Becoming Domestic

I’ve been back in the office for a couple of weeks now that the children have started school and are there Mon-Fri until 3pm each day.

For the first couple of weeks I had quite a backlog of paperwork and spreadsheets to bring up to date but now am able to do everything I need to by being there Mon-Thurs.

As a celebration of being on my own with nobody requiring my services until school finished last Friday I took myself for a long overdue haircut (awful I feel like a shorn sheep with unruly curls springing out from all over my head instead of hanging down in demure ringlets) & then a completely frivolous but highly enjoyable manicure & pedicure combo (still getting my money’s worth 3 days later everytime I catch a glimpse of my pampered, glossy digits) THEN topped it off with a really nice lunch in a really laid back but stylish, wholefoody cafe with two lady-friends. All *very* pleasant and lovely but not something I wish to make a weekly habit.

My dilema is what does one do with oneself on one short day when one doesn’t have small kids to take care of and not in the office….? I’m especially aware that such a once a week treat will only be available for a very limited time as by January I will be back in the 27-7-365 role of being mummy to a new baby. The pressure to relax and use this weekly slot to its maximum benefit is on!

Once upon a time the answer would have been to Go Shopping and I would have merrily meandered round retail establishments looking, touching and buying their wares. Nowadays I’m much more consumer conscious, have way too much stuff already and want to remain as thrifty as possible so I can have money for things that are actually important to me.

If I was still in London I would maybe visit a gallery or museum or meet a friend for lunch or coffee.  Maybe I should do that round here.

One  thing I very rarely make time to do and now use the constant small companions as an excuse is exercise. Admitedly I’m always on the go - bringing laundry downstairs or putting clean clothes away, ferrying meals or empty plates to/from the table. But why not make the time in my diary for a nice long riverside stroll, a swim, a yoga class or a bike ride. That sounds really appealing.

Something I know I’d love to get off my to do list (but am not so keen on actually doing) are all the little household jobs which aren’t easy to do when the children are here. I think I know in my heart that it is these seemingly boring tasks that would actually give me the most satisfaction and inner peace once they had been ticked off. Instead of telling myself it is ’sad’ to want to do such mundane things on such a precious alone time I’m going to give myself credit for knowing myself well enough to know what will make me feel like I’ve spent my free time well, that I’ve made our home environment even more lovely by spending time on it and with the help of some really loud music I reckon I’ll relish getting my hands dirty and having time and space to let my mind wander and achieve good things. What’s on my list?

• Do some gardening - plant some spring bulbs, clear the vegetable plot of its nasty blanket of weeds, clear the path of weeds, try to locate the flower border under yet more weeds, clear out summer tubs
• Take toys which are broken/ no longer played with out of the toy boxes and thrown away or Freecycled
• Get rid of unwanted / too small clothes, odd socks etc.
• Filing of papework, purging of old unrequired papers, sort out ‘In Case of Emergency’ summary details of life insurance policy details, bank account numbers, pension locations
• Put photographs into albums
• Donate surplus paperbacks to the library

The last idea I’ve just had as well as the ones listed above will be to take advantage of the ability to sleeeeeeep during the day. Shame it can’t be bottled up and used sparingly when really desperate for just the smallest of cat naps.

Posted on September 24th, 2007 under Bits and Bobs, Frugal living • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback