Chores

[martin1945]

I don't know about others but I find sweeping the yard and driveway the most onerous. One minute sweep one minute rest! We live in a house with many trees and I loathe the leaf-fall that occurs in blustery conditions - keeping the pool clean is something else! Which/What chores do others loathe?

[oxytic]

all chores are just hell they just let you know how things are getting harder to do.and breathless isnt all that is felt its the pains that are felt from within...do you get that?

[Gordon57]

Almost anything becomes a chore that causes problems these days.

I've been sorting out the kitchen window, putting a new uPVC strip round the frame as it looked a mess from when we had them fitted. They left a gap because the new window sits further out on the sill than the old one did. So, I've bought a couple of strips of window edging and some silicone seal plus some 'no nails' to stick it on.

First I had to fill in the gap behind the tiles that form the inside window ledge, which I did and left the filler to dry. On Thursday I used the no nails and silicone to fit the bottom edging, touching neatly up to the bottom of the frame and laying on top of the tiles. Several blobs of no nails under the strip and push it into place, lovely, fitted perfectly.

Later I started with the silicone and put a neat bead where the new strip touches the window frame itself, and then one along the edge where it's just over the tiles. Big mistake! I forgot just how potent the silicone is when it starts to work, heavy fumes ! I'd put the top back on the tube by then and was using a damp rag to wipe the excess off.

I should have opened a window, but it was 8pm and blooming cold out there. I finished off tidying up before I realised I'd been fumigated ! I went and sat down in the living room, head hurting, tight chested and breathing fast. Out with the blue inhaler, didn't do much good though.

I was there over an hour until the wife came home. I managed to put the telly on but wasn't able to do much else. A cup of tea made me feel a bit better and I took some paracetamol to clear the headache.

On Friday I cut the piece for the top of the frame and have stuck it in position, using some bits of wood to prop it up in place, and stop it falling back off again. Sticking things like that on, and hoping the laws of gravity are kind to you does not work somehow. Anyway, that's as far as I could get as you're supposed to let the no nails go off before sealing the edges.

I've the two sides to do yet, they should be a bit easier, then I'll silicone all round on a day when I can have the window open. I've had to take frequent breaks when measuring and cutting material too, all adding to the time taken. I've been out of breath just reaching up to use the cartridge gun to squirt the no nails onto the frame edge.

It's been a chore as it's had to be spread over several days. Before I had these chest problems I'd have done it all in an hour or so...

Don't even start me on how long it takes to make pancakes...

[meike]

Some days everything seems hard work, I know that I should get into my little garden to tidy up but just can't muster the strength at the moment. Oh well there is always tomorrow

[Hidden in reply to meike]

Agree with this meike. I see things to be done around the house, make a list which doesnt get the tasks done, but I wont forget. I have yet another chest infection but am not bringing any stuff up which is bothering me. I do cough when I go outside.

[Sylvsmum]

Beg, borrow or steal (or buy) a leaf sucker, best investment I ever made.

[Lynne1955]

Lol at Gordon and his pancakes.

I struggle most with sweeping and hoovering. So I take lots of rests and think of it as good exercise.

Lynne xx

[hamletvv]

You are obviously out of condition and need more practice: I am sending you my address under separate cover.

P.S. It's a nice big garden and I've already done the walnut tree leaves which are always such a pleasure. See you soon.

[Hidden]

I find brushing my long hair a chore and sometimes miss doing it for a few days when feeling low. It's taken me a few years to finally admit it's time to say goodbye and get it cut though I haven't actually made that appointment yet ...

My kitchen light bulb went at the end of last November. I struggled to put a new one in - got sob, arms ached too much after having them raised for a while, and balancing on a stool, accidentally stepping on my oxygen tubing etc the whole thing was doomed to failure. After numerous attempts I still couldn't get the light to work so gave up. I thought it must be a problem with the light fitting, not the bulb. Hesitating to call the council out to check it as I didn't want to look stupid if it was just me not getting it in properly, I made my dinners and cuppa's in the dark until 3 days ago. I decided to give it one last try before calling the council out - ten weeks of doing everything by the light of the microwave was getting me down. Yes, you guessed it - nothing wrong with the light fitting - I got it in right first go this time! doh!

[lavender1 in reply to Hidden]

Ditto with the long hair Parvati. It really came home to me when nearly in tears trying to get a "tuggy" bit straightened I just took the scissors to it. Any more

episodes like this and I'll be my own personal hairdresser and look a fright-lol xx

[Gordon57 in reply to Hidden]

Some time ago I bought something called an Inspection Lamp, a battery operated LED one. The flat type that garage mechanics use under cars. It had a hanging hook, chunky on/off switch and quite bright. I think it was about £8, and then had to get batteries too.

The kitchen light is a 4ft strip light. One Sunday tea-time it went. well the starter did, not the tube. No matter what I tried, it would not come on, so I ended up with the inspection lamp on kitchen duty until I could get a new starter the day after. It was bright enough to be able to see what I was doing in filling the kettle, making a cuppa, getting some bread out of the freezer and so on.

The lamp stayed in the kitchen after that, as it was handy for the cellar too. We have pre-pay meters and the electric sometimes goes off if we've not been keeping an eye on the meter. Having a torch to hand is vital as our meter is in the cellar and it's dark with no lights on.

A few years ago I took the lamp to the radio station as we were going to be doing PA for the local fireworks display. I know it would be useful to light up the area we were set up in, and it worked very well. It was hung up above us in the gazebo and we could see what we were doing.

I never brought it back home Like a lot of things I'd bought and taken over there because they were useful, I never got them back. I may have to look out for another as it's been a while since the kitchen light had a problem, thanks for reminding me...

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

Think I might look into getting one of those - I don't have a torch or anything at the moment so would be in a pickle if ever there was any sort of power cut!

[Gordon57 in reply to Hidden]

If it helps, this is like the one I had - ebay.co.uk/itm/400349110751

Because it's LED the batteries last longer, it takes normal AA's, 4 at a time. and I get those cheaper on ebay as well, plus they're delivered. £3.79 for 12, you can pay that for 4 in the shops.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Parvati

Bet you'll be so pleased to have shorter hair....after I managed to persuade the hairdresser to cut my locks (and they all stared throughout the process - a tad scary) they all clapped when it was done and all agreed that it suited me better - a bonus on top of the plan for it not to be such hard work

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is a scary step to take though - it's been long all my life and is currently hip-length!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

ooh .... a challenge then ..... if you put your hair back/ up often you'll know you will look like that , only softer as hair will frame your face - made me look ten years younger ! will it be worth it also for an easier time.... arms get tired when up as we can't use our extra muscles there for helping breathe - just found that tip ! xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

ooh yes - the possibility of looking 10 years younger certainly appeals ....

[vittorio]

- know the feeling Martin,! I find cutting the grass a real pain, and I see already those infamous "Green Shoots" have started sprouting once again already, when I thought they lay dormant for some time during the Winter. Its got to the stage now, where I have a garden chair at either end of the lawn, - one trip with the Lawn mower, then sit down - one trip back - and another sit down !. I think where Chores are concerned , we all have to now pace ourselves, and allow more time doing them , than we used to - its the nature of the beast !! - Good Luck .

[pollyjj]

Hi the things I find hardest are - Vacuuming, so I got a cleaner, only gets done once a week but I can use my rechargeable sweeper the other days.

Gardening and lawns, so I got someone to do them, lovely man who even painted my hall stairs and landing, needless to say I went out.

I think myself lucky I have found a handyman who is reliable.

Preparing and cooking meals, so try to spread the preparation over the day so it is easier to cook in the evening and if not up to it have a sandwich instead.

polly xx

[hufferpuffer]

Cleaning up after the dog...he's mental and rips his bedding into little pieces,its a dusty and thankless task, then cleaning out the fires I feel like cinderella, I seem to spend a lot of time on my knees...soon as the weather improves I'll be on my knees in the flowerbeds huffingandpuffing,but happy! xxx

[lavender1]

Washing the kitchen floor -get down on knees when there's no need these days but force of habit and a reminder of it's one of the things you can't do easily any more - hoovering-mine must be the heaviest on the market but good at the time for pet hairs-unfortunately no pet anymore. Limited myself to two tasks a day and sometimes find myself staring into space at the thought of starting. My biggest anxiety is being thought lazy. Still some days better than others! Good blog xx

[Hidden]

Anything that means bending, reaching, stretching ...... or moving!

[Hidden]

I'm just the same as you Lavender, anxiety and all. Cleaning the windows is a huge on for me. xx

[thatcham1939]

i cannot stand ironing never have, but i do have an iron and ironing board for show

jan

[medow]

Washing the windows aaarrrrrggggg

[katieoxo60]

It was good to hear all your difficulties, I find most tasks difficult but the one that really gets me down is changing & laundering my bedding. can't do the fasteners on the duvet cover, the linen although single size is heavy for myself to lift and ironing it requires more energy than a marathon,as well as not being able to get the creases out because my arthritic hands won't work without pain aghhhhhhhhhh and as for cleaning windows can't remember when I last did that task maybe that's why I can't see clearly through them(smiles) anyone know a good window cleaner, if so send them my way. I have a light weight lawn mower (hover type) and light weight vac upstairs and down,We do as suggested have to set our own pace and adapting the way to do things can help.

[Chinka]

I must confess I think I have it made. My hubby hates sitting around so loves messing about and clearing our large garden (of couse he is as fit as a fiddle). A good window cleaner and a wonderful lady who does all my cleaning once a week, including the inside of the windows when the window cleaner comes. When I think of how hard I've worked, brought to a halt by my lungs, well there you go, at least my life in general is easy, so I don't think I have any room to complain.

love to all x