New Years Lists for procrastinators/slatterns - let there be organisation

[HalfMumHalfBiscuit]

Welcome old and new slatterns. All welcome for mutual support and kicks up the bum where nec. Just add your list and report back to let us know how you get along.

Have done mini blitz of kitchen prior to oven person coming, prompted me to empty the drawers at the bottom which never happens.

Dh announced he's working from home today so not sure I'll get to filong.

filong why would autocorrect not correct that?

Coughs & colds in this house abound, and AF is here giving me aches I don't normally get. And DH is underfoot, gah!

Thurs:

• oven being serviced (at some point, we are last on the list)
• DH getting up first & doing sch run DONE
• start laundry WM & TD on & big dry pile waiting to be put away
• filing.... Did start yesterday

• other stuff; started rearranging playroom & Started tackling DD's clothes

Ongoing:

• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes; Pictures Taken; need to print then get DH to laminate
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned (when handyman is in painting the kitchen); take down this weekend
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; 1 Done
• Spring Cleaning: DD clothes - Started; sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.3 :)
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book they phoned about, oops
• charity shop box full; in car; more added
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom, I think I've broken them!

Woohoo, another long-term task finally done :)

Thurs:

• oven being serviced (at some point, we are last on the list)
• DH getting up first & doing sch run DONE
• laundry; WM & TD on & big dry pile waiting to be put away
• filing.... Did start yesterday

• other stuff; started rearranging playroom & Started tackling DD's clothes
• cancel unwanted phone insurance DONE
• see if I can change over phone numbers finally

Ongoing:

• pictures to label 'animals' & 'people' & 'cars' boxes; DONE :)
• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned; take down this weekend
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; 1 Done
• Spring Cleaning: DD clothes - Started; sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.3
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book they phoned about, oops
• charity shop box full; in car; more added
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom, I think I've broken them!

Hello there. Well done JKS on the pictures and boxes!

Still no list here - both DC now off school and I'm next for the lurgy, can just feel it.... anyway, at least we now have power and the house is no longer in danger of going up in flames (did I post about that??).

We have been declared safe, thank god, had to decamp to PIL's yesterday because we had no idea when the team would get here to fix the overheads (that were sparking and burning a few feet from the front door ). But they did, and we got power and heat, so we came home. Thank god.

So my day today has been:

• survive.

Whoa Anon - that sounds scary!! And aren't they all newly fitted lights? I hope you've given the builders an earful! Hope you avoid the lurgy.

Bizarrely whilst most of us are suffering coughs & colds, DS2 is avoiding it so far which is a relief for us all.

Thurs:

• oven being serviced DONE
• DH getting up first & doing sch run DONE
• laundry; WM & TD on & big dry pile waiting to be put away ditto
• filing.... Did start yesterday; tomorrow maybe
• other stuff; started rearranging playroom & Started tackling DD's clothes
• cancel unwanted phone insurance DONE
• see if I can change over phone numbers finally cannot do, so peed off with Orange!

• DC bath & bed
• dinner (stir fry I bought for DH to make me, lol) & bed

Tomorrow:

• sch runs
• playgroup or seafront walk?
• church hall after sch to play & catch up with friends
• pizza night with other mums

Ongoing:

• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned; take down this weekend
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; 1 Done
• Spring Cleaning: DD clothes - Started; sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.3
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book Found my copy of book, think I gave away their copy oops
• charity shop box full; in car; more added more to put in
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom, I think I've broken them!

It wasn't the new stuff (though we thought it was to start with). It was the main network supply to our house, so responsibility of the Power Network UK or whoever they are - they tried to fob us off to start with "can't be our network, it's your mains and fuse board etc".

That is, until we spotted the burning cables on the telegraph pole next to our front hedge!!!!!! A-ha. So, that'll be not our new wiring then, hey, Mr Power Network UK???! Anyway, I must say, once we'd established where we were at, the team of guys who came with the vans, and cherry pickers and all that were fantastic. It was about -3 degrees and pitch black and they worked really quickly to repair it.....

Anon! Thank goodness you are all ok!

I am not doing very well at lists atm, but I'm actually getting through things. I've had our new wills drafted and that has been on the 'ongoing' list for about a year!

Oh well done Ali - we were just talking about it today, we've been meaning to do them since we got married in 2004

Anon - blimey!! glad it's sorted!

Thurs:

• oven being serviced DONE
• DH getting up first & doing sch run DONE
• laundry; WM on again & TD on & big dry pile waiting to be put away put away
• filing.... Did start yesterday; tomorrow maybe
• other stuff; started rearranging playroom & Started tackling DD's clothes clothes done
• cancel unwanted phone insurance DONE
• see if I can change over phone numbers finally; cannot do, so peed off with Orange!
• DC bath & bed DONE
• dinner (stir fry I bought for DH to make me, lol) DONE & bed

Tomorrow:

• sch runs
• playgroup or seafront walk?
• church hall after sch to play & catch up with friends
• pizza night with other mums

Ongoing:

• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned; take down this weekend
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; 1 Done
• Spring Cleaning: DD clothes - DONE; sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.3
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book; Found my copy of book, think I gave away their copy oops
• charity shop box full; in car; more added more to put in
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom, I think I've broken them!

JKS I've used a poster on here, mumblechum. She has been really helpful and very speedy - and about half the price I got quoted by a couple of local solicitors.

Ooh, do you think if I PM her she'll help?

One of our big stumbling blocks is what to say about the DC.

Who would have them?
All GPs are too old really, though PIL could cope better of the 2.
My sis lives in France, DH's brother lives in Oz, one of my bros lives in Bermuda, the other is not married to his GF (yet) and they live in a tiny flat in west London.
None are ideal. We don't really have close enough friends that could take them ideally - either much older kids or lots of similar age kids so would be a bit much.

Best plan so far is to say that all GPs have to decide what is best for the DC and do that - kind of passing the buck but at the same time keeping both sides of the families involved. I worry that if we say PIL take them, my parents/siblings might get left out a bit.

What have you done/said about the DC?
Other stuff, like money & house will just be evenly split between the DC so that's not v difficult - i don't think?!.

We took years to get around to doing our wills. Been married nearly 14 years and we did the wills no more than 3-4 years ago!

I think we ended up saying we would want DC to live with PIL (they are geographically the closest and it means life would be at least partly undisrupted for them). But all GP's to be involved (each of our Dad's is an executor anyway at the moment). We also named our nearest and dearest friends to be consulted regarding things like suitable schools and all that kind of thing since they are obviously doing all that for their own kids and would have finger on the pulse etc and would also have our DC's best interests at heart. We don't have god parents for DC, but the people we've chosen would be, if we had them, IYSWIM.

Other stuff - yes, even split etc. For boring reasons we needed some special mechanism in our will to achieve it, can't remember the technical reasons now, but that was the end result!

We've also specifically disinherited one individual (controversial!) in the event that "someone" who thinks they might have an entitlement most definitely does not under any circumstances whatsoever. We put it in for avoidance of doubt should that particular person pipe up and try and cash grab that the executors must resist to the full extent of the law.... Oh I'd like to be a fly on the wall when they read that out!!

JKS definitely. I PM'd her, she has an advert in the small business section and she replied in just a few minutes. She has been really fantastic.

We had an easy choice with regard to the boys, my youngest brother will be their guardian. If anything was to happen while the boys are still very little then they would live with my parents and then they could decide an appropriate time for them to move in with my brother. We've talked about it and his soon-to-be-wife is happy to take on the responsibility as well, and they have very similar values and world view as us. My other brother and his wife are specifically excluded from having any involvement in their upbringing, other than as uncle and aunt.
We have requested that he make sure they see all extended family on both sides, and I know he would make sure that they saw DH's family.
He was the best choice emotionally and practically too - they have plenty of room in their house, and are very comfortably off even though they aren't 30 yet! We know that their quality of life won't be impacted by looking after our two, and obviously we have life insurance etc etc to leave a trust fund to pay for school, uni and so on.

DH's sister would take them and love them, but they only rent and don't plan to ever buy and they move around quite a bit, their children are quite a bit older and to give them an extra 10 years of parenting when they are looking forward already to not having children at home doesn't sit right! My BIL also smokes, so lovely as he is I wouldn't want the boys living with them.

Thanks, will PM her at some point (add to list lol!). None of our family live anywhere near here so realistically it is a) a school change for the boys (v not ideal for DS2) or b) a move here by most probably PIL.
There will be money so that shouldn't be an issue. And I do trust them to look after my DC whenever so it's not like lots of MNers with serious PIL issues. Good idea about making both Dad's executors too.

Tomorrow:

• sch runs DONE/Dh going to do
• playgroup or seafront walk? Playgroup, too cold for walk!
• nap while DD naps DONE
• more rearranging of toys Doing
• church hall after sch to play & catch up with friends; Started packing bits to take
• pizza night with other mums

Ongoing:

• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned; take down this weekend
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; 1 Done
• Spring Cleaning: sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.3
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book; Found my copy of book, think I gave away their copy, oops
• charity shop box full; more put in car
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom, I think I've broken them!
• sort wills
• write to sponsored child (been crap for ages)

Morning' all. I had an uneventful tour, spent ime with all lovely gc, and managed to avoid driving in or on snow. List:
Admin
Buy ink cartridge
Shop
Change bed
Prioritise work
Smell office
Bring in wood
Kitchen
Bathroom
Cat litter

Good morning from flu infested parts!

All four of us have been wiped out by the lurgy - absolutely awful. DC both, tentatively, back in school today but I know they are going to be wiped out tonight, so all ready for early nights here, and it's only 10.30am!

So today is:

• an hour of slow go round and tidy up post weekend
• try and have a short walk with DDog
• Not much else.

Mini - I'm imagining smelling your office, I haven't been able to smell anything for days!!!!

Anon you poor things! Have a

We are doing ok here, I've just had a nice tidy and hoover round and the house looks lovely - until DH and DS2 come back from their walk!!

Today

• have a sort out of my wardrobe
• make flapjack with DS1 later
• post things to accountant
• make a to do list for DS2's party

Dinner is left over roast pork so minimal effort required there.

Ali - thanks the was lovely, and most welcome.

Bonus - had just managed to get the car out of the drive (no mean feat in this weather) feeling a bit crock with all the effort, when MIL turned up and said she would walk DDog for me!!! Hurrah, so instead, I've had my tidy round (thank goodness). It ain't perfect, but it's much better and no longer feels or looks like the House of the Plague....

Roast pork leftovers - that is what we should have been having today. We had roast pork last night, hope yours was better than ours! I'd had it delivered from Ocado on Saturday, and it was really not nice. Crackling was bitter and tough and the meat was dry and tasteless and we could hardly chew it. So, slightly cheekily, I put in for a refund... which they gave!

Anon sympathies. My office would def clear your head, ( although is much improved) So far I have

Admin
Buy ink cartridge - Done
Shop -done
Change bed
Prioritise work
Smell office -done much better, but still niffy. Need to get on knees under desk and scour.
Bring in wood
Kitchen-washed its face
Bathroom
Cat litter

Anon hope you are all fully recovered soon. We're all slightly wiped out, have had a mild cold but nothing too serious, just all really tired. Ah well, half term and lie ins soon

Mini hope the office still smells fresh. Fed up of house smelling of cat business I got them one of those closed in litter trays, it does seem to help,and also helps with the litter thrown all over the floor issue. Obviously won't help with cat pee on plastic wallets issue but I can fully relate to ridding house of cat wee smells!

Does that even make sense?? Done coursework today and brain is fried. Wanted to finish it today but can no longer concentrate.

Mopped floors earlier then aw came to clean my windows and the kitchen floor now has footprints on . He also quoted me to decorate my hallway- eek! And that was with person he'd shagged mates rates. Hopefully landlord will contribute.

Oh and mini I meant to say dettol soap then enzyme spray if the smell is in carpet-worked both for child sick and cat poo smells on carpet.

Freaki, I think part of the prob is that it's not on carpet, it's laminate floor, and covered in protective plastic sheet thingy (ikea). I think it has soaked into wooden unpainted skirting. I will persevere. At least it's not so bad at desk height and above.

Hi all, full of colds & sore throats & coughs here, nice.

Had crazy weekend, well Sunday, as DS2 had a seizure :( first in over 2 years. Docs don't know if it might have been a febrile convulsion as he had a slight temp but not really high. Or if it was a epileptic fit.
Have spoken to local consultant who is waiting for info from GOSH.
GOSH cons emailed this morning to say don't panic, she will call us.
I think we mostly have to wait and see if he has any more, a slightly stressy waiting game...
We were both in bits on Sunday but think we have calmed down now, well I have, DH is still teary about it which is unusual for him.

Then I had my birthday yesterday, not very high-energy affair really.
Also, trying to avoid PIL on Skype as they are away on hols for a few more weeks and don't want to stress them about DS2, but they will get stressed about not skyp-ing so it's a fine line, will have to basically lie by omission until they come home then DH will have to speak to them cos I know MIL will tell us off (!) for not telling them.

Meanwhile...I bought another lampshade (for ceiling light) that makes the room too dark. Where am I going wrong? This has happened several times, I will have to take the latest one back - B&Q & I've taken all the wrapping off. sigh.

Left today:

• DC bath & bed
• our dinner & early night

Ongoing:

• watch Prison Break DVDs & give back to PIL; Started; Done more
• get kitchen curtains dry cleaned; take down Thurs (too cold to do earlier)
• family tree (scanning in old certs & photos & email new contact)
• buy some frames that will hang on the wall & hang up as many photos as poss; need some sizes
• sort iPhoto on laptop; Book Genius appt
• bathroom cabinet needs sorting
• make birthday cards for Feb; DONE
• Spring Cleaning: sort through bedding
• lose weight! (From: 66kg; Target: 54kg); Scales said 64.0 :)
• book bowling for orchestra social; Have emailed committee
• library to pay fine & find missing book; Found my copy of book, think I gave away their copy, oops DONE
• charity shop box full; DONE
• grr, repair/replace curtain rail in playroom Handyman sorting at weekend
• sort wills
• write to sponsored child (been crap for ages)

Oh no JKS really sorry to hear about that . Such a worry for you

JKS how worrying for you, it seems a very long time since his last one, I don't know anything about this, but I hope he and you get the health care and advice you need. Sending a hug.

Oh JKS :( Sending you hugs and hope that it is a one off.