2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

EnergyShifter

Fell off the Decluttering Train this week - Haven't posted or even kept up with reading.  Hoping to get back on board at the next station even if it's only to slope off to the TLC Carriage.  

I've been very distracted this week.  I'd got into a very anxious frame of mind around DS being away - including not sleeping too well.  I was very frustrated with myself for allowing that to happen.  He got back yesterday and after the initial relief my mood slumped.  Thankfully I had an Assessment for CBT this morning so I am feeling like I can actually do something about this.  The conversation made me realise that even though things have improved so much since that time that I had underestimated how hard the last couple of years have been and the impact of DS being ill and the problems with my eyes.   Apparently they will be calling me tomorrow to tell me what help they can offer - so 🙏.

DS brought me back a gift from Mauritius of 2 x bowls - I feel bad admitting it but my second thought after "how lovely that he thought of me" was where the hell will I put them and oh No I've got to add them to my total !"    I think I'll try to find a practical use for them. 

Oh - the good news on the decluttering front - the ratio of OUT/IN as of end February is 5:1  

Tasks:
Arranged Annual Boiler Check
Assessment for CBT

IN (running total 45)
46. Pack of Tea towels
47.  Vent
48 & 9 - 2 x bowls - gift from DS from Mauritius 

OUT (running total 255)
0

Love & Best Wishes to All - sorry not to have read everyones posts

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

What a bright & lovely morning so far 🙂 Thursday is up to be a nice day. I was up & properly dressed (might go out today) by 11:00. DH is feeling fine. He has worked out that his episode yesterday could be down to the fact that he had not eaten anything, so he has cooked himself bacon & a fried egg for a sandwich 🙂 He is also going to walk slowly & locally phew 😮‍💨Thank you from both me & DH for your good wishes - Wednesday2000, diminua, vulpix & Moorviews 👏 Re the cheerleading, it is quite time consuming but I do love doing it 🙂  so thank you all for your concern & I will try to speed up my thought processes & maybe not comment on the whole content of each of your lovely posts 🤔 Here goes, wish me luck 🍀

Wednesday2000, it is quite heartbreaking when we have to clear the homes of family members especially after a bereavement 😢 So many belongings & then of course all the furniture. I think that is one of the major reasons that many of want to declutter - we don’t want to leave behind too much stuff for others to sort out 🙂 Well done on getting rid of the ‘serum’ 👏

Really nice to see you dND 👋 Sorry to hear you are still suffering the after effects of Covid & have generally been feeling ‘down’ 😔 I well remember the time it takes to sell a property in France especially if it is both large & rural ☹️ However I am keeping everything crossed that you now have a buyer 🤞 As to your decluttering, might I suggest starting with the closed spaces e.g. drawers, cupboards, wardrobes, cabinets etc. as we found that these areas definitely gobble up time 😔 I hope you have plenty of help as decluttering when selling is a mammoth job, especially as you are also returning to the U.K.🤞Good luck 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear that you have succumbed to the rather horrid lurgy that is making the rounds ☹️ Please take it easy until you have recovered 🙏 Hope you had a lovely time with your friends & at the footie 🙂

The reply to Moorviews re wearing things to death definitely resonates - I think that we are all being pulled in too many directions - trying not to be wasteful & being environmentally friendly on one side against decluttering as much as possible to aid our mental & physical well being & not leaving too much behind for others to sort on the other side 😔 How fortuitous that you were with your In when she was sorting out the ood meds 👏 Also thank you for reassuring vulpix 😊 Great decluttering 👏

Brie, sorry 🙊 

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏

Good work oceanspirit 👏 Sometimes tidying can be just as satisfying as decluttering 😊 especially if you find an item that has been hiding from you 😉

Sorry to hear about the ‘lost’ bag of clothing Dfw38, how upsetting 😔 Thanks to all of those who have supported you & sent hugs - GrannyKate, Fayolle, Floss, Brie, nannywindow, TC77, Liverpool_Anne, Wednesday2000, vulpix & Soontobeoap 👏 

Sorry to hear that probate is taking so long grandmanerd ☹️ Grappling with elephants is hard enough when you are fighting fit 😔 Excellent decluttering of emails 👏 one medal 🏅 on its way. I was pleased to hear that after your chat with DS3, he took your words to heart & helped out 🙂 - long may it continue 🤞You have done an inordinate amount of work & walking even whilst ill & having a dodgy ankle 👏- please, please take care 🙏 I think you are being a bit mean with yourself on your counting 😉 As I read along I was heartened to see that DS3 is still helping out so I am sending him a medal 🏅 

Excellent decluttering GrannyKate 👏 & thank you for sharing the shoe story - still hoping that Dfw38’s bag of clothing will be returned to her 🤞

Excellent decluttering Fayolle 👏 and good luck with your MMiM 🍀 I think mine will be tackled as 2 or 3 on one day interspersed with none on some days 😉 Go, go, go Musketeers 🥳 

Great idea Floss 🙂

Brie , Thank you for sharing the story of your OH’s ‘lost’ hat 👏 Hopefully Dfw38 will be as lucky 🤞

nannywindow, I think your paperwork is probably on holiday with my lamp 😉 Great decluttering though whilst hunting for it 👏 Very pleased to hear that your DH managed to revive your inherited food mixer 😊 As an aside - antique is 100 years or older, vintage is 20 years or older - I looked it up when I was replying about the 93 year old Teddy 🙂

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 Well done on surpassing your target for the 2nd month running 👏 

TC77, sorry about the jacket 😔 Seems like there are honest people & ‘not so honest’ (putting it very politely) people everywhere although ever the optimist I hope the honest people are more prevalent 😊

Two more pages cleared down so will have a little breather & find a small task to do whilst the house is empty 😉 DSis has gone out to get some cough & cold meds & DH is out doing the weekly shop (having started making a soup before he left, which I am keeping an eye on 👏) 

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

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 740/2023

charlies_tribe

Afternoon all. Tried to catch up but still 10 pages behind.
Had a busy week with daughter having 2 comps this week and appointments. But..... the boys are back in their room!! Still stuff to do and the rest of their things need to go back but they are no longer sleeping in the living room. So much for doing it in a week (almost 7 weeks later...).
I need to get my bottom in to gear and get something done before the dds come home and we take dd2 to dance.

455 bag of used masking tape/wipes etc
456 paint brush
457 roller sleeve
458-461 400 emails deleted
462 Rest of carpet in to bin
263-464 2x packs flooring used (been sat at least 3 years left over from girls room)
465 Spare flooring binned
466 Leftover underlay binned

retiredinfrance

I I fourth and fifth Vulpix and Moorviews comments about cheerleading. Please feel free, Mrs SD to leave me off the list. 

Hope all is on an even keel with Mr SD and, you too, look after yourself!

D123456789

Hello all, had a day off with LO as her school is closed due to teachers strike. We did some reading, jigsaws and “ problem solving” maths then took 2 dressing up outfits to the charity shop. LO did not want to declutter anything else and she promptly chose 2 more outfits. Elsa and Anna from frozen.  She also chose 9 new books. they were 3 for a pound so can’t complain.

LO needed new school shoes so we took the ones she grew out of to the charity shop literally next door and she wore her new ones home. The shoe cupboard of doom has stayed relatively tidy so I am adopting 1 in 1 out routine so it doesn’t get out of hand. The under the stairs cupboard of doom remains full with the door firmly shut, and I went to look for something in the shed and realised it would take me a long time to find anything in there it was so full up and such a mess. So I just shut the door again… Maintenance  cleaning and washing is done, beds all changed, dinner in the slow cooker. 

best wishes to everyone, I am trying to keep up with everyone’s news. Such a motivating thread. D x 

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

Everyone back indoors by 14:15 just as I had got the vacuum out & moved some furniture 😉 DH put away all the shopping 👏 whilst I continued hoovering the whole of downstairs. He then helped me move the sofa back 🙂 As I moved furniture & had to empty the Dyson 3 times I am classing this as an MMiM 😉 DH will be setting off on a short local walk at about 15:45 & I am back to cheerleading 😊

Liverpool_Anne, Tuesday was not so much a lazy day, more like a change of priorities 🙂 Excellent work on decluttering the emails - 3,400 permanently deleted & 500 filed is a prodigious effort worthy of a medal 🏅 which is on its way. From my experience it takes between 14 to 17 days for your swapped out stamps to turn up 😉 No worries about the photo of Teddy - it will be a lovely surprise for the future 😊 What a great idea for grandmanerd, hopefully if DS3 & Beloved pitch in for even an hour a day, the decluttering will seem less onerous & they will be getting a proper idea of what it is like to run a home 🤞 

Dfw38, please don’t be so hard on yourself 🙏 as you can see from other posters stories, it is easily done 😔 What a lovely DH - I hope he gave you a huge hug when chatting with you 🤗  He is absolutely correct to point out that you deserve nice things & that you can use ‘real’ money - I do understand what you mean 😉 As you say a new month & the start of the grand MMiM challenge 🙂 Good luck with the 3 kitchen drawers 🍀……………. I see that you were successful 👏🥳 What absolutely appalling behaviour your friend described 😖 There is just no comprehending the minds of some people 😔

You are very kind Liverpool_Anne 😊 I will probably continue replying to everyone but will try to shorten my replies 😉 The thing is that I love sharing your lives & it gives me great pleasure thinking that, in my own small way, I might be helping & encouraging everyone to continue your decluttering journeys. I must confess that I did have a bit of a sore throat yesterday but that was probably due to raising dust as I was tackling the wall unit 😂 I feel a lot better today and the sunshine is definitely helping 🙂

dND, I am pleased to hear that returning to the fold has given you so much inspiration 😊 I know what you mean about living in a farmhouse - mum & dads place in France was an old farmhouse & when DSis stayed on after they both passed, she made the most of every nook & cranny in every room 😬However, you have made an excellent start 👏 & as you say all the little steps add up to a big difference 😊 Just remember to take a bit of time for some TLC 🙂

Wednesday2000, Lovely support of Dfw38 😊 Dilly would never get any sleep if we managed to get her aboard the EDT as so many of us need her help 🤣

vulpix, what a great epitaph “She had lived well with cancer for so long. A positive woman, she will be missed. That is a great epitaph when someone has made people's lives better just by knowing them” Condolences to MrV’s friend. Great work with the curtains 👏 Shame about them being slightly too long but that can wait for another time 😉 Please be kind to yourself - it as all very well knowing that you work better under pressure but too much pressure might lead to you becoming ill 😔 No wonder you are not impressed with the dentist 😠 that is very short notice to cancel your appointment as you were probably going to incorporate the visit to the dentist with other tasks 😖 I am ticked off on your behalf as finding a new dentist has added more to your workload 😔  Sorry to hear that your lurgy has resurrected itself ☹️ I think your current method of dealing with your brother is spot on - from your previous posts, he deserves as little of your time as humanly possible.

grandmanerd, thanks for the useful information about shortening long curtains as I am seriously considering the wisdom of getting long curtains for my living room windows to assist in keeping energy bills down 😔

Oh the innocence of children GrannyKate 😉 long may it last 😊 Fingers crossed that Wednesday did get better 🤞

My DH has just phoned to reassure me that he is fine after doing a slower lap of the park, he is now having a sit down & will do another lap before coming home 😮‍💨 He has also pointed out that he has planned ahead for future walks & has picked up some porridge pots (make with boiling water) for slow release carbs 🙂 We think that it was almost certainly not eating that caused the light headedness & racing heart, but he is still going to speak to the doctor. I am going to stop for a little while as I have caught up another page & will peel mushrooms for tonight’s dinner of risotto - sadly not an MMiM 😉

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

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 740/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £43.00

weenancyinAmerica

Down to 2C here outside. In Southern California - where people go in the winter to get away from cold weather. Boy are they in for a surprise. There was snow in Disneyland yesterday - the real stuff, not man-made. In the meantime, it was warm in the Midwest and parts of New England aren't getting any snow. Very strange weather. I only have three sweaters and two cardigans - and no jackets. We just aren't prepared for cold. I had more but I sent the warm sweaters to my friend in Colorado who usually gets freezing weather several years ago. 

Probably the reason I am still sick. Will need to run out this afternoon for supplies as out of vital things - like cat food and dog bones. And things the dog will eat.

Managed to get three frogs for the hospitalized roommate done today in the first half-hour I was up. Yesterday, female roommate actually cleared five more boxes of books and got it down to only 1 box she is keeping. Some of the books ready to go to bookstore for credit and the rest to go to the library for the book sale. 

My youngest sister is going to visit my other sister tomorrow. BiL took up tattooing as a side hustle when he retired. He has a lot of tattoos himself. Other sister's BF is going to have a new tattoo done. So she is going to help me declutter. Have three boxes of stuff ready to go, only need to get one more to send along. Books, clothes, miscellaneous family items on their way.

Strangest thing I had to declutter after my father died was a box he had brought home of his brother's police gear. I was getting ready to send the box to my nephew, when I looked in it and found that there were firecrackers, cherry bombs, and other illegal fireworks in it as well as a bag of gun powder. I hadn't known that they were in the closet. Dropped them off at the police department on the way to take the other stuff to the family gathering. 

Dfw38

Thanks @QueenJess and @retiredinfrance. I expect the drawers to look like that for about 2 days.....

Dfw38

Yikes @Mrs_Salad_Dodger that is scary stuff with dh. Seems likes he has the same style of luck as me.... healthy,  sign up for a fitness challenge and then to make it even harder the universe conspires to give scares/you get poorly 🙄🤬. Hope dh is doing ok. Would happily relay race the cheerleading with you but I have no idea how you do it! It is like a full time job keeping us on the straight and narrow 😉. Yay! You are in MMiM 🎉 glad you have had success already 👍.
Bedroom furniture was moved in last night- (just dhs wardrobe now, hoping to getbhim to declutter as we go...) was so good to sleep in a bed! Managed to convince dh to out our bed in its current position, I think it makes our room look bigger. Oooh thank you for my gold star! I want to repaint the tall boy (might use chalk paint...) but that will be a job for April I think. Will also paint dhs wardrobe, I am going to get dh to put our print of st ives up over the next couple of weeks, we got it 7 years ago and it has never been on a wall!  and would like to get a new bedside table for dh (I don't want one because I will just clutter it, i opted for a basket to go by the bed instead) and then the room is finished completely! Wahoo 

dND

Thank you Mrs SD.  I'm progressing slowly. 

I've realised that I suffer a lot from anxiety and have used my enforced stay here to research and understand why I do/or can't do things and that has been a real help.  I no longer beat myself up when I can't finish things but I also try to set more manageable goals.  I call it grazing, shaving little bits off at a time and I realise that I'm lucky to be on my own as there is no pressure to deal with the bits that I can't decide at the moment where they go.

I remember your move and I am heading for the hidden away things first so there are no big surprises, that said I've only managed one of the kitchen drawers so far but I have more or less emptied a dresser (and re-homed or packed the contents), that I will sell/give away.

My head is all over the place at the moment and I'm not up to speed with everyone on the board but hugs to those who need them and congratulations to everyone on their achievements.

My achievements today were getting most of the under sink bottles washed and sorted into 2 baskets and back under the sink.  There is space there !  The stuff I have no idea about will either be assigned a basket or will go.

I also had a 2+ hour chat with my son in Wales which cheered me up no end and then spent a while swinging a sledge hammer  making guide holes for 4 fence posts that will finish off the framework for a dead hedge I'm starting, so a little bit of exercise has been had which is always good.

One question, what are frogs, apart from amphibians? And also, where did all the emojis go?  I've been AWOL too long!