2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

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 10:00 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

Yesterday: We left the house at 11:25 & got back at 17:25 having had a marvellous time 🤩 DH did all the driving. We went to a place called “Coolings” in Knockholt, Kent with ‘The Willows Birds of Prey & Wildlife Trail’ out the back of the Garden Centre. Our guide & bird handler Tom was wonderful. Just the 3 of us in our bird handling group with a Chaco Owl as our first bird. Then we headed to an arena for a demonstration & educational chat about raptors - 3 in all: a Canadian Horned Owl, a Jackal Buzzard & a Harris Hawk. Also as the session went on we had the enormous treat of seeing a Spitfire 🙂 which rather unsettled the birds 😔 We then returned to the handling area where we handled a teeny tiny White faced Owl, a Harris Hawk & a Palm Nut Vulture which was the heaviest. All the staff were very knowledgeable about each species & knew the full histories of each individual bird (who were all named 😊) We then had a wander round the beautiful wooded area & saw other birds & animals including pigs, wallabies, a mimic raven, burrowing owls, llamas, Aylesbury ducks & even chickens. Then into the cafeteria for a hot drink & a slice of cake. An absolutely marvellous experience 🤩 & we were very lucky with the weather - stayed dry if a bit chilly. Although all 3 of us had wrapped up warm 😉 A very highly recommended outing although expensive if you include the bird handling experience. 

When we got home we all napped for a while & then had fish in breadcrumbs & oven chips for dinner. Wudupa. 

2/366 Kitchen recycling 

3/366 Kitchen detritus binned

There follows a bit of cheerleading which I typed up yesterday & forgot to post 😉

Lovely post vulpix 😊 Congratulations on sticking to buying mainly pre-loved items through the year 👏🥳 Only 2 months to go 😮‍💨 So pleased DD1’s visit went so well 😊. The cake sounds delicious 🤤 Excellent work by MrV not only dealing with a frog but also getting rid of the excess pipe 👏 I call that 2 wins, so am awarding him a medal🏅 

2Scratters, excellent work by both you & DH 👏 

Siebrie, sounds like a very productive visit to your Mum’s 👏 You deserve a medal🏅 which is on its way 😊 Not so impressed with your husbands idea of decluttering 😉 especially as I know it will be you going through all the bags 😞 

Floss what a great idea 👏

Great decluttering florianatwobob 👏 With the new boiler being so quiet, you might forget whether it is on or off 😉 I love the idea that your walls fight back 🤣

Lovely chatty post Liverpool_Anne 😊 Are you sure you don’t have time for the cheerleading 🙃 only joking

Tuesday is currently dry, overcast & chilly maximum temperature 13°C. Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 😊

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366: 3/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £571.70

vulpix

Omg. I am in shock 😮. How much has been shoved in the storage shed. Everything came out, the floor was hoovered and the storage drawers put back. Not enough time today to sort the contents of the drawers.Big things to sell or get rid of put together on one side. There must be 15 coats hung up, not gone through yet. A car full of stuff taken to the tip. 7 unused car cleaning kits found. Every time we change the car! One for our neighbours, one for DD1, thrift,2 nice ones went to the chazzer. Some of  but not everything that also went , a paper parasol, a yoga mat, a booster cushion, a plastic Tracy Island etc,etc. 
 Quite a bit has come into the house and I have found homes for it. I have decanted a tiny bit of emulsion paint into empty jam jars, releasing a huge tub.

 The shed is now tidy and you can walk in it. A good drawer sort out to be done another day. 

 Also gone a wooden garden bench to a neighbour. A pair of trainers in the bin and much more given away on Thrift. Some things have come in the house that I had completely forgotten about.Including a picture that I bought from the charity shop and a mirror I was given.I think they went in the shed when the house was for sale. There are some bits of furniture that I have been given that I was going to revive. Off to the Hospice shop with it. No more furniture restoration for me. No more wombling freebies.

 A very heavy stone bench was moved. The one which broke Mr V's toe previously. Lots of pictures hung, a shelf shortened and put up. A Butlers bell put on the wall. A mirror ball fitted in the kitchen. ad infinitum. 

I gave my neighbour a set of Ikea shelves we bought and never used. My stepson went and put them up. 

  The spectre of the shed village has been haunting me for a good while. I am so happy that we have begun to get on top of it. Mr V has done so well over the years to release a huge amount of stuff. It doesn't come easily to him. Not finished by any means but I am heartened by the progress made. 

 RiF, great news that Mr RiF has recovered so well after being so poorly. 

 Nice to see you on the thread Siebrie and Florenceem. 

 It sounds like you had a tremendous day out Mrs SD. Thank you for Mr V’s award. He has done so well. 

I have updated the to do list. 16 things. Some will take a while. 

Time for a rest. Vx

Florenceem

This morning I wrapped parcels and listed on V while Mr F went to the charity shop.
It was a Church member's 50th Birthday today - there was a party for her this afternoon so we both went along. While I was there I sorted sacks of donations.
Mr F went out to post parcels while I carried on working on V. Sold £14.50 today - slow at the moment. I get quite a few offers - accept and then people don't purchase.

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 10:00 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

Tuesday has not been very productive at all 😔 DH filled the bird feeders, DSis finally put her flowers in a vase & I have almost finished knitting the scarf 😉 We ordered in - 2 for 1 pizza. Plenty left for lunch tomorrow 😉 DSis has done the washing up 🙂

4 Kitchen recycling

5 - 7 Kitchen, office & lr detritus - binned

QueenJess, very pleased to hear that you had a lovely holiday 😊 A very well earned rest away from the decluttering 🥳 Very well done resisting temptation in the gift shops 😊👏 Excellent decluttering since you have been back 👏 I found the rock buns/cakes recipe which I probably mentioned DH baking 😉 See below:

Ingredients:      245g Plain Flour; 115g vegetable shortening, lard or butter - cold & cubed; 100g Granulated Sugar; 1 Large Egg; 

1 Tablespoon Orange Zest = 3/4 to 1 teaspoon orange extract; 2-3 tablespoons Whole Milk; 160g raisins, currants, golden raisins or any combination of the three + Granulated sugar for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) 
2. In a large bowl combine flour & fat. Rub flour into the fat until resembles bread crumbs
3. Using a wooden spoon mix in the sugar, egg & orange zest (or orange extract). Add milk - tablespoon at a time UNTIL a thick, sticky dough is formed.
4. Mix in the dried fruit.
5. Drop in rough 2/3 tablespoon portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Sprinkle with sugar & bake for 15 to 18 minutes, to a rich golden colour. Leave to cool on baking sheet. (Can be eaten warm with a little butter). 

Good luck 🍀

London_1, what a sensible young man DGS Henry is - travelling & saving 😊 At least it is only 7 weeks before you will see the DGSs again & that will fly by 😉 I do hope the weather warms up in the next few days so you can replenish your wardrobe 🤞

diminua, no worries 😉 21 equals 3 items a week 😊

Florenceem, what a very busy Sunday 🤩 I am always in awe of how much you do each & every day 🥹 Well done on your continuing success with V sales 👏

Excellent decluttering GrannyKate 👏 Three quarters of the way to target so a Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂 Everything crossed that you finally get a moving date 🤞 Plenty to look forward to when it comes to unpacking boxes - just think of all that decluttering 😃😉

vulpix, you are very welcome 😊 I do hope you have been successful with your Mission to declutter frogs yesterday & today 🤞Meanwhile some excellent decluttering 👏

Not quite made it as a 2nd post on Tuesday ……….. but almost 😉

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366: 7/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £571.70

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 10:00 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

I have decided to make a solid attempt at catching up with the cheerleading before I go to bed, so here goes. Wish me luck 🙂

~FlowerPot~ so sorry to hear about the continuing nerve pain 😔 Good luck rescuing the apple tree 🍀

Liverpool_Anne I hope you enjoyed Monday’s birthday lunch with your friend 😊 A very busy Sunday & some excellent decluttering 👏 Good luck with Project Freezer Emptying 🍀

Pennypincin, steady decluttering 👏

Excellent decluttering suzeesu2000 👏 & a very generous donation to Tescos Foodbank 😇 Sorry to hear about your DH 😔 I hope he gets better soon 🙏

Congratulations on your house move Crazycatlady2 🥳 Hopefully you will get a quick sale on the old house 🙏 Please, please try to get some rest especially once the bedroom is decorated 🙏

Lovely to see you retiredinfrance 👋 Great news that your DH has recovered so well 😊 He has had a rough old time 😔 Not sure what happens now but when we had nurses in to re-dress DH’s leg (13 years ago) a supply of dressings was left here so that I could change dressings in between nurses visits. Such a practical idea 🙂 Excellent decluttering 👏 another Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way as you are now way past 3 quarters of the way to your target 🥳

Excellent decluttering & moving along of frogs TC77 👏 Definitely no indication of inflation in your numbers - which I have noted as 1622/2024. Keep up the great work 😊 

London_1, pleased to hear that the last bit of tooth has been removed 🙂 Such a shame that there is no NHS dentist on the IoW especially as dental work can be very expensive 😔 Fingers crossed that the weather stays dry & you can enjoy your mooch around Newport 🤞Hopefully this blood test will be the last for a while 🤞although as you say you are getting “a jolly good MOT” 😊 The ‘Baking Builder’ 🤩 - I think I would like one of those 😊 

Steady progress TC77 👏

Excellent decluttering GrannyKate 👏 I did have a good old chuckle at DGS4’s novel action 🙊 Everything crossed that the letter of complaint will get the ball rolling 🤞

Florenceem, shame your ‘day indoors’ was cut short 😔 More excellent work at the SA 👏 MrF is being kept very busy with deliveries to the Post Office & the CS 🤩 

Hi Duchess2 👋 Lovely post 😊 

Steady decluttering Liverpool_Anne 👏 Fingers crossed that you can get your mini break sorted out to your OH’s satisfaction 🤞

retiredinfrance, what a good idea for the books 👏 I need to apply that same attitude to watching films 😉

Siebrie, very impressive 🤩 I love that solution & so successful 👏

Excellent decluttering Wednesday2000 👏 I will try to remember to add an extra spin cycle when I do my washing as it is such a great idea 😊

Superb work in the storage shed vulpix 👏 I am so impressed that I am awarding both you & MrV a Gold Star each ⭐️ ⭐️  I am also awarding a medal🏅 to your stepson 😊 Good luck with your updated To Do list 🍀

Excellent work Florenceem 👏 although I am wondering if there is anyone else helping with sorting donations 🤔 Such a shame about the time wasters on V 😔

Yippee all caught up 🥳 Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366: 7/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £571.70

vulpix

 Thank you so much for our gold stars and Step sons medal, Mrs SD. I won't tell him about the medal, he already thinks I am bonkers!  
 I am truly shocked at the state the shed was in. It is a long time since I was able to declutter so much at one time.

 What did I say? What did I say? no more furniture restoration. I have woken up with a need to make a Christmas chair for the kitchen. Yes Step sons opinion of me is absolutely correct.

On our way out we will drop off a display shelf/ wall cabinet thing at the hospice shop. 

 Btw, my elbow is much better, still keep testing it to see if it still hurts.

Take care lovely people. Vx

 

Wednesday2000

What a horrible, gloomy and depressing day it is today. I just went to get in some daylight and feel quite chilled after being outside. I am about to finish my book as my husband is still asleep in our room and then do the big clothes declutter when he gets up.

I think I need a warm cup of tea first. 

retiredinfrance

Thanks@Vulpix, @Siebre,@Liverpool-Anne and @MrsSaladDodger for all your kind support and good wishes. Mrs SD , thank you for my gold star and lovely comments. The support of you all on this thread is just the thing to keep me going . I am now bursting with energy to get my 366/366 for the year. Mrs SD , the nurse 
 came once a week to check that my dressings were ok and to keep an eye on MrRiF. All over now and as I type Mr Rif is out for his daily walk. He doesn’t go the 5 kms he used to do but he needs the walk and an hour of leg elevation every day to keep the circulation going to avoid a return of the ulcers. TMI, I know. Vulpix, like you I used to do a lot of furniture restoration , but I’m now wondering if all my tins and jars should go. Thing is I might need some for touch up work. A project for a wet day. sieve, we did the same as you with the books when we came to France. One third sold, one third tot CS, with lots to DDand the final third came here. The issue here is no English library, though I do use our local town one and read a lot of novels that way. In the UK DH used to use Inter Library Loans and so the books that stayed didn’t accumulate that much. Here he is buying what interests him and they are all mounting up. Our local CS , has no demand for philosophy and science books in English. I have been decluttering my books as I have refused to have another bookcase bought. The shared interest stuff is now under consideration but DH is reluctant. However, this morning out went
1 bag cork corks
1 bagplastic corks , both for recycling.
2 books
1 rag doll shape that I was going to dress in colours to match the DC’s  pram. DC 3 is now 5!
1 big cooking pot.Stuff has burnt onto the nonstick surface and it’s off to metal recycling and I have plenty of pots.
i chipped fancy dish. DH wanted to keep it but agreed after a long pause. 

3 books , yes, ones I went and found to make up my total to 10.
Hugs for everyone who would like one .
Keep safe everyone.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I have booked our mini break one of the complications is my safer driver course and I went online to see if I could move it and while checking out the t&c I saw something that made my heart sink. I have to take my driving licence. The original gumph said photo id and I thought oh that's ok I have my passport. So the hunt for the driving licence was restarted. I have completely emptied 2 draws, lots of carp in the bin and recycling but so far no driving licence. Last night I was at the football.
Today I am visiting a friend for lunch and I have to make a phone call about the union thing that raised it's head last week but has not been dealt with because it was half term and the hunt for the driving licence will continue.
I was up late last night watching the USA election and I am a bit depressed waking up this morning, enough said.
I need to get moving so hugs to anybody who would like one

1662 mini holiday booked
Take care everyone
Take care everyone
1662/2024

basketcase

Lots of excellent decluttering going on in the carriages, despite setbacks/injuries/ill-health for many passengers and/or loved ones.  I’ve been a bit off for a day or two myself, so I’m hanging around in the TLC carriage.  It’s not serious, just annoying, so I’m available for tea and coffee making and hugs for anyone who wants/needs one. (Apologies for the lack of cake)

I’ve been nipping into the other carriages from time to time (though not necessarily the ones I should be in!) and done the following.  As you can see, it was mostly done sitting down – but those Admin Alligators are surprisingly tiring!

Physical decluttering:

• 1 bag of recycling
• 1 bag of soft plastics recycled
• 3 more containers of ‘stuff’ decluttered
• Bedding folded
• Clothing hung

Alligator Wrangling (Mental Decluttering):

• Expensive banking package no longer cost effective, so it's going shortly.  (No longer have Travel Insurance and breakdown service)
• Cancelled Enhanced Cover part of AA breakdown. Still in cool off period, so should get a refund
• Arranged similar breakdown cover for less than half annual cost!
• Budget/categories for my Banking software revised.
• Spreadsheet for Gas/Electricity’s almost done.  It now includes comparison of readings against budget.
• Car Fuel spreadsheet updated.
• Magazine subscription cancelled.
• Passport replaced and on its way
• Applied for a GHIC

 NSDs

2/15 and probably won't change for a day or two due to monthly stock-ups at SM and Costco