jadesfire: Bright yellow flower (Default)
[personal profile] jadesfire
Today I am awesome because I only had one piece of chocolate brownie not two, because I walked all the way to work and because I cleared a large heap of books before lunch. Oh, and last night I hoovered the flat and wiped down most of the skirting boards. I'm on a bit of a cleaning kick right now, that I'm hoping will turn into habit. Reading The Cleaning Bible is definitely inspirational, and the one piece of advice that I've decided to adopt is "if it takes longer than 5 minutes, you're not doing it often enough." Now, it takes longer than 5 minutes to hoover the whole flat, but it does only take 15 if I do it twice a week. Ditto wiping down the skirting boards, dusting things and cleaning the bath round. I'm not a naturally tidy person, but I'm finding keeping the place clean and tidy enormously good for my peace of mind and hugely satisfying. It's going to be interesting to see how long this lasts - usually my 'new habits' fizzle out after 6 weeks, so I shall keep reporting back.



One of the things that definitely spoils you in Oxford is living in college accommodation. Not at all colleges, but in most of them, someone comes and cleans your house and empties your bin every day. 'Scouts' are as much a part of the Oxford University fabric as the Porters. But I'm starting to realise that what education doesn't teach you is how to actually look after yourself. Because my mother was on her own, she worked full time and was out two or three evenings a week, so I learned to cook and do the washing. But just the general household running wasn't something I was ever interested in (I was going to get an EDUCATION, why would I need to know anything else?), and I never really thought about it. Now? Now I'm starting to discover that I'm not the only woman in her late twenties who realises that she's got a good degree, a half-decent job and some basic skills, but we also need what would have been (disparagingly) called "housewife" skills that our grandmothers had.

I'm not going anywhere with this, incidentally. Just...I'm learning new things and like to share :) My focus has always been on my education, my work and my hobbies. Now, with friends being further away and therefore coming into our home more, I'm finding that I want to MAKE it a home and that I have a houseproud gene after all. It probably sounds stupidly obvious to most of you, but it's a new thing for me!


I also had a lovely coffee/lunch with knitting friends, and my little stained-glass window cross-stitch is coming on nicely. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy making things, and while I can't knit or crochet, just doing something with my hands is good for my brain.

Anyway, that's me today. What about you, flist? How are you awesome today?

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:35 pm (UTC)
naye: A cartoon of a woman with red hair and glasses in front of a progressive pride flag. (hand on arm)
From: [personal profile] naye
You are being awesome today! ♥

Now I'm starting to discover that I'm not the only woman in her late twenties who realises that she's got a good degree, a half-decent job and some basic skills, but we also need what would have been (disparagingly) called "housewife" skills that our grandmothers had.

THIS. YES. Absolutely. Man. I need an info-dump about... carpet washing and cooking and killing mold (die mold die!!). And everything.

...I am awesome because I did cook! And do laundry, and dishes. And I've been creative! I betaed a friend's story, and played with my new fountain pen and water colors and it was funnn. I've also started a new paper journal - the old one just wasn't working, so I'm back to Moleskin. Without lines! Because I'm being adventurous and sticking stuff in it and sketching and not just writing words, and it's a really good feeling. ♥

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
The Cleaning Bible was just the info-dump/kick up the backside I needed, I think. It's very non-judgemental, very practical and very positive - it concentrates on all the good things about having a clean house, not on the drudgery. At least that way I feel enthused rather than overwhelmed!

Woot! That's all kinds of awesome \o/ The paper journal sounds lovely, and Moleskin notebooks are so lovely to write in.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 05:11 pm (UTC)
naye: a cup with a monkey's head sticking up, with the words "hot cup o' monkey" (hot cup o' monkey)
From: [personal profile] naye
Um. I...

Your book wouldn't happen to mention what to do if you burn your pot?

Because. I sort of. Put a pot on with water for eggs and then forgot about it? And now my best (only!) pot is. Covered in weird white stuff and the handle's all melty and I'm not touching it and letting the kitchen air out (melted plastic yuck), but.

It's a mess:






And. Maybe I won't have to buy a new pot? ^^;;

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 05:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
OH NOES!

I will look it up as soon as I get home :S The handle is probably a lost cause (you can normally get fabric handle-covers - if you can't, I'll send you one!) but from a quick Google, once the pan is cool, put in a few tablespoons of washing powder and half fill with water. Bring to the boil for about 5 mins (don't forget it!) and it should lift off.

Either that or half fill the pan with coca-cola and boil. Seriously, coke is scary stuff and will probably lift it right off!

Meep :S

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 05:24 pm (UTC)
naye: A cartoon of a woman with red hair and glasses in front of a progressive pride flag. (heart (sga))
From: [personal profile] naye
THANK YOU! *grins sheepishly*

I really. Had no idea what to do. Have no dishwashing powder (no washer!), but cola sounds like a plan...! XD

I think it's sleepy time for me, now, before I burn the house down or something.

Thanks for the help! ♥

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caersmane.livejournal.com
Today I have been working on a beta I have had for um, far longer than I should have, and I started the next request on my list in FFFA, and I am almost done crocheting my daughter's scarf. \o/

As the second child of five, and the oldest daughter, housekeeping skills are something that seemed to be ingrained in my very makeup. As long as I can remember, I have known how to take care of a house. The problem is that...well, I hate to do it. Which is kind of a contradiction, because I have OCD as well. IDEK.

Doing something with your hands is remarkably theraputic! (sp?) Even if what I make is not perfect, it makes me happy when the person I crochet something for really does appreciate it. It's that little mental boost that helps more than you really think it should.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
That's lots of awesome, right there :D Woot!

I'm not sure how I'm going to feel about the housekeeping once it's a regular thing, but for now, it has novelty value. My impression is that my mother was never really interested in keeping house, so she never passed it on to me. Because she was so busy with work, I learned things like cooking, washing up and laundry, but the more advanced domestic skills just never made it into my head. Still. Better late than never!

*nods* That's it exactly. I love writing, but having something finished and physical is so very satisfying. Looking down at my little patch of cloth and seeing the pattern emerge is so cool!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aeron-lanart.livejournal.com
I'm awesome because I decided to have a relatively healthy lunch with veg rather than the pizza I was craving.

I'm now going to take the dog for a walk, give boxes to my hairdresser for sending care packages to the troops in the middle-east (her son is out there), order my repeat script for my inhaler *before* I run out and go shopping.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 01:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Well done you! The veg are definitely awesome, just in a different way to the pizza ;)

That sounds like a busy afternoon! Good luck!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 02:26 pm (UTC)
white_hart: (Default)
From: [personal profile] white_hart
Secretly, I rather like having Tim not working because it means I don't have to feel guilty about him doing most of the housework. I do know how to do it - when I was a teenager helping out during school holidays was a condition of getting pocket money - I just hate it. And I don't recall anyone doing much more than washing-up in the various shared houses I lived in as a student!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 02:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
J does a lot of the stuff around the house already. Having been ill and/or depressed for the last couple of years, I'm oddly enjoying being able to pull my weight and do more than the bare minimum. And not having that burden put on me as a teenager or a student (college accommodation for 4 years does that to a person), I guess it doesn't have the same resonance with me.

The enthusiasm almost certainly won't last, but it's kind of fun for now!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:28 pm (UTC)
white_hart: (Default)
From: [personal profile] white_hart
I think it's probably a sign of how far I've come that I had at least got to the stage of feeling guilty about how little I did when we were both working.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*nods* That's a huge thing. I'm concentrating on being glad of what I can do now rather than feeling guilty on what I didn't do then. It's...not easy, but it's got to be the best way to stay sane!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mad-jaks.livejournal.com
GO YOU! *cheers*

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*beams* Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ar-gemlad.livejournal.com
I haven't done awesome today - but you have inspired me to have an awesome evening :)
'Proper' cooking, with chicken and pak choi (ok, it's a stir-fry but it's better than oven-ready Bird's Eye chicken!), and maybe some clearing out of clutter! I'll let you know how it goes... (amazing how telling someone else about it makes it feel better...)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 04:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
(amazing how telling someone else about it makes it feel better...)
That's why I write it all down here! Somehow, saying it makes it more real and more manageable. As does taking it little bit by little bit. Deciding to clean the skirting boards in one evening is fine. Deciding to clean the whole flat is un-do-able, and I just end up disheartened.

Enjoy your dinner! :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 05:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tiggothy.livejournal.com
I'd disagree with that 5-minute thing. Not about what it's meaning, but because my mind says "If something takes 5 minutes to do each day, that'll be 35 minutes a week. So even if it takes half an hour to do once a week, that's a saving of 5 minutes."
Lol.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 05:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*eyeroll* There's always one...

Thing is, it takes us half a day at the weekend. I figure even if I do 20 minutes a night for 6 nights, that's better than having to think "if we go out on Saturday, we have to stay in Sunday and clean" or "if we have people for lunch on Sunday, we have to stay in Saturday and clean"!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-09-23 09:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tiggothy.livejournal.com
Lol. We only have people round on a monthly basis, and they all know we're rather hopeless at cleaning anyhow!