2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Gers

EnergyShifter said:

Yesterday was a lovely start to my "staycation"  I went to Chatsworth with a friend and her 2 dogs.  The grounds were absolutely stunning including a pond with black swans!  I was quite taken by the story that part of the agreement when the house was bequeathed to the National Trust was that there should always be a Marmalade cat, called Jock,  with white bib and socks living there.  They are up to Jock VII now.  I'm the owner of a cat that matches that description (other than the name).  

Do you mean Chartwell? https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell/jock-the-cat-at-chartwell

EnergyShifter

Floss said:

EnergyShifter said:

Yesterday was a lovely start to my "staycation"  I went to Chatsworth with a friend and her 2 dogs.  The grounds were absolutely stunning including a pond with black swans!  I was quite taken by the story that part of the agreement when the house was bequeathed to the National Trust was that there should always be a Marmalade cat, called Jock,  with white bib and socks living there.  They are up to Jock VII now.  I'm the owner of a cat that matches that description (other than the name).  

I thought Chatsworth was privately owned by the Duke of Devonshire?

oops - I actually went to Chartwell  - wrote the wrong place !!  

EnergyShifter

Gers said:

EnergyShifter said:

Yesterday was a lovely start to my "staycation"  I went to Chatsworth with a friend and her 2 dogs.  The grounds were absolutely stunning including a pond with black swans!  I was quite taken by the story that part of the agreement when the house was bequeathed to the National Trust was that there should always be a Marmalade cat, called Jock,  with white bib and socks living there.  They are up to Jock VII now.  I'm the owner of a cat that matches that description (other than the name).  

Do you mean Chartwell? https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell/jock-the-cat-at-chartwell

Yes!!! Wrote the wrong place !!! 

weenancyinAmerica

@EnergyShifter - I loved Chartwell too. Though they probably only on Jock 2 or 3 when I was there. Went on my first trip to England back in 1980.

@QueenJess - I think if my cupboards looked like that I would die happy. Right now, nothing is organized here.

Been spending several days at my sister's during the middle of the day as she has an elderly dog that needs help going outside. Don't mind it too much as her house is air conditioned. But I lie down next to the dog and fall asleep instead of getting anything done. Have learned to set my timer on the mobile.

We are having a few overly warm days this week (between 30-34C (92-100F)). September usually has several very warm days also. We used to get out of school if it was over 35C (102F) as the school had no air conditioning then. But they probably should have used a lower threshold for the temperature as I remember no one wanted to learn anything for a couple of weeks. Now all of the schools have air conditioning (especially after the teachers found out that the headquarters building had air conditioning when their schools didn't).

I thought staycation was an older term as I have magazines from 1942-1943 that talk about the same idea. I may have to look things up again. I collect magazines from 1941-1945 for the US and 1939-1952 for the British Isles when I can find them. Anything that has moneysaving ideas really. When I made my trips over there, I would head for the charity shops first thing and stock up on magazines to go through in the hotel room, then I would head for the book stores (especially used book stores) and visit the public libraries looking for books and pamphlets on money saving. Not too many people visit places like Stratford upon Avon and spend time in the public library. But I loved it. One of my favorites was the library on Lisburn Road in Belfast in an old house. Could spend hours there. Still have the crabapples recipes the library gave out encouraging people to use the crabapples growing at the library.

I am making up a calendar for 8 days (easier to divide the page than seven days) and putting down the more important things I need to do on each day. Have been getting most of it done - at least by the end of the eight days even if things carry over for a day or three. I like Mrs. S_D's idea of three major things to do. 

Hope everyone has a good day. Take care.

vulpix

 I am in A&E and have been for several hours. Mr V felt decidedly unwell since yesterday and wasn’t getting any better. He has atrial fibrillation and an infection. He has been proper poorly the past week with a very bad chest. He phoned 111 and they sent an ambulance within 10 minutes. Big love for the NHS. ❤️

 weenancy I have a wartime book published by the magazine Farmers Weekly. It is fascinating, tips for making toiletries and cleaning materials and food recipes. They are in the form of a letter to the magazine, many recipes state my grandmother’s recipe. Signed Mrs Bloggs, Apple Tree Farm, Sussex etc. The book is in pieces but so interesting. 

 Love to all Vx 

stellata

Had a lovely break with family in the West Country, back home now completely worn out and feeling a bit dull and flat. Hopefully a few hours decluttering tomorrow will see that off, I've started the holiday washing and am going to bed early.

Floss

Hope Mr V is soon on the mend xx

Happy_Kitties

Things were going so well and the best laid plans ended up with a stint in hospital. Managed to break out and have done some slow decluttering of bits but very frustrating as I know if i don’t take it easy I could end up back in.
Very slow decluttering has consisted of 
*201 old mouthwash bottle -recycling
*202 Cardboard gift box that had more than earned it’s keep for my mother as a storage box for DM-recycling as literally falling apart.
*203 plastic lantern the cats had took an executive decision on and it couldn’t be saved-recycling
*204-205 two large finished jar candles-recycling
*206 plastic banking card reader no longer working-recycling
*207 last of a vanilla cafe syrup which has been in the cupboard since dinosaur times-recycling
*208 paperwork disposed of
*209 damaged cooking spatula-recycling

oceanspirit

Happy-Kitties please do take things gently, keep well and at home.

vulpix - fingers crossed Mr v is ok and you will be taking him home very soon.

Had a reasonably good day.  OH came back from his walk with a large punnet of strawberries and some nectarines - food bank leftovers apparently.  Cooked up the strawberries as they were “going home” and wouldn’t have lasted.  More papers from the Mission Control box sorted, filed and some shredded/recycled.  I have some new wallet folders so papers can be put into categories instead of just being bunged in which should make them quicker to deal with each week.

Some lists started to help me get organised for a busy time ahead.  A two week stay in hospital currently has a provisional start date in November and I am going away a few times in September and October so need to get the place OH-proofed over the next fortnight.  Also arranging for various home repairs to be done soon and don’t want to put them off yet again - they need to be done before winter arrives.

betasam

Hello,

It has been a very busy week - tonight is the first evening this week I have been in! 

Congratulations to all those with recent exam successes and I am thinking of all who are unwell.

I have finally started to tackle the corner of the living room. I have only looked at cross stitch so far - 49 kits to the CS. That is only scratching the surface of my stash. One of next week's frogs is to cancel the subscriptions I have to two cross stitching magazines. 

I found my missing list of things to bake for church tomorrow - it was in the bag I take to church... I have made Bara brith so far, so I shall be busy decluttering ingredients tomorrow morning.

The bedroom walls have been stripped and cracks filled so I think the gloss painting will be done on Monday - paint bought in Wilko's sale.

I have also managed to clear the huge pile of ironing today but want to try some things on before they go back in the wardrobe - the blouse that was too large has gone into the charity shop bag.

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