KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

greent

Soooooo..... that's it essentially over and done with for another year! Dinner has been consumed (well, at 3.30 it's a sort of late lunch/ early dinner affair, I suppose) and the dishwasher has been on twice already today (once after breakfast (also containing last night's dinner dishes) and once after today's meal. Lots of handwashing has been done and the dw has now been reloaded with remaining dishes and will go on before bed. The only part left is the crystal glassware - which I will wash by hand tomorrow (I require an empty kitchen to do it, ideally with no interruptions!)

I'm sat in the kitchen with a cup of tea - I came in here for some peace and to recharge my batteries - but have been joined by a very talkative 8yo. Delightful, and in a fab mood - but I am craving some quiet 'me' time!!! (Last night we discovered a leaking loo at around 9pm, so that had to be dismantled and the water supply isolated before we finally crashed into bed at gone midnight! Cue a trip to DIY store tomorrow morning for OH!! Hence no quiet time last night for me!)

Anyway, aside from that I have received great presents from a KM pov - a helicopter trip, lots of posh chocs, fancy smellies, yankee candles, eye cream, garden centre vouchers, a voucher for afternoon tea and posh tea bags. I got some tea bags which no one here will touch (earl grey - bleurgh) - but as they are fairly fancy ones I can donate them to the PTA (they make up prize hampers from lots of little donations, so these will fit in well), or maybe the foodbank Actual items (lasting) received were gardening gloves (purple), purple leather gloves (so soft - gorgeous), touch screen gloves (practical ), a framed pic of my baby nephew (2 months old), a handsfree kit for my car (needed) and a necklace and bracelet set (Not sure about this one, but it may grow on me if I try it on with appropriate clothes)

I feel no need to buy any more stuff in the sales (except some much needed new saucepans) and in fact have identified some more kitchen items which can go next month.

Wishing you all a peaceful remaining 2017 - and the very best of wishes for whatever life brings us in 2018 xx

GreyQueen

Taking five (or twenty-five) from decluttering. I have been working on the sideboard top (not a large area but very densely populated, a bit like Hong Kong). Mum has been working on a similarly-sized sideboard top in the kitchen. I have mentioned before about this being a three-sideboard house, if memory serves..... two are kitchen storage.

A telesales lady once tried to sell my Dad a fitted kitchen. It was in the eighties, we'd not long had the phone on, and telesales calls were relatively novel. I was in the room trying not to kill myself laughing while lovely Dad listened to the speil, far too polite to interrupt a lady, before saying, with genuine bemusement; But we have a kitchen, dear, it came with the house. :rotfl:

Unfortuntately for capitalism, Dad's idea of a kitchen is a room with a sink in it, where you keep a cooker, a fridge and some free-standing furniture holding crockery and groceries.Neither he nor Mum go to bed and dream of fitted kitchens.

But I digress.

It took about half an hour to unpick the teetering piles of Stuff on top of the sideboard to reach paydirt, or at least, timber. I found a glasses prescription from 2014, a reciept and warranty booklet from a DVD player from 15 years ago (long since off the premises), receipts from the past 4 years, dust, fluff, dead spiders, a Jac0bs cracker box containing three dead mice * and many other kipplish things.

I have vacuumed and dusted, removed many items, some of which can be rehomed via chazzer or via the recycling bin (they're coming tomorrow, thank goodness, it's nearly full).

Leaving the premises (a partial list); three dead mice, a 1995 guide to MS Office, a Th0mpson directory, 2 dead BT phone books, a ceramic souvenir ashtray from Pisa (no idea how we have this, I'm the only person who's been to Pisa and I didn't buy it, nor are there any smokers in the household), a lot of random bits of paper, a handmade wooden flower (broken), many dead biros, 4 plastic mag files, some coasters, two identical booklets emblazoned Residents' Guide ** and various other fiddly things.

Staying behind are; two lumps of granite made into book-ends, the cordless phone which sort-of works but not sort-of well enough not to have been replaced with a hardwired model, an address book of Grandma's who passed from this vale of tears in 1970 (not one person listed in this book is alive btw), several other address books, a carved wooden elephant with a sunfaded flank and one broken tusk, and various other bits of Misc which need (imo, they ain't my belongings) slinging in the bin.Dad has now been inspired to shove the vacuum cleaner around downstairs and both cats, who loathe the appliance, have gone Out in a major huff.Medicinal tuna will have to be applied at lunchtime to soothe their affronted feelings.

* Dead computer mice, not vermin.

** The 'rents have lived in this town for just under 50 years. No one in this family needs a Residents' Guide, although it was nice to see the correct usage of the apostrophe. :rotfl:

Onwards!

tibawo

Quite proud of myself as i told DD to put gift bags straight into the recycling, all but the two which are body shop ones as these get used year after year for the smellies that i accumulate when they have sales!


My front room is currently strewn with DD2 presents as she is currently playing with them. Normally this would drive me insane but the sheer joy is a sight that makes memories!


Tons to do these holidays but today is an official PJ day!

daisy_1571

Gq - I found 3 wooden elephants in the attic and they looked forlornly dried out and bleached white. I decided to rub them with a wee bit olive oil and they came up a treat. Wood all back to lovely wooden colour. They reside on my bookshelf again (pointing towards the window as they should, natch) and are joyful.

Tibawo that sounds like lovely memories in the making

Daisy xx

catshark88

Christmas was lovely.

DH and I did trip/ experience days for each other. Kids had the usual techie horrors that kids like, us we kept it as sensible as we could.

Off to the West Country tomorrow, for a week of really chilling and relaxing, together.

GreyQueen

I might have a go at the elephant with the olive oil, have some in the kitchen. But not until I have finished the job I started with the sideboard, as evicted items are still every which way, and I haven't even moved onto the storage within the furniture (two deep drawers in the middle, a small cupboard on either side).

One of the cupboards holds the board games which are rarely used but can't be got rid of Because. I have agreement-in-principle that these can be boxed and re-homed in the Bedroom Cupboard of Doom. I have a folorn hope that it might be agreed that they could be re-homed in the charity shop but daren't push my luck - if Mum wants to do it, she'll decide herself.

Oh, and the Pisa ashtray mystery is resolved - it was Grandma's. Or, given to Grandma, she never went to Pisa, either.:rotfl:

Mum and dad are discussing (excitedly in her case, laconically in his) the possibility of having someone in to re-do the kitchen floor and a couple of other bits & bobs. Go, 'rents!

:o Dad has often remarked that my presence under the roof causes things to happen. Not necessarily all done by me, but seemingly stirred up by me. It's the power of the woo.:D

kaz13

Hi, I have started to de-clutter, and trying my best to do it the kondo way ?
Just curious as everyone I read about sorting things, either throw away, recycle or give it to charity shops !
What about antique items ? I have a loft full of items, that belonged to grand parents and great grandparents.
Do you sell on eBay as well, or just 'get rid' of things?
Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday x

greent

When it comes to getting rid of things I do a combination of selling (ebay/ facebook, ziffit/music magpie for books/ dvds/ cds/ games (eg Nintendo), recycling, passing on, donating to charity (whether a CS/ shoebox appeal (good for small pieces of random 'tat', McD's toys, magazine 'gifts' the little things which small children accumulate such as 8 million bracelets and lots of unworn sparkly hairbands and novelty pencils with matching erasers)/ more specific charity (baby bank for children's things/ maternity) or foodbank, or even furniture recycling project.

I'm not one for upcycling (am somewhat challenged in the craft/ practical department!) I will bin things if it's the only way to get rid rather than hang onto things.

Re: antique things - do you have a local antiques centre which might be interested in purchasing them? - am thinking it's always easier to get rid of things in bulk where possible, rather than item by item. Ebay for smaller things, maybe?
x

Slinky

GreyQueen wrote: »

There's a particular paper which I recognise, it came back around a gift from Aunt to my parents and orignally came from our household. Aunt is comically tight, makes a knowing joke of it, so I have carefully salvaged that piece and will return it to her next year wrapped around something else, it's an in-family joke which she'll appreciate. All families have their peculiarities, do they not? :rotfl:

It appears we may be starting on this. A few years ago I was given a small 'hamper' type basket from a friend which was too pretty to throw away. So we filled it with nice things and passed to our niece a couple of years ago. We had another basket I mentioned earlier this thread, which was a hamper from the same niece a couple of years ago. We passed the basket of new goodies to our niece this year, and we've had back the previous one we gave to her.....


For a number of years I've had a calendar given to me by a business supplier. I didn't get one this year and last week sought out one I wanted for a change. Oh dear, I've received a calendar as a gift from a neighbour, so will have to use this instead. I don't need two, nor do I need the diary she has also given me. I've never got on with diaries. I have one from 2003 in my handbag which I use solely for the purpose of being able to pull out a page if I need something to write a note on. Such a shame but I'll have to give it away and pretend OH is using it (slightly unlikely given the type). It's too big and will clutter up my handbag.


On the upside, I seemed to have received a lot of flavoured gins, will keep me going for several months.

catshark88

Kaz,

Have a look online to see what your antiques may be worth. Tastes change and what was once popular may not be now.

If it does seem worth selling, eBay can be a great outlet. Local auction houses are good for larger, bulkier items. There are specialist auctions for the more valuable items.

I’ve heard that F@cebook selling sites can be good, but I’ve never used them.

Pieces which aren’t worth a lot may be better in charity shops. No hassle for you and hopefully a bit of cash for the charity.