My home is a mess

bearcub

Afternoon Messies.

YL, I hope you had a really lovely lie-in!

Mc29, never heard of Sugro, but it sounds very useful stuff. Well done for allowing the LBMs lead you to doing some repairs! :T We moved here 7 years ago, from a large 3-bed semi to a small 2-bed bungalow. Both DDs had left home, DD2 3 years earlier, and DD1 18 months before. DD2 had cleared most of her stuff (having moved not too far away), but DD1 hadn't been able to, given the time and distance. So, we had a good clear-out of our stuff before we moved (and threw out more when we got here), but brought a fair amount of DD1's books with us. It wasn't a great problem, as she lives a lot closer to us now. I love my music, too - mostly quite loud.

I can now take things out of the bottom of my wardrobe without dragging lots of other stuff out! :j All that could be hung up has been, all that needed washing has been washed or put in the washing basket, and all my bags have been tidied. As I did earlier in the week, I told OH this morning what tasks I aimed to do today, and they've been done. Those tasks were cleaning (very carefully) mould off a lovely little Victorian chest of drawers that belonged to MiL (it's against the only bit of spare wall we have, with the cold garage the other side ), then I carried on to clean mould off the second bedroom wall, caused by hanging up too much washing in here. The other job I wanted to get done was to clean the fridge. It was getting to disgusting stage, and I continued in cleaning mode, and wiped down the work surfaces. Yesterday, I did the horrible job of cleaning hair out of the shower filter (yuk!), and I've loaded the WM with the next load, which won't be done until Monday. I'd pat myself on the back if I could reach. :rotfl:

fpcat

I too love books, and I have many ex-library books bought in their sales.I'm taking a couple of cookery books at a time, and going through them to see if I can 1) find anything I fancy cooking and 2) decide if I really want/need the book.
Of the books I've done I've only kept about 8, copied some recipes, and started a box for CS for the others. The ones I've discarded are a mixed bunch, some ex-library, some bought and I've asked myself several times why I acquired them, and more to the point why I still have them.
Mind you, even with the cookery books gone, I'll still have 8 various sized bookcases around the house, so still a way to go. I need to get rid of Encyclopaedia Britannica (all 32 volumes) probably on Freecycle, but it's in my attic bedroom and needs someone to help me get them down so that must wait.
If the CS decides not to sell ex-library books, will they be able to get money by recycling them, or am I causing them work they don't need?

bearcub

Eight bookcases, fpcat??!! :eek: You must have strong floors, and a lot of room! Re the ex-library books, could you call or call in to the CS, and ask beforehand?

MrsX_2

Can I join in?

My story is very similar to the thread starter.

Last year I was working very long hours as I was doing a second job for a few months, over time my house became a shambles.
Just as my job came to an end and I was thinking I'd be able to get sorted, I was taken very ill and was in Intensive care for a while (this was early december).
I was very lucky to live to tell the tale, but the recovery is very slow and at the minute I havent much energy. I'm off work sick, so I'm sat looking at all the mess, clutter and dirt. I mange to do the basics (though I've had to start having my shopping delivered as going shopping wipes me out).
My Mum is coming every so often to vacuum etc but the clutter is piling up!

fpcat

Yes, 8 bookcases. I have a 4 storey house, with a basement which looks as if someone has organised rubbish fights there for years, ground floor (1 large, 1 small bookcase), landing (1), 1st floor (3 large b/cases), landing (2 small b/cases). Attic and basement both have empty bookcases. I need them off the landings, and at least 2 large ones also gone, so I must get rid of some more books. I hadn't thought about weight, but they've all been here for at least 20 years so hopefully they are OK until I get them sorted. I might do the ex-library on Freecycle instead, or take a chance on CS on Monday.

bearcub

Hello and welcome, MrsX! I hope you start gaining some strength soon, but you have been through the mill, haven't you? Difficult to do, I know, but don't panic, and don't let yourself get down about it, because it won't help you, and it won't make the slightest bit of difference to the state of the house. Take it one step at a time - the oft repeated words on this thread are 'baby steps'!

You say you do the basics - is that meal prep and washing up, laundry maybe? Assuming yes, what bothers you the most? You'll probably think 'everything', but try walking from room to room, and pick out something that you really, really mind about, or really irritates you. Maybe it's the kitchen work surfaces cluttered and dirty, maybe piles of magazines or books on the floor that stop access to cupboards, perhaps it's clothes dumped on your bed, that have to be dumped elsewhere when you want to go to bed. Find just the one place, and start with that. You dont have to clear or clean that one place completely (especially as you're still fairly weak), but just enough to make you feel as if you've made a positive difference. That should give you some satisfaction and encourage you to continue the next day. And, if you come in here, we'll cheer you on! :T

Fpcat, at least you have a big enough place to cope with 8 bookcases. My DD1 has a one bed flat, part of a converted Victorian house, and she has two fairly large bookcases just jammed with books. They do take up a lot of space!

rosalie-lavender

My first thought when I read 8 bookcases was that's a lot. Then I started thinking about all the books we have here and came to the conclusion that if we took all our books off the bookshelves, we would probably need nearly as many as that. It's a good job we have a big house because my three offspring love their books.

mcculloch29

I did a quick mental count - we have nine bookshelves and a smallish 3 bed house, 5 in largeish lounge, 1 in small dining room, 3 in my bedroom and 1 on the landing. Plus some cookbooks in the kitchen. The dining room and 1 lounge shelf unit are tall 5 - shelf units, all others are 2 or 3 shelves. :o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

MrsX_2

bearcub wrote: »

Hello and welcome, MrsX! I hope you start gaining some strength soon, but you have been through the mill, haven't you? Difficult to do, I know, but don't panic, and don't let yourself get down about it, because it won't help you, and it won't make the slightest bit of difference to the state of the house. Take it one step at a time - the oft repeated words on this thread are 'baby steps'!

You say you do the basics - is that meal prep and washing up, laundry maybe? Assuming yes, what bothers you the most? You'll probably think 'everything', but try walking from room to room, and pick out something that you really, really mind about, or really irritates you. Maybe it's the kitchen work surfaces cluttered and dirty, maybe piles of magazines or books on the floor that stop access to cupboards, perhaps it's clothes dumped on your bed, that have to be dumped elsewhere when you want to go to bed. Find just the one place, and start with that. You dont have to clear or clean that one place completely (especially as you're still fairly weak), but just enough to make you feel as if you've made a positive difference. That should give you some satisfaction and encourage you to continue the next day. And, if you come in here, we'll cheer you on! :T

Fpcat, at least you have a big enough place to cope with 8 bookcases. My DD1 has a one bed flat, part of a converted Victorian house, and she has two fairly large bookcases just jammed with books. They do take up a lot of space!

Hello, thanks for your welcome.

Basically, on a daily basis I more or less manage to feed us simple meals, sort the dishwasher and do the laundry.
The laundry doesn't generally make it in to the wardrobes, but lives in piles on the dining room table.

I have a lovely dog, who I do now manage to take for a walk - TBH that uses most of my energy reserves up, but I feel its an important part of the day as it gets me out and at the end of the day, the dog needs a walk.

The thing that bugs me is that everywhere I look there is "stuff" and everywhere needs vacuuming!

I did manage to do a bit of decluttering last week, but there's so much to do I feel overwhelmed.

mcculloch29

Mrs X, I do feel for you.
This may seem like a cop-out to some but could you arrange for a cleaner to do a one off of a couple of hours? Most small operators charge about £10 an hour.
When I was working from home and teaching in the community (with 3 hours a day travel time) as well, a cleaner was the only way I could cope. I have arthritis.