Moving forward and upwards

Irenadler

Sounds a lot like my back room (officially supposed to be second bedroom): office, library, dining room, seed storage, filing cupboard of doom, another cupboard of Xmas stuff, including all the cards and wrapping paper for gifts, sewing area, extra dog bed for the dog to lie in snoring when I'm in there, sideboard of art stuff for when I get creative (rare event nowadays), which weirdly has also the overflow of dog stuff, and just general, where can I shove this? room....  

MovingForwards

I'm fed up with how that room looks and know I've got to try and tackle it before TomBo starts complaining about lack of space in the flat.
He has this strange habit of not really stacking things to make good use of space.
An example is a unit in the lounge has all his tools all placed individually on the shelves, instead of getting a small toolbox / box to put them in, freeing up space for other things. The pots are not stacked inside each other in the kitchen. Boxed power tools are not stacked on each other.
It's a nice size flat for us, but space is at a premium for now.

I am very tired today. Almost like dragging my body around, when I have to go to a different room. Part of it is because I need time off as I'm doing two roles at the moment, part of it is my sibling; I am getting really stressed with some of the stuff and the lack of awareness is something I'm struggling to comprehend.

Haven't got anything planned tonight aside from reading on the sofa.

riotlady

Hope you have a nice chilled evening on the sofa, sounds like you deserve it

Irenadler

My advice, turn off the phone so sibling can't contact for a while, and have a breather. Doesn't sound like the sibling can/will change, so you need to preserve whatever bit of energy that you have. 

Reading is a good escape from thinking about your situation, occupy your brain with something enjoyable....

MovingForwards

I need time off, need to switch my head off from work.

Unfortunately I can't switch my phone off as that's how I surf the net and TomBo messages me a lot when he isn't here, with a few phone calls too! 

I've put the heating on, grabbed a blanket and my cat has joined me for a cuddle. 

Skint_yet_Again

Sorry to hear you sounding tired and stressed. You have achieved so much this year. It’s hard to support relatives when you are not feeling so great yourself. 

Will you find a way to get tombo to store things more realistically? My DS doesn’t put anything away so I will be glad when he’s eventually gone. His washing once dried lives on the dining room table / chairs. We don’t use them, so me & DS’s gf just leave them there. Hope she realises what she is letting herself in for 😳 

MovingForwards

Thank you Skinty.
I'm going to buy TomBo a toolbox, that way it's only the floor of that unit being taken up. 

I need to get the energy together to organise the big unit which I painted, that would free up some space.
Also I desperately want to get the mahogany woodwork painted white, ideally before I break for for Christmas. Getting tired of seeing the nice white one next to the ones which need doing.

His cycle is in the spare room, before he kept it in the coal shed. I might see if there's a way of hanging it on the back of the door. 

He is tidy in some areas eg putting his clothes away, but other areas not so eg the kitchen. I keep going in, putting things on shelves and in cupboards only for them to magically appear again. I admit the kitchen isn't big, but I've made good use of the space. 

I'm more than happy for extra shelves to go up in the pantry and boiler cupboard, even though I will need a ladder to access them, as it will give us space for lesser used things to go on.

The way it's going my Christmas break will be a few days rest then a load of house stuff 🙈

Irenadler

Hey Babs
You can do it! You know how to pace yourself, but, I appreciate how frustrating it is when you want to go all out and your body isn't behaving....

savingwannabe

MF, please dont exhaust yourself. It sounds like you are going through a stressful time with sibling. Just do a bit a day. I have a 1000 things to do but am not going to do anything that wears me out in one go. Try to treat yourself tonight.

savingholmes

Be kind to yourself and rest - like you tell all of us to.
Have you thought of getting a small shed - you have outdoor space now. That way some of Tombo's diy type stuff and cycle could be stored out there rather than in your flat. I know it is £ but I think it would really make your life easier - and sheds are supposed to add value to your house.