Weekly Flylady Thread 14th February 2022

ionafan

You sound a lot more cheerful, Dizzy   Don't overdo things, please, otherwise you'll be back where you started.  Re OH and meat meals: have you tried mixing Qu0rn or cooked lentils with "real" mince to make it go further? You could always blend the cooked lentils into a pasta sauce.

And Jazee gets a smiley too

And MrPigpen

Well done on the decluttering, pigpen and Honey_Bear.  Every little bit makes a difference.

Your house is going to look lovely in the photo shoot, Mademoiselle!

I was out at the study group this morning, so didn't achieve much more beforehand.  Rosie had to stay in the mancave while DH and I were both out, as the decorator was emulsioning a brilliant red wall and I didn't want her to swish it with her feather-duster of a tail, so after lunch I took her straight out for her walk - it had stopped raining by then and there was a bit of watery sunshine - and I even managed to do almost the full circuit of the Covert, though I was shattered by the time we got home.  A cup of tea and half an hour on the sofa proved an excellent restorative

I told DH this afternoon that I shall not be putting all his whisky bottles back in the DR because I'm afraid that unit might eventually collapse under their weight. I have just cleared out the ottoman-type box on wheels (hand made by the previous occupant of this house, who was a keen "carpenter", so it's all odd bits of wood held together by about a kilo of old screws - perhaps you remember the story of us trying to dismantle the bed he had constructed in similar fashion, in order to get it out of our bedroom?) which lives under the equally old (but metal framed - phew!) table in the utility.  There is now room to store the bird food (which we can't put out because our NNDN is afraid of it attracting the squirrels and encouraging them to get into her loft again) and also Rosie's food in the ottoman.  That leaves one shelf clear in the cupboard unit in the utility, and the unopened bottles will fit in there - even the tall ones.  Result! 

The decorator says he will be finishing around lunchtime on Thursday.  I shall have to buckle down and do the church accounts on Friday and over the weekend - no chance of getting them done tomorrow.

pigpen

Up to 2 binbags for CS, 3 in the bin plus lots of cardboard boxes and a very dead wash basket.. It contained ALL my socks I have been unable to find since the beginning of las year.. probably the last time I cleared in our pit.

All stray wool launched into a large empty box
2 washloads brought down

Many things decluttered to their own rooms.. and a ladybird and a spiddle and a flea from the cat (deflea'd yesterday so a half dead thing) all outside..

I dug out the bed so I don't have to do that later.

Tomorrow I have the 4 baskets at the foot of the bed.. 2 contain wool, 1 has clean laundry and the other has all manner of gubbins

OH had a major panic attack at the beginning of his shift.. I am not very good with the bed side manner.. I'm like everyones worst nightmare of a doctor.. He settled down eventually but I have tried to stay close to encourage and support.. that I can manage.

Beasties shovelling ice lollies.

DW loaded and pack ups thrown together.

I think once the grots are in bed that is me done and I can knit the front of this infernal cardigan.. the pattern is VERY confusing.

YORKSHIRELASS

Iona I envy you with the decorating, I know its been a bit of upheaval but must be so nice to get the whole house done and freshened up. 

18 hours paid stuff done in two days, not something I want to make a habit of but needs must.

Have emailed DSs IBD nurse.  He is not poorly enough to be made a priority so even though the consultant said they cant rule out the cancer coming back, and even though he has a large ulcer and inflammation in his bowel, he has to wait at least 6-8 weeks for an MRI, then wait to see a consultant, then wait for whatever treatment he needs.  I said I was worried about his mental health so the nurse will speak to his consultant.  Not holding my breath.  DSs response?  Dont worry I am fine (and this is what he will say if the nurse rings him, even though its a lie).  Rant over.

Feet up now and PJs on soon.  DH is keeping things tidy in the house while he is only managing part time work.  He is learning my flylady methods and I have to say that he is being a star.

Some washing to go over the airer.  Tempted by the Christmas wine that I opened at the weekend.

ionafan

YL, it's been more than a bit of an upheaval, and poor Rosie doesn't know whether she's coming or going - she hates having her routine disturbed and doesn't like strangers coming into her house!  But we've waited so long since the roof leak ruined the LR ceiling that I decided we needed to make full use of our place on the decorator's waiting list and get the lot done at once.  It's not actually every room, though it feels like it.  And it's not as bad as when we first moved in: then I was site managing plumbers, electrician, plasterer, tiler, kitchen fitter, carpenters and decorator all at once, and we had boxes piled everywhere and were moving bedroom and/or LR every few days to make room for the next bit of work to be done.

 The lower shelf of recipe books has been sorted and half a dozen more have been decluttered

RebekahR

Hi All, Been having a big wobble today. sooo fed up of hubby working from home. He is in our bedroom day and night. Meetings etc. So I can never get in to clean, tidy, take laundry, have a bath, nap or anything in my own personal space! It is just sooo annoying. This country is winding up the pandemic and it just seems to be dragging on for me. ARGH!

Dizzy_Imp

Me again! Two posts in one day! I know, I'm almost giddy with it...

Second glass of vino in and there's enough time for a third, so while DH is playing online Fifa 22, I've been counting my blessings and getting more plans straight in my mind.

I need a proper gardening buddy.  My friend, Mrs W, says she can pop over for a day each week, but she's just been offered more work as a TA in a local primary  school, so that might be a bit hit and miss.   Trouble is, round here, everyone has large gardens so are busy with their own upkeep.  I need a creative lure to attract somebody over to help me...

Thanks for the suggestion re: meat substitutes Iona,  but hubby can sniff these out at a hundred yards, plus I'd prefer not to have to "pretend" it's a meat product.  Just eat your veggies for gawd's sake man!

Decorating is my favourite pastime - I just need lots of £££s to afford the wallpapers that I adore.  I know you will all think I'm mad, but I love this house and want to stay here for many more years...that said, we are on flood alert tonight 

PS...would love to see some photos Mademoiselle of your French home, once you think it's ready for sale...

Mademoiselle

Morning lovelies.

Thanks for the encouragement about the house, I can definitely tell you all that baby steps is the way to go.  Previously I would go all out at a task then half way through be exhausted and it would stay unfinished.  This time I've had a dot to dot approach, or as long as I do something it doesn't matter where.  Last weekend OH and set to in the party room (60 square metres that had been a dumping ground for the last 6 years) and suddenly it's really not looking to bad.  OH was amazed how much I had done, and so was I, it's just bit by bit you don't always notice.  

Dizzy, my OH doesn't think it's a proper meal unless it contains meat or fish, so I sympathise with meals, but stews with lots of  extra think gravy help reduce the meat bill a bit, and we've started to use slightly smaller plates to encourage smaller portions as we both have extra kilos.  

I think it was HoneyBear that introduced me to the idea that better is good.  Now as long as I have done one little thing to make the house better than it was before I don't beat myself up

A spending spreadsheet has been a great money saving tool for me, just keeping track of everything we spend has made a huge difference and led to us being in the very fortunate position we are in now.  Just having to write it down made us both think about choices we made.  

Bed made, clothes picked up
Shirt ironed for OH to go to office (must do more today)
Banking and spreadsheets checked

Off to put the kettle on, and I will tidy the kitchen whilst waiting for it to boil and but WU in to soak.

See you all later with your best SMILES

Mademoiselle

Exactly 2 hours.  That's all it took to unmask the cloakroom and loo and clean it thoroughly including window and scrubbing the floor.  I also washed up the pans and baking tins I'd put in to soak.  

Hands now slathered in hand cream which can soak in whilst I have a large glass of water.  Then need to finish off in the kitchen to get it back to how it should be, before lunch.

kazwookie

Mademoiselle you are on a real roll, when you are finished you are going to be so proud.

Pigpen any news from proposed new school for squeak?

Daily stuff done

Logs sawn, and stacked

Play time outside with 2 cats done, including ND's cat who came to play!

Sausages out to defrost.

BadCat18

Morning all

wfh and just waiting for new laptop to load up ( long story but IT basically gave up on mine and it’s currently on the way back to them to see if they can repair! )
wm x 1 run and it’s flapping madly on the line with double pegs!
load of towels currently swishing
clothes from airers folded and put away / in ironing pile as needed

after work yesterday I continued my dressing room/ office sort out, this resulted in 4 bags of clothes to be taken to cs, many of them now too big and the rest I’m just unlikely to ever wear, still more to sort but there is breathing room in the wardrobe

cupboard from my office now emptied and rehomed in the spare room, to be used for linens etc, looks much better in there
cupboard from spare room now empty, DH will help me to get it downstairs for donating on the weekend

I have a free hour today at lunch time so will be setting myself a little list… right now laptop has fired up so back to it I go, I shall just ignore the chaos behind the desk as I work lol, fortunately it can’t be seen when I am on video calls!

byes for now x