For the first time in my life — and it’s about time too! I’m hiring a cleaning service for the damn house.
Since my husband retired last year, I’ve noticed that we’re both way too involved in our passions (his is music mine writing) to find the time to tidy and clean. I look around at the dirty floors, messy table tops (mostly with his CDs) and the omnipresent light patina of dust and I am disgusted. I used to keep a clean, orderly home, and work full time. However since I’ve taken up writing three years ago and even without the job, the hours required for housekeeping have vanished.
I also plan — and started— to clean the crap out. Shit I no longer use, think of, or want. It’s all going — eventually. After I write this post, and note a few ideas on my stories and write a drabble or two…..
The service starts September 3rd.
In addition we’ve been getting some renovations done e.g. new driveway (they left a gaping hole in the ground on my neighbour’s side which we will fix), new electrical outlets so can plug in lap tops etc where convenient and we’re supposed to get two rooms painted. The husband realised that in the living room and dining room it would be impossible to move the wall units of books, records CDs etc so the hell with it. We’ve contracted for the bedroom and kitchen to be painted. And not looking forward to it at all.
These days when I don’t feel I have the time, energy or head space to write, but must write, I’ve been working on smaller pieces, drabbles and short stories.
So hopefully I’m getting my priorities straight. Delegate the cleaning and search for a space outside the house to write. When the spouse is home – which seems to be my prime writing time, whenever that may be, he’s distracting with his “music” and general interruptions.
I realise I may have enough material for two maybe three novels in me — and now that I know how to plot thanks to a recent screen writing class — they are coming together in my head. I just must get them down on paper, so to speak.
My peer learning class starts in September and I had hoped I’d at least get a start on my vampire presentation (for myths and legends) during the summer. But between illness (the flu) and heat and humidity, which tires me out, it did not get very far.
So real life is intruding on my characters “me time” and they’ve been complaining. I have to shut them up – right?
Do you use a cleaning service?
sassyspeaks 
I consider myself “semi-retired” and find myself wondering how I ever had time for real work! So many things to do that are not related to work. Let me know how the cleaning service goes. The little lady has mentioned that once or twice. might try it.
Good for you! I just bought an iRobot vacuum cleaner and love it. As soon as I can afford it, I’m buying a another one for the second floor. It’s my new little ‘house elf’. Should have bought one years ago. When the floor is clean, life just feels better.
Haha, I have an iRobot vacuum too… it helps keep the ever-present shed-fest under control (beagles shed all year around, not just seasonally).
I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing. I have better things to do than dust.
I need to make a fortune and hire one :p I have been doing a lot of cleaning ever since we moved into the new place – trying to keep it from getting to the “ahhhh!” stage again, but it’s cutting in to my writing/working time… ugh.
Finally, someone wrote a post about housecleaning and housekeepers. No. I don’t use one. I’ve tried on 2 separate occasions living in 2 different cities. I don’t like strangers in my house. I clean and organize and do laundry, ironing, mow, cook, write and grocery shop… I have so much energy. I would like to get this iRobot vacuum cleaner though or maybe check out the Meilah or something. My Hoover for pet hair worked great the first month, then scratched my hardwood floors and redistributed the dust and hair. Oh boy, I understand your frustration and agree with electrical outlets in certain places. I’d like to have one on the floor in my home office. I hate the sight of cords.