With the recent relaxation of the UK lockdown rules, we decided to go and visit my Mother-in-Law for her birthday.

We only popped for a short while and of course, we kept our distance.  But the whole time we were there, the birthday girl spent most of her time dashing in and out of the house.  So, with us being set up in the corner of her garden, we hardly got to see her at all.

This made me think.

How often do we spend an eternity cleaning our already clean houses when we have visitors, only for them to make it look untidy the moment they enter?  I often wish that they could see what it looked like without them actually in it!

No doubt, someone will place an enormous bag in the doorway, shoes will be spread all over and piles of coats on the back of chairs.

By the time I get all of our visitors’ various items in a less annoying place (where they actually go), I then have to host!  Trying to get refreshments for our guests, while cooing with the babies and becoming involved in conversations in the living room, where you can’t possibly make a cup of tea.

Only to be asked

“Have you made the teas?”.

Have I made the teas?  In between all the above and then Cousin Susan deciding to remove her nail varnish and pluck her eyebrows with my beauty supplies, that I had to go and fetch from upstairs!!! No, I have not made the teas and I have burnt the flipping dinner!!!  Which of course, I word as “oh silly me, I got distracted”.

The moment I am ready to sit with my guests, the visit is over, and I am left with a house that is even more untidy than it was before I had cleaned it for my visitors.

Video Catch Ups!

During Lockdown, I have used many a video call to catch up with friends, family and colleagues.  It has opened my eyes to a new way of meeting up at home.  I don’t need to clean my already clean house. I can choose my location.  I don’t need to re-paint the tiny chip on the most hidden skirting board in the house, in case Auntie Deborah spots it.  And, Giselle in marketing thinks I’m really trendy as I position my only faux plant behind me for the call.  This is fantastic.

People feed themselves and my home is exactly as it was before the call (all except for the faux plant that is returned to the sideboard).

Why Change a Good Thing?

Now, I’m not saying that I will stop catching up.  But similar to the lessons we learn when hosting our kids’ birthday parties at home, I may not choose home as the location to hold get-togethers!

Why can’t we meet somewhere neutral?  Why not let someone else do the cleaning up after us all so we can speak to each other?

So, if there are any entrepreneurs out there, looking for the next fad, I would suggest hosting friend and family catch ups in a living room environment.   We just need a dining table, food and drink, sofas, TV for background noise, activities for the kids and random delicate objects for the babies to attack.  You might be scrutinised for not dusting above the doors, or judged if you don’t stock every variation of soft drink that has ever existed, but it’s fine!

What’s that you say, who would be daft enough to do this?  Yes, you’re right….

…I guess it’s a party at mine, then!