Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 Now I feel the odd one out! I am a tidy-up-aholic! Can't help it, must be in my genes somewhere. Whilst DH has spent the last 2 hours watching Gladiator I have tidied up all the toys, returned them to the correct boxes (have vast collection of coloured plastic containers, all lablelled!!), checked that all the jigsaw pieces are in the correct boxes, and even washed some of the toy cutlery/plates/cups etc in the dishwasher! I know I should be resting, I know I must be mad but I find it theraputic. I also know how I'll feel tomorrow morning when the DD's come barging into the family room and pull the whole lot onto the floor!! God alone knows why I bother as the kids (and DH) are totally unawareof my endeavours. Beverly (who cleans windows to unwind, but whose mother irons to relax!- even I draw a line at somethings!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 Ok . let me nail my colours to the mast on this one. I am lucky enough to have a cleaner. my faithful Filipino has been with me for about 24 yrs and now my mother (a stroke victim) lives with us, she doubles as her nurse in the mornings too. BUT, if I didn't have a cleaner I would clean. Admittedly not as zealously as does but I would hoover, dust and wipe most days, and mop the kitchen floor. This I know because (1) in the dim and distant past I didn't have a cleaner and I did do the cleaning; I even went through a fanatical stage, which I am prone to In our Jerusalem house we have a very half hearted cleaner, so we do sweep and mop and clean up. I would certainly do windows if they were too grimy to see through, although possibly not otherwise. I have even been known to clean skirting boards in my fanatical phase. When I say I am messy, I mean in regard to tidying up drawers, cupboards and shelves. I don't like living in a *dirty* house. Ruthie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 > Ok . let me nail my colours to the mast on this one. > > I am lucky enough to have a cleaner. I don't like living in a *dirty* house. > > Ruthie Neither do I Ruthie, but then it isn't luck, it's money - of which I have none spare for employing someone else to do my jobs. How lucky are *you* - my DH would be livid if I wasted his money on something which I can do perfectly well myself. The same reasoning behind the argument that we will *never* purchase a dishwasher either, worse luck. A friend (who has one) once tried to persuade him - " How often do you wash your clothes (Ans - once or twice a week) and you do have a washing machine? (Ans - Of course!), so how often do you wash up then..... but to no avail, and he's right of course - I am just a bit selfish/lazy and like my time to myself, but we DO have better things to spend hard earned cash on. A shame that I just haven't the will power to make myself do the cleaning more often - once a week is about my limit - a cleaner is an unobtainable dream for me... sigh. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 > The same reasoning behind the >argument that we will *never* purchase a dishwasher either, worse >luck. Oh crumbs - I couldn't live without my dishwasher. I love it. Everything feels so much cleaner. As for cleaners - I used to have one who was fantastic. Now Steffi has started school and DH is home looking for another contract, we decided we had enough time to do it ourselves. It's actually quite relaxing not having her. As I said, she was great and I would have her back like a shot (to dust those out of the way places and clean the windows!) but our house really needs a good sort out before a cleaner can find the right place to put things. She likes things out of sight - I used to have an ongoing battle with her about the post, my keys, my purse, my handbag. The moment I put anything down it would be put away and then when I came to look for it ten mins later I couldn't find it. We don't really have enough cupboard or shelf space to put things away so we have boxes, some still not unpacked from our move here 3.5 yrs ago as well as some I packed pre our Aussie move last year. We also inherited my MIL's dictionary collection when she died last year - it takes up virtually all our minimal book shelving. DH and I describe ourselves as Failed Minimalists. We really like the minimalist look but can't ever seem to achieve it. -- Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 > A shame that I just haven't the will > power to make myself do the cleaning more often - once a week is > about my limit - a cleaner is an unobtainable dream for me... sigh. I have a cleaner for one morning a fortnight for the grand sum of £12 (£4 an hour). It's my luxury. In the week after she has been, I luxuriate in the fact that the house has recently been cleaned. In the week before she comes, there's no point in my doing any cleaning because the cleaner will be coming soon. It's wonderful. Lynda SAHM to (8), (6), Fraser (4), Callum (1) Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch Area Rep, Region 7 www.familygarland.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 Beverley said Now I feel the odd one out! I am a tidy-up-aholic! Can't help it, And I am the same. I always thought I'd be one of these laid back " clarty " =dirty in a lazy sort of way, mothers but I was wrong. I can't stand any mess and consider skirting boards as something to be checked when visitors are arriving. I wish I was of the mind where life is too short to worry about house work but I've turned into someone who thinks that life is too short to live in a guddle of clutter and dirt.. Fiona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2001 Report Share Posted November 6, 2001 > > Ok . let me nail my colours to the mast on this one. > > > > I am lucky enough to have a cleaner. I don't like living in a > *dirty* house. > > > > Ruthie > > Neither do I Ruthie, but then it isn't luck, it's money - of which I > have none spare for employing someone else to do my jobs. How lucky > are *you* - my DH would be livid if I wasted his money on something > which I can do perfectly well myself. <snip> I hate being made to feel guilty for having a cleaner. As I said already, my mother, a completely paralyzed and brain damaged stroke victim, lives with us, and has done for the past 8 yrs. is her nurse, probably first and foremost now, and my cleaner only second. There is no way at all I could manage mum on my own. If mum wasn't with us, she'd be in a home, or, more probably, dead, by now, as we are all convinced she wouldn't have survived this long with institutionalised care. However I do understand and accept completely that we can afford a cleaner and a lot of people can't, which is why I used the word lucky, probably should have said " fortunate " . Ruthie The same reasoning behind the > argument that we will *never* purchase a dishwasher either, worse > luck. A friend (who has one) once tried to persuade him - " How often > do you wash your clothes (Ans - once or twice a week) and you do have > a washing machine? (Ans - Of course!), so how often do you wash up > then..... but to no avail, and he's right of course - I am just a bit > selfish/lazy and like my time to myself, but we DO have better things > to spend hard earned cash on. A shame that I just haven't the will > power to make myself do the cleaning more often - once a week is > about my limit - a cleaner is an unobtainable dream for me... sigh. > > Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 perhaps a NCT house cleaning register along the lines of babysitting circle? Barbara > are *you* - my DH would be livid if I wasted his money on something > which I can do perfectly well myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Gosh, don't feel under pressure for having a cleaner. I'm totally jealous, of course, being in a position to afford one but not being able to find a decent one. I actually fired my cleaners a few months ago because they were useless. They would not move a thing, so I used to spend my Sunday nights in a mad tidy frenzy so that they could come in and run the hoover over the place. DH actually hassles me to find a cleaner and refuses to believe they just don't exist here. I miss the cleaner I had in the UK - she used to come in twice a week for 4 hours at a time - bliss! Joyce -----Original Message----- From: ruthie@... [sMTP:ruthie@...] I hate being made to feel guilty for having a cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 In article , Sue Woollett writes >> The same reasoning behind the >>argument that we will *never* purchase a dishwasher either, worse >>luck. > >Oh crumbs - I couldn't live without my dishwasher. I love it. >Everything feels so much cleaner. It's also much more hygienic than washing up by hand - hotter water, stronger detergents and no nasty bug-harbouring washing-up cloths/sponges/brushes or tea-towels! Cath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 on 07/11/01 12:00 AM, Sue Woollett at sue.ol@... wrote: > DH and I describe ourselves as Failed Minimalists. We really like the > minimalist look but can't ever seem to achieve it. lol I always say that I'd love to have a minimalist house but we're just too untidy and I hoard for Wales!! Didn't someone once mention an 'unclutter your life' group? or did I dream that there was help out there for me!! Jenni ( & Gethyn) 17yrs; Mari 3yrs Home Birth; Nia 7 wks Home Water Birth http://www.picturetrail.com/jennihughes P/W = gwenni " If you don't know your options - you don't have any " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Don't remember seeing that Jenni, but I found one about 3 months ago and just love it! It's called www.flylady.net and is based in the US. It would *not* be everyone's cup of tea at all, but I just use the bits I want out of it and I'm almost clutter free ;o)) It's also quite Christian in content. It's free but such a shame that she didn't set it up with a 5 dollar one off charge - she only had about 6000 members a year ago, and we just hit 54,000 last week! Do let me know if you try it out and what you think..... Hannah Re: Re: Cleaning! on 07/11/01 12:00 AM, Sue Woollett at sue.ol@... wrote: > DH and I describe ourselves as Failed Minimalists. We really like the > minimalist look but can't ever seem to achieve it. lol I always say that I'd love to have a minimalist house but we're just too untidy and I hoard for Wales!! Didn't someone once mention an 'unclutter your life' group? or did I dream that there was help out there for me!! Jenni ( & Gethyn) 17yrs; Mari 3yrs Home Birth; Nia 7 wks Home Water Birth http://www.picturetrail.com/jennihughes P/W = gwenni " If you don't know your options - you don't have any " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 I'm on this. She drives me mad sometimes. But it is amazing how she knows exactly what the inside of my car looks like, and under my beds. Joyce off to shine my sink. -----Original Message----- From: Hannah Hutton [sMTP:hannah.hutton@...] Don't remember seeing that Jenni, but I found one about 3 months ago and just love it! It's called www.flylady.net and is based in the US. It would *not* be everyone's cup of tea at all, but I just use the bits I want out of it and I'm almost clutter free ;o)) It's also quite Christian in content. It's free but such a shame that she didn't set it up with a 5 dollar one off charge - she only had about 6000 members a year ago, and we just hit 54,000 last week! Do let me know if you try it out and what you think..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 > > Didn't someone once mention an 'unclutter your life' group? or did I dream > that there was help out there for me!! > > Jenni Jenni there is a book called Taming the Paper Tiger - but despite having a copy the tiger is sprawled all over our house, the garage... Caro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.