From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Unfortunately not rt.  If push comes to shove, we could go round to the c0-op, but I'd rather not.  I know if I 'nip to the shops' I'll procrastinate to get out of moving a duster about.... 🤣

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Dearest Greying,

I'm sure I've posted this before (not sure whether it was on your diary though) but this is what I read when I think about how much I loathe housework...

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-is-quark-i-made-from-my-yoghurt.html?m=1

And this 

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2020/01/housework-its-never-ending.html?m=1

And lots of other posts under the housework category on that blog 😂

I still don't love it, and I still wish I wasn't the only one doing most of it 😬 But reading this helps me shift my mindset a little towards seeing it as a process of making a home (rather than just never ending series of wiping and dusting).

Obviously that mindshift only lasts a little while and I have to then go back and read everything again 😬😂 But it does work for a while! 

Glad you got to see lots of birds with LG, how lovely 🥰

Greying_Pilgrim

Very wise words from Rhonda.  Thanks Cheery it does make sense.  One of my issues is that I don't like 'ni-naks' or 'ornaments' - something that usually aids 'simple' living.  Trouble is, in this house, there aren't ornaments to dust around, but pieces of monopoly, 16 pens, 43 crystal fragments and a sock........on each/every/any surface 🙄🤣

Goes away muttering new mantra.... "it never ends, so I've not to worry about finishing.... just starting....." 🤣

Greying (very, very much pulling OWN leg) 😉 X

Cheery_Daff

Ha yes, a similar situation here (probably less lego) - I have started reading Marie Kondo this week too 😬😂

rtandon27

My Mom gifted me the MK books - and they have sat happily on the bookshelf gathering dust ever since, perhaps I should start by decluttering them!  I do love a bit of Flylady though - manageable chunks of chores with time to live life.  I've always been about spotless kitchen & bathroom and letting the rest get done when it gets done, so swish & swipe and shine that sink are much more my style of housekeeping!

badmemory

I'm very much a very clean worksurfaces & the rest will get done eventually type, although I do not like actual dirt but dust is fine.  I have had cleaners for about 15 years & would really like one again, but I can't see that happening unfortunately.

LadyWithAPlan

I am enjoying the Dana K White approach and steps to decluttering at the moment  - notably - finding trash then putting things back where they belong - it gets me going & flat is tidier 

Watty1

After much decluttering I am more at peace with the house.   Earlier in the year I bought a couple of lovely hurricane lamp style cases for candles in the local charity shop. I'm returning them on the next village trip. I have had them for 6 months and they have not been lit (I have added the candles) so clearly I don't love them.  I shall simply view the money spent as a hospice donation and I view anything else I buy there the same way - if I don't love it and use it, then back it must go.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Thank you for all your support and solutions regarding dust & clutter.  I did manage to do a deep clean of the front room.  The only problem with DH is that he cleans - very well - but is apt to move stuff from pillar to post, rather than dealing with it.  I'm not tidy and I'm for sure not a neat freak, but i like to do things 'properly', when I do them.  I did take the opportunity to throw quite a bit of broken 'stuff' away today.  Along with various bits and pieces that LG has collected - think a free pencil or colouring pens for completing a quiz, and which have broken leads, or that have been sharpened to nowt but 2 inches long.  

As - in theory - we're in this house for the forseeable (and yes, I do count my blessings that we're in this position, despite not everything being 'perfect'), at least we don't have to make 'make do' compromises with eg furniture in the future, but then neither can we do everything immediately.  We do need better storage.   There has been value in living here a while to see where the cold spots are, or the pinch points, or what we use most etc.  But where the heck does all this dust come from?

At least LG is back up to date with homework, and they don't feel as under the weather as they did, so that's progress.  

Tea tonight was mash, sausages, baked beans and mixed veg.  I used the last of the potatoes that I bought in the 7.5kg bag from MrL.  The sausages were Linda Mc for 79p from H3r0n.  Pudding was the last of the sponge pudding and yoghurt, for 2 - I ate the last pear instead.  A filling meal, finished stuff up and was from stores.

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

KajiKita

When we had metal framed windows replaced with double glazed uPVC in the last place we owned, a whole load of dust stopped appearing (after the inevitable DIY dust was cleared). I think it might be because ill fitting, draughty windows pull in dust, dirt and debris from outside. Maybe you will experience the same 😊

Glad LG is feeling better and homework was despatched easily 👏😊

KK