2018 - No Clutter To Be Seen

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. IF I NOTICE SOME SMALL TASK NEEDS DOING - I WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY

2. I WILL LEAVE A ROOM TIDIER THAN WHEN I WENT IN - WITHOUT HIDING THE CLUTTER EXCEPT for the wardrobe room which is currently the storage room (sr)

3. THE LAST WASHING UP OF THE DAY WILL BE PUT AWAY BEFORE I GO TO BED

Well done villagelife - anything out is good :TSmall amounts build up & then eventually you start hunting for items to declutter. I cannot wait until that day arrives :rotfl:

Happy Kitties, from one tortoise to another :rotfl: sorry about your health issues
Lists :j:j - I am currently consolidating lists :rotfl: as I am a bit like ‘Frost’ writing things on bits of paper & then losing them Hope the kitchen ceiling repair goes well & is as stress free as possible

Another lovely day - plenty of sunshine & warmer than yesterday but still breezy - so DSis did 2 loads of washing which is currently on the whirligig

DH has his own mojo now :rotfl: He has been very busy today :T A bit more ‘skip ferreting’ for more wood - he has removed all the nails etc & has all the lengths of wood stacked in the garage. He has cut all the components of the raised flower bed but will not put it all together until the designated garden space has been cleared/prepared. DH has also got most of the components for the collapsible shed table prepared/cut. He also painted the shed ceiling & now just needs to paint the cross beams. Another ‘toy’ was also used - a hand pump spray gun & he has started on the fence panels:D In between times he also did a quick sm & B&Q shopping trip :T

My mojo was all present & correct today :T I have vacuumed all downstairs, pruned the front garden bushes, removed most of the ivy from next door’s bush before it works it’s way across to our bushes - open plan front gardens :rotfl:; tidied the back garden a bit; ARRANGED the CS furniture collection - apparently my super duper all singing all dancing phone wasn’t accepting the CS chap’s calls :eek: - he couldn’t even leave a message :eek: Collection is this Wednesday :T:T:T Have already brought down a couple of items & created a space for the bed, mattress etc + created space in the spare room to b able to move the furniture downstairs :T CS chap was most pleased that I was donating the large terracotta pots & the garden chairs for up cycling :rotfl:
Re my phone - I cleared all the blocked numbers & put CS chap’s name & number in the ‘book’
I am sooo happy that the local CS will get all the bits & pieces & once everything is gone I can add to my numbers :rotfl: May even manage to declutter 3 bushes :rotfl:

Dinner was the 2nd half of the Shepherds Pie with added green beans - tasted even better 2nd time around according to my DSis :rotfl: & because we have had Shepherds Pie 2 night’s running - I can cross off the salad from my menu list much to the approval of DH & DSis :rotfl:

Re my three mantras - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; washed down kitchen work surfaces; wiped down oven; wiped down living room window sill; refilled sugar bowl & sugar jar; wiped down all stainless steel in the kitchen with the appropriate wipes :rotfl:; toilet flush handle tightened; vacuumed all downstairs; emptied vacuum & shredder; general tidying;

The day to day decluttering has generated

C218 - C220 Tin, 2 glass bottles - rinsed & recycled
C221 - C223 Magazine read, small delivery box dismantled, used foil - Recycled

C224 Old Damaged bedside lamp for the Tip & replaced with newish lamp from France - the light bulb fitted :rotfl::T

Now that I have a collection date for the furniture etc I am feeling invigorated :rotfl: so MAY even empty one of the boxes stored in the spare room

May your decluttering mojo be strong :rotfl:

MrsSD
C224/C2018

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

retiredinfrance wrote: »

Back to decluttering after a bit of stomach trouble-now over and fully recovered.

333-335 plants out of pots and into flowerbed.I buy too many plants and them am slow to do anything with them . the side of the house now looks neater. Pots awaiting return of the gardeners who raise plants for the CS.
336 pile of old plant labels and rubbish from garden to bin
337 pile of old holiday brochures and receipts to recycling.

And now for the story behind 337. I was up at the top shelf in the walkin hotpress looking at the duvets and blankets when I came across a tote bag behind one of the big plastic tubs. Inside were two handbags and a plastic bag with the old holiday stuff. I sorted it and found 80 pounds , yes 80 quid in sterling left over from the trip. Tiny snag-they are old tenners but will keep. Just goes to show - look in every cranny when decluttering. Of course the bags went back up there.
A warm welcome to the newcomers and thanks to all of you for keeping up the good work. (I sound like a teacher!) And yes, the garden is looking much neater.

Cross posted with you retiredinfrance Sorry you have been under the weather, but happy that you are now fully recovered £80 :T - what a find :T
Well done on the garden decluttering :T - I tend to buy lots of bulbs which I never plant :eek: The last lot are now in a bag together with lots of really old seed packets & will be donated to the CS gardening/beautifying project

Were you a teacher - enquiring minds want to know or maybe I am just being nosy

MrsSD

retiredinfrance

Yes, MrsSD, I was a teacher. Only one guess as to what I taught.

Your remark about bulbs reminded me about some daffodils in pots under the hedge that are to be rehomed in a bed and now on the to declutter list.

This is something I have discovered from reading everyone's lists - suddenly an item jogs the brain and off I go.

338 pile of empty seed packets to bin
339 worn towel to kitchen rag stash
340 pile of books to CS.

I have a new system for books as I buy a lot from the CS. I reread one I have been keeping to read again at some time in the future alternating with one that has just come in. This way I hope the overall total will keep going down. Also DH keeps on wanting to buy another bookcase but I am against it as it will soon fill up .We went last week to look at one in a CS but it wasnt good wood and a bit shaky , so no good. But we did come back with 8 books.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. IF I NOTICE SOME SMALL TASK NEEDS DOING - I WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY

2. I WILL LEAVE A ROOM TIDIER THAN WHEN I WENT IN - WITHOUT HIDING THE CLUTTER EXCEPT for the wardrobe room which is currently the storage room (sr)

3. THE LAST WASHING UP OF THE DAY WILL BE PUT AWAY BEFORE I GO TO BED

A glorious day - plenty of sunshine & the temperature was up - nice & hot:T with an occasional breeze - so DSis washed her bedding which is currently on the whirligig

DH’s mojo continued today :rotfl: He & I moved the furniture downstairs ready for CS to pick up & we rearranged the boxes in the spare room. He then mowed ours & next door’s front lawns - first time in 3 months as the hot weather did a good job in stopping grass growth :rotfl: And He did a bit more carpentry & adding hinges etc ready for putting up my shed table :T + started prepping the shed to add hooks etc for the garden tools :T:T
DSis also had her own mojo today - she painted the beams in the shed, chopped up a dead bush & then used DH’s new ‘toy’ - the hand pump spray gun - & she has done just over 3 quarters of our side of the fence panels before running out of wood preserver. Shopping trip tomorrow then she will finish our side & then go into each neighbours garden & do the other side of the fence panels. We have permission from one neighbour & will ask the other neighbours permission when someone is in :rotfl:

A little bit of my mojo made an appearance today :T - helped DH move the furniture downstairs ready for CS collection, restocked the boxes in the spare room (6 to sort through ), kept DH & DSis fed & watered & then went through all my plastic garden pots & seed trays etc - kept a few for myself & the rest are for CS :rotfl: Bucket of water with a splash of disinfectant, a pair of disposable gloves & a cloth & off I went - washed the pots etc, dried them & bagged them up for CS - 62 items in all :T

Now the slightly annoying bit of the day Someone from the CS was supposed to phone & let me know whether they were picking up a.m. or p.m.. No call :mad: so I phoned & collection has been put back until Thursday afternoon So now I am in a holding pattern Just consoling myself with the thought of how happy I will be when it is all gone & I can add it to my numbers :rotfl:

Dinner tonight is hm bolognese from the freezer.

A bit light on my three mantras today - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; washed down kitchen work surfaces; general tidying;

The day to day decluttering & a bit of garden decluttering has generated

C225 - C229 Tin, glass wine bottle, 2 plastic milk cartons, glass jar - rinsed & recycled
C230 - C231 Paper packaging, small delivery box dismantled - Recycled

C232 - C241 Non recyclable - kitchen sponge scourer, rag, 2 plastic trays & packaging, 4 broken plastic garden pots (why I kept them I do not know ), large uu plastic wood preserver container, plastic bag - Binned

As it is a pleasant evening I am outside eating dinner with half a glass of red wine - as that was all that was left in the bottle :rotfl:

May your decluttering mojo be strong :rotfl:

MrsSD
C241/C2018

marmiterulesok

Not been around for a few days as I have guests staying but managed to declutter about 15-20 plastic items the other day and have seven hb books to give to the cs.
Also 3 pairs of shoes (new) given to my mum and some clothes.Can't remember,maybe three tops.

Happy_Kitties

How I would love to go skip diving.........i would never get out but it would be great fun:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Unexpectedly managed to get rid of 5 towels to an animal charity. DD had brought them back for a charity, I ended up using them when I had the leak but still had some and all were sent off along with 2 charity items this morning. Very unexpected but very welcome and we didn't have to take them DD BF turned up to collect them so pleased another 7 items out of the house taking my total to 224 items decluttered so far.,happy days.

Would just like to declutter something else today and I will be really happy, slowly getting my energy back:T

Molillie

A quick catch-up, I've been house and pet-sitting again, and not on the internet much.

Have arranged to declutter some trees with the tree surgeon, they are going completely apart from the apple tree, as otherwise will need professional attention again in time, and I have better uses for the money. This will give me a chance to sort out the garden. (after I finish the house:-)

Have done a bit more stuff in the house, finding that I'm getting more able gradually to let things go. e.g. my old imitation croc clogs, not really safe in the garden anymore, as so worn.

A small electrical items recycling bin has appeared in a local car-park, and I have a few things that I might take there, in case it disappears again. Much better than the hassle of the tip, with the need to have proof of address, etc. I'm not sure whether I can drop off my old Kindle there, the reading type, but don't know what else to do with it.

It's lovely to see how people are getting on with things, and will enjoy reading through a bit later, after a quick half-hour finding stuff for the bin. We have recycling bin collection tomorrow, and I find that going on a hunt for suitable things to put in there can be very effective. It's landfill bin next week, and I do the same for that one the night before.
It's not creating more waste, although it sometimes vaguely feels like that, just getting out of my house.

Good luck everyone.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. IF I NOTICE SOME SMALL TASK NEEDS DOING - I WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY

2. I WILL LEAVE A ROOM TIDIER THAN WHEN I WENT IN - WITHOUT HIDING THE CLUTTER EXCEPT for the wardrobe room which is currently the storage room (sr)

3. THE LAST WASHING UP OF THE DAY WILL BE PUT AWAY BEFORE I GO TO BED

marmiterules, Still decluttering even with guests - hats off to you :T

Happy Kitties, what a good cause really pleased your energy is returning

Molillie, we had the tree in our front garden removed a while ago at the same time as two of our neighbours - so we got a good deal. The roots of one tree went through the water main :eek: & our tree was causing a teeny bit of subsidence :eek: We now have light coming in through the front window & the grass is recovering :rotfl::T Unfortunately one neighbour still has his tree, about 45’ tall & he will not get it chopped down or even pruned - he is a bit of a tight wad

A warm day but very overcast with an occasional breeze - so I did 2 washloads which are still on the whirligig - I love my whirligig:rotfl:

DH’s mojo continued today :rotfl: He is sooo happy playing with wood that he made a ‘cage’ for the garden shredder with a table top (in the garage) I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was supposed to be putting down the flooring in the shed :rotfl: He also did another B&Q shop - more fence preservative & special clamps to make the shed table top :rotfl: Once the flooring is laid & the table & shelving are finished I might move in :rotfl:

Unfortunately DSis had no mojo today - she woke with a migraine so went back to bed & then woke with a headache :eek: However she did speak to the neighbours about the fence, keeps walking into the spare room to admire the space now it only has boxes to sort out :rotfl: & she praised my cooking & baking skills (choc chip biccies and cherry & coconut loaf) :rotfl:

Mostly pottered today - as well as the washing, I did a small sm shop (treated myself to a new washing up bowl because I know how to live :rotfl: ) - walked past the dock & saw a cormorant as well as coots, mallards, seagulls, crested grebes & Canada Geese but haven’t seen any swans this year:(, made Austrian potato salad (it takes ages to make) & cooked green beans ahead of time & had a nice relaxing bath

Dinner tonight was herby breadcrumbed pork steaks (the fat was cut off as a treat for the fox :rotfl:) with cold green beans drizzled with olive oil & the Austrian potato salad - it was ‘truly scrumptious’ (& yes I did have the song running around in my head :rotfl:)

A bit light on my three mantras today - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; washed down kitchen work surfaces; filled sugar bowl, tea bag & coffee jars; vacuumed the spare room & upstairs landing; general tidying;

The day to day decluttering has generated

C242 - C245 Glass wine bottle, plastic milk carton, 2 uu plastic bottles - rinsed & recycled
C246 - C252 Three lots of cardboard packaging, large delivery box dismantled, cardboard tub, 2 newspapers - Recycled
C253 - C264 Non recyclable - 2 lots of plastic packaging, 4 plastic bags, 3 plastic lids, plastic pot & lid, 2 plastic bleach bottles - Binned

As it was & is a pleasant evening I ate dinner outside & am now sitting outside typing & drinking red wine with a coffe to follow :rotfl:

May your decluttering mojo be strong :rotfl:

MrsSD
C264/C2018

Molillie

Mrs SD, that was useful information about the trees, and I'm glad mine are going, it becomes a constant worry otherwise. I'd hate one of them to cause damage.

Have been feeling annoyed with myself, because I've discovered a pack of baby sleepsuits bought for a child who has now turned seven. I remember looking for them, clearly not in the right place, they were under some old phone books in a pine box. I use the box to stand on to change lightbulbs and things, and probably tossed the sleepsuits in there because it was in the hall at that time....then had a delivery of telephone directories on the same day, and put those on top. It's all part of tidying by hiding, which in the long-term isn't ideal unless you remember where the things are. I do wonder how many other little surprises I am going to uncover during this decluttering process.
I have decided to aim for maybe moving once the house is completely done, and simply redecorated (painted white as far as possible) I'll take advice nearer the time on what else is worth doing. I'd like something with a much better layout, and fewer rooms. Here there are three small bedrooms, and one tiny downstairs bathroom. The house was built in the 1920s, and really could do with someone who likes doing-up houses, and has the money or skills to carry things through. (definitely not me) This forum really does help me to keep positive. It should save me quite a lot of stress and money if the house is put into a saleable condition, and make moving easier.

IrishRose12

Afternoon everyone, my decluttering mojo seems to have disappeared since I've realised I'm back at work next week after being off all summer:eek: Can someone tell me where the last 6 weeks have gone as I'd like them back please, I'm not ready to go back to work just yet:(

Anywho, my mind seems to be on relax as much as you can mode as once I'm back at work (I work in a school) there's no more relaxing till Halloween, which then scared me even more:eek::rotfl: where has this year gone???:eek:

I did do some decluttering tof the snack corner in the utility room yesterday, and yes it looks a lot more tidy. After moving all the boxes of c**p out of the spare room - which still hasn't been papered by the way :rotfl: I've decided there's far far far too much rubbish in this house so I sat in front of the TV last night with 2 boxes and went through each one. I'm now down to half a box to keep, a box to go to the charity shop and half a box for recycling/rubbish:T

This morning I cleaned the bathroom walls and floor, just to give the rest a quick wipe over and that's that done. Upstairs bathroom will be done today too.
As there's nothing on TV this afternoon, I think I'll take myself up there again, stick a DVD on and do another box or 2 as I seem to pay more attention to what's on TV that I don't think I'll keep this just in case...... I seem to make then and there decisions lol.

Hope everyone is keeping well, I'm off to read back the last few posts the see where I go from there :cool: