Watty's Awakening

Suffolk_lass

That tray bake sounds good. I might add cauliflower to the squash I intend roasting, ahead of making a simple vegetable curry to accompany the turkey one that is defrosting. I also have frozen rice, and just needed reminding, so thank you. Have a good day @Watty1

daisy_1571

Good call on powering through with the cleaner decision, everything crossed it works great. 

Do you have a plan in place to not get sucked into conversation when she arrives?   Leave a note and be in your office with door closed?  If she can't come in on her own maybe arrive at the door with a phone at your ear or with your laptop looking like you are on a zoom?  Do that kind of thing the first few times and you've established the habit that you are busy and she doesn't arrive and have a lovely 20 minute chat - good for everyone when you are in the right mood but maybe too exhausting for you just now

Dxx

TallGirl

Good re the cleaner should really help but also agree with Daisy easy to get chatting and you will not only be using your own time but also paying for her time at the same time. Some good suggestions hope it works out. 

beanielou

Really hope the cleaner works out. Roll on Friday. 

greenbee

I have an independent cleaner Watty (she does a couple of hours a week for my mum and did lots of overtime for me when I moved here - including weekends - and decided to find a slot for me long-term even though I'm out of her normal area) and she's very flexible. If I'm not around she either gets on with her normal empty bathroom bins/waste paper baskets, clean bathrooms/loos, dust/wipe cat footprints off windowsills, de-cat hair chairs and plump up cushions, clean kitchen, then hoover all floors and wash all washable ones. She also takes the bins out and empties the hoover. If I'm out I usually send her a message to let her know and tell her if anything specific needs doing (e.g. feeding cats before she leaves). She also takes Stinky out when she empties the bins/lets him out if he looks like he needs it, and if I let her know in advance (e.g. when I had Covid/if i'm out for a long time) will take him for a walk - it cuts her cleaning time, but is nice for both of them. 

When my mum had her knee op, she dropped in every morning to take her coffee in bed and check up on her/help her put surgical stockings on, and has also done bits of shopping when she's been unwell. If you can build a relationship with someone who is local and responsible for their own schedule/decisions, then it may well work out better than an agency. And she also understands working from home, so leaves me to it (and answers the door while I'm working to take in parcels etc), and deep cleans my office on the rare occasions I'm not here!

WelshmansDaughter

I used to clean for a lady who WFH and ended up looking after her kids instead 🤷

Watty1

@daisy_1571 those are some really great practical suggestions, thank you.  

She has already offered to do pretty much anything WattyDog requires in terms of letting him out, feeding him and so on which was sweet.    @greenbee you really make a good case for an independent cleaner there.   I've had a couple over the years who have been great and done pretty much anything that was needed but fell into using agencies for ease.  

I think with practical suggestions that mean I can avoid chatting this will work then cleaning up the house will help.  

Brewerspride

@Watty1 How is WattyDig doing? Hope he's recovered well from his reaction to the drugs.

Watty1

Brewerspride said:

@Watty1 How is WattyDig doing? Hope he's recovered well from his reaction to the drugs.

he has indeed although he is back on high dose steroids and two lots of painkillers.  He is back to his happy self, definitely not touching the treats that were, in his opinion the cause of the problem and refuses to talk to me for hours if I even offer one so I think they need to be relocated to someone else.

He is also back to being able to go to short walks, and yesterday made it as far as the old lady opposite the back gate (he went out the front door so a little walk) who rewarded him with a tennis ball she had found AND some chicken as a treat.   That was definitely worth the effort of walking there!

We go back to the vets on Wednesday to check in with her and sort out long term medication for him.  I didn't want to keep him on the steroids long term but I think that is what he may need. I thought his walking got worse as a result of the painkiller but I think it was actually because he came of the steroid.  I changed too much in one go and when the vet said wobbly walking was a side effect of the painkiller I thought that was the issue but clearly it was his slipped disc bothering him and that gradually got worse.

He is 9 and this is about keeping him pain free, enjoying his life, and winning at what he enjoys.   It is lovely to see him trot up the road to check in on his favourite neighbour and win some treats from her.

ladybird1106

So glad wattydog is feeling up to a little walk to see his friend. 

Love 🐞