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Please excuse any excess self-congratulation! I’m used to beating myself up for not doing stuff, or for doing it but not “good enough” – I thought it was about time that I gave myself a pat on the back for doing, even if not doing brilliantly.

Woke up 6-ish on Sunday, fiddled around till about 8, then outside when the sun was up enough over the other block to be inviting; put the last scrubbed pots away and thought, what next?

Decided that now would be a good time have a go at the wall on the left side: I’d been wanting to paint it for some time (actually bought some paint on my last visit to the local hardware shop, so giving me one less excuse for not doing it), but thought it could very likely do with a scrub beforehand – don’t know how much of the bricks’ colouring is built-in and how much is grime. I’ve scrubbed it a couple of times since moving in, but another one wouldn’t hurt.

So heigh-ho with bucket, all-purpose cleaner and deck scrubber. I’m taking the different stonework just above the top of my windows to be the upward limit of “my” space and tried to reach that far, with middling success; didn’t fancy going up and down a stepladder while carrying a scrubbing brush, leaving me only one hand to hand on with! The deck scrubber reached most of it, but it didn’t half make my arms ache! so it’s not done as thoroughly as the lower portions.

Spot the difference …

Scrubbed the paving there while I was at it; it’s still a rather grotty grey, but at least a lighter shade then previously.

Had a cuppa, then decided that, as the space was clear, I should have a go at the windows too: I don’t do them nearly as often as I should (I think the rules of tenancy say that they have to be done at least once a fortnight, or they used to when I was able to read them!). One advantage of pivoting windows is that you can do both sides from the outside; saves risk of spillage indoors and don’t have to clear a path to the windows inside. The only snag is if you have mobiles hanging in front of the windows just close enough to get caught up every time the window is rotated! so there’s another job to be done later, moving those hooks a bit further away.

Did both sides of the windows on the bedroom (not very well, I was using the all-purpose cleaner again, to see how it went), then the kitchen, then thought I might as well do the lounge ones as well – which meant clearing away half the stuff I’d stacked there to be out of the way of the table-sorting I’d done over the previous few days. Did both sides of them, too, then awarded myself a sit-down in the sun. Went in to make a cuppa, and noticed that it was still only ten to three! Gosh.

Had my cuppa and then had another go at the windows; they were very smeary, and I dislike smudged windows as much as I dislike smudged specs, and for the same reason. This time I used vinegar in the water and they came up a treat.

The day was still warm, so I wondered what else I could do. Did think about starting to paint, but wanted to make sure the bricks were perfectly dry – also wanted to leave something for tomorrow. Also, to be honest, thought I’d done enough for one day!

Time was I couldn’t even do one set of windows without needing at least a day to recover after – to find that I can now do all the windows (twice!) after a hectic session of wall-scrubbing and deck-scrubbing still somewhat amazes me. And only a day or so after my compost convoy, and days spent lugging plants and tables about, and trucking sacks of dirt to the bins … lol this is keep-fit-by-gardening!

Of course, while I’ve been doing all this, nothing in the house has been touched – but then, it probably wouldn’t have been, anyway.

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Comments

 

You've got such a lot done, Fran. Busy, busy lady. All looks great.

Yes, gardening is great for keeping fit and as the season progresses I find I can do more and more without aches and pains.

2 Apr, 2012

 

lol and one thing leads to another ... getting the screen up meant moving the plants and the tables ... led to straightening the tables ... clear space led to scrubbing the walls and then the windows ...

If I'd sat down and planned all this, I'd have allowed at least a week just for the windows! And then I'd probably have deciided to leave it for another couple of months ...

it's my mental keep-fit that seems to be improving the most; the more I find I *can* do, the more I want to do - so long as I don't do too much at one time and break the chain!

2 Apr, 2012

 

I know, that's how it goes! I've been digging up half the grass from my front garden, levelling earth and setting in granite setts in the remaining grass edge, all to widen my drive. It's taken days and days, but what a pleasure to work hard outside in that wonderful weather and get spring-fit into the bargain.

2 Apr, 2012

 

pics, please, Ojib!!

And the glow you get when you finally straighten up and see it in all its glory, and think "I did it ALL myself" ...

2 Apr, 2012

 

Oh, yes!
I did have offers of help, but I just wanted to DO IT MYSELF, please! (Pics may follow the work in progress when it's all done and dusted.)
Being a 'little old lady' I did have a neighbour suggesting (kindly) that perhaps I might be overdoing it? Glad no-one can see what I get up to out back!

2 Apr, 2012

 

I know I also prefer to do my jobs myself but it really gets my goat when somebody says, there`s more than one day to get it done, they don`t realise that when we get these ideas in our head then we want it done NOW.
I find if I ache from working too hard then the way to not seize up is to do some more, lol. You do well Fran and its doing you good as well obviously, knowing ones limitations is half the battle, you do have your get up and go working right at the moment so have a right to feel smug...

2 Apr, 2012

 

Agree, Ojib and Lincs

The prob with other people helping is getting them to do what YOU want, not what THEY think would be better. One has to be very firm yet very diplomatic to get one's way because there might come a time when one does need help (moving something heavy, for eg).

My own working methods may not be right for someone else, but they're right for me, which is all that matters. So I do a lot one day, I cruise the next, it balances out.

So true, Lincs, when you have the idea for soemthing you want to do it NOW while there's the energy of the inspiration to bolster you. besides, lol, the more we today, the more time there is to do something esel tomorrow.

2 Apr, 2012

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