2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

Floss

While I'm not a counter or even a recorder of much of the "stuff" that departs my doorstep, I am slowly becoming more streamlined & holding onto less junk just for the sake of it. 

I split up with my 2nd ex-husband 3 years ago last weekend,  and today i realised that I am no longer buying for the life I wanted to live while unhappy (both before & after the breakup) but am now acquiring for the life I have, with my taste & choice.

vulpix

Interesting posts folks.

 We are all visited by aspirational selves at times. I have had to admit I wasted money on a light fitting. It is habitat and was expensive but now it's up I don't like it. I think I just wanted to live the "habitat" life!  

 NJK1012,welcome to the party. This forum helps me keep on keeping on with a trickle of items out. Items do come in but not as many as leave. I also enjoy the camaraderie here and am invested in people.

 bit by bit yesss for putting books back. Anything I want to know about gardening these days ,the internet is my friend. Fiction just isn't the same though on the internet.

 More painting for me today and this SHOULD be the end of it. I know I have done it at a snails pace but I am pleased with the result.

 Vx

 

-taff

Hello!Kind of joining in for now, just because really...I'm currently emptying a shed of Justins in Wales and a house, and also trying to declutter here too. Biggest win this week has been removing all the DVDs we want to keep and putting the discs in a wallet and the packaging to recycle. That's almost 180 dvd cases and associated paper going. I didn't realise we had so many between us and am very happy another two storage boxes have been emptied. Also managed to sell a parasol base and a hedge trimmer [ we have no hedges, it was a job lot with another thing] . Have booked a tip run to get rid of some more stuff and a friend is adding her stuff to the pile [ she's relocating abroad]

OWD_nana

Oh Floss, we are so alike. Two exes down and finally happy on my own. It is liberating isnt it when you realize you can now make decisions for just how you want to live from now on. Becoming streamlined will take awhile, but i am determined to not leave my family with too much junk to deal with when my time comes. Swedish death cleaning i think its called.


Difficult frog started - photos. Will be a long ongoing project, but will only count 1 for 10 photos binned

312.  11 packs of negatives
313/14  21 Photos - mainly easy choice scenery and lots old photo envelopes etc

315/17. Old knickers - Rags
318. ood Medicine - bottle to RC

Nice day here so will try to have some time gardening after Flylady 1 & 2 achieved. Hopefully.
It does seem to sit well with decluttering.
Hugs to all in need.

Floss

@OWD_nana oh yes! And I agree about the stuff left behind - I've recently given my 33yo youngest all his school reports which caused great hilarity at our summer Christmas the other weekend! 

mothernerd

Not been here for a while but on Monday someone did a tip run for us and took 2 small tvs, 2 tv aerials, an old sewing machine and 3 large lumps of wood (2 tree trunk lumps and one a lump with a tangle of roots attached). progress has slowed down because mum is now recovering from whatever she's had for the past 3 - 4 months since she generously shared it I'm now at the point where the slightest activity makes me struggle (the runs of hot days also ramp up my hayfever so breathing is ragged) and my ankle is still hurting from some of mum's 'little errands'  (usually in the opposite direction to my intended route and I end up walking twice as far and hobbling).

However (keeping positive) DS2 and his gf visited last Saturday and they moved about a dozen large filled containers, some metal shelves, the frame from the old garden swing and some more of the cast concrete edging blocks (2' x 6" x 6" roughly). Took them less than ten minutes and would have taken me hours (I was moving one pot at a time on the dolly truck). I can easily shuffle things into exactly the position I want them, it's lumping them about from one place to the other that takes it out of me especially as there are lots of things to trip me up or would hurt if I fell on them (some days I'm back to the old 'holding on to the washing line to get up and down the yard' trick - very useful with ankle injuries/ mobility problems/ dizzy spells. They also opened several jars (I have a thing which helps open jars and it's wonderful but some jars defeat it - why do the make them with slanted sides to the lids, it's so much harder to get a proper grip or to know the best place to hold them). 

It's mum's birthday next weekend and she asked last Thursday (?) if I had planned a party. She didn't want a party or presents (didn't need anything) but especially not a party. I did invite a few people for her 80th (before I was her main carer and I got told how I never visited and was utterly selfish when I spent two weeks taking hm invites to close relatives - my cousins, her cousins - and some of her friends from church. She didn't know anything (except I told her not to accept any invitations for the Sunday) until I turned up just before lunch with platters full of food (I used to have some large oval baskets and the lids made excellent trays).

Last year (her 85th) I did a wonderful safe, socially distanced birthday party. I didn't invite anyone, I just thought about who might turn up on the day with a card or present, made food and then put it on paper plates (for individuals) and foil platters (for couples). We could only have people in the garden (except for DS2 and his gf who were from another borough and had to stay just outside the gate). I put two large tables together (old dining table and the garden table) so we were about 7 or 8 feet away from our guests. When people arrived I asked them to wait on the path, put food on the table, guests stayed just inside the gate. I the went back inside and took mum out through the patio doors and we sat at the far side of the tables (the tables and a couple of large planters more or less blocked access to our side for small children and daft dogs). I bought Mr K cakes (the individually wrapped ones for lunch boxes) and put them on the birdbath, next to the gate so that people could pick a piece to take home with them without touching any other pieces. I used a broom to hook gift bags and transfer them to our side of the tables. I wore a mask and disposable gloves whilst preparing food (although we had been in strict isolation so there was very little chance of my infecting someone.

It was lovely but exhausting. I made up food throughout the day (I thought people who came early would have just had breakfast so didn't cook any of the marinaded meat until later) and gave people the choice of eating at once or taking their food home with them. First to arrive was one of mum's partner's grand-daughters and her small son (no daft dog thankfully, this one is really giddy) who came before going to the SM. Another of her cousins came with a card and no-one had seen each other for months so lots of chatting. Next came the girl's mum and dad who had just been to the SM and had breakfast there.

We came back inside briefly (very briefly) then mum's regular Saturday visitor arrived - I had though her sister might come with her but I told her to take the leftovers home for her husband's tea and soon after that DS2 and his gf came. I'd known they had to stay outside the gate so had put a small table outside ready for them and they brought their own camping chairs. It rained lightly so I put the garden umbrella up. It was our first chance to really talk to his gf (they met just before the start of the pandemic) as she had mostly stayed by the car whilst DS2 sat on our designated 'visitor's chair outside the front room window with the window and blinds open so that we could see each other and talk (if they had brought shopping, I left the money in the plastic pocket I'd taped to the back). I had checked with DS2 in case she was vegetarian or anything - grateful for overnight deliveries as she has a dairy intolerance so I ordered vegan milk, cheese, mayo and ice cream so I could use familiar recipes but substitute dairy free ingredients (and if anyone else didn't like it, tough).

They left after 5 pm and mum said I could lock up and then my niece phoned just before 7 pm. She was on her way to meet a friend (he lived alone so joined my niece and her bf/ not bf at weekends as his bubble). She's vegetarian so I made up a veggie platter and got out the carrot cake I saved just for us (free range eggs etc). She stayed a while so directed the friend to join us - he's used to walking along the canal bank to her house and the steps at the top of mum's street are just one stage from the bridge where he joined the towpath. I gave them more things to eat over the weekend and he had the tangy cheesy snacks (bought as it's one of DS2's favourites but wouldn't give them him in case it set off his gf's allergy). So as I said lovely but exhausting. Started before 9 am and ended about 8 pm, very safe only a couple of visitors at a time but very little downtime (mum went to put her feet up and I would go back to the kitchen to sort the next batch of food).

So, after that massive diversion - no party, no presents. I did have a 3 month plan, which ends on the 31st August, and it did include a party (similar to last year, no invites but anyone who turned up with a card or a present would be offered food (and tea or bottled water). However my 3 month plan included doing a bit each week and squirrelling things away, which hasn't happened. So the no party announcement was a relief. When I messaged DS1 and DS2 (DS1, darling d-i-l and grandpuppy visited last BH which was the first time I'd seen them since 7 March 2020) DS2 said they were going to visit the Saturday before (last weekend) as they are going to the Yorkshire Dales this weekend, but if we were too ill for visitors they could come the weekend after. Checked with mum  and she said it was okay and I'm so glad because it gave me such a boost (the other visitors were slightly draining) and whilst DS2 was doing the last task, I was explaining to his gf what I had to do with the edging stones and she said they will take me to bnq for sand and cement when they have the car (they were going to a friend to deliver birthday presents and then out to eat so were using taxis) and they have some leave due so will come and do some of the heavy stuff for me.

I had an appointment with the Practice Nurse last Monday and decluttered a lot of stress. It was my diabetic review but I wanted to do my MH review as well (she went pale when I took out my notebook with the list). We didn't do the formal MH checklist but a lot of issues came out whilst we were doing the foot exam (ankle was bandaged because of mum having me hobbling here there and everywhere and experience has taught me to wrap it up as soon as I notice the problem) and discussing my eating habits. I hadn't realised how much I needed to blow off steam (very therapeutic).

I will continue to do what mum needs me to do (even if she won't acknowledge that she needs me) but will prioritise my own MH and what I want to do. I will ignore all the negative comments and remove myself from the room when it gets too much. I have recognised that my MH is a bit wobbly and am taking steps to bolster it and have fun. Nothing about the way I look, anything I say or do or even who I am will ever be right/ good enough for mum but I like who I am so that's fine. My boys and lots of other people love me (DS3 says I'm beautiful on the inside, which is what matters). The nurse wasn't allowed to check my chest or issue antibiotics (she noticed I was 'clammy'). I think I have an infection and that was one of the 3 symptoms I'd jotted down under that heading. So I will continue plodding but accept that I'm not 100% and rest lots. 

I had told mum I didn't know what time I would be back, so I didn't try to run for the little bus. I bought food from the infirmary cafe, sat outside on a bench to eat one of their excellent baked potatoes, Had a little picnic bag of sandwiches, lemon and lime flavoured water (I had taken a litre of water with me) and a few bits and a new book to read. I strolled down to the rubbish bins and checked bus times (back to normal half hourly - there have been so few people going to appointments that they reduced to hourly) so caught the next one to Morries (penultimate stop before it comes back).

Sat on the 'plaza' in the sunshine, then crossed to the SM. Wanted to cross over to the country park but decided against it - could have used a trolley to help me walk across the car park but still a bit more to walk before the crossing point and no benches at this end of the park (think they have changed it so you can no longer access the main part (benches and bird hides) so did a slow shop (puzzle book, drinks for me including non-alcoholic wine, some things for mum which she paid me for, and some bits to go with all the hm salads I put together from use ups and scraps, caught a taxi back to mum's, put things away and had my picnic in the garden later. Lovely day.

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hello, can I come back please? I`ve not posted since June, and I`ve got loads to report, and loads more to do and hopefully be encouraged by you lovely de-clutterers, but I thought I`d better catch up first, so I`ve taken a few days to read all the posts I`ve missed....and feel encouraged already.

Things move sop fast on this thread, and I`ve noticed a few names missing, and new de-clutterers coming in, but thankfully the wonderful Mrs SD and many stalwarts are still here, some have had sad news to share and troubles to cope with, as well as sharing even minor bits of progress - I want to send belated hugs to ALL,  and I realise how much I`ve have missed reading and posting.

short_bird

As you know, I like to include life maintenance tasks on here.
1466: last week's job application resulted in an email late yesterday and an interview today
I'll know tomorrow if I have a second interview fingers crossed as:
"I can tell you I don't have money... but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career."   

Happy_Kitties

289 finished off a bottle of shampoo of DDs. Getting thru all the bits she brought back from uni slowly
290 contact lens bottle into recycling
291 unused wheelchair bits given back to wheelchair man
292. final part of a birthday present finally given out

neutral items sent out to another animal charity = 14
Total now sent out 113

3secondmemory

Mixed bag so far this week. 

I’ve still not been into town – but with the ankle, then the back and now the knee, I’m amazed I’ve got anything done at all. 

My trusty old Pull-along vacuum cleaner is no longer fit for purpose. The metal  spring under the quick release button has given up the ghost (15 yrs old min) so the dust container won’t clip back in. It’s going to cost anything upwards of £60 to have it fixed and could take months . . i’ve always had a special relationship with this Hoover because it’s the only one I managed to stop the children from destroying over the years 😂😂 they were good at helping with housework but they were really tough on machinery. I would always suggest that they use the upright Hoover and I would offer to use the little one because ‘it wasn’t as powerful’ 😉😉😉😉 
 don’t judge me - I was outnumbered and they really weren’t very smart 😂😂 In their little tiny, formative male brains, they probably thought that the big hoover was too powerful for their  little mum 😂😂

Anyway, at one point we had a Dyson stick Hoover as well – complete waste of time as it only took one child to go over the tassles on a rug, one time, to burn the motor out. I paid for a rather expensive repair but it started cutting out a few years ago and, I’ve been meaning to get it repaired but it never even made it anywhere near the shortlist. 

I decided to face it yesterday so I sorted out all the bits for the Dyson (and the bits for the Vax Hoover, the Vax Steamer, the Bissel Spot carpet cleaner and the Thane steam mop) and decided to empty it and clean it, ready for repair. I could see lots of blonde hair wrapped around the brush so I started pulling away and then I decided to get a pair of scissors and start snipping it - and then I realised it was nylon hair extensions! It was trying to get fishing line off a prop -it took ages but when the brush was moving freely I cautiously switched it on just to see if it was charged and it’s working perfectly. 

I am so happy 😁 i’ve got the perfect spot in the kitchen to fit the thing that the Dyson sits in while it’s recharging, my steam mop will fit in my cupboard now I’ve moved the shelf up and I can keep the spot carpet cleaner upstairs in the back of my built-in wardrobe now that all bin bags of shame have been dealt with. 

I’m going to Freecycle the Hoover in case anyone is inventive enough to repair it -the motor is still great - it lifts my carpets off the floor 😃 and I think I might get £15 for the older steam cleaner on FB 

I even managed to do a car boot sale this morning -I didn’t really have a lot to sell but my lovely neighbour does them regularly and I said I would keep her company. She was also aware of the limitations of my larger-than-life knee so I didn’t have to do any walking. It was a pleasant morning and I came  home £10 better off. 

So – that’s me! I can’t walk but I can Hoover 😂

FantasyMe doesn’t need to walk far anyway. 😉 and talking of FantasyMe- I finally got round to trying on a dress that I bought last week in the charity shop and I’m so pleased with it. It’s definitely a lot bolder than my usual Steve Jobs-inspired way of dressing 😂 
it’s Monsoon - the type of stuff I look at and think that I can’t get away with wearing but this is cute and classy - and so well made, lined and embroidered. And it only cost me a fiver😂😂😂

I can’t wait to wear it – I haven’t felt like that about anything in my wardrobe for a great many years. 😊