Dear Yvette
I subscribed to your emails a month or so back and must say how delightful they are to read!
I am a compulsive tidier and consider myself to be really really organised but signed up in the hopes of picking up some tips on how to better organise my "time"...I find most of what you have sent so far is about things I do regularly anyway...like making lists, tidying every night before bed etc and your latest mail on organising the laundry really rang true to home! I am in the fortunate position of having a separate laundry and just enough space to leave out separate baskets of the fold up variety...they get folded when not in use but I have separate ones for linen, whites, jeans etc and can thus easily see when a load needs to be done. I always wait until there are enough of a particular type to justify putting the machine on. And I never ever hand wash...there is a delicate cycle on the machine is there not, why not use it?
Most of my children are now grown (and yes, they can all cook, clean and do their own ironing too) and I only have the youngest (13 yrs old) at home, but at one stage there were 6 children in the house and I found I even had to make rosters for whose turn it was to bathe first in order to prevent fights...even down to who used the sandwich toaster first on their return from school. I also pinned a weekly menu on the kitchen notice board so they knew whether to have toast, cereal or porridge on a particular day and what to expect for dinner. of course they all thought I was crazy but in fact it prevented me from going crazy!
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for the emails which I shall continue to read avidly...should you have any ideas on how to train my husband I would be most grateful as I still haven't got that right after all these years!
Kind regards
Julie Grobler, Johannesburg, South Africa
Hi Yvette,
Thanks for your helpful and interesting articles, on how to get organised. You sound like you have a lot of experience with "doing the laundry", as I have also had over the years of raising 3 busy, sporting children, over the past 24 years!! My children have, however all flown the nest, but I did teach them how to use the washing machine and do their own laundry, which they now do. However, I find your style of writing very easy to read and helpful.
Thanks once again for your help, and looking forward to some more constructive advice.
Kind regards,
Lin, Hermanus, South Africa
Dear Yvette,
Thank you for the email on editing your wardrobe. As you can see received this email last year but kept it in the computer and finally in the last two weeks have followed your advice. I feel so much better and the wardrobe has room to find clothes and everything is arranged, colour co-ordinated with shirts, pants etc.
In fact your email has really changed my life as now I am into de cluttering big time. It is amazing how much lighter I feel, my spirits have lifted. Why do we keep so much stuff??? I am too sentimental but thankfully now am being practical. Still have a way to go but again thank you for your advice and support. Wishing you well and may 2010 be a good year and another year to de-clutter our lives.
Best wishes
Hi Yvette,
I seriously cut back on ironing when I was in high school (1957-1961). Shetland sweaters with oxford long-sleeved shirts were in then and mom used to have a fit because I would iron just the cuffs and collar. It made sense to me since that was all that showed past the sweater! I was way ahead of my time, I guess.
Now, nearly 50 years later, my iron is so buried (hence the need for organization) that my husband went out and bought a cheap one in order to iron things onto T-shirts! Too funny! My pink iron from the 1960's would be considered right in style in today's world if only I could find it!
Love your column.
Dottie, Ellington, CT., USA
Hi Yvette,
Thanks for your emails, they are either helpful or encouraging, like this one, when I see there is something I'm doing OK at when I am still looking at chaos in front of me. It's the non-urgent, non-everyday things that creep up on you and take over until they're all screaming at once.
Take care,
Mrs Fusspot of www.fusspots.net Dublin, Ireland
Hi Yvette
I just wanted to tell you that I find you advice REALLY useful, practical, sensible etc! It is extremely valuable.
What I also appreciate and love about all your advice is that it always allows for real life to happen (cannot describe it better) - however much we try you accept that there will be bad days/clutter-filled corners/untidy children.
Thank you!
Tanya, London, UK
Oh Yvette....
Thank you... I love these mails. They make me feel sane :-)
Toni, Glenwood, NSW, Australia
Hi Yvette
I always enjoy getting your emails. Thank you... And Happy New Year to you!
Kind regards
Philippa, Nambour, Australia
Hi Yvette,
I just wanted to thank you for once again providing me with some direction for this week. I am on school holidays at the moment and my husband goes back to work this week, so I have been thinking: hmmm, what should I be doing this week, between reading and eating?
Once again you've sent out a newsletter extremely appropriate for this moment, infused with humour and good advice, so thank you!
I hope you are enjoying the festive season with your family!
Regards,
Renae, Melbourne, Australia
Hi Yvette,
Just wanted you to know that you have many fans/supporters out there in Canada, who take pleasure in reading your material; one of the reasons why you particularly resonate with me, is that you “appear” to reflect my life in so many ways and that makes what you have to say so real. Keep up the good work and believe me there many women out there who look out for your writings. I especially like your articles on organization.
Take care,
Regards,
Angela Deodat, Toronto, Canada
Really enjoy your newsletter wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year