How embarrassing!

There are so many more interesting things to do than housework... just enjoy the time you have recovering.. people visit to see you and not to make judgements about the state of your home.. Much more important to be a nice human being..which it certainly sounds like you ..

Husband is helping?

He should be doing his fair share anyway, it's his home too!

Don't worry about it too much, you have broken your leg.

Your neighbour came to see you, not your house

Thank you all for the lovely wishes for recovery, and reassurance that the neighbour won't mind.

I'd absolutely love a cleaner but we are on a low income and budgeting for ridiculous fuel costs and this increased food bill that seem to face us.

As for DH, he just doesn't see any mess. I'm trying to teach him how to hang the laundry on the line, and reduce the ironing pile, but basically he is old school. Men don't do housework. He does far more than he used to, but perhaps not to the standard that I would!

Well if he's doing far more than he used too, good for him Daftbag.

We're all different aren't we, and some of us are more than happy to take control of household chores, it's only when we can't and are used to a certain standard in our homes, that it can become tiresome.

perhaps not to the standard that I would and you don't want to say anything because they're doing their best aren't they.

Good luck with your continued recovery .

No I wouldn't have been embarrassed, most of our neighbours are used to our untidy home! If it was particularly bad I might ask them to excuse the mess saying that I'd deal with it when I was more able to. As others have said if they're good neighbours they will ignore any mess, it's you they came to see not you home. Wishing you well as you recover

Of course a really good neighbour might offer their help too. And if they do don't say 'Oh we can manage', take them up on their offer even if it's just a bit of ironing, dusting or shopping. You could get to know them even better and have a laugh at the same time.

Lovely poem!

My grandmother used to say that "dull women keep immaculate homes". Her home was tidy because she had cleaners all her life and never did it herself.

My attitude to housework is that the dust will be there when I am dead and gone!

Quentin Crisp claimed that it didnt get any worse after the 4th year.

Some one on Gransnet once said “those that mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind.” I’ve never forgotten it! So true.

I'm sure your lovely neighbour didn't expect you or your home to be immaculate after such a nasty injury. I certainly wouldn't have. Don't worry about it. You can always invite her round one day when you're completely recovered and your home is as perfect as you'd have liked it to have been. Get better soon!

Brilliant poem! Wish I had known it when my children were little as I loved to spend more time with them than I should but always felt guilt that I should be undertaking more 'housewifely' duties!

I will be shot down here - if you want an honest reply to your neighbour's visit, yes, I do think she would have noticed and I would have felt embarrassed!

There are degrees of untidiness, obviously but if your house had been 'without its primary carer' for some weeks, it could well be noticeable.

I have to say that I can sympathise with you as I broke one leg and the other foot which meant I had to be completely off my feet for six weeks (non-weight bearing). I could only be pushed around in a wheelchair which was too wide to go through the kitchen door. Just as well... my husband had done a sterling job nursing me in every regard but... the concept of sweeping a floor or wiping cupboard doors or handles was obviously an anathema to him. He just didn't see any grime.

However, I had been cleaned, fed and the shopping and washing done (I won't mention ironing...) so I really had no complaints.

When ambulatory once more, the house needed a spring deep clean but he had done his best.

My children had suggested having a cleaner (something we are yet to do as I think it keeps us fitter than we would otherwise be) but the thought of asking my husband to put everything away so the cleaners could clean was just too much.

Yes, your house may be a mess but I am sure your neighbour has an inkling of what it is like to be incapacitated and won't immediately invite other neighbours round for a coffee morning to dish the dirt (sorry!) about your house.

Do concentrate on healing well (yours, without surgery, could be longer than usual) and looking after yourself. In the great scheme of things, it doesn't really matter but perhaps tell your husband not to invite anyone else in until you are back on your feet again!

Wishing you better.

I've actually just sat down for 5 minutes rest before tackling the rest of the cleaning. The house is a tip as we have 4 family members staying atm and they are out for the afternoon. Floors, bath all left full of sand, toothpaste all over bathroom floor, dust pretty thick too. I know their homes are pristine but pity they don't keep same standards here. Oh and 3 loads of their washing everyday too. They go home tomorrow tg.
But I love having them stay.
So no I wouldn't be embarrassed as I give up most cleaning until they leave

One more reason to hang on to my cleaning lady for as long as possible.

Whatever your neighbour noticed or didn't notice I'm sure she understood that there's not much you can do about it. My neighbours have been in when the house hasn't been cleaned and when it has - I don't take much notice to be honest.

Just wondering if the person who called to see you asked if there was anything she could do to help?

I keep my home really clean and tidy so it would bother me, but actually being houseproud is a curse. I have a friend whose house is very messy and I do find it stressful when I go to visit her. I wish it didn't bother me but it does.

I’d far rather go into a messy house than a spotlessly clean tidy one. If a burglar decided to rob my house he’d leave thinking someone had beaten him to it!

She visited out of concern for YOU. She knows you can't housekeep at the moment and generally men (with the best will in the world) don't have the same muck antennae as ladies. If she's any sense she will have ignored your slightly lowered standards! If it is really driving you mad - get some help - half a day for a few weeks...? Depends on what's practical for you.

I’d far rather go into a messy house than a spotlessly clean tidy one. If a burglar decided to rob my house he’d leave thinking someone had beaten him to it!

MayBee70 ? We've always said the same thing - if we ever got burgled the burglars would take pity on us and leave us something. Not because of the state of the house but because of our complete and utter disinterest in updating electronic equipment until absolutely necessary.

Sadly I would be mortified - perhaps I’ll grow out of it?
I love and agree with poem Pinkcosmos butI’d still be mortifie…. and probably be mortified at being mortified too ?

sazz1

I've actually just sat down for 5 minutes rest before tackling the rest of the cleaning. The house is a tip as we have 4 family members staying atm and they are out for the afternoon. Floors, bath all left full of sand, toothpaste all over bathroom floor, dust pretty thick too. I know their homes are pristine but pity they don't keep same standards here. Oh and 3 loads of their washing everyday too. They go home tomorrow tg.
But I love having them stay.
So no I wouldn't be embarrassed as I give up most cleaning until they leave

This I can definitely relate to!

One branch of our offspring and their children will soon be with us for a week long stay. We have spent the last 2 1/2 weeks cleaning and tidying the house in readiness, just doing a bit each day. DH has done most of it (and probably more thoroughly than I would) as my asthma is very troublesome at the moment and just walking around the house is a challenge.

I know our house will be a messy chaos again within minutes of them arriving, but we just ignore it all until they leave and then repeat the tidying and cleaning process. We find it hard work now but it's worth the effort just to see them occasionally.

MayBee70

I’d far rather go into a messy house than a spotlessly clean tidy one. If a burglar decided to rob my house he’d leave thinking someone had beaten him to it!

Me too. DH has often said this, or that we'd never even notice if we'd been burgled!

Goodness me, don't be embarrassed! As others have said your friend went to see you. Not pristine kitchen cabinets.

I am extremely untidy. Not deliberately, it's just how I am. When I worked in an office for the CS my desk looked as if something had exploded. Total and utter tip. However, I was exceeding all targets and highly productive.

One of my colleagues gave me a magnet with a quote on it, possibly one of Einsteins.

If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

I rather like that

I love that poem - I wish I had read it when my children were small. Our house was spotless, nutritious food was plentiful but I had very little time for cuddles or games. Such a shame for them and for me.

yep. not keeping house because it's being renovated in the future is not a good idea. keeping a level of at least cleanliness is essential. and I too would have been mortified! tell DH NOT to invite the world and their gang in next time!!

Get well soon. I broke my leg badly in Spain slipping on a rubber tree leaf. We were tidying the garden when it started to rain. It took ages to mend. OH was booked on a plane the next day for work in the uk. I ran a boarding cattery so teenage son had to deal with that as it was only accessible by stairs. I hired a wheelchair and did online shopping with the nearest supermarket. I dealt with clients, invoices etc. I managed to get sick leave from my day job on a major newspaper. My friend and colleague from the newspaper came to visit and changed my bed. We are still friends and I never stop mentioning how grateful I was. Back in the uk but we met up a few months ago in Spain. Dust was not mentioned.
Concentrate on getting well. (Flowers)