2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

grandmanerd

To be fair to DS3 he has been up and down stairs for me quite a lot in the past few days, mostly bringing me food and drink and is always helpful when I'm ill or worried about the stairs. Food has to be simple - getting specific things from the fridge, bringing something cooked up to me (when I'm very tired I've been known to pop something in the microwave ans asked him to bring it up when it's ready) and he's  much better at bringing a 'list' of items I've requested. It was useful as it made me rethink a few things - I've brought a heavy bag downstairs with things I wanted to do and then ended up resting on the couch and bringing a bag of untouched 'work' back up. I've now got upstairs and downstairs books on the go, rather than the current book moving with me (always have a book with me for waiting rooms and buses but my all time best was completing all my 'Family Credit' renewal form during a BH wait in the walk-in Centre - DS2 was fond of climbing trees but not at all good at it). 

I also have a growing list of jobs for him so I don't want to ask for trivia. I need the bulb in my room changing (he's done the bathroom one without me asking although Beloved might have), putting the duvet in the duvet cover, he'll need to take the big lamp downstairs for me and I might ask him to put up my curtains. He's good with heavy stuff and tall stuff (if he knows I can't do it, he's willing to help).

So Tuesday was a fairly lazy day (much needed rest and recovery but a bit of CBA too). An early evening push - DS2 messaged to say he would call with my present on his way home from work. Well he left with 18 cans of St Pat's special, 3 bottles of non-alcoholic wine, the platypus (it's not overwhelmingly big like a giant teddy and baby can sleep on it when she needs a break from exploring the world), his festive present, baby's Easter present (+ a hand knitted 'Peter Rabbit' I bought from the cs and had forgotten about), sensory balls and 9 books. In return I have an orchid (that won't last long) and a hand made card with flowers cut around baby hand prints. He was even complimentary about house progress - he usually points out all the things I haven't done.

Some of the items were leftover festive presents. We went from discussing where we might go for a meal to a message saying they'd be here in 15 minutes and the table was booked - I spent most of the fifteen minutes getting myself and the collected items downstairs but some things in the corner were inaccessible and I was half way down the stairs when I remembered the set of books on the landing and wouldn't go back (planned in advance wrapping and tags was reduced to putting in gift bags - at least it meant I could go through the baby's presents - natural rubber, FSC wood, mostly geared to teething and exploring)

Yesterday I was out of the house shortly after 10 am, took 4 books back to the library (including the one that went missing), a bag of clothes to one cs and a bag of books to the charity book shop (I bought 'A Girl Called Jack' and 2 similar books). That took me nearly to the top end of town and I went to Icyland for salad bits rather than Tessimo (would have had a taxi back). A long slow return journey (I was out for over two hours) and received several  offers of help (very tempted to accept help from the silver fox with extremely good legs but I was only 4 doors away from my own house).

Collapsed into my couch nest with food and books. When I felt restored and had worked a few kinks out of my back and neck, I put food away in the fridge. Such a lovely day that I went outside and did about an hour 'soil sifting', one 40 l bucket of soil, one bucket of weeds and twigs into my green bin (some of it was light relief as the soil lower down was wet and heavy and I was having to push it through the sieve, the twigs and dead leaf layer caught by the fence was removable in handfuls and no wildlife was using it for shelter)  Stones gathered in a rubble sack and added to the other part filled ones whilst I could still move it. Only half a bucket of rubbish but that was the largest category - lots of tiny scraps of sweet and cigarette wrappersplus the odd lump of polystyrene, rag and other tat. There are some larger pieces and a pile of stones nearer the wall but not worked that far yet. Came in for a drink and a rest an decided I was done for the day.

Today is undecided - the sun is trying to break through and then it threatens to rain again. I'm feeling wobbly (no shower yet) and my knees are decidedly creaky so I'm staying where I am for now. Lots of paper scraps were transcribed into proper notebooks (useful as it's a recap of all the decluttering tips) and addresses into the little book. I was gifted half a chicken by Beloved which has already done 1.5 meals so no need to go down for lunch (I have a few thin crispbread and some grapes left). My  bedside tray is empty of everything but my CPAP machine and my penny tin (needs cleaning) and I've just decided the trolley can have a thorough wipe whilst it's in the bathroom.  Lots to work on and will try a few gentle moves to help my knees.

Numbers - oh tricky. Worked hard, finally got a few things out of the house, bed is a lot clearer, important (but not urgent) information slowly being gathered. I'll have a think.

Wednesday2000

Liverpool_Anne said:

@Wednesday2000, I have my Christmas decs in a clear plastic box in the loft, I also have spare towels and extra dinning chairs. They are useful when we have larger gatherings but take up too much room if left out. If there are any other things Dilly suggests please let us know 
Re burning cds onto the computer, it might be better to put them onto an external hard drive so if the computer dies they won't be lost.

We did the xmas decorations yesterday so he needs to put the boxes up in the attic today. The decs are quite minimal so they all fitted into one box. I was thinking of putting the spare duvets and pillows up there in clear boxes too. The only people we have over to stay the night are my brother and his girlfriend. We have been in the new house almost a year and they have stayed over twice so probably the attic is the best place to keep things that are only occasionally used.:)

Yes, he is going to do that with his CD's on the hard drive. I was actually thinking of selling them now after rather than donating them. I was looking at some of his more classic and well known CD's yesterday and looking for how much they go for on ebay. I used to sell things on ebay years ago, but I can't remember how much hassle it was to do. I did look at Music Magpie to sell them, but they only give a small amount for each one.

Looking through my husband's stuff made me look at what else we could sell. A brand new computer game he got for xmas as he won't play it again. Some of the newer books I bought too. 

I also found a black laptop satchel bag that I had completely forgotten he had. I'm going to snag that to wear myself as I prefer being hands free when I'm out shopping and he uses his rucksack bag for work.:)

Moorviews

Vulpix - All the best for the funeral today. You have done an amazing job at MIL’s so I hope you do get some time to catch up at home for a while soon. 

Dfw38 - hugs. That was quite a journey but I am so glad you got to see your dad. 

Liverpool_Anne - I am another who can relate to that chick! It’s always good to have something around that makes you smile 😊
MrsSD - thank you kindly for the medal and star and compliments. I don’t think I would be reliable enough with consistent cheerleading but I can always help make pom-poms if required😂 It’s difficult to know how long to keep estate paperwork for, however, we have found that queries can turn up more than a decade after a death. Particularly as companies make mistakes, review or have the outcomes of corporate actions against them. Spouses estates are connected and HMRC seem to take whatever time they like to come back with queries. We just find it easier and less time consuming to have the paperwork in hand rather than go through modern phone systems for companies that have been taken over several times over etc. It’s just the storage which is annoying and also the drain on the brain! Likewise, being attorneys has its own problems and attendant volume of paperwork. 

I am having another couple of unwell days but asked Mr MV to get a big bag out of the shed yesterday so I am gradually processing that. It’s mainly bulky bedding. I’m washing what can be useful to others and the unusable will go to the recycling centre. Just keeping two bedspreads for myself which I need to repair. 

QueenJess

This morning's digital decluttering efforts:

10,053-10,139 - emails permanently deleted

10,140-10,151 - leftover party bag bits (buy nothing)

10,152 - online account deleted

10,153-10,10,160 - photos/videos deleted

10,161 - packaging reused

Tidying challenge today will be to clear the hallway/landing.  Nowhere is actually tidy, but it is all getting better.  Still feel like there is a lot to get rid of this year.

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 

Thursday I got up 09:40 to find DH had already gone out on his 1st walk. He has a lovely day for it - sunny, bright & breezy. Now sat in my fluffy dressing gown with my 1st cup of tea & about to start cheerleading 😉 Update re DH - he left the house about 9:30 & has just got back 11:25 having done 6,000+ steps 👏 Apparently I was snoring so loud that I woke him up 😉 the cheek of it 🤣

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear about your ex-colleague ☹️ Your Tuesday sounds like most of my days at the moment. Although at least you did manage to do a bit of crochet 🙂 Well done on decluttering so many emails 👏 Hopefully when you have the space you can get your sewing machine serviced & then practice for your entry to the Sewing Bee 😉 but don’t take your Sand Art with you 😂

Wednesday2000, sounds like you are finding a few useful ideas in Dilly’s book 🙂 Everything crossed that you can persuade your husband re the CDs 🤞It will create so much space & really bump up your numbers 😊

Thanks oceanspirit, he is pretty amazing - after all he has been putting up with me for over 30 years 🤣Great work going through food stocks without having to throw anything away 👏 Well done on keeping ‘mission control’ neat 🙂

Good work diminua - every little helps 👏 & very impressed that you found the vacuum cleaner attachments even if it was for the old dumped cleaner 😉 I am still looking for the attachments for my working vacuum 😱 

bit_by_bit, thanks for the reminder about vulpix & MrV - I forgot to award them each a gold star 😔 which I will rectify later today 😊 Sorry to hear that you are ‘cream crackered’ (wonderfully descriptive expression 🙂) Enjoy the family gathering for MiL’s 80th & then please pop into the TLC Carriage to recharge your energy levels 🙏  before embarking on any decluttering. Good luck for today’s appointment with the dentist 🍀- may it be pain free & not too expensive 🤞 

Brie, yippee to getting a new boiler next week 🥳 Really not sure what century the person who gave you the quote was living in 😱 ‘Living without hot water for a month, would not be my idea of ‘living’ - a week is infinitely more manageable 😊 

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 & well done on catching up with your tidying one room at a time 👏🙂

Excellent work florianatwobob 👏 especially as the items have gone on to a 2nd life 🙂

EnergyShifter, hope you enjoyed your delayed Mothers Day meal last night 🤞 &  I really, really hope it was pain free after your visit to the dentist 😊

TC77, What a very busy Wednesday you had 👏 Sorry to hear that you are having problems with officialdom & DD1’s current landlord 😖 He/she is rapidly becoming a right pain in the derrière 😡 I really hope you managed to get the inspection visit rearranged to a more suitable time for DD1 🤞

Dfw38, very pleased to hear that yesterday’s visit to your Dad went well & you managed to get him to eat a little 🙂 As to your sister, absolutely No Need to feel bad about telling her bluntly that you aren’t standing for any of her nonsense 😊 She strikes me as a particularly ‘insensitive’ (I’m being very polite) & selfish person who is also deaf to any normal conversations that both you & your DB have had with her 😔 Sending hugs to you & DB 🤗

End of another page, so I will take a break. Back after I get dressed & write a shopping list for DH - although not necessarily in that order 😅

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

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 867/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £74.70

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone

So sorry I've been AWOL, I think i sat down in the TLC carriage and fell asleep for 2 months oops! RL has been a bit stressful with some medical appointments for both DDs and work has been busy. I have a few jobs - FT, PT and self employment - but have nearly decluttered my mortgage ! 
DD1 has been helpful and sold a few items of clothing for me on v-inted and i sold a big box of books to ziff!t. Earned about £40 for both which went towards mortgage OP.
Decluttered various bits of paper and card by putting in the recycling bin. 
Have continued digital decluttering.

Not caught up on everyone's news but hugs to Dfw38 and glad to hear Mr S_D is ok after a scary hospital stay.
Hugs to anyone in need.
Will keep up from now on!
Love to all
Deni x

Oh what is MMiM please ?

nannywindow

Hello fellow declutterers, hugs to anyone having a bad time or poorly. 
Yesterday I helped DH re-felt Dad's shed however I spent most of my time trying to keep Dad off the ladders, he forgets he's almost 94 and bit doddery even on the ground now 😱 I managed to declutter some of the cardboard boxes from his conservatory too, which he seems to be bent on collecting (food sleeves cover most surfaces in his kitchen too 🤔) and I found some dried up prawns hidden under a pile of carrier bags on one of his chairs 🤢 He keeps his freezer in there next to the chair and must have dropped them out of a bag some time ago. I despair of the clutter he has, when I was looking for some nails I even found and old fish tank and half a bag of set cement in a cupboard in his garage but he won't part with either as they're for Justin 🙄
DH started to sort out the office again and eureka ! some of his engineering textbooks are in the cs bag, he hasn't used them since retiring and perhaps they will help someone again. Lots of his paperwork was shredded and more computer wires/cables have gone out. A broken set of headphones, a microphone, lots of empty pens and a micro tape have been binned. Several 35mm photography books are also now in the cs bag as they are like new.
I've unsubscribed from one business that was bombarding me several times a day and decluttered lots of emails that I have read and dealt with.
Dfw38 hope your sister heeds your warning. Hugs
Deni-d-f-dreamer well done on nearly getting rid of your mortgage, it's a great feeling when that moment finally arrives.
Take care all
nan

Florenceem

I phoned the Doctor at 8 am when they open their telephone calls. I was no 28 in the queue - took 40 minutes to get to talk to a person. Off to Dr this afternoon for Mr F - this is not going to be a quick fix.
When I am stressed - I either craft or clean. So stressed that I cleaned! Downstairs cloakroom is immaculate. Then into the kitchen - I cleaned the cooker top and tiles to within an inch of their lives. Finished by having shining kitchen floor tiles. I also did a machine wash. 
I was meant to be at SA to sort out for Saturday but couldn't leave Mr F this morning.

charlies_tribe

Afternoon. Yesterday I went with DH to take DS to college and called at the DIY store on the way back to look at shelves for the boys room. We got there and realised neither of us had actually measured the gap we want them to fit! They didn't actually have the ones we wanted in anyway. We did get a new extractor fan for the kitchen on offer as it hasn't worked for years.
Got home to DD1 here with DG.
Once we all got home from afternoon activities I managed to put another few loads through the shredder and DH started the fan. The inside tubing is almost double the size of the one that's already on so he couldn't fit it.

So this morning back we went to the DIY store. Still no shelving but new piping and a snake plant for the boys room purchased. Then we had a nosey around the camping shop next door looking at tents.
DH has just finished fitting the fan and I've so far flattened 19 boxes and 3 loads of shredding and a pile of paperwork sorted. And do you know what.... conservatory still doesn't look any different 😕
Just having a cup of tea before DD2 goes to dance and will do a bit more after we get back.

retiredinfrance

Florenceem, thinking of you and MrF this afternoon. Bon courage!