2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

vulpix

PS. Great brown bear sighting Daisy.

Florafauna

Crich tramway museum is brilliant for a day out out it's one of those pay once and your ticket is valid for a year places. Pentrich is also v pretty.
Love the thought of a Canadian rockies train, strangely enough a friend is going on this train in real life on Saturday. I can't wait to see her photos
Also love the brown bear sighting🐻😁

London_1

A really good day decluttering yesterday a kitchen chair that was falling apart and a single mattress to the tip.

A bag of black wool and a couple of bags of clothes to the CS.

Some metal stuff to a local scrapper who comes to collect if you email him  He arrived at 08.30 am promptly and took the single bed base and head/foot boards as well as a broken clothes airer, a tin tray and a couple of broken metal bits I'd found in the cupboards
. I felt like my late Mum must have felt handing over stuff for scrap during WW2

The bed was given to me in 1969 for my little eldest daughter, aged then 2, and my friends cousin had used it for all five of her sons since the early 1930s It had a metal base that slotted into the head and foot boards, which were oak, with a diamond latticed base that the mattress rested on .

Over the years obviously the mattresses had been changed, but the bed itself had seen good service to my friends cousins five lads, three of her grand children , both of my daughters, and at various points when coming to stay my seven grandchildren. Plus it ended up being my spare bed for the past 29 years for various visitors so at 90 odd years old its seen good service but today no one wants thing like that although I did try to find a home for it. My eldest daughter said she was sad to know its gone as she said it was the most comfortable bed she had ever slept in but really had no room for it although she has four bedrooms they all have double beds in them. I think my friend said she had paid £12,10.00 for it when she bought it back in the 1930s (£12.50) Not many things today that would last 90 years.The scrap chap said 'Oh I remember sleeping on one of these when I was young at my Granny's house'  He was a nice chap though and carried it downstairs for me and even put the mattress into the boot of my car so I could take it to the tip for they recycle them there apparently.

So a good day yesterday and my spare room is completely empty, and the other bedroom had stuff all boxed up ready for when the movers arrive .  We are hoping for the end of this month for completion as it's all down to the solicitors now as all the bits and documents are in their hands.

DD finishes work on the 24th of this month, and my son-in-law gave his notice in yesterday so fingers crossed and I'm eating down my freezer,  and  I'm off to the local food bank again this morning with some more tinned stuff .

Chest of drawers to be decluttered this afternoon and it will be more clothes for the CS I think  

Onwards and upwards chums I hope the weather improves for our move as the IoW normally is quite warm in early summer 

JackieO xx

charlies_tribe

Good morning. I will also be following the Canada train along as we won't manage a holiday this year I'll enjoy a virtual one instead.
I'm about 20 minutes from both places but I've never been to Crich museum even though we've said we would plenty of times. As we aren't having a holiday maybe we should make a plan to visit all the local beautiful areas near us.

Yesterday we walked the dog and DD2 did some origami lessons to calm her nerves. In the afternoon we dropped her off for her English exam. It was a shorter exam so we just sat in the carpark and waited in case she had a panic attack and needed collecting but she did great.

DH then took her to dance and I cleaned the bathroom. I've been following along with the flylady thread this week in the hope it gives me a bit of motivation. I tried it before but I had way too much clutter to make it look like it was helping.

Just waiting for DD2 to shower and we'll walk the dog again before she starts her work for the day.

Unravelled Shower puff
Shower gel bottle
Purple shampoo bottle
Bathroom cleaner bottle
Physical 1199/2024

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

6. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

Good morning declutterati family - I was up at 09:15 - unheard of 😂 Just checked the weather forecast for our virtual holiday - we should see the sunrise today but there might be some snow as we travel from B.C. to Alberta 😉 The one week trip is being extended to 2 weeks as we will head south into the U.S.A. through Idaho, Utah, Colorado & also Nevada & Arizona. Our chance to visit the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley & we might even manage to nip into California & persuade weenancy to join us as we travel back into Canada possibly through Washington 😊

Florenceem, talk about being busy 😥 You must have been exhausted yesterday 🥱 Sorry to hear about MrF 😔 I just hope he is OK🙏 & that you can get a timely appointment with your GP 🤞 Sounds like the SA is receiving all the donations from the local area 😱 but the premises are not quite large enough to store everything indoors 😔 I am keeping everything crossed that Thursday is a quieter day & that MrF feels better 🤞Please, please try to get some rest 🙏

nannywindow, everything crossed that you have managed to get your meds 🤞My DSis seems to have the same issue every couple of months 😠 so I don’t think you were having a rant at all 😉 Excellent decluttering 👏 & I wish you luck on your next visit to the airing cupboard 😊🍀 I hope you are enjoying the Canada trip - I was sure I spotted you in the new glass domed carriage sipping on a cocktail 😉 The staff in the TLC Carriage are taking it in turns to visit the new carriage & are enjoying themselves as much as our Declutterati family 😊

vulpix, another very busy day 🤩 Sorry to hear that dealing with decluttering your Mum’s house is taking its toll 😔 I am sending 💐 & 🤗 You sound exhausted so I am hoping that DD1 will be able to take the pressure off by not only helping to declutter but also by making decisions 🙏

daisy_1571, that was definitely a brown bear 😊 Some good news, tonight we will be stopping in Banff & boarding a coach/coaches to various locations in order to see the aurora borealis 😊 Warm clothing, snacks & hot drinks will be provided 😉

Well done TC77 👏 a big decluttering step thinning out your coat stash 🥳

weenancy, fingers crossed that this year you can have more than a virtual trip to visit your cousins 🤞 I remember Kamloops - we were there in 2002 as we had a blowout on the motorbike & were taken to Midnight Motorcycles on the back of a truck 😉 Good luck with the frogs today 🍀

vulpix, irises are so beautiful 🤩 

Florafauna, hope your friend has a fabulous time 🤩 Her photos should help you to imagine our virtual trip 😊

Excellent decluttering London_1 👏 Thank you for sharing the story of your bed 😊 A bit of a shame that it couldn’t make the trip to the IoW 😉 but hopefully the scrap man will find a good home & not have to actually scrap the bed 🤞You are doing such a good job that I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ So exciting, and now that your DD & son-in-law have handed in their notices at work it must be starting to feel very real 😊 

charlies_tribe, sorry to hear that you probably won’t manage a holiday this year 😔 Although hopefully you can enjoy a few day trips & maybe even an overnight stay somewhere🤞🙏 

All caught up so I should probably consider getting dressed 😂 Still very dull & overcast although so far no more rain 🤞I have lots of post to deal with today as well as getting on with writing birthday cards (which didn’t quite happen yesterday 🙊) plus I have started knitting another scarf in feather & fan stitch 😉 I am sending out positive vibes that everyone has as good a day as possible despite the miserable weather 😊 The recycling wheelie bin has been emptied - I do believe that is 4 weeks in a row 🥳

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 ⭐️ 💐 💐 🥇 ⭐️ 

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 693/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.85

vulpix

 Oooo, stopping in Banff, there is a fab patchwork shop in Canmore and I would like to take us all to the hot springs resort. not to be missed. xx 

Florenceem

MrsSD - lovely flowers.
So much for feeling tired yesterday afternoon - I suddenly remembered that I had a hobbycraf. voucher that runs out on 2/5 so it was do I go out now or leave it to tomorrow. I went - got a bus fairly quickly and redeemed my voucher but had to wait a long time for a bus home.
I went to bed at 10 and Mr F just had to undress and cream his dry skin.
I woke at 2am to go to the bathroom and he wasn't in bed. I found him in the office - undressed ready for bed. I asked him what he had been doing for 4 hours - he replied undressing, putting on cream and sitting on the toilet! 
Today I went to SA to sort out crates - the chap was there to take away recycling which was good. When I left home - Mr F wasn't dressed so I told him to get dressed and he said he would plus do some shredding and the meter readings. 
I came home from SA about an hour and a half later to find he hadn't moved from his chair - he said - you were quick.
He is definitely having a problem with time.
He is still not dressed and eating his lunch. He has run out of some of his tablets which he never does usually.

London_1

Thank you Mrs SD for the gold star,    wow more than I ever got at school in the late 1940s early 50s

Today I went to the local food bank with some more donations, as I really don't want to be packing unnecessary stuff, the lady was very pleased, and I had a good natter with her and the obligatory cuppa and a couple of biscuits,
 I was so impressed at their enthusiasm that I also gave them a cash donation as well.

Often its thought that folk in the south of England aren't perhaps struggling as much as our friends in the north, but it seems the CoL crisis has no boundaries .
I was happy to add to their donations and its possible before I move I will have some more stuff for them as the two cupboards under my kitchen sink have yet to be decluttered of cleaning stuff.

DDs got lots of stuff already packed bless her, and this afternoon we signed the contract to buy our house in Ryde. its mainly paperwork by the solicitors we are awaiting on.
But it seems likely that 31 May perhaps be our moving day fingers crossed

We have the movers sorted and its called- and I'm not joking Cowes Moovers - which I think is great. We get a free ferry crossing for our two cars included as a bonus which is just as well as two houses are being moved in one pretty large vehicle  and the cost is around £3.240 all in which seems a lot but I think for the amount being moved not too bad. When my daughter moved to her present house 22 years ago it was only a matter of 4 miles and it cost them £1800 then. So bearing in mind its two houses down into one large vehicle being moved just over 100 odd miles plus the ferry it isn't too bad.

I was going to do more decluttering this afternoon but as it was a bit damp and my joints were aching a bit I decided I'd have the rest of the day off after a lot of too-ing and fro-ing.
Plus I had to nip to the polling station to vote .

Tomorrow I have got my spring covid jab at 1.00 pm so I may not feel too active afterwards as I always feel a wee bit sleepy after them.
So I shall do some more packing and decluttering first thing in the morning before lunch, then can have a snooze after lunch it will be feet up a bit of day time tv then 'Oh goodness its Escape to the Country' and half past thee already must be time for my afternoon treat of hot chocolate with marshmallows and squirty cream ,naughty but nice now and again :0 :0 
Florenceem I hope you can help your husband sort things out, it must be very worrying for you both 

Cheers chums 

JackieO xx

vulpix

Thank you for the flowers Mrs SD.

 Btw, you can hire a bathing suit and towel at the hot springs in Banff. Like old time suits,with legs down to the knees. The wolf sanctuary is pretty close, a very interesting visit, meeting wolves and wolf dogs who can't fend for themselves. Oo, also remembered there is a massive all year round Christmas shop in Banff for Christmas lovers like me.

 Well today went better than expected. The furniture project guys were so helpful and took much more than I had requested online. Bed springs brought down stairs and left outside for the scrapman with my Dad's life time collection of metal bits. It sounds like the same type of beds as yours London 1. The bed head and foot boards, 6 of em are being taken to the tip tomorrow. The big pine cupboard was emptied and taken away by the furniture project men. It was very heavy and took ages to get it out of the house and onto the van, even with Mr V helping. The 2 beautiful birds eye maple wardrobes are being given to a couple we know who are into rockabilly. Sadly they don't have room for the big film star dressing table. I have put it on line free. I have also listed the 3 seater sofa, chair and stool online for free.

 So what I am dealing with now is a massive piece of oak furniture that I will try to sell, the table and 4 chairs for the Ukranian lady, sofa etc and all the white goods. The contents of the pine cupboard,the yet un mined cupboard under the stairs and a garden box outside. We took 4 banana boxes of crockery to a chazzer on the way home. DD1 will help bring her stuff to my house and we will try to accommodate it. It is a double mattress, a china cabinet and a sizable dolls house. Plenty of things to be taken to Mum, including some stools and a spinning stool that she has carved. I am just going to send everything to her now. She can sort it out. Apparently my brother went round last night to take a mobility aid on loan away. He had better be careful that he doesn't strain himself. That is the first time he has been to the house in about a year.

 Mr V has had to load his car up as he has a work thing tonight, Unload again tomorrow. Load for a tip run and that in theory should be the last of the tip runs. Random bits of wood, lawn mower, microwave, mobility aids,(that Mum has bought), garden ornaments etc.

 I feel like the house could be empty by the end of the month. I am going to look at a few days away for us.

 We are so tired and have sore bones.

 Vx

GrannyKate

Not done a lot since I got back.  Nice few days with Dsil - visited my brother's 'tree' where we scattered his ashes.  Had some nice meals out and nice drive through the Chilterns - bluebells and the bright green of beech trees.  Beautiful evening here and children have been out for a walk with DS2. I have bought some new clothes for my Greece holiday so need to find some to leave. I got a new suitcase so plan to fill the old one up with stuff for charity shop.  I have lots of admin tasks to sort tomorrow and have to take car to garage as I think brakes are iffy.  That could involve decluttering money. Viewed a bungalow but not ideal location and I couldn't see my self living there. No viewers yet for mine.

513 Owner of empty house next door visiting so I was able to give him parcel that has been sitting in hall for 6 weeks.  He knew parcel was here but has been unwell
514 Diary updated 
515 Covid jab done
516 Three meetings attended and papers decluttered to recycling or shredding
517 Purse to CS bag (bought new one in CS)
518 Car booked in for tomorrow

Need to restart diet as weight has gone up, clean and tidy house, write cards, fill some forms in, try and book French train for September etc etc - hope to report big things tomorrow

PS enjoying the Canada trip - visited once as we flew to Toronto when visiting sister in Ohio.  Remember lovely drive along the Canada side of Niagara Falls and eating fresh peaches bought at the roadside (you cannot take them over the US border).  We went from there to a lakeside boat house in the Adirondacks in Upper New York State - fabulous memories and there were wild bears.