KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

GreyQueen

I think you're right, mrs-moneypenny (and others), life's too damned short to repaint the whole kitchen. I'd lived here several years before I painted it at all (it was the last place I did because it's such a tiresome job) and the existing paint isn't worn out yet.

I tell myself it's greener and thriftier to use what you have already on the walls. But I am going after those damaged walls with some hot soapy water today, I am so tired to the damp mouldy stink in the kitchen, despite having the kitchen window open every waking hour that I'm home - can't have it open otherwise as I'm on the ground floor.

I know it won't resolve entirely until the wall has had time to dry out naturally but if it cuts down that stink, even though I'll end up cleaning again, it'll be worth it.

Freegler due to make a pickup from the outdoor hidey-hole at some point today but it's set up that they self-serve, so I don't have to wait around for them. I've been freeging for years and you do sometimes get messed about, so much so that I'm reluctant to offer anything that either can't fit in the outdoor space or is so precious that it would be unwise to leave it outdoors.

The bagful of items which are going are relatively low-value although useful and I think they'd be more of a pain than a joy down the chazzer.

I'm cracking on with the WIP rug and enjoying the process. I love that I don't have carpets and can just roll up my rugs whenever they are in the way. I've also lived here more than ten years, which is longer that I have ever lived anywhere, including any of my childhood homes, so am an old hand at moving, and live the thought that I am move-ready.

I will confess to a certain fascination with watching people move home. I've moved around quite a bit myself, and volunteered as a packer-lifter-van driver on many another person's move, and it is very interesting, isn't it?

Not exactly the worthiest of human emotions but, judging by the amount of rubber-necking going on, one widely shared.:p

What amazes me is how long it can take/ how much unwanted Stuff gets hiffed out of these absolutely tiny one-bedroom flats when people move. Sometimes, I'm sure the laws of physics are being flouted; there seems to be more coming out than there could have possibly ever been in there in the first place!:rotfl:

mrs-moneypenny

I know what you mean GQ, dd2 and her partner have too much stuff, they moved and shoehorned it into their new smaller home then spent the next few weeks doing tip and CS runs to offload sone of the stuff that was in the way on landings and hallways. It's still cluttered but at least you don't have to walk sideways on the stairs now! It's a work in process helping them decide they don't need do many items.

GreyQueen

Tell me about it!

When I moved from my previous (also one-bedroomed) flat to this shoebox, the living room and kitchen sizes were almost identical, but I lost a largish bedroom for one which is just a bit bigger than the standard double-bed it contains.

The resultant shuffling around of Stuff caused chaos for weeks, plus the fact that this place was pretty grimy and needed redecorating throughout.

Ach well, this isn't getting the baby a bonnet, I am on leave this week but mustn't waste the day. Onwards, upwards and outwards, my lovelies.

Gonna get tooled up and go de-mouldifiying.

Wednesday2000

GreyQueen wrote: »

What amazes me is how long it can take/ how much unwanted Stuff gets hiffed out of these absolutely tiny one-bedroom flats when people move. Sometimes, I'm sure the laws of physics are being flouted; there seems to be more coming out than there could have possibly ever been in there in the first place!:rotfl:

I was surprised at how much stuff we had as our house is fairly small, but we had more than I thought we could.:D

I have seen some pics of the US homes on blogs and other forums where the people are doing the KM method and the amount of stuff they have is truly astonishing!:eek:

mavvymoo

Morning all

Siebrie Sorry to hear of your works decision never easy to see good people out of work
GQ I agree with not painting the whole kitchen life is too short if you can get away with it I always start these things and wished I hadnt bothered so I dont now :rotfl:

Had friends up for the weekend and had a great time at the 40s weekend in Sheringham it really is a sight to see and really worth visiting if you are in the area

Have cleaned the oven :eek: It was pretty grim to be honest.
and the fridge has been sorted and cleaned and kondoed

My only coat/carp cupboard has been fully sorted out loads gone including 3 coats a pair of shoes that hurt my feet have been passed on to my friend who stayed for the weekend

The new bed was a hit and I must say the room looks bigger somehow now the bed is there.Which is a bit strange.

Another bin bag of clothes kondoed and gone to a new home.

So I think I can say I am back on the train but still spending time doing things that I find joyful.My head is still much clearer and KM has done me so many favours I cant thank that odd little book enough :rotfl:

Cricket the kitten managed to get locked in a shed and spent the night in there until I realised he /she was missing and now looks at me with disgust on his/her face Lolly spent all morning yesterday watching me axe up wood ready for the colder weather.She is doing so well its amazing to think how ill she was when I first found her. The rattley breathing has gone and she looks in fab condition

So as GQ said onwards and upwards is the only way to go


Mav x

GreyQueen

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I was surprised at how much stuff we had as our house is fairly small, but we had more than I thought we could.:D

I have seen some pics of the US homes on blogs and other forums where the people are doing the KM method and the amount of stuff they have is truly astonishing!:eek:

You should meet my mother; I shudder to think of how much Stuff is rammed into their small 3-bed terrace and three backyard sheds. 45 years' worth of it.

We usually underestimate the amount of Stuff we have. From long experience of my own moves and helping others, I share the following;

Student move (includes a futon bed, a desk and chair and possibly one other smallish furniture item like a clothes rail). Plus goods and chattels = one long-wheel base Transit class van packed to the roof.

One bedroom flat (usual kitchen appliances, one bed, one sofa, modest amounts of other furniture plus goods and chattels) = one luton van packed to the gunwales.

Whole house? Your guess is as good as mine. One woman of my acquaintance moved house. The removal firm sent a pantechnicon and four movers. They started loading. After a few hours with barely a dent of the amount of Stuff indoors, they called for re-inforcements. I hope they quoted enough for that job because they needed a lot of labour hours.:rotfl:

Have you got any links to these websites, I'd be interested.

Have washed the walls. Paint is detaching in quantity so will be doing some re-painting for sure. Am having a restorative cuppa then heading out to a chazzer with a coat for donation. Approximately heading towards light-coat-season and I want rid. It's a good thing and will raise a few ££ for a good cause and someone will get the benefit of wearing it, which is more than I'm doing.

Minimalism is looking more attractive every day.

Serendipitious

Sorted car ready to be taken to MOT.

The boot yielded an old pair of work shoes. I am a divil for this. Buy the new shoes, keep the old ones for a while till the new ones are worn in, alternating wear between the two, then keep the old pair for Justin. Well these old ones have splits in the soles, so have gone in the bin as would be dangerous to wear. It's only taken 23 months... sigh...

From the flat, a bag of shred is now gone, also an old air purifier, plus a Stork tub and a handful of very soft potatoes that I'd forgotten about (I do hate waste) all binned, also a metal utensil holder and cushion cover into c/shop bag, so that's a start, I'm feeling a bit more ruthless today. The utensil holder has only lurked on the floor by the bin for three days, so not too bad...

mrs-moneypenny

Oh when we started the kondo journey our house was rammed to an embarrassing level. We've lived here over 30 years and have five children ( the girls have left home but lots of their stuff didn't) so we have two boys with hoarding tendencies who hang on to everything, me and Dh. We've made good dents in the amount we have and spaces are appearing which is exceptionally joybringing but I still have a long way to go on the kondo journey and will need to visit all stops again.
I can spot areas where I just shudder and think that can go then there are others that need sorting through.
Went mils this morning she has damp under her bathroom Lino so what should have been a quick sweep through and dyson round turned into Lino lifting. I've pulled an area back and put the towel shelf on the bare floor to hold it up. But think me and Dh will need to take all Lino up to allow proper drying at the weekend. I'm hoping it's as a result of spillage and wet mopping rather than a plumbing fault under the floor.
While there she had me looking for a missing bath mat set. Search revealed an Excess amount of sheets and towels, she commented she was glad I'd looked in the ottoman as she was just about to order more bedding and bath sheets as she didn't think she had enough!!!!! I counted 18 bath sheets. And 14 bedsheets.
A look in her wardrobe caused the comment I never wear skirts any more now I have my leg brace, she has 28 skirts of varying styles and approx 30 dresses. I've promised to go back on a day neither of us are too busy so I can kondo the wardrobe for her.

Need a cuppa now then better get ready for work.

mrs_Badger

We are a couple in a one bedroom flat - the kitchen is tiny, but it has a window and with ample storage it is big enough for us. I have said on more than one occasion since we moved here, when people offer us stuff, "I can only have what we use, there is no room to store anything to the side for later or just in case" ... this is true, and a very easy way to justify saying no.

When we first moved in my friend handed me her old nest of tables, but when I realised they wouldn't work for us I told her and she took them back (or I offered to CS them) - if I had a spare room, or a a large hall, i might have just found a place for them because I felt stuck with them.

Anyway, nice day today, will be taking my bags down to the CS.

GreyQueen

Like mrs-Badger, I find having a tiny home is a source of self-discipline. If you're not firm about what you take into it, the place quickly becomes uninhabitable.

I'm smiling to myself about having completed a nagging project, one which has been nagging since the beginning of 2007, lol. All done and dusted. Didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, once I knuckled down to it. This has resulted in that clump of braincells which was telling me I ought to be getting on with this task to be redundant. Wonder what they'll do now?:rotfl:

Have been able to chuck several papery bits into the recycling and a fair bit more throught the shredder (which also goes into household recycling here) plus jettison a notebook, as the result of the above.

Have made two trips to two different chazzers with donations, one was the coat and one lot was a bagful of books and clothing. One of the books I'd been swithering about but I reminded myself that if I needed it for reference, it is in the library. The other books were things I had finished with.

Also chucked a very battered thrity-year-old streetmap booklet of a city at the other end of the country where I used to live. I've only been back for visits about three times since and don't require the map to find my way around, plus road layouts etc have changed a bit since then. If I went back (uncertain) and if I found myself in need to a streetmap (unlikely) I could buy one of them from any newsagents or bookshop there.

I also chucked two very old and very battered A-Z map booklets of this city. I had two because I lost one, quite an achievement as I lived in a bedsit at the time - it was in the large patch pocket of my coat. So I replaced it, then re-discovered the original. One of the two got a soaking at some point, and they are both 20 + years out of date, plus I have a newer one which I use at work. Even that is heading towards replacement needed, due to new builds, new roads etc.

The map books went into the recycling, as did a very old Red Cross first aid booklet. Guidance for first aid has changed over time and this is about 40 years old, so not to be relied upon.

All in all, quite pleasing. Have managed to catch the surveyor and he's coming at 10 am tomorrow so better get my arris in gear and get this place tidied. Or as tidied as it can be with half my kitchen stuff in bags on the sitting-room floor due to the damp-o-wall.