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Deirdre's household manual
Before filming starts, each wife writes a manual explaining how their house is run. Below are highlights from Deirdre's manual.
HOUSEHOLD CHORES
How often do you clean your home?
I don't have time to do the cleaning – we have two cleaners who come for one hour every week.
Who does the general cleaning around the house?
Andy and I take equal responsibility for tidying – I can't think straight when I'm surrounded by clutter and neither of us tolerates it. Bryan does a thorough vacuum every week.
WHO DOES THE FOLLOWING, AND HOW OFTEN?
Dusting?
The cleaners do the dusting.
Ironing?
I'm so busy with work that I outsource the ironing – at the weekend I drop off a bag of clean laundry to a woman who irons it, and I collect whatever was ironed the previous week.
Cleaning the bathroom?
The cleaners clean the bathroom.
Cleaning the kitchen?
The cleaners clean the kitchen but I make sure that it's always tidy and everything is put away correctly.
Washing-up?
Neither of us washes-up – we have a dish-washer. Bryan loads the dish-washer.
Cleaning the car?
We don't clean our two cars – Bryan takes them to be valeted once every two months.
Gardening?
We have a gardener who comes once every three to four weeks.
DIY?
A handyman comes whenever we need him to. He also does any decorating we need.
COOKING / MEALS
How often do you sit down and eat together?
We very rarely eat together as a family. Bryan and I have breakfast in bed together every morning, while Frankie sleeps.
Since Bryan works with me at my company, we eat lunch together a couple of times a week. We eat our evening meal together every night.
Frankie doesn't eat with us as he eats all his meals at the nursery, but he will keep us company as we eat and sometimes has a snack.
Where do you eat dinner?
At the dining table in the kitchen. I like to go out for dinner once in the week, and once during the weekend – we usually take Frankie with us.
When are meal times?
Our working day begins very early so we have breakfast at 5.45am.
Bryan brings up the breakfast tray, while I check my emails to see if there have been any overnight developments in my business.
To work efficiently, I believe it's important to take an hour for lunch, between 12pm and 1pm.
Bryan and I have dinner between 7.30pm and 8pm.
Who prepares meals?
I always lay out the breakfast tray the night before. I rarely prepare lunch – I either eat at work or at local juice bar. I cook dinner.
Does Bryan help with dinner?
No, because while I'm doing it he plays games with Frankie and gets him ready for bed.
DAILY ROUTINE
What time do you get up?
Bryan and I get up at 5.30am – Frankie gets up at 7am.
How much time do you need to get ready in the morning?
It takes us two hours to get ready. Bryan and I spend an hour meditating and mentally-preparing for the day ahead. I get out of bed at 6.30am to shower and check emails and Bryan dresses Frankie at 7am. I leave for work at 7.30am and Bryan takes Frankie to the nursery.
What do ever get a lie-in?
We lie-in until 7.30am on weekends.
What time to the kids finish school?
Bryan picks Frankie up at 6pm every evening.
How do you spend your week-day evenings?
When we return from work, Bryan plays with Frankie while I cook dinner.
After dinner I tidy up while Bryan gives Frankie a bath and dresses him for bed. When he's ready, we will all watch some TV or read – sometimes I use this time to catch up with household chores or work in the office.
What time do you go to bed?
We all go to bed between 8.30pm and 9pm on weekdays. At weekends, we go to bed at around 9.30pm or 10pm.
DISCIPLINE
How do you discipline the children?
We have a naughty step, which Frankie has to sit on if he misbehaves. He is disciplined in this way if he does something like hitting one of us.
We also believe in reasoning with Frankie. For example, if he throws some food we will try to explain to him that it is a bad thing to do. In general, Bryan is stricter with Frankie than I am.
THE RELATIONSHIP
Who has the final say in family decisions?
I have the final say in family decisions, but will listen to Bryan if he has strong views on something.
What tips can you give for coping with Bryan?
He likes routine – he likes to keep regular hours and go to bed early. He enjoys rest and relaxation and also likes me cooking for him.
Because Bryan is asthmatic he will not tolerate smoking in the house.
He feels I pay a lot of attention to people at work so he likes to be the centre of attention in the house.
He also has no time for people who don't try and don't make an effort.
How do you like to be treated?
I like to get my own way but I think I am fair. I don't like to be taken advantage of, and it's important to me that my partner works as hard as I do and helps around the house.
I couldn't do what I do without Bryan – he always listens and does his best for me; as I do for him.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
Please sum up the philosophy of this house and life within it.
We are a successful and hard-working family. I have set up a very successful international company from nothing and this shapes the way I live and how we spend our time. We are a happy family and we consider ourselves to be very lucky.
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