2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Millie2008_2

@Dfw38 we seem to be treading a similar path at the moment, I had a pelvic ultrasound last week. I get how anxiety provoking it is- I have also been waiting for uterine biopsy results. Anyhow, I have a pet fibroid and a haemorrhagic ovarian cyst. I ended up with a tame sonographer, who talked me through it (off record), which I was grateful for. Other scans I haven't had anything back at the time and it's hard to sit with the anxiety waiting for results. Hugs- I hope yours is something very fixable, as most are x

Wednesday2000

The window cleaner didn't turn up so I had to reschedule with him for later this week.

I called up to book a cervical screening for next week. What fun, but at least that is out the way. The last time I had one was just before the first lockdown at the start of 2020 as I was glad that I had had that done and seen the dentist and hygienist before everything closed down! I had seen a new NHS psychologist too at the start of that year so I luckily had her through telephone and zoom contact during the pandemic.

I had to pop out and buy a bag of salt as I read that there is a trick which is supposed to help with condensation and mould if you place a small dish of salt on or near the windowsills. I am trying to get rid of my change so I paid with cash and I bought a bottle of cleaning product too. I deep cleaned the smaller bedroom when I got in which didn't take long at all. I haven't decluttered anything today apart from some binned cleaning cloths. Oh yes, I did declutter some wine bottles to the recycling bin in the street.

shabbychic12

Did a tip trip with 3 bin bags full of junk from the kitchen counter cupboards and a pile of pans for recycling. The man at the tip/ recycling centre was just plain rude and spoke to me like l didn’t know what l was doing as I’m only a woman. Put me off a bit tbf and l do know what lm doing but they change the containers that often it takes a few seconds for the new locations to register. I will not be deterred and will attend our other tip/recycling centre where nothing is too much trouble for them. Onwards and upwards x

Florenceem

I hurt my foot yesterday - think I put it down awkwardly trying to get into the room of doom - aka my craft storage room. I have some Deep Heat on my ankle which is where it hurts when I walk. Meant to be at SA today but decided a day off was needed as I have a really busy day there on a Wednesday - can do 10,00 steps running around giving out drinks and meals.

Brie

@shabbychic12 I can only assume you met someone who is either unhappy in life or unhappy in their job.  They are rather joy vampires either way.  Some of the chaps at the tip (only seen one female working there in 15 years) can be really helpful and are great helping unload all the garbage.  I like to think the ones that don't come rushing over are taking a break after helping the last 20 cars unload.  

@Florenceem
Do take a break from SA tomorrow if the ankle is still tetchy.  And try to elevate it today when you can!  The room of doom can wait til next week....

gettingthrifty

Good morning to all really enjoying all your posts. Little worried about Mrs SD posting at 04.23 or is my on screen clock wrong?

DFW38 your post resonated with me very much.

I am trying to work on my behaviours connected (or not) to decluttering. Also get better at self care and to try to stop getting exhausted and drained with people. Am trying not to be a people pleaser and  be more firm and fair particularly with a 'challenging' family member. Felt awful last week when I applied it for the first time .
I now hear they think me wonderful..... and singing my praises. ?? I think that's maybe why I have clutter and am a messy because I drop things to help out others. Now realise thats probably not best thing to do all the time.
This chrismas again I had the embarrassment of my DH family opening Christmas presents they clearly didn't like. Every year I put a lot of thought into it and get same response and DH says I shouldn't go to too much trouble just give them vouchers and chocolate. From now on I will take his advice and do just that it will be such a relief. I plan to drop it into conversation at regular intervals that DH is going to be sorting Christmas and birthdays from now on. 

38. x2 strips of medication disposed of safely
39. pot of expired vitamins destroyed safely
40. pack of cat meds destroyed safely
41 x 3 bath fizzers to CS box (i shower not bath)
42. free calendar to CS box
43. last years calendar to recycling
44 small bowl of conkers returned to nature
45 . ate a frog! booked collection of 2 white goods 

Dfw38

Thank you @bit_by_bit, I don't envy your task of clearing in laws.
Thank you @Moorviews, you are right. Run was easier on the legs today but lungs felt like they had to work really hard. Had the same cold/flu like most of you guys on here (lasted 5 weeks) and can really feel the difference in amount of effort needed to breathe when running.
Need to catch up on everyone's posts tonight. 
Today I went to rhyme time with my ds, glad to see a wide variety of people taking advantage of the resources that are available. It is also a warm hub and they supply refreshments on a help your self basis, which is so nice and less intimidating for people. The librarians are so lovely, always friendly and helpful and you can tell that they genuinely care for both the library, and the people that visit. 3 cheers for librarians! 

Also went to the recycling centre with 2 bags if fabric, 4 general waste and a kettle, heater and a baby bath seat. Haven't organised the stuff from my 3rd box of decluttered stuff yet to take to Cs tomorrow. 

I went through the Xmas decorations and pulled out some I no longer loved and reorganised the ones I did.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all long post allert but I will try to condense it, feel free to skip past these are some of the highlights of the trials and tribulations of the past few days
OH has been creating problems in the bathroom, bath mat absolutely soaked so an extra wash load sorted then the next day managed to pull the shower curtain down so another wash on. Bathroom now restored to useable state
I have spent the past few days just sorting stuff out in the lr and hall and either recycling or throwing stuff away with a few items put aside for the cs. I did a quick trip to the sm and went past my usual cs and there were 6 bin bags of stuff outside waiting for them to open so I will hang on to them for a couple of weeks as they have very little storage space and 1 item, a solar powered garden ornament, a metal warthog with light up eyes is so ugly I doubt they will want it. It was a birthday present from a friend and has just sat in it's box for nearly 2 years cluttering up the lr. I also have a kite from the same person behind the sofa but I think I will probably take that into school. I have been friends with this person for over 50 years but I wonder if she knows me at all I might have to take it to a different cs to preserve my reputation
So here we go
37 Christmas tree chopped up
38 hall way corralled so engineer could get to internet connections
39 recycling from bedroom
40 bar of soap from stash put into the bathroom
41 & 42 bags of recycling from the kitchen
43 kitchen bin
44 lr bin
45 fridge sort out and 1 jar of olives removed, jar washed out and recycled
46 bag of new potatoes rescued and made into potato salad, with the last of the soured cream,  now eaten
47 pair of lucy lastic knickers into the rag bag
48 cleared, cleaned and polished my desk
49 cleared cleaned and polished the coffee table
Sorting the pile of stuff next to the sofa
50 & 51 bags of recycling from lr
52 & 53 bags of rubbish from lr
54 & 55 2 more plastic sweet tins into the car boot to be taken to school ( tomorrow)
56 unused Christmas cards put away in correct place
57 gift bags sorted and put into correct place
58 bubble wrap and padded envelopes into correct place
59 yarn sorted into 1 storage bag
60 wips into 1 storage bag
61 needles etc sorted and put away in work bag so I can find them when I need them. I found the lost darning needle on the desk now put away properly.
62 3 notebooks checked and many pages recycled but why am I using 3 in the same place?
63 sorted through meds bag and binned ood and no longer used meds, packaging recycled. I need to find something better to keep them in
64 wrecked mouse mat binned, new 1 now in use
65 debit card lost and found, including this because it took ages
Picked up OH from garage then OH used my car for sm run while I waited in for engineer
66 swept and moped hall and kitchen floor and carried on sorting
67 lr rubbish bin
68 kitchen recycling
69 kitchen bin
Engineer arrived and replaced a couple of junction box things, 1 of which was in the house when I moved in so probably over 40 years old. While doing that he made a small mark on the wall with his drill. We had a friendly discussion about it 
70 magic sponge used on wall to remove mark made by engineer so light switch areas and other hot spots also cleaned
After lunch I had a nap while OH played on the internet and did a catch up on happy valley having slept through the first 2 episodes . When the gargae called I gave OH a lift to pick up the car. 
Today I have been very lazy but have moved stuff from the lr upstairs but not put away yet and I have been looking at the bedroom which has managed to accumulate a lot of stuff again. When I have finished the corner in the lr I am going to sort the bedroom but it won't be today or tomorrow probably as I have to take the plastic sweet tins into school and I have a dentist appt. 
Some pages decluttered from my notebook and
71 bedroom recycling
Off now to visit ln who has had a new tv that she can talk to and a new tv cabinet that she may need some help putting together. If I manage anything else today, such as persuading OH to put the car stuff back in the car boot and clearing the hall I will call that a win
I have not caught up with all the posts but I will this evening.
Take care everyone
71/2023

Dfw38

Thinking of you @ruby_eskimo, parents are more worrisome than children I think, hope the distraction techniques work and you have peace of mind soon.
Hi @Millie2008_2, sorry to hear you are going through a similar thing. Glad your sonographer was able to talk you through it. I am OK during the day, my dc distract me, it is the evenings I struggle with, I am not known for my patience......The early hours of the morning are one of the most loneliest of times. When my dm died my 2nd dc was 14 weeks old and the night feeds were when I felt so so lonely. I am hoping insomnia doesn't take hold again.The decluttering is going great guns here at the moment though so silver linings 😆. Hope you get all the answers you need asap and that your other results are on the positive side. We are made of tough stuff and I am a firm believer that a sense of humour can get us through pretty much anything. Huge thanks to you all for your positivity, support and all round wonderfull-ness. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

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 daily mail immediately 

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

I am up very late on a dark, dreary & damp Tuesday (noon) 😔 Apparently it has been torrential rain all morning although it has now stopped 😱 DH did deliver the 11 litres of milk which was gratefully received & DSis has a call back to doctor to get a catch up supply of her heart medication. I have my first cuppa & am raring to go, but before going back to where I left off:-

A quick well done to ilovetea 👏 Your last post was on page 38 & your number was 63 so plus 21 (p68) = running total 84. Hope that helps 🙂

Dfw38, my 1st ‘uncharitable’ thought when you mentioned that DH doesn’t & hasn’t bought you flowers in years was that he thinks it is a sign of guilt or an apology 🙁 My 2nd more charitable thought is that he is not a romantic 😉 as well as not being a medical practitioner 😉 Nothing wrong with a long post Dfw38 so no need to apologise. I would like to thank you for sharing your life with us - hopefully writing it all down has been cathartic 😊 You have spent your life caring for others so now is the time to concentrate on YOU & what a brave start with the training for a marathon 👏 To quote Floss who put it so succinctly “Dfw38 maybe your mantra could be “to finish my 40th year feeling finer,  fulfilled & fitter than I started"” I am hoping that now you have found us you can feel that you have many ‘virtual friends’ who can support you on your journey to becoming a fabulous & confident 40 year old  😊 Btw, excellent decluttering 👏 Excellent decluttering Dfw38 👏 Your library sounds wonderful & what a lovely event ‘Rhyme Time’ 😊 Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely post in support of ruby_eskimo & Millie2008_2 🥹

Excellent decluttering Slinky 👏

EnergyShifter - Yippee to such a positive start to your working week 🥳 & continued with your realisation that you have found your Decluttering Style - ‘The Little and Often Approach’ which applies equally to physical decluttering & calling in the experts to do those tasks that you are unable to do 😊You should be very proud of yourself 👏 🥹

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 Oh dear Florenceem & ouch 😣 - good decision to delay returning to SA until Wednesday 🙂 Please take it very easy & try to rest your ankle as much as possible 🙏 although I would say Brie has probably given you better advice 👏

Broke off the cheerleading so DH & I could sort out the box of HF meals (too disappointed to sort out yesterday 😔) Ingredients have been bagged per meal & put in the garage fridge. I also took the opportunity to portion up the tray of 8 pork steaks for the freezer - 2 as singles, one bag of 3 & lastly the ‘hidden’ 3 which were about 1/3rd fat have been de-fatted, the good meat diced & bagged & the fatty bits chopped & boxed ready to feed our foxes tonight & tomorrow night. DH has been given ‘permission’ by M to delay his hospital visit until 4:00 p.m. 😂

Sorry to hear that this time of year is such a sad time for you Blue_Doggy 🙁 but very proud of you for acknowledging this & spending time in the TLC Carriage 🥹 I have noted the page on which you have listed your goals - I do love my lists 😉 Remember the more decluttering you can do, the easier it is to clean - I need to remind myself of that 😅 If it gets too overwhelming just take your glasses off as that is what I do 😂 An excellent few days of decluttering 👏 so I am sending you a medal 🏅 Good luck dealing with the frogs 🍀

Excellent digital decluttering QueenJess 👏 Under 80 is very encouraging 🙂

Floss, Love your mantra for Dfw38 😊

What a thoughtful & supportive post joanie 😊

roundtuit, sometimes you just have to cut your losses 😔 Enjoy your early night which I hope was a restful one 🤞 Good idea to book Annual Leave & hopefully a list coupled with a brain dump will be the first steps in banishing the feeling of overwhelm 🤞If you pop into the TLC Carriage perhaps you can discuss your Cunning Plan aka Distraction Technique with our fellow declutterers 😉

🤩 DundeeDoll, what an excellent use of 23 minutes - so much done 👏 Excellent work ‘chipping away’ at your ‘email mountain’ 👏

Lovely post Keiths_Mum - everyone is becoming a cheerleader which helps us all 👏 Btw there is No such thing as “only paperwork decluttering”  - you can bask in your success - 16.66% of the task completed 👏

Excellent decluttering short_bird 👏 

Thanks for the compliment D123456789 👏 Excellent & timely shredding 👏 Cleaning may be your least favourite task but I am sure it is getting easier the more you declutter 😉 and a reward system of a roast dinner is good incentive 😊 

Good work DrCarrie 👏

😖 weenancy 😖 what more can I say - no phone & no internet is not something I could contemplate 🤔 Although we do have an old fashioned phone to plug into the phone socket as an emergency measure. Hopefully your phone company can get it sorted🤞so that you can a bit of time to decide your course of action whether it be sticking with them as a previously good service provider or getting a new company - sadly more work for you when your plate is already so full 😔 Excellent decluttering of both physical items & tasks 👏 Do I dare ask if the roommate helped towards the cost of the husky’s dog licence & rabies shot? 😥 

Good decluttering mfwin2019 👏 Like the TLC use of your 23 minutes 🙂

bit_by_bit enjoy the break of having DH finishing earlier than planned - you deserve some good fortune 😊 I like to think of Sweetie & your niece’s gerbil meeting up & chatting about what lovely owners they both had ☺️ An excellent day of dealing with frogs & your own decluttering 👏 What excellent work by you, DH & DS2 👏 so much easier when you have help dealing with such a mammoth task as decluttering your Parents in Law’s house 👏

How odd - MSE just ‘fell over’ only for a couple of minutes but have had to clear the decks & sign in again 😔

Sounds like you had a wonderful time TC77 😊 Such a life affirming event - catching up with old friends especially when one of them has been kind enough to pop over from Australia 😅 Excellent decluttering all round - ‘stress decluttered AND more importantly you have decluttered the “Saving it for Best” mentality 🥳

charlies_tribe, how thoughtful of your DH to send you to bed early 😊 but a bit of a shame that he couldn’t persuade Mr Sandman to visit 😔 An excellent day for both you - tackling so many phone calls  & DH - on his mission to fill bins 👏 One medal 🏅 🏅for each of you 🙂 

Lovely & supportive cheerleading Moorviews 😊 I agree that having a pet snuggling up to you is preferable to having a human presence 🙂😉 Brilliant decluttering of your toiletries cupboard 👏remember to open it up frequently to admire your excellent decluttering skills 😊 Also well done on decluttering 60% of your emails 👏 can you tell I like numbers as well as list 🤣

There are days when the only thing that can get us started is several cups of tea GrannyKate ☺️Excellent decluttering & use of your 23 minutes 👏 Well done on resisting the temptation of YS custard tarts 🙂 

🤩 Wednesday2000 - deleting ALL your emails - just wow 🤩 I was so inspired that I broke off from cheerleading & deleted 51 emails over 50% from my Inbox, 90% from my Sent Box  & have also cleared the Bin 🙂 Perhaps give the prince Harry book a reprieve until the end of the month 😉😉 You have had a busy morning - booking appointments & going shopping 👏 How fortuitous that you managed to sort out so many of your heath & well being actions before the pandemic struck 😊 & well done on the physical decluttering - every little helps 👏

Excellent decluttering of both physical items & tasks 2Scratters 👏 and now I am off to drool over your box of buttons 🤤 I might be quite some time ………….. ………………………. Just had a thought, will copy the picture & paste it somewhere else so I can have my ‘fix’ of drooling whenever I want 🙄 May be my first 23 minute action 🤣 Done ✅ 

Well done on catching up with all the posts Fayolle 🙂 Excellent decluttering 👏 & do bask in your pleasure at doing some decluttering 😊 It is very difficult when you have to work full time so the sporadic, bit by bit approach is very useful in keeping up your motivation 👏 Very impressed that you have sorted out the knitting needle/sewing box 👏- I would probably have taken several weeks - reminiscing & handling every item at least half a dozen times 😂 A great repurposing of the almost 100 year old cutlery drawer 🙂

Distracted again - whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a coffee  I gathered together the ingredients for DSis’s dinner & also dismantled a cardboard box which is now in the recycling bin. 

64 - Cardboard box recycled 

ruby_eskimo, glad you could join me in “The Buttons Fan Club” 😉 Sorry to hear that you are worrying about your Dad 🙁 but a bit of time in the TLC Carriage is a good idea. I will pop in & give you a hug 🤗if that is ok 🙂 

Siebrie remember small wins soon accumulate into a huge win when it comes to decluttering 😊Excellent decluttering 👏 As to your visit to the woods with DD2 - how lovely that your initial reticence has been converted into a wonderful experience - bonding time with DD2 & a new refreshed & energised you 😊 🥹

I agree popthekettleon - such a marvellous group of people 😊 In my opinion the ‘family’ we would all choose to help us through, not only our decluttering journeys but also the trials & tribulations of our daily lives 😊 as well as celebrating each other’s successes & cheering us on & up 🥹 There is such a thing as ‘Button Envy’ - The Button Fan Club is growing 😂

Nice to hear that you are feeling a bit better today Millie2008_2 🙂 Great work - the clothing decluttering is going well 👏 Thank you for being so generous as to share your medical experiences with Dfw38  😊

How very rude of the Tip man, shabbychic12 😖 (I will try to be generous & think he was having a bad day but it was hard 😉) Is there any chance of avoiding that particular Tip/Recycling Centre?

Lovely post Brie 😊 Never heard the expression “Joy Vampires” before but I rather like it 👏

No need to worry gettingthrifty - I am a night owl 😉 I am trying to shift away from that - I need to start working harder at No.3 of my Daily Mantras. I cannot praise you enough for your determination to work on your ‘behaviours’ - we are all here supporting you & encouraging you in your quest 🥹😊 Excellent decluttering & well done on dealing with a frog 👏 their croaking can drive you to distraction 😂 I am a bit deaf & it is also surprising how effective ear plugs can be 🤣🤣

Liverpool_Anne - oh dear 😅 maybe time to trade OH in for a newer model - only joking 🙃 I was exhausted just reading about how much decluttering you have done - excellent work 👏 Nothing wrong with a long post especially as it not reminds you how successful you are but is also a celebration of your successes 😊 

And breathe - all caught up with the cheerleading so off to the kitchen & will prep DSis’s dinner 🙂

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖 💐 🤩 

Decluttering Target 2023: 64/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00