Old Style Diary Archive - NOV 05

kiwichick

The only thing that helps give me a boost to keep moving is to puton some of your fave music - LOUD. Sod the rest of the family.

Also, pick up the biggest bits first (from the floor) cause then you will be able to see the carpet which is inspiration.

Also, in a bedroom I always make the bed first cause its the biggest thing. Then make piles on the bed ofother bits to go away and work my way through them. That way the floor is clean and makes you feel like you are accomplishing something.

Good luck.
Al.

squeaky

One small bit at a time. When things were bad I started with the smallest area of my kitchen worktops, tidied it and cleaned it, and then kept it that way for a whole wek before adding another section of my worktops to my job list.

Just like kiwichick it's a case of breaking jobs down into bite sized chunks that you can handle. If you look at the whole house - it's too big to cope with and you give up. If you reduce the size to just look at one room... if that's too big a job you'll still give up. So pick a corner, or a table, or a chair and do something that's just the right size.

Keeping that one thing going helps develop the habit of routines and cleaning and stuff.

Do deals with yourself. I only get to watch my fave program tonight IF there's nothing left on the stairs to take up... or whatever. If I bung a load of washing in I get ten minutes on MSE. If I tidy one square meter of floor I get... another ten minutes on Old Style

For bigger jobs, make appointments with yourself. Next Saturday morning at ten o'clock I'm going to... and remind yourself every day so that it gets fixed in your skull and you get used to the idea first.

And build in plenty of small rewards such as a TV program or some time on MSE. Not choccy cakes or booze or you'll be looking for the diet thread in less than a week Nah... pick your own rewards.

The thing is to to take steps, do deals, have rewards and so on, ALL of which you are comfortable with. Get it inside your own comfort zone and feel good factor and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Penny-Pincher!!

Afternoon

2 washloads done, dried and put upstairs. DW emptied. Had an early dinner and in end did chicken pie, roasties with carrots & cauli. Couldnt be bothered with the full roast today-sorry!!

CQ-the Gerbil was from Pets at home and would never of bought knowing what you have said. Im going to call on monday and ask them the issues you raised as we would like to buy another gerbil to go with the one we got yesterday as after doing some more research-they are best kept in pairs (same sex of course!) The Pets at home (greenwich/charlton) appears quite nice and well presented. Very clean etc, but the staff were not very confident with the animals which I think is a must when handling them. Thanks for the info and will take it all on board-and would just like to say its lovely hearing from you again!!

Could of easily killed my DD today, she has been so rude-even threatened her with the soap in mouth :eek: Kids-who'd have em????

PP
xx

Ticklemouse

PP - soap in the mouth has been one of my punishments before now. I even resorted to washing the mouth out of next door's then 8yo who insisted on saying a word that I'd told my DS1 he wasn't to use and goading him to use it.(only 'poo-poo' but at 5, it was a swear word to him) I did go round and tell my neighbour and she said it was OK

Glad to see the punishments we had as kids are still around - but I'm sure kids are far ruder these days than we were. I would never have spoken to my parents the way my DS1 *tries* to talk to me. But as he has the only lockable bedroom in the house - it gets used

I'm sure there will be readers of this thread who are tut-tutting as they read this. Yes - and I smack my kids when they need it too.

So - sitting down with a small tincture (I opened my Xmas Harveys BS). I've emulsioned the ceiling, put a 2nd coat on the walls, so coloured coat next and a few bits of glossing left to do. I know I've not done it all in the right order, but I have to do what I can when I can, light and kids permitting.

Told Mr TM he could make tea. I said this at 3.50pm and he said "WHAT - NOW?" with a huge shocked look on his face. It never dawns on him to think about the cooking until it's teatime and he wants something on his plate then and there! I had to explain in words of 1 sylable or fewer, that food needs preparation so he may have to investigate the freezer!! Needless to say we are having some venison burgers and oven chips (I had to find them) and I've had to remind him that veg are a part of the meal. Men - who'd have THEM!! Do ya think I could swap him for a gerbil?

Anyway - BM on, DW been on, 2 loads of washing done and dried and ironing to do later. See - I still have to think of these things even when decorating. And before anyone suggests it - I like my decorating done properly, which is why Mr TM doesn't do it. I've seen his attempts at DIY

My, this sherry is hitting the spot. If ya see me in the Arms, talking complete Bol** ...erm rubbish, you'll know why

johanne

small child gone home about an hour or 2 ago.. fed dressed and with 7 sugary biscuits inside her belly! (sorry nicki!)

House tidied and clean for once.. even the washing up is done and the dishcloths are currently soaking in bleach water as they looked a bit manky.

Decided to do a mini roast for myself so a chicken breast and roasties are currently in the oven and a big pan of carrot, parnsip and turnip is on the hob! Made enough so i can freeze some for lazy days.

Going to tackle the 28 page housing/council tax benefit form after tea... been off for nearly 9 weeks now and only just discovered i MIGHT have been able to get some benefits which means i wouldnt have had to use over £1000 of my savings to live on! Dont know when im back to work though.. and forms say it cant be backdated But even if i get a couple of quid for this next week or so i'll be happy. Know going to lose my job if im not back at work by christmas eve so really do need to sort something quickly as i really dont wanna go back and doctor has told me that it wont help my situation to go back onto permanent full time nights. Just gotta see what the store manager says on thursday at the meeting i have to go to with her!

Curry_Queen

Penny-Pincher!! wrote:

CQ-the Gerbil was from Pets at home and would never of bought knowing what you have said. Im going to call on monday and ask them the issues you raised as we would like to buy another gerbil to go with the one we got yesterday as after doing some more research-they are best kept in pairs (same sex of course!) The Pets at home (greenwich/charlton) appears quite nice and well presented. Very clean etc, but the staff were not very confident with the animals which I think is a must when handling them. Thanks for the info and will take it all on board-and would just like to say its lovely hearing from you again!!

Ok, I'll try this again as my first attempt at replying got lost in the ether when I pressed the wrong key by mistake :wall:

PP - Please don't beat yourself up hun as you weren't to know, and it wasn't your fault the hamster died if it already had wet-tail when it came to you. It can take a week or two to show properly, especially to the untrained eye, which is why I don't agree with their 48hr quarantine policy - it's not long enough, especially when relying on inexperienced staff to monitor them.

As to getting another gerbil - I wouldn't advise you buy another from PAH, but that's due to ethical reasons more than anything else ... the more animals they sell, the more they have to replace them from those horrible "breeding farms", thus keeping them all in business. You'd be far better off going to a little petshop as they usually get their supplies from private breeders, or even breed their own, in much better conditions. I would wait a week or two first though, just to make sure yours isn't harbouring anything nasty before introducing a new one.

Alternatively, (and this is what I would do) you can return this gerbil to PAH for a full refund within 7 days of buying it (hope you kept the pink slip receipt!) and then go elsewhere and pick a lovely pair of siblings from a "proper" petshop, as you have more chance of them getting along together and not ripping shreds out of each other, which is what you could face if you try to introduce strange ones

Incidentally, if anyone has recently bought an animal from PAH, and you're in any way worried about it's health, then where possible (not every store has this facility) I would advise you go to the Companion Care vets within the store rather than your own vet, and demand they cover the bill if they sold you a sick animal. You stand very little chance of them paying out to your own vet, but they have an account with CC vets

Ok, rambling over, sorry everyone (I guess you all know by now what I'm like over animal issues though )

Good luck PP, and let us know how you get on

Curry_Queen

TM - you just cracked me up reading your post ... all we need now is for MATH to post (where are you? :hello: ) and Nels and Racy too, then I'll be :rotfl:

English mustard was one of my favourite weapons for foul mouths, until I discovered DS secretly liked it :rolleyes: ... so fairy liquid became the new weapon

And yes, I've also smacked my kids before now when they've needed it, although I think they're getting a bit big for a slap these days as even youngest DS is almost my height now :eek: ... and I'm no short-!!!!!!

Funnily enough we were having an argument the other night (in front of his dad so he was showing off) and he accused me of having a bad temper (yes I have!) and hitting him :eek: ... but when I asked him the last time I'd actually slapped him, he couldn't remember :rotfl: (I do, it was almost 2 years ago, and I still feel guilty now for lashing out and slapping him )

TM, I've just poured a glass of wine so you aint drinking alone hun ... mind you I've not eaten yet, so maybe I should just stick to the one, especially as DS will be home in a couple of hours! I've made a big pot of tomato/veggie sauce this afternoon, using the bottom of the fridge, but I can't be bothered to eat now or make any pasta or anything to go with it

Maybe later ... or there's always the take-away again :whistle:

Yorkielass

Managed to sort out the pile of stuff on our bedroom floor today , done 2 loads of washing so far and will try and put another one in as last nights seems to have dried.

Popped into town and managed to get a few bits we needed, got some extra boots points too and a few bits on bogof in the process was restrained only went looking for things we needed.

Going to make a chilli for dinner in a little while (from stratch)

Really need to have a look at the stuff in our spare/junk room - I believe there's a bed in there somewhere

And as I've failed to have a bath the last two nights - am going to make sure I have one before I go to bed tonight.

elona

Went to Aldi this morning and got a frozen turkey crown for £6 approx and a prawn ring, sausages wrappped in bacon and small sausage rolls. All safely hidden in freezer.

This means that I just have to get milk and fruit and veg for Christmas.

Had Sunday lunch at 4p.m. Chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes and parsnips,carrots,sprouts and courgettes with cheese sauce - yorkies and onion gravy.
Had home made apple and mincemeat flan with cream to follow.

Everyone stuffed to the ginnels!

Just popped on before I have to press dds school uniform.

DH just told me that he is home this week as well:eek:

so may try to hide myself away to do the ironing rather than get involved if he is doing the painting in the hall.

Great patches on the wall by the stairwell where he cannot reach to paint and as he refuses to buy a high roller on a stick or take any advice !!!! I have decided to leave him to it! Nothing is finished or done in a sensible order so I give up.

skylight

elona wrote:

.

............ or take any advice !!!! I have decided to leave him to it! Nothing is finished or done in a sensible order so I give up.

Its a man thing.