My home is a mess

Buffythedebtslayer

Did some putting in loft and shed, not tidying strictly but gives me room.

I have a clear desk! and will be working my !!!! off for next half term. Got LOADS to do!

am wetting myself frankly! but have filled in a calendar and do have a plan.

have a good week all

Love Buffy xx

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all, just running in and out. Got a really busy week ahead so I have been trying to get ahead of myself this weekend. Like Emms I have washed all the bedding, have defrosted the freezer, done a big grocery shop, hoovered right through and flicked the duster around. Got all the ironing up to date today and even managed a bit of a tidy up in the garden. Right, off to empty the dishwasher before bed! Will catch up properly later in the week. Night all! x

bearcub

Afternoon Messies.

Like you, Alec, we don't 'visit' the seaside very often. although we drive along the seafront nearly every day, on the way to the stables. We used to go regularly when we first moved here, but not so often nowadays, and more so in the winter when there aren't so many holidaymakers about.

Sounds as if you've been really poorly, jps. Glad to hear you're feeling better, but don't over do it, will you? Well done for clearing the pond, though - not an easy job, I know.

Long time ago, but I was pleased to read that you and your family enjoyed the camping trip, YL. Not something I've ever done, although DD2 has suggested, more than once, that we should camp at the music festival. Quite frankly, I've always preferred to come home to my own bed! :rotfl:

Not much to report, not done much, as DD1 has been here for 4 days. I did manage to wash the kitchen and bathroom floors, and keep the bathroom cleaned. I even managed to get a WM load done and hung out this morning, before taking DD to lunch then the hover home.

I'm SO cross. We have a green in the centre of our cul-de-sac, with lots of mature trees. We've had GC of one of the neighbours using a silver birch as a maypole, and GC of another tearing leaves of trees, and no-one has complained, as far as I'm aware. We've had 4 lovely kids come from the next street to climb a sycamore directly in front of our house. OH told them at the start that we used to climb trees when we were their age, and they were to treat the tree with respect, and keep the noise down. They promised they would, and have been as good as gold. Today, two arrived in our front garden to tell me that the miserable so-and-so opposite has warned them that he'll call the Police if they keep doing it. :mad: I've told them that he has no right to stop them, as long as they're not causing damage and they're not making a noise.

alec_eiffel

Ikwym about wandering about more during the winter. We're lucky I suppose that we live north of the pier which is where all the day trippers go so it's all dog walkers and kite surfers on our bit. Sand yachting is allowed up there now too, it was banned for 10 years after a woman was killed after being hit by one *yikes*. But yes, we avoid town on super sunny days. Mind you, I used to live in York and that's crazy busy too.

Had a bit of a chat with DH last night. He's super busy and stressed with work with no signs of it stopping and he asked me frankly about whether I would get a job so he could get a less stressful job. I was really surprised but of course said I would if someone would employ me! So today it's given me a bit of a kick to get more done so we don't have to think about the house and DIY and all that stuff when he's not at work .

So far today I have done stuff like the dishes, cleaned round the kitchen, put laundry away, put more laundry on, cleaned the bathroom, replaced the annoying laundry basket with a better one, oiled a sticking window. You know, small things like that. Will get out into the garden for a bit later. I did some weeding yesterday but there's still plenty to do!

Have a good day.

bearcub

I can imagine, Alec, that York is packed most of the time. It certainly has been when we've visited, but it's such a beautiful and interesting city, it's not surprising it's so popular. Although we don't walk by the sea as often as we used to, we do have to visit the horses every day, and they're stabled in the middle of the countrysidek surrounded by the downs, and we can see the estuary and harbour from the paddocks. Smug, moi?

How honest of your DH. I wonder how long he'd been pondering on that. What sort of job will you look for in the first instance? Any ideas? I hope the job-hunting goes well.

Now, DD has gone home, I'm going to try to do some sorting and cleaning today and really should pot on a couple of plants. Vacuuming has to be the first job when we get back from the yard, although we have someone coming today to do some work on the outside of the house. That'll take 3 days, apparently. I need to sort out some clothes. Over the last 2 years, with great optimism, I've bought new summer clothes because I'd had most others for years. Of course, last year, I hardly had a chance to wear any of them, but so far, this year has been so much better. Time to throw out some of the old stuff!

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi Messies!

Buffy, well done on the clear desk. I`ve not seen the top of mine for ages - it`s in the bedroom with allsorts dumped on it, and I`ve not done much upstairs except the very basics...Hope you (& JPS) have had a good start to the new half-term.

YL, sounds like you`ve been super-busy already! Hope the getting-ahead saves you some toil in the week.

Bearcub - I understand your annoyance with the grumpy neighbour. Does he/she realise that these kids aren`t the same ones who were tearing leaves off trees, I wonder? It`s a shame to stop kids climbing trees, as I think it`s the most natural way to get acquainted with a tree! What with all the `health & safety-ism` nowadays, and parents not feeling safe to let their kids wander, your sycamore sounds just perfect for kids from the next street.
My `Strimmer Man` practically grew up in our wild back garden, climbing trees and making `dens` etc, with my nephew & stepson. THAT is why I ask him to do strimming & cutting here, precisely because he doesn`t see the job the way a `professional` gardener would! After I`d called to see him on Sunday when I last posted, he`d said he couldn`t come till Friday - then changed his mind, and turned up a couple of hours later to have a look and `make a start`.
He`s cut about half the area that needs doing, and carefully left a nice bee-busy patch of buttercups while I`m waiting for the nasturtiums & marigolds to get going properly, and left another little patch of long grass because I pointed out that there were a few Speedwells in it. We`ve also decided which portion of nettle-patch to leave untouched. He`s made a bee-hotel for his own garden after seeing mine last year, and we were comparing notes on those too.

Alec E - thanks, your defitinion of `feasible` floor did make me feel better!
Re laundry baskets, I found over the years that they get filled with carp here, and not just used as laundry baskets! I bought some fold-up storage crates a while back, and started using one as a laundry basket (because laundry basket was full of carp!) and folded it flat again straight after use. That caused a `light-bulb` moment, and I have since cleared AND scrapped a couple of old laundry baskets, and now just use the folding crates as required. I find that as long as they are kept folded flat and aren`t in `empty receptacle` form they don`t get filled with carp. I shared this discovery with DD who now uses the crates instead as well.

I`m off to farmshop in a bit, then going to just potter outside.
Hope you`re all having a good day. x

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi again, just got back from farmshop & put stuff away.
Alec & Bearcub, your busy intentions for the day put me to shame.
I`m clinging to the excuse that this weather has to be made the most of, so not a lot is going to get done chez-Emm!! I`ve read that next week is going to be cooler...

I`m not being entirely idle though. I`m putting the oven on then escaping the heat indoors by going outside! SALAD tonight, with tomato/chorizo chicken kievs and a piece of SF chicken each. Cooking them early so we can eat them cold. Also putting a little leg of lamb in oven for tomorrow. Next going to make a dish of tomato/cucumber salad, with olive oil/wine vinegar/basil, and let it fester together.
Last night I made a chicken Biryani, and I could cry - it was the first biryiani I`ve made just right....and I don`t think I can repeat it ever again because I used lots of leftover bits, plus I tweaked it a few times whilst imbibing wine...couldn`t tell you exactly what I did if my life depended on it! (I know the chicken stock was from the carcass of my Thai roast chicken-bothering experiment, and there was spring cabbage plus cabbage-water in it)
Right. Off to slave over the cooker -not!

bearcub

Hi Emms! Tbh, so far, my busy intentions have been just that - intentions. I have to go and collect Mum from the hairdressers in a mo, then I'll have a bit of a clear out afterwards, haven't been able to get the vac out, as the cats are nervous enough of the man working outside, so I can't disturb them inside, too.

As for the tree and kids, the neighbour must realise they're different kids, as the ones that have been tree-climbing are quite a bit older and taller than the others. OH did wonder if Mr Grumpy intends to threaten the man who's doing our guttering, too. Not only is he using a noisy electric saw and drill, but he has his radio going. Tut, can't have that sort of thing in the quiet countryside! <sigh> I suspect the trouble is that these children come from a nearby road that used to have a very poor reputation, while Mr Grumpy's DS1 lives in a nearby manor house. He's something of a snob, I think. Sad, really.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi Messies!
Well, the Beeb weather forecast has got it wrong today! Not a trace of sunshine here yet, and I`m still lurking around in a cardi debating with myself how to make best use of the day. (OK. Pathetic. I know.)

Bearcub - it IS sad, sounds like your Mr Grumpy is living in the past. I hope the `riff-raff` continue to enjoy the trees anyway!

Messy Status Report-
Over the last couple of days I`ve managed to do quite a bit of useful pottering outside, and without `overdoing things` (OH is still on my case!)
As the lavender box seems to be thriving but not yet showing signs of blooming, and the nasturtiums & marigolds are growing nicely but nowhere near flowering yet, there`s clumps of buttercups left griwing (for the bees). I decided there was too much goosegrass & nettles amongst them, and spent a few happy hours just PULLING them out by (gloved!) hand. Quite pleased I`ve done this before they went to seed. I`m keeping a couple of BIG nettle patches, so pulling up the random ones that occur everywhere else!
Also, I`ve `liberated` the red-currants from said naughty weeds, and pulled up more from around the lavender box. I`ve got another box started beside the lavender, and bought some catnip & a big salvia and put them in it. There was a bumblebee on the salvia before I`d even put it in the planter box! (2 of my `bee-hotels` are now very nearly full to capacity, with the tubes sealed up and the last few occupants close to completing theirs. But there`s still the new bee-log getting lots of visitors, and there`s the other bees (bumbles, etc. to think of.)
I`ve also bought 3 `self-watering` square plastic tubs (Aldi, £2.99!) but nothing started in them yet, will wait till the strimming is finished.
Indoors -
Kitchen is as good as it gets here - tops/sink AND floor!
LR still quite tidy-ish, floor & rugs still look clean.
Upstairs - I really should go upstairs.....Henry should come with me.....we could do a bit, before it gets any worse up there, and before the sun comes out again or there`s NO chance!
Hope you`re all having a good day. x
Drags self off to find Henry...

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Emms, thats the problem when the suns shining - you just dont want to do anything indoors! Sounds like you have been really busy in the garden though - I am very envious of your bee hotels.

Well as expected its been a manic week and nothing has been done in the house, that has to be sorted this weekend or its just all going to get on top of me. My kitchen floor is really grubby! I really want to get the rest of the bedding out of the greenhouse and into the garden too.

I am home alone tonight (well, not counting my faithful doggie companion). Just realised how rare it is for me to actually be in the house alone. DS2 was going to stay at home and we were going to watch a film but he got a better offer when a friend rang and invited him for a sleepover. Happy to see him go off and have fun though.

Oh and I got one of those charity bags for Age UK today so I am determined to fill it this weekend. Back to the TV now, remote to myself for once!