2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Brie

Florenceem said:

I called at SA this morning and broke down - I am not a person who cries but I did today. Later I popped to the charity shop and went back to SA.
I phoned the new ward and Mr F is refusing to eat and drink. He was 71 on Tuesday and going out every day until recently. It is as though now he has no business - no need to live.
Off to the hospital soon.

Sounds like he's depressed and in mourning for his business. 

OH said something interesting recently about men not knowing that they are growing older until something major happens and then it's a big shock to them.   For OH it was a heart attack.  For Mr F it sounds like it's selling/closing the business.  It's a lot to get over. 

Women on the other hand have things that happen monthly and otherwise regularly throughout their lives which reminds them of the march of time.  I think it makes us better at coping.

Crazycatlady2

@Florenceem sending you hugs, take care of yourself and I hope your DH is doing better soon

so next door didn’t want shed so I put on Facebook and someone collected it a few hours later….needs repairs but glad someone else can make use of it

DD turned 16 on Wednesday and has asked if she can change bedrooms with her younger brother so she has bigger one 🤦‍♀️ OMG is doable but it’s so much stuff to move that I don’t want to 😂

Dfw38

Hello all! I haven't caught up, a job for later I think! I have had the best part of a week in the great tlc carriage and really needed it. I said 'No' to sister, spent the weekend just having fun, no housework, no jobs, no decluttering and it was brilliant. I have spent the rest of this week pretty much the same, except for today. Today I have cleared a load from our room of doom as dh needed something found that was being evasive! I found it and filled 3x recycling sacks of paper and cardboard and found some toys that dc haven't played with since before Xmas so they have been bagged for cs for next week. I have also gone back through my clothes and been absolutely ruthless. I have cleared 2x bin bags worth of clothes to go to cs next week. I am working my way through a huge box of hand me downs and need to be realistic there and place in a smaller box. All Easter decorations are down and need to be boxed up (first time we have decorated for easter) and we spent an hour in the front garden cutting the grass and weeding although many hours work ahead there. I didn't notice how bad it was despite walking past at least 4x a day. I think my tolerance is a lot less now. I have also bagged up all of the clothes I was debating whether to put on v!nted for the cs.
Dad's death was finally registered yesterday (took 15 days which is beyond a joke, all caused by the doctors surgery) the coroner had to be involved to get the paperwork finalised. We have got the funeral on Tuesday so I got some black shoes and a black cardigan both from sainsbobs to go with my black dress that I was on the fence with keeping. I will be carrying the coffin in with dh, my brother and sister and 2 people from the funeral directors.  We did the same for mum so only feels right to help dad on his journey.

EnergyShifter

I'm still sleeping for England and feeling better for it so will stay in the TLC Carriage for a good while longer.   I've blocked out a week off work at the end of April / early May - not sure what I'm going to do yet - maybe nothing.

exH has been in the country for a few days visiting DS.  I've managed to keep my distance - I've learned from last time he visited that its best this way. He's gone off for a week now and when he comes back it'll just be for a few days until he goes off again for 3 months.  

Professional Credentialing came through - I don't have to think about that again until end Sept 2026!! I wonder if I'll have retired by then - I can only hope ! 

Tasks:
Sent parcel to friend - gift for her new grandchild
Returned duplicate item to Amazon

IN (running total 74)
0

OUT (running total 318)
319. Sweatshirt 
320. Broken spectacles

Love to all & special hugs to Florenceem & Dfw  

Brie

Crazycatlady2 said:

DD turned 16 on Wednesday and has asked if she can change bedrooms with her younger brother so she has bigger one 🤦‍♀️ OMG is doable but it’s so much stuff to move that I don’t want to 😂

It's DD's burden not yours.  Let her negotiate with YB and get him to get rid of his "childish" things with you cheerleading from the sidelines about how wonderful some much younger boy is really going to love that <whatever>.  DD can do similar while you preach zen austerity and the perfection in life that is an empty room.  

@Dfw38
Yes, navigating all the bureaucracy that accompany us through our lives can be maddening.  Fortitude for Tuesday.  It sounds like a lovely thing to do.

Happy_Kitties

Neutral items were tidied up as they were taking over the spare bedroom just dotted everywhere. The bedrooms will look empty in October when the other items leave the house. In tidying up the bits and bobs and having a box I packed up another 26 to send to the organiser (I like to get at least 20 items in to make it postage worthwhile). 

So neutral items out is 
128+26= 154 items sent to charity so far.

Not much general decluttering going on. Duncle has decided to downsize so I took three bags of items to drop off at the CS for him. Pleased they were actually dropped off and not hanging about in the car.
132-134 bags x 3 of Duncles items to CS
135 Cats took another executive decision and knocked a mug off the draining board-a cat 🐈‍⬛ mug aswell. Binned
136 Another tatty file into the plastic recycling
137 Birthday badges into recycling
138 Relevant paperwork filed, non relevant destroyed
139 Soft plastics taken tonight to supermarket recycling point

GrannyKate

Just reporting in as back from short break with 3 grandchildren.  Away over weekend then I will get back to reading and catching up on posts.

504 Put everything away from holiday.  Dishwasher loaded, 2 lots of washing done, etc

retiredinfrance

Glad that “declutterati “ went down well and DH is delighted that his wit is appreciated. I need an emoji here!
Admin Action in April is doing reasonably well with 
2 lots paper out
and a start made on penciling in the totals. I have a system. The paper goes into a large rectangular jar and then it moves to lining the compost bin in the kitchen and from there to the big outside bin . This is confidential paper and so far the system is working well . There is no indication that the jar is other than ornamental so it doesn’t ruin the look of the library. My desk is in there and all the books hence library. Emoji needed!There are also very many books in the spare room but I’m trying to reduce them. Since I joined the local Fench library and so bought less in the CS , progress has speeded up a wee bit.
Also out
12 books
1 magazine 
1 pair socks
1 pair pants
3 piles of ribbon and other craft stuff 
1 pile general rubbish
Total = 21+ 165=186/365
The rubbish and most of the above came from a sort of spring cleaning of the bedroom and more items found a like with like space due to space in drawers and now much less just sitting out waiting for dust.The socks and pants are part of my strategy of using 5 items in rotation to wear them out. This is not going so well with the tee shirts as the older ones are of much better quality. 

I have just finished Marie Kondo’s book from the library and I must say I have got much more useful tips and tricks from you all on here - TC77, Floss, Oceanspirit, Queen Jess and of course , our very own MrsSD. And all the others who help us all along the way.
Hugs for everyone and , Florenceem, we are not with you in person , but we’re right behind you and MrF.

DundeeDoll

calling in from Quebec City where I'm at a conference with work - loooooong journey so no decluttering yesterday and most definitely back to my 23 mins email declutter a day - today I got rid of 110 in 2 * 23 min sprints

Florenceem

Taken to and from the hospital by SA officers. Mr F was very dry when I got there - I got him to drink water and take the medication that he refused in the morning. Staff said that he had refused to interact with them at all.
He has a feeding tube up his nose and into his stomach and they started to feed him when I told them that has no food allergies. Mr F said that I had been a wonderful mother and waved goodbye as soon as I got there. He said that he was going to the other side. He refused food when it came round at 5.30. His eyes were brighter and he spoke to our officer. They are going to do a full body mri under sedation and a lumbar punch. The specialist blood test results won't be back until next week. I have a SA friend taking me to the hospital today.