How the house runs
How the house runs
For everyone who lives or works here. The children have their own weekly schedule. This page is everything else: food, clearing up, tidying, laundry. We're trying this from October 2026 — tell us what doesn't work.
Who does what at the moment
| Job | Who |
|---|---|
| Runs the house overall | Rufus |
| Helps run it day to day | Emily |
| Food — dinner list, fridge, shopping | Emily |
| Cleaning and tidy — clearing up, shared rooms, shared laundry | Cristiana |
| Feeding the cat | Ateyan, with a grown-up checking |
| Rubbish | Rufus |
The person in charge of an area doesn't do all of it. They make sure it happens — every night has a cook, the kitchen gets cleared — and arrange a swap when someone can't.
Something missed, or you'll be away? Tell Emily. If Emily is away, tell Rufus.
Every day
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Empty the dishwasher | Whoever is with the children 07:00–09:00 |
| Evening | Cook dinner for everyone (6–7 people) | Whoever is on the dinner list |
| After dinner | Clear the table, load the dishwasher, wash the big pans | The au pair working with Ateyan, with him helping. No au pair working: Rufus or Sylvie |
| After bedtime | 10-minute tidy of the shared rooms | Whoever put the children to bed |
Every week
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Dinner list for the week, posted in WhatsApp and on the kitchen board | Food, checked with Rufus |
| Monday evening | Fridge and fruit-basket check | Food |
| Tuesday | Weekly shop | Food |
| Thursday | Bathrooms and a deep clean; washing sheets, towels and tea towels | Virginie |
| Any day | Clean the shared rooms, kitchen and children's rooms | Cleaning and tidy |
| Usually Friday | Rubbish out | Rubbish |
How each job works
Dinner
One meal for everyone, most nights. Each au pair cooks one dinner a week. The list changes every week, so check it.
After dinner
- The cook is finished once dinner is served — they don't clear up.
- Everyone clears their own plate.
- Alone with both children? Do what you can and leave the pans for later.
Tidy
Your own room is yours. Each evening the shared rooms get a quick tidy:
- Toys away
- Tables and surfaces cleared and wiped
- Shoes put away
- Shelves straightened
Fridge and shopping
- Shopping list: one shared list in Apple Reminders. When you finish something, add it straight away.
- Fridge check, Monday evening: throw out food that has gone off, and tell everyone what needs eating soon.
- Fruit baskets, same time and a quick look mid-week: take out anything going off, keep them full.
- Cat food running low? Add it to the list.
- Going to town anyway? Check the list and buy what's on it.
Laundry
Wash your own clothes. The children's clothes are part of looking after the children. Virginie washes sheets, towels and tea towels on Thursdays; if she's away, Cleaning and tidy does it.
What counts as work
Counts towards your hours — it's on your schedule:
- Looking after the children, including clearing up after dinner while you're working.
- Household jobs on your schedule marked Task, such as the weekly shop or an extra dinner.
Doesn't count — this is just living together:
- Cooking your one family dinner a week.
- Clearing your own plate, keeping your own room tidy, washing your own clothes.
On your day off you have no jobs. If your dinner falls on your day off, swap with someone and tell Emily.
Something else needs doing?
Tell Rufus or Emily. If it's given to you, it goes on your schedule as a Task and counts towards your hours.
