2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

TC77

Gosh lots going on, decluttering, holidaying and plastering. I have been reading but abit too overwhelmed to post.
A few days at my dad's house with DB..... a tip run, and 5 bags to CS, 2 TVs sold, 1 to the tip, and a monitor back with me. Photos of few other things, and hours going through drawers in the shed and garage, sorting plastic, wood, so many hinges, diy bits, handles for 1960s/80s kitchens, many unidentifiable items, an anchor, several deck chairs, golf umbrellas, motorised but decaying golf buggy, tea chest for about 20 pictures which must have been there over 30 years never unwrapped and from grandparents/or my childhood home. Tested 5 torches (many held together with tape) others don't have right batteries to give idea of scale! Came home last night, brought files and folders to give away (more need in SE Lewisham), and also a v pretty letter /paper rack with lid leaving 4 card index boxes behind, DB may take 2/ Going down in a couple of weeks, have half a tip run ready, and catalogued about 60 books which may be worth selling, one bookcase empty, about a dozen to go!  Also brought home stack of address books/telephone books to go through and check any relations to keep in touch with or anyone we haven't notified - putting this off but can't be down there as much as DB. Did find the local mens shed and going to invite them round to see if they want some of the tools/DIY stuff. 
Off for early night hopefully.
Need to do more of my own things  

Wednesday2000

Wildrose said:

@teachergirl who would buy dentures on ebay? It's not like they have a size label. 

Why would anyone want them? That is very odd.

TC77

Did smile at the denture discussion . Have to say one of the categories I threw away, although hearing aids given to charity and fancy ones returned to the hospital. Counting 10 from my dad's as not my stuff but some more could have come here and quite abit of effort. Hoping to get some frogs done as they are building up.
@Wildrose .. i write like that at times, and sometimes find them and some get shredded. My mum used to have what she called her 'steam book'. I'm hoping she shredded them and I won't come across them. I don't want my kids to come across mine!

Wildrose

It's exhausting isn't it @TC77? Sounds like you're getting a lot done, even if your own stuff is neglected. I live amongst my parent's clutter (most of it's in the sheds, garage or loft) so I guess it is my stuff now.

Impressed by the anchor! I take it your Dad's house is on the coast? 

I wonder, with so many of us wrestling with sorting out our parent's belongings, if most of them were the war generation with hard-wired frugality and might-come-in-useful mind sets? 

TC77

@wildrose , yes, very close to, there's the remains of a 1970s dinghy? we can't get in the large shed and haven't ventured in the loft. Still have 2 wheelchairs, collected one from the care home while DB rode the mobility scooter back.....going at much slower pace than @mhagster. my excuse that a long round trip, I already have some of their things and will bring back more. Found a furniture restorer and was going to get a trial run of a mid century coffee table I have then looked at it again and realise not great quality so will save my pennies. I'm reupholstering a rocking footstool from my parents at evening classes and taking so long and classes not cheap that curbing my enthusiasm for taking damaged things. I know many very crafty people here would do wonders but recognise my limitations!

Wildrose

@TC77 I'd love to be more crafty, in the fixing things up sense of course, but it's not my skill. I've got a garage full of DIY supplies and timber etc but I struggle to remove the battery from my drill to recharge it. Let alone tackle reupholstering and the like. Doing some refinishing of some old wooden furniture and shelving but that is my limit.

florianatwobob

@Wildrose mine were Dad was born 1929, Mum 1939. Dad was in the Navy 1947 onwards and if it didn’t fit in his kit bag (or his figurative kit bag) then it was useless to him. Mum however had a major case of ‘make do and mend’ or as we lovingly (and darkly) referred to it ‘The Dunkirk Spirit’. In her defence she did lose both parents by the time she was 10 and a lot of family stuff was sold or passed on so ‘things’ were important to her. Her sister, my aunt, was able to salvage some bits which we’re handed over to Mum after my aunt died. Which is how we now have Gt Grandma Lydia’s copper warming pan! GG Lydia was 1856 vintage and I’ve no idea where the warming pan originated  precisely  I’m led to believe that it’s it’s earlier than your typical Victorian one  

Decluttering, however, was a dockyard job.    

Wildrose

@florianatwobob Dad was born in 1930, Mum in 1936. Mum didn't have too much trouble getting rid of things, but she came from a well-off family whereas Dad's were really poor. 

I have a vivid memory from the late 70s of my Dad beckoning me over to the dustbin while sadly shaking his head. "Look at this Rose" he said, raising the dustbin lid. Within were several pairs of crimplene trousers my Mum had thrown out. "They'd have made lovely rag rugs" he said sorrowfully.

Thing is, he was right. We had wall to wall carpets and were in no need of rag rugs. Mum had made plenty of rag rugs in her time and had no intention of doing any more in the Hip & Happening 70s. But my Dad would have fitted seamlessly into today's zieitgeist. He'd be giving poaching and foraging classes. How to evade gamekeepers and angry farmers & feed your family!

mhagster

And an evening update 😆

So doggy had vets at 4.15pm, chap was coming at 5pm, messaged him to say vet was running a bit late so I might run a bit late. I absolutely hate lateness but what can you do I was giving him the heads up. Oh the person giving me a lift doesn’t like lateness should we make it tomorrow! Eh what? Anyway came out had enough time to get to mums  but not enough to get to mine , drop dog off then back round. So said I’m on my way. He then phoned to say his lift was running late! Could not make it up! 

Anyway filled  2 more bags with garden stuff and tipped  out the half barrel ‘pond’ that my great nephew had been dropping garden ornaments into weeks ago, so lots of stinky water which I’ve hosed.

My friend came to collect a sewing machine and fabric and wool that will go to a good project. When I say fabric I mean two huge holdalls that were up in the loft! Another tick of my mental list. Had a nice chat with her waiting on the latecomers ! 

They came and took some of my grandads old tools from the shed. He died almost 40 years ago! I wanted them to go the right person and they did. I’d messaged him a few days ago to see if he was interested so they’ve gone to a good home which again I’m glad about. Another tick of the very long mental list! It’s huuuuge! 

TC77 I’ve just got to keep powering on ( I’m so knackered!) as it’s just me that’s doing it, I want house up for sale and sold ( fingers crossed) before we have to pay to keep it warm through winter! And if I take a day off it’s still there to be done! Once my niece takes furniture away it’s just beds to be taken out , a huge hoover of every single carpet and then I’m getting a cleaner in! The garden ain’t getting manicured it’s just getting tidied! And I’m going away for a month so that’s my deadline! 

Wildrose

@mhagster You're astonishing. You've done more decluttering in a few weeks than I've done in a few years. Inspirational.