Hoarding...not just on TV

blossomhill_2

bobble_hat wrote: »

I hope I'm not confessing the about in 27 years time.

I have made a note in my diary for the year 2039 to PM you and check - a bit like the scene in Back To The Future where the lawyer turns up!

sjprmc01

Hey folks, its been a while again! It's a rare occasion at the moment that I'm not sat at a computer for work purposes!

I've had a bit of. Read back and hope everyone is well and coping with the clutter!

I've not had much of a chance to think about my bundles. I guess that's what they are as they don't quite take over entire rooms. I start a pile of something and it overspills into a bundle etc etc.

I'm hoping to have some time next week to take charge of some of it although I've been hoping that for a few weeks now and it hasn't happened yet......but hopefully!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Byatt wrote: »

I'm posting a pic of my stove, I've lived here 2 years and virtually ignored it, never used it, but since this thread I have made some changes to my living arrangements and because of tidying/decluttering/cleaning I could not only move in the room but felt able to get a sweep to clean the chimney, which was done today! It is now lit, and lovely.

So Jo-Jo, your thread has had a huge impact on my life for the better.

I would LOVE to be sitting by that for a cuppa and a chat!



Today, her ladyship has been subdued again. But she insisted on going out in the garden, a rare place for her to go - I think it was to cool down. So I sat out there and froze until she finally started shivering, so I could bring her in again. Since then, she has refused to take all food or treats so she has been getting further acquainted with syringe feeding.

She didn't really approve - but I spoke to the Vet again, who suggested that whilst I was waiting for the various deliveries, it was worth trying baby food. She's still not impressed by this, but if it keeps her going whilst the meds get to work, I'm happy to do this.

And she has come out of her basket several times for water and litter tray visits. So all is not lost yet.

It would be nice if she'd actually purr at me, though, as she's stopped doing it at the moment, which makes me feel like she hates me for putting her through it.




I've also decided that now is a good time to consider a paperwork purge. It's the bane of my life.


So, as the girls are no longer living here, I think I have no further need of any documentation relating to;

Child Benefit
Child Tax Credit
School Stuff (other than reports and awards)


I also don't need any documentation relating to my old flat, as I've been out of there for over 2 years, so no

Council Tax
Housing Benefit
Repairs
The ending of the tenancy
The Tenancy itself
Household Bills


Or any warranties, instruction booklets or receipts, as everything I own is out of warranty and I know how to use it.



Is there anything I have got wrong or have missed out?


And what is most satisfying - burning or shredding? (I am thinking burning would be most cathartic)

GreyQueen

Hello and welcome, yellowdots.

Jo jo, there is something very ritualistic and purfiying about a bit of pyromania, and I indulge in it a couple of times a year on my allotment. At the flat, I shred, which is less symbolic.

Re your clear-out of paperwork, I'd be tempted to keep instruction books for stuff you still have even if you can work it blindfold. It's helpful if you'll ever offload it secondhand.

All my stuff of that ilk lives in a single lever-arch folder which I find a reasonable amount of space and things are added and subtracted as the physical appliances are changed.

I offloaded a crippled printer on Fre*cycle and still had it's driver disks and manual to go with it which pleased the person who took it (it was advertised as spares or repair, not currently in working order, btw, I wouldn't trick someone even with a freebie).

The subject of decluttering was spontaneously raised by Mum in a phone call last night. She's been reviewing an area of kitchen counter which was liberated months ago by my rehoming a countertop cooker for her (Fre*cycled).

She'd turned the liberated area into a baking station and had her Kenwood out permanantly and was very pleased with this but the tide of kipple has crept back over the counter. So, she was looking for space to rehome counter-stuff into the wall cabinet and found one full of unused glasses and mugs.

She told me she was going to rehome these glasses as they're never used and I teasingly-reminded her that I'd tried to get her to do this 15 years ago (they were never used back then, either) and she'd refused. But she's ready now.

But the mugs can't be brought into general use as they're TOO GOOD, being bone china. The everyday household mugs sit on 2 mug trees on the opposite side of the kitchen and are a motley collection. The Good Mugs, which are very attractive, hide in a cupboard which is on the opposite side and probably aren't glimpsed more than a few times a year..........go figure.

Anyway, we had a lighthearted, teasing discussion about the subject of Too Good, as in thinking she wasn't worthy of the bone china mugs in case they broke, and Too Pretty to give away, in which case why are they hiding in a cupboard?

I've told her if they're inherited by me they will definately be used and may well end up broken, so she might as well enjoy them now and take a chance that some philistine like Dad may pour boiling water straight into a bone china mug from the kettle without putting in a teaspoon to prevent thermal shock.

I left her thinking about it.;)

My own decluttering is slow but steady. Finished another of the lurking books last night and added it straight into the c.s. donation bag. Am about to read a couple more lurkers and do likewise. And the paint cans are coming up from the shed today ahead of a bout of decorating starting Monday (I shall prep this weekend) so that when it's done they can exit the shed.

I also climbed up on a stool yestereve to visit with the contents of the top shelf of my kitchen cupboards. It's ridiculous being nearly 6 feet tall and still needing steps to see up there. I have found an unopened bag of soft brown sugar which had solidified into something of the consistancy of concrete.

I carried out an experiment and can report that if you park it on the top of a radiator, it will soften. I shall use it in the making of Xmas gift cookies next month (may have to do a trial run first, gotta watch the quality control as it's presents) and then that will be gone.

Byatt, loving the stove and that fireplace is to die for. Some clear and calm. I'd love to curl up there on a cushion with a mug of tea. You are one lucky woman and congratulations for liberating the area.

Brighton_belle

GreyQueen wrote: »

... take a chance that some philistine like Dad may pour boiling water straight into a bone china mug from the kettle without putting in a teaspoon to prevent thermal shock.

Well, I have lived and learnt to day - I didn't know that is what one should do.

Byatt, loving the fire place - go you!:D
Coincidently I have decided we ought to explore the possibility of an occasional little fire in our fireplace so have booked a chimney sweep this week. This isn't a result of decluttering but more about valuing myself enough to turn vague dreams into actual reality by positive action. I've just always thought it couldn't be done or DH would object. Well I'm going for it.

Byatt

Jo-Jo I agree with GQ fire is very carthartic. I wish I'd kept all my stuff relating to ex now as I could burn a little bit every now and then.

I did burn my wedding pics, as shredding or throwing them away didn't seem enough. However, I did it in the sink which was just as well because flames shot up, as I had overlooked just how much photos are not fire retardant! :eek::eek::eek:

But it was a good feeling.

BB, I'm already hooked with the stove, was out gathering twigs and things this morning. And I've already lit it again, just for practice you understand. :cool:

I dreamt I got a sight hound last night, even though I'm not a 100% sure I understand what they are still, are greyhounds sight hounds?

I am looking after a couple of hamsters at the moment, not the gold ones, but from somewhere foreign, although of course they all are I think, anyway, I am smitten. How can you be smitten by hamsters, but they are so cute and interesting. Ah, just checked they are Chinese mini hamsters.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I seem to remember something about it being the law that a person with an inglenook type fireplace and a woodburner has to have a cat or a gangly dog snoring in a bed beside it. Or it might have been both.


Can anyone else confirm this law?

:whistle:

Brighton_belle

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I seem to remember something about it being the law that a person with an inglenook type fireplace and a woodburner has to have a cat or a gangly dog snoring in a bed beside it. Or it might have been both.


Can anyone else confirm this law?

:whistle:

Yes, it's the Inglenook Pet Act 1862. It fell out of use in the latter stages of the 20th Century due to Central Heating beoming much more popular/common but was used in a legal case (Smith vs Kendal 2007) which set a new precedent in that the dog must be gangly but you could have any sort of dog if you also had a cat.
As a result of this case, the Government then added an additional clause to include woodburners.

Byatt

I wish Jo-Jo, my DD has dog napped my dog, so I hardly see her (the dog that is), and I can't have a cat because I live near an A road, plus with my cat sitting I have times when I'm away from home.

I keep dreaming though. I saw in a local hardware store that's now trying to be upmarket, a stuffed dog sleeping on a cushion, they looked quite realistic!

Yellowdots, you don't need to keep the mug, I understand the sentiment though, But as your son doesn't want it, then out it goes. You will still have the memories you just don't need the item as well.

Byatt

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Yes, it's the Inglenook Pet Act 1862. It fell out of use in the latter stages of the 20th Century due to Central Heating beoming much more popular/common but was used in a legal case (Smith vs Kendal 2007) which set a new precedent in that the dog must be gangly but you could have any sort of dog if you also had a cat.
As a result of this case, the Government then added an additional clause to include woodburners.

That's fab! :rotfl::T