2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

Finstickle

Thanks for the welcome all.

I am definitly a fan of Marie Kondo, unfortunately it doesn't seem to work to do big declutters here (something about the rest of the household  ), however i love the theory and the folding.

3 years ago i started the process of getting rid of nearly 9 hundred books and now just have a couple of real favourites and those i am due to start reading or have just read.  the weight lifted from my shoulders at that point having dragged them around for years through 7 house moves was amazing and definitly reinforced my need for a clutterfree life.

stellata

I braved the tip and got rid of an old cot and a dead vacuum cleaner which had been in the shed and then sat in the hallway. Now gone! The tip was a nightmare though, if a nice person hadn't come to help I'd still be there. Then at home I decided my cutlery doesn't need to be in 40 year old cardboard boxes with felt linings so I binned the boxes, washed the cutlery and it fits in the smallest drawer in my kitchen in a plastic tray. And I'll use it now too.

Gem-gem

Finstickle said:

Thanks for the welcome all.

I am definitly a fan of Marie Kondo, unfortunately it doesn't seem to work to do big declutters here (something about the rest of the household  ), however i love the theory and the folding.

3 years ago i started the process of getting rid of nearly 9 hundred books and now just have a couple of real favourites and those i am due to start reading or have just read.  the weight lifted from my shoulders at that point having dragged them around for years through 7 house moves was amazing and definitly reinforced my need for a clutterfree life.

Well done on decluttering that many books Finstickle. When I left teaching I had around 500 children's / teaching books. I now only have a handful of my favourites. 

I also used to have hundreds of adult reading books. I wanted my own library. Now like you I have kept my favourite authors, some old books that were my mum's plus a pile waiting to be read. 

Yesterday, I rejoined the library, so that from now on I will only buy my favourite authors. All others will be borrowed and then returned. 

Gem-gem

Went through personal folders and Decluttered/ recycled about a third of each of their contents. 

other things recycled:
pile Of old curriculum books 
five beauty cardboard boxes and leaflets 
Cardboard jewellery box 
old receipts 

Sold:
2 books sold

Binned:
Cellophane from chocolate box
washing Up gloves
torn plastic wallets  

EnergyShifter

EnergyShifter said:

759. Morning routine
760. fixed a tile
761. repaired DS' jeans - (they are more repair than jean!!)  

Haven't been on for over a week - I will try to catch up with missed messages over the next few days.  Situation with DS is easing but is still dominating life.  I have found someone for him to talk to (started last week) and he has agreed to move his stuff back from Uni and spend the Summer based here.  I have problems with my back again which has made life difficult.  I'm pretty sure it's stress related.  Been to the osteopath once and will go again later this week so fingers crossed that will make it ease up.  I'm pretty wiped out and doing very little other than work, keeping an eye on DS and then collapsing at the moment - literally no energy for anything else - I'd started to build up a post lockdown social life but that's fallen by the wayside.  I guess I just need to accept  that's just how it needs to be for the time being.  I'm convinced that if the sun came out & my back improved I would get a new lease of life.  (I'm a right moaning minnie today!!)

762-6 - 5 x rotten old planks from the shed of hideousness
766 -    knitted another poncho

Hope everyone is keeping well  

stellata

Got rid of the polystyrene packaging from more than one appliance, left from the last 2 or 3 house moves. It's in the wheelie bin now for the bin men tomorrow.

TC77

@Finstickle.. wow impressed by the book and other  decluttering and also Gem-gem.  I had got rid of books but have bought some favourites and classics as DD2 is starting English Lit A level , but got her summer reading and my book club book out of the library so will keep it limited.  
Every now and then I feel overwhelmed and today one of those, went for a friend who had someone round to help her clean her house, but I would be too embarrassed at the moment. But admin frogs most important.
@EnergyShifter, so glad you and DS have found someone to talk to. My DD1 was refused her referral for psychiatric assessment with them advising the Dr what medication to prescribe her. She won't take medication at so we may have a battle getting help but at least she spoke to GP and has a review in a month!
First day at a real team day - very strange, abit like school with a table each, felt less safe going to town and mixing with 20 people (v distanced and with good ventilation) than I thought I would. Looks as if will be working at home for next few months with team catch up once a month.
1260 - 1261 pair of shoes and mug given back to colleague as I have 2 boxes of office stuff in my house
1262 - 1267 4 plates sold, bubble wrap, tissue paper, box, and odd bits of packaging disposed of. 
1268 - mini padlock
Really want to get to 1500 by 1st September as DD2 starts 6th form and want to feel she can have friends home (although many may be admin frogs). 
as ever, feel less mentally cluttered, reading your posts and downloading my ramblings 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

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

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 😉

Wednesday was a lovely sunny & hot day. DH carried on with hacking out the tree stump. Also refilled the bird feeders & water bowls. I am trying to get back into dealing with my post immediately - only took 15 minutes 🙄 Received a change of address card from a friend (updated contacts immediately 😉) with the excellent news that her younger daughter had graduated as a Law Student with a 1st Class Honours degree. I am chuffed to bits as she is a lovely young lady who is also a talented musician 🙂👏 Phoned bank to check on accounts & order a new cheque book. A five minute stint of weeding the front path 😔 Spent the rest of the day knitting & watching ancient movies including the Rex Harrison version of Blithe Spirit. DH fried up some lo mash & warmed through a lo pork steak for his lunch. DSis had a cheese roll. I finished the guacamole with the last of the tortilla cups. Dinner was lo cheesy pasta with added cheese & slices of tomato reheated in the oven. Wudupa.

1335 - 1339 Kitchen recycling, plastic bottle, magazine, booklet, drinks cans - recycled 
1340 Kitchen detritus - binned

Great work Happy_Kitties 👏 an eclectic mix 🙂

Finstickle, I agree that the Marie Kondo theory is great but only if you live alone & have at least one completely unfurnished room 😉 Wow that is a lot of books 🤩 I understand that you have done this decluttering historically but I am so impressed that I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ 

Great work stellata 👏 Very pleased to hear that you found someone nice to assist you at the tip 🙂 My ‘for best cutlery’ stayed unused in its wooden box for 25 years. Then I started the decluttering process, got rid of the box & the cutlery is in daily use. All the old cutlery was donated to cs. Good work on decluttering the polystyrene 👏 I am placing a small bet that you were keeping it for Justin 😉

Gem_gem, I am also impressed with your historical decluttering of books, so Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂 Like you, I always wanted a library but could never afford a big enough house 😉😉 Excellent decluttering of paperwork 👏

EnergyShifter, pleased to see that the situation with your DS is easing slightly but sorry to hear that you have injured your back ☹️ Btw, you are NOT a moaning minnie - life is not being kind to you at the moment & posting about your feelings stops them building up & causing even more stress. Sending you very gentle hugs 🙂

TC77, Well done to your DD1 for refusing medication 👏 especially as what she needs is someone professional to talk to. Good decluttering work even though you were not feeling at your best 👏 I have every faith that you will reach your target as you have a great reason to do so 🙂 As to the monthly team meetings, hopefully you will feel a bit safer each time you do it. I have to apologise for my next comment 😔😉 - I assume the ‘tables’ were adult sized as I had a vision of you all sitting at junior school sized desks 😉😉 

MrsSD   🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅 🥇     ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Decluttering Target: 2021    1340/2021

2021 Savings Pot:  £225.90 to end of July

TC77

Mrs SD, I nearly commented on @stellata cutlery but didn't want to bring attention to my best cutlery which is in its box on top of the fridge/freezer. The box isn't user friendly and seems wasteful to get rid and has been used about a dozen times. Weddijg present from my parents and I love it.(27 years ago) I have a gplan chest of drawers in my bedroom which has felt.lined drawers and when I get rid of clothes and one less chest it should go in dining room and then the cutlery. My excuse is how.chaotic dd1 was and would find cutlery along with clean clothes in the black sack when she periodically cleaned her room. I would retrieve things-- in depths of anorexia so had to let her eat in her room as meant she ate something.
Rambling excuse- giving myself deadline of end of sept. 
Keeping in mind at the moment those here who report cleaning and tidying much easier  and using it as part of my motivation! 

GrannyKate

A bit fed up this week.  I have done something drastic with my mail account and struggling to unpick.  Experts on the case but it is complicated.  BG Heating engineer came yesterday - nice chap but says my pump is a plumbing issue so I need a plumber ( yes I thought heating engineers were also plumbers).  He says I might have a leak on hot water system or pump might be faulty.  He then said neither would be covered as my Homecare didn't include plumbing.  I pointed out that it did and he seemed surprised.  Can't get a straight answer out of anyone re pump but now waiting again for the 'plumber' who is supposed to be sorting the toilet (are we on 8 or 9 now - I've lost track).  I have taken a video of the toilet problem in action in case the next one tells me I am imagining it.  Meanwhile I have to keep checking toilet and listening to pump every 15 minutes day and night.  DS2 is coming to take me to look at piece of furniture I am considering  and also to look at computer again.

1262 One admin frog dealt with
1263 Meeting on zoom - papers shredded - but more tasks to do now
1264 Scanned and copied some wartime documents to send off to wartime memories project - this was where my email problem started. 

I keep admiring my post maggot kitchen floor - cleanest I've seen it in ages.