KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

camelot1001

Well done on finding the key GQ, I would imagine you are allowed to do anything there now!

I've sorted a basket that lurked in the old kitchen, it's where I put all the receipts and bits of post I have to deal with and was getting out of hand. Everything now in piles on the kitchen table so will deal with it as I go today.

I need to transfer all the birthdays to a new calendar and register all new appliances for warranty then the instruction books and receipts can be put away.

Only one present for the CS, 2 espresso cups and saucers - seems bad but the present giver will never visit here (90 next week and lives 500 miles away).

loocyloo

Happy Christmas EVERYONE, I hope you all had lovely times.


Delighted that nothing entered the house that needs removing to CS! except maybe a craft kit for DD, but she is happy to donate it to the 'present/raffle stash' we keep. We did get a random family gift of a snowglobe with our names on a signpost within it, but i'll add it to the Christmas decs box and see how we feel next year - it is nice though.


Just before Christmas the boilerman came to service the boiler and needed access to the airing cupboard .. cue 5 bedding sets ( one I didn't even recognise! ) going to CS, several sheets to DH for 'dust sheets' and some old towels for rags. YAY!

silvasava

Super Kondo Christmas! Nothing from DH (nothing wanted or given) Gig tickets from DS1 for June and chandlery voucher from DS2. DGD made up a super basket for us with mine & DH favourite tipple, biscuits and a huge selection of cheeses - yum!
GQ - well done on the key find, it brings it home just how much the amount of disorganised kibble can have such an impact. I imagine your fingers are itching and twitching but you deserve a break too!
Just DH & me today so I'll be sorting the leftovers into various meals and Kondoing any stray chocolates

GreyQueen

I am having a break, I'm not getting up until nearly 8 am (5-6 am being my normal habit) plus am having three squares a day, none of which I am responsible for cooking or washing up after. Bliss.

This morning has flown by with a trip to le supermarche to stock up on bread, milk and a few other comestibles. We hit up Liddle and I led Mum to the chill cabinets and we got some high quality protein at 30% off. And a nice chocolate cake, ditto. And we needed catfood. Well, Wild Thing and the Queen of Sheba need catfood.

Liddle don't have Br@nston pickle but we got a jar of B@tts sweet pickle from there which will be trialled this lunchtime. If it's acceptable, expect Br@nston's share price to plumet shortly.

This afternoon, once lunch is cleared away, I shall be cupboard-swopping. Mum has also agreed that I can take one of the family cars to do a bootsale on Easter weekend (haven't a car of my own, y'see) so things will start to be put aside for that very purpose. This was negotiated even before The Key was found but I can basically do no wrong.

The linen cupboard which I left tidied a fortnight ago is still superb and I put two freshly-laundered towels back in it and showed it to Mum who criticised because one of them wasn't fold-frontwards (!).

This is a household where things randomly slide off teetering piles on surfaces where no mortal hand touches them. I think she may be feeling that life could be better-organised than it normally is.

I have also suggested that we should do a dump run tomorrow as will have the car out and it could do with a run up the bypass. I shall have to round up the Stuff from the sheds and the back garden, but that's well within my abilities.

Updates later. Have a good day, GQ xx

silvasava

Is it just me that's excited about all the empty mushroom & fruit punnets that are mounting up to be used to organise various drawers??

WeeMidgie

GreyQueen wrote:

I bring tidings of great joy from the parental homestead where yours truly is in very good form and the toast of the household.

I have ........... drumroll, fanfare of trumpets, throwing open of the gates to the city and the strewing of my path with rose petals ......... FOUND THE WINDOW KEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mum hugged me with a tear in her eye, saying how I'd really made her Christmas, Dad looked quizzically and said you found it where?! and even the cats looked [STRIKE]bemused[/STRIKE] impressed.

The Key has now been labelled and put safely in the key cabinet and every few minutes, we still marvel

Congratulations GQ, that was a superb Chrisstmas gift! :T:T

I've investigated the cupboard under the stairs, which was OK having been previously kondoed, and simply needed a bit of reorganisation to fit in the box of spare crockery and cutlery.

The cull down to Shaker style one of everything cutlery and crockery use is a great success, and my amygdala isn't firing out stress hormone signals as there is a limit on washing up, and I have enough energy to wash up the one of everything that I use. Wish I'd thought of this sooner! But very happy with the KM effect.

GreyQueen

Mum and Dad are joking that we should go out and buy a big bit of furniture just so's we can use the window properly. But we're all chuffed, the loss of the window key had p'd me off for some time and was a niggle at the back of my mind, too,, and I don't even live here.

Am taking five mid-cupboard shuffle. I have just emptied 6 x 1 lb jars of lemon curd into the compost bin. They were very OOD and discoloured and Mum ordered it. Hate waste but at least the financial loss is only about 20p each. Jars now washed up and in the recycling wheelie which is due to be emptied tomorrow, thank gawd, as it's full nearly to the brim.

We have pie fillings into the double-digits and three jars of mincemeat. I asked Mum if she'd like me to make mince pies and she leapt on the offer with both fists. Not today because I can't be arrissed plus there's a joint in the oven. I make mince pies on plates, not individual ones, as there's less faffing about. Baking supplies have piled up a bit as they were bought just before Mum developed Parkinson's and she's not really felt well enough for things like baking etc.

:o I know it's almost heretical in this here neck of the interwebs but I am not much interested in cooking and even less interested in baking. However, I could probably rent myself out as a travelling kondo-ite; will tidy in return for food, cuppas and somewhere to sleep.:rotfl:

weemidgie, I'm one of the many here with fatigue issues and some years ago, I put away all but four each of knives, forks and spoons. Except I've lost one of the knives. Singleton household. I have been giving serious thought to putting away all but one of my mugs, to stop me accumulating the soul-destroying piles of washing up. I could rationalise the collection and have some nearby for those occasions when I have guests.

Sometimes, we have to restrict opportunities for muddle and chaos by removing things which can get out of hand.

Righty, am now going into the back yard to round up stuff for the dump run. The folks are procrastinating but I see my role in the family as like yeast in the loaf; we're gonna rise and be light and airy.:D

WeeMidgie

GQ, re reducing crockery etc to one - I can recommend it! I really think the amygdala gets triggered more at a lower threshold in people with chronic conditions, and the more we can soothe it by having less stress factors, the better. MK for health! :j

Just do it - you know you want to! :rotfl:

Idle thought. Maybe people who have a problem with hoarding started off with a stress response to dealing with Stuff? And the more Stuff, the more overwhelm at the thought of even beginning to deal with it.

Not the only factor of course, but I'm sure it can play a part. My late mother grew up during WW2, and was a Justin person due to the shortages and rationing she experienced. I think there's a balance, none of us like waste but too much is equally a curse.

Charis

GreyQueen wrote: »

Mum and Dad are joking that we should go out and buy a big bit of furniture just so's we can use the window properly. But we're all chuffed, the loss of the window key had p'd me off for some time and was a niggle at the back of my mind, too,, and I don't even live here.

GQ, do you think it might be worthwhile getting another key cut for the window? Should the found key go missing again, you could magically produce its twin, enhancing your role as household bringer of light and air.

ivyleaf

greenbee wrote: »

GQ - your dad may be able to find a jeweller/clock shop that is willing to change the battery in his watch, but it may mean it is no longer properly waterproof. My mum has done this with her watch for years and it's fine.

I had to do that with mine. I'd bought it from Ernest Jones, and explained to them that I didn't mind in the least if it wouldn't be waterproof any longer as I never wore it in the water anyway, but they were adamant it had to be sent away.
As they didn't offer to lend me a "courtesy watch" in the meantime, I took it to an independent jeweller, and they were happy to do it and the seal was always fine.
When it went wrong I bought a Citizen Eco-Drive one. I remember my mother having one that worked the same way in the 1960s! I can't recall the brand, but it was described as an "automatic" watch.