The week leading up to a vacation can be a busy time. We're heading to Boston on Friday, so I'm trying to get things organized. The biggest thing is, of course, the laundry. Fortunately I don't work as doing laundry in our flat is a full time job. I also like doing laundry. First things first - decide what you want to wear on vacation and not wear it the entire week before packing for said vacation. This isn't hard if you're going somewhere with a different climate, but it's tricky when the forecast for your destination is 50s-60s and showers. Sounds a lot like Ireland right now!
In America, I had a tumble dryer and drying racks that were in a warm, dry room. In England, we didn't have a tumble dryer (at first), but we had a garden with a clothes line. We also had radiators that you could turn on when you wanted to throw a pair of jeans on there to dry fairly quickly. In Ireland, we have no tumble dryer (no room for one); no garden means no clothesline; storage heating instead of radiators, so there is no flipping a switch for immediate heating; drying racks in our bedroom which isn't known for being a warm, dry room; and a dehumidifier which I love and my husband HATES (he pays the electric bill).
Today would have been a perfect day to hang stuff outside. As I was flipping and rearranging my laundry for the 5th time today, all while cursing our lack of a garden, I was thinking I might be a bit OCD about laundry. I'm obsessed with getting it dry so I can pull it off the rack and throw in another load of laundry. I don't know if it's the sense of completion or what, but I get jazzed when I do laundry.
What I don't get jazzed about?? Pretty much all other cleaning. There is nothing better than going on vacation and coming back to a clean house. I discovered my husband doesn't share this love as after we were married and we returned to our new marital home it looked like someone had been there that morning cooking a full fry up with the dirty frying pan on the stove, dirty plate and half full coffee cup still sitting on the table. I'm sure the cat sitter was thankful to smell that treat when she stopped by. Our friend is stopping by to check on the cat, so I'm determined for her to not think we're total slobs! I cleaned the bathroom, the kitchen floor (which at 12 sq ft is no real accomplishment) and I actually dusted. However, reason #7,468,320,474 of why I hate this apartment means that you can't tell it's been cleaned. No matter what amount of cleaning you do, it never looks pristine. I don't like not being able to see the fruits of my labors!
Tomorrow's agenda: Defeat the mold.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Totally hear ya! I'm cleaning the house before vacation as well - even though noone's coming to even water the plants. I just don't want to get used to hotels with their fresh linen and be depressed when I come home to an unmade bed. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI also love coming home to a clean home. Nothing like a long journey to be welcomed by fresh sheets and clean bathroom.
ReplyDeletei just had to comment, since after finding your blog, i'm convinced we're living the exact same life. american. irish husband. met, did the long distance thing and then got married last year. living in dublin. trying to figure this whole crazy place out and find a job. it's nice to know there's another one of me out there missing npr and american talk shows and warm weather.
ReplyDeleteJamie, thanks for commenting! There definitely are a lot of us here in Dublin! I download NPR podcasts and that's what I listen to when I clean. :)
ReplyDeleteAww, sounds frustrating!! I gotta agree with you on the drying - my last house here was a 100% indoors house and drying too forever. This one has a garden and I love it:) It would help if it was dry more often but this week was fun. Do you want to bring your laundry over:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Niamh, but the end is nigh! It's just so annoying when you can see the sun shining and can't take advantage of it's drying ability!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you Boston trip was so soon. How long are you going to be around?
ReplyDeleteWe'll be there for the week. My parents are coming up for the week as well.
ReplyDelete