Simplifying Life

rosieben

In the sixties palletts were a cheap throw-away resource so they were dumped all over the place. these environmentally-conscious days they are more expensive and probably harder to get hold of; probably worth contacting a large haulier or distrubutor to see if they can supply broken ones?

vivw_2

rosieben wrote: »

In the sixties palletts were a cheap throw-away resource so they were dumped all over the place.

Very true. In the early - mid seventies I used to work on adventure playgrounds and we used them with the kids to make all sorts of things

Janeryan

Hi all

really enjoying all the posts. Glad you liked the idea about the jewellry-I do have friend who actually makes jewellry so I shall see if she wants any of my bits n pieces-thanks for that!

WMF-yes I would just check with your daughter first as I don't want to be blamed for everyone junking their family jewels and doing anyone out of their inheritance!

CERIDWEN-love the repurposing idea-I have a lot of mugs that have been bought as souvenirs over the years and I tend to use these for storage pots for pens etc.

I have also decided that I am going to stop using scrappy bits of paper as bookmarks and start using my collection of leather bookmarks which I collected a a teenager and are now gathering dust-I will also pick out one or two that I am happy to pass on and when I give someone a book as a gift I will also include a bookmark.

Ooh this thread is so inspiring!!keep up the good work peeps!

mary43

Ceridwen - Repurposing...............such a good idea..............I've got needles and pins in old army soap tins of my dads, a cd/video stand (one of the narrow ones) was just the right size to go next to my desk for gardening notebooks, household notebooks, addres books etc. Buttons are in a smallish 'treasure chest' shaped box that I'm going to cover with pictures of buttons.

Aunty Mabel - Low Tech...............what a brilliant programme that was with such smashing ideas. Never did do half of them but have created storage space for OH's vynl records with a pile of old bricks each end, stacked to the height of an album, with a plank of pine on the top.........effective, looks ok and means its easier to find albums that looking through a cupboard. It also got rid of a blanket box that used to stand where the records are now.........all it did was house a lot of clutter and when one of the girls we used to foster moved house this year and wanted a blanket box to decorate it suited her perfectlt and I got rid of a lot of 'clutter' at the same time.

Ellida - There's a Wickes and Focus about 20 miles away so might well have a look there next week. Meantime I'd e mailed the Stick and Go firm and they replied last night, didn't think I'd have a problem with their stick on tiles and are sending me a couple of samples which was kind of them I thought. So, all is not lost..............one way or another it'll get sorted. I did try Wickes on line but couldn't see much in the way of choice.........really have to go and have a proper look.

Haven't done much today, in fact absolutely no decluttering at all........but have made some birthday cards so been a bit productive. :T

mary43

Oh, back to the re-purposing...........don't know why I forgot this..........We had an old sewing machine that was my aunts but it didn't work so at the side, where the drawers were, we took that piece out, removed the drawers and turned it into a small set of shelves. The nice wood turnings that were on the outside are now at the front of the shelves. Its hard to explain, wish I could show a piccy but without a scanner I can't. Anyway, it was all stained in dark oak and polished up...........looks a treat and houses all my little personal wooden mementos I've had bought me.
Also used an old dog grate as a plant holder in the garden and an old metal 3 tier veg rack that was my Mum's is lined with polythene and some herbs grow in it.

halia

mary43 wrote: »

halia..........how much longer have you got before you finish teacher training ? If it's not that long then stick with it. It'll be worth it in the end.

Well I've only just started this term, its an 18 month course. I'm concerned that I coudl try and keep going - find that it doesn't get any easier to manage and drop out further downt he line which would be a waste of effort/time .

If I change in the next 2 weeks I can transfer onto the p/t program.

big decision looming as the p/t program would be alot easier but I have to fund it myself whereas this one gets a bursery

mary43 wrote: »

Sounds like you put a lot of hours into one day...........can you not spread it out a bit so you don''t work so hard ?

I wish! there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day

mary43 wrote: »

The washing is a pain I know and needs to be done but would it really matter if it waited for another day ?

I'm trying to cut down but we do 2 loads of washing a day so I put a load on before i go out and then swap round and put another load in when I get back, that means there is usually 2 loads worth to dry/sort/fold/put away each evening.

mary43 wrote: »

or the ironing at least - to be honest, don't know when I last ironed anything ........

DH shirts have to be ironed, my stuff I usually dont bother about but I do like it if DS goes to nursery looking vaguely clean and tidy (he's 2 so its only ever vaguely clean!)

I would like a much simpler life, but on the other hand I would like to get this qualification asap.

do_it_today!

Hi All :hello:
Well this week I have decided to use my pocket size diary for personal and work information which saves me lugging 2 of them around - just by drawing a line down the pages.

Am currently defrosting freezer (well overdue job!) the process has been helped by not buying much frozen stuff so quite empty.

was out shopping and banking this afternoon and avoided all shops where I didnt have any specific need to be in ie. (primarks)

mary43

Originally posted by Halia
If I change in the next 2 weeks I can transfer onto the p/t program.

big decision looming as the p/t program would be alot easier but I have to fund it myself whereas this one gets a bursery

I can see the problem........bit of a catch 22 in a way.........p/t programme easier but less money - worry over money there,whereas at least you get a bursary with what you're doing now. I think if it were me I'd stick with it. You might kick yourself if you don't but don't lose sight of yourself.........make sure you make some time that's just for you..........doesnt matter if its only a short time so long as its 'yours'.
Is there anyone who can help you out with anything, like the ironing ? A friend maybe ? Or can OH be of any help with that ?

dND

halia wrote: »

Biggest question for me right now is whether to carry on with my teacher trainings, Ds has health problems which mean alot of juggling as at least twice a month eh cna't go to childcare. Also its very tiring - I never hae time for other stuff, I'm feeling guilty right now for not doing anything but i started at 7.30am with washing up and finished at 6.30pm with DS in bed, in between I attended a full day of lectures, did finance in my lunch hour, biked 6 miles in the rain, did some local shopping, put two loads of washing on, ironed clothes etc etc!

Really not sure if this is worth it!

My two-penneth for what it's worth. If I'm remembering correctly once you've finished you will still have to complete a year as a probationary teacher, is that right? Only you can decide on the next bit,

How much do you really want to be a teacher?

I will hold my hand up now and tell you that I was teaching at a further ed college (was curriculum leader) and was supposed to take my PGCert in my own time over 2 years. With all the pressures of actually teaching, being expected to be in for 8, not leave till gone 6, attend 2 recruitment Saturday mornings per month and be in to run short courses over the summer 'break' - plus my staff on work to rule because the college was going to make one of them redundant and re-grade the rest of us I ended up having a breakdown. 5 years on and I'm still getting depression attacks all be it much less frequently and severe than in the first place.

My point is I suppose is that the pressure on your time is unlikely to get easier once you've qualified hence the question, do you really want to do it?

I really wanted to teach but found that I was spending my time 'box ticking' rather than responding to the individual needs of the students but that may be a thing related more to Further Ed colleges.

Sorry if this sounds a bit depressing but I would hate for anyone else to end up as I did.

ceridwen

...and for a teensy little organisational idea:

- I'm very into lists of tasks needing doing. Having noted the idea re 15 minutes worth of tasks - think I will vary this slightly. So - will have in everyday view somewhere an A4 sheet (updated weekly) of tasks to do immediately, divided into left and right side tasks. Left side tasks are the ones that are going to take a bit longer (ie 30-60 minutes) - like: clean bathroom/do ironing/etc. Right side tasks are the ones for when I have a 15 minute timeslot available - like: put stuff in loft/sew on button/do email to someone. Then I can pick out a task according to how much time and energy is available.

I also have a list elsewhere of tasks to do sometime when I can and have at least a day spare for them and cross them off as they get done.

edited to read: and for the times when life gets a bit much - abandon all planned tasks and go into my Quiet Room with soft music/candles for a chillout session.