I have “jobs” coming out of my ears. Do you do that? Walk about with an internal list of things that must be done clanking around your head? Tomorrow is the end of term and in an act of utter hopelessness I have bought teachers gift wrapping paper and nothing at all to wrap up, because I cant quite seem to prioritise my lists and there is a whole caboodle of fire-fighting going on here. You see I am one of those ridiculous people who truly believes that I do a thing best when I am about to be shot for not having done it at all and that anything I do BEFORE any given deadline is highly liable to be utter rubbish and thus require a repeat performance when there is only moments to spare. So yes: I am up to my eyes (higher than my ears) in “jobs”. All of a sudden I seem to have a life abundant not just with things I am worrying about doing, but also with the flipperty-jibbit nonsense of trying to get a business back up off it’s proverbial bottom, fit a new man in to my life and house, organise a Summer full of worthwhile activities for a child, keep a dog and dad up to date in doctors and vets visits, see friends and family, keep my eyebrows shaped and get the house back to something I deem more than just bearable. It’s a tall order for a lady who gets her herself in to the most dreadful muddle if she finds herself with more than one social activity to endure on any given weekend. And darn these eyebrows just won’t look after themselves! I feel demented. I have diagnosed myself with peri-menopausal acne because I have got three spots on my right cheek and thus need to sort out my skin care routine. I have chucked away all but eight glasses in the kitchen because I swear the damn things grow legs and plant themselves on any given surface around the house and now need to take the surplus to the recycling. I haven’t phoned Mimi, or had coffee with Shelanne yet (but I haven’t forgotten Ladies: just meeting myself coming backwards!). I have had a mean letter from the noise pollution people because my neighbour is bonkers and gets stressed when Alfie barks at the postman, so I must decide whether to respond to it or ignore it (and her?). I need a new mattress because I am on the fast route to Quasimodo syndrome and a hunch needs to be avoided before my dotage. I must get over myself pronto and stop worrying that everything I have written lately is nonsense and just SEND IT OUT already. That mirror leaning against the bathroom wall is precarious and must be moved. The decking needs painting. I must pack for this coming weekend away and make plans for our stay in a fancy-schmancy hotel the weekend after next. The late-night kitchen slug problem needs addressing. Need to check under the stairs to see if tyrepump thingie Dad keeps asking about is lurking there. Mustn’t forget to go the doctors next Tuesday. Must remember to send Amy and Lee’s wedding acceptance back. The dog needs a collar that isn’t a bow-tie because people keep laughing at him. Finn needs to be warned that if he doesn’t tidy his room soon I will set Helen and Louie on him. The bathroom needs a deep clean. And hell’s bells I really need to buy those teachers a gift or two before twelve o’clock tomorrow afternoon!! See what I mean? Jobs coming out of my ears! Now usually I like to round up these kinds of posts with a few words from the wise. I pop on my domestic sage’s hat and tell you how I plan to solve my problems and how I recommend you solve yours: but in this case any advice coming your way from me would be utterly laughable when we all know that the answer to getting things done is downright doing them, no more dilly-dallying – just straight forward action of the sort that means jobs can be ticked off and order can be (somewhat) restored… Now where did I leave my tweezers again?
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Wouldn’t these gorgeous vintage inspired prints look wonderful decorating the walls of a white nursery? While stumbling around the world wide web today I happened across the work of one Gwenda Maree Mcdougal, an Australian artist who, like me, began her…
Gorgeous mixed media collage from Etsy seller Sushipot. Isn’t she just lovely? She kind of reminds me of Twinkle… Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way…
Well Christmas may come just once a year but my goodness it comes around quick. One day I’m worrying because I haven’t bought a single Christmas present and there isn’t a mince pie in the house, and the next it is the…
Really! What were the people of the good old days thinking? Is it really appropriate to advertise books on "Modern Views on Sex", "Planned Parenthood" and "Youth, Sex and Life" on the back of a Babys Log Book? Here we have a…
Dear me, do pardon the French, but it has been a helluva week. This morning I did myself a damage with my pegbag. Clearly you see, I was not made to be a limbo dancer. I kind of shimmied under the washing…
What time do you get up? Do you manage to sneak an hour or so to yourself before the hurly burly of the morning starts or do you hug your pillow until the sun is high in the sky? I have long…
Number your list most important to least or what needs done first to last. Or make a list for each day and divide it all up. Estimate how long each job will take and write it next to the item on the list. You’ll be surprised how fast shit gets done. (sorry 🙂 Give the teachers a copy of your book or a free subscription to your blog goodies. Set a timer. Drink wine!
Definitely make a list. A long one with boxes at the side to colour in when completed. And keep calm and carry on. Dark bushy eyebrows are in this year….. aren’t they? (I hope)
I personally know where you are coming from. I sometimes feel as if I am pulled in a million different directions and am hamster running in my wheel. I can get nowhere fast. Then I stay up all night making to do lists in my head that are forgotten when I wake up. Sometimes if I tackle the most urgent and pressing matter first helps. It often sparks me to get started and get going on all of them. Then again I can find myself sitting down in my chair with a cup of tea to read your lovely blog and that ALWAYS gives me inspiration. To be clear WE ALL LOVE EVERYTHING YOU WRITE. So don’t be so hard on yourself cause we all love you!
LOVE the new book. Looking forward to the new e-book on puttery treats. How soon will it come? I love your ability to find sunshine even when it’s raining.
Hi, Alison! I’m in the process of rousing myself from an internet break and something of a housekeeping slump (There’s nothing like the nitty-gritty of necessary home repairs to wreck your routines. *sigh*) and wanted to say, “Hi!” and catch up. You’ve had quite the year! I’m so sorry you lost your Mum, and so glad you found a man who makes you happy! I know it’s incredibly hard to do the kind of writing you do when your own life is blowing sky-high, and I appreciate your patience and fortitude. Like Charles in The Scent of Water, the power of simply getting up and carrying on can be one’s saving grace through all the vicissitudes of life. Speaking of, I’m going to go through my library of your downloads to help me get inspired around here. I could use a good ol’ Brocante pep-talk right about now, as I sit in a welter of power tools and flooring and wainscoting and paint. -_-
Some of these sound like jobs Finn could do. Especially the slug problem. My boys’ teachers will be getting pens, post its and flowers. I hope you are feeling better. Ste sounds like he is an angel in the body of a man in the prime of life. Xx
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You do have fabulous eyebrows. 🙂
Number your list most important to least or what needs done first to last. Or make a list for each day and divide it all up. Estimate how long each job will take and write it next to the item on the list. You’ll be surprised how fast shit gets done. (sorry 🙂 Give the teachers a copy of your book or a free subscription to your blog goodies. Set a timer. Drink wine!
Definitely make a list. A long one with boxes at the side to colour in when completed. And keep calm and carry on. Dark bushy eyebrows are in this year….. aren’t they? (I hope)
I personally know where you are coming from. I sometimes feel as if I am pulled in a million different directions and am hamster running in my wheel. I can get nowhere fast. Then I stay up all night making to do lists in my head that are forgotten when I wake up. Sometimes if I tackle the most urgent and pressing matter first helps. It often sparks me to get started and get going on all of them. Then again I can find myself sitting down in my chair with a cup of tea to read your lovely blog and that ALWAYS gives me inspiration. To be clear WE ALL LOVE EVERYTHING YOU WRITE. So don’t be so hard on yourself cause we all love you!
LOVE the new book. Looking forward to the new e-book on puttery treats. How soon will it come? I love your ability to find sunshine even when it’s raining.
Hi, Alison!
I’m in the process of rousing myself from an internet break and something of a housekeeping slump (There’s nothing like the nitty-gritty of necessary home repairs to wreck your routines. *sigh*) and wanted to say, “Hi!” and catch up.
You’ve had quite the year! I’m so sorry you lost your Mum, and so glad you found a man who makes you happy! I know it’s incredibly hard to do the kind of writing you do when your own life is blowing sky-high, and I appreciate your patience and fortitude.
Like Charles in The Scent of Water, the power of simply getting up and carrying on can be one’s saving grace through all the vicissitudes of life.
Speaking of, I’m going to go through my library of your downloads to help me get inspired around here. I could use a good ol’ Brocante pep-talk right about now, as I sit in a welter of power tools and flooring and wainscoting and paint.
-_-
Some of these sound like jobs Finn could do. Especially the slug problem.
My boys’ teachers will be getting pens, post its and flowers.
I hope you are feeling better. Ste sounds like he is an angel in the body of a man in the prime of life. Xx