Pre-holiday rituals

[Scottish_Maleficent]

I just wondered if everyone goes through the same ritual I do before going on holiday.....

I have to clean the house from top to bottom, every kitchen cupboard, fridge and oven is scrubbed. Beds stripped and changed the day before we go. Hoover under the beds. Literally every room in the house has to be immaculately clean and tidy.
I've also told him that after Friday evening, no changes of underwear are allowed!!!

DH can't figure out why I need to do this. I can't really explain why I do, but it I feel I need to do it - It also helps to de-stress!!!

Maybe I sub-conciously worry about things......

Cath

 

[LINCLAIRE]

You are not alone, I do the same thing!!
I put it down to a combination of excitement/nerves- to make the time go faster, and I cannot bear the thought of coming home to any kind of mess.
There is nothing like coming home from a long journey and falling into a newly made bed-ahh bliss!
I also have to line everyone up before we walk out through the door and make sure that I have a passport for each person and check the expiry date and the photo matches to that persons passport, then make sure we have the travel insurance.
Me and DH always have to witness where the passports and insurance are put, It'll be like" OK, watch me, I'm putting all the documents in the bumbag, right? you have seen me do this??!"
We are both paranoid about leaving without eveything and also arriving late, always got to be there the night before.
I guess we would rather be safe than sorry and it makes DH's blood boil when he watches those TV programmes like Airline when the travellers forget their passport or arrive too late!!
Lin

 

[we*luv*orlando!!]

I also do EXACTLY this!!!! I have started my cleaning already and we dont go for 6 days!! I made DH take my oven doors apart so I could give them a thorough clean, I have changed my cooker filter and cleaned the cupboards! the dusting and hoovering will all be thoroughly done before I leave as well! I have also told everyone that any clothes worn after Monday are unlikely to go to Florida with them - I will wash up until the day we go but I may not iron it all, I work full time as well!!!

Best of all I start winding down at work on Monday, I make sure I will have no outstanding work or problems and intend to coast through to Friday.I am taking TOIL on Friday, I leave at 1.30pm and will go straight home to finish all the jobs. AS with all our trips it is always something of mine that I forget as I am so busy doing everyone elses stuff!!

You've all made me feel better, I thought I was the only one!

 

[uktigger]

hi all

i also have to clean from top to bottom,i sort out all our clothes into holiday and non holiday clothes(which drives my dh mad)the clothes we are taking go on one side of the wardrobe and the ones they can wear go on the other
and i do love the feeling of coming home and getting in my freshly made bed,what a wonderfull feeling
i also double and triple check everything before we leave,even as we are getting in the car i still have to check
i thought i was the only deranged woman that did this sort of thing

eve

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

I feel so much better knowing that I'm not the only one!!!



Cath

 

[matty624]

Hmmmm... Is it just my imagination, or are all the posters on this thread women?
Personally during the few days before leaving, I spend an inordinate amount of time rearranging where 'important' documents should be for the journey... DW however, does seem to go on a cleaning binge!!! Oh well, each to their own...
Ian

 

[signtalker]

I do the same also!!!!!

We also have travelling clothes for the journey to the airport and,travelling clothes for the plane, each year I buy new ones we never use the same ones(its a holiday thing,or woman thing not sure!!).

I always pack at least 4/5 months before we go. I think its the excitement(other people call It madness I beleive!)

Jules

 

[squitty]

I do the same too, even down to buying the 'travelling' clothes.

It is good to know you are not the only one

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I'm the same here too . . . . can't even begin to think about going away and not having everything clean for when I come home

DH is positive the Queen comes to stay in our house when we're away as I make such a fuss about leaving everything clean and tidy

 

[UKDEB]

Yes, I do the spring cleaning thing, and the document checking ritual. I used to beat myself up about the compulsion to clean, but I've given in to it now and just accept that it's all part of being a complete nutbar! We invariably stop half a mile from home to get the documents out of the boot and check them one last time.

 

[PoohBears#1fan]

Oh I wish I was organised enough to clean the house thoroughly before a holiday, I'm afraid from around 2-3 weeks before we go away I loose all interest in housework and can only concentrate on things directly linked with the trip, paperwork, washing etc.
Whenever we arrive home I always wish I'd spent more time on the housework so we could come home to it being immaculate!

 

[AlisonB]

Well, I was too embarrassed to post on this thread until the last post!!

Our house is a tip at all times - so it would be extremely unlikely to change while I'm in the upheaval of packing etc!! (I must add that it's very untidy, but not really dirty - bathroom and kitchen are cleaned regularly, beds changed weekly etc)

Mind you I'm very organised - I have a packing list on the PC whixh I print out and then tick off as each item goes in and also a lst minute list which I check on the morning (for the most important items - tickets, passports, driving licences etc)

I always dream of the house cleaning and tidying fairy that might come to visit while we're away!

 

[UKDEB]

So we won't be seeing you on a future episode of <b>How Clean is Your House?</b> then, Alison?

 

[AlisonB]

I've avoided watching that programme Deb - thought it might be a bit close to home!

We were in the process recently of applying to go on a holiday swaps programme but when they said they'd need to come and film us in our home, Shaun said they'd take one look and put us in for DIY SOS instead! LOL

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Same here,
I' ve already started,cleaned all the kitchen cupboards out the other day,got loads more to do,i go a little out of the ordinary,and as dp is a car valeter,i get him to use is carpet shampooer,and clean the suite lol,and rugs etc.
Then i clean everywhere else,wash bedding, clean windows,do the gardens,i do everything!! i love coming home,and thinking ahhh what a clean fresh home,no need to clean up etc. its heaven!
Dp does all the important things like passports,money,etc. He's in charge of all that.

Bet we are the only ones,who take things of expensive to his mums house? we move the playstation/games, t.v, etc,collectibles (eg dps wwe belts, receipts, etc)?
Although we are alarmed,and live in a very nice area, we got burgled years ago and i hate leaving the home for a few hours,nevermind 2weeks,so we also move things and take them to his mums,luckily they put them back the day before we come home sounds silly,but im petrified of being burgled again

Another ritual now is!! buying dd a disney costume,spent the whole weekend at trafford centre,in the disney store!! bought a few items (haha a few),got her a lovely costume with sarong!

So thats it,im glad its not just us who has a big clean out and clean up

Beth

 

[LINCLAIRE]

Don't laugh but I even bath the dog the day before we go!!!
We farm her out to the in-laws and I don't want them saying we have a smelly dog!!!
She has a wonderful wash and blow dry , then powdered for fleas and wormed!!!!
Last job of the day before we wave her off.
The kids always know that Disney is not far away when the dogleaves home smelling like a tarts handbag
Lin

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Originally posted by LINCLAIRE
Don't laugh but I even bath the dog the day before we go!!!
We farm her out to the in-laws and I don't want them saying we have a smelly dog!!!
She has a wonderful wash and blow dry , then powdered for fleas and wormed!!!!
Last job of the day before we wave her off.
The kids always know that Disney is not far away when the dogleaves home smelling like a tarts handbag
Lin

lol Lin, you've just made me giggle, "a tarts handbag" .
Bless!! lol...

 

[MrsGrumpy]

Oh I'm so glad to read all these - thought I was the only idiot! although this year I might be wasting my time as teenage DS is staying home alone, so goodness knows what we'll come back to Poor old DH finishes a 12 hour shift at 7am the morning we go, have told him he will have to sleep in DS's bed so that I can put our bedding on to wash, DS can do his later!
Roll on Sunday! (although we actually leave here Friday to take old dog down south to my parents' rather than leave her in kennels, then fly out from Gatwick - must be mad!)