The KonMarie method

GreyQueen

mrs money-penny, your cutlery story reminded me of a convo with Mum several years ago. I should explain the back story; she worked for an employer who gave canteens of cutlery as long-service awards. We're talking very nice stainless steel, not sterling silver, btw.

Anyway, Mum had one of these sets, still boxed, in her cupboard. One day she was talking, slightly shocked, about a colleague who was using their cutlery set every day.

As in, this being a very outrageous thing to do.:rotfl:

I remarked that cutlery was made to be used, not to sit in a box in a cupboard. So, she decided to bring it into everyday service, where it has remained and is enjoyed.

Sadly, the rest of the mismatched cutlery is still on the premises, taking up a deep drawer in one of the sideboards. Ach well, you can't win them all.

I have pleasant but unremarkable steel cutlery and a mystery - one of my four knives is mia. It disappeared at least two weeks ago and I tidied the cutlery drawer, thinking that it may have got out of its tray and under something else. No dice.

And now a veg knife has gone awol, too. All this in a 6 ft square kitchen with only two drawers. I can only think that the ruddy things have [STRIKE]eloped[/STRIKE] err, fallen on the floor and ended up under an appliance.

Should be doing something productive but am going to move the most likely culprit appliance (cooker) and see if they're underneath. It's niggling me now, dammit.

ETA Cooker has been danced in and out of its slot. Nothing under there but two pumpkin seeds and some fluff, now vacuumed up. I don't think I'm up to wrangling more appliances out, although I have searched and vacuumed alongside them. Veg knife has been seen only a few days ago, mos baffling.

mrs-moneypenny

When we were first married it was EXPECTED that we went to the inlaws for Christmas dinner. I was allowed to do new years dinner (which they came to) when we had children I said they wanted to stay at home with their pressies so a compromise was reached and we did alternate Christmas/New Years. After a few years and the arrival of more children we were told by fil that cooking for so many was now difficult for mil and now they had decided I could do both meals every year. Within a couple of days of being told this we popped round and mil had boxed up all her Christmas crockery and cutlery so I could have it to save it taking up space at hers. I accepted the cutlery ( hence the reason we had mismatched) but told her I had no need or desire for a sideboards worth of extra crockery. She was annoyed as it was " better than mine" in her opinion but I assume it went to the CS (or could still be lurking in a cupboard at hers)
Family traditions are funny things you do something and suddenly it's expected of you every year for all eternity. ( and once started its impossible to stop without upsetting people) I'm just glad my mum lives near enough to my sister and the arrangement they have always had is thT my sister plus children decamp to mums for the Christmas/new year week and all have a " family" Christmas then they bring mum over for a buffet here midweek.

GreyQueen

:j I found the missing veg knife - it was in the bottom of a bag which had held runner beans two days ago, and had dropped out of sight. Now I just need to find that pesky missing eating knife and all will be well.

The story about Christmas conventions reminded me of an exasperated rant by a twenty-something 'child' of long-divorced parents. Each demanded her presence at their home on The Day. They wouldn't compromise on part of a day, or Boxing Day, it had to be their home, and not the other parent's, or they'd sulk for the remaining 364 days. Not even alternating years were an acceptable compromise.

The young woman got so fed-up with being a chew-toy in their ongoing grievances with each other that she told both of them that she'd be spending Christmasses with friends until they could grow up and behave themselves.

Lucy5781

sorted the pile of paper/leaflets/flyers I had on my dressing table, only three still valid items kept, the rest chucked in the bin/recycling along with some pizza flyers from the top of the hallway bookcase.

Also put some old glass jars I'd been keeping (possibly for my wedding, but I know I won't be using them now) out for recycling and re-stacked the items by the washing machine & tumble dryer.

PollyWollyDoodle

My parents bought each of us a canteen of stainless steel cutlery as a wedding present. Eldest brother is still using his for 'everyday' 45 years later! (They have a really posh 'best' set now). I kept mine for 'best' until about 10 years ago when I realised the folly of this, and threw out the cheap Tsco set I was using. My sister said 'oh, I'll take it - then I can give my mismatched set to nephew who is about to start at uni'. Ten years on, her wedding-present cutlery is in one drawer, my set is in another drawer - and she's still using the mismatched stuff! :rotfl:

I long to introduce her to MK but think it would be futile.

GreyQueen

As the late great Stan Laurel said You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead.

mrs-moneypenny

Glad you found the Veg knife GQ, hope the other missing one turns up soon. I lost a cheese knife recently, but DD3 told me she spotted it in the compost bin, but wasn't able to retrieve it as it was 'eww' in there! Dh got it out and gave it a good wash, the reason It found its way in there was it has been repurposed, I've discovered it is perfect for scrapping new potatoes so I think I'd left it in a bowl of peelings and threw it in by accident.

iQueen

Morning everyone! :coffee:

maman wrote: »

Fortunately I like them very much. Might even buy a family size pack to hold the gloves!


Did another cupboard this afternoon, a built in one in guest room. I use part of it as a storecupboard for packets and tines. I found 11 tins of butterbeans!!:eek:

Just need a recipe for butterbeans and mushrooms!:rotfl:

I know MK doesn't really advocate a cupboard at a time but I'm working on what she does recommend that is getting things into fitted cupboards and storing things together from the same category. So plenty of room now in this cupboard to store things I really need/want.


Onwards and upwards!

I use one of those (sturdy) mushroom family packs as my peelings-for-the-compost bin collection point, in the kitchen, and also have another couple in the BFL for 'in case' they are required while kondoing!

Butter Bean Soup? Tastey recipes online. The pate sounds good - must make some. Also, good for Hummus - I've always made mine with smooth peanut butter because it is easier and cheaper to obtain, than Tahini!

drusilla wrote: »

Do I need 2 pastry forks?

They bring me joy but there are only 2.

Sorry for the ramble but still not sure about the pastry forks.

Keep them! Just the right number for a brew and cake with a friend or neighbour!

iQueen

I've caught up with all the posts, so I can give an update.

The binmen have been and taken the recycling - various paper and cardboard that annoyed me yesterday, while I was (trying to) 'consolidating' upstairs, half the 6 inch pile of newspapers (very rarely buy one or mags) kept for emergency mop-ups, and all the other recycling. The un-recyclable household sack is still to be collected today.

I also dumped various bits of komono from the top of my only kitchen base-unit yesterday - not clear yet, need to find a storage space for my empty jam/chutney jars, plus other homeless komono. I also sorted out the my medical supplies and am down to Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, plasters and thermometer - the rest is in a bag for the Chemist.

Remember the 3 hour phone-call that I kondoed with my friend?

Got a phone-call from her this morning - she has recognised the way to finally kondo a major trauma from 50 years ago, and takes the first steps to resolution tomorrow, after 3 years of counselling! I'm SO happy for her. :dance: :j

Isn't it wonderful how something really joyful empowers us? I'm well-motivated for a ruthless kondo thrash upstairs (again) today! I'm thinking I shall start to clear the Boxroom of Doom!

mrs-moneypenny

IQueen, I'm pleased for your friend and hope the trauma can be addressed and kondoed from her life.

Dh asked me last night if I'd finished the kondo malarkey because the house is looking better now. HAHA, I haven't even scrapped the surface. There's the spare rooms, and the attic under the drive the shed and his garage, and I'm sure the areas I've done will all need revisiting.