Confessions of a very tired old styler. Please join in.

mandragora_2

That's called corned beef hash that is, and its very old style!!


My confession? My oh and son have been off skiing in Italy all week, while I've been stuck at home alone (through choice - I can't think of anything worse than spending a week in the snow, doing something that is a combination of long periods of boredom mixed with periods of sheer terror). I did a great job on the the martyrdom/self-pity front before they went, but, to my astonishment, I've really secretly enjoyed it. Here are the highlights:

If I've cleaned something, its stayed clean;
If I've bought something delicious to eat, it's been me who's eaten it (lovely, expensive bread; a great big bowl of fruit salad made on Tesday and dipped into as part of breakfast every morning since; delicious veggie meals);
I've watched as much crud on telly as I've wanted to, all week, and no-one's made any sarcastic comments;
I've dropped in to my other son's place two or three times and spoiled him & his family with little treats - made and bought - and again, no comments from OH saying we should let them stand on their own two feet;
and, worst of all....

the immersion heater is currently on, to heat the water for a big bath I'm going to have in a minute - and, later on today, I'm going to get into the shed, have a great big clear out of all the sh*te that's piled up in there, take it to the tip.... and have another, almost illegal, great big bath this evening.:D

Justcoll

My biggest problem is maintenance - I am hopeless at routine! I'll leave the washing until it's overflowing (and I have THREE linen baskets) and then knock myself out washing and ironing till it's all done.

Once I get going I find it hard to stop - it's like my procastinating goes into reverse and I think: 'I WILL stop when I've wiped the table/ironed that shirt/'Astonished' the sink/swept the floor' ........ instead of: 'I WILL load the diswasher/pick that shoe up from under the table/fold and recycle last night's pizza box (complete with crusts and half-used dips) which is still on the floor by the sofa --- when I've had a cup of tea/finished reading this thread/after lunch.

I've always rebelled against any form of routine seeing it as a boring restriction (even though I KNOW that it would free so much more time to do other things). Occasionally the house looks fab and I make all kinds of resolutions to keep it up but I never do.

I think this thread is wonderful - thanks OP.

zippychick

Justcoll wrote: »

Once I get going I find it hard to stop - it's like my procastinating goes into reverse and I think: 'I WILL stop when I've wiped the table/ironed that shirt/'Astonished' the sink/swept the floor' ........ instead of: 'I WILL load the diswasher/pick that shoe up from under the table/fold and recycle last night's pizza box (complete with crusts and half-used dips) which is still on the floor by the sofa --- when I've had a cup of tea/finished reading this thread/after lunch..

Just letting you know, our recycling people specifically said not to recycle pizza boxes - i think they said because it can contaminate other objects

I find it hard to stop too (once Im in the swing). Ill think "oh ill hoover", next thing you know it's 2 or 3 hours later and ive cleaned the whole house.

Gigervamp

Well, I'm feeling very lethargic today (period's due) and I can't be bothered to cook dinner. So for my tea tonight I've had a packet of mini cheddars and an Ainsley choccy bar. The boys and hubby are going to have to fend for themselves!

Mind you, I DID hoover and tidy the living room and cleaned the bathroom sink this morning, so I don't feel too bad about it. :rotfl:

calleyw

the thing is. I know it will only take 20 mins to clean and tidy the bedroom.

But I never find that 20 mins no matter how hard I search on the internet :rotfl:

Yours

Calley

Fozz

.

"I've always rebelled against any form of routine seeing it as a boring restriction (even though I KNOW that it would free so much more time to do other things). Occasionally the house looks fab and I make all kinds of resolutions to keep it up but I never do. "

I am absolutely the same, if I try to get in any sort of routine I find it so boring that I can't keep it up. I tend to do housework when I'm in the mood, which can mean that the house stays in a state for days on end until I can motivate myself!
The trouble is that I can live with the house being reasonably untidy, though I do keep the kitchen and toilets clean, the rest can always wait.
I have a friend at work whose house is like a show house and loves cleaning, she makes me ashamed!

Beccatje

Fozz wrote: »

.


The trouble is that I can live with the house being reasonably untidy, though I do keep the kitchen and toilets clean, the rest can always wait.
I have a friend at work whose house is like a show house and loves cleaning, she makes me ashamed!

But why does it make you feel ashamed?
Is it because you think you SHOULD be like that? Are we taught to think in some way that the 'loving cleaning, always neat and tidy house' is the RIGHT way?

And if so, who instilled this into us? Was it our mothers? Is it our peers?
funny stuff to wonder about but I do anyway.

MMLS

calleyw wrote: »

But I never find that 20 mins no matter how hard I search on the internet :rotfl:

:D Brilliant!!! :D

That must be where I'm going wrong too

mandragora_2

MMLS wrote: »

:D Brilliant!!! :D

That must be where I'm going wrong too

Youse obviously haven't been looking inthe right places. Trust the canny Scots:

http://bookings.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/registrars/resources/freetimes.aspx

Justcoll

Beccatje wrote: »

But why does it make you feel ashamed?
Is it because you think you SHOULD be like that? Are we taught to think in some way that the 'loving cleaning, always neat and tidy house' is the RIGHT way?

And if so, who instilled this into us? Was it our mothers? Is it our peers?
funny stuff to wonder about but I do anyway.

Yes, me too. And it annoys me because I've reached the wonderfully liberating age/stage where I really don't care about others' opinions of me ...... except when it comes to the house. I don't judge others by how messy they are - in fact I feel quite relieved and reassured when it is like mine - and also on reading this thread.

I actually feel a bit uncomfortable in a 'show home'. Have any of you been somewhere where the host plumps up the cushions as soon as you get up from the sofa?

Maybe we see our homes as a reflection of who we are so that if a visitor shows distaste at the mess, we see it as a personal judgement?

Anyway, I've had this idea. Maybe I rebel because I was always told 'you should' (tidy your room/do your homework) - and I certainly didn't want to do those things for ME! So instead of thinking 'I really should' (mop the floor/do the ironing/), I'm going to try 'I really want to' and imagine the finished result (gleaming floor/ironed clothes ready to wear). Will I manage to con myself?