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2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN
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Made some more progress with my living room declutter:Bought that storage box I mentioned yesterday & packed away all the ornaments/odds & sods that I can't bear to declutter. Well, it is only one box & I have got rid of a lot!I have a small vinyl collection, so I tidied them & stacked them neatly beside my player. Gave the table they stand on a good clean & dust.
Did some more filing/binning/shredding of paperwork.Will persevere later today when I return home.7 -
DD2 tried on the winter shoes we had stored in the attic, and found 1 pair that fit and that she likes. 2 pairs are washed and will be sent to African relatives, dd1 will try and sell 3 other pairs. DD2's current pair is past its best, will be worn to the messy 'forest fun' day they attend with the primary school today, and then put in the bin.I found another kingsize down duvet in the attic (I think I have 4 sets now.....) and have put it with the other spare duvets. I was always confused about the duvets, because I knew I had more, but could never find them when I needed them. Turns out I was storing them in 3(!) different places.The pile of washable diapers (old, never used by me on dds, but probably used on me by Mum 50 years ago....) will be donated to husband's relatives. I kept 2 for floor washing purposes.A small hole in 1 king size duvet cover mended, another kingsize duvet cover with holes at the top donated to husband's relatives. It's still a very large piece of cotton, and they can use it as sheets. I would have fixed it, if I didn't have 7 more covers already.3 mattress protectors donated to husband's relatives.2 small piles of fancy lacy embroidered, etc handkerchiefs combined in 1 (still small) pile. I have plans for them.2 holey handkerchiefs in recycling bag.Large overflowing box with curtains and sofa covers separated into 1 box with curtains (which now closes) and 1 box with sofa covers (which also closes). This is the box that was liberated by dd2 trying on the shoesA laundry basket full of winter gear has been tried on by dd2, anything too small or uncomfy is in the bag to be donated to a local charity; all single gloves were put in the bin. Tonight, dd1 and husband will try on the winter gear for this year. I have already sorted mine. Whatever's left will be put back in the laundry basket and back in the attic for next year.1 large bowl of soup made from bottom of the fridge items, and very nice it was, too.
Are you wombling, too, in '22? € 58,96 = £ 52.09Wombling in Restrictive Times (2021) € 2.138,82 = £ 1,813.15Wombabeluba 2020! € 453,22 = £ 403.842019's wi-wa-wombles € 2.244,20 = £ 1,909.46Wombling to wealth 2018 € 972,97 = £ 879.54Still a womble 2017 #25 € 7.116,68 = £ 6,309.50Wombling Free 2016 #2 € 3.484,31 = £ 3,104.598 -
When Mr V and I got together He brought the contents of a 3 bedroom house and huge garage with him to add to my 3 bedroom house. I would say we have rehomed more than half in the last 12 years. I am pleased that very little indeed has gone to the tip. Only broken electricals really.
It gets easier over time with each pass. So in effect the contents of a 6 bedroom house now fit in a 2 bedroom house. I feel like even if we move to a bigger house again I wouldn't want more stuff.
Recently I have let things go that I have kept for 40 years or more. My Grandmas embroidered table cloths for example. I will never use them, the kids will never use them. They have gone to a lady who rents out things for vintage tea parties.
Mr V has let a lot of things go. Thousands of records went in 2 big vans to the local Hospice shop. A lot of PA and DJ equipment has been sold but a lot more needs to go. This part of the declutter will be harder because I don't know what anything is and Mr V is not as ruthless as me. I do keep planting seeds. Technology is getting smaller and smaller so better to sell stuff now whilst it still has some value and use. wink face if I could do them! I also said he needs to sort his sheds as SS has said he would just skip it all if Mr V died. Harsh but true.
The studio is on hold until we have emptied the lock up. A lot of ducks need to align to sort this one out. It feels like jenga. Mind you the house felt a bit like that until I got ruthless.
I will go through all the cupboards and drawers regularly now and I will have a push on the boxes in the pantry before Christmas. Some of my stash is dependant on whether I become a Grandma. Difficult one.
So all this waffle is saying, keep at it, it gets easier as you go. At this house ,having the bedroom clutter free spurred me on to want the rest of the house the same. It will be like the Forth bridge, never finished but it is so much easier to live with less stuff.
Vx:8 -
I am actually popping in for a breather from dealing with a mega frog. My craft room has become a dumping ground and the spare room too. I need to put stuff in the craft room from the spare room so I am doing a multi task. I am running on tea and biscuits. I hope to get most of it sorted by the end of the day when DS2 is coming to help dig up some plants but also unload then reload the loft.
I am taking out winter bags for the CS and the winter stuff put by for the refugees. Up will go packaging and summer clothing for the CS.
DH has been collecting coins and there is a lot of leftover packaging. He wants to keep some and so do I for my online sales. When winter sets in we will pull the lot out and sort it. Meanwhile it can provide extra insulation for a while.
In the hall are two bags of books to go to a bookswap. A bag of wool to give to a friend. Later there will be a ton of plants I am dropping off to various people tomorrow.
I do want my craft room back as it is just a store right now. I popped to the garden centre yesterday and found a sewing group which I may join to kick start some projects I have been wanting to do but too bogged down and distracted at home.
Back to the upstairs now. I am making progress.
Wife, mother, gardener, nurse, Big C survivor. Officially retired at 55 2021 [/b][/b].Mortgage free April 2021Challenges 2024: Decluttering Campaign 32/100 bags plus 0 large items. Make £2024 in 2024#8 £0/£2024 Using my craft stash 0/52 Reading books 0/52 Donations for the CS/washing done from others (in and outs) in 2024 x 10 bags and 0 large items.8 -
Glad you are rested @vulpix. Shed jenga; you know it can be done, just got to persuade Mr V.
Even he may get more ruthless as the pressure builds up.
@TC77. Break it down and do bits at a time. Even 10mins a day can have an impact. Not long until you have that toom back too
@Mrs_Salad_Dodger: That beetroot chutney sounds great. Could you possibly share your recipe?Wife, mother, gardener, nurse, Big C survivor. Officially retired at 55 2021 [/b][/b].Mortgage free April 2021Challenges 2024: Decluttering Campaign 32/100 bags plus 0 large items. Make £2024 in 2024#8 £0/£2024 Using my craft stash 0/52 Reading books 0/52 Donations for the CS/washing done from others (in and outs) in 2024 x 10 bags and 0 large items.6 -
So …FantasyMe has crashed and burned. That cold I caught landed me in hospital on Monday. I’ve just got home this evening and obviously won’t be flying to Rome to catch my Ship tomorrow.I’m so upset but I don’t want sympathy- I was fully insured so I haven’t lost any money; all the time spent researching and planning hasn’t gone to waste.What’s more important is to remind everyone not to become complacent. Everyone is immune compromised to some extent now because none of us have had a real cough or cold (or more dangerously, the flu) for a good year and a half. I feel I have been very careful but when I went to visit the new grandbaby, my grandson who had just started Playschool had caught his first cold. Obviously we were kissing cuddling and playing the entire time I was there. I just didn’t realise how quickly a cold could take me down. Within days I had a bacterial lung infection and couldn’t breathe then the inflammation spread to my spine and kidneys. It was frightening and I was sure I had Covid.More worrying is the fact that there is no longer shielding for EcVs and those who have to work, could feel obligated or be forced back and be exposed germs that make them dangerously ill. I know we can’t live in sterile conditions but we know now that lots of small precautions can remove a large percentage of risk!So take care, stay safe and stay shielding as much as possible!I need to regroup and get over this. I’m in two minds about whether I should go away at the end of the month or cut my losses and give up on a bad idea. It might take a few days to get over this. At least I can think a bit straighter at home.Anyway take care, good night God bless x10
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@3secondmemory...so sorry to hear how ill you've been and losing your holiday, it sounds as if you're being very sanguine and regrouping sounds very positive appoach.
Mrs V, you are such an inspiration.... last year and this year I started to reduce my collection of mid century glass and crockery and other things but still do much. Clothes are waiting for some body declutter first.... keep setting deadlines and extending them
@bit_by_bit .thank you for the encouragement, it really helps as it can seem never ending. I just have to think what my house would be like if I wasn't chipping away!
1731 lever arch file
1732 homemade food removed from freezer, wasn't sure what it was but proved inedible!
1733 - 1735 follow up complaints of things not working, extractor fan (<1 yr old), plumber, and bank stuff moved forward.
1736 garden - cleared moss from patio
1737 chase of bit of shed which didn't arrive weeks ago with rest of shed! hopefully next week can they move more things into it (fingers crossed).
Feeling very grateful for the lovely decluttering family, kindness and encouragement.
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Just lost my post 😔 so will come back a bit later & try again.Be Kind. Stay Safe. Break the Chain. Save Lives. ⭐️2025 Savings Pot Challenge: As a monthly amount, running total = £228.00
Jan £5.00 Feb £12.74 Mch £23.26 Apr £32 May £43 Jun £50 July £62 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Grand Total £04 -
Last week’s Friday Frog done resulting in 5 items of paperwork going and several others filed.
6 other items paperwork gone this week and 10 other items. I found a thermos flask in the shed and was going to put it away in the kitchen but then decided it is too bulky to keep when I have another large one which takes up less space and is the one I prefer to use.
Decluttering Awards: 🏅🏅8 -
Hi all,
Yesterday I sorted 3 bags of paper and"stuff", some recycled, some organised and some followed up with phone calls. 1 needs a trip to the bank. I have realised I have enough note pads etc to open a stationary shop, ( I think it must be a teacher thing as I don't remember having this fetish before I started teaching). I have sorted a place to put them and have transferred all the info on various scraps of paper into a notebook. Recycled all the scraps
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Today I have resorted my underwear and sock draws, another pair of socks into the duster box and 3 more odd ones into the bag in the wardrobe. They really are the bane of my life. Frog phone call to the docs today to make an appointment with the nurse. I have been avoiding it as I need another blood test and the last 2 were very painful, I am a big wuss, but I know it's got to be done. Luckily the first appointment they had was the end of November so I have loads of time to gird my loinsI have also finished the baby blanket for next door but 1, ends tidied as well so I can pass that in tomorrow and make a start on a Christian gift. I also need to post off a shawl I have made for a friend's Mum who is recovering from a fall and isn't as mobile as she used to be.
I have my frog for tomorrow identified and am determined to get to it. I like the idea of frog Friday as it means I don't beat myself up for not sorting it all week
@3secondmemory, so sorry to hear you have been so ill and you have had to cancel your trip. I think you are absolutely right about not having colds for ages, I can't remember the last time I had a cold, and it is because we have been keeping away from everyone, and the children have been staying at home. This winter could be really tricky, we all need to think about this.
Off to bed now, take care everyone7
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