Monday 13 December 2010

Productive

This weekend I was taken over by a curious force.


The force to do things.

I’m not really a lazy person at all, I find it incredibly difficult to sit still and do nothing, my hands have to be doing something, my mind has to be engaged and I can sit for at most about an hour before I have to get up and stretch my legs and do something. But even so, this force was something else.

It started on Friday night, I had a little plan in my head of what I was going to do – come in, start making my own curry (why have I never done this before?! Silly girl. Don’t need a jar, just a bit of curry paste!) and then while it was cooking, get in the shower and wash my hair. I’m a big fan of efficiency – why would I hang about for 40 minutes while my curry cooked when I could use that 40 minutes to do something useful.

And so it began.

I showered, I dusted and hoovered downstairs, I scrubbed the kitchen, did all the washing up, scrubbed the hob clean, I fluffed up cushions, I was content.

The trouble with these ‘Doing’ Binges is that they have a tendency to take over and go out of control and on Friday night I started making a list. A list of every little thing I needed to do in a weekend which was already going to be taken up with a day trip to Manchester on the Saturday. I cannot explain how much I love a good list, no better feeling than crossing things off a list so every tiny insignificant thing went on there. I was on fire.

And so this weekend I did the following:

- 2 loads of washing done, (1 load dried, sorted and put away)
- Got drunk on Gluhwein at the Christmas markets (note to self, eat breakfast before you get to Manchester, otherwise that stuff will go straight to your head)
 - Gave the patchwork blanket to its new owner (part of me wanted to make her open it there and then but I resisted) - Bought all my wrapping paper, gift boxes, shredded paper etc
- Wrapped all my Christmas presents (I always forget how long this takes, I was up until 1am doing it!)


- Made a Christmas Cake (yes purists I should have done it ages ago but I didn’t, so, you know, get over it.)

Don't worry, it's not anaemic, this is before I put it in the oven!

- Got my picture up on the wall finally after moving in 6 months ago (with the help of Dad who also broke one of the slats on my bed by putting his whole bloody weight on it. Brilliant.)
- Wrote my Christmas cards (I know that people say it’s cheaper to make them than buy them but I got 18 cards for £1.99 from The Card Factory which I thought was pretty damn good)
- Finished making a Christmas wreath (post to come on that later in the week)
- Uploaded photos on to my much neglected Flickr account (trying to get in practice because I want to do Project 365 next year!)
- Cleaned the house from top to bottom (you have to have a clean house before you start decorating)
- Started to get out the decorations ready to decorate the house on Tuesday
- Put some decorations up in my bedroom
- Watched the Coronation Street omnibus so I could finally understand what everyone’s been blathering on about (might not sound productive but I did it whilst....)
- Finished my Mum’s blanket (Yes. You did read that right.)

It felt rather amazing. I really don't like feeling like I haven't done anything and now I can rest easy knowing that everything is done, all that's left to do is post those presents to the people living far away and I am officially ready to sit back and let the festive cheer wash over me.

(And take photos of that blanket so I can crow about finishing it.)

12 comments:

  1. I am SERIOUSLY impressed! That seems almost impossible to do that much in one weekend! Congratulations on finishing the blanket! Can't wait to see pictures :) x

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  2. Wow.

    I did a lot of laundry this weekend. But mainly crafting.

    I'm leaving as much housework as I can until I'm off work. Cos that's what holidays are for...ironing? right?

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  3. Wow, you did loads! You are entitled to be proud of yourself. I wish I could be that productive.

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  4. well that is a stonkingly productive weekend! Rains all over my productivity. ha. NEVER MIND, I am planning THE most productive Christmas Eve: I am going to get Andy's dad and brother to do baking. Wish me luck!

    Ooh and can't wait to see the finished blanket :D

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  5. Blimey, that is efficient! How was the curry?

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  6. Lists! I LOVE lists! Just wish I had more days where I had more things crossed off than not. :(

    Wow you got loads done...can't wait to see the finished blanket x

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  7. I was at one of the Manchester Christmas markets yesterday! The one that had a giant scary light up santa on the front of a building! It was fab, we had a brilliant time :-)

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  8. "I cannot explain how much I love a good list, no better feeling than crossing things off a list so every tiny insignificant thing went on there." - a woman after my own heart. I even put things on the list that I've already done, just so I can cross them off.

    Re. Christmas cards - it's never ever cheaper to make something than to buy it, be it papercrafts, knitting, sewing or baking.

    And can't wait to see the blanket! :) xx

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  9. I was thinking back to when I was young free and single the other day, and how different my Christmas preparations were. They were much simpler (buy a frock, book a hair appointment, buy new make up, organise a mini bus for nights out) but I still got stressed about them! Well done you. xxx

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  10. Wow, you've been busy! I've only just made my Christmas cake too :)

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  11. Lol you really were busy! I wish I could get so much done! I really want to go to the Manchester Xmas markets but not sure if we'll have time :(

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  12. Er...where do you find the time?! xxx

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