2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Brie

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

Brie, five years is no age for a supposedly good quality sheet 😔 Hopefully your repairs will give it another 5 years 🤞Great work from OH 👏 enough to earn another medal 🏅Re the excess cutlery do you have a matching excess of crockery? Even decluttering minor bits is helpful 👏 Such a shame about the Christmas cards to MiL 😔 Is it possible you saved a copy of the spreadsheet to a memory stick? 

Hopefully I will get round to trying to repair it....it's washed and ready to go but when??? 

And yes we do have excess crockery....there's the everyday set, the weekend set, the special occasion set and of course the complete Christmas collection!!  Add to this several proper tea cups, various coffee sets, plates that are great for bbq, about a dozen egg cups, enough coffee mugs to start a caff and 4 cabinets of glassware.  And the picnic set which has been wittled down to a stack of 24 plastic plates.  All for the use by us 2 resident adults....

MiL's address list was on an excel spreadsheet that I had at work so I could print labels.  When I was made redundant I emailed myself all my personal stuff to my own hotmail address but somehow missed this.  So once I'd thrown out MiL's address book I was stuffed.  My own fault.

Today's success was getting 4 big garden trugs of cuttings to the tip and leaving 1 of the trugs behind as it had lost its handles.  I've still got another 7 or so trugs including another that is handleless so it will go on the next tip run.  Not sure I should have but I left the one at the tip sitting by the garden waste section on the off chance someone might want it.  If not the chaps there will sling it in with the general waste.  Very quite at the tip today but it generally is mid week.  

short_bird

Evenin' all! Hope things are well or as well as can be expected, I know it's not an easy time for lots of us. 
Totals for the last few days:
4382-4412: stuff to recycling, mostly packaging
4413-4457: items to rubbish
4458-4461: 2 bags of rubbish and 2 bags of recycling to downstairs bins
4462: leaflets from communal hallway to recycling
4463-4471: carriers to delivery driver and free delivery so kerching!
4472-4475: 200 emails to recycling
4476-4484: 9GB data deleted.

Soontobeoap

Took a chunky bed side table to the tip today. So i have nearly reached my target and I must say the house os beginning to look a lot tidier even thougb we have added a small christmas tree into the mix

QueenJess

I'm feeling overwhelmed today with stuff that never seems to get done.  Trying hard to ignore it and just focus on something, anything.  So I am currently sewing up my jeans that have been hanging around for months and months which will mean I can put them and the sewing basket away.  Since I did a shop earlier, I spent time rearranging the overflow cupboards as I stocked up a bit for December since I hate shopping with hoards of people.  I can see what I have really easily, so hopefully won't be overstocking anything now and will use everything up.

Sick of the rooms that are never quite tidy and did decide to focus on my bedroom.  Given that things are lying around, it generally means there is a task to do (i.e. the sewing), decision to make, it has no home so need to decide where it should live or I haven't put it away because the cupboard/drawer is too rammed and so it was easier not to do it.  As I am pretty much in maintenance mode now (but lots of movement due to very young kids), I have arbitrarily decided that for every 10 things I put away, I will find 1 to get rid of.  I have tried to stick to the same areas, so if I have 10 clothes to put away in my room, then I will find 1 piece of clothing to get rid of.

I did veer into the kitchen diner earlier and instantly saw loads of things to go and so it made me actually tidy up the kitchen to keep up.  Not perfect yet, but so much better already!  Trying to concentrate on the main areas, so it expanded to the kitchen diner as well as the bedroom.  The library unbelievably is third at the moment, but really want to completely finish an area before moving on.

Digital:
38,744-38,765 - favourites removed from online wish list (getting it under control after buying some new to me clothes!)

Physical:
38,766-38,768 - my clothes (charity bag)
38,769-38,770 - cardboard boxes (recycled)
38,771-38,774 - kitchen cupboard stuff used up/thrown out
38,775-38,776 - books (charity box)

Lots more to do and may do a 10 min stint before bed.  Little and often should be the way as I absolutely hate tidying.  As I quite like decluttering, I'm finding one thing motivates the other, so is working quite well at the moment.  I even put away some of the stash of games my parents left me.  Got half the pile left and a couple of toys given to the kids that need homes.  Getting there!

Will get back to digital decluttering at some point, but the tidying is annoying me more at the moment.  At least all the email work I did is paying off as I get very few emails now.  Shouldn't be as bad to keep on top of them, although inbox zero is quite a way off at the moment.

Edit: I am also overwhelmed a bit with work which hasn't helped.  Desperately need a break after the elongated high workload since September.  Will be able to wind down over the next few weeks, so that will be good and I told my boss I was just exhausted and need a break.  Doesn't help that I have to handhold him through me leaving and what needs to happen when...  Amusingly another person resigned last week and neither of us knew about the other!  Definitely a good time to leave as I feel the ship is sinking fast...

bit_by_bit

Thankyou @Mrs_Salad_Dodger I had a lovely time showing vulpix some charity shops and the nicer part of town. Nothing bought bar food and had a fine old catchup.

I know that feeling of beong overwhelmed @QueenJess At least you are doing something.

Nothing out today as I had childcare.

I have started on a huge frog as we have decided that we might leave our internet provider of over 30 years. Each and every company and person I deal with will need to be told and email changed online. A huge task. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, didn't post yesterday as I was knackered and just fell asleep but I have had a bit more energy today, probably helped by the pleasant sunny weather. I made a decision about the christmas presents I still needed, good walking socks so I took the bull by the horns and got the train into town and visited the outdoor shop. I don't really like going into town at this time of year as it is so busy but as I had gone quite early it wasn't too bad and was helped by the fact I knew exactly where I was going and what I was getting . I also picked up a couple of pairs for OH as they were on an offer of buy 1 get 2nd half price . Then I went to Smith's for some cartridges for my good pen and picked up a couple of books and pencil sets for the German based children who we will be seeing on boxing day. I thought OH had got something for them but I was wrong . So 7 presents bought, only 1 more to get plus something for dnephew which I think will be books as he is still homeless and travelling . Apart from that in the past couple of days I have been to the library to print off a voucher that is a gift but it came in an email. I don't have a printer at the moment so I used the library which was very efficient and the staff were very helpful. I am ashamed to say it was so long since I had been to the library they had to give me a new card. I think I will make it one of my new year resolutions to use the library as not only is it very MSE but it will help to keep it open. Use it or lose it as they say. The other thing I liked was that they only accepted cash to pay for the printing.
I did search for the car parking ticket but no luck so I have paid that fine. @Mrs SD yes it confused me as well that the ticket machine gave me a ticket to get out but somehow I haven't paid. To be fair what the fine said was that I hadn't paid enough, or words to that effect which made me wonder if I had stayed too long or if their machine wasn't working properly. At some point I will go and check the signage but it was at the cathedral and I can't imagine I was there too long but the car park is run by somebody else so anything is possible.
I have 1 LDFPA and the bathroom bin was emptied. I have collected my meds and OHs meds as they were there.and.....drum roll...I have used up a pen that I have been using for over a year . Not quite as long as Vulpix but I would never have thought it would last that long, only about another squillion to work through though OH can be quite helpful with that as at least 1 a week disappears into the car never to be seen again
I have also fitted in a session of self care as my feet were starting to complain and as usual there are no appointments available atm

I have read all the posts but nothing has stayed in my brain so hugs to anybody who would one one and I might remember something tomorrow I am going to start wrapping tomorrow so that will help to declutter a few bits, I will be able to pack everything away again once it's done

1593 - 1599 presents sorted
1600 voucher printed out
1601 parking fine paid
1602 LDFPA
1603 bathroom bin emptied
1604 meds collected
1605 self care
1606 pen uu
Take care everyone
1606/2023

weenancyinAmerica

After pool person came yesterday, Di and I went to the library for a Budget Meeting. We have very relaxed meeting. Only five of us and we set a budget for the Friends for the next year. We have already raised most of the money needed for the budget so it is not difficult to do. We usually have extra money too for special projects during the year. Two this year will be a financial program from preschool through high school and a hand sign language learning program. No problems. We then went to pick up my new meds prescribed by the gynecologist, who says I will need a biopsy next week. 

We decided to visit our local supermarket as they had many coupons expiring today. We had me pay for it all so we could use a voucher so saved almost a third of the cost between coupons and vouchers. My roommates will pay me back over the course of the month. 

Today took G to his doctor's appointment, then to the grocery store for some small items he wanted. Dropped some new meals off with a homeless man there. Home to find that the Church Food Bank had delivered another two boxes of food, so immediately took one box next door as there were a bunch of fruit smoothies needing to be eaten immediately or put in the freezer.

The most important thing today is that the doggy is out visiting the dog park with the other huskies. She may go home with them tonight or later this week if all goes well for an extended visit. I have been getting her papers ready just in case it works. She was so happy when I got out her leash and was bouncing around even before he came to pick her up. I have been feeling like a parent with a child out on their first date. Trying to work on family history for a couple hours and then switched to here. Still nervous. 

Book Sale is Friday. Weather prediction is for 23C and sunny, so it will be outside. Lots of fresh air. It might rain next week. 

weenancyinAmerica

Forgot to mention that we took in a wooden arm chair our neighbor was getting rid of, covered with a knit throw I had made, and the cat who has been sleeping in my bedroom for months is now firmly ensconced in the chair. So I may have all of my bed back and be able to do my puzzles again with a cat sitting on them. Di and I have been sorting papers like crazy too. I want to have mine sorted by this weekend into categories at least. 

Just talked to the man with the huskies and Bella will be spending the night. Even more nervous now.

TC77

Fingers crossed Bella's visit goes well @weenancyinAmerica
4 medicines back to pharmacy , glad.im not doing ins and outs although a good idea.  
18 to go

Wednesday2000

I have woken up very fuzzy headed this morning.

I woke up and thought I could turn over and go back to sleep and then remembered we have the decorator back here again today and the roof tile is being replaced too! I jumped out of bed and also thought that I didn't hang up the washing last night so it must still be in the machine and the decorator is painting the kitchen. I realised my husband must have have hung up the laundry last night and he also hung up the clothes I had left hanging up to wear today so that confused me!

The decorator was due at 8 and I realised I got up at 6.45 and it wasn't 7.45 like I thought so I had lots of time to get ready. I thought I would have a bath and shave my legs etc... and put on a face mask as I had time to kill. I did and then washed off the face mask and looked in the mirror and I had a reaction and I had a big red mark on my forehead! I put on makeup to try and cover it up. I woke my husband up and he said he couldn't see it. I can still feel it as it feels tight and inflamed. I have used that mask before so I'm not sure why that happened.

The decorator turned up 30 minutes early anyway so that was lucky I got up early.

I threw away the offending tube of face mask as well as half a deodorant I don't like. I did tidy up my husband's underwear drawer yesterday and threw away a pair of boxers and a pair of socks.