Thank you for an encouraging and festive introduction, Wondergirly.
Yesterday I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the number of task to be completed before Christmas and worried I would run out of time. I decided to make this month's goals an unashamedly domestic 'things to do' list and make sure I was on the critical path. I typed the list on Excel, put completion dates on and sorted it. It has already paid off brilliantly. This is the list:
04 Finish putting kitchen contents away and tidy up
04 Put furry feet on the kitchen chairs and table
05 Empty and sweep B2, put down underlay
05 Take delivery of tumble dryer
05 Work out how to reprogram the central heating, and do it
06 Get B2 carpet fitted
06 Move B2 furniture back in
08 Paint study
09 Make book shelves
09 Make shelves in hall cupboard
10 Stack tumble dryer on washing machine
10 Unpack the boxes of books, that are blocking the hall, onto the shelves
14 Tidy store room, measure shelves, plan where the boxes are to go
15 Move boxes from dining room into the store room
16 Clean and arrange the dining room
17 Buy holly, cut ivy and conduct decking operations
17 Buy or make wreath for front door
17 Buy, set up and decorate Christmas tree
17 Clean all the windows inside and out
17 Finish buying Christmas presents
17 Tidy the patio
17 Sweep drive and porch, clear drainage channels, replace gravel edges
18 Arrange living room furniture
18 Wrap presents
19 Buy/make festive table decorations
20 Plan Christmas menus.
20 Send Christmas cards
21 Amend online grocery order
22 Make up the bed in Bedroom 2
22 Put hooks up in B2
22 Put up B2 curtain rail and curtains
That's 31 jobs to finish in 19 days, so I need to be ticking off about two a day.
Today the list has already had an effect. I got up early, did some kitchen clearing and was at B&Q as soon as it opened to buy paint for the study and furry feet for the chairs. While I was there I remembered a program on Radio 4 this week saying this the peak weekend people buy their Christmas trees, and it's good to get one now so they aren't all dried out. Seems early to me, but who am I to argue with Radio 4. I purchased a 5' Nordman fir that seemed well priced at £15, and a 'Krinner' Christmas Tree Stand that you operate with your foot. Really chuffed about the latter. I hate wrestling with Christmas trees and havent had one in recent years for that reason. But TJ thinks they are essential, and he is sad this year so perhaps it will cheer him up. I was brought up in the thrifty school of sawing the trunk straight and screwing it onto a board, no bought stands in our house. I suppose they weren't invented when my parents started out in life. But I find the whole tree-wrestling business so annoying, this posh stand has made me feel more optimistic about the Christmas preparations already.
I felt so optimistic when I got home, and the sun was shining brilliantly, I got straight on with clearing the drains in the drive.The long channels that have metal covers on. I prised off the covers , cleared out all the mud and sawdust that accumulated during the building work, put the covers back, swept round the porch and driveway and replaced an edging of weedy mucky gravel with some clean. The retired builder across the road will approve. He and his wife are always out doing jobs like that. hoovering under their magnolia and what not, and he makes Remarks about neighbours who don't
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I am encouraged to find myself feeling more positive about the jobs, because TJ is so sad and he keeps phoning for help at intervals each day. I thought I might get pulled down with it all and not be able to finish all the pre-Christmas slog or not have the strength to keep things cheerful while he is here. The Power of the List will see me through!
T