2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

grandmanerd

How else does one organise records other than alphabetically by artist. Well the ex had them in sections - classical, rock and folk + folk rock (he always claimed that if you play classical music extremely loudly, no-one ever complains for fear of being called a philistine). The Led Zep was one that DS2 specifically mentioned when he dropped off the 8 large boxes of albums. Just over half of them are classical and I've already identified some as being in the £200 and upwards category (he'd been making money selling online for the past few years). the 'Is it an original' debate - apparently first pressings have different numbers on the two sides. The number in question is in between the ridges at the end of the disc - well that's a job for someone with better eyesight than me.

To answer my own question, I think in Nick Hornby's 'High Fidelity', the protagonist's records (which have their own room and are colonising most of his flat) had his collection organised in chronological order but not in the order they appeared but by the dates on which he acquired them so a record made eg 25 years previously would be filed according to the year he bought it, so that only he would ever be able to find it, by remembering the time and place he purchased it. think we'll stick with alphabetical/

Yesterday part two. 7 bags to various bins including 2 to the green waste bin (it chucked it down for most of the day so trips outside were brief and to the point), 2 more ready to go (one thrown down and asked DS3 to put it outside the back door, one just needing to be tied up). Emptied tubs and containers counted, 31 plus two damaged ones broken up for binning (20 already counted so 13 extras to be added). Cleared out half the couch (netted a £2 coin and several good pens)- DS3 still needs to tackle it properly when Henry is brought home but I couldn't stand it any longer so moved the obvious stuff (under the cushion and down the sides).

Last of the clean pots put  away (and the clean plastic tubs from the windowsill), 3 cheap rusty tools binned, pair of pumps to the charity bag (bought as a standby for the funeral but unused - stuck with my boots), brought the weed proof membrane roll inside and cut several more squares for bins. In the hunt for a decent pair of scissors for cutting squares I found 3 more of my good screwdrivers in DS3's desk drawer unit (gifted by me, formerly used for craft supplies).

Disposed of a small pile of photos. When I was divorcing my ex, I selected 3 albums of my favourite photos of the children and gave hinm the other 11 photo albums worth (he took the photos). In recent years I have given DS2 and DS3 their own collections of their photos, keeping some for myself. DS1 will not be given photos as he destroys any photos of himself he comes across. Since the ex died, DS2 has brought me photos that he had (they wanted me to say whether some of the baby photos were DS2 or DS3). Now I made my choice over 30 years ago and if I've lived without these for 30 years I really don't need them, so on Friday I skimmed through a small pile - multiple photos of me feeding DS3 in ex's parent's back yard (got rid of all the out of focus ones - think he was playing with all his fancy lenses). A wodge was fused together so just binned the lot. 

I'm going to do something similar with the remainder of mum's photos (some are duplicates of mine). I think DS2 wants to go through them again and I think most of the historical ones will go to him or my younger niece (I think she's going to be the archivist for the next generation). However I want to write down as much info as possible whilst I still remember it. Planning on writing as many of the ex's folk myths and stories as I can (I checked that DS2 had included some bits in his funeral speech) because they want the baby to know about 'the grandad who was looking forward to meeting her' but didn't get to see her. But atm starting on that would be a distraction and I have more urgent tasks. May start jotting down prompts for things I want to write about.

I felt vaguely unwell yesterday (cold in my stomach), wasn't sure whether there was something wrong or if I just 'wasn't in the mood to declutter/ dissatisfied with lack of progress/ lazy'. Anyway between my evening meal and bedtime there was an incident which meant I had been ill and there  was a consequent quick declutter of some items (not prepared to salvage some items) and the mattress cleaning has started in earnest. 

This morning I travelled to get my COVID booster and was offered the flu jab too (have got Thursday back now). Both in my right arm as the shoulder arthritis means that's pretty useless anyway so a sore arm won't matter much. On my way to catch the bus I dropped off a number of items at the food bank, 7 documented the other day, another 9 toiletries and stationery stocking fillers. Asked about books (specifically children's) and she thought that was a brilliant idea so will round some of those up too. I didn't want to add to their workload so asked first (forgot to ask about soap).

So 52 more to add, 1039/2022 (more than half way there).

Blackberrycurved

Ahhh thanks for welcoming me back Mrs SD
'Nice to see you Blackberrycurved 👋 hope you managed to spend at least a little time in the TLC Carriage & that it wasn’t just RL getting in the way of your decluttering 😉 Great work so far - dealing with quite a few of those niggling little tasks 👏 A piano playing Tai Chi master has a lovely ring to it 😊 No advice to offer re the photo & memories boxes 🙁 - I have several shoe boxes full tucked away in a cupboard - out of sight out of mind …… most of the time 😉'

The piano teacher wants £20 for 30 mins does that seem expensive to you all or about right? I also have shoeboxes with photos but that is the problem I don't get them out ever. I feel I need to get the best and put them into something that will go onto the coffee table and actually be looked at. I think I may have overestimated the time have for decluttering so perhaps it will just be one frog this week. 

EnergyShifter

EnergyShifter said:

911.  Session replying to emails and messages
912.  Returned wool to shop. 

Had a rough night and woke up this morning with a full on cold - high temperature, snotty nose, cough - the works - I guess that explains why I've been quite so moany and it's a good job that we didn't book the City Break as I wouldn't be relishing the thought of getting a plane later this week.   Tested negative for Covid so hoping this will clear before my op next week.  Going to take it really easy and focus on doing all I can to get well before then... 

912.  Bag
913.  Boots to a friend.

TC77

@Blackberrycurved, I think £20 for 30 mins is probably quite good, and inexpensive for London but I think you're further north.

Felt totally overwhelmed but have managed to get rid of a little paper declutter, a pen, posted item sold, and DD1's letter to bank for her £12.84. My DB staying tomorrow so have to do abit of a tidy - DD1 had her friends staying in spare room so asked her to do that room.Some folders on shelf.

Discussion re how to organise your vinyl.... I hadn't really thought of organsing, I think had all bowie together etc but little beyond that..may explain my chaos. Remember ex bf organised my books and then got upset when I didn't keep them in order! Think we split up shortly after....

Space hopper picked up from my dad's , someone picking it up for their 30 year old son! Of course, immediately made me think maybe fun to keep- didn't but can see why I have problems. DB picking best items from our dad's with me being much less slective and now worried it will just look like an old person's house in my home with everything rather tired looking. Am looking to see if I can afford to have some things repaired/restored.

TC77

Forgot I did drop a bag to  cs has been slow to fill and decided to add things I was going to sell and a bag of rags. Also soke folders to the bank of things.

Fizz2015

Morning All, 
No real life decluttering yesterday but work wise had to resolve a big mistake, meetings with managers. It's nearly sorted, but retraining needed for people and review of processes ASAP. I counting this as a very big frog achieved! 

Home wise - discovered mould on my clothes from chest of drawers that all clothes are stored in 😲 new smaller drawers bought so room can be arranged and increased air flow. We use a dehumidifier and the heating is now on morning and evening. So this week need to wash all clothing, remove old drawers and assemble new one. It will be force me to declutter, sort clothes and tidy the junk on top of the drawers. 

School run and work is calling. Have a good day everyone and stay warm xx

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

2. Deal with Old Frogs & potential frogs ASAP but at least one on FROG Fridays.

3. Reduce/Restrict time watching TV during daylight hours 😉 AB2 playing zero - 20/9/2022

4. Declutter/Relocate one item every time I stand up.

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

About 30 minutes after my last post, the heavens opened & it rained on & off all day Monday. I did have my 2nd cuppa but never did get dressed 😔 I sewed up the 2nd pair of wrist warmers & knitted a 3rd pair. Also dealt with my mail. Dinner was roasted chicken thighs, oven chips & baked beans. Wudupa.

Tuesday has started dry but chilly. Drinking my 1st cuppa & I promise  to get dressed today & get out of the house for a little while. 

1993 - 1999 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, 3 newspapers,  magazine & booklet - recycled 

2000 Kitchen detritus binned

2001 Mini 2023 calendar added to CS bag

Excellent result roundtuit 👏 Now that you are getting more sorted out you can find specific things more easily 🙂

Wow you were busy Siebrie 👏 I was exhausted just reading how much you got done 😉 What a result re DD2 - however well a fully accomplished violinist plays, learning to play is torture for anyone having to listen 😬 You have had a lucky escape 😉 

Good work roundtuit 👏

bit_by_bit, Martin would be very proud of you organising your finances to take advantage of raised interest rates 👏 A productive Sunday with the extra bonus of cuddles with an 11 month old 😊

grandmanerd, still loving the chat about vinyl 😊 Not too sure that many of us have the type of memory that would allow us to remember when & where we bought anything let alone a large collection of vinyl 😂 I struggle to remember what I had for dinner 2 nights ago 😔 - hence my mentioning meals in my posts 🤣 Excellent & eclectic decluttering 👏 Very impressed at how organised you are with photos so one medal 🏅 on its way to accompany the Gold Star ⭐️ you have earned for getting over half way to your target 👏 Your numbers will rise significantly when you donate children’s books to CS 😉🤞 Sorry to hear you were unwell on Sunday & I hope you are recovering 😊

Blackberrycurved, remember you can only do what you can do 🙂 - decluttering is a marathon & not a sprint 😉 Good luck with this week’s frog 🍀

Sorry to hear you are unwell EnergyShifter 🙁 Please take it easy & concentrate on getting well enough to have your operation 😊

TC77, I had to smile at the naïveté of a boyfriend having the audacity to organise YOUR books 😅 You were definitely well shot of him 😉 Well done on the decluttering- every item out is a win 👏

Fizz2015, decluttering an humongous work frog definitely counts as Real Life decluttering 👏 Hard work but now it is sorted I imagine you are feeling both less stressed & very proud of yourself - a medal 🏅 is on its way to reinforce the good feelings. Sorry to hear about the mouldy clothes 🙁 but as you say it will force you to declutter 😉

Still not dressed & now drinking my 2nd cuppa 😉 but I will get on with at least something today 😉🤞

MrsSD  🏅🏅🏅🏅🥇 🌟 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I AM A STAR 🌟 

Decluttering Target: 2001/2022

2022 - 1p Savings Challenge: Running Total £469.22

Floss

TC77 said:

.... DB picking best items from our dad's with me being much less slective and now worried it will just look like an old person's house in my home with everything rather tired looking. Am looking to see if I can afford to have some things repaired/restored.

@TC77 you don't seem entirely comfortable with this - perhaps the disparity can be addressed by him helping you to have some things repaired or restored?

Siebrie

@TC77 to add to Floss' suggestion: do you really want the not-best items? It was not out of obligation that you picked them?

TC77

@floss and siebrie, thank you. My brother's wife will only allow v little into their house and he's picking things he think she will think are good enough.  I think being on my own except dd2 who will leave home I'm more hanging on to things from a relatively happy childhood compared to a very tough last decade or two and don't have as nice things as DB. His wife has just dealt with her father 's estate so had to make decisions about what she brings in..I. trying to get quotes for repairs . Being a womble  it seems best to bring in things from my parents home than off the street! 
I will give thought and also need DD1 & 2 to check if they want anything. Helpful to have advice