8.20 PM UPDATE
2) Check it twice (and do naughty/nice triage)
7) Remaining cards -- to D, P, L, J (and an electronic one next week for S as per tradition) but MAKE AND POST SNAIL MAIL CARDS TODAY or it will all get a bit pointless
8) Think through appropriate gifts/visits for D&M, also R&N (see Master List)
9) Make gingerbread cats. (Mind out for breakable tails) NICE
10) Buy some Useful Tins to Put Things In (especially gingerbread cats)
12) Get tree and decorations out of cupboard in garage -- mind out for redback infestation
13) Ring accountant for appointment IT IS A MATTER OF HONOUR to do this before Christmas, so you had better hope he is not on hols: NAUGHTY
14) Spend 5 hours (as timed last year) getting tax records into shape: NASTY
15) Housework,
* A Master List, viz a list of the lists you have to make
This year I have ditched lists in favour of spreadsheet. So much easier to put someone else's name next to task, and google saves the document for me so I can look at it next year instead of trying to think of all the items all over again.
ReplyDeleteExcept of course we're planning to be in Afghanistan or similar for the peace and quiet and non-Christmassy-ness next year.
Do you know what I should get my sister-in-law? Would it be bad if I gave her my bookclub copy of Eat, Pray, Love?
To-do spreadsheets! I love it! Santa must have one:
ReplyDeleteHe's making a spreadsheet,
And checking it twice,
Applying Excel formulas in order to find out
Who's been naughty and nice.
When it comes to Christmas, I could a) do things, I could b) make useful lists of things I am to do, but instead, I am, c), doing neither of the above. I think the Christmas rush will hit soon...
Tim scoffs, but I'm guessing he is not hosting inlaws for Christmas lunch and wondering how it's all going to fit in the fridge and whether the guests will remember to bring the folding chairs. These are big important issues I'm grappling with here.
ReplyDeleteChristmas spreadsheet also includes present buying from the last three years. My grandmother had an exercise book for the purpose, but I like a google doc.
No, even if I was hosting inlaws I'd be this disorganised. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about you locking the keys in the car, but full of admiration that you can still work on the list and update it for us after the event. Whenever I lock the keys in the car I become completely unnerved, like I just can't cope any longer.
ReplyDeleteHousework ahead of Christmas Day also unnerves me. It's unnerving me right now, putting me into a fug of not being able to get on with it,procrastinating, worrying about it, not knowing where to start. I see it's still on your list too.
Apart from taking drugs (which I can't seem to lay my hands on)can anyone offer words of hope on how to approach the housework?
Fifteen-minute modules, Di, fifteen-minute modules.
ReplyDeleteI also find with truly chaotic rooms that the principle of the grid search can be useful. Totally tidy and clean one small square at a time.
And yoga breathing, of course.
Thanks sister. I'm gonna jump on it!
ReplyDeleteI have managed, so far, to exclude housework from my brain and my list. It can happen in a mad flurry of glaring and yelling Christmas Eve, because the grid thing doesn't work with a three year old present. The floor will very quickly end up covered in little bits of wrapping paper and finger food anyway so there's probably not much point.
ReplyDeleteThis is the good part of hosting inlaws. It's not my own mother, who would definitely cast nasturtiums about the lack of vacuuming.
Congratulations on retrieving the keys.