"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

Floor is sorted, bath panel is back on (with new waste and overflow), dog had a (short) extra walk, cleaner arrived after builders had gone so most of the dust has gone too. A couple of windows have had some extra sealant, the loft insulation is finished and the loft-hatch has been draught-proofed, and an old walnut-veneered commode has had various bits fixed together so it can be used as a side table in the hall. Just the carpet to go down (Tuesday) and the bath panel to be painted (TBA) and upstairs will be done.

Chimney sweep tomorrow morning (no time, so Stinky will get a short walk first thing and hopefully a longer one later), septic tank pump replacement on Monday. Then hopefully a bit of peace and quiet... 

Only two meetings today due to the US holiday, so lots of work done. Only one meeting tomorrow (and we may cancel that), so hoping to finish another project. It's crazy that something that takes weeks under normal circumstances can be done in a day if I have 4-5 uninterrupted hours. 

Replacement rose has arrived, so I need to make a final decision on where that is going. More narcissi are on the way so I need to clear space for those, and I still have a few tulips left to plant (so need perlite/vermiculite/grit as I've run out and the compost is too claggy for bulbs). 

greenbee

Washing machine and dryer ran overnight, so one dog bed is clean and needs putting back together. People bedding is now clean and dry too (dried using solar power for the TD). 

While waiting for the sweep I decanted cat litter into the cat litter bin (not often used, but I like to have it handy) and then took the other two sacks I've been tripping over for a year out to the workshop feed bin. Brought the last sack of puppy kibble in and the opened new sacks of kibble and tipped the dregs of the old bags into those. So more space in the utility room. Also cleared stuff out of the way for the sweep.

While the sweep was here I chopped up some squash and prepped it for cooking. Once he left I took Stinky for a walk which took a while because he met friends. Came back and decided to risk going to the garden centre - bag idea as the carpark was heaving. I was on a tight deadline, so gave up, came home, and ordered the stuff online, which is clearly what I should have done in the first place. So vermiculite, perlite, grit, and manure all being delivered early next week. Which means I can spend this weekend (weather permitting) cutting back/clearing/filling garden waste bags. 

Put the oven on when I got back and have two trays of squash roasting. Also shoved a dog bed in the WM as I think it'll have time to wash and dry before the sun goes in. 

Now having coffee on the sofa with the cat and need to drag myself off shortly and get on with some work/shift logs/keep an eye on the cooking and laundry. 

greenbee

Frustratingly, having set the battery for the cheaper periods tonight as tomorrow is going to be miserable, it appears to have decided not to charge. I only know this, as I checked it when trying to decide whether to run the TD (one damp dog bed, one wet dog bed)  and DW. So tomorrow is going to be an expensive day as the DW needs to run, I won't have enough battery for baseload, and I have people here so will need to produce coffee/meals and every light in the house will be left on... 

I've rebooted the system, and it's too late now for me to think of any other options to try. Dog has gone to bed and one cat has been down to shout at me and gone back up to bed... 

greenbee

Thankfully the battery did charge last night. Just not in the earlier slots I’d set. So I’ve just shoved a dog bed in the dryer and set the DW on the quickest effective wash (90 mins) to coincide with the current charging slot and next one. Rain has started and it’s still pitch black outside. Dog has been emptied, one cat is out, the other enjoying a lie-in and having a very thorough bath in the end of my bed.

Today will hopefully involve getting stuff done indoors. Although the dog will still want a walk. I might make a (very ambitious) list…

• Pack up books to send to nephew and print postage/book collection
• Pack up sports bras for Smalls for All and print postage/book collection
• Refill indoor log baskets with last of logs from porch
• Bleed radiators and repressurise heating
• Move contents of airing cupboard off my mum’s bed
• List huge curtains in FBMP (measure and photograph)
• List pet/child gate in FBMP (find details online)
• List greenhouse vent openers on FBMP 
• List curtain poles on FBMP
• Clear ensuite windowsill
• Clear random stuff on bedroom floor
• Get winter clothes out of blanket chest and put in wardrobe
• Sort summer clothes to wash/iron before putting away, and pack into blanket chest 
• Remove rest of my stuff from front bedroom and remake bed
• Clear back bedroom
• Put up pictures in back bedroom
• Hang fleeces in utility room
• Cut back dead stuff in borders/weed/fill garden waste bins

greenbee

Not much progress on the list... but some tidying up done, and my mum will now be able to use the spare room and ensuite (although both could do with a proper clean after the builders' working in the ensuite on Thursday).

Dog beds are slowly getting dry - the dryer tends to cut out before they are done, so it's a question of keeping going back and turning them round and switching it back on. 

DW is done but not emptied.

Dog is walked, wiped down, and was imprisoned in his bag until clean and dry. Cardboard box was taken to shed on the way to the walk and post picked up and cart shed given a quick tidy to make room for my mum's car on the way back. 

Robot hoover can now do the hall as well as the sitting room (tested this morning, and it worked) as the floor is clear. Ordered a new one for upstairs in the sale as once the landing is done I hope to have everything organised enough that it won't run into any hazards.

Dog is making bored noises, so I think a trip to take some vine eyes, fencing wire, and loppers to the shed is on the cards while it's not raining. Then back to sort out the first of the fleece curtains that needs to go up. It's a PITA as the supposedly removable rail isn't actually removable and you have to undo the entire bracket at one end to get it out. I probably need to make the effort to get it shortened so it's easier to take up and down. Actually, scrap that, i've worked out how I can use shower curtain hooks, so I'll put it back up and order the stuff to arrive tomorrow so I can deal with it (and the other one!)

debtfreewannabe321

I want a robot hoover. I was looking for one in BF sales but the prices still made my eyes water, so that stays on the lists of wants but not needs for now 🤣

greenbee

I've gone for an older model - but still newer than what I have - of the brand I've bought previously - https://www.amazon.co.uk/eufy-Suction-Dynamic-Navigation-Pro-Detangle/dp/B0CQR5C144/?th=1 (and it has a £10 off voucher if you tick the box). I gave my older one to a friend when I moved here as there was too much chaos to be able to use it (I had one upstairs and one downstairs in my previous house as part of my attempt to manage my Long Covid fatigue). My mum also has one. And it was originally recommended by a fellow MSE-er  

I've replaced batteries (possibly more than once) and filters and brushes are easy to source and not stupidly expensive. But you do have to keep the floor clear of hazards, and it does struggle with sunshine on the floor occasionally!

debtfreewannabe321

Oo thank you greenbee I have saved it. In the spirit of not spending all my money in the first two weeks of the month I'm not going to buy it this time because I haven't budgeted for it. But it's in my saved for later (hopefully when there is another sale on) 😁.

greenbee

My mum's been here, so less of some stuff done than I'd normally achieve, but more of other - we emptied the blanket chest of clothes and put them in the wardrobe/on the bed, then took all the summer clothes out of the wardrobe and put them on the floor. Sorted all the stuff left to make it more organised (e.g. suits in the far corner that's hard to get to) and then I went through all the winter clothes and folded them and put them away in the wardrobe while my mum went through the summer ones and folded them. I'm going to review and probably put away but may weed a couple of things out.

Un-ironed linen is going back with my mum to hers as she has someone coming to do ironing soon, and this will help make it worthwhile. One cashmere cardigan is going back to hers for handwashing as I find it hard to do here due to the disorganised kitchen and utility meaning there is no clean area to do it in ever. She's already de-bobbled it. 

Handbags all sorted and an old £10 note found, as well as £3 (I think they are old too), so need to take them to the bank. 

Postage bought and parcels packed up for my brother and Smalls for All, and parcels are by the door ready for Monday's pickup.

Lots of stuff still on my bedroom floor to sort, but it's getting easier. 

Baileys_Babe

Your Mum sounds like a great support.