Hoarding...not just on TV

SpikyHedgehog

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I have indeed. I daresay there is some convoluted story about my absence which doesn't involve rakes jumping up in the air, spinning round and smacking me one :cool:. But I don't care enough to find out.

I took advantage of a gift voucher today and used it to buy 60l of cat litter and 6kg of cat crunchies, then as I had use of a car, bought a largish box of soap powder and a bunch of cat food pouches. All perfectly reasonable expenses, especially when I detest shopping so much.

But I still felt a bit worried it would be hoarding stuff - and when I found out the soap powder won't fit in the cupboard under the sink once it's been opened, I really wasn't happy.



Ah well. I survived. And really must get off my behind and put up the towel rail and kitchen blind I keep on putting off.

I keep stocking up on dry cat food as the opaque bags or boxes mean I can't see how much is in them, & as the cat is fussy (both in taste & in what suits her tummy), I stick to the brands I know suit her. This week I saw a big food tub at M0rris0ns & bought that to decant the food into as it's clear so I can see how much food she has before I buy more.

But the washing powder I bought from there won't fit under the sink. I cautiously decanted it into the previous box from Sainsbobs & threw the M0rris0sn box away.

Byatt

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Why I got bookcases, I started categorising stuff....and then got completely thrown by books in the categories not fitting in the allocated shelves. Which caused a few moments of unbridled anxiety until I decided 's*d it, in the bookcase is better than not' and they went where they fitted rather than anything else.

At a later point, I had the freedom and calmness essential for considering filing systems. As it is, my two small Billys downstairs that act as speaker stands and frame the sofa have music, decorating, camera and other audio-visual related stuff in them. The tall one is upstairs with the cookery and all other books. As I have doors, I find this 'puts them away' better psychologically than having open, dusty shelves where things fall off/out. I'm not entirely happy about where the upstairs bookcase is, so may move it, or fasten nice fabric inside the glass so I don't have to look at the interior.

At the same time, I am looking at the old pine wardrobe and considering painting it eggshell white to blend in with the bookcase and chest of drawers.

I want to do the same with a pine wardrobe I have, and in fact it's my carrot to keep deluttering so I have space and time to do it properly. In fact I am quite excited just thinking about it. It may of course be much later in the year, but that's ok.


But I would absolutely agree that on the shelves is the only bit that matters right now. After all, you can worry about categories and arrangements once the permanent shelves are in situ. At the moment, there are more important/pressing matters to deal with.

And then - once there is more time/space/calm/order - then you could, if bothered by titles or colours, for example, just make easy slipcovers out of coloured paper. That would give the appearance of completion, even if 11 random books were selected, thereby masking any sense of incompleteness when rehoming. But not when you have more urgent matters to deal with.

That's what I have learned recently, and intend to fine tune things when I am decluttered.


I have the dubious pleasure of bringing some more stuff into the house tomorrow. Nothing special, just cat related gumpf, food, litter, but it makes it harder to tidy the more stuff that comes in. My reaction to this? Mentally preparing a list of clothes and shoes to throw out in compensation and trying to ensure that the volume that leaves is greater than the volume that enters.


It would be so much easier if I didn't mentally see Her pit at every step, wouldn't it?

Can you try and change the image as soon as it pops into your head, I know it's not easy, but the brain can be fooled and if you change the image consciously, maybe in time the other image will fade. I do believe we have to make conscious efforts at times to alter our state of mind.

I have decluttered 2 pictures and a cork memo board to the CS today. Not being well it's all I could manage today.

GreyQueen

calicocat wrote: »

Well my flat is an utter tip.

I am off work now for around 11 days and was meant to be sorting tidying and throwing out , but instead have been lardarsing on sofa since 7.30 and absolutely zero motivation to do anything .:mad:
Over the next few days I was wondering if the best plan is to do it room by room going through every drawer/cupboard etc to do a proper de-richard rather than quick fixes.....if I can muster up the motivation. This will take qiute some time but would be worth it in the long run....I think.at the moment however I am just lying here looking at it all.:(

I would go for a mixture of stuff. I think it's important to have some "big wins" early on so you can see where you've been and keep your morale up.

Do you have any big stuff like furniture/ appliances/ boxes which can be de-richarded for a fast gain? If so, I'd get organised with a dump run/Freecycle/charity pick-up.

Then I'd head for the floaters. Y'know, those wretched things which have no real home and kick about on the floor and tabletops, the stairs etc. They're a constant annoyance.

I'd also look hard to see if I had anything which I'd borrowed which could be returned, or stray stuff left on the premises by other people. If there is stuff belonging to others such as adult offspring, try getting them to take it away.

I'd only start pulling out drawers and cupboards when the big, obvious, in-yer-face stuff was already done, unless you needed a sit-down rest with a shoebox of misc to paw through whilst having a coffee.

:o That's my two'pennorth for what it's worth. HTH.

Have been to the lottie this afternoon and back into the Shed. Darlings, I have reached the Back Wall. I have swept it, even. I have stared eyeball-to-eyeball with 8 legged critters of the subspecies arachnis bliddy giganticus and although I wobbled a bit, I did not run away screaming. (I did awaken myself with a screech at about midnight last night from a nightmare about the darned things. Hi, my name is GQ and I'm a life-long arachnophobe).

Before I lost the plot (6 binbags down) I was able to meditate on the stuff, and why it was there.

Problem: The very many compost bags, saved to be used to take stuff to the dump.

So strong! So free! So very very many! Arrghh, I have to tell myself that every single bag of compost comes with a free bag. There will be lots of opportunities to get another one if I feel bereft. I only take stuff to the tip on the pushbike so can carry one, maybe two bags, tops. Anything more is gravy.

Problem: More plastic punnets.

They're breeding. I keep dragging them outta there and they keep reappearing. Like plastic mice............:rotfl:

Problem: The confetti.

Who knew degradable plastic bags turned into plastic snow when your back was turned? Don't use plastic bags. Or definately don't hoard them. Terrible time clearing that up inside the shed.

Problem: Orange plastic onion bags.

Find out who gives these to me and stop them at source.

I found another Wotsit. I'm not going to say what the Wotsit is as I shall be bunging it on Freecycle in a minute. It's a species of garden tool.

I thought I had 2 Wotsits, one cast off from a rellie and one from a rellie's neighbour. They were both a bit carp and earlier this year I decided to treat myself to a proper Wotsit and Freecycle the other 2. Result; I really enjoy my Wotsit and was priding myself on exchanging 2 of 1 and all that. Then, in the back of the shed, I find a 3rd Wotsit.:eek:

I recognised it. It was definately mine but I had somehow completely forgotten it existed. This shed has stood a mere 4 years so it's not like there's a great span of time as an excuse for forgetting what I've put in it. I was astonished. So I currently have 2 Wotsits until the 3rd one can be rehomed by Freecycle. I had triplets and didn't even know it.:D

Shed is looking sooooo much better. Still haven't tracked down the missing scissors. Running out of spaces to look in and those are harbouring big scuttling things........sooner or later, I shall have to get at them.

I have found most of the floors at home, too. Would be nice to keep them just for walking on, but it's early days yet.

Be strong, GQ x

Byatt

GQ, I am really chuffed for you and shed clearing! I am already imagining curtains, a cosy chair, table and candles...ok, maybe I'm running ahead of myself, but I hope you put your style on the shed. I understand about the spidery things...shakes...

Last night I woke up and thought what am I doing sleeping in the kitchen?! I wasn't but was so disoriented and my pillows were on the floor.

Sybil, I forgot to say I hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself.

Calico, I often have CBA days, and I think the secret is not to think my day is planned with this or that, but maybe pick up something on the way through to the kitchen, have a box to put stuff in for the CS/bin etc...and maybe do 5 mins. That's 5 mins more than normal and it does make a difference. Hugs. Definitely treat yourself with a nice coffee or reading a book...nice bath.

GreyQueen

Byatt wrote: »

GQ, I am really chuffed for you and shed clearing! I am already imagining curtains, a cosy chair, table and candles...ok, maybe I'm running ahead of myself, but I hope you put your style on the shed. I understand about the spidery things...shakes....

The shed window has net curtain and a fake gingham "curtain" along each side of the window which is my nod to twee irony. There are a few candles hidden up there in case I need to evac the Towers and hide up there. The only seating is deckchairs.

I would love to have a proper Wendy house which didn't have to include the proper garden tools. A woman's shed is her castle.:o

SpikyHedgehog

GQ, the missing scissors probably aren't really in the shed... I found the work kitchen scissors in the work office the other day, hidden behind a pile of paper. Very bizarre...

Byatt, the 5 minutes is so good, I've been stressing that between work & children (& sitting zombie like on the sofa trying to summon up energy), I'm doing very little. So your reminder that 5 minutes can achieve something was very timely!

I lugged the carrier bag of clothes down to the Scout Hut & discarded them (into the clothing bin) managing to smuggle in DS2's sandals that he claimed were not too small... I got given 3 letters by the Scouts' secretary, but managed to get rid of all of them - paper work is a horrible problem for me, I find myself not putting it away properly or dealing with it properly, so I 'have' to hold onto it all... Do not really think I need the amazon paperwork for things I ordered over a year ago and would be hard pressed to know where they are right now anyway...

wannabe_sybil

Byatt - thank you for the good wishes. Feeling a lot better now.

My experience is that if you do just one thing it is better than doing nothing, and that you should have ought to have would have done stuff, and perhaps feel guilty, but you can't start earlier than now.

No idea what tomorrow will hold, will worry about it then.

hugs to all

GreyQueen

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

GQ, the missing scissors probably aren't really in the shed... I found the work kitchen scissors in the work office the other day, hidden behind a pile of paper. Very bizarre...

Scissors have supernatural powers and the ability to travel in space and time. These are a particular pair of blue-handled cheapy (but surprisingly effective) scissors which live in the allotment shed permanantly. They have not been seen for some considerable time. Probably for about a year.

I had expected to turn them up today as I moved a rack (a cheap slatted shelving unit) and I thought they'd have been under/ behind it.

On giving it further thought tonight, they are almost certainly behind the timber wine box on which stands the meat safe where I keep my seeds. Trouble is, the last place I saw a big bad s - - - -r heading was.......yup. S0d's Law.

I suppose it may not still be there. What's worse than seeing a bliddy great spider? Seeing it nearby and then LOSING SIGHT OF IT. Arrrrrgghhhhhhhhhh! I shall go to bed shortly and hope not to wake up again in the first hour with a screech of terror at spidermares.

I'm very very phobic and cannot believe that I have managed to clear 90% of the shed, including all the corners, without having a major wobble. Of course, if one had touched me, all bets would be off and screaming would ensue.

Very embarrassing when a voice calls over from the nearby lottie all concerned that you're being murdered and you have to shamefacedly admit you're scared of spiders.:o

wannabe_sybil

GreyQueen - sending you anti-arachnid hugs, prevents the beasties and includes good vibes.

You have faced a lot of fears today, I hope you are allowing yourself the credit!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I went to the Land of the Big Bag of Candles tonight - IKEA.

And I have a nice new blind - I had to admit defeat and couldn't reuse the one from my old flat, as it was just too big - it would have stopped a kitchen cabinet door from opening properly.

So, I quickly decided that one of the two identical ones could go into the shed as they look posher than teatowel curtains....:D....


- and the other one had its width written on the label, both brackets attached and it's now sitting on the front garden wall in the hope that somebody wants it. If not, the recycling collection is on Friday and maybe they will take it.


The last old handrail in the downstairs bathroom has gone into the loft, as I really didn't appreciate the You're-disabled-so-must-be-too-incompetent-to-stand-at-the-sink-or-use-tepid-water-so-here-are-stupidly-placed-giant-blue-rails-that-will-remind-you-everyday-that-we-think-The-Disabled-only-deserve-institutional-equipment. It's been replaced with a nice towel rail (that matches the shelf) in just the right place for finishing a shower and wanting to grab a towel. The old rails are being kept (I've sellotaped the fixing screws for each one to one end) as, if I ever move, I will put them back and take the nice stuff with me

I've also replaced the loo brush & holder with a chrome one (the old one has been binned immediately) and bought one slate grey handtowel and one facecloth that hangs on the shelf.

And cleaned the shower drain. _pale_


The kitchen looks a bit of a pain, as everything was cleared off the windowsill for the blind fitting. But it shouldn't take more than about ten or twenty minutes in the morning to sort out.

Paint tins, tools and whatnots have been relocated to the cupboard under the stairs. They'd been out for just too long, they made me feel like it was never going to be clean or tidy again. I've kept out the big tin of eggshell, the brushes and the white spirit.

And the upstairs bathroom has been finished :j: Cocoa wall, deep purple bathpanel, white tiles, glass shower screen, glass shelf, black and white floor tiles, purple bathlinen. It looks so nice!

I've (reluctantly, because it looks messier with them) put the toothbrushes, soap, bubblebath and stuff in there for use. I need to eggshell a cream mirror that doesn't quite go in its present colour, and I have the replacement knobs for the drawers, as the current ones are u-g-l-y. BUT they, and the old, manky towels, are being recycled where appropriate - I am NOT holding onto ten stained towels I don't need when I have nice, new, matching ones, so they are off to the PDSA on Friday.


Speaking of animal related things - the longhaired fluffbag had some hard tangles at the back of her legs - and it was really easy to just pick her up with one arm and pick the one pair of scissors out of the drawer with the other. Minimal stress for her as there was no pinning her down whilst the scissors were searched for, then deliberating between which of the collection is to be used for cat fluff dreadlocks - and she had a clear escape route when I let her go again


I then had a nice, hot shower and a lovely dinner - poached chicken leg with tomato, cucumber and a herb and wild flower salad. (chives, purple clover flowers, rocket, coriander flowers, borage flowers, Herb Robert, Nasturtiums, parsley, plus whatever was at a snippable height in the salad leaves pot). Again, easy to do because there wasn't anything to scramble over to reach the garden or the plants.



Mind you, I was chatting whilst waiting in the queue at IKEA (as you do) and the lady I spoke to suddenly said 'I really like the colour scheme you're using there'. I didn't think it was particularly remarkable, but, whe looking at the bits I have done so far, I think I'm actually not doing bad at this.

Maybe I'll put up some pictures of my place?