2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

So Thursday dawned bright & sunny but chilly high 40’sF & DH & I got the bag drop time wrong 😑 We had woken, done our ablutions & were having a leisurely cup of coffee when DH’s phone pinged “where are you?” Gathered everything together & were out of the room, bags loaded on van & into bike, jackets & helmets on & sat on the bike all within 13 minutes 😉 No damage done as there was no breakfast provided so we were travelling to a *bucks. We headed off along California Highway 1 & stopped in Solvang - to have a coffee but nothing open until 10:00 a.m. 😔 so had to settle for a bottle of water & a restroom visit 😉 Continued on our way on 101 then back onto Coastal Route through Malibu - lovely beaches fairly calm sea (a big disappointment for the surfers 😉) & stopped at Santa Monica Pier. Interesting but not our cup of tea but pleased it was included as we might have wasted Friday on a visit 😅 We had Pier burgers - almost like a big Ma*, root beer & tried a Route 66 - frozen chocolate custard packed with or*os, chunks of chocolate & m+ms
- ok but not enough custard which was delicious 🤤 Restroom visit then back to the bike (I promise I will get back to calling it a bathroom when I get home 😂) Onto Interstate 10 where it was stop start but nowhere near as bad as we were expecting, then 405 South which was disappointingly dull not the horrendous traffic we were expecting (no pleasing some people is there 🤣), filled up with fuel for the last time then pulled into Eagle Rider to drop off bikes. Emptied panniers & top box, had a beer whilst bikes were given a cursory glance for damage then got into minibus & driven to hotel. Whilst we were at Eagle Rider both our motorcycle helmets & DH’s gloves were consigned to the dumpster - mine 11 years old so at least twice the life that it should have had 😱 Van containing our luggage turned up a few minutes later. Then there was a mix up with rooms as another tour group was at the hotel - heading off on Friday for the start of their adventure 🙂 Didn’t take too long to sort & we were in our room by about 5:00 p.m. We collapsed for about 30 minutes then showered & got ready for the leaving party. Picked up by 2 minibuses & headed off to a venue called South Bay Custom Bikes - lots of interesting photos, old bikes etc & The Fastest Indian on screens running on a loop. Used to be a custom build motorbike shop but now an entertainment venue. Right next door to an oil refinery 😱 Live music - a guitarist singer & a drummer. Excellent musicians. The venue was a bit big for just 24 people but everyone tried. Excellent food - brisket, pulled pork, beans & coleslaw + mini buns. Absolutely delicious food & plenty for all 😋 A lively time & then the raffle + our guide Josh made a speech & then commented specifically on all the members of the group - we were described as gentle & positive souls - I’ll take that as a description of our characters 😉 Many photos taken by everyone & lots of chat & even some dancing 😊 Finished at 10:00 p.m. & minibuses back to hotel. I went straight to our room as slightly squiffy & very tired but DH went to bar & had a final drink with the Belgian couples. 

Back shortly.

MrsSD
868/2022

Floss

@mhagster take care of yourself - even though expected your mum's passing will still have an impact.

Also, consider signing up for gift aid at the charity shops for your donations, so they can benefit even more from your mum's possessions. 

Not much decluttering going on, unless weeds from the garden count?!

florianatwobob

What a lovely compliment for your both Mrs & Mr SD. It sounds like you’ve had a wonderful adventure. 

Sorry to hear about your MiL @Siebrie and your mum @mhagster. Even when you know it’s likely to happen it still comes as a surprise. 

Conquered, once again, most of the ironing pile (with all the unexpected visits from the gentleman carpenter DSis keeps hiding the washed clothes before I can retrieve and sort). I was fast approaching empty drawers.

U/u a bottle of shampoo. Now to conquer the conditioner mountain. 

Had a rootle though my scrapbooks/photo albums with an aim to start sorting them and de stash the craft supplies. This is going to a bigger job than hoped (I knew I was hoping in vain  - if you follow). 

I hope everyone in the UK has been enjoying the extra long weekend so far. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Back again after repacking & sealing 3 of our 4 hold bags. Unfortunately the a/c isn’t working so still have one bag to sort & have escaped our room to cool down in the lobby with a coffee & a cold drink. 

Back to where I left off 😉 A better night’s sleep as I managed 4 consecutive hours. Friday - Finally got up, abluted & dressed 09:45 a.m. Pottered for a while then went down to breakfast at just gone 10:00. Lots of coffee, water & OJ. DH had an American breakfast & I had my usual toast & jam. Said our goodbyes to various members of our group who were flying home today & chatted for a while with the 2 English brothers which was when I signed off on the previous post.
We have reported the non working a/c & are now relaxing in the lobby.
We are definitely sad that our trip is over BUT neither of us is at all sure that we could manage any more riding 😉😅 
Two pictures to follow - the bubble man on Santa Monica Pier & a group photo of the two weekers 

Hope everyone is OK & there have been no Random Gravity Tests. Will pop back later 😉

MrsSD
868/2022

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Very impressive to watch 👏

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

The two weekers including Josh our guide & Tim our van driver 😊

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Notes for my return: P244 re cheerleading. Nos = 868/2022. P241 re original mantras & sign off.

EnergyShifter

EnergyShifter said. 

824.  Applied for refund for flight
825.  B12 injection
826.  Emergency appointment at dentist - a crown fell out and took most of my tooth with it - thankfully its at the bottom and not visible.... 

Really looking forward to the extended weekend.  We have no plans whatsoever which feels wonderful.  I hope you all have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.  ☀️☀️☀️

I don't know if it was the B12 shot or the fact that the sun come out for a while but I've had more energy the last couple of days.  

827.  Wheelie bin full of green waste
828.  Wheelie bin full of shed (I'm getting there.... ) 
827.  Wire cover -fixed to outside wall - there were no wires.... 
827.  Gave the decking and garden furniture a good clean
828.  EMDR session

@basketcase - that's really encouraging  
@siebre & @mhagster - so sorry to hear about your MIL & mother (respectively)
@mrssd - what lovely photos

Hope you are all having a good break

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Still Friday here in LA. Forgot to mention the weather - started overcast but gradually cleared & a warmish day of high 70’sF. Clouded over again early evening. Said goodbye to a few more of our group leaving today. The 2 English brothers spent the afternoon with our Polish rider who had hired a car. Did a tour round & visited Santa Barbara. DH & I finished packing the 4th suitcase - all that needs putting in there before it is locked is some dirty undies, a couple of t-shirts, the electrical stuff & the wash bag. The a/c was fixed promptly. The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to find something to watch on TV - ended up watching a few episodes of American Dad & a film called The Children Act with Emma Thompson & Stanley Tucci. Got coffees about 6:00 p.m. Then went down to lobby again 8:00 p.m. & ordered 10” pizza for dinner washed down with Dr Pepper - eaten in our room. Box taken & binned in lobby when I went down for my last cigarette. Both DH & I are now relaxed & rested for the stress that is inevitable at the airport & lasts until the plane is in the air 😉 Loved the post that weenancy put on the daily thread - 6 days of driving being preferable to 2 airport experiences 👏
We are now both in bed, alarm set but not yet feeling sleepy 😔

Hope you all enjoyed the Bank Holidays & have pleasant things planned for the weekend 🙂

MrsSD
868/2022

TC77

@mhagster so sorry to hear about your mum and hope you are taking time to be kind to yourself. My dad died a few months ago, not expected at that time but knew that he most likely wouldn't see another xmas. I've found it harder than I might have thought and although very organised there is alot to sort through and we can see that some folders etc are a little muddled, either reused with several titles. It sounds as if you are doing so much, please don't exhaust yourself. 
Interesting things I would be happy to take to the CS my brother is hesitant about or is thinking of a car boot sale, and then when he thinks things can I go I think someone may want as retro etc!
I brought more of my dad's clothes have washed to freshen and will take to refugee/homeless project tomorrow. Tested around 40 light bulbs at his - everything boxed and mainly labelled but so many hobbies. Taken photo of dinghy in the garden to see if someone wants to restore, but found the mast and oars etc in garage - ceiling has storage of wood and these. The lock on the large shed won't shift so can't get to main woodwork tools but  in small shed so many are rusty - going to look into how easy to derust some - he has upholstery tools I would quite like. DB took about 60 golf balls but hasn't taken any of the golf clubs yet. We did find some old cine from 60s/70s  some which we don't think we've ever seen.
Little done at mine, as out at community picnic and decluttered stress with friends only to reclutter in RL at home with ultra stressed DD2 who has exams next week (Year 12) so not sure what life will be like next year:(
Have moved PC and printer out of my bedroom and back to study, but struggling to  de-cat the office chair!
Invited friends from picnic home but luckily they wanted to get home as I realised house abit more chaotic than I would want them to see !
Will plough on and then add nos.