KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Igamogam

I have given myself a freezer challenge too for 2017......We have 2 and really need to use them more efficiently. Labelling would be a good start !

MMF007

Phew, we're home! It is lovely to be in our small but bright home, quietly appreciating what we have.

We both agree that xmas was a great success but it was not really joyous. There were no rows or arguments, although mum is very picky and cannot help criticising cooking techniques etc. The nephews and nieces behaved very well indeed but they are very noisy and we aren't use to lots of noise (we are just old miseries!). We walked on eggshells a bit with over-sensitive sil but she mucked in and did lots of domestic work, as did all the able-bodied adults, so mum got some respite from the drudge of looking after dad on her own and producing 3 square meals a day every day.
Unfortunately one of the kids seems to have developed a sense of entitlement to the point of specifying what they would like us to buy for them next time we see them. This 12 y.o. actually sought us out, just after having opened a mountain of presents, and said, 'I'd really like some x when you next visit (something we have bought in the past, a not very expensive sweet treat).
DH was quick enough to say,' Well, they have them in quite a few shops so if you see them first you buy them, and if we see them we'll get them. '
I then asked if he got any pocket money (knowing that he got a generous amount!) because the local shop had the item in question so we could walk down with him and he could buy some. You should have seen his face! :rotfl:
Seriously though, I was very upset that a 12 y.o should behve this way. I have no kids so maybe I over react but we never asked for or expected so much when we were kids.

We know our presents to the kids were a bit disappointing because although they were all favourite themes the items were relatively low in cost and believe me, they know the cost of everything and use it is a measure of value. It made me very sad.

The most fun we had was making things with the little one, using a secondhand craft kit. 2 adults and 5 y.o. spent a joyful morning quietly cutting out and gluing and all of us were pleased with the results :rotfl:

So today is about kondo-ing feeling of disappointment......

Need to tidy the house, unpack, finish washing, wrap a couple of pressies for a friend I shall see on Tues, and then make a list of things we want to do in 2017. It will not be as life-changing as 2016 when I stopped being an employee, reduced my working hours and my income and started my tiny business though!! :beer

Number one on 'to do' list is to continue the KM magic, of course. I have more to do to get the house how I want it but big strides took place in 2015 and 2016 and the changes have stuck, iykwim

Happy New Year wishes to Everyone. The fun starts here!

GreyQueen

Morning all.

MMF007, I have to say I would have shared your sadness about the 12 y.o. child's attitude. I was raised not to expect presents and certainly not to solicit them. Perhaps it's a generational thing but I do regard it as rude. Perhaps he'll grow out of it.

Easing into the last lazy day at the homestead, have just sorted some bits and bobs out, will be breaking for a cuppa and then I have my eye on one of the many boxes cluttering up the place.

I swear that I'm the only one in the immediate family with any organisational sense/ spatial awareness whatsoever. I may be a changeling............... :rotfl:

Have a good day, folks.

tibawo

The Christmas present thing is so true. My teenager is so materialistic and i do have to remind her with a big firm 'no' or give her the choice of food for the month or the said item. She will happily have preloved items though.


The kids did do rather well though on our shopping spree as over 2016 i had been putting the odd pounds on gift cards, some of which was theirs from bday etc. i even got a Starbucks card, as they love them for a coffee break! It was so nice knowing it had no effect on the bank balance especially they bought things they needed. They have decided they want to do the same next year and have already put some of their pennies in the pot! I am also hoping to build on this and squirrel some of it to their ISA accounts.


As the last day of KD this year I am just going to do some random things and some of them jobs from the 'to do' list that you mean to get round to but never do. You know the ones... the ones where you need the step ladders but it is too much effort to take them upstairs!

carrielovesfanta

*de-lurks*

Hi everyone,

I've been following your exploits for some time (not in a totally stalker-ish fashion!). I've done lots of Kondoing in my house and there's a pile of for-sale stuff to be dealt with in the new year.

I'm quite excited though as my in-laws house is pretty well stuffed full and mother in law has asked me to help her sort it in the new year (my in laws are in poor health so they need me to deal with the physical side of things)

I thought that you may enjoy the following story. It almost rivals some of GreyQueen's stories!

Mother in law gave OH a bottle of Baileys for Christmas (nothing unusual there) and proffered the comment that she had also found an unopened bottle in the side board that could be opened at new year.

Cue OH and I at home.

"Let's have a little festive Baileys"

I stick my nose in the glass, think "hmm smells a bit funny, but I don't have it often, maybe I don't remember"

Takes a sip, thinks "hmmm, it tastes a bit funny this.

Cue much sniffing of glasses and OH and I taking another sip to ascertain that yes, it's blimmin horrible.

Check bottle as remember the sideboard comment

Best before 2007 :eek::eek::eek::eek:

*bork*

GreyQueen

My Nan died in possession of a bottle of port which dated from her daughter's wedding reception in the early 1960s. We knew it was there and it went down the sink, and the bottle into recycling. Life's too short to risk poisoning yourself, hey?

In the past hour, I was sorting out some photos which were floating around. One was of a portly grey haired gentleman in a blazer who I didn't recognise.

Me to Mum Who''s this?
Mum; That's ---

---

(an ex-colleague)
Me; Do you want to keep it?
Mum; Better had, I knew him.
Me; So you know what he looks like, then? (they're not in touch post retirement and this was a pic taken years before that at a works do).
Mum; Oh, throw it away then!

It wasn't a fab pic anyway as someone has cut the top of his head off. Quick tearing into quarters and into the bin. This will stop endless debates at some future point over which side of the family this person came from etc etc etc.

I also sorted out a bag of pictures in frames which we collated from Nan's to take the photos out and put into albums. In the bottom of the bag was a broken custard cream biscuit which must have fallen into it during one of the hasty tea-breaks when clearing the bungalow. Damned good job this wasn't just a bag which was destined to be handed over to the charity shop without further ado. *blush*

Sayschezza

Believe you me GQ we get a lot worse donated than a broken custard cream lol

hebwood

Hi everyone


Hope you all had a nice xmas. We have been rather busy with visitors for most of December, lovely but a lot of work. KM-ing has helped a lot. We managed to KM a very old bottle (at least 1999) of whisky to a friend - we assumed it does not go off! - we did tell him!


MMF007 cannot believe the 12 y.o. comments. Well done to you for your answer!
I suppose not having any children around (and being 'older'!), makes me and OH more intolerant.


Thinking about New Year aims - don't do resolutions any more - good thoughts GQ (and well done on the key), will continue to reduce the kipple/grubble. I have a constant CS bag which gradually fills up then exits, still an odd cupboard to do but will get there.


Have a good New Year everyone and take care.
H.

GreyQueen

Sayschezza wrote: »

Believe you me GQ we get a lot worse donated than a broken custard cream lol

A pal of mine was volunteering in a chazzer when a very haughty lady brought in some donations and handed them over arrogantly, as if passing the crown jewels on to the undeserving peasants.

The vols didn't much care for her attitude but consoled themselves that the bags probably contained some very good stuff.

They didn't, but they did contain, among other 'treasures' Her Ladyship's worn, stretched out and unlaundered undercrackers.............!

Double-bork!:rotfl:

Knit_Witch

GreyQueen wrote: »

A pal of mine was volunteering in a chazzer when a very haughty lady brought in some donations and handed them over arrogantly, as if passing the crown jewels on to the undeserving peasants.

The vols didn't much care for her attitude but consoled themselves that the bags probably contained some very good stuff.

They didn't, but they did contain, among other 'treasures' Her Ladyship's worn, stretched out and unlaundered undercrackers.............!

Double-bork!:rotfl:

Shudders - how horrid for the people helping out!