurance to finalise
• List eBay NEARLY THERE!!!!!!!
• Set up weather station
• Register with Anthony Nolan Trust
• Finish sorting in loft
• Choose two outdoor lights
• Need Blu-Ray player and Microwave and keyboard and hard drive and camera
• Investigate beekeeping
• Study - major sort needed

Afternoon all :)

Wed:

• morning routine DONE
• DS2's sch for Makaton session DONE
• get milk DONE
• pop to Asda to collect clothes order DONE
• labels on new uniform
• library (ins and outs) Shut today!
• lunch & tidy up DONE
• afternoon orchestra
• sch runs & bags
• tea & tidy up
• walk round block
• DC to bed (maybe bath if i cba)
• DH home late

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of DD's clothes
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC

JKS - I've noticed you are an orchestra girl. Sure I've asked you before, what do you play? DS is very musical, loves to sing and picks up tunes and words so quickly. We now have a piano, which is being tuned in a few days and I am going to try and relearn a bit myself with a view to showing the children the (very) basics.

Are there any other instruments that someone as young as 7 could have a got at do you think? School does have some individual instrument teaching (unfortunately not the piano) I don't want him to be put off by trying something too difficult, and he seems keen... so any advice gratefully received!

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• DC to school DONE
• General tidy, make beds etc DONE
• Fill/Run/Empty DW DONE
• Washing THREE LOADS DONE - one more this evening
• Hoovering DONE
• Change all the beds DONE
• Pick up DS's new glasses
• Confirm swimming for next term
• Trainers for DS
• DH?s tax return
• Loft to find several things
• Window locks - chased
• Book Christmas cinema tickets DONE
• Venue for Christmas do Booked
• Ebay pile sort and photos NEARLY DONE
• Ebay packing and sending 4 packets for Thursday PO run
• Search for lego bundles on ebay for DS
• Christmas Play costume for DD tights ordered
• Meal plan this week and weekend
• Check out Clubcard deals
• Ironing DONE ALL OF IT!!!!!!!
• Bathrooms DONE
• Get book club book
• On line banking/budget **IMPORTANT****
• Chickens
• Dog DONE
• DC to tidy playroom
• Reading and homework with DC
• Make dinner

One off things this week/soon:

• Mum's birthday
• Find supplier for Oysters
• Musical instrument lessons for DS?
• Book NYE transport DONE
• Clean oven
• Garden furniture to put away
• Renew house insurance by 15th Nov DONE
• New socks for DS and DD
• Inspect and possibly object to local planning monstrosity application
• Music downloads with vouchers
• Start to think about Christmas
• Holiday plans for Summer 2012
• Booze run to France - early December?
• Call about tennis lesson
• Addresses onto computer
• Piano practice
• Time Machine for Mac to set up
• Choose photos for the wall
• Work out parental controls on Mac and Sky
• Life insurance to finalise
• Set up weather station
• Register with Anthony Nolan Trust
• Finish sorting in loft
• Choose two outdoor lights
• Need Blu-Ray player and Microwave and keyboard and hard drive and camera
• Investigate beekeeping
• Study - major sort needed

Anon - i play the clarinet. Have previously played recorder (various) & saxophone (various).
The recorder is a classic starter instrument, it can actually sound lovely. honest!

But actually at age 7, if he's prepared to give it a try he could try anything as he is big enough. Does his school have a lending system for instruments?
Main thing is to tap into his enthusiasm so ask him :)

DH had a work drinks thing last night, stayed over and came home early today - could be good... but tbh he's doing that 'wincing' thing & he went to bed when he came home/over kids teatime.
Now i wasn't expecting him to be here to help anyway but when it's self-inflicted and i've been feeling crap with this cold, well it makes me a tad peed off....and breathe....

Wed:

• morning routine DONE
• DS2's sch for Makaton session DONE
• get milk DONE
• pop to Asda to collect clothes order DONE
• labels on new uniform
• library (ins and outs); Shut today!
• lunch & tidy up DONE
• afternoon orchestra DONE
• sch runs & bags DONE
• tea & tidy up DONE
• battery lights on scooter DONE :)
• walk round block DONE
• DC to bed (maybe bath if i cba) DONE (no bath)
• DH home late here early

Thurs:

• morning routine
• meet up with other school mum after sch for walk hopefully
• rest of the day/jobs...
• orch committee meeting (8pm)

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of DD's clothes
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC

Anon I think brass and woodwind can work really well at a youngish age. I too play clarinet and various recorders, plus piano and I agree with JKS that a recorder as a starter instrument is a good choice. I would recommend steering clear of violins though because small children practicing on them is a horrendous thing for the eardrums!!

JKS - rah at DH! I would be sooo not happy!

Got quite a bit done today, gradually getting a few presents ticked off and I've been to the preschool parents evening/AGM. Had a really good chat with DS1's keyworker and she is really pleased with the progress he is making. :)

Ali - did I know you played the clarinet too? I don't remember. :)

I have here actually, although white rather than red I'm not sure if we've talked about it before - maybe but I've forgotten!

I would really love to do some music regularly, I've been feeling a real yearning to do it recently. I know I could go back to my old recorder ensemble, the conductor would have me back in a moment but it is on a Saturday and I don't want to clog up a weekend with a hobby. I have looked locally, but the 'amateur' orchestra here do bi-annual concerts in the big concert hall here which is a bit scary!!

Ali - my orch does 2 concerts a year, a Christmas one currently in a church & a summer one somewhere else. We also play some carols for the convent/OAP home residents where we rehearse.
My Wed orch does lots of mini-concerts for OAPs in homes, clubs, etc.

Yesterday's big achievement was wrapping all the presents I've bought :)

Today DH is having a day off so we went out for lunch, Thai, yummy :)
Meant to be doing a big loft trip but waiting for the energy....

Fri:

• get off sofa, lol
• boxes into loft, pram into loft, some bits down from loft
• DS2 home & check bag
• DS1 being dropped home later on
• tea for DS2 & DD
• walk round block?
• DC to bed
• tv & bed

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of DD's clothes
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC

Out for lunch, JKS, now that's how to live! Dinner out is fun, but lunch out just seems, well, so much more decadent and slightly naughty. Lucky you!

We have house guests this weekend, so just spent around a thousand pounds (or so it felt) on vast quantities of food/wine/beer... I always grossly overbuy on the basis that I'd rather have leftovers and wine on the rack for next time than skimp, so I went a bit bonkers really! Oh well.

So I have done NOTHING today other than tidy up, shop, put things away, and cook!

I love music. I am actually just listening very loudly to the Fourth Movement of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, it is quite fabulous.

Twenty minutes ago I was listening full blast to Guns N Roses!!!

(DC are out to tea, if you are wondering whether I have truly lost it, I'm only damaging my ear drums not theirs!!)

Anon i do that when we have guests, very bad for the bank balance!

We are off to my parents this weekend, mum and I are shopping for her outfit for my brother's wedding in February. I have mine mostly sorted too, just need a pair of shoes and a nice cocktail ring.

I have guests this weekend too (well uni friends which is about as guest like as I get). I have neglected to stock up on food, do have loads of booze though! Will probably buy half of sainsburys tomorrow morning though as I do like to have full cupboards to greet them with

I went shopping with my Mum, which was successful but I also bought myself a new hat to wear with my outfit for the wedding. It is fabulous, but so expensive I am a bit at myself. I will ebay it after the wedding

Anon - re lunch out, we try to go out whenever DH can get a day off, not often. And it is decadent but also more convenient as no need for babysitters :) With each baby we've been out a few times.

Hope everyone's had a good weekend?
We went to fireworks last night but not done much else. Managed the loft on Fri, but then sorted DD's clothes which filled a few more boxes so another trip required soon.

Mon:

• morning routine
• alarm service (am)
• pop to Asda (DH likes a rice they only do there)
• lunch & tidy kitchen
• laundry
• DS1 being dropped home, reading, etc
• DS2 home, check bag
• tea for all & tidy up
• walk round block
• DC to bed
• tv & early night on my own

Ongoing:

• book handyman in to clean gutters (& other jobs)
• order blind for kitchen side door
• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes
• see if any toys can go/be put away pre-Christmas influx Started
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• clean oven; Bought Oven Pride
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• tackle Areas of Doom; piling up again
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• put boxes & pram in loft DONE
• new watch battery needed
• sort iPhoto on laptop...
• big sort of DD's clothes DONE
• book smear test
• book flu jabs for at least DS2 & me, maybe other DC
• another loft trip
• gather together stuff for Christmas bazaar; Started

Evening just marking place. Had a festive thought. We were worried about not filling thread and missing out on Christmassy title. Well how about just starting
A new thread when we feel like it . Or is that wasteful, or too radical?

Mini I think that is a v.good idea. We are making slow progress with this one

JKS - that is a lovely idea to go out for lunch. DH and I left the boys with my parents and went Christmas shopping today and had a coffee together in peace and quiet. It was lovely :)

Freak and Anon - hope you had a good weekend with your chums!

Maybe when we hit Dec 1st we should "go festive"?

Right, new week, new resolve:

• Up, showered and dressed DONE
• DC to school DONE
• General tidy, make beds etc DONE
• Fill/Run/Empty DW needs emptying
• Washing second load in
• Hoovering
• Trainers for DS
• DH?s tax return
• Loft to find several things
• Window locks - chased
• Ebay - last few items to list
• Ebay sending 5 packets for Monday PO run
• Search for lego bundles on ebay for DS
• Meal plan this week and weekend
• Check out Clubcard deals
• Speak M & D re Christmas visit
• Ironing
• Bathrooms
• Early to school this pm to sell tea towels!
• Get book club book
• On line banking/budget
• Chickens
• Dog
• Reading and homework with DC
• Make dinner

One off things this week/soon:

• Cash back for old mobiles?
• Book theatre trip
• Mum's birthday posting today
• Find supplier for Oysters
• Musical instrument lessons for DS?
• Clean oven
• Garden furniture to put away DONE
• New socks for DS and DD
• Inspect and possibly object to local planning monstrosity application
• Music downloads with vouchers doing
• Start to think about Christmas
• Holiday plans for Summer 2012 flights to book this week
• Booze run to France - early December?
• Call about tennis lesson
• Addresses onto computer
• Piano practice
• Time Machine for Mac to set up
• Choose photos for the wall
• Work out parental controls on Mac and Sky
• Life insurance to finalise
• Set up weather station
• Register with Anthony Nolan Trust
• Choose two outdoor lights
• Need Blu-Ray player and Microwave and keyboard and hard drive and camera
• Investigate beekeeping
• Study - major sort needed

Ooh controversial

Bit slow so far... had hangover day yesterday and am still feeling sloooooow.

Will list my dones to make me feel better

DONE
All up dressed etc
cats fed
poo scooped
ds lunch made
dd to school
ds to preschool
ds' invites written
beds made
loo cleaned
load of washing on
washing up
present for dd's friend found and wrapped
parcel posted
supermarket
plastic box filled with sweets for xmas fayre
dds party outfit found

still to do
hang up washing
lunch
coursework
clean kitchen a bit
hoover downstairs
pick up dc
go to puxton
take dd to party
pick up dd
bath bed etc

Morning everyone :) Masses to do here today, house is in chaos and I'm not making much progress.

DONE
All up and dressed etc
DH to work
Dishwasher unloaded and breakfast cleared
DS1 to preschool with packed lunch
Find out how to return jacket to Debenhams
Order new jacket in smaller size

TO DO
Lunch x 2
Fold enormous laundry mountains
Quick tidy and vacuum downstairs
Mealplan up to Thursday
Book Waitrose delivery for Friday

That will do for now.