Simplifying Life

Hardup_Hester

Well much as I have attempted to declutter, it's is proving difficult to simplify the rest of my life. Unfortunately there is still the mortgage to pay & so I have signed up to do some summer fairs at our local schools, to do the fairs I need stock, so, after I've finished my ebay listings I need to start sewing, in the end though it will add to the decluttering process as I will be using up huge chunks of my fabric stash, that's assuming some of it sells!!!

piglet6

(((Hugs))) Mary43 :grouphug: - sounds like you're one of life's "givers"...don't feel bad if you sometimes feel the need to be a "taker", even if that just means taking a bit of time for yourself. You can always sound off on here about anything, and find people who will want to support you....

I hope the lad with the problems, and his mum, can work through them, and that you also feel better about things soon. It sounds like you've been through a lot yourself, so try not to be too hard on yourself...

Piglet
x

mary43

Thanks piglet. I have to realise there's a limit to what and how much I can do. Had problems with one of the boys here at the moment, yesterday he was off school for teachers training day, went to his mum and dads and refused to come back, kicking up all sorts of fuss and creating rows with everyone there. Eventually he agreed to come back on the last bus at 11pm (he'd have got in at quarter to 12 !).............says he waited for it and it went straight past him so he ended up staying at his dads and being brought home this morning with a very long face. Still, he went to school ok .........we'll have to see what mood takes him when he comes home.
I went to bed early last night so OH dealt with it all thank goodness. At least we can share these things which helps.
Haven't done much today so far to 'simplify' or declutter............lol Been to the charity shops and came back with yet more carrier bags of pressie stuff....I was very good.........bought nothing on impulse for me and all the bits I bought I know who they're going to be for. So, although I'm currently surrounded by all these bags..........there's a good reason for it and they will shortly be disappearing to the spare room with the rest:T Only spent £13.90 so not done bad at all.

Aril

Didn't make it on here last night as was too busy decluttering:D Having recently stated on another thread that I wouldn't get rid of my yogurt maker I have now ahem recycled it!! I've only used it a max of 4x in the last 2 years and it's taking up space in my cupboard [even the sachets I had have gone out of date] Why was I hanging on to it? The only good reason I could think of was because I'd won it. I've parted with a couple of other longterm residents [I do clean my cupboards out sometimes guv!] including a huge bottle of something bubbly which has been recycled at the school jumble on one than more occasion. It definitely pays to look in hidden corners when do this decluttering lark.

I see that many of you use freecycle. It's given me a lot of pleasure over the last year since I joined [although at times time wasters have got on my pip:D ] However, I enjoy the fact that someone else takes pleasure from my unrequired stuff [I know some of it will get ebayed but I can usually pick out the greedy takers at 100 paces] and I've also now got things I really needed like a stainless steel sink for our kitchen refit. I like my son's [he's 9] simple approach when choosing who will receive his books and other bits...he reads all the emails and then chooses who he thinks they will help the most...his shells [from a shop] have gone to a local residential home for projects and his books are being sold to raise funds for the NSPCC.

Quote for today: "Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps"
David Lloyd George.

Aril

Hardup_Hester

Hi Aril
I've had loads of problems this time with freecycle, I've had 4 no-shows, 2 people wanting stuff but not arranging to pick it up & then today I get a phone call from hubby, there is a guy at the door come to collect something, hubby wanted to know why I hadn't got the stuff ready to be collected, I told hubby the guy arranged to come on Thursday, hubby explained to the guy that we were expecting him on Thursday & he replied 'It is Thursday'
I got home from work to a very snotty email from him, the stuff isn't what he expected!!!
God give me strength.
Hester

moanymoany

We are going through a big simplification at the moment, we are hoping to sell our house in preparation to retirement somewhere else and downsizing.

At the moment we are tarting up the house as well as getting rid of mountains of stuff. This afternoon I've finished off some curtains and nearly finished a roman blind which has driven me nuts.

I've been very disenchanted with freecycle. I have offered and given away lots of stuff, but when I've gone after stuff I haven't been impressed with many of the givers. You would think that they were giving away the crown jewels in the way they have 'decided' who will get their items. It may just be this area, but also when I have gone after an item that has gone, rarely has anyone bothered to email me to say so.

So, now, all my unwanted items go to the local charity shop. At least I know that good will come from them.

mary43

Don;t give up Hester...............I've got two sets of stereo speakers (don't ask........they were given to OH.........lol) and thought no-one wanted them, then a chap e mailed, sounded keen and would call Friday........then e mailed to say couldn't make it ..would Monday be ok. Yes, says I.........well we've still got the speakers but eventually someone will want them. I put my plastic plant pots on and they were there for ages till someone e mailed me and desparately wanted them.........so hang on there..........and have you tried the 'dont dump that' sites..............I use both.
If all else fails I give them to my friends sister.......she does a lot of boot fairs.

ceridwen

[quote=Aril;7770715



Quote for today: "Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps"
David Lloyd George.

Aril[/quote]


Thanks Aril - I like seeing your quotes.

Thinking at work today about various people I am getting to "know" through this. I think this quote is probably going to resonate particularly with JoJoB - and her planned yurt "adventure". JoJo - you're probably the bravest of us as far as I can see at present - yes, I can see its a "leap of faith".

Mary - I hope things resolve a bit for you - looks like a bit of a "bad patch" at present.

Hester - well - you give me quite a few wry laughs with the things you say on MSE and your blog.

Moanie - well - now come on woman - you cant kid us you know - we can spot that soft heart in there!

and Rosieben - I reckon you are keeping us all organised with how-tos on keeping household journals to help keep our chaotic lives sorted.

Jolaaled

A friend has just sent me this quote and i thought it very appropriate:

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

ceridwen

...and of course the famous quote: "No-one ever dies wishing they had spent more time in the office" - or words to that effect....but you see where I am coming from.