2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Moorviews

@nannywindow - hugs to you and your DH for the relentless onslaught of this year’s difficulties. My mother used to say that about her past life, usually due to my behaviour or that of my siblings! Of course no one deserves these awful things happening and I can only say that you are often in my thoughts xx

I am trying to gear tasks to the time available at the moment so that I can complete them in one go. It sounds obvious but I often bite off more than I can chew and am over optimistic about the time things take. This leads to me feeling despondent because I keep “failing” to achieve. I have read so much about time saving and being super efficient, however, reality hits; I am no whirlwind! These days I am quite slow and considered so am trying to accept that now and plan accordingly, rather than comparing with my 25 year old self. 

Today, I need to go out to get some click and collect things, go to the post office and the bank. Due to the distance and nothing being near anything else it will take all morning. I will have to get some other stuff while I am out too as it makes sense if I am in town. Then it will be lunchtime so I will only have the afternoon for frogs, decluttering and housework. I plan to be reading my book and having a cup of tea in the garden by late afternoon. 

All the house viewings and moving are very exciting to read about. I love the new beginnings but not the actual practicalities involved when I am doing it myself. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, sorry for not posting for a couple of days, my energy levels have been dropping and I finally checked the date and realised I am due a b12 jab which explains a lot .I have tried to keep up but not much has stayed in my brain

@nannywindow big hugs

@Mrs SD hope you enjoy your RBR trip, looking forward to the pictures

On Saturday I went to collect my meds ordered on Monday but it had only arrived on Friday so I had to wait a while for it to be sorted, incomplete but enough to keep me going for a couple of weeks and note to self to allow a week for the process. The pharmacy had a petition to sign to save our pharmacy as so many are closing due to poor funding. I would be very upset if this pharmacy closed as the staff are so nice and helpful plus I can walk there and the next nearest is a good way away. I made sure to order my B12 jab when I got home, appointment next Saturday. Apart from that over the past few days kitchen bin, kitchen recycling and bathroom bin emptied, 100 emails deleted, 4 bags of garden waste to the tip, 2 bags waiting to go when I have a few more filled. I have done a lot and a few more goes will have it done hopefully. I have also helped with a union thing and had 2 repairs to deal with. I had broken the fixture on the blind on the kitchen door dragging the garden waste to the car and then the conservatory door wouldn't shut resulting in me tying it shut with a shoe lace as I was on my way to bed. After a hunt around the house for the required bits and an eventual trip to the diy shop both have been fixed . 2 LDFPA
I have written a list for the sm trip today so I had better get weaving . Hugs to everyone who would like one

1159 meds collected and ordered
1160 kitchen bin
1161 kitchen recycling
1162 bathroom bin
1163 emails permanently deleted
1164 & 1165 LDFPA
1166 - 1169 garden waste
1170 & 1171 repairs
Take care everyone
1171/2024

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks 

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

Thoroughly enjoyed Sunday night’s bath & did pick out my clothes + found our Tilley hats 😉 Watched an episode of ‘The Leftovers’ to give my hair a chance to dry & was in bed by 02:45. DH got me up at 09:00 (on a Monday eek 😥) after he had a bath. Hot, hot, hot 🥵 maximum 33C. We left at 10:15 - I went as far as Cutty Sark & DH continued on to Greenwich where he met up with his niece & her husband & grandson (S, C & R) They arrive at Cutty Sark about 11:15 & we walked to Greenwich Pier & caught the first available boat: 

Greenwich to Battersea Power Station, turned round back to Westminster where we got off & walked to St James’s Park, fed the ducks, used the facilities & had drinks in the Cafe by the lake. Then walked back to Westminster at which time I took a funny turn - felt really ill & apparently looked grey. Eventually managed to get onto a boat after boarding one & then being turfed off 😔 By which time I was feeling decidedly unwell. We went to Putney turned round & travelled back to Canary Wharf. It took long enough to make the journey that I recovered somewhat & was feeling almost human by the time we caught a bus ( R’s first ever trip on a double decker & he insisted his gran took him upstairs 😉) As the bus passed the end of our road I got off early & went home, DH stayed on the bus then DLR to Greenwich with S, C & 6 year old R & waved them off. I was home about 18:20, DH back by 19:00. Despite feeling unwell it was a lovely day & R was very well behaved. DSis made dinner for her & DH - cold beef & chips whilst I used up leftovers from the fridge to have a salad - some lettuce, cold cooked peas, sweetcorn, green beans & carrots drizzled with a bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar & a splodge of mayonnaise. Surprisingly tasty. I continued to hydrate through the evening & was feeling human by the time I went to bed. 

Tuesday is another hot & sunny day but temperatures only forecast to rise to a more reasonable 26C. DSis had kindly done the washing up this morning (a I ignored it last night 😉) Apart from a blood test at the surgery this afternoon & packing for our RBR trip, I intend to do absolutely nothing today apart from hydrate & stay out of the sun as much as possible 😅 

1318 - 1327 Kitchen x 2 & office recycling, 4 plastic bottles, glass bottle, drinks cans, cardboard packaging - recycled 

1328 - 1330 Kitchen x 2 & lr detritus - binned

GrannyKate, sounds like things are coming together on the moving house front 😊 Keeping my fingers crossed that the survey on the new house has NOT found any asbestos 🤞 as I understand it is a right pain to get rid of 😱 Excellent decluttering & great work completing so many tasks 👏

Wednesday2000, you certainly were both productive & busy on Thursday 🤩 Great work dealing with all your finances 👏 & good luck with the budgeting 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, a busy Thursday & Friday - you got a lot done 👏 & yet still managed to watch some Olympics 😊 Especially impressed with the 300 emails deleted 🥳

Lovely post vulpix 😊 I hope Saturday’s viewing went well 🤞 Thanks for this “I read a while ago that before they went to bed, someone got the house ready for the next shift, like they worked in a shop or other job. I think that is a good analogy” Very interesting & so useful 🙂 I really do need to stop tinkering around the edges & get on with some serious decluttering so that I can put this into effect 😉 Hope you had a lovely time in Chester on Sunday 🤞

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear that last week was so difficult 😥 Get well soon wishes on their way for family & friends. Also a sincere wish that this week is less stressful 🙏 Excellent decluttering by the way 👏

Great decluttering Pennypincin 👏 & good luck with all the garden work 🍀

Excellent work in the garden Muddy_Walker 👏 I did love the idea of “ants laughing at you if you tried to evict them” 😉 Our ants are everywhere in the garden including in the wormeries & compost bins 😉 Maybe 2024 is the year of ‘ant domination’ 😂 

vulpix, how wonderful that you have found a worthy recipient for your stock of haberdashery & the sewing basket 😊 MrV was so fortunate to interview Bob Monkhouse - the more I hear about him the more I like him 🙂 This made me smile “I have woken early with a perfectly formed garden plan in my head for a house I have been considering. It is an ugly house but in a good position for us, and the cats! It would mean the cats can still have access to the wood that they consider  they own. I know! who buys a house to suit their cats? Well apparently I do. I have only been considering houses with access to places the cats would like!” I can’t see anything particularly wrong with this as you are so talented that the “ugly house” would soon become a beautiful home under your tender ministrations 😊

florianatwobob, great news about your DSis’s operation 😊 You must both be so relieved 😮‍💨 

QueenJess, excellent work in your DD’s bedroom 👏 Hope the carpet cleaning went well & that you managed to find a few bits & pieces to declutter 😉 Excellent decluttering ratio - now running at ‘1 in, 12 out’ 🤩

Some great decluttering TC77 especially the large frog 👏 Sorry to hear that both your DDs are feeling stressed 😔 Hopefully both their issues can be sorted quickly & effectively 🙏

crazybunnylady4, it sounds like you decluttering your job might have opened the floodgates 😰 Very weird situation with ‘the horrible neighbours’ - it doesn’t really sound like they understand the concept of home ownership 🤔 Fingers crossed that the bungalow will soon be listed & snapped up by some really lovely people 🤞

Excellent work in the bedroom oceanspirit 👏 Hope the defluffing didn’t take too long 🤞That walk along the beach sounds glorious 😍 

I will post this & come back in a little while as I need another drink 😉

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1330/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

SuperLooperSaver

Hello all!

I haven't read any posts since mid April!  I wanted to say I'm still about, and still decluttering where I can.  My new total is 116 - so up by 20 since my last update.

We are househunting, so the decluttering will probably ramp up soon.

Hugs to those that need them.
SLS

oceanspirit

Did some niggly admin tasks that really weren’t worth the time spent but they are done now.  UU another tin in tonight’s meal and will do some freezer cooking tomorrow evening when OH will be out.

Made a start on the last 2 kitchen shelves and washed all my soft toys which dried very quickly in the sun.  Also put a load of papers waiting to be filed into a wallet file so they are in one place ready to be filed when I do the annual filing cabinet clear out.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks 

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

Poor DH - so exhausted by yesterday’s exertions (& worrying about me 😔) that he has only just got up (14:00) 😉 I have made us both a coffee + put away the washing up. The blood test went well as if I hadn’t been watching the nurse I wouldn’t have realised that she had taken blood. I advised that there was no point in taking my BP as it would be high & she had no problem - she immediately put it down to white coat syndrome 🙂 I have been asked to take readings at home & then she will take when I go back & compare them. Also no issues with me requesting a face to face for the results rather than a phone call. Appointment booked for next week. I do like the scales as I was 2.2 kilos lighter than my scales 🥳 I was in & out quite quickly so caught the bus to sm & picked up a couple of bits. Dinner was takeaway burgers & I will do the bit of washing up later. 

1331 - 1337 Kitchen recycling, glass bottle, cardboard carton, 2 newspapers, paper packaging, drinks cans 

1338 - 1340 Kitchen, lr & office detritus - binned

GrannyKate, a shame that I will miss you - hopefully see you next year 🤞 I hope you have a lovely time at DD’s & that the the solicitor & EA leave you alone so that you can enjoy yourself 🙏 Like the idea of counting packed boxes separately to keep you motivated 😊 DS2 sounds like he is getting on very well with his house move 👏 It should mean that the actual moving day is less stressful 🙏 Excellent decluttering 👏 I am already polishing up your next gold star for when you reach 1012 😉

vulpix, it does sound like you are so ready to move 😊 I am keeping everything crossed that things will start moving very soon so that you can be in your new home before Christmas 🤞🙏

nannywindow, so sorry to hear about both your DH & your Dad 😔 Coupled with your cancer diagnosis, 2024 is a truly horrible year 😞 Sending many gentle cwtches & a prayer that better news is on the horizon 🙏 Excellent work decluttering & sorting your clothes 👏

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 Hopefully once you have despatched the C…. neutral items you will have lots of space 🤞

Excellent decluttering ilovetea 👏 You are not alone in wishing for some rain - although preferably overnight & not whilst DH & I are on the motorbike 😉

TC77, not a huge amount of stuff brought in by your DB 😮‍💨 

vulpix, I take it that although the view from the bungalow was wonderful, you are still more inclined towards the ‘ugly house’ 🧐 Some great decluttering 👏 I am very impressed with your 50% reduction in clothing, shoes & accessories 🤩

Crazycatlady2, hopefully you be allowed a little time to make your decision about the house 🤞

oceanspirit, well done on starting your new healthier eating plan 👏 I am way too lazy 😂 Hopefully you will get into a routine making the smoothies & will soon notice the benefits to your health 🤞

Lovely chatty post Moorviews 😊 I fully understand how reluctant you have been to accept that you are no longer 25 😉 especially if your head & heart both insist you are 😂

Liverpool_Anne, do you get a reminder about your B12 jab or do you have to remember it yourself? Everything crossed that your petition to save your pharmacy is successful 🤞🙏  It seems almost criminal that so many pharmacies are being closed especially when we are increasingly told to speak to a pharmacist rather than trying to get an appointment with a doctor 😞 Excellent decluttering & great work completing various DIY tasks 👏

So lovely to see you SuperLooperSaver 👋 Good luck with your house hunting 🍀

Excellent work dealing with the niggly admin tasks & washing all your soft toys oceanspirit 👏

All caught up 🥳 so will post this then do the wudupa & pack my bag for our trip  😉 Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1340/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

vulpix

 Moorviews, I know just what you mean about comparing to your 25 year old self. I would be more than happy to be at my 40 year old self, or even my 60 year old self.

 Another house hunter SuperLooperSaver, we are all at it !

 Mrs SD, you know that if you have a funny turn again you will need to go to the Doctor, no excuses. Unless today's visit preempted me. Your trip in town  sounded lovely. Something similar I hope to be doing next week. At the moment the ugly house is the front runner.We are going to see it on Thursday. It hasn't been touched since it was built in the 80's.It does seem very expensive to me for what it is. anyway. all academic until we sell ours.

 I went to craft club and had forgotten half my equipment but it's all about chatting really so no problem. I passed on a magazine and jam jars. I came home with 2, yes 2 quite big boxes of cut lavender and some bits of Virginia creeper. I had asked some one for some of her Lavender when she cut it back and true to her style she brought me 2 boxes of it. I managed to share out one box of it at craft club. Most of the rest I will dry. I have taken about 30 cuttings from the lavender and about 10 of the Virginia creeper.I also potted up a Buddleia that I found in the path on my way back from the market the other day. Oh, I also have 3 envelopes of Poppy seeds from the same lady.

 It is raining heavily here at the moment. Strange how we miss it after a few days without.

 Vx

TC77

MrsSD looking forward to hearing about your travels.  
Old record case out and a pen!
Deciding to return a navy cashmere ju.orr, so cosy and my current favourite colour but have to remind myself I treated myself to a black one in the sale a year or so ago and have only worn once as it too nice so this one will only be in the drawer,  although I have ordered some special storage bags on the basis I have the jumper ( or two of them). 

crazybunnylady4

morning all, 
 
hope all is well. as always, have been reading but cant seem to retain anything haha. I've just had to open a new tab so I can scroll and re-read the last few pages. 

Mrs_SD - No, no plans for the money made from sales. Just a nice bonus, and good to declutter. 

Back to crazyland then -

This morning: waiting for the plumber. He's coming to have a look at the cistern on our loo as its been making weird rushing air noises, and in typical fashion he is late. He said he would be here at 8am...not a peep. i suspect DMum is getting irritated waiting too. She really hates people who arent punctual. 
.......and just as I finish typing that, the doorbell has gone. He's 30 minutes late - but at least DMum wont be venting!

Once that is all settled - today will be a few household bits. 1 load of washing to put on when plumber has left. 
Will hoover all round and then mop the kitchen floor. Small pile of ironing to do, just to clear it. 

Also since it is much cooler today, I really need to sort out and tidy my room. It's been so hot up here (it's an attic room) that I havent been able to sit up here much - and it's starting to show unfortunately. Also Mac keeps getting up here and going behind things so I need to make sure the carpet is intact behind one particular piece of furniture!

Speaking of the fluffball - Mac's hutch was decluttered last night, along with the summer hutch which has been re-stored - wonder if we will need to pull it out again this year? 

And in other news, work things continue to annoy me; from further conversations with other colleagues it would seem that management have been particularly sneaky and underhand with how they have dealt with the situation. I know of at least 3 other people looking for other work. Some others happy to moan and complain about it but that wont do anything - vote with your feet I say. 
Anyway in happy news - wish me luck because I've been offered a interview already. It's next Thursday and if I get the job it would mean no more public transport as I would be able to drive there need to figure out parking but I'm sure I can use a local car park if theres nothing onsite.

going to post this and then get on with my day - well when the plumber has finished faffing anyway!

xx

Crazycatlady2

Well we already own the house so have to make a decision as we can't keep 2 houses 😱😱

We are going to move in it so need to get quotes for work needs doing before we move in like new windows and roof insulation first wow I need to do some decluttering now but husband will find it very hard