I take no notice of Best Before or Sell By dates, especially on tins. That is just for stock rotation in the shop. They will keep for ever. Use By is a different matter.
I take no notice of Best Before or Sell By dates, especially on tins. That is just for stock rotation in the shop. They will keep for ever. Use By is a different matter.
Back when dad was in the RAF there was a period in which we lived on canned and dried food that was part of military rations. While the dried foods only lasted for about four years, some of the canned foods were fine twenty years after manufacture.
Love fresh food, but also like a few cans in the pantry for emergencies. I really need to do a better job of rotating or getting through them though.
Lots of vacuuming yesterday as I'd gotten a bit behind on that and did a load of towels today. Tomorrow is fridge clean out and bin day. I might try to give the laundry cupboard a bit of a wipeout and re-organise tomorrow. A wet day is predicted and that's just the thing for a wet day.
Cheery husband went past a kitchenware shop that is closing down yesterday. He came home with 2 metal milkshake mugs, a new posh dustpan and brush and a cheese slicer. I am a bit concerned that he might come home with a lot more stuff today, I'll keep you updated!! I did remind him that if he brings it home, he has to find a place for it.
Indeed @Piglet and more things made their way home with Mr Cheery last night. A large pizza cutter, one of those rocking blades, 2 more milkshake cups and a splendid dustpan and brush for the garage, one of those that you can use without bending down. Oh, also a scooper for skimming the fat off the soups/casseroles and a set of measuring spoons, that measure in cup sizes. I hope by today the shop is closed!!
Where on earth did you keep "the stuff" if not in the bathroom? Isn't that where it's generally needed? 🤔
I guess in a drawer in the bedroom, I can't really remember. We had a very small bathroom (with five of us living in the house) and there was no cupboard space at all. We didn't keep any spare loo rolls in the bathroom either... which was ok if there was someone else in the house and you could shout for help if it had run out but if not it was an unpleasant walk to the downstairs kitchen "larder" if you hadn't noticed in time and had... committed .
I don't suppose 'Viz' magazine is to many people's taste here, but you remind me of a funny strip where a bloke finds himself in just the situation you describe, and, alone in the house, shuffles into the bathroom (his toilet being separate, like I kept mine as I contemplated a future with a wife, two daughters, and one bathroom/toilet) with his trousers around his ankles. There being no bog roll to be found, he next shuffles down the stairs. By the final frame, he is shuffling along the queue at the supermarket, with a big smile and a 9-pack alongside him on the conveyor...
@Cheery Gardener 😅 I can trust Mr R in kitchenware shops. Bookshops, on the other hand...
Having finally packed his trainset to his satisfaction, he turned his attention to the Lego models. He has just finished dismantling Apollo 11. It took him two days.
Indeed @Piglet and more things made their way home with Mr Cheery last night. A large pizza cutter, one of those rocking blades, 2 more milkshake cups and a splendid dustpan and brush for the garage, one of those that you can use without bending down. Oh, also a scooper for skimming the fat off the soups/casseroles and a set of measuring spoons, that measure in cup sizes. I hope by today the shop is closed!!
I have one of those rocking blades - I take it you mean a mezzaluna? Mine came with a wooden board with a hollow in it, which makes it very effective, and while I don't use it that often, I do find it's the best way to chop fresh herbs.
Although I'm a Brit, I lived over the Pond for long enough to get used to cup measures, and the set David bought for me had to come with me when I moved back.
I'm prescribed one of those medications that requires the recipient to wait an hour before eating food. I've discovered that this hour is really useful for cleaning the kitchen. I live alone so there's no one tripping over me, trying to get their own breakfast - also Aroha my cat has already been fed, and is snoring on my bed and so is not underfoot as she might be later in the day.
Best of all I start the day feeling virtuous as if I might even get my messy house under control.
Where on earth did you keep "the stuff" if not in the bathroom? Isn't that where it's generally needed? 🤔
I guess in a drawer in the bedroom, I can't really remember. We had a very small bathroom (with five of us living in the house) and there was no cupboard space at all. We didn't keep any spare loo rolls in the bathroom either... which was ok if there was someone else in the house and you could shout for help if it had run out but if not it was an unpleasant walk to the downstairs kitchen "larder" if you hadn't noticed in time and had... committed .
I don't suppose 'Viz' magazine is to many people's taste here, but you remind me of a funny strip where a bloke finds himself in just the situation you describe, and, alone in the house, shuffles into the bathroom (his toilet being separate, like I kept mine as I contemplated a future with a wife, two daughters, and one bathroom/toilet) with his trousers around his ankles. There being no bog roll to be found, he next shuffles down the stairs. By the final frame, he is shuffling along the queue at the supermarket, with a big smile and a 9-pack alongside him on the conveyor...
Viz is one of my favourite pieces of reading material. I absolutely love the new dark strips - Hen Cabin, Drunken Bakers, the various We...you... ones with the ubiquitous tall bald bloke screwing people over, Scum Mothers Who'd Have 'Em? Social commentary for our age.
I've been feeling quite guilty as everyone else has been so productive with their jobs. Yesterday I got myself organised and tidied up the laundry cupboard (the one which stores many of our bulk buys).
So, all the shelves have all been wiped, some junk has been tossed and shelves have been re-organised, as over time like products have been dispersed and are now back together and it all looks a lot better. I am sure I'll find it easier to locate what I'm looking for as well, which is a bonus. I was surprised that it took me a couple of hours to get it all sorted, but felt it was well worth the time spent.
This morning I've given the kids' shower floor a proper clean and the glass doors as well, though there is still some stubborn limescale on the glass, so that will need a second go over. Now to wash the microfibre cloths and get them freshened up.
I'm not sure about the vinegar situation, @Huia, but I think I'll try another product that I have on hand for showers. I've bought a few products available here with the term power at the end of the name. I've had a lot of success with them and their oven product is particularly good. I think they have one which is meant to deal with limescale, I had bought one to test out, but gave it to Cheery daughter to use prior to her flat inspection, so I'll have to get a replacement.
I am a huge fan of the microfibre cloths, they seem to be good for anything and everything and they are very had wearing. We bought a large packet at the bulk buy store we use and I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever use them up!
The mum of one of my schoolfriends used to squeegee her shower after every use too, @Boogie. I tried to get Cheery daughter to wipe down the shower screen after each use, but she wouldn't be in it. Now that she's moved out of home, I'll probably only have to clean it a couple of times a year as her brother far prefers baths. For the sake of water use I'd prefer him to shower, but old habits die hard!
Our water is also very hard. Top shower screen cleaning solution: mix equal parts white vinegar and washing up liquid. Put it in a spray bottle, spray all over and leave it to work for a while. Scrub with a damp sponge and rinse, then squeegee. Gets ours impeccable, although you'd have to see how it works if the limescale has already built up.
@Cheery Gardener I haven't been very productive this week either, having been felled by a really horrible bout of flu which I am only just recovering from. Meanwhile Mr R is diligently continuing with the Lego models. And neglecting most of the other domestic duties, but you can't have everything. The builders are actually making noises indicating an interest in getting on with the job, so packing our stuff up may even be more urgent than I thought 😳
I will worry about it on Monday, when I hope to have the energy to do stuff again.
Had some more information from the builder yesterday. We now have a ballpark estimate of the date when the job will start. Still no idea how long it will take. And we have to clear out the loft. 🤯
We had a builder to do some small jobs due in April. Then May, then June. No word since July. At least we have a quote that we can hold him to, and he has a very good reputation (and probably too much work to do).
U3a French group was at my house today so it all looks tidy.
But I skimped on cleaning, and haven’t done the windows inside for ages.
And nobody used the bathrooms.
I hope I can find the various things I hid out of sight.
We've just had an agent in the house to discuss the move that has to happen before my advancing mental and physical decrepitude make it even more difficult. Trendy decor and decluttering is her approach, so when she saw our many shelves of books - our treasures - she said, "Well - those will have to go before we can show the house, of course". But when she saw my small collection of railway models, it was, "You must keep those on display - it shows such character!" I think someone else will be selling our house when that day comes.
There must be some sort of happy medium between decluttering all evidence that anyone has lived there, and accepting that somebody does, and it's theirjunk treasure that's on display, which won't be there when it's sold.
I think houses on sale with no books in them (that's most, as far as I can see) look like terrible, soulless places. Pale grey walls, massive telly screwed to one of them, and Darth Vader's shiny kitchen. Hmm.
We've just had an agent in the house to discuss the move that has to happen before my advancing mental and physical decrepitude make it even more difficult. Trendy decor and decluttering is her approach, so when she saw our many shelves of books - our treasures - she said, "Well - those will have to go before we can show the house, of course". But when she saw my small collection of railway models, it was, "You must keep those on display - it shows such character!" I think someone else will be selling our house when that day comes.
We had only negative comments from one agent who came to assess our house when we were putting it on the market last year, and we didn't use that agent. As @Piglet says, prospective buyers know that the house they're viewing has real people actually living in it and will be looking beyond the things that won't be there if they moved in. Some estate agents don't seem to credit them with that ability.
@Puzzler your comment about people not using your bathroom made me smile. I am always paranoid about cleaning the loo for visitors and invariably it is not needed, but I know for sure that if it looked dreadful, everyone would need to pay a visit.
I am glad to hear you are back on deck @Jane R and hopefully making progress on the jobs you need done.
I think that preparing a property for sale can be problematic. The rule we used was to fix stuff that needed doing (within financial reason), to reduce prospective purchasers wanting to knock the price down to allow for work to be done at their end. and to try to make it as neutral as possible so people wouldn't turn on their heel and not bother with the open house viewing. Also to make it easy for people to imagine their own lives in the property and not emphasize our own too much. I think that's extremely difficult when you are trying to live normally in a place and moreso if you need to leave and need/want a quick sale.
I've been a bit lazy the last few weeks. I am managing vacuuming, clean benches and kitchen tidying ok. I am also keeping on top of the cat trays and litter changing, but I hate doing the floor mopping and am probably overdue for that. Likewise bathrooms, I think today might be the day!
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Back when dad was in the RAF there was a period in which we lived on canned and dried food that was part of military rations. While the dried foods only lasted for about four years, some of the canned foods were fine twenty years after manufacture.
We lived but it was good to get fresh food again.
Lots of vacuuming yesterday as I'd gotten a bit behind on that and did a load of towels today. Tomorrow is fridge clean out and bin day. I might try to give the laundry cupboard a bit of a wipeout and re-organise tomorrow. A wet day is predicted and that's just the thing for a wet day.
Cheery husband went past a kitchenware shop that is closing down yesterday. He came home with 2 metal milkshake mugs, a new posh dustpan and brush and a cheese slicer. I am a bit concerned that he might come home with a lot more stuff today, I'll keep you updated!! I did remind him that if he brings it home, he has to find a place for it.
I don't suppose 'Viz' magazine is to many people's taste here, but you remind me of a funny strip where a bloke finds himself in just the situation you describe, and, alone in the house, shuffles into the bathroom (his toilet being separate, like I kept mine as I contemplated a future with a wife, two daughters, and one bathroom/toilet) with his trousers around his ankles. There being no bog roll to be found, he next shuffles down the stairs. By the final frame, he is shuffling along the queue at the supermarket, with a big smile and a 9-pack alongside him on the conveyor...
Having finally packed his trainset to his satisfaction, he turned his attention to the Lego models. He has just finished dismantling Apollo 11. It took him two days.
I have one of those rocking blades - I take it you mean a mezzaluna? Mine came with a wooden board with a hollow in it, which makes it very effective, and while I don't use it that often, I do find it's the best way to chop fresh herbs.
Although I'm a Brit, I lived over the Pond for long enough to get used to cup measures, and the set David bought for me had to come with me when I moved back.
Best of all I start the day feeling virtuous
Dreams are free.
Viz is one of my favourite pieces of reading material. I absolutely love the new dark strips - Hen Cabin, Drunken Bakers, the various We...you... ones with the ubiquitous tall bald bloke screwing people over, Scum Mothers Who'd Have 'Em? Social commentary for our age.
So, all the shelves have all been wiped, some junk has been tossed and shelves have been re-organised, as over time like products have been dispersed and are now back together and it all looks a lot better. I am sure I'll find it easier to locate what I'm looking for as well, which is a bonus. I was surprised that it took me a couple of hours to get it all sorted, but felt it was well worth the time spent.
This morning I've given the kids' shower floor a proper clean and the glass doors as well, though there is still some stubborn limescale on the glass, so that will need a second go over. Now to wash the microfibre cloths and get them freshened up.
Would white vinegar help get rid of the limescale? Or could it damage the glass - which, I think is different to window glass.
I am a huge fan of the microfibre cloths, they seem to be good for anything and everything and they are very had wearing. We bought a large packet at the bulk buy store we use and I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever use them up!
Our son has an in-line water filter which sorts it out. We can't afford the cost.
We squeegee to be shower after every shower - so far no problem. We've been here four years.
I will worry about it on Monday, when I hope to have the energy to do stuff again.
I just found a saying I'd written down intending to stitch as a bookmark, "anyone who has time to clean is not reading nearly enough."
They're going to start in October. 😱😱😱😱😱
But I skimped on cleaning, and haven’t done the windows inside for ages.
And nobody used the bathrooms.
I hope I can find the various things I hid out of sight.
We had only negative comments from one agent who came to assess our house when we were putting it on the market last year, and we didn't use that agent. As @Piglet says, prospective buyers know that the house they're viewing has real people actually living in it and will be looking beyond the things that won't be there if they moved in. Some estate agents don't seem to credit them with that ability.
I am glad to hear you are back on deck @Jane R and hopefully making progress on the jobs you need done.
I think that preparing a property for sale can be problematic. The rule we used was to fix stuff that needed doing (within financial reason), to reduce prospective purchasers wanting to knock the price down to allow for work to be done at their end. and to try to make it as neutral as possible so people wouldn't turn on their heel and not bother with the open house viewing. Also to make it easy for people to imagine their own lives in the property and not emphasize our own too much. I think that's extremely difficult when you are trying to live normally in a place and moreso if you need to leave and need/want a quick sale.
I've been a bit lazy the last few weeks. I am managing vacuuming, clean benches and kitchen tidying ok. I am also keeping on top of the cat trays and litter changing, but I hate doing the floor mopping and am probably overdue for that. Likewise bathrooms, I think today might be the day!