2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

GrannyKate

It's quiet here as DS2 has gone on another residential course and children not back until Thursday. I am doing school run Tuesday but their mother will collect them at 4. Feel very lethargic and unmotivated.  I have decided to cancel agent and start again with another one after my holiday.  I will write 30 day notice letter today but will also pop in to the other agent for a chat.  Several frogs to deal with.  Looks like there must have been a power cut as cooker clock is flashing.  We used to have lots but then they stopped but seem to have started up again in last few weeks.  I did go swimming yesterday afternoon then I took myself out for a meal - food ok but service very slow - I did not leave a tip. I tried on dresses from wardrobe and they all fit - think I will get one more and more long shorts for my holiday.  DS1 abroad with business this week and DD in London all week so no-one around to chat to.  I probably need to contact surgery about second shingles jab as they haven't sent for me.  Hoping new glasses come this week. 

628 Photos downloaded and saved
629 DS2 took lots of metal and cable to recycling - nice payout
630 Egg boxes dropped off at farmshop 
631 Sorted through all papers for home move and got rid of lots.  Read my contract carefully.
632 Storage tin put in recycling
633 Kitchen drawer tipped out and cleaned as lots of crumbs etc in cutlery.  
634 Birthdays cards posted or written ready to go.  Need two more for last week of June then I need to start on July. 

TC77

@2Scratters , echo weenancy's comments and sending hugs!

vulpix

 2Scratters, well done in taking charge and leaving somewhere that was not good for you. When the dust has settled you will love not having to be in that environment and you will blossom.

 GrannyKate, seems to me that changing Estate Agent is for the best. Have a lovely holiday, I am quite envious that you will be having some sun and warmth. Strangely we have had a couple of brief power cuts. I only know as I am a night owl and they were in the early hours.

 Weenancy, well done on managing to get the cat to the vet, even though it was costly. I dread either of mine needing the vet, they are only tame with us. Last time Fluffy made the vet bleed!

 Mr V has stopped bleeding, but is in pain, poor bloke.

 I so wish we could have some better weather, it is getting me down now. We have our casualty makeup class tonight. I will go but really just want to stop at home with the heating on. There is a big event in Lincoln for East Midlands emergency services to train that we have declined as Mr V will possibly still be in hospital.

I have had a tidy up downstairs, put the bathroom door behind the sofa for now and put all the sewing stuff away. Baby V is visiting tomorrow and is crawling. The perfect tidy up encouragement I need.

No decluttering today other than the usual recycling. Beds stripped and washed. It does beg the question why do I have spare bedding when I wash and remake the same day? Something to ponder on.

 Vx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I am finally getting back on track after my little holiday . The trip was lovely and tbh we mostly just chilled. We didn't travel far as there were so many simple things to enjoy within about a 5 mile radius of where we were staying which turned out to be in the middle of a national forest . The cabin thing we had was excellent apart from the totally inadequate pillows which meant a few nights of not much sleep. It is apparently a regular comment on the reviews which I failed to read so if we go there again I will take my own . The weather was mostly good or good enough to eat outside every day except one when there was a chilly breeze interspersed with heavy rain showers but it didn't seem to matter . The cabin had a hot tub which we used every day , and spent a lot of time chatting and catching up with our friend who we see about twice a year but usually in a biggish group so don't get that much time to chat. We did go to Ashby-de-la-zouche which we thought was a very nice little market town but the parking was a bit difficult, non of the car parks seemed to allow you to stay for more than 2 hours, well none that we could find that were close enough for OH to be able to cope with the walk, but we did have a nice mooch around the little indoor market and a coffee in a nice independent coffee shop where they also blend and grind their own beans so a packet of that has come home with us . There was also a big chandlers shop that we looked in, the sort of place that sells everything you could need from a single screw to a dinner service, I loved it . Lots of independent shops which was nice to see after the mass of chains which inhabit our city centre. I went for a couple of walks in the area near where we were staying which were lovely and we had a trip to a farm shop and cafe where OH tried a bison burger and picked up some venison sausages, both were apparently nice. The bison burger was very like beef apparently but not as fatty and the venison sausages were had by OH and friend's son, B, for lunch the next day and were very tasty. I had home made tomato and lentil soup which was lovely. The farm had working shire horses and all the meat came from their own animals which you could see around the fields. They also kept alpaca and various articles made with alpaca wool were available in the shop but the prices were eye watering, more expensive than the silk I saw at a working silk mill a few years ago, so they were left in the shop. B spent 3 days fishing which was excellent for his mh and he is planning to return with his brother and sil at some point in the future, and we all loved the hawk walk and may return to do it again
The America 50s style dinner was excellent, I had a pancake stack with blueberries and banana which I just about managed to finish, so yummy . We had another breakfast out at a lakeside cafe which was also lovely and an evening meal out so B could wear his new shirt. I had the best cheesecake I have had in a long time I think we probably all put on weight except B who seemed to have hollow legs . Overall an excellent little break for everyone

I have caught up with all the posts but much has failed to stick in my brain so sorry if I have missed something. 

@Vulpix great news re a date for Mr V's op at last, hoping for the best possible outcome and a very quick recovery, big hugs.

@QueenJess you really do deserve the crown awarded by Mrs SD, you have worked so hard

@2Scratters, well done on decluttering the toxic job, best thing you could have done.

Decluttering wise I have a list but I won't bore you all with it right now, just add a paltry 17 to my numbers which means I will have to crack the whip to get back to anywhere near my target

Hugs to everyone who would like one

Take care everyone
860/2024

elly68

you lot do so well i've yet to hit 30 black bags in any month but have 6 to go today in one day so happy with that was going to clear under stairs cupboard but may have to do a few bootsales with daughter to help her with money over the summer really struggling with this as i just want items gone so ive got somewhere for vacuum mop ect . wish me luck with the black bags of socks im away to sort 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Mini Mission in May

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

Forgot to come back yesterday 🙊 So to finish Sunday: DSis had a long bath. DH decided to do a bit of tidying in the back garden, so I joined him - more in a supervisory capacity than a worker 😅 He cleared the area next to the table top bed, weeded & swept then I helped him level the slab which was already there. I brushed off at least 50 snails from the hose box planter that DH made a few years ago & DH put it in its new spot. It is a very shady spot, so any recommendations of what to plant would be welcome 😊 We used the storage part to tidy away a few bits & pieces. DH then topped up the compost in the potato bags; filled the bird feeders & the water bowls; watered the plants & did a bit of tidying up. I spent the rest of the afternoon knitting then made dinner - roast beef, roast potatoes, parsnips & carrots, cabbage & Yorkshire puddings with DH making gravy from scratch 😋 Wudupa. After dinner I decided to go through my button collection (when I should really have caught up with the cheerleading 😔) Thinned out my button box by making up small bags of buttons to donate to CS - 7 bags of 20 coloured buttons + 3 bags of tiny buttons which I will never use 😉

 I won’t count until I visit the CS. We had a short light shower at 19:45 & proper rain from 03:00 to 06:00 Monday.

924 - 925 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

926 - 928 Kitchen, lr & garden detritus - binned

Monday & we are back to dark & overcast + it started raining at 13:00. DH has fed the worms & filled the bird feeders - he rescued 2 mice that had trapped themselves in the bird seed tin 😊 Apparently I missed the woodpecker which is unusually still around. DH is now in the garage working on the Harley Davidson. Update: DH has been thwarted in his efforts so is currently shredding a rather large branch from a chopped down bush from our new ndn’s garden, as fortuitously it has stopped raining 🙂…. I spoke too soon as it has rained a couple of times since then & is raining again at 15:15 😔

vulpix, sounds like your luck was in on Saturday 😊 Not only the builders & joiners turning up but the neighbour still having an intact door 🥳 I understand it is more work for you but hopefully once the old/new door is renovated & fitted you will have no further issues with sticking 🤞Thanks for the information on Lyme Park - of course I got distracted & looked it up 😂 Food decluttering & wool decluttering - an eclectic mix 👏 Good luck with ‘Mission Declutter Back Bedroom’ 🍀

20122013, lovely to see a new face 👋 I am hoping to see a bit more of you as you start your decluttering journey 😉 There are plenty of motivational posts from a lovely ‘family’ of declutterers, so hopefully you will find some inspiration as you read along 🤞Good luck 🍀

Steady progress TC77 👏

weenancy, another busy Saturday 😉 So sorry to hear that you are having to use the rollator all the time now 😔 Fingers crossed that writing a full list of your issues for your next doctor’s appointment will lead to an all round treatment plan rather than a  piecemeal one🤞🙏  Nice to know that Di’s cat is eating. I had to smile at the picture you painted of your roommates having to use the back door to avoid the skunk - better safe than sorry 😉 What a relief that the temperature has been revised downwards from 32C to 22C 😮‍💨 Please, please remember to ask the LDS Missionaries for assistance with the back yard 🙏 

TC77, thanks for sharing your story about the usefulness of having everything written down for doctors appointments 👏 I will transfer my ‘wagging finger’ from DD1 to DD2 😉 

vulpix, I think you must be correct 😊 Hopefully London_1 is having better weather than we are 🤞 Sounds like you have trained MrV well, now you just have to train DD2 😉 - although it sounds like you might have an almost impossible job from what you have said 😔 I used to love reading in the bath but now I fall asleep & end up with a wet book/magazine 😂 

crazybunnylady4, no wonder you were “not impressed” - 6.20 a.m. on a Sunday 😥 I suppose that the silver lining is that you got a lot done 😉 Loving the conversation about ambidextrousness (who knew that was a word - it didn’t come up as a spelling error 😉) Of course I did have to look it up 😉

florianatwobob, sounds like you could be ‘mixed-handedness’ which apparently is similar - different hands for different tasks 😊 Very impressed that the teachers in rural Westmorland were so modern 🥳 Now ‘wiggling your ears’ is definitely something I would like to see 😅

Florenceem, the chocolate talk sounds wonderful & I trust there was some tasting involved 😉 A very useful amount of money raised too 👏 I am hoping that now your Doctor daughter has all the information about MrF she might be able to suggest questions for MrF’s own doctors 🙏

Lovely post vulpix 😊 Poor MrV - fingers crossed you can get an appointment with your GP or I can see you sitting in A&E for a long time 😔 Hopefully now that you have all your supplies for your project, the weather will do the decent thing & perk up so you can get started 😉 However, a gentle reminder that you are not 18 so please, please pace yourself 🙏

Currently have brain freeze so will post this & put a timer on to come back later 😉 I really do need to get back into a proper rhythm of cheerleading 😉

Hope everyone is having better weather than we are although I should be grateful for the silver lining - no need to water the plants 😊

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 928/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.85

Gers

Has anyone heard from JackieO - I presume that she's in the throes of moving house but it would be good to have a little news.

Florenceem

vulpix - my Dd specialises in Gynae cancer but gave me ideas of tests that Mr F could have.
Mrs SD - Dd was a bit baffled by Mr F's symptoms but did say that he was laying in bed last year for a long time which can cause a small amount of fluid around the lung.. However this wouldn't be the cause for a substantial amount which is what he has at the moment. Dd thinks that he should have an upper GI endoscopy. 
We didn't hear from the hospital today but did have a call from the rehab team about risers for Mr F's chair - been waiting since March for them.
I have had a really lazy day - not left the house.

QueenJess

Just checking in with progress from today and passed my 12,000 target!  I therefore award myself a diamond.

Digital:
1 - email unsubscribed from

Physical:
1 - game (charity bag)
2 - DS’s clothes he doesn’t wear (charity bag)
67 - photos binned
7 - photo pages (charity bag)
31 - paper recycled
2 - pens used up (binned)
1 - box not needed (charity box)

New total = 12,017

May/June mini clothes decluttering challenge = 196/200

weenancyinAmerica

Finally made it to the store for food. Three of us went. Most of it got put away - still a bag or two to go. Today was trash day. Di got another 1/2 bag of trash from her room (thank you cat). G helped get the rest of the trash out and moved two of the trash bins into place. The yard fairy had mowed our lawn this week (I think it is the neighbor across the street, but I don't know for sure) and filled up our yard trash bin about 1/4th of the way, so I used several hours today putting a lot of large weeds into the bin to fill it up and G took it out for me. Still have a lot to go so I will need to have help with it. Other things done today include feeding the cats this morning (Di does the afternoon feeding), getting the flea meds on the cats, getting half a bag filled with recycling trash ready to go, filling the pool with water (a weekly job), watering the plants in the front planters, and doing a stack of paperwork. Also drew up my calendar for the next ten days. So I can at least make sure I can get from one place to the other as needed. It does require some juggling on two days this week - taking someone, dropping them off, going back for the next person, dropping them off, and going back to pick up the first person and take them home, then go back for the second person and taking them home. And stopping to do my banking and dropping off a laptop in between. Which is why I write everything down. I don't know what people without a schedule do to make sure things get done on time. I would be totally lost.