A Simpler Life 2018

[Deleted User]

We have no hot water or heating until next Wednesday at the earliest, thank goodness we have the wood stove which heated us kettles yesterday and kept us warm and washed! This morning I wanted my usual shower but couldn't have it so I had a bowl bath instead and 1 kettle full of water gave me the equivalent of a good shower as I used a washing up bowl and stood in the bath, I am now clean and warm and happy!

Wednesday2000

Micellar water, sorry, I forgot to quote who said that, but I saw that on the Superdrug website the other day and wondered what it was. It was the B range which I sometimes buy from.

I read yesterday that if you use oil on your face you should use a toner as well. I don't use one but I was thinking of rose water.

I've used quite a few moisturisers over the years and think jojoba oil is better than anything else on my skin.:)

VJsmum

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I read yesterday that if you use oil on your face you should use a toner as well. I don't use one but I was thinking of rose water.

I've used quite a few moisturisers over the years and think jojoba oil is better than anything else on my skin.:)

I use rosewater and glycerin from Boots as toner - I apply with a cotton round. I bought a brushed cotton cot sheet from a chazzer a year or two ago and made a load of cotton rounds from them and a few squares that my DD uses on her face as she finds them gentler than flannels.

Cottage_Economy

Later this afternoon I am being forced to simplify my pantry.

I knocked a bag of flour from a high shelf and, of course, it hit every shelf on the way down and exploded on the floor. I rationalised that it was probably time for the pantry to be cleaned and arranged anyway.

That was until I saw the mouse poo everywhere while moving things around. Mr Mouse (and probably Mrs and their children) have happily eaten their way through over a kilo of lentils from a 2kg bag.

I may have to think about decanting any food that has a packet which can be nibbled through into sealed jars and containers.

My MIL is due back from her Christmas holiday next week and will throw a fit if she finds its been in her cereal.

Cottage_Economy

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

We have no hot water or heating until next Wednesday at the earliest, thank goodness we have the wood stove which heated us kettles yesterday and kept us warm and washed! This morning I wanted my usual shower but couldn't have it so I had a bowl bath instead and 1 kettle full of water gave me the equivalent of a good shower as I used a washing up bowl and stood in the bath, I am now clean and warm and happy!

I'm doing the same thing at the moment. My heating packed up a few weeks ago but every time something gets fixed it leads onto another problem. The previous owner never bothered having the oil-fired boiler serviced, just 'maintained' it himself due to not wanting to spend the money on an engineer. Currently have it switched off after it started belching exhaust fumes into the house.

fuddle

Ouch at the mouse family. Ouch at the forced clean. I'm decanting into glass jars too. My reasons are more about plastic next to food but you've definitely gave me food for thought.

Your flour spillage reminds me of 'reorder flour Alexa' adverts on TV. In theory the devices that Amazon and Google offer for organising should make life so simple but to me, they're a step too far into giving up independence. I'm well aware I'm coming across as being a stuffy auld fuddy duddy not accepting change but I just feel like shaking the earth and shout 'keeping doing, keep being, you're losing it!'

SimpleLiving

fuddle wrote: »

Ouch at the mouse family. Ouch at the forced clean. I'm decanting into glass jars too. My reasons are more about plastic next to food but you've definitely gave me food for thought.

Your flour spillage reminds me of 'reorder flour Alexa' adverts on TV. In theory the devices that Amazon and Google offer for organising should make life so simple but to me, they're a step too far into giving up independence. I'm well aware I'm coming across as being a stuffy auld fuddy duddy not accepting change but I just feel like shaking the earth and shout 'keeping doing, keep being, you're losing it!'

I agree. People are becoming too reliant on daft devices. I find it quite depressing.

Cottage_Economy

fuddle wrote: »

Your flour spillage reminds me of 'reorder flour Alexa' adverts on TV. In theory the devices that Amazon and Google offer for organising should make life so simple but to me, they're a step too far into giving up independence. I'm well aware I'm coming across as being a stuffy auld fuddy duddy not accepting change but I just feel like shaking the earth and shout 'keeping doing, keep being, you're losing it!'

I don't think you are being a stuffy auld fuddy duddy at all! I think there may be times though when some of this stuff might come in useful for simplifying tasks when you're really busy. I'm currently looking into getting an Amazon Echo to see if it will help me with the burden of wifework.

MIL lives with me and DH and is very passive and timid. Since she's moved in, my stress levels are at an all time high. She's in her early 80s and has almost shut down completely from making daily life decisions that happen outside of her room. There are endless small decisions being deferred to me daily and the mental load of keeping a running inventory of hers and our life is becoming exhausting on top of working full-time and looking after the house and livestock. I'm not being allowed to ‘switch off’.

One of my pet peeves is shopping, cooking and housework that needs to be done. Unless I do a stock take, make a list or force them out the door nothing happens. Unless I say "can you do this now" they won't do anything off their own back. Dozens of times a day both of them are querying stuff with me, disturbing me while I'm working, and most of it relates to food and house/life management.

I've tried many things in the past and none have worked. I can, however, see my DH and her liking the novelty of telling Alexa when we have run out of something or asking what needs to be done. I'm getting much better at letting small disasters happen and not caring, leaving them to sort it out, but the shopping and housework are big ones that I need to draw back from.

"We've run out of..."
"Tell Alexa.
"Alexa, put white rice on the shopping list"

"Can I do anything in the house?"
"Ask Alexa for the to-do list."
"Alexa, what is on the to-do list."


I have to find a way, or I'm packing a bag and going to a hotel for a while to get away from it. I might do that anyway, even with Alexa!

WartimeScrapingofMarmite

Finally caught up on the last two days worth of posts!

It's interesting reading everyone's take on simplifying, for me I think it's trying to do less of the things I don't enjoy to make more time for the things I DO enjoy.

I think learning to say "no" goes a long way towards simplifying your life. I look back at all the things I've been invited to in the past, things I didn't want to go to or couldn't really afford to go but never felt able to say no - such a drain on time and energy! Now though, if I don't want to go to something I'll just say "not for me, thank you, but I hope you have a lovely time".

Is it an age thing, having the confidence to say no?!

Cottage_Economy

WartimeScrapingofMarmite wrote: »

Is it an age thing, having the confidence to say no?!

I think it is. I didn't start saying no until I turned 40. Somehow that felt like a big 'grown up' moment and I got a bit feisty, almost overnight.