Monday 13 July 2009

I can't upload photos today..I've tried from several different files and instead of allowing myself to get frustrated, I'm going to Keep Calm and Carry On. Some of us have posters with that on you know; it was originally printed on posters for display during the War, but the Home Office didn't actually use them in the end, not motivational enough. I couldn't believe my luck when I found facsimiles for sale at Border Books in Alnwick whilst on holiday in 2007 - it's been in a frame on my workroom wall since. Keep Calm.....something I've learned to do. Carry on....something I'm less good at doing. I'm still at that stage in my life where I could so easily tantrum if something isn't going right and just leave it. Forever, possibly. Some time, for sure!
I've had an amazingly fulfilling 24 hours in terms of craft related achievements for me. I decided to set an example to Miss Dunnit, who is tasked with a major overhaul of her belongings in order to re-vamp her bedroom - to create a room worthy of a happening, intelligent teen instead of the hotch potch arrangement of toys and teen gadgets that she currently lives in. So, to motivate and inspire, I have begun a major clear out of my old craft room which became a dumping room for anything and everything. This has forced me to consider finding homes for lots of stuff I want to keep, and equally, to realise that there's a load of stuff in there that I haven't used for over a year - yep, I probably won't use it then, huh? OK, pack it up nicely and put it in the box that will go on sale at Kraft Crazy's Flea Market next month. Great. No sacrifice for sure, and I'm really feeling quite proud that the room that Mr Dunnit offered to brick up to save me the guilt of having to clear it out - and him the pain of having to listen to me vocalise my guilt - is starting to look more like the empty box room that it should. Let's not talk about the embarrassingly thick layer of dust on the floor - the floor for heaven's sake! Oh my. My flylady friends would have fainted! But it's OK, just keep going, it'll come good, and I'll have 3 sets of those plastic drawer stands to give away and that will practically empty the room. Marvellous. But hang on...Miss Dunnit has made one tiny effort. Carry On mother, don't be overwhelmed by your enormous role modelling success just yet - pretend you haven't noticed. Indeed, go downstairs, do a happy dance in the kitchen and make Mr Dunnit a cup of tea while you have a little brag. Oh do. Because when you go back upstairs, you're going to have to Keep Calm. For Miss Dunnit has used the once empty plastic drawers to dump her stuff into. I can't even form words, let alone argue with her logic - I wanted it out of her room and the storage facility is now available. Keep calm. Carry On.

9 comments:

Jenny said...

Ah domestic bliss! Hope you get the pics sorted soon. I like the "keep calm, carry on" I'll definitely be taking that one to work tomorrow! ;-) x

Angie said...

I'm with Miss Dunnit ... she did what you said lol and the space was there ...waiting to be filled. I do commend your industry in clearing the room though ....how long before its full again?.

Blogger is driving me mad too ... every post comes with some problem.Keep calm is what we all need to do.

Ginny said...

sorry my friend but I couldnt help but laugh when I read this post...hey I'll swap you your one teenager for my three...good deal !?!

I had a problem before when trying to upload photos if I was in "in draft mode" (via the dashboard) no probs when i tried from in the blog itself...

Unknown said...

Who needs photos with such entertaining narrative - I love reading your blog!

Anne said...

Ha - I feel your pain! It's a never ending battle, isn't it? I've just done a clear out and sort out of my craft stuff, and I feel much better for it (although the guilt of all the stuff I have, but havent used, was terrible). I actually feel a bit more 'creative' since doing it, as I know I don't have to rummage through the guilt inducing tat to get to what I actually want to use.

I have one of those Keep Calm and Carry On posters, and I love it. But I've just bought a new little one off Etsy, in exactly the same font and design, that says "Freak Out and Throw Stuff". I like to veer between the two instructions!

Lyn said...

Ooooh, a new Mantra - the "Keep Calm and Carry on One", though I am sorta toying with Anne's comment above "Freak out and Throw Stuff". Of course, I say toying, as the Control Freak in me knows only too well that if any stuff is thrown, it just has to be tidied up later ......!

Had to chuckle at the Best Laid Plans of Mice and Mothers - oh to show such a brave example to teenage children - and without the safety net, gas mask and fall out equipment I used to threaten when I attempted the same with mine. Never fear - they don't change, apparently, until they get a place of their own. And that's because mom goes round and tidies. Apparently. I don't tidy their rooms (when they are in residence - it's the Boomerang Generation, you know) let alone a complete other home. Now, that's actually selfish, cos if it hadn't been for my parents and their support in my home every Friday, I could never have been that full time working mother. Sigh.

If it is any consolation, Jules, my whole house is a complete mess. Clean, maybe, but the contents of the dining room are scattered about the whole house pending manufacturer re-print of the wall paper we ordered in June! Don't even start me off about my craft room ......

stephanie said...

I love freak out and throw stuff. i want one of those....

yup, i too desperatly need to do some clearing and sorting. my plan was to do that during the summer. hmmmmmmm still planning. :)

Jo Power said...

I have tidied my little scrap area as you couldn't make out if it was a desk or a bomb site but everything I emptied ended up in the bin before my DD could scream I want that. Good that your DD actually tidied stuff up taking after you. xx

Carmen said...

LOL! I literally laughed out loud with this post. No need for piccies it was graphic enough without. I think we who have daughters feel your pain :P