2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

retiredinfrance

What are buses?  they don’t have them here.

daisy_1571

Liverpool_Anne thanks for the photo of Ted, he's in great shape considering his age!  I've still got my teddy, Teddy, from when I was 3 and won him in a raffle at a circus when he was yellow and light tan.   One of my earliest memories.   He was recovered in dark brown fur when I was barely a teenager.   Took me a while to get used to that but he is still Teddy .

Daisy xx

QueenJess

D123456789 said:

Hello all,

so I bought the book 30 days to a clean and organised home in September last year. I  was expecting it to work( ( of course) but I was totally overwhelmed with all the tasks and realised it was actually a full time job for 30 days to get it done. I put the book away before I had finished reading 🙄

It's like those minimalist videos where they do the whole house in a couple of months or something.  Firstly I don't have that kind of time and even if I did, I would suffer from decision fatigue pretty quickly.  I don't think they are realistic.  Slow and steady wins the race.

I am starting to feel like I have very slightly more time at the moment, or at least I am spending less time on tidying etc as I have less stuff.  I have been on this journey very slowly over the past 6 years or so, but took it more seriously only a few years ago and probably even more so the last year or so.  Plus I did have 2 kids in that time as well.  I definitely have made so much progress and have got to things I would never dream I would ever be able to get round to do.  It's my plan to blitz everything quite hard this year and since DD is finally sleeping and I feel more sane, I want to use the decluttering to reshape my life to how I want it to be.

Anyway, very slow progress here with the online accounts.  It is seriously dull and quite frustrating.  Still a fair bit more to do and then I think it'll drag on with the last few as I have to wait for the other parties to respond (they are allowed 30 days).  Then I'll have to pick up a different frog to run with.  Not there yet though.  On around 100 left to check and fingers crossed I can get down to 75 later today.  Not been doing any tidying in the meantime as I am laser focused on this!  Need to soon though as everywhere is getting a bit messy!

3,029-3,034 - online accounts deleted

3,035 - packaging (reused)

3,036-3,043 - digital documents deleted

daisy_1571

2023 target - 1164.  Achieved so far 576

Clothes 3, boots 5, shoes 6, books 2, cassette tape 2, odds 28 (inc pack of crayons melted together), 2 bits for motorcycle sold

2023 target- 1164. Achieved so far 621 (only 543 to go - over halfway)

Some shoes and boots disintegrating - the sole on a pair of pink pretend-Uggs fell apart whilst I was out in them!  The old cassette tapes I'd been hanging onto for years meaning to replace on cd - now written into my book, so tapes can go whilst I search.  

Daisy xx

gettingthrifty

Hi All
Just popping in to explain my whereabouts
Im sorry im behind with reading all your post and news.
Over the past two weeks I have been finalising the dealings of a monstrous 7 year frog (legal/ lots of financial implications). Now that its over I am able to resolve some other frogs  That's in between hopping around with relief ,delight, overwhelm, disbelief in fact every bloomin emotion imaginable -  finally sorted!! Will be going away for a long weekend shortly to reflect and quietly celebrate.
  I have lived in such uncertainty during that time that I've got into a bit of a seige mentality , hanging onto things (why?), safety ?? who knows.  Anyhow, I can move forward now and leave that chapter behind.
93 - TV to a friend

QueenJess

I got below 75 online accounts fairly quickly today, so fingers crossed I can get to 50 tomorrow.  I also plucked up the courage to go through the bag of craft stuff my mum decluttered from her house into mine.  Some is staying and some to go.

3,044-3,046 - online accounts deleted

3,047-3,061 - digital notes deleted

3,062-3,085 - craft stuff (buy nothing)

3,086-3,092 - photos deleted

3,093 - packaging (reused)

Florenceem

No decluttering has happened.
Been at SA for 5 hours today - did 7,500 steps.
Very cold here - had a couple in who slept in a shop doorway last night.

Day 8 - 

38 /36    

vulpix

 Florenceem yes it is far too cold to be sleeping rough. I do hope those people are indoors tonight. 

 Here is the finished tallboy. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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

Wednesdays light covering of snow was gone by the time I got up at 11:45 having woken up at 10:30 & deciding to have an extra 5 minutes 😬 I had intended to go into Lewisham & get a few things done but because I was up so late & it is miserable outside - wet, cold & quite dark - I have changed my mind 😔DH set off about 12:10 in the rain & is catching the first bus that turns up which will determine the direction of his walk. He is doing really well 7/31 days completed 🥳 Whilst I was thinking about it I started todays MMiM - 2nd kitchen drawer. I have emptied the drawer, scrubbed, rinsed & dried the drawer inside & out + scrubbed & rinsed the organisers but am leaving them to dry naturally - 7/23 minutes. I will be washing & drying all the cutlery before returning it to the drawer but will have to do something else to make up the 23 minutes 😉 DH has just phoned 13:20 - has done 5,000 steps & is in a cafe having a coffee & a croissant & getting warmer before heading home. DSis was up & about quite early & did see the snow which she insisted was an inch deep at least 😉 DH got home about 14:10, wet & miserable but has now clocked up 7,600 steps. Got his coat & boots off, sat down & his heart started racing 🤔 Now 5 minutes later & it is back down to 60 🤷‍♂️ He has made a note for when he talks to the doctor next week. All the cutlery is now washed, dried & back in the drawer - took longer than I thought - so used a 2nd 23 minutes & also sharpened a few knives 😉

787 Coffee tin recycled

Oh weenancy, I really wish I could do something to help 😔 So sorry to hear that you & your roommates are so ill 😞 Not helped by your roommate coming home from the hospital & the attendant need for a room swap 😔 I can only agree with vulpix’s comment about finding a church group or voluntary group to help out with the heavy lifting although I do understand that you are reluctant to or maybe I should say have mixed emotions about requesting help as you are such an independent individual. Please, please, please don’t make yourself so ill that you don’t enjoy your weekend with your sister 🙏  A great suggestion for what to do with old photos, thank you 👏

vulpix, typical that the bridge repairs are behind schedule & with a severe weather warning for heavy snow will fall even further behind 😔 I have everything crossed that MrV will be able to get back home to celebrate your birthday & that your daughter’s travel plans for visiting won’t be disrupted 🤞Excellent work on the tallboy 👏 & good luck with the rocking chair 🍀 Hopefully once you get stuck in with the renovations it won’t be as bad as you’re fear 🤞 Why is it that everything comes at once 😔 I suppose if any of us could answer that question we would be millionaires 😉 Enjoy bit_by_bit’s flying visit although I do hope she manages to have time for a cuppa 😊

wort, well done on being brave & getting rid of so many ‘useless’ photos 👏 That was always the downside of ‘film’ photography - you never knew what the photographs would look like & then when you got them you were always reluctant to bin them 😞 Great work dealing with the decorating frog 👏one medal 🏅 on its way.

GrannyKate, sounds like you are training your DGCs very well 😊 Don’t forget to take a photo of the completed jigsaw & make a note of how long it took 😉 Lots of useful info about dealing with old photos 👏 Great work dealing with frogs & your 1 minute tidy 👏

Liverpool_Anne, the picture of Ted & your hyacinths has brightened up my day considerably 😊 Ted is looking really good for his age 🙂

grandmanerd, nothing wrong with slow decluttering 🙂 I hope you will be able to dispense with lying on your right side soon 🤞 The embroidery sounds wonderful just a shame that your shoulder injury makes it painful 😖 & that your painful back restricts other activities 😔 Sounds like your daughter out law is a good arbiter and can temper DS2’s sentimentality 🙂 I would like to thank you so much for sharing your journey re photo decluttering - lots of very useful information & many great tips 👏 I have taken the liberty of saving your post as it is so comprehensive & will have it in view for when I tackle our photos - probably 2026 bearing in mind how slow I am with the more urgent decluttering 😉

TC77, from memory your hallway wasn’t too bad 🙂 I did smile at the comment about getting away from the ‘Steptoe look’ 😊 Hope your day out is enjoyable or if not that sort of trip out, that it is successful 🤞

D123456789, I thought I had that one but thankfully not 😉 I do have a few others but agree that most of them are unrealistic 😔 I think they are more designed for when you are moving INTO a new & empty home 😉 Decluttering as you start filling each room 😉 Although as you say, there are some useful bits that you can incorporate into your daily routine 👏 I think we need LO to give us lessons & training 😊 I awarding LO her 2nd medal 🏅 & also I am giving you a medal 🏅 for integrating more daily tasks not your routine 👏

Liverpool_Anne, your OH sounds a bit like my DSis 😞 Whenever she receives a letter or phone call about an upcoming appointment, I get her to tell me about it immediately & then set a reminder with explanation on my iPad calendar. Annoys my DH no end but I do it because if she misses an appointment (even if it is her own fault) she becomes very disagreeable to live with 😔 At least Ted was lonely in his exile in the top of the wardrobe 😂 I now have Toy Story visions 🥲 Fingers crossed that, when you have washed the long items of clothing from your time in Kuwait, you will not have to donate because they don’t fit 🤞Rather nicer if you make a conscious decision to donate 🙂 Lovely, supportive & chatty 2nd half of your post 😊 Good luck with getting in touch with the hospital 🍀

retiredinfrance, as I remember not even one bus a day out in the countryside 😔

I broke off here to thoroughly rinse the kettle which I had been descaling 😉 

daisy_1571, loving the conversation about cuddly toys 😊 I did smile at the idea of Teddy getting a complete makeover, very confusing for both you & him 😂

Spot on QueenJess 👏 Minimalist videos tend to make me feel inadequate & poor because I neither have the time nor the money/2nd home to be able to emulate the work required 😔 I would like to thank you for sharing more of your decluttering journey & giving us all hope & inspiration that we too can get to that point where everything is easier & we have time to do the things we love with no smidgen of guilt 😊 Excellent work decluttering the online accounts, I admire your fortitude & patience in persevering with such a tedious task 👏

Excellent decluttering daisy_1571 👏 Over halfway to your target so one Gold Star ⭐️ coming your way 🙂 What an excellent idea to make a list of the replacement CDs wanted & declutter the actual cassettes 👏 

gettingthrifty, absolutely no need to apologise (ever) if RL takes up so much of your time & concentration that you don’t have the energy to post here 😊 I don’t have the vocabulary to describe how very pleased I am that you have managed to sort out a monstrous 7 year frog which should really be called an  enormous Cane Toad 🐸 (I have researched a little bit as I was unaware that Cane Toads are poisonous 😱). No wonder you are fit to burst 😊 However I can award you not only a Gold Star ⭐️but also a trophy 🏆😉 Well done on booking a long weekend away to celebrate & enjoy your success 😊 

Excellent work on decluttering the online accounts QueenJess 👏 How lovely to reach today’s target more quickly than you expected leaving you time to declutter other things 😊

Another busy day at SA Florenceem 👏

The tallboy is beautiful vulpix 😊 I also love all the items on your windowsill 😊

I have decided on dinner tonight - an HF meal for DH & me (DSis won’t like) & lo cottage pie with some mixed vegetables for DSis.

Hugs to all, please keep warm & I will see you later

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

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 787/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £74.70

Muddy_Walker

Mrs SD I would like to award your hubby a star ⭐️ for his steps so far! He is doing very well but please let him know I am concerned he isn’t either a. not drinking enough or b. not having enough salt.
when I do Duke of Edinburgh with the cadets I always ask them to keep a small bag of salted crisps - keeps up the electrolytes in the body.
Of course your hubby could tell me to mind my own business 🤣🤣 but it was the dizzy head that worried me 😁