2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

regnbue

Florenceem said regnbue - they say not to use a waterbottle that is over 2 years old in case of leaking to cause burns.

Yes it was that recent article that made me check the dates of manufacture on my 2 bottles.  

For anyone else (like me) who didn't know where to look.  On the outside neck of the bottle there will be a flower-like symbol with 12 petals.  The number inside the centre of the flower is the year of manufacture.  The number of petals filled in will denote which month - i.e 3 petals filled with dots would mean made in March of that year.  I believe one dot also equals one week.

I was horrified to realise my bottles were so old.  I now have 2 new ones made in late 2022 and a small new one for my hands.

I've been reading your posts Florenceem and hope for improvement with Mr F's condition when you visit him today.

dND

First and foremost, @Florenceem my thoughts are with you.  It sounds like Mr F has had a complete breakdown but he’s in the right place and hopefully you will be getting some answers soon. 

I remember my dad when he retired feeling that he had no worth any more. That lasted about a year, but he found himself some part-time work – he travelled to various racecourses in the area where he was either a steward on the enclosure gates or back before electronic runners and riders boards he used to hand paint them being of the generation who were taught copperplate at school.  He loved it especially as every December he would be given a diary into which he wrote all the days he would be needed for the following year meaning that he looked to the future and not to the past.

Is there something like that which Mr F could get involved in that leaves him feeling needed in that way?  I think someone has already said that men often see a void in front of them on retirement because they have been so embedded into their work culture.  Women generally fare better because for whatever reason we generally have been multitasking all our lives and therefore only have to switch our attention.

Here in France things are totally chaotic.  On the positive side though I have a removal company and my worldly possessions will be going at the end of June.   Whether or not I complete on the house sale then remains to be seen!

A couple of trips to the tip have been made with old flowerpots – nobody wants them - and other unusable junk.  The charity shop has had another boot load and I need to phone up and organise a pickup of larger items, (a very definite frog 🐸 as I find it difficult explaining things in French over the phone).  This means that lots of cupboards and shelves have been emptied and that I have no available work surfaces left.  However, my latest delivery of packing boxes has arrived and I’m now cleaning and collating and triaging everything before packing what I want.

It’s really tiring all this decision making and the washing machine and dishwasher don’t know what’s hit them as due to the dust (and ash from a wood-burner running for 6 months), everything has to be cleaned before packing or donating.  I keep telling myself how much better I’ll feel afterwards but at the end of the day my body doesn't want to move.  My Fitbit is registering 10,000 steps a day just walking between rooms in the house. 😲

By 09:45 today I'd already pressure washed 4 uprights and 16 shelves from some 1kea shelving units to remove up to 15 years of dust and spider’s eggs etc before stacking them for packing with those done previously and I need to clear some space in the kitchen so a friend who’s calling round has somewhere to sit and put down her coffee cup.

I know I’ve missed so much of other people’s successes, goals and trials and tribulations but sadly I only have time to skim quickly through every day or so. So, to all of you, hugs where needed, congratulations on your achievements and good luck on all your targets.

Blue_Doggy

@Florenceem all very best wishes to you and MrF, remembering you both in my prayers.
 

Not a lot done as RL has been busier than expected, so I’ve been much more tired than planned for.
 

Apart from day-to-day things, I’ve decluttered
- soft plastics to supermarket
- 3 magazines
- 3 tins from emergency stash
- packet of leaf tea from ditto
- packet of tea bags from ditto

- packet of washing powder used up at last (was found at the back of a cupboard a while back)
- removed faded flowers from bulbs in front garden
 
Currently cuddling Canine Doggy who has been seriously cuddle-deprived this past week.
 

Happy decluttering! Kind thoughts for all who are struggling or caring.

Wednesday2000

Wow, so many pages since I last posted. I can't remember what I was saying last. I might be repeating myself.

I haven't been doing much decluttering at all as I thought I might sell some things on ebay rather than donate. I cannot find my ebay account or even remember the email address I used. I have a shelf with various books, CDs and other stuff that I need to find a home for. I put the shelf in one corner behind a chair so it doens't bother me too much. It doesn't really look like clutter as it is all organised anyway. Luckily!

I will probably try and create a new ebay account and sell the stuff gradually.

We decided to keep half my husband's CDs and sell or donate the others. He has them all stored on his hard drive now.

I think I will read back a few pages to see what has been happening with you all.

Wednesday2000

Florenceem - I just read back, what a terrible situation for you.xxx

stellata

I've been MIA for a long while, work then family then covid which I'm still recovering from I think. No energy, I start doing stuff then I just can't carry on. I can do one thing a day but no more so most days it's just work. And after a few years I've finally stopped contact with Ex, it was the right thing to do as he'd got very rude and negative and nothing I said or did seemed to help. Still sad though. Declutter wise I've had a good week, got rid of a bag of clothes, a stool and some kitchen stuff, but it just seems never ending now. I should count my blessings though, others are worse off.

Brie

regnbue said:

I was horrified to realise my bottles were so old.  I now have 2 new ones made in late 2022 and a small new one for my hands.

@regnbue
If your hands hurt due to the cold I highly recommend fingerless gloves.  I was gifted a pair from Turtledoves by a friend - she felt she owed me something (for some reason) and she had an old cashmere sweater.  Turtledoves normally charge something like £35 for a pair of their gloves but if you send them an old cashmere sweater in decent condition you can get a pair for £5.  They are wonderful for my achy wrists and allow me to still type while wearing them.  An absolute wonder over the last few cold months (made worse by having no heating for weeks.....)

@dND
Made me smile to think of your French frogs.....reminds me too of all the political cartoons when I was growing up in Canada where some people (English heritage) were portrayed as beavers and the Quebecois (including PM Pierre Trudeau) as frogs.

Muddy_Walker

My big kitchen/home office rack has been decluttered and tidied up! Dog stuff on 1 shelf, very much used garden stuff on another and craft stuff on a 3rd. Well chuffed!

Rootle

13/52 - a worn out jumper to the bin and some freebie moisturiser samples used up.

14/52 - the bathroom cabinet cleared out and various items to the bin. This is the first of 3 bathroom areas that need cleared before new bathroom put in.

TC77

Someone picked up 20+ vhs tapes. Dad has recorded operas etc  apparently for a school play. Anyway out. DD2 handed over as I'm down at the coast for some fresh air!