A new royal start

QueenJess

It's only day 1 and I am already knackered!  Managed to clean 2 bathrooms, do one load of washing, put the clean clothes away, build an extensive "road" and train track and make fairy cakes which DS had fun decorating.  That was the morning and then I attempted to do a full day's worth of work in the afternoon/early evening with a break to make a stew with the leftover beef (with crusty bread.. yummy) and put DS to bed.  I was positively looking forward to working in the afternoon as I knew I would be able to sit down!

I can see very little getting achieved in the next few weeks whilst trying to juggle everything...  I think I will just try and achieve one thing a day at least so I feel like some progress is being made.  I did do another load of baby clothes washing, so there is some progress there at least.  Need to get some vouchers earned and cashed out pretty soon so I am able to do the steam cleaning etc.  It's slow progress as there was nothing around over the weekend, so trying to squeeze it into non-existent time during the evening.

Think I will have to accept something is never going to get done and I fear it is the cleaning and tidying that will fall by the wayside...  Must negotiate when my maternity leave starts and what holiday they want me to take.  Might actually really help me with this lockdown as DH from next week is going to be stupidly busy for weeks.

savingholmes

Sounds like a plan starting holiday / maternity early - or perhaps just using part week holidays if you have enough left. Employers are going to need to be flexible. I too know at least one person with long covid.

QueenJess

Yikes, after a week of juggling work and childcare, I'm completely knackered!  Don't think I can continue to do this long term, but just trying to take each day at a time at the moment.

Still need to sort out holiday/maternity leave... one to discuss with work next week.  Somehow this week I managed to clean the whole house including a 2 hour deep clean of the kitchen (well overdue, although not tackled the oven yet ), do at least one load of washing everyday and put away any clean clothes, make flapjacks for DS, make different flapjacks for DH (don't ask), make cookies (today) and fairy cakes.  This is along with childcare for half the day and squeezing in full days of work each day.

Also did a whole load of general life admin like booking a million different doctor/midwife appointments (had one this week), sending out parcels that have been sat around for ages, claiming a work expense back, formally updating my job title at work, topping up the shopping gift card and various other things I forget already.

With everything going on, I haven't made a huge amount of progress with my £50 of vouchers to order my steam cleaner, although I am £10 through it.  I have made a bit of progress on extra savings and now on £66.54 out of my £250 target.  Tons more to get done still.. got 2 birthdays this month and another one early next month and need to start sorting them.  DH's birthday is in a week, but I think I've sorted the present today and I've discussed dinner and cake requirements earlier.  So think that one is in the bag now.  Just got another birthday in Jan and have to think about DS's birthday too.  Maybe next week..

I think I am slowly making progress everywhere, but it is exhausting!  Must try and get a few more things onto eBay tomorrow too as I need to clear out the rest of the room of doom.  I already got rid of all the cardboard into the recycling, so at least that's more space made.

Today I did my load of washing and put away the clean clothes, general tidying, ordered DS's and DH's favourite snacks online (they had free delivery for a limited period) for when they run out of flapjacks, ordered a present for DH from DS, discussed the rest of DH's birthday requirements, made cookies and did the dusting/cleaned mirrors.  Looking forward to putting my feet up later!

Dinner is fish kedgeree and pudding is various things from the freezer... muffins, ice cream, cake or fruit and yogurt that all need using up.

I feel like this has been a spendy month already, but it is in the aim of getting stuff just done.  Am hoping I can do less and less from Feb onwards, which means I need to get the bulk of stuff done this month.  My hopes aren't too high on a holiday this year with Covid plus a new baby, so will temporarily move my holiday budget into paying myself back.  Would love to get rid of that negative on the joint account budget before the baby is born, but I think that is a bit too optimistic.

DH will start getting busy next week, so life could start getting even more interesting.  My brain is so frazzled at the moment, I think I'm going to have to start a to do list rather than it being in my head!

savingholmes

You are making me drool for flapjacks or oaty biscuits. I have tons of oats so may give that a go tomorrow. Might cheer me up - if I even have the other ingredients I'd need. What recipe do you use?

Grogged

So much done, you're not related to Mary Poppins are you?
I love that you do so much home cooking and baking, it makes such a difference doesn't it.
I hope you're also finding some time for yourself as you seem such a whirlwind on every other front.
ATB, G.

QueenJess

savingholmes said:

You are making me drool for flapjacks or oaty biscuits. I have tons of oats so may give that a go tomorrow. Might cheer me up - if I even have the other ingredients I'd need. What recipe do you use?

Which one lol?!  I have one which is basically just oats, honey, butter, bananas and chocolate chips for DS (and they are freezable): http://www.gourmetmum.tv/easy-recipes/banana-flapjacks
The other one I use for DH is from a recipe book I have and is oats, oatmeal, butter, honey, 3 types of dried fruit and an egg.  This one is relatively healthy - it only just has enough liquid in there to bind it together.  Most of it is dried fruit.

QueenJess

Grogged said:

So much done, you're not related to Mary Poppins are you?
I love that you do so much home cooking and baking, it makes such a difference doesn't it.
I hope you're also finding some time for yourself as you seem such a whirlwind on every other front.
ATB, G.

Ha ha, what time?!  Managed to steal away for an hour or so before dinner is done (which DH is dishing up and making the gravy for me).  I think home baked things taste so much nicer than shop bought.  I don't like the cakes you get in the supermarket as they are just sugar laden and too sweet for me.

QueenJess

Another day of trying to get some things done.  Cleaned the bathroom and toilet, managed to get a few things onto eBay (although not everything yet), tidied up, watered the sad looking house plants, did another load of washing and putting clothes away.

Also finally managed to convince DH to move the really, really heavy sideboard to put the extension lead behind it.  Now we have two working lights on there.. only had the lights since July.  Bought a very small side table for the dining room too.  It was on my bookmarks for ages, but somehow all my cleaning/tidying kicked DH into action and he brought up the topic and sanctioned my choice.  As it was also on sale, I jumped at the chance and ordered it.  Another hit to the joint account though and still got to buy some more baby bits.  Going to be a spendy month in all I think.

Had way too many leeks in my veg box and so made leek and potato soup for lunch (plenty more for another lunch).  My jaw almost dropped right onto the table when DS asked to have some and said he liked it.  He always insists he doesn't like soup!  Definitely need more soups on the menu now!

Dinner is roast beef, with roasted veg, roasted pots and yorkshire puddings (yummy).  Pudding is still stuff from the freezer... ice cream, fruit & yogurt, cake, muffins etc.  Also still got some yummy cookies left and flapjacks.

Did the meal plan for the week and the shopping list for tomorrow.  Looks like a long one due DH's birthday at the weekend.  Making a nice meal for him, maybe a crumble, a victoria sponge cake and I have some chocolate I will melt into car shapes (present from DS).  I'm sure he'll enjoy it  

savingholmes

You are achieving loads. Home made soup as well as baked goodies... 

QueenJess

Well this week seems to have lasted basically forever.  Been busy doing full time work and part time childcare (along with trying to get everything sorted out).

I have managed to fully clean the house this week (except hoovering... not my department ), also made a couple of batches of biscuits, wrapped up DH's presents for the weekend (from parents/DS), got DS to make DH a birthday card, melted chocolate into car moulds and bagged them up for DH's present and did manage to order a couple of baby things.  Obviously also been feeding everyone lunch and dinner everyday too...

However, there always seems to be so much to do.... bit overwhelmed with just keeping everything going and so been neglecting the baby stuff.  I wanted to get it all done this month (excluding consumables to buy in Feb/March), but not sure that is totally realistic.  Trying not to think about everything and just tackling very small bits at a time and seeing where I get to.  I am still slowly working through the baby clothes washing and did order a new mattress bottom and sheets for the pram (no idea what DH does to this stuff.... even his cot sheets sprouted holes!).  Need some cleaning fluid to clean the old baby toys and some laundry stuff better for hand washing (pram covers).  Ordered the latter; the former I will get DH to pick up with the food shopping on Monday.  Then I can tackle working through cleaning the pram and toys.  Will think about car seats, moses basket and cot sheets after that.

Must also get the rest of the big stuff onto eBay so we can clear the rest of the baby room.... maybe one for the weekend.

The joint account is certainly taking a big hit this month.  Got effectively 3 birthdays to do and all the rest of the baby stuff to buy.  There is no chance I will reduce the deficit this month, but hoping if I plough through everything I will feel better having done it and then will be able to catch up money wise in Feb instead.  I am certainly not planning to do anything much March - May, so I'm bringing a lot of expenditure upfront to make sure I'm fully stocked with most things.  Half given up with reducing the food budget.  I've just accepted that one shop a week in an expensive food shop and feeding two hungry males is just how it is whilst I am avoiding unnecessary shopping and the other crazy food shops round here.  Still doing at least one veggie meal a week, stretching my roast to 3 days of food and other small things which hopefully make it a bit better.

Got to squeeze a full day's worth of work in this afternoon and make DH a birthday card for Sunday (I usually make my own cards).  Luckily DH is making dinner today - lazy fish and chips, so just a throw into the oven job.  Knackered now it's Friday, but at least I don't have to juggle work at the weekend so hopefully I will get through some of my home tasks as well as baking a cake for DH's birthday.