2018 - No Clutter To Be Seen

villagelife

An eventful weekend but not much decluttering done.

941-943 shirts sold on eBay
944 packaging used up
946-951 small jars and kids recycled.

Need to focus more as DS1 will be moving back in September or October but hopefully without girlfriend.
I also declutter about 50 bits of rubbish from his house which I won't count here.
Here is hoping for a less stressful week ahead.

edwink

villagelife wrote: »

An eventful weekend but not much decluttering done.

946-951 small jars and *kids* recycled.

Had a have a good old giggle when I saw that you are recycling kids Villagelife. Does your council accept them as part of their recycling scheme? I am sure ours don't!:rotfl:


Edwink

retiredinfrance

319 big bag of plastic flower pots to go to garden centre for reuse.
320-321 two scarves to charity shop
322 pack of unused sink drainer things to CS
The scarves were part of a scheme I read about to avoid waste. The idea is that instead of wrapping presents in paper scarves from charity shops can be used as wrapping and then when present opened either used or given back to a CS. Clever -eh? But I have bought 4 -all very cheap and I thought appropriate and after washing them and considering the whole idea I think that one scarf per person is enough. So I am keeping the prettier 2.

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)

villagelife, I am with edwink :rotfl: Recycling kids is a great idea :rotfl: shame I haven’t got any :rotfl:

bit by bit, chaos might be revolutionary :rotfl: but it does wear you down and I for one like order Is everyone else on side or are you doing it all alone? So pleased you had a nice holiday and actually got some rest:T It never ceases to surprise me how often one comes back from a holiday more tired than before one went I am keeping my fingers crossed that one day you will be able to float on a sea of tranquility, rather than just keeping your head above water

retiredinfrance, what a great idea, but sadly I don’t know anyone who wears scarves plus more to the point I rarely give presents except for the monetary kind:o

Sunday, after watching his MotoGP races downstairs (DSis was watching Netflix & so he couldn’t watch the races on his computer - poor broadband in London - who’d have thunk :rotfl:), I put him to work in the garden & DSis decided to assist :T so I had the opportunity to go to sm on my own :j - so much quicker as I have a list & stick to it :rotfl: whereas DSis goes walkabout picking up junk food etc which there is no space to store at home:mad: Moan over
They emptied & moved the compost bins, refilling one & leaving the contents of the other to air after removing the bits that were not composting:), moved the wood pile from behind the shed & dug out round the small shed to the size of the new shed :T

Today DH was busy in the garden again, ably assisted by DSis (after watching her TV programmes) - I just pottered and put my supervisor’s hat on :rotfl: DH dismantled the shed completely & then DSis helped him break it down into small pieces which were bagged up - five bags - which will be taken to the Tip tomorrow in DSis's car together with a box of general detritus from the garage.

In keeping with my two mantras - Sunday - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; filled birds water bowls; washed down kitchen work surfaces; deadheaded & watered my very few flowers; watered my sm living salad; sugar bowl refilled; emptied indoor bins; went shopping & put everything away; made dinner - chicken fried in butter, boiled new potatoes & green beans or salad; general tidying;
Monday - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; filled birds water bowls; washed down kitchen work surfaces; deadheaded & watered my very few flowers; watered my sm living salad; sugar bowl, coffe & tea bag jars refilled; emptied indoor bins; vacuumed kitchen floor; general tidying

The outdoor & day to day decluttering has generated:-

B1583 - B1604 Non recyclable - 1 pot, 10 plastic bags, 6 bits of plastic packaging, 4 plastic trays, plastic punnet - All binned
B1605 - B1612 Two tin cans, 4 plastic bottles, 2 plastic milk cartons - All rinsed & recycled
B1613 Magazine read & recycled
B1614 Long sleeved jumper to cs

So, onwards & outwards

MrsSD
B1614/B2018[/QUOTE]

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

B1615 One garden shed dismantled to go to Tip :rotfl:

MrsSD
B1615/B2018

bit_by_bit

Thanks MrsSD. I like the idea of revolutionary. I am not OCD about tidiness. In fact for many years I thought it was just fine and had a big clear up every now and again. Since children arrived on the scene I have had to take a different view as I often got overwhelmed.

Nowadays I feel a lot better with a certain level of tidiness.

I also developed a strategy for when I get overwhelmed or over tired. I just start at one corner of the house; the back door or the porch, my bedroom or the spare room, and just work through for as long as I can, often only 10 minutes at a time. Once a good job is done it takes ages to get really bad again. Since I have been seriously decluttering things have become a lot easier and I am becoming, slowly, less of a hoarder.

Still, if I can do something that is more fun I will as no one had 'did great housework' put on their gravestone ( I could be wrong here, :rotfl: ).

Today I am off to deliver a load of stuff I hung onto for DS1 and his new wife from their wedding. That is two boxes and a bag full of bottles, jars, fake flowers, bits and bobs, all goning.

I now have three bags of books for oxfam and another ready to go to the National trust. Another box is being filled with bits and bobs for the charity shop, some which are truly awful, in my eyes, tat and some nicer stuff that needs to go.

Following MrsSD's mantra quite easily. Just taking things from where they are to where thy should be on the way from room to room. Feels good to do it too, so easy, no effort at all in fact.

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)

Today DH & DSis did a Tip run in the car & then went to B&Q for the gravel & a long spirit level. Then they were busy in the garden again - taking up the slabs from the little shed, levelling the ground a bit & digging up the bush that would have been in the way when the new shed arrives. Unfortunately it took ages as the bush was determined to stay where it was :rotfl:
While they were out I took the opportunity to have a leisurely bath & hair wash with a bit of pottering thrown in :rotfl:

In keeping with my two mantras - Today - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; filled birds water bowls; washed down kitchen work surfaces; deadheaded & watered my very few flowers; sugar bowl, coffee & tea bag jars all refilled; emptied indoor bins; wiped down all the stainless steel in the kitchen with the ‘appropriate’ wipes; cleaned & sorted fridge (to avoid DSis throwing more out of date stuff away - she tends to just jam stuff in :mad:); made dinner - poached eggs on toast with apple and blackberry crumble & custard for afters - yummy; packed one of the suitcases with books etc for cs; general tidying;

The outdoor & day to day decluttering has generated:-

B1616 - B1625 Non recyclable - 1 plastic pot & lid, uu toothpaste tube, large plastic bag, 3 bits of plastic packaging, full pot of ood houmous & 3 x broken Square plastic grids from garden - All binned
B1626 - B1631 Three tin cans, plastic milk carton, 2 glass bottles - All rinsed & recycled
B1632 Newspaper read & recycled
B1633 - B1634 Cardboard packaging recycled
B1635 - B1639 CD, cassette tape & 3 one dimensional metal cats designed to be put in garden as real cat scarers - they didn’t work although they are decorative - to CS

So, onwards & outwards

MrsSD
B1639/B2018

Molillie

I'm back home after a week house-sitting and pet wrangling. My plan was to come home for an hour each day, but that went by the wayside when it took me forty minutes instead of fifteen because of two sets of major roadworks. The house I was looking after was neat and organised, but had far too much stuff for me (they both have collections, which are displayed on shelves and other surfaces) They also have lots of shelved paperbacks, plus CDs and DVDs. It clearly suits them, but it did make me think about how much I wanted to continue to declutter. They have a big house for a childless couple, plus a garage and shed, all full. It must take a lot of time just to dust and keep things reasonably tidy and organised.
It's good to read of progress from others as an incentive this morning. Mrs S.D in particular, you are a star, it can't be easy having an extra person in your space, even a DS; and the wait for the CS collection of things sounds horrible, as it's gone on so long.
Today, I'm going to concentrate on catching-up with some general house-work, and maybe do a deep clean in the bathroom. I'll also try a meal-plan and grocery shop. Then if I have any energy later tonight, I'll do some paper decluttering. This will tie in well with some personal letters I need to write, as a friend's husband has just died from cancer, at only 60, which took six months from diagnosis to the end. It's one of those times when the important things in life are more in mind than usual.
Keep on keeping on, everyone.

bit_by_bit

Sorry to hear about your friend's husband Molillie. You are right about the important things.

Today I took four bikes to a scheme called Bike Back. Prisoners do up old bikes which are then sold on for charity. I saw an unusual bike that needs some work doing to it. I have negotiated for them to fix it and I will have a 'runaround' for nipping to the shops and the allotment.

This now frees the van for the stuff that is usually stored in it. Bedding and a beanie bag that my daughter uses at Uni. Now I can clean and declutter the porch (going out tonight so it will have to wait).

Another book has gone into the book bag today.

DS3 bought home about 10 keyrings from work. Freebies, going to have to work out what to do with them. Some will end up in the Christmas Gift box scheme.

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)

bit by bit, glad the decluttering is going well. It is surprising how good the simple task of picking up & putting away makes you feel :T:D I find myself trying to find things to put away :rotfl: Re the ‘did good housework’ I am slightly tempted to go looking round graveyards :rotfl: Re the key rings my CS loves them

Molillie, so sorry to hear about your friend’s husband and at such a young age. It really does bring home to you that there are more important things in life than stressing about decluttering/tidying. I hope your friend has plenty of support in this time of sadness.
Re the house sitting, it is probably quite nice to see how other people live & know that it is not for you - my DSis is a hoarder especially DVDs :eek: but am trying to wean her off her hoarding tendencies

basketcase, I hope you are OK & RL hasn’t thrown you any curve balls? I miss your tales of weightlifting

Today DH & DSis did another Tip run in the car & then went to Wi*ckes for the paving slabs as the base for the new shed. Then they were busy in the garden again - levelling the site for the shed, measuring, laying the weed suppressant and laying the True Pave base. I on the other hand went out to the Post Office, the CS, popped into the pub by the dock for a cheeky pint :rotfl: & watched the dragon boaters & a grebe plus did an sm shop. Did some more pottering & ‘supervising’ when I got home :rotfl:

In keeping with my two mantras - Today - aired & made bed; washed up, dried up & put away as I went along; filled birds water bowls; washed down kitchen work surfaces; toilet flush handle tightened AGAIN; letters posted; CS visited; sm shopping put away; phoned bank & paid cc bill & moved some monies around; made dinner - oven cooked sausages & tomatoes, mash & baked beans -:drool: with lo apple and blackberry crumble & custard for DH’s afters; general tidying;

The outdoor & day to day decluttering has generated:-

B1640 - B1642 Two more bags & one plastic treasure chest filled with garden rubbish - Tip
B1643 Carlton lockable suitcase filled with donations that have already been counted :rotfl:
B1644 - B1656 Non recyclable - 6 plastic bags, 4 bits of plastic packaging, 2 plastic punnets, plastic tray - All binned
B1657 - B1661 Three tin cans, 2 plastic milk cartons - rinsed & recycled
B1662 - B1664 Two lots of cardboard packaging & toilet roll inner - Recycled

So, onwards & outwards

MrsSD
B1664/B2018[/QUOTE]