Boring pre-Christmas tasks support

iguana

I've done soooooo much this week. My livingroom is done, the hall is done, S's playroom is done. And best of all the room of shame is now a truly, truly awesome bedroom. S may never sleep in there but at night when he's in my bed, spread out like a giant starfish, I can now go into his bedroom and admire my handiwork. It's like a kid's fantasy room, I love it.

Still plenty left to do, mainly in the kitchen at this stage. And my bathroom has been completely neglected for the last fortnight apart from being designated paintbrush washing spot, so it needs a really good clean. For now I'm freshly showered and tucked up in my bed in Christmassy fleecey pjs, and full of the spicebag I just scoffed while watching Supergirl.

RentDayBlues

iguana wrote: »

I've done soooooo much this week. My livingroom is done, the hall is done, S's playroom is done. And best of all the room of shame is now a truly, truly awesome bedroom. S may never sleep in there but at night when he's in my bed, spread out like a giant starfish, I can now go into his bedroom and admire my handiwork. It's like a kid's fantasy room, I love it.

Still plenty left to do, mainly in the kitchen at this stage. And my bathroom has been completely neglected for the last fortnight apart from being designated paintbrush washing spot, so it needs a really good clean. For now I'm freshly showered and tucked up in my bed in Christmassy fleecey pjs, and full of the spicebag I just scoffed while watching Supergirl.

Fancy coming to mine next week to help? Still have the living/dining/kitchen to paint and every time I finish an area I see other things that I need to do!

iguana

RentDayBlues wrote: »

Fancy coming to mine next week to help? Still have the living/dining/kitchen to paint and every time I finish an area I see other things that I need to do!

Thanks for the offer but I'll be in full on birthday party prep mode, apart from Thursday which is S's actual birthday and we'll be in crazy celebration mode! I have to build a Teen Titans Tower birthday cake topper, so that will be interesting.:cool:

Glitzgirl

Finally I'm happy to say the painting is done. Now im off to the various stores and ikea with my premade up list for new furniture / curtains / christmas bedding being ordered !

Mr glitz was kind enough to take the Christmas stuff out of the attic when putting the halloween ones back so my hall is a mess ! On the up side have started decorating the kitchen already for Christmas

Zaph

It's the most wonderful toilet of the year

Shoe Lover

I've decided that all of my kitchen presses need to be cleaned out and reorganised before Christmas. My back is in bits so I will be supervising Mr. SL when he gets home this week. Bet he can't wait :P

French_Girl

Shoe Lover wrote:

I've decided that all of my kitchen presses need to be cleaned out and reorganised before Christmas. My back is in bits so I will be supervising Mr. SL when he gets home this week. Bet he can't wait

Oh, good luck!

I have just finished cleaning out and completely reorganizing mine.
I can't tell you how happy I am that part is done now and just have to finish the rest of the kitchen.

Phew!

RentDayBlues

Kitchen is painted, hope to get dining and living room done by Tuesday, then may do the extra areas I've noticed . . . . .

Then to deep clean all the rooms, but most got done in preparation for painting. The santa gifts are getting wrapped and put back in attic next weekend, so going to take down decorations then too. It's getting so exciting

Jude13

Blimey. I thought by clearing out the shed I was doing great.

SarahLil

Lots of decluttering going on here with me, running errands to get both my house looking good plus my mams all these little errands take up so much time, can't believe how quickly time is going by, it's over a week since I've had my fix of wandering around the shops for Christmas stuff I am having withdrawals

Must crack on with the jobs it will be worth it in the end

SarahLil

Upstairs doors and skirting washed half way through downtown stairs doors and skirting il probably be stiff tomorrow, teabreak now while browsing the ikea catalogue I need a few purchases from there for the big day

Just had a robin in my garden too I believe it's someone very dear to me that I lost this year

How's everyone else's chores going?

French_Girl

SarahLil wrote:

Upstairs doors and skirting washed half way through downtown stairs doors and skirting il probably be stiff tomorrow, teabreak now while browsing the ikea catalogue I need a few purchases from there for the big day

SarahLil wrote:

Just had a robin in my garden too I believe it's someone very dear to me that I lost this year

SarahLil wrote:

How's everyone else's chores going?

Well done, SarahLil, enjoy your well-deserved teabreak!

As for me - living room is all done. Skirting boards cleaned, sofa hovered, everything else dusted and polished.
Slowly starting to bring out and hang Christmas decorations.
I'm also halfway through the kitchen which I didn't expect to be nowhere near when I started 3 days ago!
Slightly smug with myself. 😄

LaChatteGitane

This is what our sitting room looks like right now. Still a long way off from cleaning and decorating for christmas.

Crazyteacher

It'll soon come together I got my front door steps retiled and getting the front door repainted professionally this week. Have mostly decluttered and defrosting the fridge and freezer today. Cold job.

Posy

I have a black front door and I'd love to get it repainted in white but I don't think that's possible without ruining it!

I have to throughly clean my bedroom today, sort out some drawers which are full of random gifts hiding there, tidy out my wardrobe, check the attic to see how the wrapping paper situation is and do some washing and sewing I've been putting off, plus hoover the whole house.

I'll feel a lot better when this day is over! :pac:

RentDayBlues

Painting is done, decorations coming out of attic today, deep clean starts on Monday with decorationa going up later next week (if I can sneek them past my hubby)

Crazyteacher

Posy wrote: »

I have a black front door and I'd love to get it repainted in white but I don't think that's possible without ruining it!

I have to throughly clean my bedroom today, sort out some drawers which are full of random gifts hiding there, tidy out my wardrobe, check the attic to see how the wrapping paper situation is and do some washing and sewing I've been putting off, plus hoover the whole house.

I'll feel a lot better when this day is over! :pac:

Yeah I am going for cream from a natural wood door I'I scared it could go wrong but the guy who is doing it is highly recommended. I even drove over to see his front door:)

baby and crumble

Just finalised a load of stuff today.

Have a date now for our plumber to come in and plumb us in a downstairs loo. Needed as family have disabilities so they wouldn't be able to come over for Christmas without a toilet downstairs.

The same week is just gonna be redecorating chaos. New bathroom, new set of shelves at the end of the kitchen (there's a gammy in built one there that came with the house, I f*cking hate it, it's a monstrosity), new understairs door, and the two upstairs rooms (currently dump rooms) cleared and painted white. Ready to turn into spare rooms/ offices, hopefully with at least one spare bed for over the Christmas.

However it's the date we go on holidays. So we've got a guy who will come in and supervise. So when we come back a week later we will have three brand new rooms that we don't have now! :eek:

Dolbert

I'm going to do a big charity shop run soon, I have lots of unused gift sets which might some in handy for people coming up to Christmas. Some are brand new too, I picked a few up in the 75% off Boots sale for a song but likely won't use them now. Lots of clothes to donate too.

My son is turning two and we'll have his birthday party on the 11th, so I'm taking a few days off to declutter and prep and scrub as best I can before then. It turns out we won't be hosting Christmas dinner after all, so at least on the big day I'll get to put my feet up!

Shoe Lover

Update on my cleaning spree:
- Kitchen presses are cleaned out and reorganized (himself can't find anything any more )
- Oven cleaner is booked for the week before Christmas
- Window cleaner also booked for December

We've also started trying to finish our sitting room. We currently have the fireplace blocked up but ordered a stove on Sunday. One of my nieces was, quite rightly, very worried about how Santy would get in with the timber in front of the fireplace. We also need to get a mantlepiece sorted & then the sitting room is finito!

And I've plans to order a skip in the next few weeks to clear out our dump room & the shed.

kitten_k

Next Monday is our big clean. I have my blinds booked in to be taken away for cleaning, my window cleaner is coming and my decorator is coming to change the wallpaper as a shelf is falling down and then we take it down you will be able to see the holes.

I will then clean the rest of the house while they are there.

iguana

Shoe Lover wrote: »

And I've plans to order a skip in the next few weeks to clear out our dump room & the shed.

I'm so glad to read that other people have rooms like this. I'm so glad mine has finally been replaced with a lovely child's bedroom but it's also a bit of a lifestyle adjustment. No longer can I shove a pile of clean laundry into the room of shame, close the door and pretend I have a tidy house. Now I actually have to put it away properly or leave it somewhere that I can see it all the time!:eek:

miamee

We only moved a few weeks ago; the sitting room is finally livable and tidy and cosy looking. All ready for the tree and decs in a couple of weeks

Shoe Lover

iguana wrote: »

I'm so glad to read that other people have rooms like this.

Ours is really a dump room! We've just built our house (finished last year) & when we finished, Mr. Shoe Lover put all the left over tiles, boxes, bits of skirting & all other sorts of rubbish that comes with building a house into the dump room & we closed the door. And periodically over the last year, he's added more to it & I've tried to throw some of it out & basically it's still stuffed so a skip is required! We have a baby on the way after Christmas so I want that room finished before the new arrival!

Toto Wolfcastle

Our whole house is a dump room at the moment. :cool:

We were supposed to have family staying with us this week so we did some major cleaning but now they're not staying so we're not likely to finish the job!

Apparently today is clear out your fridge day. Get to it!

RentDayBlues

I'm almost finished the deep clean but feel so tired not sure I can face the last of the kitchen. It's almost almost there.

French_Girl

RentDayBlues wrote:

I'm almost finished the deep clean but feel so tired not sure I can face the last of the kitchen. It's almost almost there.

This was me yesterday.

I was deep cleaning the kitchen all day and had to just finish off the oven and stuff and was getting so tired I thought I couldn't do it but then I really wanted to get it over with.
And now I'm so happy I did and all I'm thinking is "Bring on the decorations".

Honestly, if I could do it, you can do it, too!

SarahLil

Brilliant work all of you I'm shook with panic now as I am way behind I have a bacterial infection so feeling really meh:(
Decided to rest up the deep clean is on pause

RentDayBlues

Picked up toilet roll instead of kitchen roll so no cleaning! Cut the grass and cleaned the outside instead

Tomorrow I'll finish the kitchen

RentDayBlues

Picked up toilet roll instead of kitchen roll so no cleaning! Cut the grass and cleaned the outside instead

Tomorrow I'll finish the kitchen

D0NNELLY

Our usual "if you can't see it from 15ft" rule for dust isn't working on the windows, so cleaner booked for Saturday

Toto Wolfcastle

SarahLil wrote: »

Brilliant work all of you I'm shook with panic now as I am way behind I have a bacterial infection so feeling really meh:(
Decided to rest up the deep clean is on pause

The only cure is sitting on the couch watching Christmas films. Hope you feel better soon.

SarahLil

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

The only cure is sitting on the couch watching Christmas films. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks Toto a big freeze is meant to be on the way by the end of the week so hopefully I'm better by then and get stuck into the cleaning while it's far too cold to venture out,if it's bitterly cold the weekend there may be no golf for himself so I'm sure I can find some jobs for him

Glitzgirl

I'm in a lull with my progress at the minute. I kinda go through this phase every now and then where I see other peoples home with all their nice breakable glass photo frames and generally delicate home furnishings even with small kiddies running around. Then I come home and look at my empty easy to reach place for little hands like window sills and coffee tables which are butt a $$ naked and free from such mentioned home decore and I think to myself " I live with ferral animals pretending to be children and a large man child who is as clumsy as a bull in a china shop" and i sigh and admit defeat and just oooh and Ahhh at them over catalogues so i see no point in cleaning as it will never look the way i really want it to. :pac: I'm sulking on the couch while Mr glitz tells me it's ok someday I can have nice things .. When the kids reach 18

iguana

I started painting my bedroom today and the wall seems to be rejecting the paint. On closer inspection parts of the wall are really shiny like some idiot painted the wall with glossy door paint or varnish at some point in the past. So getting a regular wall paint on is really hard work. I've one wall done now and close to half a tin of paint is gone but thankfully the opposite wall is nearly all window and radiator and one of the other walls is a sliderobe so I should manage with this tin of paint. It will be tight though, as I'll definitely need to give it a second coat as it's really patchy in places. Especially where I did all the cutting in as it's almost impossible to use a brush for some reason.

Toto Wolfcastle

We have a similar problem. The paint doesn't stay on when it dries. I'd suggest holding off on the second coat but it took while for our paint to start peeling so you'd be waiting awhile to see if that happens.

xDisneyDivax

Made a start on my 'pre Christmas cleaning' this evening! Started cleaning out cupboards in kitchen and of course plenty reorganising stuff!
I found two jars of mincemeat that is still good and some mulled wine sachets yay!! Most of cupboards are done now just 3 drawers and wee cupboard under sink to do now!

Might ask himself to clean the gutters on his day off on Thursday as I WANT to get those outdoor lights in Aldi on Thursday!!

Did yas see this?? I WANT it even though I don't use bleach ha!
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14993395_10157891601720389_4329178094664527531_n.jpg?oh=f16e7316dbf55806f29181d7f69ea573&oe=58C6C34B

Whispered

Last week I did a big clothes clear out. I now still have full looking wardrobes and paradoxically still have nothing to wear.

I tend to reorganise our fridge and food cupboards every week on shopping day so over the last while have been making meals to specifically use up what's sitting around. Need to find a use for 1.7 million tins of kidney beans. Then I get to restock with Christmassy things!

I started on the rest of my kitchen today and steam cleaned the floor and wall tiles. I cleaned the oven - the shelves are on a really hot wash in the dishwasher as we speak. Hopefully that'll do most of the work!

In the kitchen I still have to organise all of the dish presses and the two cutlery drawers. Then the sitting room......ugh. I have to steam clean the couches and go through the toy corner and do a bit of a clear out and tidy up. While on that I'll do a clear out of the upstairs toys too. The attic will be busy!

LaChatteGitane

iguana wrote: »

I started painting my bedroom today and the wall seems to be rejecting the paint. On closer inspection parts of the wall are really shiny like some idiot painted the wall with glossy door paint or varnish at some point in the past. So getting a regular wall paint on is really hard work. I've one wall done now and close to half a tin of paint is gone but thankfully the opposite wall is nearly all window and radiator and one of the other walls is a sliderobe so I should manage with this tin of paint. It will be tight though, as I'll definitely need to give it a second coat as it's really patchy in places. Especially where I did all the cutting in as it's almost impossible to use a brush for some reason.

Ouch ! It could be satin sheen, which is water-based but because of the sheen might be difficult to hold the matt paint.
Ideally it should first be sanded somewhat or some kind of primer painted over it.
I hope it works out for you in any case.

I have also started painting the sitting room today, albeit more prepping than painting per sé. And while I was cutting in I decided to ask an acquaintance of ours to come and do the ceiling.
I just can't do ceilings anymore

French_Girl

I'm the same, started a big wardrobe clearout today and also the bedroom.
Took me much longer than expected but at least I finally got started.

As I found piles and piles of clothes that need to be washed, will be doing laundry for the rest of the evening.
Lucky me, lol.

Shoe Lover

Major setback in my preparations today Firstly, the stove people rang me to tell me that the stove we ordered in black enamel doesn't actually come in enamel and the nearest one to it that does come in enamel is 200euro dearer! Rage! So will be going up for a refund tomorrow and back to looking again!

And even worse, I've discovered a MASSIVE leak in my utility room - MASSIVE! Ceiling is destroyed

iguana

LaChatteGitane wrote: »

Ouch ! It could be satin sheen, which is water-based but because of the sheen might be difficult to hold the matt paint.
Ideally it should first be sanded somewhat or some kind of primer painted over it.
I hope it works out for you in any case.

That's possibly what it was. It was a total bodge job in any case as there was a huge pink patch of wall where the people who lived here before clearly ran out of paint and just covered the spot with a dresser. Thankfully they hadn't used that paint on the other walls so the paint took ok over other walls and I had just about enough left to touch up the first wall but the whole job was more time and paint consuming than I'd have imagined. I'm glad I didn't wait until next week to do it. I'm sitting here with the windows open waiting for the paint to dry enough for me to put the curtains back up soon.

Posy

Oh no Shoe Lover!!

At least you've discovered the leak now and not nearer to Christmas.
I hope you get your stove sorted out too.

Shoe Lover

Posy wrote: »

Oh no Shoe Lover!!

At least you've discovered the leak now and not nearer to Christmas.
I hope you get your stove sorted out too.

Very true! Mr. Shoe Lover has discovered the source of the leak (our HRV unit) so I've rung the installer & they will get back to me on Monday. In the meantime, we have a bucket under it.

Got a full refund from the stove people so will have a look for another one next weekend!

miamee

Since Friday we've been busy bees, we've painted skirting, ceiling, walls and door in the living room, it looks brand new and ready for Christmas...though that wasn't the sole reason for decorating :pac: it's gonna look so cosy with the tree and decs

LaChatteGitane

Today I'll be painting the sitting room walls. At last !
When the new windows got fitted it turned the whole place into a building site. Underneath the windows in the sun room (part of sitting room) still needs re-plastering, so that'll have to keep until ???
Can't wait for it to be all over and done with. And my elbow is killing me

Shoe Lover

Ordered our turkey & ham on Saturday! And my Dad made the Christmas Cakes! We do a trade, he makes me a cake, I make him a pudding Two more things off the list now!

kitten_k

I've had a productive two days - apartment fully cleaned, decorations out of the press ready to put up on Friday and presents wrapped.

RentDayBlues

My cleaning and decorating has been put on hold because my brother is staying and I had to put all the decorations behind the couch to have floor space for the mattress! On the plus side, it does mean I should shortly have a new niece or nephew

SarahLil

Still a work in progress but think I'm getting there it is overwhelming as I've to do our house and my mothers house she's in very bad health,
We'll do our first Christmas dinner in her house and stay for a couple of days then back to our house for sometime at home we will have visitors to ours so I'm trying my best with both houses
I want all the big jobs done before the trees go up, then keep on top of it all, I want all the cleaning done before Christmas Eve as I will be prepping dinner then hope to have that done early and enjoy it all