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Original poster

Anybody else struggle with working from home?

361 replies

staranise · 16/06/2008 16:45

As in, I'm meant to be working right now and am paying a fortune in childcare to enable me to do so but just can't get motivated, especially when I work sitting on my bed plus keep jumping up and down to put another load of washing on, tidy up some toys etc etc.

I normaly ban MN on work days but feeling weak today...

Wouldlove some colleagues to keep me focussed...

OP posts:
PortBlacksandResident · 10/07/2008 22:39

Well - i'm done for the evening. Off to wind down on MarioKart!

BeckyBendyLegs · 11/07/2008 10:05

Morning! I think Manchester is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours from here and errrr there are hotels around and about, not sure about pools though.

Today I am comparing spreadsheets. Sooooo boring.

hattyyellow · 11/07/2008 14:04

We used to live in the Cotswolds - beautiful place. Our girls were tiny though so we didn't make it out to many hotels!

Have had reasonably constructive morning. Nightmare workaholic boss back from holiday and phoning me up for ridiculous conversations despite her being horribly jetlagged and not making much sense!

Still don't feel comfortable working for current client - they are known for being very cold and quite bullying and I wouldn't have taken the work if I wasn't the other end of the country -I certainly wouldn't have been able to sit in the office with them, they are so bitchy!

Still, they pay okay and the work isn't too dull.

They've opened a lovely farm shop within walking distance so I have been eating stupid amounts of cake. I don't think the 100m of walking really burns off a flapjack!

Becky enjoy your evening...I'm not hugely keen on being in house by myself either, but I'm sure your friends/neighbours would help in the case of an emergency?

I always treat myself to things my DH doesn't like when he's away - he's not keen on red meat, so its steak all the way!

I'm in a major Friday afternoon mood, if I was in the office I would definitely be pretending to work whilst having endless discussions about which pub to head to after work ..

hattyyellow · 11/07/2008 14:06

We used to live in the Cotswolds - beautiful place. Our girls were tiny though so we didn't make it out to many hotels!

Have had reasonably constructive morning. Nightmare workaholic boss back from holiday and phoning me up for ridiculous conversations despite her being horribly jetlagged and not making much sense!

Still don't feel comfortable working for current client - they are known for being very cold and quite bullying and I wouldn't have taken the work if I wasn't the other end of the country -I certainly wouldn't have been able to sit in the office with them, they are so bitchy!

Still, they pay okay and the work isn't too dull.

They've opened a lovely farm shop within walking distance so I have been eating stupid amounts of cake. I don't think the 100m of walking really burns off a flapjack!

Becky enjoy your evening...I'm not hugely keen on being in house by myself either, but I'm sure your friends/neighbours would help in the case of an emergency?

I always treat myself to things my DH doesn't like when he's away - he's not keen on red meat, so its steak all the way!

I'm in a major Friday afternoon mood, if I was in the office I would definitely be pretending to work whilst having endless discussions about which pub to head to after work ..

BeckyBendyLegs · 11/07/2008 14:32

Oh for those Friday afternoons in the 'real world' of work and going to the pub after work and looking forward to a lie-in on Saturday and lazy weekend days of reading the papers, bacon butties, lying in bed, going shopping.

DH might be staying away tonight as well as he said he stayed up until 4am revising for the end-of-course exam today and doesn't want to drive back. I didn't sleep well last night, I never do when I'm home alone, so really tired myself today.

I've just finished the work I needed to do today so as soon as DS2 wakes up we're off to Sainsbury's for the weekly shop.

Where in the Cotswolds did you live Hattyyellow? I live on the edge really - 10 mins from Burford which is called 'the gateway to the Cotswolds'.

TantieTowie · 11/07/2008 14:35

So if you've faffed around on working days, do you then end up trying to squeeze work into naptimes on non-working days - or is that a no-no? I'm currently half an hour off end of DS's naptime, it's not a working day, I could probably get something done - but can't quite be bothered... My thinking is that if I confine work to work days (three days a week) I will have to get it done then, and if I let it expand it will fill all time available. But then on working days I faff about anyhow - is it just me?

thumbwitch · 11/07/2008 17:20

ooh, BBL, so jealous - I love Burford! When I lived in Oxford I used to go there quite a lot, mostly to go to Burford Wildlife Park.

Tantie - definitely not a no-no, that's EXACTLY how it works for me - naptime and after bedtime are the best times to get anything done. You can try your strict regime, but I bet you'll end up doing the nap etc. stuff anyway

suey2 · 11/07/2008 17:31

ha tantie- it depends how my DD has slept overnight TBH. Got a couple of hours done on my report today but yesterday i was good for nothing

BeckyBendyLegs · 11/07/2008 17:53

Don't thumbwitch we're moving in three weeks time and every time I think about it I cry! I love it here. We're moving to Shrewsbury (to be nearer family). Burford Wildlife Park is great! We live in Charlbury which I just love.

Uh-oh it's just gone really dark - the heavens are about to open.

I've got back to loads of emails - more work. I've just left them as 'unread' for now.

TracyK · 11/07/2008 18:53

Just checking in - been out with ds all day today. But did manage a quick gym session - left ds with gp's. Then onto Ikea and the park. Off for dinner now and put him to bed. Will check my work emails later.

mazzystar · 11/07/2008 18:55

I did stuff all today
and I have a deadline
maybe, secretly, I just want to have to pull an all-nighter on Sunday

BeckyBendyLegs · 11/07/2008 19:43

Ooooh just been offered some more work paying much more per hour than I usually get and I'm really excited but worried as I haven't got a childminder for dear DS2 after we move house. I asked his current childminder to move house as well but she said no! I don't want to have to rely too much on the DP-in-laws.

TracyK · 11/07/2008 20:26

Is it paying enough to pay for childcare?

BeckyBendyLegs · 12/07/2008 10:50

Good morning! Anyone else working their weekend away? This is the biggest bummer about being a freelance I think - there are no days off!

The new work would pay for childcare but it is only 1/2 a day a week or 1 at the most and the other work I do isn't as well paid. I could easily afford a childminder but not a private nursery (DS1 went to a private nursery from 1 years old until DS2 was born and it was sooo expensive).

laundrylover · 12/07/2008 11:11

Morning Becky,

Not working but was doing a packing list as we off to Latitude Festival next weekend and thought I needed to get a bit organised.

Yesterday DP did our last years accounts as tax credits were asking for figures....as I have gone from earning diddly squit to about 26k last year we are looking at a HUGE tax bill come January!! About 7k. That'll be our ISAs empty again then.

Don't work too hard missus!

BeckyBendyLegs · 13/07/2008 10:49

Hi all

Here I am again working. I did five hours yesterday thanks to DH being around to keep an eye on the DSs. The sun is shining and it looks glorious outside. I'll have to think of somewhere to take the DSs this afternoon even if it is only to the swings.

TracyK · 14/07/2008 07:56

Well done Becky. We went to Aberdeen for the weekend as dh had a work do on up there. So got no work done at all. Dh away tonight - so I'll hopefully be getting some done then.
Off to the office today - so should be able to get a lot done.
Laundrylover - can you pay something on account just now to ease the big bill next year? How come £7k - on £26k you shouldn't be paying that amount of tax - or do you have to add in dh's?

laundrylover · 14/07/2008 11:18

Tracy - it is because I had a lean year when DD2 was small so it's like starting over. Will have to pay lots for the year just gone as paid hardly any on account...then will have to pay on account for this current year as will earn around 26k again. It's fine - we have the money stuck in ISAs so may as well keep hold of it for now. This should be the last year that this happens as no more babies planned.

Am starting to panic about how much work I have got to do!! I have to get some bits done today as am off to a meeting in Bradford this evening and then staying over at my SILs as am on an Excel course in Bradford Tues am....then meeting in Wigan. Shit, that's tomorrow gone then!! Festival Fri - Mon.....Scotland to see new nephew the week after and the hols in Pembrokeshire. Oh poo.

Just had a 50 min phone call about bfing and nappies with my sis as she had her first baby on Friday, what can you do??

OK am going to tackle work list, have shower, peg out clothes and report back.

thebecster · 14/07/2008 11:23

Morning all! Have been faffing for the past hour, posting on this thread is my prompt to get me off MN and back to work! Am slightly distracted by the piles of stuff everywhere in our flat - we got back late last night from visiting grandparents & there is laundry all over the floor (laundrylover, we need you!) and the bags are still half-unpacked so I feel I should be sorting them out, but really I should be working, so what I'm actually doing is sitting on MN for an hour . I also keep freaking out & going to check there's no-one at the door - there have been 3 break-ins in our block of flats in past 2 weeks, and the people above were broken into during the day while she was home! (Burglar skedaddled empty handed as soon as she came into kitchen and saw him - she said he was about 14... ) It has made me a bit jumpy....

Right, c'mon becster, shake a leg!

BeckyBendyLegs · 14/07/2008 12:59

Hello everyone

No work done yet today - monday mornings are spent at Toddlers with DS2.

I've got niggling but not urgent yet tooth ache so have booked an appointment at the dentist for two weeks from today. I'll have to take the DSs with me though as it is school hols. My dentist is a 45 minute drive away as well (near where we used to live in the house before this house).

laundrylover · 14/07/2008 13:25

Ouch for your toothache Becky.

Well, I'm on a flier today!!! Whizzing through my list and have done some very satisfing filing too. Two loads of washing out so it better not rain.

Am feeling on a bit of a high so better get some lunch before I open my Arts Council bid as that'll bring me back down to earth with a bump.

Becster hope you've sorted some piles out as they are not conducive to efficient working. Don't worry about the burglar - maybe they'll steal your dirty washing??

ShrinkingViolet · 14/07/2008 13:43

I've been quite efficient this morning -printed out a load of invoices/bank statements/other paperwork and filed it neatly; sorted out a Gift Aid report (I do bookkeeping for a charity and the excel reports need loads of reformatting); and picked up a new client .
On the downside, DD3 has spent a lot of time playing with her Barbies, and not as much as she should have on "proper" educational stuff .
Now the decision - data input, or housework?

thumbwitch · 14/07/2008 14:16

well done faffers!
I had an email from my boss over the weeked - I have to resign from my 3-day a week job and go freelance when I go back. Don't worry, it's not an issue for me, it's a big improvement on trying to go back 3 days a week and finding childcare for DS! At least this way I still get some money and get to work from home. So as of August 1st I will be a freelancer again

laundrylover · 14/07/2008 15:21

Will you get more money that way too thumbwitch? Hope so!

thebecster · 14/07/2008 16:53

Oh i have been useless today... I have faffed around on MN and doing little bits about the house, haven't done anything on my job list since noon. It's going to be another late night on the laptop when I could have just got it done in the day. I am heartily ashamed of myself.

Laundrylover - I have sorted it into piles and done 2 loads of washing. So that's something but it doesn't seem worth paying childcare for! Know the feeling?

Thumbwitch - glad it works out okay for you. Can you take on other clients since you're freelance - that's one thing I really like about being self-employed - working for a variety of different people.

Hope your toothache is better soon Becky!