2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

vulpix

 Brie, Thank you. I will have a look the problems next week. Hopefully it won't be too bad to sort out and is a case of Mum being overwhelmed. I might suggest that my Nephew has power of attorney, my brother might go for that.

 Weenancy, I would love to drive round the US, my dream trip.

 Everyone has been decluttering well. It must be the sunshine.

 We are off into "the smoke " to buy front and back door paint. I might go to the £1 chazzer and get myself a new holiday wardrobe!

 I am having a weekend off from problems. The sun is shining,at last.

 Vx

vulpix

Oh, are we doing the Orient Express next? What time is departure and what is the dress code for dinner?

Wednesday2000

Yesterday was lovely. I managed to add a few more tops to the donation bag and we dropped it off before our drinks and meal. We sat outside at a lovely local bar and it was very nice weather. It is called The Thamesbreeze bar and it is always fairly busy, even in the winter months. We also sat in the garden of the restaurant afterwards for our lunch. I was talking to the owner about him being on Come Dine with Me and his experience of it. He said they haven't even seen the episode themselves yet. 

When we went into London the weather got a bit more gloomy, but we were only going inside the O2. The horror film The Strangers wasn't that great, but watchable. I had a nice time with my friend chatting while my husband went to the gig. The bar we were in was absolutely packed with terrifyingly young women and girls as there was an Olivia Rodrigo concert there that night! Lots of them were wearing sequins which apparently is her look. I'm not sure I have even heard one of her songs before. It really thinned out once the concert started, luckily.

The bulky waste is booked for this Thursday which is a relief. I just got a notification that two more library books are ready, but I might get them next week. I'm tired as I did over 16,000 steps yesterday so I might just stay in and veg today.

QueenJess

The orient express is a definite bucket list item, but I’ll probably have to win the lottery first 😂

Before I left the house to take DS to gymnastics, I had another session in the loft and took advantage of DH being there as I could ask him about a few items. Tons of boxes gone, a pile of books and toys to deal with and I rearranged the books up there so I can actually find them now. I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, but even DH muttered he “might” go through his stuff in the loft and get rid of some things. Is that a pig I see flying past the window?! 🐖 🪟 

Anyway, I guess it shows that decluttering your own stuff does inspire others to do theirs as well. As I left the house DD was saying she didn’t want to go out and wanted to declutter her books 😂 DH had to supervise, so that one will be interesting…

I need to get back to the harder stuff to deal with in the house (loft is easier as I’ve generally forgotten what was in there anyway). I also need to sort through a pile of stuff so I can add them to my totals. Recycling bag is already overflowing for this week!

Physical:

1 - packaging reused

20 - boxes recycled

1 - plastic box (tip)

New total = 9,062

May mini kitchen declutter challenge = 23/25

May/June clothes mini declutter challenge = 115/200

charlies_tribe

Good afternoon. I'm sorry I haven't got individual replies. I've been reading along all week and thinking ohh, I'll reply to that later and later I've completely forgot what I was going to say so hugs to all x

The virus we had last week, mine turned into a sinus infection which would be why it was taking me longer to get over it. Yesterday we had DGD while DD1 slept and she's now poorly, not sure if it's the virus we had last week or something she's picked up from nursery. DD1 did ask if we were happy to have her while poorly but as we see her most days so we've probably already shared the germs anyway.

I haven't managed a great deal but DD2 was colouring the other day and we were looking at all the broken crayons/melted Wax crayons (they're in the conservatory) so we decided to sort box 1 (trofast drawers). DD2 sharpened every single pencil that was staying, hundreds of them. This was the first box of at least 3. 5 children and each school year they have a whole new pencil case restock to make sure they had everything and the contents of the previous year went into the box. Plus any stationary they've had at home. The next box is mainly felt tips so that'll be fun, trying each one. I've got a bag of about 150 short/half size pencils that don't get used so will list them on the free site before I throw them out.

DH has still been busy on the garden. Once he gets up today he's going to finish the wooden frame on the garden and then has 5 tonne of stone to barrow up in to it. So that'll be his weekend sorted.

2x pants
3 odd socks
89 wax crayons
12 sticks chalk
76 pencil/crayons
3 felt tips
1 highlighter
4 pens
1 pencil sharpener
Physical 1397/2024

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

Saturday is a dull, overcast day. I woke up at 10:00 for a bathroom visit & because we were expecting a parcel delivery I threw on a dressing gown & came downstairs at 10:04 only to discover that I had missed the postman by exactly 5 minutes 😔 I was sorely tempted to go back to bed but instead made myself a cuppa & successfully completed the cryptic crossword in my magazine 🙂 Now settling down to some cheerleading 

Florenceem, a busy Wednesday & Thursday 👏 Pleased to hear that MrF has been seen by the nurse but sorry to hear that he has to wait another 2 weeks before he can see the doctor 😔 I was rather disheartened to read about the food being taken from the SA freezer 😔 Is nowhere safe 😞 

nannywindow, a busy Thursday sorting out the ‘van & some excellent if unexpected decluttering 👏 Fingers crossed that the new tap works 🤞 Lovely cheerleading 😊

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 & very well done on having such a good year with your ‘neutral items’ 🥳 Hope you manage your Tip run soon 🤞

Excellent work on both the packing & decluttering mhagster 👏 Sounds like you are almost ready to move 😊 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂

Steady decluttering ilovetea 👏

TC77, teenage romance on the Isle of Man 😊 - was it during TT fortnight 😉 I now have visions of you on the back of a motorbike 😂 Excellent decluttering 👏 & very well done on resisting the impulse to buy new items however much they look like a bargain 🥳 A medal 🏅 is on its way as I can see from your post that you are changing your mindset & combining decluttering with not bringing in more potential clutter 😊

vulpix, congratulations on persevering with the decluttering at your Mum’s house 👏 & well done on disposing of most items in such an ethical manner 😊 Your Mum is amazing & hopefully still has her most precious items to hand due to your careful handling of such a mammoth task 😊 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way to you accompanied by 💐 & cwtches 🤗 

weenancy, so pleased that you enjoyed your ‘virtual’ visit to your family 😊 I can imagine that your last reunion with over 300 people was quite raucous 😉 That is a very large family group - 17 children 🤩 & I had to smile at the mention that 300 has turned into an even larger number 😅 Sorry for the delay in getting you home 😔 & relieved that you managed to get back in time for the monthly book sale 😮‍💨 I hope it went well 🤞 Pleased to hear that the cats are still ‘helping’ you & Di with decluttering her room 😉 Everything crossed that you got your 5 frogs dealt with & didn’t have to resort to decluttering just to find the paperwork 🤞🙏

London_1, hope you had a lovely day of visiting yesterday & managed to see everyone on your list 😊 Using linen & bedding as packaging is such a great idea 👏 & a good deal safer (& cleaner) than using scrunched up newspaper for packing fragile items 👏

QueenJess, with the amount of decluttering you do every day I am positive that your journey to a clutter free home will not take 9 months 😊 Hopefully now that your parents have decluttered their house, they have nothing left to pass on to you 🤞as I seem to remember that decluttering their house involved cluttering up your house 😔 

Floss, yes the Orient Express is our next adventure 😊 Not quite sure when 🤔 as we are currently negotiating use of the track between Paris & Istanbul. The restaurant under the glass domed carriage is also still being upgraded to Orient Express standards & we are recruiting more waiting staff (as well as promoting from within as several of the staff in the TLC Carriage & buffet/restaurant car are keen to join us in the Orient Express experience ) 😊 Sparkly shrug ✅ & yes we will be dressing up each evening 😉 

I have caught up a little 😉 only 3.5 pages behind now 😉 P.S. my DSis had a lovely interlude this morning about 08:30 watching 7, yes you are reading that correctly “SEVEN” squirrels chasing each other around the back garden 😂

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 797/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £166.85

Florenceem

I had a bit of a lie in today. and then got on with my cleaning chores.
I have had a relaxing day - neither of us have been out of the house.  I have offered to do the food delivery at SA tonight but not heard yet about it.
The stars that I glued on my friend's daughter's costume have not stayed on. So plan B - I have ordered a respirator so I can safely use a high strength glue - I have disposable gloves to wear.
Mr F has started on his 3 day low fibre eating ready for a Colonoscopy on Tuesday. He is having chicken, potatoes and eggs tonight for dinner while I tuck into beef, chips & rocket. 
My Dd phoned to ask if I wanted asparagus as she was going to a place that grows it but I said no - would be too cruel to eat that in front of Mr F.
Mr F has an ultrasound tomorrow morning so can't have breakfast. Then we need to dash home to have dinner at lunch time before he has to fast for the procedure on Tuesday.

QueenJess

Some more progress this afternoon.  I really need to get back to my wardrobe, but keep getting distracted with everywhere really.

Physical:
2 - bags reused
135 - DS tat binned/recycled
2 - packaging reused
219 - kids toys/books/puzzles/craft stuff (charity box)
16 - DD tat binned
3 - blankets I don’t need (charity box) - included in my clothes total as it's a fabric item

1 - broken plastic kitchen storage box (binned)

New total = 9,440

May mini kitchen declutter challenge = 24/25

May/June mini clothes declutter challenge = 118/200

Definitely more to come, but not sure if I've got any energy left for it today.

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

DH is in the garden testing out the kettle barbecue that we acquired from next door - burning coconut shells & intending to use the ash in the garden. He is also getting some rather nice looking compost out of one of the compost bins. To show willing I pulled up a few weeds but have now gone back to watching the Tattooist of Auschwitz - a harrowing story & I am only on episode 3. DH has managed to completely empty one compost bin 🥳 Tomorrow he will be tackling the second one - as long as the weather stays dry 🤞

Floss, your bedroom is absolutely stunning 😍 Love that colour 🤩

Excellent decluttering Wednesday2000 👏 Hope you enjoyed visiting your local bar & that it won’t be another year before you have another visit 😉

vulpix, a great method of decluttering - identify, bag up & dispose of asap 👏 As your Mum was vetting everything I am surprised at how quickly you have managed to empty her house 😊 Maybe I am a bit odd, but I have always thought how interesting it would be to buy a house with a few items still in the loft 😜 So sorry to hear that yesterday was such an emotional day 😔 I hope MrV is OK 🙏 As to the situation with your Mum & the building society - it really does beggar belief 😾 I hope that a more reasonable solution can be arranged 🙏 Whatever has happened to common sense & customer care 🤨 It is becoming the exception rather than the rule sigh 😞 You have definitely earned your break in Scotland 😊 

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 & I am so pleased that you are managing to get everything out so quickly 😊 I think your DD is doing very well - after all she is only 3 👏😊 I am still smiling at your “I'm still on a major mission so nothing is safe right now!  Off to make myself a lovely lunch before diving back into my work.  Can't guarantee more things won't find their way out my house before the end of the day” 😅 I take it your OH is still in hiding - just in case 🤣 I have also noticed how well you are doing with your 2 mini challenges 👏

Lovely supportive post daisy_1571 😊 Pleased to hear that you are getting excited about our next trip 😉 The long gloves & evening dress sound perfect 😍 I am still busy planning the trip so not yet sure of departure date 🤔 Although I do think we should spend a few days in Paris visiting Fashion Houses & topping up our wardrobes ☺️ 

Excellent work with the painting vulpix 👏 Fingers crossed that common sense will prevail with the building society 🤞

daisy_1571, Some great ideas for vulpix & hopefully the building society will finally be amenable 🙏

machasraven, some great decluttering 👏 Especially lovely to hear that you have reinstated ‘pampering sessions’ 😊 The Orient Express trip is gaining plenty of support, so I need to get a move on with the organising 😉

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏

vulpix, well done on decluttering 2 tins of paint 👏 Not hysteria just total bewilderment 🤨 Hope you managed a bit of TLC last night 😊

More great work at the SA Florenceem 👏 Sorry to hear about all the issues with the roof 😔 Fingers crossed that your friend can discover the issue & also nip any problems/issues in the bud 🤞  Perhaps MrF is trying to start a new fashion 😅

A great start to your decluttering TC77 👏 Taking huge curtains to the cs counts as exercise & will hopefully counteract the effects of too much ice cream 😉  Good luck for the rest of the weekend 🍀 I am sure you will soon start noticing the difference 😊

Just noticed the time, so will post this & make a start on tonight’s dinner 🙂

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 797/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £166.85

TC77

Mrs SD, I do remember  some motorbikes but didn't go on one  til 20s, tried driving on holiday but not for me and a few years with ex enjoying going over hampstead etc but nothing like your adventures. 
Photos of vintage aprons - belatedly.