h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Cleaning day. Every other Wednesday is cleaning day. Today is an every other and it's all done, 4 man-hours and all done; everything's had a basic wipe, dust, vacuum or polish. It's nice, a clean house is very satisfying somehow.

J's first question hearing I was getting married was whether S'd move to my house, me to his or were we buying new. I moved to S's.

J had moved to P's. She said that after 15 years it still didn't feel like home. That was a stunner. It wasn't an issue that had occurred to me at all. J & P are a very happy, together couple. My old house was very much home. Too small for two though and S's home is the sort I'd have chosen. Plus why should he be uprooted because I wasn't around to be part of choosing when he chose a house I would have chosen if I had been around.

I am determined to make this house home. It is not going to be just a house in 15 years' time. Never mind 15, I won't have it be just a house in two years' time. Home's important. There were times I'd shut the front door behind me and be very conscious of how good it was to be there. It was tangible. I want that back.

Redecorating is an obvious way - but there's nothing material I'd change that wouldn't be a change for the worse and that's stupid.

Putting stuff of mine around isn't enough.

S had cleaners. We kept them on initially because I didn't want to take work away from them and ... wasn't that keen on cleaning. In fact I hated cleaning - a job without a finish that's always on the to-do list. Like weeding. But the cleaners did all the basics in just three man-hours once a fortnight. Cleaning like that would be ok. And it might be a way of connecting with the house. Once a fortnight cleaning is a contained job with a noticeable and enjoyable finish. So that's what I'm trying.

It's an awful admission, but it's good. And getting into all the house's nooks and crannies, wiping its face, brushing its hair, getting to know it, is working. It is making the place home.

And the savings go into the occasional-expensive-holiday pot. Yesss !! Expensive, in terms of distance not hotel stars, holidays are very much on the 'like' list (and the pot has been rather emptied this year).

Henry however is a problem. He supposed to trundle along behind sucking up dust. Today he found corners and legs to get stuck behind every two minutes. Found him rolled over, wheels in the air, twice. That's unnecessary and we had words. If he doesn't sort himself out he'll be replaced by an upright.

I never thought of cleaning as getting to know something/someone. You're a revelation, Waz

GB

I agree that it's a great feeling to have a clean house. Wish I was a bit more ambitious and enjoyed the cleaning part though.

*Sweeps a few crumbs under the carpet*

You deserve a or a after that.

Put your feet up and watch a film.

LL Waz that is a very novel way at looking at things. My son has joined his partner in her house which is ok but they have a nasty neighbour so they are looking for a house properly together.

Glad I am not the only one who is not a slave to housework. It gets done when it needs it, or sometimes if I am in a bad temper. It is an amazing release of tension and frustration when things are not going right.

I think men adjust to someone else's house better than women do. A home is what we make and it has to feel right.

Enjoy your new home and good luck with the transformation.

Websailor

Nasty neighbours sound bad, I hope your son finds somewhere good Websailor.

GB I'm so glad you've found someone, and share so much with him. I just had a catch-up look at your journals. Aurora's have been on my want-to-see list for decades but they're just not predictable!

House cleaning is now completely off the agenda until Wednesday week . But the chicken coop needs doing - just waiting for Dandelion to lay today's egg. She's had scraps, she's had treats, she's had fresh water, she's not going to miss out on anything ... get a move on Dandelion!

Still wrestling with Henry but he behaves better these days. He had a half-hearted go at clinging on to the spare bedroom doorframe on Wednesday but came to heel pretty quickly.

Polishing is magic. How does a matt chunk of wood turn into something liquid with shots of amber that change as the light changes? Its dust repelling property is magic too. Or something to do with electrically charged particles that is beyond me. Beeswax seems to be most effective at that. Clever critters, bees. They deserve to keep more of their own honey. Taking it and giving them a fondant substitute is ridiculous.

In the past twelve months I’ve added my mark to the house by knocking two holes into the walls. One with a mallet and crowbar to remove a locked wall safe that had gone unnoticed by S for twenty years, the other with a builder to let heat from the upstairs stove circulate out to warm more of the house. It feels a lot more like home twelve months on. I've got to know its cracks and corners, the well made bits and the dodgy bits.

Mildew in shower grout has me beat - I don't think there's an environmentally friendly answer to it.

LL;

Have you tried White Vinegar, I used it regularly while we were living on the boat.

http://moldremovalfacts.com/tag/kill-mold-with-vinegar/

Just a thought

FS

FS, I'm going to try that. Thank you

Gouge it out and re-grout.

Oh, that's drastic! White vinegar first, defo .