KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Karmacat

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: Karmakat, that 'straw' isn't possibly asbestos by any chance?!

:eek: I don't think so, GQ - it's very old, French, I'm sure it was brought to this country from a French country fair by some English trader trolling about the French highways and byways

:eek: however ... it was in the house, and now it isn't ... and I'm eyeing my "popcorn" ceiling in the kitchen as it has a few screwhead-sized areas that have popped (known to often have asbestos in them in pre-1980s houses, apparently).

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

Karmacat That barbeque pot is lovely.

I'd line it with plastic and plant it up with something pretty.

Or line it, pop some pebbles in the bottom and create a little birdbath.

Thanks littlegreenparrot what a lovely name! I'm investigating the asbestos thing currently, and although I love that little bbq dearly, its not worth having on the premises if its poisoning me

I covered the "hole" in water, gently. Just been out to poke it erm, it's not a hole! The stuff looks for all the world like bits of MDF that got stuck. It's also on the concave bit of the dish shape of the bbq itself, not where there'd be any insulation (which asbestos seems to have been used for, a lot).

It's in the front yard right now, partially hidden from view by all the laurel ... if someone steals it (because its really pretty!) that's karma. If they don't, then after the tip run later this week, and my tax declaration, I'll put it in the back garden again till I have time to sand it down a bit (for the rust, there's nothing else on it) and seal it - then it can become a bird bath.

Asbestos thing frightened me! But I think I need to pay attention to my kitchen ceiling, thanks GQ!

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It feels like a procrastinating day today, not much oomph but I will set myself a few tasks, just so I go to bed feeling a bit satisfied with the day. KMd loads of home grown cooking apples, saved them and made them fit into a much smaller space, cooked and cooling for the freezer. I have too much bread flour so have KMd some into a raisin/cinnemon loaf now in the breadmaker. I am serious about this stuff, as it takes up too much room. Just about to swap a few things around in the kitchen and that will be about it for the day. I am listening to myself and giving in. Will finish a book destined for the cs

OS_QS

we cleared OH clothes yesterday once little one was in bed. I have never seen such a pile of socks in my life. whats worse, we have never bought him socks - its my MIL's doing. (more on that later). Everything was taken out and thoroughly inspected, discarded or folded. several bags going to the charity shop. I had to fold, and OH put it back in the wardrobe shelves. I kept my mouth shut, and now that he is at work, im going away to slyly rearrange them in a much better order. I mean who piles jumpers on t-shirts, then puts another pile of tshirts on a fresh shelf...then plonks jeans on top of them :eek:.... however he came out with several phrases that made me think he's been reading the book, or at least paying attention to my ramblings :T
We have completed the clothes category, and cleared out the books last year before the baby came, so are onto Kimono (which I've been doing in a non-focussed manner). I think toiletries / medicine will be next on my hitlist


So as to my MIL, I can categorically state that most of the stuff in here comes from my MIL. Her hobby is shopping. I am a major disappointment for a DIL as I hate it, and cannot fathom as to why people want to spend their free time in artificial environments. anyways, my MIL shop 24-7, so we get a fair amount of gifts. I'm always grateful, and have gotten stronger over the years and learned to say no thanks, however, she never forgets what she gives you. ' Its uncanny, she will come in and say 'where's x' and I have to admit that I've put it up the loft...she then asks OH where it is, to corroborate. sometimes we pass the test..... another way is she will offer to cook a meal, then tear the kitchen cupboards to pieces looking for a specific item she's purchased for us.


To be fair, she has gotten a bit better with household gifts, since she now has a grandchild. I'm in no way meaning to be ungrateful, but it is quite stressful remembering to put on the correct outfit when we go visiting, etc. and I still get asked about other outfits!


Anyways, my ramblings is leading me to this- what do you do when discarding items that doesn't spark joy, but guilt?

[Deleted User]

[QUOTE=OS QS;71974226
she never forgets what she gives you. ' Its uncanny, she will come in and say 'where's x' and I have to admit that I've put it up the loft...she then asks OH where it is, to corroborate. sometimes we pass the test..
t?[/QUOTE]

One of my dughters is quick to accept anything I offer her and I am talking about good items, very good stuff, like a bamix and a leather recliner etc. Her kitchen contains many of my downsized items but the other day I saw several good items including that chair, dumped in their garage and the bamix just dumped in a box with rubbish. I wish she would say if she does not really have a space for an item and I do say over and over, would you use it? I learnt my lesson the other day, I am grateful that I have finished downsizing but will no longer be passing things over, thinking that it is something they would use

Slinky

I've just kondoed a car battery. Car wouldn't start again this morning, OH had washed it yesterday and left the car doors open, although he says not for long. He didn't use the radio as he's flattened the battery doing that before.

AA said the battery was OK still, but it's obviously not as good as it could be, so I've been to H**fords and bought a new one. Went for the cheapest option as I plan to sell the car in next couple of years, they didn't have one, so gave me a better one for the price of the cheaper one.

I mentally thanked the old one as it went on its way to recycling.

OS_QS

Hi Kittie, oh that's a shame that your daughter isn't getting the good of the items, especially as she wanted them. Perhaps its that she doesn't want to see them get thrown out (memories?) or has a that may come in useful outlook?


Unfortunately my MIL buys things for the sake of it...especially as its a bargain. To be fair to my MIL, some of my most used things came from her, and I'm extremely grateful she thinks of us when shes out and about. I have learned to be firm but polite, but sometimes get tricked....ie she shows me something she bought, I say 'oh that's lovely' or 'that's a handy thing to have' (as you do to be polite), and she goes you can have it. as I try backtracking, etc. OR if I accept something, and thank her, then later make conversation and thank her again for x as it was really handy / beautiful, next time I see her, she's bought a few more so I have spares.


Hubby says she does the same to his sister, she either refuses it point blank or boxes it up and returns when she goes to visit them. which I think is worse, as its like throwing it back in her face?


I've piled up stuff in the loft, we are talking little things like knick knacks, candles, roasting dishes, muffin tins etc, but over the years it adds up. her joy came from buying it and gifting it, but say it doesn't bring me joy - am I a bad DIL for donating to charity?

Siebrie

No, you are not bad. But maybe you can explain that you have a 'one in - one out' rule, so that every time she gives you something, something has to go. For you, this means that the something in is also the something out

GreyQueen

Karmakat, hope I didn't scare you witless, but I was concerned about what you described. Asbestos was used in all sorts of places that you'd not expect to find it and we're all reckoned to have been exposed to it.

My Dad worked on building sites in the 1960s, when fascia boards were commonly asbestos, and workers were sawing them up in the open air with no protection. Their own 1960s ex-council house has asbestos fascias.

Not quite sure what your 'popcorn' ceiling is - kind of Artex? That material used to contain asbestos and doesn't any more and you can't tell by looking, so we always test ours before doing anything with it. Surveyors tell me that you can find asbestos in houses built any time up until the early 1990s, so there's a lot more about than you'd guess.

There are various kinds, some worse than others. I have had my landlord asbestos test my flat and the only asbestos they found is painted board lining the inner side of the doors of my external meter and bin cupboards.

If you're not sure what you've got, you may want to get a specialist testing company to quote for sampling and analysis, to see if you have it.

I'm a bit twitchy about the stuff because a relative of mine sickened and died a horrible death in his fifties due to asbestos exposure for a few weeks in his late teens.

elona

I finally bagged up a big lot of books and they should be picked up outside the door tomorrow for charity.

Having spent the entire day waiting in for a parcel which I missed getting on Saturday, I reread the card and found I will have to go to the sorting office tomorrow morning. Annoyed as I only paid for express postage as it was bulky and will be awkward to get on the bus :mad:

A load of veg have been kondoed into a smooth soup and I lost three pounds last week. Washing is on the line and pegs had frozen so hoping it dries a bit. Another two loads need to be done and I am just about to put out the recycling for tomorrow which will clear the kitchen.

GQ

I agree with you about asbestos and that would really worry me.

greenbee

Karmacat - it may well be burned-on stuff stuck to the rusty metal. (Bit like the state of my wok sometimes!). Have a fire in it, seeing as it isn't a hole, and you may find some of the rust comes off!