Q&A with Joanna Gosling, author of 'Simply Wonderwoman, a survival guide for women with too much to do' - ANSWERS BACK

[RachelMumsnet]

This week we're inviting you to send in questions to Joanna Gosling, author, mother of three and broadcast journalist for 20 years. Joanna currently presents news programmes for the BBC.

Her new book, Simply Wonderwoman has the strap line ' a survival guide for women with too much to do'. It's about 'helping you have the life you want, not the crazy muddled one that's foisted on you once you have children' (sounds familiar ). The book passes on strategies, tips and ideas to help save time, money and effort and includes tips on everything from how to minimise effort spent on cleaning and laundry, how to be empowered through DIY and even how to use jump leads.

For those of you looking for a ponce-tastic Christmas, there's a fab section on Christmas which incorporates making salt dough tree decorations into a stress-free Christmas and there's a really useful christmas countdown (have you booked your panto tickets yet?)

Post your questions to Joanna before the end of Wednesday 19th October and we'll be linking to her answers at the beginning of November. Sending in a question will automatically enter your name into a draw to win one of five copies of Simply Wonderwoman.

[BleedyGhoulzombiez]

Hi Joanna,

Though I agree that mothers today have far too much to do, I think a more useful study would be to ask how we can change that situation rather than how we can manage our excessive workload. The way that our society functions - people living in less of a community setting, long working hours, commuting, high cost of living, etc etc - all these factors collaborate to increase the demands on working people, and of course, as we know, women bear the brunt of the domestic challenge.

What things would you like to see changed in our society to ease the pressure on mothers?

[Bonsoir]

I really cannot take any book on family/domestic management seriously if it includes chapters on making salt dough tree decorations.

[Bonsoir]

However, I don't agree that running a home only takes an hour a day, BoffinMum.

Unless, of course, your standards are rock bottom

[Bizzyashell]

What is the one change that you made in this book that made the biggest difference to the well-being of the whole family?

[ThePumpkinofDoomandTotalCha0s]

Home made gifts/decorations take time, money and skill. Isn't it heaping unnecessary pressure on women hitnting that part of being wonderwoman is to learn to carry out further chores? Being able to sew buttons on/alter clothes etc is a useful life skill But making your own salt dough tree decorations

[thunderboltsandlightning]

I'm glad someone else spotted the Shirley Conran Superwoman link. Shirley said life was too short to stuff a mushroom and she also despises housework, I'm pretty sure she wasn't worried about hand-made presents either.

Joanna I'd like to ask if you apply the advice you give in the book to your own life and how well that's worked out for you.

Also, does your husband Craig do his fair share of household duties, so you're not his domestic servant or foisting it off on to another woman? If he doesn't, have you thought of feminism as a solution rather than writing a book trying to suck other women into accepting this kind of stereotyped role?

[moondog]

I agree Vamp.
Making out that running a home, keeping it clean, doing a spot of cooking and shopping is akin to running huge multi-national and/or a topsy-turvy roller coaster of semi organised chaos is so patronising.

[MummyDucks]

I'm new to MumsNet - OH MY GOODNESS, I can't quite believe what a load of bitchy horrific people some of you are - why, if you are such women hating, men hating, everything hating people are you on a site called Mumsnet? Are you not up in your redicioulious arms asking WHY IS IT CALLED MUMSNET, and not PEOPLENET???? Seriously, a lot of you REALLY need to get a LIFE. I read the article on Joanna Goslings book in the You magazine last weekend, and I thought it looked modern, informative and made some jobs easy, and yes, fun.

My question to Joanna Gosling would be: Do you have any tips for getting things out from behind radiators? I've tried the unravelled hanger - but is there a simpler way? It's the bain of my life!! Also, you mention using Bicarbonate of Soda, is there somewhere I could buy this in bulk? I've only seen the ones in shops that are quite small - it looks like it could be the wonder ingredient! I do hope you don't take any of the dreadful comments to heart, obviously the people above have serious issues. Good luck with the book, I've ordered a copy and can't wait to get it!!! Kind regards.

[MummyDucks]

I have another question - I have a tiled hallway - the tiles are original to the house, so 100 years old! How can I get them looking really clean? I've tried normal floor cleaner (Flash), floor wipes, really scrubbing hard, but nothing seems to get them looking really clean - how would you tackle that?? I've considered the bicarbonate of soda route, but it's a large area so think it would cost a foutune in bicarb!!! Is this something you think should be done professionally and then keep on top of it after that or have you got a better solution? Here's hoping!!! Thanks

[thunderboltsandlightning]

You're right MummyDucky, we should all stop being cynical, get ourselves lives and start making our own bunting

[MummyDucks]

UsingPredominantlyTeaspoons, thanks so much. Will get it from there.

[HereMeRoar]

Joanna: from your may years of experience, what can I advise my DH is the best way to:

1) remove vomit from sofas
2) remove poo from carpets
3) deal with a vomit all over bed incident that doesn't later involve picking chunks out of the bath or washing machine with your bare hands.

Please do not suggest purchasing any clening devices (I have not the time or storage space). I annot afford any domestic help either, so sadly DH does need to know how to do this all by himself.

Thank you .

[BoffinMum]

MummyDucks

1. You can buy a phallic looking flat headed device in Lakeland to remove things from behind radiators (and clean them). Alternatively use a long crevice nozzle from Miele with a foot cut from some old tights secured over the end with a rubber band - useful for picking all sorts of things up, although I haven't tried it on the household Lego glut as yet.
   

1. Order chemicals and things like bicarb in bulk from Boots, If they say they can't source them, stick at it and get them to look them up in one of their many and various order books as they can order practically anything on the planet. Incidentally you can also order beeswax, olive oil, coconut oil and so on in bulk this way as well. Why? Soapmaking and candle making.
   

1. If your tiles are in a really bad state, use dilute brick acid. Order online with all the necessary safety stuff as it is very strong, and always test in a discreet spot as this stuff can dissolve tiles if you are not careful. You will need to dress like a forensic scientist and keep all the windows open for the day. Some people use turpentine for tiles as well - I have not done this, but you could always experiment in the corner of a room. Some of the Hagesan products are good for that sort of cleaning problem as well. They are available online too.
   

HereMeRoar

Consider trading your children in for a Vax 3 in 1. These machines are truly excellent at dealing with bodily fluids.

[Cuntessa]

MummyDucks - I can't quite believe what a load of bitchy horrific people some of you are

What post precisely brought you to the conclusion that we are a 'bitchy horrific' lot? Can you copy and paste them?

Strong words, used in response to others posts which are not in the least bitchy or horrific

And by they way. The 'Get a life comment'. You are asking about coat hangers and radiators and bicarb.

Pot, kettle and all of that?

[madwomanintheattic]

er. mummyducks, i'm on mumsnet because i'm a mum. (i'm a people as well but it's not as catchy.) if you are interested in the mum v parent debate and concerned about alienation of fathers though, 'brain,child' was debating changing their strapline in their last issue to move away from mothers and towards parents. i think the jury is still out, so they might be interested in your views. it's also a periodic debate on mn because of the number of male posters but it's a bit boring

and er, can't speak for anyone else, but i quite like most people, men and women alike. you haven't fallen into that lazy assumption that because people believe in equality and are fed up with the continued assumption that housework=wifework, that they are all lentil weaving hairy legged lesbians, have you? tsk. i quite like joanna gosling now i've worked out who she is - and have invited her round for tea. it doesn't mean i have to agree with everything she tweets writes.

welcome to mumsnet, anyway. it's a very eclectic board.

i don't have the radiator issue as i have no radiators.

[thunderboltsandlightning]

This place needs to be called Mumsnet because only women get pregnant and give birth and then breastfeed. It's a specific female experience that this website in part caters for. Pretending that men and women have the same experience in that sphere would be silly.

On the other hand having a penis doesn't exclude you from making bunting, fairy wings, cleaning up vomit, polishing your floor tiles, or needing "Poise and Confidence" (chapter in the book), to walk in high heels. Except of course only women are supposed to wear high heels. Still that's not down to biology - just sexism.

[BoffinMum]

Our strong words are not personally directed at the author, it's the industry behind it and the myths it perpetrates. The title has pressed a nerve for many people, myself included, in suggesting that it's women's work.

I am off to fiddle with the kit car now. No time for housework today, but my house is well run so a day away from chores is never an issue.

[BoffinMum]

OMG, 'Poise and Confidence'?
That is worrying. Are we not confident yet???

[MummyDucks]

BoffinMum - thank you so much for your comments - the brick acid sounds a bit extreem for the mo, I'll give the turpentine a try first!! And will get the thing from Lakeland. Thanks

Cuntessa - there were too many that I was shocked at to copy and paste - but madwomanintheattic seemed the one with the most issues. Your comment to me 'pot kettle and all that' seem to underline what I initally said - I don't think I'm boring to ask those questions, you obviously think otherwise.

Madwomanintheattic - your comments are very strong, I don't think you need to agree with everything people say (I certainly don't) but the way I percieved you was of a world hating person, you seem to have clamed down a bit now though.

I think that maybe MumsNet is not the place for me.

[thunderboltsandlightning]

MummyDucks you're being personally insulting to people. Please stop.

[HereMeRoar]

Ah BoffinMum see, if DH and I traded in the kids the bodily fluids wouldn't be an issue -at least not until my old age when my pelvic floor totally collapses .

Sadly, we can't afford to purchase specialised machines. DH looks forward to Joanna's tips involving bicarb and forks or whatever . He wonders if clearing up vomit might be the perfect use for bunting?

Where's bupcakes? This thread was made for her .

[smackapacca]

I think we've all learnt quite a bit from this thread!

[missorinoco]

Only half way down the thread, but, and this question is aimwed at anyone who knows - What is bunting? [mind boggles]