2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Moorviews

@Florenceem- my heart goes out to you and Mr F. It’s a very good thing that you were able to cry although I am so sorry about the situation that you are in and the enormous pressure you are under. I do so hope that things will soon be turned around once the causes of your husband’s current health problems are determined. 

@EnergyShifter- I hope you find something special for yourself to use your time off to best advantage for your wellbeing. Well done for the accomplishment of getting the professional accreditation all done and dusted. 

@DundeeDoll- you are in one of the places that I would love to have visited. I hope you got a little time to enjoy yourself while there. 

@retiredinfrance- I definitely appreciated your husband’s witticism there and it makes me feel quite glamorous to be a member of the declutterati!
@Dfw38- well done for saying No even though you are going through a lot yourself. I hope all goes well on Tuesday. 

So, I was making space for my sewing and thought I was doing quite well with clearing out loads of the craft stuff, however, I still don’t seem to have the space that I need! A small delivery of notions, fabric and threads has pushed things into disarray. I need to work out what else can go as I want to store things behind closed doors and not all crammed in either. Thanks to the quiz @QueenJess linked to I see that I am a cricket 🦗 which I initially questioned. Then I thought about how I like to have everything just where it should be and how I struggle with too much visual clutter. Although I do also appreciate some harmonious visual arrangements of things and am definitely not minimalist so it is a question of finding the perfect balance for me. Again, I am not rushing out to buy storage but will look to see what can go out completely and how to put order into what is left. 

Madbat60

Morning 
Gosh this thread is busy.  I hope everyone is well.  I'm still keeping on top of my emails and slowly decluttering books.  Yesterday I gave my neighbour who does scrap collection 4 old bikes from the garden.  We're going to move one of our hog houses as they were in a nice shady overgrown spot.  Hopefully we'll get an occupant soon.  Our girl hog is still living in hers.  Talking of hogs, we are busy with visitors.  We're hoping for babies soon.  

carolbee

@Florenceem, I am glad you’re getting help with travel. How very worrying for you. I am pleased  you are getting the wonderful support of the SA. As you may remember, I am in Thanet if I can help at all? I hope you have family close by too.

Florenceem

carolbee - I have 2 children living locally. One is a head teacher so working long hours all week.

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

Friday: An update on DH’s niece G - sad to say that G’s husband  informed DH that it was not actually a heart attack but rather worse - G had had 3 brain aneurysms. Currently in an induced coma after her operation 😟 DH went for a short walk & picked up his medication. DSis went out later & picked up her medication - the pharmacy are still having problems getting the specific brands 😔

Did one load of washing which had to be tumble dried as it was another damp day. I also stripped the bed & turned the mattress but never remade it - so a task for Saturday. The only other thing I did was read a book from cover to cover “The Runaway Family” by Diney Costeloe. A compelling fictional story about a German Jewish family from 1937 to 1939 & their eventual escape from Germany then Austria. Dinner was roast pork with crackling, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots & sweet potato; cabbage, spring greens & Yorkshire puddings 😋 Wudupa. Stayed up long enough to pay 4 weeks milk bill 😬 

991 - 994 Kitchen recycling, cardboard box, newspaper, drinks cans - recycled 

995 - 996 Kitchen detritus, plastic packaging - binned

Saturday up & dressed by 10:00 & am now on my 2nd cuppa. Another overcast day with intermittent rain so 1st load of washing is now in td. Rather disappointed that the weather is so changeable as work in the garden has ground to a halt & enthusiasm for indoor decluttering is woefully lacking 😉 so straight into cheerleading:-

Florenceem, I think you needed a good cry as it can be debilitating keeping all your emotions in check. Sorry to hear that MrF is so despondent that he is not eating or drinking 😔 

Brie, a very informative post & I do believe your OH has hit the nail on the head 👏

Shame the neighbour changed their mind about the shed Crazycatlady2 😔 but well done on getting rid so quickly to a new person 👏 Belated birthday wishes to your DD 🥳 Good luck with the bedroom switching 🍀

Dfw38, saying ‘No’ can be quite liberating as you now know 👏😊 You should always make time for fun & I imagine the dc have thoroughly enjoyed their time with mum 😊 Excellent work yesterday - success all round - not only finding the elusive item but also decluttering clothes & toys 👏 I loved your comment “my tolerance is a lot less now” 😊  Sorry to hear that the coroner had to get involved with chasing the paperwork from the doctor 😔 15 days is a disgrace 😖 All strength to you & your family for Tuesday 🙂

EnergyShifter, pleased to hear that your sojourn in the TLC Carriage is proving beneficial 🙂 Hopefully by the time your week off work comes round you will be fully recovered & will have the energy to do whatever you decide 🤞 At least your DS will be happy to see his dad 😉 Yippee to Professional Credentialing turning up & fingers crossed that you can retire before having to renew again 🤞 Well done on keeping your in/out ratio at 1:4 👏

I love it Brie - “while you preach zen austerity and the perfection in life that is an empty room” 👏

Excellent work corralling the neutral items Happy_Kitties 👏 Well done also on the quick turnaround of Duncle’s bags to CS 👏 Your cat obviously thought you were paying too much attention to the mug & not enough to it 😂 

Very efficient GrannyKate 👏 Hope you had a lovely time with your three grandchildren & that you enjoy your weekend away 😊

retiredinfrance, I was rather remiss - your DH’s “declutterati” description is worthy of a medal 🏅 which is now on its way 🙂 Excellent decluttering & cleaning/tidying 👏 You have earned another Gold Star ⭐️ as you are now over half way to your stated target 🙂 What a lovely comment about our ‘family’ being more useful than Marie Kondo 😊

Well done on your digital decluttering DundeeDoll 👏 Hope your working visit to Quebec City allows some time for sightseeing 🤞

Florenceem, very gratified to learn that SA are in full swing giving you lifts to & from hospital which gives you a respite from using public transport 😊 Such a marvellous organisation 👏 Hopefully the results of all the extra tests that MrF is booked in for will finally shed light on what is happening & will lead to a full diagnosis & treatment plan 🤞 You & MrF are in my thoughts.

What a beautiful, thoughtful & well expressed post Moorviews 😊 Good luck with decluttering & storing your craft stuff 🍀 Sounds like the Clutterbug quiz has really helped you in identifying the best way forward for you 👏 I think I need to revisit the quiz & take my time to ponder my answers to the questions 🤔 

Excellent decluttering Madbat60 👏 Hopefully the hogs will appreciate their new location 🤞🙂

Lovely offer carolbee 😊

Florenceem, hope your other child is managing to find a little time to visit MrF & is looking after you as well with phone calls & hugs 🤗 

DH is on the phone chatting to his sister & I am about to make myself another cuppa before descaling the kettle & making the bed 😉

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

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

Decluttering Target 2023: 996/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £74.70

fritzie-65

Yesterday was " Fling  Friday" - I hooked a carrier bag on every door handle so as I went around the house anything to go was flung resulting in a bag full of old belts , socks and other items of clothing for the CS.
I now also have two piles of clothes to try on one more time to see if they fit and depending on the answer either keep or ebay.

A few more things left the house via Ebay , recyling bin, paper / cardboard and general waste bin.

A stock take of all the cupboards ,fridge and freezer yielded a resounding shopping free week as we have enough to keep us going yipee.(We dont have deliveries from Supermarkets here otherwise I would gladly go down that route.)

Best wishes and hugs for the weekend and for the coming week to all.

ScarletRibbons

Florenceem, I'm very sorry to read how bad things are for your DH and you.

I always enjoyed your posts on the O/S Daily thread and admired your lovely craft work.

I hope the situation will improve, best wishes to you both.

QueenJess

Thanks @retiredinfrance it's good to know I have some useful tips.  On books/online content for decluttering/organising there is about 5% which is really helpful and new to you, but you have to sift through all of it to get to that.  This forum with real people makes it a lot faster when we share our tips instead.

I have nothing useful to say at the moment and am in the TLC carriage.  DD has a horrible virus thing (cue an A&E referral from the doctors for a stubborn high temperature, then back out again after 4 hours yesterday) and I am basically caring for her 24-7.  Getting the odd 20-60 mins of sleep here and there if I'm lucky.  DH is utterly useless and thinks she is fine when she clearly has a fever and needs medicine/fewer clothes, so I am totally alone.  Feeling delirious on so little sleep, but DD isn't any better today, so digging myself in for at least a few days.

Florenceem

MrsSD - my other child - well he is 42 has 3 children and a full time working wife. He goes into the office on 2 days a week and works from home for the others. Mr F is not their father and I don't see them rushing to visit him.
I have come back from the hospital - my friends dropped me at the hospital door and collected me. Mr F didn't even know that I was there - he is not responding to anyone. I phoned our officer who told me to put the phone to his ear so he could pray for him - no flicker of response.

Brie

@DundeeDoll
I have very happy memories of multiple visits to Quebec City.  Mostly associated with food.  And the fact it was the first place I ever saw that sold wine and beer in something that wasn't a "liquor store".