What is it with Mother-in-laws! Having arrived back from a weekend in Mansfield Sunday we get a call and before I know it she has invited herself and her visitors from the UK to a BBQ at our house Tuesday night! Looking around I see an empty fridge, a messy food larder, a disaster of a house and an untidy garden (well that’s what happens when you leave a 21 year old son in charge).
Husband of course, has said yes to BBQ - see you Tuesday. Turns to me and sees the horrified look upon my face. We'll keep it simple he says. You don't have to go to too much trouble!

It’s now six pm Sunday evening and I’m just about to put the 8ft Christmas tree up. This involves carrying huge boxes from the garage and rearranging the front living area. First off, husband says’ “why did you take the base apart” as he struggles impatiently to put it back together again. I take it from him and soon have all the screws in place. “Why are the lights not in the Christmas tree box?”. I now open every box and of course find them in the last box! Soon the Christmas tree is up and the lights and tinsel strung and within another two hours all the ornaments are hung and the room is decorated with further ornaments and it now looks very festive.

“How can we not put up our ‘America' tree” says our son. (All the ornaments for the American tree were purchased in the States whilst visiting family one Christmas). So before I know it son has the second tree out of the box and is erecting it in the family room. By 11.00 pm this tree is decorated. In between we’ve had a BBQ and I’ve dashed madly around collecting dirty washing. Because it has been a very hot weekend said son has used every t-shirt/pair or shorts in his cupboard and ironing pile is enormous!

Monday finds me dashing to work at 7.00 am. Dire threat to husband to leave work at a reasonable time as house needs huge clean and dust. Husband excels and arrives to pick me up at 5.30 pm. Quick run home (the God’s must be smiling on me this evening). Step into messy house. Empty boxes, bits of tree, tissue paper lying everywhere. Whilst showering decide on modus operandi – start at one end of house and move through.

Boxes packed within boxes and moved to garage, husband sent outside to blow patio and paved area. Whilst I tackle study and front lounge/dining area. Things shoved in cupboards, etc. Husband returns and cooks dinner. Still tidying. Eat dinner husband sent to wash dogs. Still tidying. Husband sent with list to supermarket, (on top of list is FLOWERS (I need them!). Still tidying. Tackle son’s bathroom, take one look in son’s bedroom, shut door! Decide to keep door shut for rest of week. Clean fridge, rearrange larder. Husband returns. Stuff ten potatoes for BBQ. Husband vacuums/dusts throughout house. I tackle huge, huge ironing pile. 11.00 pm finally done. Son and husband have shirts and t-shirts for rest of week. Dash outside to wipe down BBQ and dust outside table. Son arrives home – dire threats about keeping house tidy. Midnight - crawl into bed after tidying bedroom (throwing everything into wardrobe). Up at 6.00 am . Clean en-suite (do I now smell of shower cleaner as I sit in office I think). Set off to work at 7.00 am. (More threats to son and dogs about house being kept neat). 8.10 am now in office. Dire threats again to husband to leave work at reasonable time to pick me up.

All organised for visit of Mother/father-in-Law and friends this evening … simple eh!!!!