Monday, August 27, 2007

What do you do all day?

Hear that? It’s the sound of my standards slipping. Those of you familiar with this blog will be amazed – because my standards are generally so low anyway. You’ll be horrified to find, that at least as regards housework, it is actually possible for them to slip even further. My obsessive compulsive relatives by marriage will be amazed that there is any further for my housekeeping standards TO slip – but I assure you that it is possible.

At least on a bad day.

In my defence, I’ve been doing other things – not housework, obviously. I’ve been cooking and washing up. I’ve been washing and drying. I’ve been mending (remarkable – how far will I go to NOT do housework). I’ve been playing with children (and putting them on and off and on and off and on and off potties and toilets), I’ve been blogging. I dusted (using a pillow chase as I changed the sheets) – I changed the sheets.

I wandered around the garden. I cooked more (empanadas for dinner the other night – lots of messing around – especially making the pastry but that’s one dinner and two days of lunches all round!). I washed up again. I put clothes away and picked up crap – sorry – toys – from the floors – and picked them up again – and again – and again.

I drank wine – not enough, obviously, but some. I decided on my next next project – apart from the Happy Clappy. I thought about knitting. I refereed fights. I told children I loved them (this is not a lie – it’s only sometimes that I try to give them away). I read them stories. I rang tradespeople and for test results and paid bills and did a media release for the P and F. I shouted at everyone. I took out the rubbish and the recycling.

I used correct grammar in my last blog and made Rachel happy.

What I didn’t do was housework of the vacuuming, floor washing, bathroom cleaning variety. And my husband asks me what I do all day. Well, I don’t do the housework.

Juno is still growing, but slowly. I wound the next skein into a ball by hand using the backs of 2 chairs as a swift. This took much less time than my last encounter with my not-very-useful cone winder. I may put it back up for auction on ebay unless the Accountant (who, as a handyman is an excellent accountant) can make it work properly.

Although, I must admit, I have been thinking how nice it would be to have a spotless house and clean windows and a beautiful garden. It must be spring. Perhaps I can get someone else to do the housework. I’ll watch. I like to watch other people do housework. Preferably while I knit socks.

7 comments:

Georgie said...

Yes, what *did* you do all day - heaven knows looking after children can't be all that hard, surely. You havent been reading your Modern Housewife's Guide lately, have you? Just make sure the kidlets are fed and their faces are scrubbed to chine like angels when the Accountant gets home in time to kiss them goodnight.....

Housework is totally overrrated. A house can be too clean, you know, bad for the immune system!

Rose Red said...

I think how you define things makes all the difference. See, all the stuff you've been doing, I'd call that housework. That other stuff, vacuuming (is that what it is called??!!) and washing floors, that's "cleaning". People don't ask if you've done the cleaning (well, mostly!!) so you wouldn't be lying!

Bells said...

I agree with RR - it's not like you were on your butt watching Oprah etc all day, right?

And like Georgie said - too much cleanliness is unhealthy, and a sign you don't have enough to do in your life.

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

You didn't do "housework"...but after reading about your day...(mine just started)I need to go back to bed....your day makes me feel tired, I need a nap.

MadMad said...

Wait, wait, wait! You mean all that ISN'T housekeeping?! Oh boy. Then you should (not) see MY house...

blackie said...

if I lived nearby I would come round and do your housework in exchange for some socks. I am one of those weird ones that actually doesn't mind cleaning. I wish I could be more like you!

knightlyknitter.wordpress.com said...

Personally I am looking forward to the (eventual) day when I go back to work and the MOMD has to do housework again!
I'm hanging out for IK fall to arrive at the newsagent's, to plan some more projects - though I can't do it when the kids are going feral - I declare Quiet Time and Woe Betide the Child Who Disturbeth It!!!