2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

daisy_1571

I am a butterfly ʚɞ  Didn't always agree with the questions but def agree with the description 

Vulpix, hope the law was lenient with the culprit, much too cute for the Big House 

Daisy xx

Dfw38

@Blue_Doggy to be honest the dcs are normally like that but not normally this bad. Eldest dd is a bossy madam quite often and youngest dd has realised this and that she doesn't have to put up with it! Good for her, but it is wearing me down to be honest. I found myself losing my patience on Sunday (even dh had enough that day) and yesterday and ended up yelling both days which made me feel even worse. They didn't have a close relationship with my dad due to Covid, him being poorly in a nursing home, the dc bringing home every illness known to the Western world over the past year and more recently my protecting them from how my dad had deteriorated. I don't regret that decision but it is very sad. When I told them they took the news well and youngest dd cried a bit the next day and has had a few more tears. Eldest dd (who I expected to really struggle) hasn't really said anything or "shown' grief externally, whether that is because she is keeping it internally or whether there is another reason I am not sure. No real change in her except for quite a bit of disrespect towards me for some reason. I suspect age/anxiety issues but I could certainly do without it. 
So this afternoon we went to the large park in town, by bus - a real treat! And also went to one of our local museums and had a look around as they are closing at some point to refurb (not sure when) and the dcs spent some of their pocket money on rocks to add to their collections 😆 even ds (2) got in on it and picked out 3 of his own. Treated the dds to a bath bomb each from lu$h (made it more mse by breaking it so enough for 4 baths each)
Had a nice, long relaxing bath and feel I have a cold or something coming. Tomorrow is our 'playdate' at our local nature reserve with eldest dds "friend' (hopeful 🤞) in the afternoon and before that we have a tip run for garden rubbish. No further movement on dad's paperwork 🙄 and I am supposed to be down at dad's house on Friday to run through some stuff but:
A. I don't feel like it
B. I could do with some more training before the marathon as haven't been able to get out as much as I should have.
C. Have a feeling it will be a wasted trip (sister is being awkward again)
D. It is going to take me hours to get their and back and that is without any extra Easter traffic.
E. I am exhausted from stress, insomnia, emotional burnout and dcs trying to drive me insane.
F. Would rather spend the day with dcs (although that might change after tomorrow 🤭)
 So why do I feel so guilty about feeling like saying "no"? Aaaargh

Just remembered someone (apologies cannot remember who) asked if I had anyone to help with dc. Erm nope! Miles away from family, school mums who would probably be OK to help for a couple of hours are away on holiday or visiting their family or have jam packed itineraries. Just me, dh works 6-7 days a week most weeks. Going to have some h0rlicks and see if that gets me to sleep tonight.
Hope you are all well 😘

TC77

@Dfw38 please be kind to yourself, can you dad's house wait? I do hope you sleep abit better, I'm a big fan of lavender drops on pillows, nighttime herbal drink and listening to a meditation at night by someone with a monotone voice... It won't always be like this, and I do think DC pick up on what is going on but don't have the experience or words to understand or describe. 

A friend is coming round tomorrow to help me get some furniture to a repairer - decided I don't want to have stuff that is falling apart/scruffy - not sure how well it get done as linked to a training charity so taking things that I'm not to worried about. I never finished the stool I took to upholstery classes - only needs top fabric but with my hand problems found it very difficult and worked out expensive.
Frogs, picked up blood test form and ordered DD2 meds, email chasing payment, lovely shop sent me digital vouchers for paper ones I realised had expired, sent photos for advice of items from dad's, submitted meter readings,  two other chase up emails. 

Given a few other things have been done/gone out then I'm rounding to 500 , a little behind target but as I have blind faith I will have a sprint in the autumn not worried. However, offered a meal to friend who is helping but can't see any of the table!

Floss

@Dfw38 please, say "no", and remember that "no" is a complete sentence - when you use the word you don't need to qualify it to anyone. There is @QueenJess crumble & cream in the TLC carriage, go & get some before it gets eaten! 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I was at a funeral for most of the day and while it was a celebration of her life it was also a very sad day. I had decided to wash the shower curtains last night then promptly forgotten them when I went to bed so this morning as I was rushing around at silly o'clock I had to sort them out before I could shower but luckily the traffic was quite kind and I made it to the church in plenty of time. Talking to my friends DH about her, she had to be airlifted home from Spain while he drove the car back. She had been in hospital in Spain for a couple of weeks and when she was told her prognosis she sat in bed and organised her funeral while he fell to pieces. She allocated her jewellery to friends and god daughters as they had no children but he said all he had to do now was sort out her 9 wardrobes. He said he never realised he had been so generous . They liked to travel a lot and especially liked to cruise and she had never got rid of anything either clothes or keepsakes bought on their travels. It made me think about what I still have to sort out and reinforced my conviction to not leave something like that for others to deal with. 

I am cream crackered now but I will have some time tomorrow so will try to get something done. On Friday we are going to OHs sister for lunch, on Sunday I have a footy match and on Monday we are at a friend's son's for lunch so only Saturday is free for decluttering although various Easter eggs will be leaving the house

Hugs to everyone who would like one
Take care everyone
Still 581/2023

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   

I don’t believe it, my post vanished 😖 
So quick précis of Wednesday: Overcast all day with rain from 17:30. My cousin phoned Tuesday evening to invite us to a barbecue to say farewell to her brother & his partner before they emigrate to Australia. 

Knock on the door this morning with someone trying to persuade us to get roof cleaned as he was in the area “cleaning a neighbour’s roof”. DH investigated online & then declined. Not a single roof cleaned - so a lucky escape 😉
DH & I spent 2 hours in the garden - pruning, weeding, moving pots, cleaning water bowls etc
Dinner was fried chicken, boiled potatoes & mixed vegetables. Wudupa

942 - 943 Kitchen & office recycling 
944 - 945 Kitchen & garden detritus binned

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

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐🏅 perseverance medal 🎖️ 🥇 🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 945/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £74.70

GrannyKate

Just a quick post to say I have returned from down South after good few days with sil.  Difficult to visit my brother's house without him being there anymore.  We visited the lovely spot where his ashes were scattered which was nice.  No numbers to report but need to catch up on over a hundred posts and do so some frogs today.  Bins were a different day and DS2 didn't realise so nothing put out.  Will drop cans off at tip after quiz today.

Hugs to everyone who needs one. 

dND

Wow there’s been lot going on since I posted a few days ago.

@cravingspace my son has ADHD tendencies and he’s picked on one make of clear boxes that stack really well but more importantly he can see what’s in there.  Mind you he does sort everything as it’s his armies for Warhammer and all the individual armies and the scenery is specific!  I’m a bit like that, if I can’t see it I’ve forgotten about it but I’ve found using reasonable quality masking tape to label everything does help. But others have also given really good ideas of dealing with it.  Sometimes it’s just necessary to have the time to decide if the item is something you really want or something you are keeping for emotional reasons that are actually millstones – case in point for me was all the stationary that belonged to my father.

@BlueDoggy@s tip:-

Does your local authority recycling accept small metal items like your nail clippers? Otherwise your local tip/amenity site/household waste facility most probably can take them for recycling. Have a look on your council’s website and contact them if you can’t find the answer you need.

Reminded me of something Jack Monroe pointed out -she was talking about donating tin openers to food banks - but maybe the nail clippers could be offered there to go out along with the personal care items?

@daisy_1571 I’m (now) so in agreement with you about the landfill guilt and have been able to rationalise it.  Like you, it has a certain amount of time to find a new home otherwise I spend a bit of time breaking it down into its recyclable constituents and then out it goes.

I did the clutterbug quiz and I’m a butterfly 🦋.  Reading the page I think that is pretty close.

Condolences @MadamMim2013 , I miscarried nearly 40 years ago and I still remember.  Many hugs to you and MrMim and lots of rest in the TLC carriage.

As I have only had time to whip through the posts I’m sure I’ve missed things, so much love, condolences and congratulations to everyone as always.

I have been busy  - First tip trip has been done with 5 binbags of general waste, a couple of old water pumps that had bee kept for spare parts a couple of 20l containers that held tractor fluids and a collection of old spray cans.  It’s sort of made a dent in the pile in the barn but I need to flatten all the old cardboard and take that to the tip before I’ll see much real difference.

Meanwhile in the house I’ve been emptying out storage boxes and culling as much as possible.  I will go to Emmaus with that stuff next Wednesday – they are only open a couple of days a week and I tend not to go into town at the weekend: it’s a legacy of Covid.  Delaying it to Wednesday also gives me a bit more time to think of what of the larger items could they come and collect.  I have 10 or so weeks left in France and I’m not sure I can be bothered to try and sell everything especially as I have sold off the better stuff over the years in preparation.  Lots of things to think about over this weekend.

And the reason for all this positivity – my buyer contacted me to come over and show the house to her father.  We had a chat about what the notaires had said to her – they chat more to the purchaser than the buyer as it’s the purchaser who pays their fee.  Between us we have a goal date in mind but my buyer is flexible as she is currently living with a parent and can be a bit flexible on the actual date.  The only ‘problem’ is getting the go ahead from SAFER who are the farming organisation who have a say on whether the land can be sold.  We believe this shouldn’t be a problem as my buyer is becoming a young farmer so the land isn’t being sold out of farming.  SAFER have 3 months to object to the sale and can offer it to the local farmers.  But as I won’t separate the land from the house it’s very unlikely that the farmers around me want the whole property.  But it’s just another little headache running in the background.

The more pressing headache is that the removal agents seem to be fully booked for the next 4 months!! So I foresee a lot of time being spent on the computer trying to find one that can move and store my stuff.  But all in all it’s a much more positive day here.

Good luck with all your goals everyone. ❤️❤️❤️

2Scratters

@Brie - re the mobile office you are carrying around, I have seen work colleagues use the lightweight cases on wheels that you would use as hand luggage. So reducing the amount of time being carried. Not sure it would work in your situation though 

@Dfw38 - re your eldest child maybe a little hug and a chat may help. They could be worried about you dying too (any parent is old) Hugs to you all.

Purchased a dehumidifier after some research and costings for running it. So we are in the process of decluttering the dampness you just don't see, but on days can feel it. Apparently bungalows are susceptible to it.
Decluttered some very small items insignificant on their own but in the grand scheme all counts. 

Did a wash load the other day and got it dried on the line - ironed and put away. 

Decluttered fridge left overs, they are now in the freezer ready for me working at the weekend.

Managed to declutter the dogs - Of hair that is!
He only gives me about 10 strokes of the brush then is off even if I hang on to his leg he wriggles about like he is being tortured  madam on the other hand, will muscle her way in for some of the attention and loves being pampered. There was enough fur to peg out for the birds who are starting to nest as they will make short work of the gift. 

Off to lunch again with dad and niece is meeting up too as he needs a manicure and she is a trained beautician. We have started a Whatsapp group and communication is going well and the load is being able to be shared out quite well. 

Need to get DH from bed he has a job to do today and the weather is looking good for us. He will only moan later if he gets nothing done. I'll send in the dogs  the bed needs changing anyway and he will have had a wash before he climbs out from his slumber 
 
2 Scratters xx

Brie

@2Scratters
Yes I know the bags on wheels you're talking about.  Frankly I just don't want to be carrying so much.  It's like any bag/cupboard/house we have, we keep stuffing more and more in to it until nothing can be found.  I must manage to be more organised.

As for the dehairing of pets.....I used to like to do the cats outside and then just leave the clumps of fluff on the lawn.  It would look like catmaggedon for a while but then the birds would normally start to collect it for their nests.  And if they didn't it would disappear when the grass was cut.