2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Floss

MW, while I don't have a cleaner right now, I have in the past & am considering one again, due to my current health. Previously it was a decision made to benefit wellbeing and to use the time for other things. 

GrannyKate

Hi all - flagging in the heat.  I remember so well when late DH caught chicken pox just after he started a new job and was staying in a lodging house where there were children.  It was straight after Christmas and he was home for over 3 weeks - he had beard and was quite hairy and absolutely covered in spots.  He has been back at work away from home just 1 day when DS1 started with the spots.  I was on my own and pregnant so not a good time.  I have never been offered shingles jab - no idea why.  I could ask although all 8 grandchildren have had chickenpox. 

DDs car probably a write off but waiting for inspection.  Waiting for a big enough car for our trip to Scotland - she only has a small one at the moment but insurance company have said she can have bigger one and an automatic.

917 Plastics to recycling
918 Plastic ring binned
919/920 Two x 10 items put away
921 One hundred plus emails deleted
922 Birthdays gifts and cards done for DGD4 on Sunday
923 Other cards done and posted

I've just done a very annoying survey which went wrong and no sign of payment - it took an hour. 

Florenceem

It was the right choice to not work in the craft room this afternoon. I laid on the bed and read The War Cry - then I phoned Mr F. Nodded off after that.
I will have an early night as tomorrow is such a busy day.

weenancyinAmerica

Spent most of yesterday working with friend on her English and Scottish genealogy. While we were at the Library, they celebrated another friend's birthday with pictures and a cake - he wasn't there, but they sent him the pictures. Then she took me and other friend out to lunch which was very good. Will go back to that place again. Worked at the local Family History Center again last night - Peruvian research and early US research. Also made copies of pages I need for my Swiss research - one of those films you can see online at a FamilySearch Center but not at home. So I am making a copy of it 50 pages at a time. Then I can refer back to it at home as I need it. 

Today, over 80 items thrown out in kitchen - and barely started. Put several bags of cans away on shelf. Swept the floor. Cleaned one of the toilets. Got G to call re- having his free taxi come pick him up and take him for a therapy appointment that was 6 miles from here. He didn't realize he could get free transport to any of his medical appointments until I called and asked. Now I feel I just want to go lie down in the TLC carriage. Still have to go to eye doctor this afternoon to get started on the new glasses. And have a lot more to clean up in the kitchen. 

Still not really warming up here, but they are predicting a hot summer - some day. Enjoying the cool weather while we can. We don't have air conditioning here because it is way too expensive - my sister pays about $500 a month for hers. 

Hope everyone has at least a few high spots in their weekend. I'll be cleaning house.

Soontobeoap

@GrannyKate I think they only offer the shingles jab to over 75's. 

QueenJess

DH went off for most the day, which I found very irritating.  I struggled in the heat doing a full job today, plus made the rest of the furniture for DS's room.  Am seriously behind now and feel rubbish so making DH change the beds and do the dinner.  I put the washing on though.

Tons more stuff left DS's room today.  Got more sorting to do as there is a pile of stuff on the floor to go through still, but it is looking so much better.  I even found a box that was almost the perfect size for the Lego manuals - I just gave it a bit of a trim and it's perfect now.  When I get some time I'll cover it in some nice paper.  I'm also behind on general tidying which I'll have to catch up on over the weekend.  At least there were loads of pick ups today/last night from Buy Nothing.  I'm currently trying to get someone to take the excess furniture... might need some luck there as not sure if they are genuine or just flakey.  I still need to dig out the extra bits I kept relating to the fixings for it to go at the same time.  The library still looks a bit like a bomb has gone off on the floor, so I need to work on tidying and moving things out of the house by listing for sale, bagging up for the charity etc.

This is all exhausting and I'm only in room 2 of the house.  Ok, it was the worst one by far and there are no other furniture changes needed, but I am hoping the rest is a lot quicker.  I have been stealth decluttering some of the dining room over the last couple of weeks whenever I think of anything else that needs to go.  My vague plan is to have hit all of the house by the end of August as work gets crazy in September/October so it would be helpful if it was done and already tidy.

17,136-17,205 - Play doh and accessories (Buy Nothing)
17,206 - box (reused)
17,207-17,220 - DS furniture and accessories
17,221 - instructions not needed (recycled)
17,222 - paper (used, then recycled).
17,223 - random DS stuff (binned/recycled)
17,224-17,246 - DS boxes (recycled)
17,247-17,261 - DS bags (recycled)

Oh - I painted my nails this week and I absolutely loved that there was no decisions needed.  I went to the drawer and took out my single nail varnish and done.  Given the amount of mental work I normally do (my work is also very mentally taxing), it was a relief to not have to make any decisions.  I do get decision fatigue quite often.

TC77

@Muddy_Walker I have in the past but found it stressful tidying so only briefly but in the last year have had someone every now and agajin, maybe 6 yimes in the year depending when things get on top to do kitchen/ bathroom etc. Still stressful but when I have had a clear out in the next few months im going to have someone help me to do a deep clean and then should only be me at  home from october ( term time) so won't have help but have carpel tunnel/ some arthritis  and wrist damage from fractures a few years ago so can't scrub for long periods. 

 If you can cope with getting ready for a cleaner then can be great. I work full time and having another things to do 'tidy for the cleaner' was too much routinely
 Also had someone who was worse than me at cleaning so worth finding someone you like and understands what you want doing. Then can be lovely as magic walking in somewhere nice that someone has made it so for you. See it as a gift to yourself and your mental wellbeing
 X

GrannyKate

@Soontobeoap - if the age for shingles jab is 75 I can treat myself to it for my next birthday.

QueenJess

Muddy_Walker said:
i am in the process of looking into a cleaner……I would never have said that 6 months ago but have realised I can’t do everything and although hubby does try to help his long hours mean he only has time at weekends….and sometimes he is just plain worn out. Feels a bit of a cop out to me as I was brought up to do stuff myself and at a very high level. But it will free up some much needed time and will help my mental health. 

Do any of the declutterati have cleaners? What made you make that decision?

Yes, I have a cleaner.  I cannot do full time work and look after the kids and do all the housework.  I refuse to spend my time off or time I should be spending with the kids cleaning.  Plus, DH doesn't see dirt.  I have left the cleaning before to try and force him to do it, but it's always me that gives in.  It saves our marriage to pay for a cleaner!   Once we did it, I would definitely struggle to go back.

@TC77 I got round the tidying up thing before the cleaner by getting the cleaner to do everything apart from the dusting.  It means that come Sunday night I can just pick up everything from the floor and dump it on the sides/bed etc.  Saves a lot of time and stress!  It's so fantastic to come back to a clean house.

~FlowerPot~

Elmos home!
Poor love really not feeling great. Thr surgery went really week. But he didn't cope week with being away from us. He got very anxious and tried to bite the crate and has damaged his teeth!! 

Fingers crossed the next 6 weeks of create rest go smoothly! 

Flowers x