2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

bit_by_bit

Popping by to report a bag out to my MiL who is taking it to the recycling centre. Old batteries, dead light bulbs and a bag of electrics including cables and a kettle.
I have a car fukll of stuff for the CS but they closed early today, will go tomorrow.
Through lounge now empty except for one chair and the TV with stand. They will be moved out when we go to bed. This has been so easy thanks to decluttering aand having a place for everything. 

mothernerd

First 2 bags taken to cs - decided not to take the walker or a stick so didn't want to overburden myself, Walked round a block in the town centre, 2 items I'd sneaked out of the house handed into another cs, turned again to buy the replacement padlock (will do lock and keys replacement tomorrow), final turn and then a block sideways to check out the recycling point (checked online but wanted to see how full the containers were) then to my house. Sat down (first time was on a cardboard box which collapsed and took me nearly to the floor) second time was a chair.
Had something to eat and drink whilst explaining the facilities to DS3 (DS3 and his Beloved have let the rubbish get out of control but bins have not been collected for the past two weeks - DS3 has now reported it but won't be collected until Monday and previous week's not at all).
Went to vote then sat on the chair picking up junk mail and old bank statements (anything that could go in the paper bin at the recycling point). Broke up some cardboard boxes and made a neat pile to replace the space they were taking up (so I could see DS3 over the couch). Turned the chair round on the spot and paper picked in the other direction then behind the exercise bike still in it's box because there is nowhere for it to go. Was waiting for drain man to arrive. DS3 had sorted someone (after telling me he had problems phoning people up) but cost of putting a camera down was prohibitive (mine was much more reasonable). Squashed lots of toilet roll middles in the bathroom. Told Beloved that the drinks cans and aerosols could be put in the large cube bin at the recycle point and space in their own bin could be used for more plastic bottles. She gave me an empty sack and I set DS3 on filling it with pop cans. She hung hers on the door handle and put the things I'd mentioned into it.

Had filled a large paper bag (bigger than a normal carrier bag) with paper. DS3 took that and the sack of cans to the recycle point in preference to waiting for the drain man. Spoke to Beloved and we hope she can fill another sack and get him to make a further trip this evening. Noticed later that she had several empty pickle jars by her desk, suggested she put the vinegar down the toilet and put the metal lids and clear glass jars to be taken to the appropriate recycle containers.

Filled a cube box and a bag for life with cardboard to bring back with me to feed into mum's bin, kondo folded about 20 plastic carriers into another bag, rolled and folded 4 large pieces of bubble wrap as I have two vases for the cs and some items to be posted off sometime soon. Drain man failed to arrive (immediate problem has been dealt with so no loss but still have things for him to do if he does turn up) and received a phone call from DS2 to say mum was in a panic as I had not returned (I did tell her 7 pm), then a message from DS1 came up on DS3's monitor - he had also been called into the great mothernerd hunt. Went to collect cash for mum (to repay me and for her to put in birthday cards) then phoned for a taxi. Very tired but happy with progress - cleared about 4 square yards of the front room (even wiped it because the front door was open when it rained) and can see parts of the kitchen floor. lots still to do but have to go carefully with two very anxious people (baby steps).

Will rest if needed tomorrow and go back soon for another session to make sure they don't get stuck again. Not sure if I broke the rules by being in the house but outside was dripping wet through, we all wore masks and none of us has been mixing with others in the last 13 months. Going to award myself 10 points which makes 1033/ 2021 total.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. KITCHEN WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEFT CLEAN & TIDY EVERY NIGHT

2. JUST DO ONE THING EVERY DAY (courtesy of bit_by_bit) OTHER THAN DAY TO DAY CLEANING & DECLUTTERING 
3. ONCE A WEEK LEAVE THE HOUSE (e.g. Go into city centre for bank & butcher;  go to local town for cs dropping off or buying; visit the pub with DH 😉

Very shamefaced 😔 as I haven’t posted in a couple of days & unfortunately NOT because I have been busy 😔
Wednesday started dry but windy & chilly - the sun was too weak to make a difference ☹️

J & W were working in the morning, then Will went off for rehearsals in the afternoon. DH & I spent some time out in the garden - planting out mini tomato seedlings in the table top bed - they need to fend for themselves 😉 DH had previously planted out the radishes into the large raised bed - they are sturdier & should thrive 🙂 as there are noticeable radishes already 👏 Grow bag lettuces are making a showing as are the potatoes 👏 DH went to sm for a small shop & picked up some netting from B&Q. Poor DH managed to get soaked 2 minutes from home when the heavens opened 😱. Then the sun came out for about 30 minutes before it clouded over & there was another heavy downpour which caused J to pack up & leave a bit earlier than usual. I took the opportunity to check both freezers & rearranged a few bits. I have one completely empty drawer 🥳 and have menu planned for the next few days with the intention of creating at least one more empty drawer 🤞 Dinner was bacon, eggs, oven chips & roasted tomatoes & mushrooms 🤤 About 7 p.m. the rain cleared & it was a very pleasant dry night but chilly. I did the wudupa. 
Thursday started dry & bright but still chilly in the shade. J & W turned up with W helping DH to tidy up the concrete & debris from our garden whilst J was laying bricks. I eventually got up 😔, had a cuppa then into the garden where DH & I netted the minuscule tomato seedlings - pigeons & squirrels not conducive to survival of plants 😉 We also planted the last of the carrot tape - maybe we will get some carrots this year 🤞 last year was a disappointment - one yes one tiny carrot about the size of a little fingernail ☹️ W left in the afternoon - more rehearsals. We had a couple of minor rainfalls. Nice chats with a couple of neighbours. Dinner was mostly from the freezer - a bag of lo chicken, mushroom & onion mix with a tub of mascarpone - reheated with tagliatelle 😋 More space in the freezer 🥳 Fox fed with defrosted, cooked sausages from freezer (recipe changed & we are not fans 😖)  DH made the soup + washed up. I dried & put away. 

919 - 926 Kitchen detritus x 2, drinks cans x 2, glass jar & metal lid, bag of office recycling, 

2 newspapers - recycled 
927 - 932 Kitchen detritus x 2, empty compost bags x 3, office detritus - binned
933 Broken bird stand base - skip

Well done TC77- Decluttering phone calls & arranging handymen 👏 

Good work balabooberlies 👏 steady progress 🙂

Excellent work vulpix 👏 Re the treasures you own, do you have a close friend who could look after them? or perhaps you could board the loft in the cottage?  The high chair & Moses basket are irreplaceable & it would be such a shame if they had to go ☹️ By the way, you weren’t waffling - you were setting out your thoughts in order to clarify your decisions 😉 See, I was right - you have made several decisions already 👏👏😉

Floss, Excellent ideas for vulpix 👏 one medal 🏅 on its way 🙂 Well done on getting charity pick up. Re the bay of E listings, perhaps set a time limit & if still no joy then off to the cs 🙂

Great work nannywindow 👏 well done for being so quick off the mark in binning the broken mobile phones 😉👏

Excellent decision GrannyKate 👏 and great work on actual decluttering 👏 The suitcases sound wonderful - if only they could talk - the tales they would have 🙂 Sometimes only a bacon sandwich will do 😉 Yah boo to BG 😖 

Good work EnergyShifter 👏 I hope you are proud of yourself for keeping up with your morning routine 🙂👏

Yet another busy & successful day mothernerd 👏 You do know that repurposing counts as decluttering 🙂 as it means you are not bringing in new ‘stuff’ 😁 Fingers crossed 🤞 that everything you are growing will be successful 🙂   Hopefully you have given DS3 and his Beloved the impetus to carry on decluttering/ tidying/ cleaning 🤞🤞

Very generous moneyonmymindsam 👏 🙂 Great work moneyonmymindsam 👏

Good work bit_by_bit 👏 I wouldn’t regret selling the camper - think of all the running costs, insurance monies etc that you have saved 😉 Brilliant work bit_by_bit 👏

Great work villagelife 👏 Hope you can sort out the pain 🤞 

Absolutely wonderful work 3secondmemory 👏 So pleased that all your hard work has resulted in a favourable landlord’s inspection 😁 Remember, you deserve nice things 🙂👏 and you need a new (to you) chest of drawers to put the shiny Gold Star ⭐️ that I am sending your way 😉

Excellent work Emm-in-a-pickle 👏 50p well spent 😃

Great work Gem-gem 👏 Ouch, 5 hours in A&E - your blood pressure must have been through the roof 😡

MrsSD  🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Decluttering Target: 2021    933/2021

2021 Savings Pot:  £41.00 to end of March

mothernerd

Hope you had a good night's sleep Mrs SD.

TC77

morning everyone, been looking round the house, still far too much, so some places knock things over or bump into things but after nearly 2 years all the relatively easy stuff has gone and now harder decisions. Happy for things to go if someone else can use, but now things that either mean nothing to anyone else (want to keep things so in my dotage I can recall I travelled or had a more interesting life than currently. I don't have like with like - Andrew Mellen phrase and don't pull out all the stationery or clothes as Marie Kondo asks you to do. My excuse all my clothes won't fit in my bedroom so need spare room wardrobe and go through one room at a time or live on 3 floors so need to have scissors/tape/everything available without going up and downstairs. I do want to downsize so will have to change my spots. And of course, take inspiration from everyone here, and Mrs SD and her wonderful cheer leading. Will try and make progress this weekend, or perhaps lunchtime break today.

retiredinfrance

Weather here is cold and rainy. After six months our new bank accounts are now open so old bank cheque books and stuff now out. I've been in the garage and cleared more stuff there. And I'm still going through the  stash. Fabric and toiletries.
2 hotel samples used up.
2 cheque books to recycling
3 other bank books to recyclung.
3 packets of seeds sown.
1 pile paper from seed drawer recycled.
1 pile rubbish from dressing table in bin.
2 odd leather gloves to recycling.
2 fabric samples to recycling.
2 old plastic containers to bin.
4 books for CS.
Total = 22+ 230= 252.

The seeds were probably be a waste of time. The fabric stash has a new home in a big former duvet bin on a top shelf in the dressing. I really need to do something with lots of it, but I look at the lovely stuff and then put it back again. The duvet, since you are curious is now the third one on the spare room bed. Clever, eh! 

Hugs for you all and keep safe everyone.

mehefin

DS came for the bank holiday so decluttered his fullsize drum kit to his new home. 
By virtue of that also declutterd earache and occasional headache lol
Finished off a dubious fence paint on some outside furniture - a very garish orangeybrown. MT can out.
Decluttered too many fall over juice bottles. Had to have an overflow bin for the recycling. Never mind it was nice to see him as it has been a long time ( last seen Feb2020), Just wish we could declutter his partner.

vulpix

 Good morning. I am rough, both from hay fever (tree fever) and lack of sleep. I have only had about 5 hours for the last 2 nights. I think I have too much on my mind. Nice things though which is ok.
 Big decisions made about furniture. Table and many chairs and kitchen dresser listed on FB. Enquiries about both but no takers yet. I have also sold a rug and 2 oak bar stools. Not collected yet so will count when they have gone. will list more stuff for sale when current stuff is sold. I can't be doing with constant messages all the time asking if I will deliver or what are the measurements or where is collection when all the info is in the post.
 I am finding it very helpful moving to a tiny dolls house. Furniture is easy, clothes will be easy, For some reason kitchen stuff will be harder. I will struggle with stuff which I or previous members of my family have kept for years. They thought it merited keeping and now I am the custodian of it. So many families have family Victoriana. Perhaps the Victorians are to blame for our liking for clutter n stuff. Were previous homes more sparse and unsentimental ? The TV programme Repair shop is almost always a repair of a Victorian object. I used to like it but now it isn't so much about the repair but all about the sob story.
 Had a lovely couple of hours at my friends yesterday, she had made a stunning afternoon tea. It was freezing though in the garden.
 Today I am home alone and will spend the day in my garden which is bursting into life. I also have  washing of new chair and taking out of panel pins on some Victorian cupboard doors to do. The doors were a freebee and I will try to put them in the cottage as all evidence of character have been eradicated by previous owners. I don't want it to look like a museum but I  would like to do some gentle restoration. 
 227. 2 summer tops to car boot pile
 Vx
 
 

Wednesday2000

We are dropping some stuff off at the tip tomorrow. Old broken brooms, some boxes, a broken shelf, a clothes hanger and a desk. I want my husband to go through the storage boxes in the garden again. Oh, he is doing it now. We have another bag of random junk so far. A pet bed that my cats and dogs refuse to use as well.

I have cleaned out the drawer with the cutlery, the jar with kitchen spoons etc.. and the cupboard under the sink today too. I vacuumed too.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Today it is cold, wet and gloomy here - with a few batches of hailstones thrown in. Not the sort of day my little dog likes to go walkies! He has very reluctantly been dragged outdoors a couple of times, performed the necessary, and headed straight back to get inside again. He wipes his feet, too, self-taught!

I have dissected the wool rug but not hemmed it yet, and today would have been a good day for such a task, but I`ve been doing freezer tetris and a fridge rummage, so need to give my fingertips time to recover before tackling any sewing. I`m thawing a couple of small monkfish tails and plan to roast them on the bone tonight, with a sort of stir-fry. The monkfish is a first for me - I hit Morrisons at just the right time and got it, plus 2 salmon sides, and some hake, very YS,   but I now need to use some frozen stuff as after a rummage it won`t all go back in where it was!

When I do a stir-fry, I sometimes chop and flash-fry the veg in advance, then later just throw it all in the wok with ready-to-wok noodles and a sauce (usually half a bottle of sweet chilli and some soy, sesame oil, and/or whatever else I find lurking in  the cupboard that seems appropriate - like my curries, no 2 are ever quite the same)

I`ve decluttered loads of mushrooms, a red pointy pepper and a yellow bell pepper that needed using, and today....The Dog`s Leftovers. (I should explain, his favourite treat is the stem of tenderstem broccoli - so I regularly buy a bag in Aldi and as he won`t eat the tops it`s a shame to waste them.) I also found a couple of red onions that had escaped and were sprouting well in the dark corner by the fridge, the onions were soft, but the sprouts looked healthy so I`ve treated `em like spring onions and put them in as well.

I`ve put away yesterday`s laundry, and put all the election bumph in the paper recycling, then spent awhile googling how to cook the monkfish - settled on Marcus Wareing instructions, I like him...

Not a lot done, really, but I`m happy with it so far.