<<<out of cheese error>>>

mummytogirls

The cookie recipe looks good redo, how were they? (I assume they've all been eaten by now!!) xx

redofromstart

DS1 likes the cookies MrsC - more of a light rock bun texture so he may have added too much baking powder. The mix made 24 m/land cookie sized.

cross posted mummytogirls - they have eaten all the original ones, and DS1 is munching his way through the new ones.

HairyHandofDartmoor

fermi wrote: »

At the moment there is no way for them to. :cool:

Good to hear :T

Hurrah to broadband, welcome to the 21st century Redo :rotfl:

MrsChaos

Love the idea, fermi, and I'm glad to hear that the cookies went down well. Too much baking powder sounds possible. I particularly like the white choc and cranberry ones (not normally a white choc fan).

redofromstart

Insurance renewal was £290, 5 minutes to 'refresh' last years quote on a slightly muddled comparison site and I have already shaved £45 off. Pleased with that. £5 of Q bonus cashback had cleared so that is on its way to me too.

I also did the fatal thing of going out when I was cold this morning. Not jumpers, but more thermals. DS1 asked if he could have some more which was reasonable. DS2 said that he would quite like some too which is also reasonable. £2.10 a pair for thermal long johns (in Boyes) so I got them enough for 3 each (1 on, 1 in the drawer, 1 in the wash) but they also had ladies thin ones for £1.50, and thick ones for £2 so I magically have three more pairs, and some 50g 20% mohair mix wool at 50p a ball that would make lovely cut off gloves. £20 later :cool:

Mixed progress on balance I think. Its an expensive day anyway as OH has the next stage of the nasty dentist treatment and associated eye watering bill. At least we have the cash so not on a credit card.

[Deleted User]

Hi Redo,

Well done on the insurance renewal, every little helps.

Ouch to DH's dentist bill and well done for saving the cash for it.

Seasidegal58

£45 off insurance is a real result!

And I'm sure you'll all be lovely and toasty in your long johns!

redofromstart

I was flicking through the bbc earlier and spotted this video. Its a 'where are you on the clutter scale' with a visual illustration of the same room with progressive degrees of clutter. I think most of our visible to outsiders rooms are a 2, and most of upstairs is a 3. Its inevitably dirty under the clutter, as I refuse to move other peoples junk.

I've looked round myself, taken photos so I can see through fresh eyes and frankly I am ashamed of how we are living. The tragedy is that it does not bother at all anybody else in this house, nor will they willingly help so I am not going to waste negative energy resenting the inaction of others, I am going to use the same time and energy to make a start on sorting things. Who knows, if I start it off then maybe others will join in? I used to be a dedicated flylady, with a fairly clean house and a lovely garden, before I got ill. I know it is possible to sort it, but that it isn't going to happen overnight.

There are no magic cleaning fairies sadly. Pointing this out to my fellow residents merely makes for a very bad atmosphere and changes nothing. Options are wait for the boys to leave home and get divorced, or just roll my sleeves up and get on with it.

Anyway, I've made a start on the back hall. I've also started a notebook to say what is needed - in the case of the back hall - paint! Which we probably have in the garage.

I hate the futility of cleaning, and the knowledge that as soon as anyone else gets home they will trail mess through and not even notice.

Onwards and upwards, how much can I get done before school run?

Seasidegal58

Clutter can be so draining. I personally get very nervy if I have to live with clutter. My flat is quite small so it would be even worse if I was a bit of a hoarder. But I'm on my own and it's much easier to keep it up. Doesn't help as well as it only seems to be you that notices the hoard!

How about if you went back to flylady? Her routines are a nicer, slower process than trying to do everything at once. Perhaps begin the babysteps again?

redofromstart

Thanks Seaside, I still do the dailies, so DW, WM, hoover daily, and the kitchen and loos are always clean. Minimum of an hour a day just to stand still so I need to maintain that as well as move the other areas forward. Its quite a large elderly house so quite time consuming.

I think clearing and repairing/renovating small areas at a time is the solution. I am hoping to have a break for at least some of March which should help in terms of time. I've started a notepad of to do/to find/to buy and OH has a list of jobs that needs his skills on the fridge already so I will just add to that.

Back hall has had a good scrub (walls and floor) and a clear out. It's the main entrance point for most people. Its now shiny and clean but looks tired.

To do:
1. Sugar soap the walls - should be some in the garage
2. Fill, sand and paint walls - materials should be in the garage. Walls and woodwork need doing. Currently an impractical shade of farrow and ball cream which shows every mark, and some of the woodwork is the original bright blue. The beams got repainted in black when we did the kitchen so at least they are done.
3. Sand and re-wax the cloakroom door. Its reclaimed/stripped pine and it needs feeding. Dear cats have clearly been using it as a scratching post. Needs a nice handle! Currently has a swivel bit of wood to shut it from the inside which was a short term solution about five years ago. Add to list of things to look out for when shopping
4. OH needs to repair or replace damaged tile before the whole floor needs doing. There are spares (you guessed it, probably in the garage) and it s an edge one so it should be fixable. Add to his list on the fridge.
5. OH to fit an edge trim so this doesn't happen again. Need to buy an edging strip - tile to lino.