Pointless activities anyone?

I am beginning to think I'm a hopeless housewife; I probably vacuum the day before we go on holiday.

Any of us could drop dead while at home, not wait until holiday. Does that mean the house has to be up to scratch the whole time? My family will have a fit when I 'go', especially when they see the loft and under my bed, which I cannot move!

I don't holiday any more, but did used to have a clean round and empty the laundry basket.

Have been sorting the loft today shysal - you never know!
Actually, I was getting worried in case it all gave way under the strain.

Thanks Jalima , certainly hope so! Do you remember the case of the poor man who had stored many years worth of magazines in his loft and one day the ceiling gave way under the weight and (I think) killed him in his bed?

I've emptied the attic because when my DS leaves home I won't be able to get up there so that's sorted out. Trying to get other areas in order, paperwork, cupboards, sentimental etc.

I tidy up before I go away because I don't want to walk back in to an untidy house and have to start cleaning. No use having a break and then having to start again as soon as I land back home.

Poor man? He put the crap in the loft. What if there had been an innocent child under that ceiling.

Badenkate
I will be up there tomorrow

BUT - and rubylady may perk up her ears at this:
Most of the rubbish stuff up there belongs to DD2

although the beams do look quite strong, with good rafters and some of it boarded.

My DH glossed the stairs one year. He said it was the only way he could ensure that no-one would tread on it before it was dry. Me and the kids were sitting in the car with the suitcases waiting for him to finish the bottom step

That wins I think!!

Unless demolishing the garden wall when reversing out with a car full of children and suitcases counts. (DH, not me!)
We had to pick up the pieces of wall before we left.
Oh, and the time the next door neighbour rushed over when we were all sat in the car with suitcases etc ready to leave and asked DH to help him bury his cat which had just died.....

Crikey, you lot put me to shame. I don't clean anything in particular before we go away - I do try to leave it all tidy, though. It's more than enough for me to pack, cancel milk (papers are down to OH), water plants, clear out the fridge of anything that's going to go off, stick any bread and milk in the freezer, etc. Oh, and anything in the food waste bin also goes into the freezer rather than fester until the next collection.

If the worst happened while we were both away it would be dds who'd have to sort everything out and they know I'm not exactly Queen of the Duster anyway. I did once worry enough before a long trip to make notes of our affairs (financial not the other!) so that at least they'd have a clue where to start.

I do clean & tidy as my neighbour is in & out feeding cats for us but by the time I get back 3 long haired cats have made the whole place a total tip anyway. I shut bedroom doors but they can open them if them want to. Very clever cats.
I water house plants & hope they survive- some can go outside. Mow lawns very short too but the garden looks like a wilderness when you get back anyway.
By the time you have been in an hour it all looks like bedlam again. All that post has been opened- suitcases emptied into washing machine & cats are sulking & refusing to come anywhere near us. You need another holiday to get over it all.

What gets me is that Grampy is doing all this homework! I doubt if my OH notices anything I do. But I clean before going away because it's nice to come back to a clean and tidy house.

Hahaha Jamila at least he didn't rebuild the wall before you left!

I usually exhaust myself, tidying and cleaning the house before we go away. I have no idea why I do it! My neighbour comes in to feed the cat, but her house is really untidy so it's not to impress her. I used to iron everything we packed, but now we take an iron and iron as we need the clothes. I think I get the house cleaning from my late mum. I remember when we went on holiday she would insist we ate every morsel of food in the house before we went. Then we would be sitting in our coats just waiting to go. We weren't allowed to move in case we moved something out of place!

Pointless activities:
1: tidying the house before the weekly help arrives to tidy the house.
2: hoovering the hoover.
3: talking to the dog as in 'where would you like to go for a walk today?'
4: ironing clothes (and bits of clothes) that won''t show
5: growing things that won't grow and no one but the rabbits and slugs would eat if they did

At least once a week I wipe out the bins in the kitchen with the left-over washing up water. This is relatively unnecessary because we use bin liners in all of them. Whatever.

I try to leave the house reasonably o.k. when we go away, but don't go mad. My worst times, and this has happened quite a lot, are when someone is staying in the house when we are away, usually in-laws! Don't worry about DDs and SILs as they share my somewhat casual housekeeping style.

NanaandGrampy - I'd let Grampy do it, while you play on Facebook-- and-- Gransnet-- check essential emails. Have a lovely holiday. Where are you going?

Can't work out how to strike through properly! Meant to strike through the whole bit from play to Gransnet. My attempt at humour went slightly awry there. Now my essential job is to learn how to do it properly!

play on Facebook and Gransnet check essential emails.

Done it!

I have just moved OHs chair and vacuumed under it , while the carers had him out of the room . First thing when he came back was give him his coffee and (big mistake ) two digestive bickies !!

Well, I can't leave home comfortably unless I know that I am coming back to no housework and so yes, I would dust. There'll be less dust to move when I get back.

And don't forget to water the plants.

Am I the only GN who is not obsessed with house work?
Yes sure I change the bed near to my holiday and I arrange for a cleaner to come in and spring clean as close to our return as possible. That's it!
I do not have a routine for any cleaning normally. I clean something if I notice it needs it. When I have someone to stay I make an effort and try and see things through their eyes.
I can always think of something better to do than house work.
Jobs needing doing never prey on my mind I have never lost sleep over dirty dishes.
Please reassure me, I can't be the only one can I ?

Be assured, pattie, that you are not the only one. I am very good at turning a blind eye at things that 'might need doing tomorrow or the day after'. Luckily I live alone.