2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Floss

@charlies_tribe donating to get stuff out of the house is being pragmatic - it clears both head & floor space to process the next load.

@Liverpool_Anne has your friend applied for PIP, as it sounds like he should get the mobility part which should allow a blue badge too. She needs to be brutally honest about his bad days & his inability to stand unaided 😉 and may be able to get help with the form from the Stroke Association or their hospital.

@Florenceem I got 2 letters yesterday, relating to appointments that have already been cancelled 🙄

Slow decluttering this week - I have sorted out 2 bags of cake baking / decorating stuff to pass onto a friend, money is going out on gravel & labour for some landscaping work in the garden and I have sorted through my vast collection of ankle boots to whittle out the ones I can't actually get onto my feet anymore. 

Soontobeoap

@LONDON1 thankyou so much for that post. Reminded me so much of my child hood. The bottles of milk on the front doorstep popping a cork of iced milk when they were frozen and being pecked through the silver top by birds when not. No fridge..Milk was kept cool in a bucket of water. The wonder at the patterns on the windows when Jack frost had been. The amazing sparkle and twists in the extremely long icicles that hung off of the coal shed. My Mum got up an hour before any one else in the house to light the fire and drape all of our school clothes in front on an airer so that we were nice and warm as we headed off to school. I used to climb up on a chair to watch as Mum washed our socks by hand in the kitchen sink.  I loved swishing the soap flakes with my hand to make the bubbles. Watching as the rinsing water got clearer and clearer was one of my favourite passtimes🤣. We had the very best birthday parties. Games like musical chairs and pass the parcel were interspersed with knitting on matchsticks and finding as many different types of leaves as we could in the garden. We were happily occupied for ages. Never bored. When old enough we were sent to the corner shop for broken biscuits and a bottle of cherryade. (our sweet treat for the week). You reminded me how my Dads sandwiches were always wrapped in used waxed cereal bags.

When my big sister went on a school cruise when I was 7,(they saved for ages to be able to send her), Dad rigged up a seasaw, type contraption with bags of sugar on one end and Sues luggage on the other to weigh her clothes. Dad was the inventive one! 

Mum never had to declutter as we could only afford just enough of everything. We didnt have much but we had each other and that was everything. 

Florafauna

Hello all, so we have a moving date of 8th July. Aargh! Majority of packing and decluttering done so final push over the next week. Think we'll end up eating off paper.plates but it will all be worth it. The house is bizarre right now, it's like a system of trenches with filled boxes everywhere. I keep going to use the already packed microwave and looking at the bare wall where the clock has been for the past 9 years!

QueenJess

Still concentrating on the most untidy rooms and found more bits to declutter.  My wardrobe declutter is going nowhere at the moment though.. need a bit more thinking time on that one, so continued with DD's stuff instead and the general stuff in the library.

19 - photos binned
2 - photo pages (charity bag)
6 - paper, recycled
9 - DD clothes grown out of (charity bag)

New total = 12,407

May/June mini clothes decluttering challenge = 222/200

Pennypincin

Hi, I've lost the plot and stalled with the decluttering.
I've managed to shift the small items from the WhatsApp group, but have brought in 2 of the cheap IKEA cereal bowls, 2 of the budget decathlon bags - 1 @£6.99, plus 1 @£3.99 as I really like a rucksack and will need to eventually replace the one I've got.
I didn't want to use the spare big one and couldn't make up my mind with the 2, so got them both.
I also got 2 packs of the food closure clip things, i am hoping to use them but another win for ikea and an impulse buy, although I did resist a lot of other stuff.
I also bought 2 pairs of shoes for tai chi, as I really needed decent shoes instead of the plimsolls I'd been wearing.
I will need to save up for the next lot as they weren't overly cheap at around £34.99 and then £39.99 a pair, but should last and give me a chance to save up again for the next lot.
I managed to declutter cutting the grass this morning.
I will tackle the housework tomorrow after volunteering and Saturday, weather permitting hope to have another go at raking the grass again plus have a go as some tidying indoors.

vulpix

 Some very interesting posts today, Thank you.

 Thanks for the info about recycling old glasses LiverpoolAnne.  I hope some solution can be found for your friend to get out of the house and for her poor husband to have a trip out too.

 pennypincin, don't worry about buying new stuff , it's needed sometimes.

 I have been busy all day with laundry, cooking, nursing and hand sewing, Finished shortening the wide leg trousers, one with a false hem so as not to cut the pattern off the bottom of the legs.

 Happy Summer solstice.

 In the Shetland islands they will have 19 hours of daylight today and Simmer dim where the sunset blends with the sun rise. I will be so sorry when DD1 leaves the Shetland Islands, it feels so much like home to me. If she were staying I would move there in a heartbeat. She has just sent a photo taken right now, no where near dark.

 Vx

vulpix

Regnbue, way to go!Lerwick, 10:40

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 mention that I had a little bit of luck Wednesday 😉 At one of our stops I spotted a very shiny penny, picked it up & spotted a 5p & then spotted a 50p 🥳 Sadly no pound coin - only joking 🙃 It was 55p more than I have found this year 😊 also saw a lone swan + forgot to add ice cream pics

Thursday morning we woke at 07:40 to find that it had rained 😕 We were up & dressed by 08:15 & went down to breakfast for 08:45. Our faith in Scottish breakfasts was fully restored (after Wednesday morning’s disappointing one) Crispy & tasty bacon, fried eggs with runny yolks, tatie scones, black pudding, sausages, tomato & beans 😋😋 + really nice coffee & we didn’t have to make our own toast 😉 DH went & got the bike from the car park - no access from the hotel & up a 1 in 8 slope 😱 He parked it out front. Returned to our room, packed the last few bits, then back downstairs (remembered to hand in the key 😉) & packed the bike in heavy drizzle 😔 First stop we filled up, the headed to the Ferry port at Gourock - for a 20 minute trip across the water to Hunters Quay. The drizzle had stopped as we boarded & didn’t start again until we got off but did only last 5 minutes 😮‍💨 The sky was heavily overcast from 10:45 to about 12:00 then we were treated to the odd spot of sunshine & less grey clouds. This lasted until about 15:00 when the weather perked up considerably - blue skies, white clouds & lots of sunshine 🥳 We only had 4 landmarks to find today - 2 old, 2 new so arrived at our hotel - The Loch Ness Inn @ 16:15. Looks like we are in for a very pleasant evening as far as the weather is concerned 😊 The day started very slowly as far as animal sightings were concerned - a couple of cows, a few sheep & a few seagulls up until about 11:30 but the day got better & better - although still no more chickens in playgrounds 😅 Started my list off rather well with an oystercatcher 😊 followed by 2 geese, a mummy duck with 4 ducklings, a field with about 20 deer (presumably farmed as the field was close to the road 😔), 3 llamas, 2 goats, 6 ducks on a slipway into Loch Ness & the piece de resistance of my day a pair of Eurasian Jays in flight wings spread wide & being able to see all the colourings & markings 🥳🥳🥳 (having caught a glimpse of one earlier as it landed in a tree). I cannot describe how happy I was - DH thought my exclamation as I saw the Jays meant I was falling off the bike 🤣 DH & I relaxed for about 90 minutes, drank a couple of coffees then DH showered & got dressed. I washed & changed. Went down to bar at 18:50, got drinks & went outside. Table was booked for 19:30. Dinner was absolutely delicious 🤤 DH had lamb meatballs in a minty sauce followed by lightly spiced monkfish fillets on a bed of cous-cous salad. I had cod fritters in a lemon sauce on a bed of salad leaves followed by lightly battered haddock with chips & the best mushy peas I have ever tasted 😋🤤 We finished off with a glass of port for DH & a Gaelic coffee for me. The food might have been fairly simple but was all cooked to perfection. We had a long chat with our server about motorcycling - wished her luck for her motorbike test tomorrow 🍀 We have had a lovely evening - I spent time chatting to a chap with a beautiful golden retriever whilst I was out having a ciggie. After dinner DH & I went outside & chatted to a group of bikers about various motorcycle trips etc. DH & I stayed outside until official sunset 22:20 & then returned to our room. Two bags packed & I have updated my accounts - spending quite a bit 😉 All in all a wonderful day even with the slightly damp start 😊

vulpix, Portpatrick was stunning 🤩 It is a wonder anyone answers the phone if no caller ID comes up 😉 Well done on going through your tops 👏 Perhaps dyeing clothes to match your new hair colour might be cheaper 😉 I will certainly be watching ‘this space’ as I am intrigued & quite excited to read about MrV’s ‘escapades’ 🙏😊 Although I am trying very hard to curb my curiosity & resisted the urge to pm you 😅Fingers crossed that MrV was released from hospital Wednesday afternoon 🤞

QueenJess, sorry to hear that you were still not 100% on Wednesday 😔 but very pleased to hear that you were “just pottering” 😉 Although your “pottering” is full blown decluttering to me 😅 I will keep everything crossed that your parents bring nothing but themselves when they come to visit at the weekend 🤞Unlikely, I know but…….. 😉

Thanks Wednesday2000 😊 Love the outfit especially the boots 🤩 The clothes that you have dyed have come out wonderfully 👏 I think you might give Lady Penelope a run for her money 😅

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏

Superb work QueenJess 🥳👏 You have worked exceptionally hard to get all the big decluttering areas pretty much decluttered 👏 Good luck with sorting your clothes 🍀 & an even bigger good luck persuading your parents to donate the remainder of your toys & clothes straight to charity shop/s & bypass you completely 🍀🤞

Florenceem, sounds like you didn’t get a lot of sleep Tuesday night & that Wednesday was so busy that you must have been absolutely 😩 I hope you managed a good night’s sleep Wednesday 🙏 & that the alarm system was sorted out 🤞

TC77, what a rotten thing to happen & curses to the culprit 😡 🤬 Please ignore your cousin about donating your good quality clothes 🤨 You are so right about insurance companies 😕 I know it will be time consuming photographing & listing the clothes but anything you can earn will get you nearer to being on the road again 🙏 

Lovely avatar butterfly2507 😍 Nice to see you & welcome aboard The EDT 👋 You are just in time as when I get back from Scotland we will be setting off on our ‘virtual’ Orient Express style trip 😉 Good luck with your decluttering 🍀 You have made an excellent start 👏 

Just gone midnight, so I will post & run having made a small attempt at catching up with the cheerleading 😉 Hope everyone enjoyed their summer solstice 😊 Many cwtches available so help yourselves 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 See you all tomorrow, sleep tight 😴

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2024: 974/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.85

weenancyinAmerica

Mrs. S_D - I hope you and the "Biker Dude" have a great trip - sounds like you have been seeing some wildlife. 

Maybe it is the fault of the summer solstice - I took G for his appointment to see about increasing his funding through Social Security, spent two hours in the car reading, then home just in time to deliver family history papers to a client, then off to the library for 4 hours working on book sale tomorrow. Still need to print a few signs. Stopped for a class, but I was the only one there. Will need to discuss with the person in charge how it was advertised. Went back to sorting books. Then came home. Laid down for a one hour nap only to be awakened by roommate Di asking where the tape was so she could put a sign on the bathroom door (thank goodness we have three). Seems there was a kitten in our backyard today - it is now in the house. We will need to see what the vet says and all that but did God really need to send us a new cat? We have two indoor cats giving me fits plus an outdoor cat (who gave me a large dead tree rat yesterday, left on the porch - at least it was dead). Maybe the devil did it instead. Tonight girl friends of two of the roommates are also staying over. So seven of us using the remaining two bathrooms. Can't let kitten out until checked by vet. Tomorrow have to pick up another board member at 8 am to get set up for book sale. Looks like Saturday will be an early day too as may need to be at vets by 7:30 to register. Will be lucky if we get in to see someone by 10:30.  Oh well, more reading time. Kitten is orange and white from what I've been told - haven't seen it yet. Don't even know if it is a him or a her yet.  I had just talked to our handyperson about repainting the bathroom but nothing had been done yet. May have to wait awhile longer. 

Hope your new surprises of summer are better. Maybe even have a summer this year? 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, well I swear it didn't get dark last night, I haven't slept at all, flipped onto a night shift for no reason

@London_1 great memories Monday was always wash day but my earliest memories were of Mum having a twin tin which she got when we returned to the UK from Zimbabwe when I was 6. I have no memory of what she used before though I do have a memory of my sister sitting in the bath to shrink her new jeans to fit . She is 12 years older than me and used to wear the full skirts with starched petticoats so Mum must have had her work cut out for her. I seem to remember spending my time outside playing barefoot and climbing trees and hunting for chameleons . I think my Mum despaired of teaching me household chores and I spent more time helping my Dad fix the car , though she did teach me the value of money and was known throughout the family for being able to stretch a penny to a shilling

@Floss my friend isn't eligible for pip as he is above state retirement age and you can't get it unless you claimed it before retirement. I think they are getting very strict with the blue badges now, apparently if it's not a permanent thing they just say no. I have told her to reapply and just say they have had further information from the Dr when/if he improves enough to be able to get in and out of the car.

@Florafauna yay, how exciting, bet you can't wait now

@Vulpix hope Mr V continues to recover well, especially as you have a reunion on Friday . Lerwick looks amazing. I remember once visiting a friend near Dundee about this time of year and we went to see some standing stones and were able to read the information board at midnight . 

@Mrs SD yummy ice cream

@weenancyinAmerica have you asked around the neighbours about the kitten, it might belong to someone. I think I would just check that before you have to pay another vet bill.

Right just going to see if I can grab a couple of hours sleep, my brain is starting to ache

905 & 906 LDFPA
Take care everyone
906/2024