KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Slinky

Well done GQ, I hope typing that made you feel a little better.

There's nowt so odd as folk, and some of them we are unfortunate to be related to, and others, like your Nan, you are lucky to be related to.

I've just made an appointment to view another property. The one joined to the one we are not buying is almost directly opposite....... Fortunately the vendor of the one we are not buying will be moving about 75 yards the other way out of sight line.

MMF007

Slinky, you did right! If the vendor is playing up now, when he wants the money one can only imagine what a PITA he'd be once you were in!

GQ, oh how I empathise with the lazy Aunt situ! I did Xmas dinner for the extended family 2 years ago, SIL helped quite a bit, as did my DH. The next day my brother claimed the credit, even though the only thing he did was open the booze! :mad: Ahhhh family, they can be a bit trying at times!

Kondo'd more recycling. I am getting a bit concerned as to why we seem to always have a bag full

Worked all day then enjoyed HM soup for tea. DH had cheese on toast with his but no carbs for me. I may join GQ in chocolate-scoffing activity in a mo. My low carbing allows me a couple of squares of 85% dark choc as a snack (not that I would dare to eat that every day, I'd never lose the rest of the weight!).

No other kondo-ing to report today but enjoyed the ease of selecting work clothes and warm cradi at 7.30 this morning

GreyQueen

I always say you can choose your enemies but family you just get lumbered with.

Spoken to Dad this evening (Mum was busy sitting with the Queen of Sheba who has recovered from her wrong-armchair huffiness). They took their car to town this morning with a box of useful electronics for BHF and some books to another chazzer.

The other council's officer has done their inspection and, as I told Dad I thought likely, the bungalow's hall carpet can stay. It's newish, very clean and in good nick and very neutral. The venetian blinds on the sunnier windows, plain white, can also stay.

Funnily enough, from outside, the bungalow looks unchanged. The lawn is mowed, there are flowers in the beds and the blinds make it look occupied. At the back, there are very neat piles of things made by moi which will be going into the skip when it comes on Friday morning; metal, wood, some rubble and things of that ilk. Carpets will have to come up in all parts except the hall.

This is an early 1950s bungalow and the bathroom is pretty much the original and the housing officer spoke as if it would be re-done. The kitchen was re-done about 18 years ago and is pretty good still. The woodworm have been mentioned, but they won't be in the floors as not even they can live in concrete and tile.

We are considering for next weekend, if the weather is dry, putting some things out on the lawn with a big FREE notice to see if there are any takers. Of the four orphan armchairs without current safety certificates, one has been promised to a neighbour who is also an in-law but there are the others to rehome.

Last time I saw the bungalow was yesterday and it contained, furniture wise; kitchen table and four chairs, a single divan base, three dining chairs and two bedside tables. Plus a white plastic garden table and three chairs, a small coffee table, a bathroom stool and an ottoman.

Not too bad, there are some more things in Aunt's garage including the good double bed, which will be rehomed over the coming weeks.

tibawo

VJsmum wrote: »

Just kondoed the mother in law back home. I am fond of her ( chants i AM fond of her i am FOND of her) but, goodness, she plays the martyr well.

I am in the middle of gathering children's clothes which are being sent to south Africa on Wednesday. They are so expensive there and, when I heard that someone was going to the village we are helping, and with an empty case, I have been trawling the chazzers and put a plea on Facebook to fill it.

This brings back memories, When i used to work over there whenever i was back i would hit the charity shops here; the 'local' charity shops knew me and would give me a discount. I used to get head scarves etc that no one would buy. On return my maid would take a few and the rest would go back to her village. I always wondered what i would say to customs if i was stopped as to why i had about a hundred head scarves in my suitcase! I remember taking some old footballs one time and watching the kids faces so full of joy over something that we see as so simple. It is imprinted on my brain forever.

GreyQueen

Aww, tibawo and VJsMum, what lovely thoughtful things to do/ have done. I've often wished it would be possible to teleport things so that Stuff could get where it needed to be. It's galling to see so much waste, I've posted before about the perfectly good stuff I see go over the side of the tip, it makes me cringe.

I even stage interventions at the communal bins at the flats sometimes.

Laid in bed this morning thinking about the bungalow and all which is going on there. It's 50 miles away, I have no transport, you can't get to it on public transport, plus I have to go to work. I can't help until the weekend and it's like an itch I can't scratch!

What if they're not doing it properly?! What if things which could be recycled aren't, or they're binning stuff which freeglers would bite your hand off to get? I have come to conclusion that I am a control freak.

VJsmum

One charity shop were doing buy one get two free as they have so much stuff. So generally I was picking up three things for £1.99. Another was doing BOGOF. Altogether I got 40 items of various sizes and descriptions - I don't think I've spent as much as £40. It's win win as the chazzers get the money and the kids (and parents) get the clothes. I am on the train delivering to the deliverer. As I get the train free and I can work on it, it really is ideal. I'm having a day out in Bournemouth

When I have worked out the logistics of shipping, I will send more. At the moment it's too expensive, but there must be cheaper ways. I have had offers of donations and there's always the boot fairs but I was time pressured this time.

Because I have been to the African village and can see what they are trying to do, it makes it much more real.

Tea_Lady

Hi everyone:T
Hugs to all that need them.
GQ a masseur here ready and waiting for you.
Right think of laying in nice soft thick towels, a dimly lit, warm room, soft natural sounds of the sea flowing. Warm oil gently poured over your tired shoulder and firm flowing hands finding all those knots and gently and firmly smoothing them out.
Hold that thought. That’s the best I can done at this distance, hope it helps.
Been back to the homestead this weekend, three days there managed to paint 3 bedrooms to smaller ones completely the main one needs another coat. Down stairs to do this coming weekend.
Up in the loft found boxes and boxes of dvd's cd's and games. Nothing to do with us been left by the tenants. Brought them home to sort, nearly everyone was in the wrong box. Grrrrrr.
All sorted now, OH took them to his office and told them to help themselves, for a small donation to Children in Need.
Made the mistake of not looking in the garage last week. Its full of junk too.
Decided to do some building work before we move in at Christmas. Hopeful the bathroom will be done and we are having some plans drawn for an extension.
It's all happening here.
Tealady.

Go VJsmum you're doing a great thing.

Slinky

Oh my goodness, I don't believe it. Another property we're interested in (not the one near our previous aborted purchase), having been bitten once I'm now twice shy, I've just paid £6 and downloaded the title document for it. It appears to have similar issues to the one we've just pulled out of. This house is built behind another house in what was probably part of their garden. The original house appear to own the drive and we would have rights to pass across it....

Ho hum, bullet dodged there I think.

MMF007

Oh Tealady that virtual massage sounded great! Your move back is so exciting too. :j

I did kondo some OOD tinned food yester. I happily use OOD tins on the occasion when I have stumbled on them in cupboard (not often, thankfully), but these tins were W8rose chopped tomatoes, dated end of 2014 and were all blown. Binned pronto! They were at a client's house and she offered them to me to make soup with! Er, no thanks.

Lazy start to today......but into kitchen now to create something, don't know what yet, need to assess available resources! I shall make some more soup to take to my friend tomorrow (took HM quiche last week) and that'll kondo the carrots and a few HM spuds:)

Note to self: Do a meal plan for the rest of the week! It helps organise shopping and proper dieting and stops food-related anxiety :rotfl:

Enjoy the autumn colours!

M

mavvymoo

Morning all

I am back I am still in a Black place but really need to snap out of it.

Loads has gone on and at the end of the awful few weeks I lost my dog who has been with me for 11 years since he was a puppy. It was a horrible time which ended with us taking him to Cambridge as the vets couldnt find out what was wrong with him. We got him there and he was scanned and they found a tumour and that was it:( No bringing him home again.:(

I miss him so much as DH works away and I spent all my time with him here and now I feel so lost

So I am taking it day by day and know there is nothing I can do and we did all we could for him.

Before that and even now I feel so let down by certain 'friends' who just expect me to do everything ( same as you GQ with your Aunt etc' )

DH and I had to do the clothes sale a couple of days afterwards and we got NO help at all and set everything up and took £240 in 2 hours and packed it all away again with no help:mad:

The following day I had said I would help at a lunch for 56 people and ended up walking out as I was so sick of someone there moaning and digging at me for hours so had to get out before I ended up strangling her :mad:

So I am taking a big step backwards and let them get on with it
I will enjoy watching the fallout :rotfl:

I have also fallen off the rails not with food for once :T But with buying everything in the shops if its not nailed down Some of it I love and it brings me joy but most of it no it really doesnt do anything for me at all

So back to the bible I think for me as I know KM has helped me see things a lot of things I wouldnt have noticed before.

The good thing is my friend has got a moving date of the 28th of this month so that should keep me busy helping them.

Thank you everyone for just being there and on this BL**dy train with me No matter how many times we need to get off we will get back on board at sometime and continue this journey which is life and all it throws at us


Thanks for allowing me to vent there is loads more but will leave that for another day


Mav x