Some time ago, I had an idea for a non-fiction book: Short Cuts for Sluts (or similar). Katherine Whitehorn once wrote that no woman who has ever had to delve into the dirty laundry for a pair of tights because there aren't any clean ones can ever say she isn't a slut, so that's me in for a start. But my book never really got off the ground (or out of my head) because most of my short cuts involve either grated cheese or tumbler dryers, and that would be a bit monotonous.
First, the grated cheese. A while back, I discovered industrial sized bags of ready-grated cheese at our local market. This is great, because I keep it in the freezer, and if I need any, I can just dig out a handful or two. As a friend (who is even lazier than I am) said: "it's wonderful! You don't have to wash up the cheese grater any more" (I don't know what kind of grater she has the cleaning of which is more arduous than the actual grating. I didn't ask).
Tumble dryers. These are wonderful for purposes of "ironing" anything that suddenly needs attention and you can't be bothered to get out the iron. They are also useful for cleaning purposes. Last week I "cleaned" a very dusty pair of curtains by giving them a whizz in the tumble dryer. They look great. Of course, they probably aren't exactly clean, but who cares?
Why am I blogging about this? Because I still haven't heard from Agent, and unlike Alis, who forges bravely ahead with her next novel as soon as she's finished the last one, my brain is still stuck in what I suspect is still the WIP (or will be again, very shortly), and I need something to take my mind off it.
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Love your title and your tips!
ReplyDeletelx
ps the word verification is elograto!
Like your friend, I would much rather grate the cheese than wash the grater. Mine is almost uncleanable by hand, and not much better in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
ReplyDeleteTim - if you don't like washing your grater, you know what to do, don't you?
I have ruined countless sponges and almost countless fingers washing various cheese graters. I had ruined a few pieces of cheese through inexpert grating. I think washing is far more hateful.
ReplyDeleteDon't they have ready-grated cheese on your side of the pond, Nevets? Throw away the grater and live a little!
ReplyDeleteSorry to be such a bad example, Frances... Loved the idea re curtains, though. I think I'll whip our living ones down the road to the laundry (we don't possess a tumble dryer).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what else can you do with a tumble dryer. Or grated cheese, for that matter?
haha They do, but up until pretty recently the quality wasn't nearly as good as freshly-grated cheese. It's still not exactly the same, but it's much better and that's usually what we do now.
ReplyDeleteGood question, Alis. That's where the book idea fell down - not enough material (unles you include re-using vistitors' sheets or never cleaning the car; mine has moss growing on it). But I thought the title was rather snappy (and an intidote to those two awful women on TV who go around looking for dirt in people's houses). Sigh. This waiting is really getting to me...
ReplyDeleteNevets - so now you can throw away your grater, can't you?
Throw away a tool for which I might not yet see its potential for new and amazing uses?
ReplyDeleteI can't start a new novel either until I know what's happening with the last one.
ReplyDeleteAnd I put my grater in the dishwasher.
Aliya - I think for me the next novel thing is about making sure I've got it right (or right enough) this time before going on to the next. I might be told to change my style altogether (awful thought, as I don't think I have any other).
ReplyDeleteNevets - for goodness' sake recycle your grater and move on. Or see a counsellor.(Actually I'm a counsellor, and my charges are very reasonable. If the WIP bites the dust, I may well need the money. Special rates for writers, of course.)
@Frances - I may have to take you up on that if cheese-graters haunt my knuckles in too many more dreams.
ReplyDelete