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Housekeeping

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Fledging flyers - December's messaholics anonymous meeting place

608 replies

droitwitchmum · 28/11/2009 21:57

Everyone welcome, newcomers and old(ish) flappers alike!

Here you can do any of the following:

  • repeat or start baby steps
  • repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  • reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering

As Christmas is approaching I will also be posting Christmas missions.

I'll post links early in the morning on the relevant day while I'm making the coffee and brewing tea. There might even be toast...

Good luck!

OP posts:
optimistletoemumma · 09/12/2009 15:01

Afternoon all - just catching up with the thread whilst I have my designated 15 min break

morning routine done
change sheets on my bed done
unload/reload dishwasher done
process washingdoing
declutter kitchen(which also includes a corner 'office') in 15 minute bursts to get it DONE! in the middle of
make stuffings( I bought a proper loaf last week to make breadcrumbs and it's still sitting there)hmm, not yet...
freeze stuffingsno
Do banking no
Chase prescription no
buy pizzas for tea yes!
finish cards no

and I thought I was doing so well!

Santa's BBs - I'll join you for that vat although mine will be a skip load and I'll be thoroughly gazebo -ed!
Agree with SC , PF, If I had to make 7 lots of sarnies I'd need a lie down for half an hour. I suppose making their own would cause too much mess..??

Cadmum · 09/12/2009 15:57

One of the cats has now been sick on the floor of the room that was 'finished' for my dp's. I am almost worried that he is really ill...

Dust and vacuum dp's room done
Make dp's bed tomorrow they need to be ironed...
Tidy and vacuum upstairs landing done
Meal plan and online shop for Friday delivery procrastinating
School room tidy in 15 minute increments (likely 60 minutes in total) swapped for living room and entryway closet...
Laundry room tidy, vacuum and wash floor only tidied
Quick re-sort of storage room in the basement 1/2 hour maximum.
Finish playroom. done
The usual unload, reload, run dishwasher done
Two loads of laundry done

PositivelyFestive · 09/12/2009 18:21

Evening ladies,

In the history of bad days this one has to be lurking right down there! After my disasterous try at actually getting any work done this morning I gave up and decided Christmas shopping was calling me - this means on Friday I will have to do about 6 hours work in 1 hour to meet my print deadline! I forgot to buy the Christmas cards, once again! And the only "present" I got was a box of Winnie the Pooh tissues for a stocking filler! - hardly going to make someone that happy on Christmas day is it? Then as I approached our house on the way home I was blocked by council workers, who, without warning have closed our road. Only trouble with us is that DD3 (15) is unable to walk down the road to the car most of the time, so is now going to be totally housebound for the next week until they have filled in the holes they have made! GGRRRRR!!!! If I had known they were going to do this I would not have returned her wheelchair a couple of weeks ago after giving up trying to get her to use it because she is so worried at being seen as disabled! We have a skip on our drive that was supposed to be going tomorrow, but that is going to have to stay until road is open again. The builders can't get here and bring their stuff, so the tiles that we have waited weeks for, that are now in this country and 2 minutes down the road can't be fitted for another week! The electrician has not been able to get a fuse we need for a light in the front lounge, so we have no lights in there! Oh, and the shepherds pie I lovingly prepared this morning ahs not cooked in the slow cooker all day because the electricity has been off, and the bread in the bread maker has to be thrown as it was stopped half way through cooking! The cats have got panicked by the drilling and digging and have decided that the safest place to be is behind the freezer, and have also decided it is not even safe to come out and do their business, so I have to move the huge freezer to clear that up before the smell wafts even further through the kitchen!
Pass me that vat of wine.....I am a woman in need!

So, of my list today I have:

Collect DD3 from "school", on way to collecting DD2 from boat.Done, but boat 35 minutes late so sat in cold car getting very bored waiting!
Finish making shepherds pie Done but not as I like it!
Phone about naff hoover (still not got around to this.)DH has put hoover away and I can't find it, so will postpone until tomorrow, once again
Washing NO
Ironing (Mount Everest is in danger of making a come back ) NO
Some Christmas shopping least said the better!
BUY SOME CHRISTMAS CARDS MUST DO FORGOT
Make Apple crumble YUMM DONE
Take DD4 and DS to the pantomime - Oh no I'm not! Oh yes I am!!! - only dropping them off, but going to see it on Friday with DD3 if she is well enough! - on way when I come off here!

I hope you ahve had a better tday than I have had!

Cadmum - I hope your cat is ok. our old cat was always like that and we spent a fortune at the vets! I learnt to ignore it most of the time and he did seem to get better himself.

OM & SC - The idea of letting my kids do their own lunches fills me with dread. DD2 slides out of bed 2 minutes before she has to go out the door in the morning. DS would happily sort his out, (budding chef) but I know he would want to do elaborate fillings and cheese spread would not be good enough, plus he would use every utensil known to man! Their other option would be to ask me for money and buy dinner, but with so many that would soon mount up to a dent in my weekly food money, so I give up and do it myself!

SBB - LOL at you blubbing at the nativity. even when I had seen the playschool nativity every year for 6 years I sat and made a complete fool of myself. Of course my child was always the best mary/Gabriel/shepherd/Joseph and Christmas tree star! I blubbed every time!!!

Waves to everyone else. Early to bed tonight in the hope that tomorrow may be a better day. - Although dentist at lunch time, so not a good omen!

StainlessSteelCat · 09/12/2009 19:09

I think my DS has got a stash of speed in his room. It's the only possible explanation for his sudden hyperactivity. I need to find it and confiscate it. Then I can neck it and maybe keep up wiht him ... no, not been a good day, spent most of it dealing with him rather than the house. But the washing up is done, DD is asleep and DS is in his room and quiet, for now at least. So I am going to sit down with far too much chocolate and read up the baby steps from the last few days, possibly put the shopping away (I did put the fridge stuff away - it's the dried fruit mountain that's defeating me!) and defintiely get an early night.

Positively - your day sounds horrific. I'm passing you the vodka, it's definitely medicinal.

optimistletoemumma · 09/12/2009 20:31

Positive vat of wine coming your way though I'm with SSC on the vodka!

My parents evenings marathon has now finished - thank the lord and we got through remarkably unscathed!

Tomorrow is another day, as they say...

MrsDingDongMerrily · 09/12/2009 21:08

Evening all

PF big hugs, sounds like you need that wine! Hope tomorrow is better, what a nightmare about the road. I didn't think they were allowed to do that without giving notice?

PF and Cadmum - we were toying with getting some cats next year, we are pet novices and they seem to be the most suitable animal for our circumstances, but I am going off the idea reading your posts! Tell me the good parts about having cats!

MrsGG - I'd like a pound for every comment I've had since giving up work (only two months ago) about watching telly all day, grr. I am currently not in paid employment, doesn't mean I do not work!

MC You're doing a good job keeping us all on track (well sort of) in this hectic month.

HARR - Please don't move Christmas to Feb, we are awash with birthdays then, Christmas on top would be a nightmare! I vote for June.

Annabel seems to have disappeared, unless I have missed a post, hope it is nothing more serious than internet problems

Waves at OM, SSC, SBB, YM, SC, Mellie, MiniM, Pushme, Mullered, SBB, WtheD, Swan, DidSM, Pluto, and anyone else I might have forgotten.

Today

DW etc - 90% done
Washing - done
1/2 hour ironing (first for a week) - done
Clean other half of kithcen counters and taps - done
Pay bills - half done
Wrap some parcels - not done

See you tomorrow!

mummyclaus · 09/12/2009 21:22

Hello everyone!
Managed to get on a little earlier than usual but I have been home since before 4 so that helps

s&s done
dressed done
DS/DH up done
breakfast done
make lunch (will eat on train later) done and did
ironing done
hotspots-dining table, paper on lounge floor done both
put washing away done
dinner done
me-time 30 mins sewing/watching tv next with RL wine I think!
shine sink done yawning so long as you get the basics done you are doing fine. I often forget what I have actually done because I'm concentrating on what I didn't do
OM huge list today try not to burn out please
SC BABYSTEPS! See note to OM
gruffalo did you get your sink shining
Pluto hope you had a fun day with DS
PF OMG what is there to say except
harudolph loving the idea of Christmas in February
cat like your 2 lists - might do that myself...
boots I was quite well behaved, tear in the eye and then he grinned and stuck his tongue out at me! Looking forward to the DVD
cadmum well done with that list today. Hope Dpuss is ok. I have 2 who seem to take it in turns to be sick - its usually just a hairball so nothing to worry about
MrsD cats are fab! Most of them love DC and if they get fed up just go out and leave the chaos behind. They don't need walking although one of mine will join me on occasion. They will sleep anywhere except in a cat bed - they much prefer yours especially if you are in it. And when they are young they are SO funny and cute they can make you smile even if you've had a day like PF has had today. Have I convinced you?

Good news on my working from home campaign. I've had the all clear for 2 days a week on this secondment I've been offered so I'm just waiting for a start date now - can't wait

Off to see if there is anything on the telly - see you tomorrow

MrsDingDongMerrily · 09/12/2009 21:30

Just remembered that my handbag is one very big hotspot at the moment and I'm off shopping tomorrow, better get off the computer and go and sort it out, will join you in front of the telly MC

mrsgrumpygruffalo · 09/12/2009 21:47

Just reporting in to say hello all and ....

Sink is shiny

Now I'm off to bed zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

MellieChristmas · 10/12/2009 06:20

Morning all,

haven't got time to have a catch-up on everyone's news but have read thread and must mention PF's horrific day. Sounds like a nightmare and am sending you big hugs and hope the wine made the situation temporarily bearable. Normally works for me . Have absolutely no solutions to your multitude of problems but am thinking of you.

Another fairly useless day yesterday. Not much done but hey ho today's another day. List looks like this:-

DW on
Washing on done
Uniform drying done
General tidy
Stocking fillers
Presents for nieces and nephews

Let's see how I get on.

mummyclaus · 10/12/2009 06:44

Good morning

Today's babystep is worth a read. It's a reminder of the power of 15 minutes

Today's mission is wiping down your appliances. Love this one (and yesterday's) but I'm saving them both for the weekend

Christmas mission is here - warning - don't read it if you are really behind and don't want to be reminded of it by anyone, let alone the fat fairy

I'll think about a list on the way to work.
Have a good day

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 07:39

Mummy .... Helllllpppp!!!

www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/munch/munch.scream.jpg

PositivelyFestive · 10/12/2009 08:00

Morning ladies,

SC come on dear, have a sit down a cup of coffee and a little nibble. Don't get all stressed out, it really is not worth it. Just tackle one thing at a time and ignore anything that is not esential. You WILL get through. Christmas will come, everyone will have fun. DD will remember the family cuddles/fun with affection for far longer than she will remember that the washing wasn't quite done all the time, or there was dust on the shelf. >

MrsDingDong - You are right that under normal circumstances the concil cannot close your road without notice, HOWEVER, a slight confession here.......in May the road was getting bad, so I phoned the council and informed them. They came and drew white lines around the holes in August, then nothing. About 10 days ago I phoned and said that the holes had now got a huge amount worse, were very dangerous, especially to cyclist (eg: DH) and I did mention that I would prefer that my council tax was spent on repairing the road for everyones benefit, rather than on an insurance claim for one person who had sued them for not maintaining a road that was known to be dangerous! So, when I phoned yesterday to ask why I had not been informed of the road closure I was told that it was felt to be an emergency repair as they had been told they could be in danger of being sued! At this point I just said "thank you very much, goodbye". So inirectly, I feel as if it is my fault!!

Thanks for all your lovely thoughts on here. I am feeling better this morning, but not thanks to a good nights sleep as I got drawn into a rather deep angry arguement here on MN until past midnight!

Today top of list is Christmas Cards!!!!
Do some present shopping
Dentist
Sort hoover

Ok my theory today is to keep my list short and vague and I may acheive 100%!

Have a good day everyone!

Plutothatpresentdown · 10/12/2009 08:00

Morning all,

List for today..

Cajole DS1 into getting stuff sorted for school doing
Entertain DS2 who is a bit grumpy this am doing
Sainsburys
Quick tidy of kitchen
Wrap presents
Make list of remaining gifts to get
Find a pack of posh Christmas cards for rellies - write and post
Make casserole for Ds1 to gobble down between basketball and cubs and for DH and I to eat at our leisure.

Waving to you all

MulleredOnWine · 10/12/2009 09:09

Morning all
I think everyone's doing really well and we should be proud of ourselves. We deserve our Christmas pressies!
One question/concern tho - how on earth do I keep up with things once I go back to commuting and working? It looks like quite a few of you work on this thread. How do you do it? What time do you wake up? Do you watch any telly at all in the evenings?!

So far have
Cuddled baby
S&S - hooray! loving that. Must keep up.
Shined sink
DW on
Made bed.

Later:
Christmas shopping
Will try and do shower properly so all it needs is a daily S&S.
Do the PC job I keep putting off.

Have a great day all.

MrsDingDongMerrily · 10/12/2009 09:26

Morning all, toast and marmite here if anyone would like some.

Mullered - this question bothers me too. At the moment I am SAHM to DCs that are 3 and 5 (was made redundant from very stressful job in September). So, it is not so hard for me to Fly (although I am dealing with many years build up of clutter and jobs that need doing). Presumably at some point I will feel the need to get another job, I am just hoping I get into such good habits that I can keep up the Flying.

PF - oh dear, that's made me smile, I hope they get it fixed up quickly so you are able to use your road. I used to commute 25 miles cross country and the roads were in a right state a lot of the time, I do wonder how much damage has been done to my car from potholes over the years. The pavements in my town are appalling too. On my walk to town there's one of those loose slabs with water under it which if you step on it shoots the water up your leg, gets me every time.

Hair appointment for me today, hoorah, bit of pampering. Also hoping to finish Christmas shopping. The sun is shining (for now) and it is showing every speck of dust so I'd better get on with my jobs, sighs.

Breakfast dishes - done
S+S - done
Hoover front room (properly, all furniture out)
Mission - my DW is looking particularly grotty
Wrap up parcels for posting.
Xmas shopping
Phone Drs
Bound to think of a few more things later

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 09:38

[sipping and nibbling ....thank you]

Just tackle one thing at a time and ignore anything that is not esential.

Thank you PF I know! I know! Being so stressed is a bit pathetic frankly with only 1 dd and working only p/t school hrs.... I'm not too worried about Christmas tbh as I'm fairly organised for that ...it's the unexpected visit of family of four coming to stay for 4 days next w/e that's stressing me out ... looking forward to seeing them but hadn't planned for it... and it uses up any "slack" there was in the system iyswim ... but you and MummyC are right ... baby steps ... baby steps ....

Hope you are recovering from your horrendous day yesterday PF..and good luck at the chopper hacker today xxxx

MummyC- glad the play went well - and congratulations on your secondment arrangements - that sounds good! As usual, I am in awe of how much you got through yesterday.

Cadmum well done on your list yesterday. How is the on-line shopping coming on? Please can you give me a reciprocal nag because I need to do mine too!

SBBoots - glad I am not the only one who blubs at school concerts - dh tries to avoid sitting next to me nowadays

MrsDingDong (I have several handbag hotspot horrors!!) BTW if you are looking for an adorable pet that physically cannot vomit (!!) then I can thoroughly recommend guinea pigs. They have great personalities, mine "sing" to me when I call them, and they are very easy to care for (think miniature horse: hay, carrots, apples, fresh water, bit of hoof and mouth care ... but generally very hardy). I love 'em ...!!!

How's the robot coming along YawningMonster??

Anyone seen Fruitstick or tibni???

Waves to HavinganR and WalktheD Pluto Mellie MrsGrumpy Optimistle SSC and the people I am sure I have left out ....

Hope everyone manages to have a productive day ...

Breathe, breathe, calm, calm, baby-steps ... baby-steps ....

MellieChristmas · 10/12/2009 09:53

Just checking in quickly.

SC feel the need to shout BABYSTEPS, BABYSTEPS. Think back to when you were leading the thread, the amount of times we all got behind and the amount of times you told us not to panic and just to go back to the babysteps till we get back on track. Take some of your own (wonderful) advice. PF is so right, Christmas is about family and fun and no-one will remember whether the house was tidy and skirting boards dusted. (That's my excuse and am sticking to it )

Mullered not sure I really have the answer to the whole flying and working thing. I work full time as a teacher and have two DC's (6 and 1). I do get up early (5.45) and do stuff in the morning (load WM, DW, tumble drier, general tidy etc.) and always have a 'housework' hour in the evening as i am getting dinner ready. However, having said all that, house is still a tip but tis now a manageable tip if that makes sense throught the wonders of the fat fairy. I do strongly believe that there are far more important things in life than a clean house, I do what I can as a busy working mum to 2 DC's, flylady has got me to the point where people can normally drop in unannounced without me cringing too much but will never be completely on top of it all but have stopped beating myself up about it. Life is too short!

And on that long and rambly note had better get back to work...

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 09:56

ooohhh, I love toast and Marmite .. thank you MrsDingDong

Hello to Mullered too ... x posts ...

Personally, I find Flying easier now I am working p/t because I have more of a fixed schedule and therefore things HAVE to be done around that ...so morning and evening routines become even more essential and useful .... and I think the Flying system is really suited to working ...ie repeated small bursts of focused effort...but my hours are not that long ...

I personally only watch 4 tv progs a week ...and I'm an owl not a lark ... so I do tend to get quite a bit done in the evenings as long as I don't sit down after supper!

But the best bit about Flying (when I do it properly ) is that you do something - however small - every single day. And that really does mean you make the most of w/e's and times when you are not working because you never (in theory) get horrendously behind with any of the essentials ...

In the past I used to say "oh I'll leave that to the w/e" and then when the w/e arrived I didn't want to do it or didn't have the time and I got more and more behind. Now I have a list of basics that I generally get through every day (not perfectly by any means but well enough) and it really is surprising how just doing 15 mins here and there EVERY day helps ...

this may help to explain it if you can ignore all the cutesy references and earnest exclamation marks

Right, enough 'theory' for me ...more action required ...

Have a good day everyone ...

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 10:02

Thank you Mellie .. you and PF are right. I'm over my wobble now thanks to you lovely lot ....

Getting stuck in !!

Plutothatpresentdown · 10/12/2009 10:28

DS2 fell asleep in his pram on the walk back from school and has only just woken - so I found some other jobs to do

meal plan and write shopping list for Sainsburys done
clean Britta filter jug done
sort out washing on airer and pair DHs socks (bet he doesn't even notice) done
empty bathrooms and waste paper bins done
proper tidy up in kitchen done MrsDD I'll join you in the dishwasher later
SC - me too! If I sit down after supper the evening falls apart. I have learned that I just have to keep on going until all evening routines are completed. Thankfully I have Sky+ - a new mum essential!

Mullered I feel the same. I'm back to work on 18th January.

Cadmum · 10/12/2009 10:36

I don't really have time for a catch up.

After a horrible sleepless night thanks to dh (who thought he might call and chat to a pregnant single-mother of 4 at 1:00 am ); ds2 who has such a sore throat that he was awake twice in the night asking for medicine; dd2 who is not a great sleeper at the best of times and my own very bad case of nerves, I am resigned to the fact that my parents will see me for the failing housekeeper that I am .

Hopefully my SIL is right and they will be more taken with the grandchildren that the state in which they currently live.

Stillcountingthebaubles After gathering about 150 GBP of things in my basket, the online grocery shop crashed and all was lost. I can no longer retrieve the shop or the delivery time so I can add a tortured run through the shop to my list of tasks that I am dreading today.... Ho HUM. Roll on New Year's Eve when I can relax on my own....

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 12:19

Just popping in while I take some caffeine on board ...;

Oh no Cadmum - how frustrating- that's just not right is it???!!! ...Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight.

Pluto - no need for "confession" or any "scuttling" thank you very much - grab any help you can with both hands I say ...

optimistletoemumma · 10/12/2009 15:59

Phew - I finally made it on here today although I am still working on yesterday's list and have added a few more things in the meantime.

Keep going everybody, keep going....

Stillcountingthebaubles · 10/12/2009 16:50

"Oh what fun it is to Fly... and a-swish and a-swipe all day ...Oh ...."

Sorry

Fairly productive day but spent far too long procrastinating Mmsnetting between tasks ...

Still trying to beat the home office in to submission ....and so have a few quick questions for all of you:

Where do you put your door keys and your mobile phone when you come home?

Where do you keep all the flexes and plugs and re-charging and ear-plug paraphenalia that come with cameras/mobiles/vides/laptops nowadays? Ours lie all over the house in every drawer and on every surface - it's driving me mad!!!

Do you keep all the boxes that those things came in (they seem to have various spare electric flexes and CDs with them). Do you keep them all or chuck ?

Thank you!!