2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Brie

Gers said:

A toffee hammer - shades of Christmas in the 60s and 70s when big trays of toffee were received from 'Santa'.

I'm stuck between weeping at the memories and rejoicing in them.

Found the same hammer in MiL's jewellery drawer when I was tidying up after her.  Why there?  Why did she still have it?? Odd what we do and probably think "I'll find the right place for that soon" and then decades go by.

grandmanerd

I found 9 toffee hammers in mum's kitchen drawers  and a few more turned up later - she loved bluebird Brazil nut toffee and occasionally I'd find somewhere selling it.

Updated total for second quarter 497/ 2023.  1  major frog and several minor (mainly medical) tasks off the to do list.  1 large task delegated (with reservations),  many food use ups (including a start on mum's microwave rice mountain), 12 cs trips plus 15 spare carrier bags and a bag of bubble wrap and other packing materials, 3 point for 300 e-mails, multiple toiletries and cleaning product use ups, stationery items (time to buy a 4th pack of biros - the last 3 pens I have are about to run out.

Many decluttering tasks with added extras - I finally brought my suitcase back upstairs but collected stray items of clothing and the bags of new pills which had been delivered, the new toilet roll delivery came upstairs as I'd decanted the last 2 packs from the last delivery into the bathroom storage bin and countless sacks and bags of rubbish and recycling (I have counted them, I have several lists of counted items in different notebooks). Some of this is from their room, Beloved is feeling up to tackling the mess - last year she couldn't even cope with DS3 doing it.  One more tree to plant and two large broken planters crushed into smaller pieces for binning (not okay to put in the plastics bin) - when I've done more moving around and sorting I'll go through the remainder and remove any with broken rims (these two had major holes/ side slashes) to start making my garden 'baby safe' for the summer. 

I  collected my last few polytunnel frame pieces from mum's bungalow. The mopping bucket and frame for the old swing seat had been disposed of (I hadn't  thought of a way to transport that and I'd already mentally said goodbye to them) and they do want the garden chairs, despite the EA saying 'remove the garden furniture' - I'd left anything that was visible during the viewing, included as part of the sale. Had a chat to the buyer's  son (to clarify the EA misinterpretations) and when he realised I was intending to walk with my walker holding the frame pieces (I'd taken old washing line and bound them together and had a gauntlet so the cold metal didn't 'burn' my hands) he offered to put them in his car and bring them to my house, so I accepted (I'm learning to accept help when it's offered).

The problem with decluttering (it's a benefit really) is that when you remove one layer of clutter, the next becomes visible. Before Christmas crossing the kitchen was a major undertaking - I counted 17 full bags which had come from mum's - a few were in the front room but were 'kitchen' items, tools, paint and small garden equipment should live under the stairs. There were towels on the floor from sink and washing machine leaks and the freezer door was left open at some point. The table was covered with half sorted tools. Stuff they'd put under the stairs made the narrow end and most of the shelves unusable and being down to only 3 fading spotlights out of 12 meant under the stairs was too dark to see for most of the day and the kitchen too dark by afternoon.

I gradually tackled all those things, mending, sorting, finding temporary solutions and clearing space. Now I can safely walk across the floor - the only things 'out on the floor' are 2 trolleys (one tucked in beside the fridge-freezer) and 3 chairs (one between the freezer and the end cupboard and 2 that I use - one under the stairs (I can either sit on it or use it to hold a heavy bag whilst unpacking) and one by the dishwasher (loading and unloading the DW, turned the other way round to put things away in the fridge or hold a bag at a convenient height.

So now I'm noticing stuff on worktops (and the stove), the mud on the floor (tramped in on those frequent trips to the bins) and now dried (another sweep round, I think). The front room is totally depressing (although I have clear pathways) - the records, the extra furniture and yet more things that came from mother's (the things that were in the the shed).

However with my positive head on, I have a clean bathroom sink and toilet (all done in 5 minutes chunks), I can see bits where one extra push would mean I could actually clean a bit of worktop (reached this point before I went to Blackpool but stuff has accumulated since). I'm nearly back in control of the washing and washing up. The sun is shining and my strength is returning (I've been stuck with several tasks because I needed to move heavier things out of the way or around and just couldn't). The 3 surfaces in my bedroom are very nearly clear (the result of many hours putting away, gathering, sorting, then repeating). 

I'm looking at things with a more critical eye - even 2 weeks ago I'd have continued using the broken pots as long as they held soil, now, having decanted much of the soil into the 90 l 'tree bins', I have lots of empty containers and aiming to dispose of any damaged ones. I have a list of targets and will start breaking down major tasks into doable chunks (nibbling the elephants). Let's see what I can do. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@Gers, I call things like that treasure . I have a few bits like that from my Mum and I use them. I have even used the can opener when my tin opener broke and this Christmas I had to buy nut crackers as I went mad and bought a bag of unshelled nuts
Off to sort the top of the fridge freezer and I have a list of a few other things to do.
Take care everyone
Still 345/2023

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

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

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with daily mail immediately 

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

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

Saturday is another dull, overcast day but quite warm 🙂 I was up at 11:10 & am wearing DH’s non fluffy dressing gown whilst I drink my cuppa. Today the 3 of us are going down to Kent for an overnight stay with DH’s niece as we are having Sunday lunch out with most of the family to celebrate his sister’s 80th birthday. Need to pack a bag & head off in a couple of hours. Meanwhile I will try to catch up with the cheerleading

Liverpool_Anne, sounds like another wonderful day catching up with your ex colleague 😊 So pleased to hear that he is doing well as I remember that he wasn’t having such a good time last year 😔 & having you as a friend helped him out enormously 👏 Shame about missing the motorway turning but getting home so late was a blessing as it meant you didn’t do any decluttering 😉 You just relaxed & enjoyed your evening 🙂

Nice to see you stellata 👋 & great decluttering 👏 Shame about the no show re the jars, very rude 😒No need to be ashamed as sheets can be used for so many tasks apart from on a bed 😉

GrannyKate, Fingers crossed that you can persuade small people that sorting through their clothes is a ‘fun activity’ 🤞😉 A good start to your day - boiler service booked, Mr T vouchers received & a happy GP 👏

Well done stellata, always good when you can make a quick decision re clothing decluttering 👏 

Gers, now those items are what I call treasure especially the pastry cutter & the bottle opener  😊Hopefully rejoicing in the memories won 😉

What a lovely friend Madbat60 😊 & what a thoughtful gift even if it did make you cry 😉 Great decluttering of the summerhouse 👏

Soontobeoap, I hope you manage to find a few treasures during your kitchen drawer decluttering 🤞 I imagine GSs can be exhausting so the time spent in the TLC Carriage was probably needed 😉 Yippee to finally getting a courtesy car 🥳🥳🥳 I hope that there will be some form of compensation forthcoming after being subjected to such awful service 🤞

bit_by_bit, sounds like you had a great time in London 😊 & even the weather was pretty kind 👏 I love the idea of you wowing DD’s BF by taking him to Wales which of course he will be 😊👏 

Brie, very odd place to keep a toffee hammer 🤔 but I am sure there was a perfectly logical explanation 😉

grandmanerd, I never had quite as many as 9 toffee hammers in one place - I think my record was 5 😅Absolutely excellent decluttering 👏 All your very hard work is paying off & you are gradually making your home a more comfortable & safer space to live in rather than just be in 🥳 Now to put on my ‘Awards Hat’ 🤔 - one medal 🏅 for accepting help when it was offered & 2 Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️ for the prodigious amount of decluttering you have already done 👏 Please don’t forget to give yourself some TLC 🙏 Whilst I remember, it was lovely to hear that Beloved is in a better place mentally & emotionally 😊

Liverpool_Anne, definitely treasures & they all worked efficiently & were durable 👏 Good luck tackling the fridge freezer 🍀

Now I am off to get dressed & pack 🙂

Hope everyone has a good weekend 🙂

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 625/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £43.00

Wednesday2000

Wow, just caught up with all the new posts. Siebrie - what a lot of stress you are having at the moment.x

I have been looking for a navy cushion or a cushion cover to match the curtains as we have swapped the living rooms around. I haven't been successful with that, but I did start chatting with a woman in a local charity shop. This was the shop I donated two bags of stuff to this week. She said they have been absolutely overwhelmed (not in a good way) with the donations and I looked in the back room and there is piles and piles of stuff in there that they haven't got around to sorting out. It does seem like people are all decluttering at the same time on here. I did look in that back room about a month ago when I dropped off a donation bag and it looks like about four times the stuff from last time!

I do have another bag to donate, but I will take it to the hospice shop instead as they have told me they have a policy of only having stock in for three weeks and then it goes somewhere else. I'm not sure what the reason is, but they seem like they have more staff members to deal with all the donations.

QueenJess

Weirdly I really want a toffee hammer now 😂

Just pottering along here continuing with the never ending tidying and trying to use things up. Enjoying the clearer house, but worried about my parents coming tomorrow as they always come with loads of stuff 😬

2305-2306 - digital notes deleted
2307-2308 - online accounts deleted
2309-2310 - boxes for school projects
2311 - paper (recycled)
2312 - bag (recycled)

MadamMim2013

@Siebrie so sorry that life is ultra stressful right now, “this too shall pass” is the one of the sayings that kept me going when I wasn’t sure what was coming next! I do hope things improve for you at a speedy rate!

🤣 @Mrs_Salad_Dodger, sadly no cow in the garden.. there used to be though, many moons ago.. I’ve moooved a few times since then 😉🤣 
Working today.. just using some quiet time to catch up with admin (& check in here ☺️)

Am hoping OH will have started looking at clothes to go for when I get home tomorrow.. 🤞🏼 

Florenceem

More stuff taken to charity shops today - one shop didn't want books so Mr F had to trek to another one. Down to 3 bags in the hall now.
Major win - I managed to whittle down the area in the hall where Mr F is a bit precious about large bags - we only have one there now. SA were short of large bags so he was fairly easily persuaded to part with some. SA use the large bags for family food parcels.
Woman who was collecting paint arrived yesterday minus her money so returned this morning - I was thinking - I hope not a time waster.
Ydd came to meet me at SA this morning and we had a stroll to the park.

Brie

Dragged in to Christchurch (Dorset not down under) by OH and was amazed at the number of charity shops there are.  Probably at least 10 on the high street and then I think another 5 or 6 in the square.  And most with signs saying "please give us your stuff" (or words to that affect.)  I know I shouldn't but I'll be having a mosey round some of them on Monday when OH has his eye exam.  Might need to ensure he has my wallet so I don't go wild....

Soontobeoap

Have just cleared out 2 kitchen drawers and the baking cupboard. Sadly threw away some out of date honey. Other than that several different flours and some custard powder decanted into containers making more room, also some battered cake cases into recycling. A good hours work. Counting as 1.very pleased that i didnt have a lot of out of date stuff. I must be getting on top of this.