2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

oceanspirit

Sorted out COD. Nothing out but at least everything back in the right place and found some leggings I had been looking for.

Dfw38

Today has left me down in the dumps. I went to collect my click and collect order and also browsed in the shop. Picked up 3 things: joggers, pair of chinos and some chino shorts (all needed as I only have 1 pair of 'okay to be seen outside in' trousers)  paid for them and put the receipt in my handbag but accidentally left the bag there. Walked the 5 miles back home and realised what i had done. Called the shop and they checked lost property but nobody had handed it  in, looks like somebody just took it. Nothing the shop can do. Really upset, I had been saving for ages. 

grandmanerd

I haven't  posted since the 20th February although I have been reading along. Life has been a bit up and down and I still seem to be grappling with several elephants. The records are really getting me down (maybe because the ex should not be taking up so much space in my house or my head). Not sure how long probate is going to be - it was 10 weeks when I applied but I had to contact them at 13 weeks, DS3 found a notice saying it was 16 weeks (autumn 2022) and the newly bereaved cousin has been told 6 months. I know what I want to do but have been unable to do any heavy lifting for several weeks so just keep chipping away.

Use ups are going well, the emails are down below 100 (from 3000+) and rubbish and recycling roll along merrily. The space I'd made in the garden left room for a couple of big things to leave the house.  I had a chat with DS3 saying I know that neither of them is well but I'm not either and then asked what we can do to improve the house right now. He offered to start entering the records onto a database. I'd already written catalogue cards for the first huge box so that went quite quickly - I kept expecting him to stay he'd had enough but he sent me to bed in the end because my back and shoulders were aching.  The next day he asked to stop after a couple of hours and go back to doing something fun but I left a pile of records in order and when I got up the day after he'd done them. 

The first completed box had been under his desk, I said he could move a large bag for life into the kitchen (it's stuff that was in the shed at mum's - no idea what to do with most of it but the property had to be emptied) and as the records are entered I've been taking small piles through and so far they all fit into space I'd made under the stairs. Moving the plastic cover for the mini greenhouse, the huge box or records and the big bag of shed stuff (several items have been moved outside onto the metal shelves) made it much easier to see what had been hidden and I've done some sessions bagging rubbish, picking out useful bits (cutlery, pens, small tubes of antiseptic cream) and can see an area of about 4 sq yards of my front room floor. It's behind my small couch and is a pathway through to the chinchilla cage. I still have to completely clear the floor and then work out how to clean it (probably one small patch at a time). After that I can attempt a mini furniture swap around.

Tackling the records means that the 'height' of boxes as you look across the room is now down to back of the couch level rather than at my head height (no wonder it felt oppressive). I can't sit on my couch yet but should be possible within the next week. Last week I went to Bolton (8 miles away). I'd had a text to say the doctor wanted repeat blood tests, so I phoned the surgery. Only one marker giving cause for concern so it needs doing but could wait until Monday to pick up the form. 

In Bolton I banked a cheque (my branch closed in September), weighed myself (considering self referring back to Specialist Weight Management Services and I need my height and weight when I phone up - there are other options if SWMS is no longer appropriate for me), bought lunch and sat eating in the sunshine, checked in the bookshop for a book that's due out - no  luck but picked a book for the baby's Easter present then went in MnS for food (expensive but decided I didn't have the energy for either of the other 2 options as it would have meant a few  more blocks of walking and I'd had enough. Walked back to the bus station (the whole trip was only a large rectangle,  roughly one block wide and 3'5 blocks long) and the bus was waiting at the stop.

I am enjoying these longer walks but they are very demanding. Saturday and Sunday were mainly recovering but did do some small tasks. Gave up on Sunday afternoon when my back started to really hurt. I sat down to eat but it didn't improve so came back upstairs and was asleep before 7 pm (had several  of those).  My ankle was swollen and really painful when I woke up yesterday so looked at what I had to do and worked out how to get as much done as possible with minimal walking. Went to the convenience store post office to get cash for my brother, then half a block to the taxi office, booked a taxi for Sunday (I have an appointment for ultrasound guided injection in my hip and neither the ambulances nor the buses run at weekends), then went by taxi to the infirmary to pick up my blood form from the doctor's surgery (so much pain I was having to stop and rest every 2 minutes), went to the little cafe for toasted teacakes (had them last week to break my 12 hour fast before the blood test). No painkillers with me so did lots of slow breathing. The cafe chairs are different to the normal doctor chairs - it all helps me refrain from screaming when multiple bits of my body hurt.

I worked through the logistics of getting off a stop early to go in little Arseda, to the end of the line to Morries or getting off at the bus station and somehow getting across to Tessimo's then getting a taxi home and decided in favour of the nearest stop to my house and doing an online order for delivery later that afternoon. I had to stop between getting off the bus and the crossing, sat again to wait for the lights to change and collapsed on to the first town hall bench around the corner. I'd taken a library book with me and it was nearly finished so I went in the library and sat in one of their new comfy chairs to finish it and return it. They also had a timetable for the Trafford Centre buses (meeting DS2, darling d-o-l and the baby there on the 19th - we're going in the Sealife Centre and then for a meal). Walked back across the car park, sat to eat and have a drink as soon as I got in then got myself upstairs (had to ask DS3 to bring my bag up) pulled off my shoes and trousers, strapped the ankle up and stretched out on the bed. 

Went downstairs when the food was due. DS3 was downstairs so I brought up the load of dry washing and had to  lie down for another half hour. Food delivery had come when I went back down so gathered more drinks and food and went back upstairs and read until I fell asleep (had cleaned my mask and hose first thing).

Today is a quiet pottering day. I strapped my ankle up (I can get my wellies over the bandage if I need to  get to the bins (11 loads so  far, probably another 3 if I try hard). I've been working on my room,cleared the floor on the door side of the bed (did this last week then used the grabber stick to root things out from under the bed until I went dizzy). the space under the bed is only the height of the wheels on the bed base but like the gap beside the cooker, lots of things can get in there but there's not enough room for your hand to root them out again.

Clean clothes away, new pile of dry washing sorted (some things their's and about 12 rags for cleaning - hung in a string bag behind the door), found a bag full of craft/ hobby stuff on the landing (don't think I'm going to get back to art therapy so going to spend 2 hours on crafts at least once a week). When i went down to make my lunch I put another load in the machine, brought a pair of curtains back up with me and put drain unblocker down the drain and the toilet. I set up a one off donation and a monthly DD for the local food bank. I'm drinking more water and eating lots of veg (raw for snacks and extra with meals) and I keep jotting down things for lists - diy jobs we already have the bits for,  routines (need more) and other simple goals - lots of tiny improvements.

I'm claiming 46 more points. I thought if I did a full day of decluttering it should be 23 points but some days I had to give up part way through. I have patches of clear floor, empty bags for life and just found my roll of rubble sacks so will start bagging up  clean bedding and put it all in the bath (they are both asleep and likely to be ther for some time. So 46 points, current total623/ 2023.

GrannyKate

Really sorry to hear about losing your shopping @Dfw38 - you must be really fed up and disappointed.  I once left pair of new Clarks shoes under the table in Selfridges restaurant on Oxford Street (or rather DD did as she had insisted on carrying them herself - she was only about 6) - I was amazed to discover they were still there when we went back an hour later.  Hugs. 

304 Very long session sorting out February banking - it seemed to take twice as long as usual (if only I had twice as much money) but I did chat to sister in US whilst I was finishing it off.
305 Shredding done and in bag ready for this week's paper collection (23 minute frog)
306 Found an old stack of committee papers and added to shredding pile whilst I was at it
307 Decluttered lots of energy and hopefully some calories by going swimming. Swam 10 lengths and then walked 30 up and down. I can feel all the muscles in my back and shoulders this afternoon
308 Updated Calendars and diaries with childcare etc and made a note of when to book next blood test

Fayolle

Oh, @Dfw38 big squishy hugs and a shoulder to cry on heading your way. It might be worth calling the shop again later to see if the bag has since been handed in? xx

My final February flourish to report:
an encylclopedia of herbs - I had 2, why??
an apron which I washed then decided it had seen better days, so it is heading for the rags. I still have 2 left, now both clean.
4 x nail varnishes. 1 in, 4 out. I had culled them last month, or so I thought.
1 x allotment handbook
1 x filthy vacuum cleaner filter
3 x dead houseplants.
And 1 HUGE frog 🐸.
So my total (groups, not all individual items) for February is a pleasing 32. Plus did I mention the 🐸?? 🤣
I have scribbled a list of MMiMs to join in @Dfw38’s challenge. I am already bottling out of 31, aiming for a starter of 15, will be very pleased with 21. All for one and one for all, you fellow muskateers!

Floss

Dfw38 said:

Today has left me down in the dumps. I went to collect my click and collect order and also browsed in the shop. Picked up 3 things: joggers, pair of chinos and some chino shorts (all needed as I only have 1 pair of 'okay to be seen outside in' trousers)  paid for them and put the receipt in my handbag but accidentally left the bag there. Walked the 5 miles back home and realised what i had done. Called the shop and they checked lost property but nobody had handed it  in, looks like somebody just took it. Nothing the shop can do. Really upset, I had been saving for ages. 

Ask them to check their CCTV above the tills & at the exit / entrance, if it is M&S they should have it. And I think you should ask for a refund as a goodwill gesture as you have the receipt.

Brie

@Dfw38
OH did something similar a couple of months back - stopped at Lidl, used the loo there, which meant taking off his hat (one doesn't sit with a fedora on....) and forgot to put it back on.  Realised when he got home, rang the shop and nothing.  Nothing turned in, nothing in the lost property.  

I went to the same shop about 5 days later and noticed his hat at one of the tills.  I exclaimed with surprise, was asked when it might have been left, and walked out wearing the hat.  OH was very pleased.  

Hopefully if you got back your stuff will be waiting for you.

nannywindow

Whilst looking for some paperwork in a cupboard (where I thought I'd put it, but no 🤨) I found and binned/recycled :-
An old analogue house phone
A defunct router
Another bundle of computer/electrical wires, I'm sure they're breeding as that's about the 3rd or 4th lot that's gone out 😂
Some leaflets for items we no longer have, several paint chart booklets, 2 OOD phone directories, 4 caravan mags and a full exercise book. 
Also out a pair of my slipper booties as I'd worn a hole in the sole. Luckily I have a replacement for those as DD always buys me a pair every xmas as I can't go commando with my feet.🦶
Today was another day of washing which part dried on the whirly and now festoons the airer just to finish it off overnight. DH finally revived my food mixer, thankfully he was able to do it as it belonged to my late Mum and is so old it's probably antique/vintage by now.
Dfw38 how annoying and upsetting about your missing shopping especially as you had saved up hard for it. I hope who took it feels very guilty and returns it to the shop. Hugs
Hugs to anyone in need, take care of yourselves.
nan 

Florenceem

Took 3 bags of stuff to the charity shop today - still 2 started bags in the hall.

Day 28 - 

3 x Bag for Life
Hole x 3 in Socks Darned
Card Front
Envelope
Stamp x 3
Card Blank

Finish the month at 434  against aim of 406   

TC77

@dfw38 so sorry to hear about the shopping
. Hoping someone may find it. Less valuable but I took a jacket off to try something on in a shop and then couldn't find my jacket - why they didn't take a new one ( although mine didn't have an alarm on it).
Took a damaged item  with Dd1 back to i'ea and helped her get refund and gave her 3 boxes from my stash although they may come.baxk from hers full for storage at mine..Dd2 wanted to cycle but couldn't find where I'd tidied it. Still can't find it   a reminder that much more needs doing. I do remember when my house was more normal. And remind myself I can get back there....
I appreciate everyone sharing their stories on this train and hope everyone taking time in the tlc carriage when they need it. 😀