2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

retiredinfrance

Hello everyone. Reporting in after a long gap
Out
1 broken comb
1 handbag
1 jacket
1 bag wool
 3 uu samples toiletries
1pile bubblewrap
1 box of tourist leaflets found in a box I thought was empty
3 skirts
4 jumpers1 pile plastic bags
20 books
1 enormous pile of wool from stash that I used to crochet yet another blanket
total =37
37+330 =367/365  Hooray  total reached for the year. 
And two over .
This is partly the reason for the gap in posting. I wanted to collect all my totals and make one last dash for the 365 finishing line. I didn't know if I would start another challenge but I've decided to start next year's 365 challenge as decluttering is now second nature to meThe other reason tea beckons so will return.....

skogar

Mrs SD - Great picture!

Vascodakarma - I'm sure you will have a great time on your trip. Sounds like you are well prepared and have some lovely trips to lookk forward to while you are there.

Vulpix - great that mr Vulpix is not too badly injured - wishing him a speedy recovery. Also great news you have found the mice.

retired in France - Congratulations on hitting your target for the year.

Granny kate - your Christmas shopping trips sound great. We did a trip once to Innsbruck in December when the Christmas market was on for a long weekend when we found some cheap flights. We had a great time eating our way round the Christmas market so I'm sure your trips will have been equally enjoyable.

The kitchen decluttering and sorting out has been a bit set back when on Tuesday I realised that we had a leak under the sink - all resolved and luckily because I have already sorted the cupboard there was a lot less in there than there would have been as I have cleared some stuff and other things are in baskets waitng to go back in when I  have a shelf in the cupboard. Improvements back in hand now.

retiredinfrance

Well... when I last posted I was getting ready to go to England to see family and I was worried about Covid and stressed with all the arrangements for travelling. It was a very emotional visit ,getting to know the youngest now at 2+ and new born when I had last been over. Actually it was a safe trip- airport not at all busy and no public transport thanks to DS. I went out shopping early on a Monday morning  - it was quiet and 50/50 mask wearing outside. I was relieved. When I got home I was shattered too much going on all a bit overwhelming . Then the weather picked up and we spent most of our days getting the garden ready for winter. I'm fine now and though I kept up reading about everyone,  I decided I would post when I hit my target.
 I feel so fortunate now having read about all the troubles some of you have and are still dealing with. TC77- reading about you and feeling overwhelmed was me two days before I left when the printer wouldn't print  and I was taking photos of the laptop screen and I remembered a phrase or song - like, Stop the world I want to get off!. But it all passed. So I' thinking of you now and hugs are flying over to you. Vulpix - glad to hear Mr. V is safe at home and look after yourself and you, too, Liverpool-Anne, glad to hear OH is progressing. A loved one is hospital is frightening, especially at the moment when all the staff are under so much pressure - I take my hat off to all those working in the NHS - a 100% pay rise wouldn't be enough IMHO. And Vascodakarma I love the new name - so positive and you have achieved so much. I see you as Vasco da Gama setting forth , sailing to new worlds and greeting your destiny, with all the old "troubles" fading away . Bala - keep going  and talk to us here - as Mrs SD said, we're like a group of old friends having a glass or two  and helping each other along the road. 
Hugs for anyone in need  and sorry for all the troubles some of us are facing.

In other news , as they say, I have started next year's challenge, same again 365 for 2022, and so far,
1 -12 metres of curtain fabric I will never make up.
2 -4 pieces of fabric for cushions I will never make
total 5/365
Keep safe everyone. 
 

TC77

Mrs SD thank you for adding up my numbers

Love all the craft ideas - making wreaths from the artificial trees that have seen better day and memory items. I'm not good at sewing but made several draught excluders only to find several were not deep enough and then made a mega one which is really too big! collecting my old socks and will start again.

2017 -    all parcels I picked up for DD1 out of house and also her clothes to return.
2018 - lamp picked up by freegler
2019 bag to cs
2020- 2021 extra items in CS bag
2022 2023 ood food  and then took out risotto from freezer and unappetising!
2024 item returned (kept one but not ready to deduct things coming into the house)
2025 -2026 airer and basket given to DD1
Started new CS bag 2027 - 2028 two items added
2029 packaging /boxes recyled
2030 email frog done.

Feeling that if I keep going may see some real progress this year and then next year can get to another level and have clutter free - ok at least not have to move things to get to other things or climb over things!!

TC77

2031 another lidded raffia storage box, lovely raspberry colour but haven't used for years.  

Have a very good quality white duvet cover that lent to dd1 and is now marked so trying to think if worth cutting up for anything,  good for animal refuge or just textile recycle , suggestions welcome. Hadnt realised the difference in quality and think I will treat myself for Christmas.

vulpix

TC77 ,I would say if a soak in bleach fails and the marks are just on one side, a table cloth, and or pillow cases. If sewing is not appealing I would fabric recycle. Would dye cover the marks?

 I fell asleep this morning so haven't made the progress I would have liked. Plus we went out tonight just for a coffee. What I have is 5 empty banana boxes. The result of repacking and discarding stuff. I have filled a box of Christmas things that I am ready to part with. I have re packed the pantry with the Christmas things that I will use this year most accessible. There is also an artificial tree to go.

 I listed a little cupboard for free on FB but have realised with a little bit of sawing it would look nice in the fire place in our bedroom. It is an inch too tall.

 Once again I have piles of stuff in the sitting room waiting to go to their various resting places. Once they have gone I will just enjoy a tidy house for a while. 

 I intend to keep sorting and decluttering again next year and go through every room in turn. The more I do the easier it becomes. Building work should happen next year. New roof, kitchen ,bathroom ,sitting room and lots and lots of plug sockets needed everywhere. I also have a garden to make.

 Vx

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 😉

4. CLEAN & EMPTY SURFACE AREAS - DAILY

Was out of bed before 9:00 a.m. today 😱 but didn’t get dressed until noon 😔 Thursday has been a grey, dismal & damp day. Wrote shopping list so DH could do the weekly sm trip after he had picked up a motorbike part that had been lost at the garage when he had the seat cover fitted 👏 DH requested I do the washing (he was running out of socks & undies) 😱 So 3 wash loads done, 2 loads of drying in td all folded & ready to be put away, 3rd load in td. I know it is not very MSE but the house is so cluttered that I do not want damp clothes hanging around 😔 Meanwhile DSis has been unwell & has spent all day in her room. Transpires that although she loves DH’s cheesy pasta it does not love her ☹️ She ate a tiny portion of dinner - fried chicken & boiled potatoes (DH & I also had tinned sweetcorn)  I actually sorted out a few tasks today: 1) emptied & cleaned fridge then rearranged contents 2) wrote up a few more recipes 3) cleaned some more moss off front path 4) sorted today’s post  My door to door chap came (DSis has sent him away the last 3 visits) so I bought a few bits from him 😉 & gave him a XMas box (which he will use for his daughter 🙂). He is doing well - has set up a website for his music & is being interviewed by music magazines 👏 Also had a chat with ndn D who was having his drive & path jet washed & treated by a chap who has been working down the main drag for a couple of days. I declined the offer 😉 but when DH came back from the sm he agreed & the chap did ours as well (£70) 😄 So I had wasted my time BUT at least I got some exercise 😉😉 Just wudupa. 

2100 - 2103 Kitchen recycling, cardboard packaging, 2 newspapers - recycled 

2104 - 2105 Kitchen detritus, plastic packaging - recycled 

I cross posted with you Liverpool_Anne 😉 A lovely post - you are very ‘crafty’  & I hope you manage to find enough to do to keep you artistically occupied 😉 I have a warm glow reading your lovely compliment 😊

Great post wort 👏 

All these artistic people 👏🙂 The teddies sound beautiful ThriftyTaylor 🙂 You are very welcome 🙂 It also means you will appear on the roll call at the end of the year 😉

Love it vulpix 👏 I thought it looked like a Predator without it’s mask 😉 “dreadful at asking for help” sounds like me - I don’t even like asking DH for help (apart from computer stuff 😉) Although I did eventually work out how to post a photo on these forums 🙂 Yet another ‘crafty’ person 👏🙂 & I am so chuffed that you got tempted into the conversation about crafting 🥳 Great ideas for TC77 👏 Wow absolutely excellent decluttering  🤩  not too sure what else you could have done 🤔 I think your nap was well earned 👏 All that decluttering has earned you a Gold Star ⭐️ A great idea to sit back & admire your tidy home (once all the stuff in your sitting room has been relocated to its final destination 🙂 I was absolutely exhausted reading about your plans for 2022 😪 Hopefully you will post a few pictures as the work progresses 🙏 

You are welcome nannywindow 🙂 The consensus on the celeriac  seems to be an HP screaming mandrake (my DH has no idea what that is as he has never watched any of the HP films 😂) Hopefully the Christmas decorations will cheer up your DH 🤞 Sorry that you have had a falling out with your Dad ☹️ but there is only so much ‘it is everyone else’s fault’ that any one person can take. I admire your restraint 👏 We love our families (mostly 😉) but sometimes we do feel like we could happily declutter certain individuals 😉😂 

Finstickle, I think all this lovely chat makes us better declutterers 🙂👏 You & your DH are doing great work 👏 and as you are both so happy I am awarding each of you a Gold Star ⭐️ ⭐️ 🙂👏 Another talented crafter 👏 🥳 No wonder you are happy Finstickle - so much crafting & the chance to earn a few ££ 🙂 

Lovely to see you retiredinfrance 👋 Excellent decluttering 👏 & well done on hitting your target 👏 one Gold Star ⭐️  on it’s way 🙂 I had to smile “decluttering is now second nature to me” so you are starting next year’s challenge 😅👏 & yes I will be setting up a new thread 😉 What a glorious post retiredinfrance 🙂 Very happy to hear that your visit was successful & safe 🙂 & another great cheerleading post 👏 Wouldn’t that be a lovely action for the gubberment to take - 100% pay rise for all NHS staff - nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners et al - paid for by MPs taking a pay cut 😉😉 What a great start to next year’s challenge 👏🙂

Thanks skogar 👏 I love the cheerleading 🙂 Thank you for reminding us of the benefits of decluttering 👏 Your quick resolution of the leak was only possible because of your previous decluttering 👏🙂 

Yippee TC77 🥳 another friend who has reached & surpassed their decluttering target 👏 One Gold Star ⭐️ on it’s way 🙂 Practice makes perfect - your next draught excluder will be spot on 👏🙂 You are seeing light at the end of the decluttering tunnel 😉 Did you watch Stacey S. tonight - I really wish it was that easy to get a warehouse space to lay out all my ‘stuff’ & then have some clever carpenter building storage space 😉 Oh well I can dream 🤣 Some great suggestions from vulpix re the good quality but stained duvet cover 🙂

Just paid the milkman - 2 weeks goes by so fast 😱 

Watching a weird film called Doomsday (2008) - glad Covid hasn’t been as bad as the plague in this story 😔

MrsSD   🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🥇🥇      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Decluttering Target: 2021    2105/2021

2021 Savings Pot:  £566.45 to end of November

Liverpool_Anne

@vulpix, good luck with all your p!ans for next year. My Dakar rally started with "I need more sockets"
Today I have organised for the floor people to come and do the floor in the back room and hallway and to lay the carpet on the stairs and landing. I had already chosen the flooring but not the carpet so a trip to the shop was required. When I got there they tell me there is a problem with the flooring. Apparently they were having problems laying it, it's a click type with built in underlay which I had chosen as I have floorboards and varioux services under the floor which might need to be got at if there is a problem. Anyway this stuff apparently doesn't like being put on top of floorboards and kept unclicking so the shop have stopped using it. Glad as I was that the problem was averted in my house I then had to go through the whole process of picking a new one. I am usually very indecisive with these things and I was very glad to have OH with me who is much better at these things. Upshot is we got out of the shop 15 mins before it closed and this time in 2 weeks we will have most of the flooring in the house sorted . I am very happy about this. I then only have to move the furniture from the front to the back, decorate the front, get the floor sorted and sort the little bedroom back into my study / craft room. I feel I am definitely making progress. Tomorrow I will have to put some stuff in the loft as there really is no where else to put it but only what I know I want to keep. I also am aiming to get to the stage when I don't have to move stuff to get to other stuff
I didn't watch stacey tonight, it is just so unfair that I can't have a warehouses and carpenter etc it depresses me.
Take care everyone

Liverpool_Anne

Oh almost forgot, I need a new kitchen as well, hmm not as close to the finishing line as I thought but definitely a stage closer

florianatwobob

@Liverpool_Anne your Dakar Rally sounds a bit like mine…we needed a new kitchen but before that happened we needed more room so knocked out two small walls which removed two doorways (just 3 in the kitchen now instead of 5). Then the house was rewired with temporary drops added where we thought we needed the electrics. Then the kitchen was stripped. First fix for electrics and plumbing )including some plumbing upgrades). Kitchen in and then second fixes. 

Then the glass splash backs instead of tiling (oh how I love them) and the new floor. Then the trimming of the kick boards to accommodate the slightly higher floor. 

Soooo much decluttering and moving stuff to and from the shed!