2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Floss

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

... I am still working on the ‘Orient Express style’ trip but had forgotten about the Olympic Games 😔 everywhere is just so busy 😧 

Maybe we could go via Brussels and then through Luxembourg & the French Alps into Italy? It would avoid Paris...

QueenJess

Well I took a long lunch and did one of my memory boxes.  I actually have 5, which really does seem a bit excessive... 1 each for the kids, 1 for stuff from when I was a child, 1 for me and DH and another one just for wedding stuff.  I should probably consolidate the last two together really, but no rush to think about that.

I was dreading going through it, but actually it felt really good.  I went through and got rid of loads that didn't hold a memory or make me smile and now I have a box of things I know I can bring out and make me smile. 

Have to admit to another 2 things in... I treated myself to a really nice straw shopping bag that I can use for loads of things, but mainly for food shopping and the zero waste shop.  Hoping I can now get rid of some of the plastic bags I hate.  Also came in a massive paper bag that I will reuse for shredded paper (we have to put it in an envelope in the recycling to get it recycled).

1 - packaging reused
103 - Memory box stuff recycled/charity

New total = 14,004

July In: 26, July Out: 817

I wonder if I can get to 1,000 physical things gone in July?  Might be a bit of stretch..

dND

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement – I’m still a bit AWOL because of watching the Tour de France which takes up far too much of my free time. 😱

Daisy_1571, Floss, Mrs_SD, Florianatwobob, Vulpix, Liverpool Anne

I contacted the builder and they’ve all gone down with Covid.  Whilst it’s quite a big firm, there's lots of family connections within it so when one gets ill there is a high chance that they all will.

But, I have some clarity about what’s planned for the middle room re the RSJ. 😁  Both the building surveyor and the structural surveyor I had – lots of money decluttered there – assumed that the cracking was due to the removal of a supporting wall.  As I said, this isn’t the case, therefore no council involvement required.  RSJ isn’t an option but something is obviously needed to reduce the chance of flexing that probably caused the cracking.  The plan is to reinforce/stabilise the floor joist that is carrying the weight of the upstairs wall.  It makes sense to me and Monday the guy who will be doing the work is coming to explain how it will be done.  I’m happy with that.

The added bonus is that knowing they weren’t coming for the rest of the week has been a slightly less frantic wake-up although the cat’s didn’t get the memo. 😹

Oueen_Jess, “Day off today, which is never a day off and more running round like a headless chicken trying to get everything done.”

Isn’t that just so true!

Vulpix, you’re incorrigible, I’m sure you said a while back that your last move was the last move and while a bit late to the party, why not plant bit-by-bit’s tree where you are now and also have another one at your new house?  Because I was in France and my cats were buried there, I decided to have memory plants.  Now I’m here I’m rebuying those plants for the current garden.

Liverpool_Anne  I’ve spoken with the vet and I’m monitoring my cat.  She only goes on the carpet once or twice a day and uses the litter tray otherwise – and the garden today when we were doing leash training.  She actually had to walk around a clean litter tray this morning to pee on the carpet!!  Apart from that, she seems happy and well.  I bought a carpet cleaner when I moved in and that’s set up in the room so I can clean asap.  I’ve now ordered one of the forensic UV torches (but it’s on backorder), to check the area.  The torch should be able to show me where any residue is.  I think I’ll take an early trip tomorrow to the pet store and peruse the dedicated pet cleaning fluids.  I’m just hoping that my younger cat doesn’t decide to follow suit.

I’m not enjoying the heat; the heat was one of the reasons for returning to the UK.  I’ve had a year of cool temperatures and I’ve adapted already so yesterday and today have knocked me sideways. 🤣🤣

Out today: 7 bags of garden waste, mainly the remains of the pampas grass my DS1 cut down a while back and the Torbay palm leaves that are dropping, all the milk tetra packs I’ve used since February, (they don’t go in the doorstep recycling here) plus a box of broken china that didn’t make the trip from France intact.  I managed to time traveling to the tip well, slotting between the school run and the building heat. 

This week’s recycling is also out but hasn’t been collected – I guess refuse teams are on holiday at the moment but with luck it should go tomorrow.  I’m planning on decluttering the excess grass, on what passes for the back lawn, to the compost bin this afternoon but I want the temperature to drop first.  Filling the garden waste bags yesterday left me with a headache even though I though I was keeping hydrated and wore a hat.

vulpix

Hi, I forgot to say Mr V sold a piece of equipment yesterday. More pennies in my table and chairs fund. If we get the house that I like, we will be able to have a dining table again.

Ooo, interesting that the RHS flower show will be going to Sheffield but tbh Tatton and Sheffield are doable for me. I used to work in Knutsford and take my dog a walk around Tatton park after work. Southport flower show is smaller but still lovely. I am sure you will have been Liverpool Anne. I know what you mean about people not understanding working in a school, and I am sure lots of other jobs. I had a company who couldn’t understand that I couldn’t answer my phone while working. 

 I know I am incorrigible with house renovations. I love it. I need to sell this house as we have lent my step daughter rather a lot of money! We don’t have enough to buy a new house and keep this one. We are too old to get a mortgage. I have tried years ago! I don’t know how well this house will sell. Next door is for sale for a lot less but it’s not got the land we have. 

 I have been indoors today  with the exception of putting washing out. Whilst looking for a blade to get bird poo off the window, as you do, I found 4 lengths of wood which I have given to my neighbour for her fire. Also found some organza bags which she can have for lavender bags. It all helps. 

 My strawberries are ripening with some heat. 🍓🍓I will do some balsam bashing when it’s a bit cooler. Currently I am setting up my sewing machine to finish some tote bags and start the quilt. 

 Take care everyone.  Vx

Brie

Will be off to Canada in a few weeks - not booked it yet, keep putting it off a bit because I don't want to go perhaps?  Because it will be another round of "what do we do with this, what do we do with the farm, how's mom doing?"  Once a week is bad enough but to have 10 days or so in a row is like breaking rocks on my head.  Dithering brother will continue to dither, and all 3 brothers will look at me in horror that I'm such a heartless b!tch who would happily auction everything off in one weekend. 

I used to love going to house auctions - what people did in Canada to declutter before retro became trendy - but I was always sad about the photo albums that inevitably sell for pennies if anything.  All those memories that no one cared about.  And yet last time there was I dumping photos into a black bin because no one was going to care what I looked like at 10 in my gym kit even if I had just won a city wide race.   Sigh.

Floss

@Brie could you not engage with them, and say "you decide" to every question? Maybe dithering brother might see how frustrating it is...

suzeesu2000

Had to have an “in” as DH back is so bad had to get him a new mattress, one in one out.

Has forced us to deal with Steptoes Yard at the rear of our house so on Monday we have a nice man coming to remove a big pile of stuff: old flat pack furniture that was broken up, old hoover, garden plant stand, air con unit, stand fan, stack of metal pipes, headboard, plastic thing (?), excess garden pots, old plastic greenhouse, all will be taken to the tip. They do have a tip shop so if anything can be recycled it will be but I very much doubt it. Will be nice to be rid of it all and have a nice clean yard again. 

Once the weather has cooled a bit I am changing our sitting room round, actually back to how it was as I don’t like how it is now. Will then have a pair of crushed velvet curtains to hang and the old ones will be going out. The new curtains aren’t exactly an “in” as I’ve had them for a year! 

Sold an ice cream maker so got rid of it plus the padding for the packaging and a cardboard box. Happy me! 

Hope no ones melted, thank the good Lord for Air con! Have a nice weekend all. 

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

So apart from ‘melting in the heat’ I wrote a shopping list for DH then put away all the shopping when DH & DSis got back. Dinner was fend for yourself so, despite my chosen name, I had a large salad 😉 Watched one of my all time favourite films’The Green Mile’ then did the wudupa. 

1179 - 1181 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, newspaper - recycled 

1182 Kitchen detritus binned

I will catch up with the cheerleading tomorrow 😉 Cwtches to all 🤗 sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1182/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

GrannyKate

Morning all.  Still feeling the effects of shingles jab. Long meeting on line last night.  Went and viewed rental with DS2 which was quite nice but perhaps not the right area for him.  I have a viewing for a bungalow myself on Monday afternoon. 

782 Plastic make up box to CS
783 Assistance at station booked for DSiL for France trip 
784 Photos downloaded
785 June banking done 
786 Meeting and papers decluttered

Still have long list of frogs and need to cut grass

weenancyinAmerica

Since it is a virtual trip on the Orient Express, we can just pretend the Olympics aren't there. 

We have made it through another book sale. Thank goodness it was inside as it was 33C outside. It was nice to be there even if working as we have no air conditioning at home!  It does stay about 25C at the most inside. Just five overhead fans - and none in the living room. I though about buying a new fan but I have been trying to figure out what to do about tiny paws getting in the blades. Have to measure everything carefully.

Trying to figure out what to do for high blood pressure, sugar count out of control, and weight gain going whacky. May have to see if there is a "What to eat as a diabetic to lose weight" thread if there isn't one. They are starting me on a low dose of insulin this weekend. Been spending all week at my doctor's appointments, roommates doctor's appointments, picking up medications and fitting in time at the Library getting ready for the book sale. Hard to fit in eating, much less eating right. Next week should be better. 

In the morning I am getting the oil changed in my car. Picking up cat food. Picking up some boxes of books from the library and going to a Mystery Book Store. We are selling her some autographed mystery books - and hopefully not buying any unless this one author has a paperback book there (I've read the rest of the series). We have to go to the library on Sunday to clean up (after church). Monday is the Board meeting - then I can relax for a few days - just appointments with doctors for next week (3 for me, 3 for Di, 3 for G) plus the normal work at the FamilySearch Center.

Both Di and G will be having cataract surgery in both eyes - G at the end of July and beginning of August and Di on Aug 13 and 27. Going to have to make special charts to make sure they both get there medications right. I don't think it is going to be a quiet month either as school starts back up again the middle of August! 1 computer class in person, 1 online, and a Knitting and Crocheting class in person for me and Chimes for Di. Calendar is looking very busy.

Enjoy summer while it lasts!