Sneaking away from all things Christmassy
In between all the shopping, cooking, present wrapping, cleaning and other general stuff that goes on before Christmas I’ve been stealing a little time now and then to do this:
mmm tea and sock knitting – my favourite! When accompanied by a nice play on the radio or an audio book, this is possibly the most calming activity there is.
I’ve also just finished reading this…
It’s the same every year – I love the house being decorated for Christmas, but the clutter and all the stuff (old and new) does start to get to me after a while and I’m itching to have a big clear out. Obviously that isn’t possible at the moment, but I’m keeping the feeling at bay following Francine Jay’s one-a-day principle. This involves finding one article every day thay can be rehomed, recycled or thrown away. So far I’ve got rid of several files of old schoolwork belonging to the children, a file full of old proof-editing notes of mine, rehomed an old cardigan with my mother and thrown away all the past sell-by dated items in my baking drawer (with appropriate shame!). My son also suddenly decided to become a tidy person and presented me with a whole lot of toys that he no longer needs. It’s a shame he didn’t do this 6 weeks ago, when I could have taken them to our church bazaar, but I’m not complaining. If any of my children shows the slightest sign of being tidy (rather than following after their father, the arch-chaot) I shall open a bottle of champagne. We are getting dangerously near that point with said son – it is all rather blissful and I do hope it lasts!
On that happy note, I shall return to my cookie baking and trying to think of what to feed the unspecified number of teenagers who will be descending on us this evening on their way out to more exciting things than are on offer here in the house on the hill.
Happy Christmas preparations to one and all – and don’t forget to take a little time out to do something nice for yourself – you’ll feeel much better if you do!
Helen
December 23rd, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Did I put you onto this?! I think not, but she’s “miss minimalist” at .com of that name… a blog I look at a lot! Had this as an ebook and really enjoyed it, although Francine personally is breathtakingly minimalist and I don’t quite aspire to that level š®
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I am very impressed at ANY attempt to declutter with the Christmas bits out! We are here and there is still snow around so that is good. I have been baking today too! Happy Christmas Helen!
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:17 pm
I’ve had a lovely afternoon of sewing, which I really enjoyed. I’ve made Chris a chef’s hat and apron as extra pressies. I’d forgotten how much I love sewing. I MUST do more.
Hope you have a really lovely Christmas. Ours will be unexciting but that’s OK, that’s how we like them.
December 24th, 2011 at 1:28 am
I will be looking for that book, sounds like just the thing for after Christmas… oh boy, do I need to do some de-cluttering. I lived in Geneva for three years, loved it, how I miss the skiing! š
December 24th, 2011 at 6:11 am
I’m a huge fan of decluttering; it’s amazing the amount of stuff that six people can bring into a home. It can get quite overwhelming. My older daughter (11) came downstairs the other day with a garbage bag full of papers and garbage she’d cleaned out of her desk…without being asked. I told her that could be my Christmas present!
December 24th, 2011 at 6:19 am
I want to be you when I grow up. You can knit, you want to have a clutter-free home, you speak French, and you …well let’s just say, can we be friends? Each year I say I am going to clean out the house, but my Mr. R gets emotionally attached to things. 2012 will be better.
Merry Christmas!