New Year, New Plans and Hopes

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

Hi everyone,

So my plans for 2018 are:

1. Complete declutter of stuff
2. Redecorate at least five rooms
3. Use up freezer, fridge & larder contents so I can start from scratch
4. Do more baking
5. Be more inventive in my cooking

Thanks JackieO for starting this thread.

Good luck to us all and sending positive vibes into the ether!

Mrs SD:)

Mid month update - need to remind myself :rotfl:

1. The decluttering is going reasonably well but I still have a few ‘visible’ decluttering tasks - wall unit shelves, table and half a dozen crates/boxes which are the remnants of a dozen large boxes! The ‘invisible’ clutter is going to be the real problem cupboards which are mainly stuffed with photos, personal paperwork and excess stationery

2. One bedroom is fully redecorated from light fittings to paintwork to carpets - it looks beautiful :j. The upstairs landing & the stairs/stairwell have been painted & new carpets laid But my DH has a few bits to touch up before it can be marked as the ‘2nd room’ completed. Re the bathroom which we were going to spruce up - that is on hold:( because we are probably going to get a builder in :T

3. The freezer/fridge emptying is going very well. Next week should see me & DH defrosting & cleaning our spare fridge/freezer.

4. March has not been as successful as Jan. & Feb. due to time away & the decluttering & cleaning taking precedence, so only 3 days of baking so far

5. Jury still out but I do have occasional ideas which have so far been successful

Need to add a 6th item - sorting out a daily/weekly housework regime. All very well deep cleaning but if I don’t keep on top of it then I will need to deep clean again

See you at the end of the month!

MrsSD

suki1964

suki1964 wrote: »

I seemed to have slept walked through the past two years rather aimlessly

Some (a lot )of that is down to ill health

However I now have a diagnosis, it's the cause that's the problem. Many of you know I used to have a serious drink problem, done a detox, done rehab, stayed dry for 12 years, then started drinking again. No where near the levels I was back in the day, but 3 glasses of wine ( read a bottle if we are being totally honest) a night, more on high days and holidays. Never enough to be clearly drunk or to have a hang over, but obviously way too much.


So the cause of my ill health is either my crumbling upper spine meaning my nerves are being trapped ( which is supported by investigations so far) or it's a symptom of prolonged heavy drinking

So I'm biting the bullet and knocking the drink on the head again.

This means I'm going to have long evenings to fill so I'm going to have to look at everything else in my life.

Not sure where I'm going to start, but I think a total de clutter is the first place, drawers, wardrobes, cupboards the lot.

Then I'm going to need friends who aren't drinking buddies. I have one in mind, she swims and walks, and I'm going to make the effort to join her

I'm also going to start to make an effort on myself. There was once a time I'd never leave the house without hair washed and blow dried, a bit of make up, nails tidy etc.

But mostly I'm going to try to make myself get out in the real world more. I really struggle in social settings so have avoided them all my life but I'm really going to have a go at making friends and going places

So they are my plans for the coming year, oh plus becoming fianacilly self sufficient again. Not resolutions as such, just things I need to do pdq before I end up housebound and lonely. I don't want to head into my retirement years with nothing other then the grandchildren to wake up for.

So a little check in from me as well as I've seemed to be avoiding this site of late and barely posted

On the drink front, since New Year's Day I've had a total of 8 drinks, all whilst out with friends, not a drop in the house, and tbh I don't even know why I bothered. Can put hand on heart and say I never really enjoyed any of them, and tbh I never got the buzz from them that I crave, so it looks like I won't be bothering to try again :T

Also gave up crisps and biscuits, and since the end of January I've had just one small bag of crisps which left me full of wind and bloated so that's looking to be another life long habit kicked to the curb :rotfl:

Socialising , I'm still finding that so hard. I just can't seem to find the courage to pick up the phone and say hi, fancy doing? I really do need to work harder on that. Mind, I'm finally getting friendlier in work and am joining in with more of the chat. Don't get me wrong, they are a great bunch of people but they all know each other since birth and know they history of everything that's happened to each other, and I'm the blow in. So for me to be included means I have to open my mouth and start the conversation, which for me is so hard, but I'm having small successes

Decluttering, well the office has still alluded me . Actually it's got worse as a lot of clutter cleared from other places has ended up in there :rotfl: it's definitely going to get done after Easter when work settles down and I get my days off back

Still keeping on top of the areas already done which is a triumph. DH moans that I keep throwing things away and my reply is for him to put them away before I see them and it won't happen

Another plus is I've started back looking after myself. The weight lose has spurred me on. Clothes now hang better on me , some hang clean off me :rotfl: Now if I'm going out the door, the hair is done and a bit of slap is applied. I've actually had the odd compliment and even DH muttered I was looking good :rotfl:

Money wise , I'm squirrelling bits and bobs away. I'm nearly at my first target of £1000 and the April pay rise will really help there. I don't think it will put me in the tax bracket so I should see it all, and 30p an hour soon adds up. I would be a lot better off but the weight lose has meant some new clothes were required and I've splashed out on skin care and a new lap top which cost a fortune but got it interest free so it's manageable

So I am still moving forwards, albeit slower then I'd like, but I'm mindful of my goals all the time and I do want to be able to look back at Christmas and say that I actually lived this year, not just drifted

Oh, one other thing, it's really silly to say this but my sister who I fell out with 4 or 5 years ago and haven't spoken to since, accepted me on FB. Now I know that sounds so pathetic but we are both as stubborn as stubborn can be and when we cut contact, we blocked each other on there as well and seeing as we live 500 miles apart it was our way of keeping up with what was happening. So now I'm building the courage to ring her. She had blocked my number last I tried so I'm kind of scared but it really looks like the ball is in my court and I have to make the next move if we are to have any sort of relationship

Well done all of you who are still achieving your goals. And those of you that have fallen of the wagon, I hope you see it as just a blip and get back on it again.

Take care all xx

maddiemay

Suki what a great post, so much progress made in so many areas well done, give yourself a big pat on the back.

I am shamelessly lifting the thought for the day from monnagran's post on The Garden Fence today:-

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. (Abraham Lincoln)

I have a few mountains to climb with regard to health and hopefully getting to better fitness, I am going to add it to my signature I think.

Take care.

eandjsmum

eandjsmum wrote: »

Right Mine will be based on not wasting time. So no vegging out in frount of the tele.
1. Keep the Garden neat try to grow more veg.
2 Knit up all the wool I have - No buying more wool.
3 Finish off all projects that I have started.
4 Continue to keep the clutter down.
5 Use the GYM more or in Summer WALK more.
If possible arrange swimming lessons.

Couldn't get out in the garden today - torrential rain So finished off one of my started projects. This meant knitting up some of my wool.
I have declutted more which is good.

I have now pulled out the second of my unfinished projects so I will start on this one next.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

Mid month update - need to remind myself :rotfl:

1. The decluttering is going reasonably well but I still have a few !!!8216;visible!!!8217; decluttering tasks - wall unit shelves, table and half a dozen crates/boxes which are the remnants of a dozen large boxes! The !!!8216;invisible!!!8217; clutter is going to be the real problem cupboards which are mainly stuffed with photos, personal paperwork and excess stationery

2. One bedroom is fully redecorated from light fittings to paintwork to carpets - it looks beautiful :j. The upstairs landing & the stairs/stairwell have been painted & new carpets laid But my DH has a few bits to touch up before it can be marked as the !!!8216;2nd room!!!8217; completed. Re the bathroom which we were going to spruce up - that is on hold:( because we are probably going to get a builder in :T

3. The freezer/fridge emptying is going very well. Next week should see me & DH defrosting & cleaning our spare fridge/freezer.

4. March has not been as successful as Jan. & Feb. due to time away & the decluttering & cleaning taking precedence, so only 3 days of baking so far

5. Jury still out but I do have occasional ideas which have so far been successful

Need to add a 6th item - sorting out a daily/weekly housework regime. All very well deep cleaning but if I don!!!8217;t keep on top of it then I will need to deep clean again

See you at the end of the month!

MrsSD

End of March - I cannot believe how quickly 3 months has vanished :eek:

Update is as follows: -

1. The decluttering is still ongoing but I still have a few visible decluttering tasks - wall unit shelves and half a dozen crates/boxes which are the remnants of a dozen large boxes! The table has gone to cs - so you could say I cleared it :rotfl: The invisible clutter is going to be the real problem cupboards which are mainly stuffed with photos, personal paperwork and excess stationery

2. One bedroom is fully redecorated from light fittings to paintwork to carpets - it looks beautiful :j. The upstairs landing & the stairs/stairwell have been painted & new carpets laid & can now be marked as the 2nd room completed. Re the bathroom which we were going to spruce up - that is on hold:( because we are probably going to get a builder in :T ) Further update on bathroom - DH has removed all the furnishings e.g. towel rails etc & filled in the holes. He will sand & then a quick coat of paint We will definitely get the builder in probably June/July

3. The spare fridge/freezer emptying is almost complete. It will be switched off, defrosted & cleaned, then stored (unplugged) in the garage for a while.

4. March was not as successful as Jan. & Feb. due to time away & the decluttering & cleaning taking precedence, so only 5 days of baking :eek: I will try harder in April

5. Jury still out but I do have occasional ideas which have so far been successful However I am not wasting anything :T

6. Have not started sorting out a daily/weekly housework regime. All very well deep cleaning but if I do not keep on top of it then I will need to deep clean again

So March has been as successful as the amount of work I have put in, which is not enough

I am not down hearted because what DH & I have done so far has made a difference which we can see :j And the pleasure it brings us means that we are both keen to continue . When we started there was NO end to The Tunnel but now there is a dim & distant light :rotfl:

To be continued

MrsSD

Wednesday2000

One of my goals for 2018 was to have more fun!:)

I've been out about 5 times this year already and have another night out planned for April. It actually feels like I've gone out more than that as I've gone to a few cafes/restaurants/bars/pubs most times I've been out. I tried a few new places in London which was fun.

I made the decision this week to pay off our mortgage and I will be doing that after the Easter weekend. I'm pretty happy about that as we have been overpaying it for years.

It will be super cool to be mortgage free at 42 years old as most older people I know had their mortgage until their fifties or sixties. It will be such a relief to know the house is completely ours!

I think I might get some champagne next week and make a special dinner to celebrate.:cool:

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

One of my goals for 2018 was to have more fun!:)

I've been out about 5 times this year already and have another night out planned for April. It actually feels like I've gone out more than that as I've gone to a few cafes/restaurants/bars/pubs most times I've been out. I tried a few new places in London which was fun.

I made the decision this week to pay off our mortgage and I will be doing that after the Easter weekend. I'm pretty happy about that as we have been overpaying it for years.

It will be super cool to be mortgage free at 42 years old as most older people I know had their mortgage until their fifties or sixties. It will be such a relief to know the house is completely ours!

I think I might get some champagne next week and make a special dinner to celebrate.:cool:

Well done Wednesday2000 - fun makes life worth living can I pinch that one & add it to my list of boring practical Hopes?

As for paying off your mortgage at such a young age, I am mightily impressed :T. We paid ours off a few years ago, having been overpaying for many years, but were in our early fifties. It is so nice to have the extra money in retirement

MrsSD

Wednesday2000

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

Well done Wednesday2000 - fun makes life worth living can I pinch that one & add it to my list of boring practical Hopes?

Yes, of course.:):D

LameWolf

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

I made the decision this week to pay off our mortgage and I will be doing that after the Easter weekend. I'm pretty happy about that as we have been overpaying it for years.

We paid ours off a few years ago, and I can tell you, being mortgage-free is great! I can put hand on heart and say that I do not owe anyone so much as a single penny! :T

Wednesday2000

LameWolf wrote: »

We paid ours off a few years ago, and I can tell you, being mortgage-free is great! I can put hand on heart and say that I do not owe anyone so much as a single penny! :T

Yes, I can't wait for that feeling.:A

It was only from MSE that I ever got the idea to overpay our mortgage. This was years ago now (maybe 2006?) but I remember reading the mortgage free part of the forum and thinking what a great idea!:T