2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Fizz2015

Morning All, declutterred a lot of emails and phone calls this week to try to get support with daughters behaviour. The school nurse has been amazing and advocating on our behalf. Nice to be believed and listened to as it only happens at home. Though we are emotionally drained from it all. 
Hoping to get some really decluttering done this weekend as house is a mess and think this is impacting on everyone. 

vulpix

 Moorviews, Thank you. I still feel dreadful but it will pass.

 Fizz, hugs. Good to hear that you are on the path to getting some help. I know it's hard when you have so much draining stuff going on but I agree about the house impacting on how you feel. My mind is calmer when the house looks calmer. When I used to work shifts in an emergency, short term children's home, the first thing I had to do after a hand over was clear the desk in the office, it helped clear my mind and enable me to tackle whatever came my way.

 Good to hear that your sister's bracelet turned up Mrs SD.

 On my own now till tomorrow, whatever shall I do with myself?

 Laters Vx



 

Muddy_Walker

Hi! Not wanting to poke the hornets nest of what those in power may do, people might be reluctant to buy a new house as they don’t know what next month will provide?
Just a random thought 😊
the 24 min is working….i got more done in the garden and housework this past few days then I did in my 2 weeks off!
shattered today - went out last night with some old work colleagues and it was if we’d seen each last month rather than years ago! Didn’t drink but I feel as though I have…. So worth it and had a wonderful time ❤️

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I had quite a busy day yesterday. I finally got to speak to Dniece and have provisional dates for a visit, they are going to consult their schedule of work to see how it would fit in . They have ordered the kitchen and bathroom, windows will be replaced a week on Monday, a plumber has already been in and removed the hot water tank from the cupboard in the bathroom so they can get a better layout in there and they will have a combi boiler put in so better use of space. They have had an electrician in to assess what needs doing. Apparently there is a delapidated conservatory that will be removed and a patio will replace it, they have someone lined up to do it and they have had a skip delivered. They have booked a plasterer to do the ceilings initially and possibly more depending on what they find when the wallpaper is gone and various bits of furniture, like a wardrobe that has been left, have been moved. She commented about having to factor in the lead time to get the trades in, tell me about it . There is also a shed in the garden that needs to be replaced and a garage that is just big enough to get a car into. The garden has a small lawn and a tree that needs trimming so they have bought a strimmer in the sale and a second hand chain saw . I really want to have a play with the chain saw .
So half of the other side of the patio was cleared, to be continued 4 LDFPA, a note pad uu, phone call to the bank, 3 bags of garden waste into the bin, more plastic pots for ex colleague into the bin bag, 2 wooden boxes broken down and put into the chimenea along with a dilapidated wooden bird box. Various bits of rubbish into the bin, dead paint brush that had been left in the garden from when we last did the fence into the chimenea, 2 pieces of metal bits put aside for the tip, some broken pots into the hard plastic bag and a bag of rubbish OH had filled was sorted to extract stuff that could be recycled and put into the appropriate bins. I am claiming this as I had to sort it but I was happy that the bag had been filled . I have had a text message to book an appointment for my meds review so I will try to sort that today . Ln is in hospital to get her second cataract op today so fingers crossed it goes as well as the first. 

@Moorviews yes I have in the past bought bulbs and put them somewhere safe only to rediscover them several weeks later and have a mad panic to get them planted up. These are alliums I got from Tatton which couldn't be planted until now so I was determined to get them in

@Fizz2015 big hugs

@Vulpix I know you must be disappointed about the non move, maybe next year things on the house market will be easier and you will find the perfect bungalow, but I agree there is no point moving just for the sake of it. I am sure the ea will understand, hugs

Right time to get going, trip to the tip first as the bags of hard plastic are starting to make it difficult to negotiate the conservatory, I have a load in the washing machine and the rest of the patio will be sorted today

Hugs to everyone who would like one

1414 phone call to Dniece and bank
1415 note pad
1416 - 1419 LDFPA
1420 - 1422 garden waste
1423 & 1424 wooden boxes broken up
1425 bag of OH"s rubbish sorted and binned
Take care everyone
1425/2024

Wednesday2000

I haven't been doing much decluttering at all lately. I did order a new academic calendar from Amazon and I threw away my old 2022 one and I will throw away the 2023 one tomorrow. I did shred some old paperwork just now.

My experiment to keep to a certain budget didn't work so I will keep track of how much we spend each month for at least a year. My husband has to pay back some tax for a year so at least the situation will get better after a year.

It is a lovely sunny day here. I am about to make myself some lunch.

TC77

Agree about the moving,... so much upheaval... well hopefully less if decluttered
2 chopping boards out, changing summer and winter clothes, found a moth eaten black cardigan -although have found 4 black cardigans, took one on holiday and will keep one other!  small bits as I tidied up, napkin holder in cs bag, and many hours as energy supplier didn't call and still taking legal action against DD1 although have in writing taken out of the legal process as they investigate (and then nothing til court claim) and no detail of how they calculate debt. Rang Citizens advice, ofgem, debt people etc and legal advice..... will write to energy people again as clearly incompetent and inflexible, 146
And old foam for a cushion 147

vulpix

Went through the kitchen wall cupboard. I seem to have 2 types of pasta dishes. 5 of one type and 7 of another. I have no recollection of acquiring them all. So 7 of the largest dishes for the charity shop.

 The manager of the charity shop is looking for empty candle jars to make candles to sell in the shop at Christmas. Found her an empty candle jar. Also sending 3 velvet pumpkins that I made last year. 

 Sorted the drawers in our equivalent of a sideboard. Leaflets and paperwork recycled. A small bag of tat for the bin. Random wires waiting for identification. Some paperwork from Mother’s to be given to the local history society. 

Also went through the office which is a plastic box with cardboard folders. More paper work recycled. 

Soft plastics for supermarket recycling. 

Also managed to get 2 loads of washing line dried.

 I have almost finished  sewing the advent calendar, I want to put Christmas decorations in the pockets instead of sweets for junior Vulpix. I am on the look out for some of those small vintage looking wooden decorations. 

Vx

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

Friday was another bright & sunny day although the forecast high is just 22°C. I was up slightly earlier today 11:55 & took time to sort a bag of yarn to bring downstairs - as once the current ‘fashion’ scarf is finished I will start knitting beanies, wrist warmers & scarves. I have updated my menu plan to incorporate a 2nd dinner of curry (as our takeaways are always enough for 2 dinners each 🙂), written a shopping list & am drinking my 1st cuppa. DH & DSis left at 13:30 I have dealt with today’s mail & tidied up my accounts. All shopping put away & DSis picked up some chicken thighs for dinner which she roasted & had with chips. Wudupa. 

1637 - 1641 Cardboard box, kitchen recycling, booklet, glass bottle, drinks cans - recycled 

1642 - 1644 Kitchen & lr detritus, plastic packaging - binned

Apologies for falling behind with the cheerleading 😔 I will try harder tomorrow 😉 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1644/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £381.70

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all awake at silly o'clock as I fell asleep on the couch and typically am now wide awake . A reasonable day yesterday . 2 bags of hard plastic and the metal bits to the tip. On the way home I stopped at an independent bakery and picked up some of their crusty cobs which we both love so we had a couple with soup for tea from the freezer . 2 LDFPA, 3 wooden boxes broken down and the best part of the patio cleared. 1 bag of garden waste into the bin. After tea I headed out to the chimenea and had a small burn but it was slow going as the wood was a bit damp so round 2 will happen when we have another dry evening. Thunderstorms tomorrow apparently . While I was out there I heard 2 frogs croaking away . I have always had frogs in the garden but I have never had a pond, somehow they just manage to survive, though I do want to install a frog friendly pond at some point for them, I live in hope they will eat the slugs though I understand ducks are useful, especially Indian plover ducks so maybe I can borrow some , they use them in china to keep the paddy fields clear of pests .

@Wednesday2000 my budgets often fall off the rails as well so I am glad I am not the only one

@TC77 - moths, aren't they just the limit! I had an attack during lockdown when I didn't open my wardrobe for 3 months as I was WFH so just wore the same clothes on rotation and I lost my best cashmere cardigan. I have moth stuff in my wardrobe and all my draws all the time now.

@Vulpix I just might have some of those wooden tree decorations in my box . Give me a couple of days to get into the loft and check. If they are still there and they are what you want you can have them. I have enough tree decorations to furnish a forest though I do remember taking some into school so they may have gone then .

@Mrs SD I am surprised you have any yarn left, you must have supplied half of the south of England with winter warmers . I know the cs love your knits so I expect they will be looking out for you soon

Today I am at the footy so probably won't get much done and tomorrow we are out for lunch with OH's family for a birthday meal for OH's nephew so probably the only thing I will be decluttering will be money, budget gone again

I am going to make a cuppa and see if I can get another couple of hours sleep, not light yet so I might manage it . Hugs to everyone who would like one

1426 & 1427 hard plastic to the tip
1428 metal to the tip
1429 & 1430 LDFPA
1431 garden waste
1432 - 1434 wooden boxes broken up
Take care everyone
1434/2024

TC77

@Liverpool_Anne I need new moth stuff , I have cedar wood balls which I think you can sand every now and then but have bought clear zip bags too. 
Not sure what happened with nos bit think it's 1326