2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

vulpix

 Fizz, highly recommend Chester. Look up winter watch parade. We go every year. The cathedral also has a Christmas tree festival.

Todays de cluttering , 2 unworn statement necklaces, think Prue Leith
                                   2 pairs of earrings
                                   a pack of bamboo skewers

 I had everything out of the corner cupboard in the kitchen and found a couple of things to offer DD1 when she visits tomorrow. I also wrote down what is in the cupboard. Bloomin loads.

Had the front layer of stuff out from under the stairs and found a couple of door handles for the shed. Managed to smash a glass cup from the punch bowl set doing so. Doh. It's so big it's in a banana box till I can find a better home for it. I don't need to write down whats under the stairs. Christmas, crafts, tool box, hoover and a punch bowl set rattling about in a banana box!

 I painted the Christmas chair red, might need another coat or do I want it to look rustic? I also varnished the oak card file drawers. Threw the rubbish , cheap paint brush away after.

 Christmas fair duty tomorrow.

 sleep tight  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 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

Friday: Another bright, crisp day & slightly warmer with a high of 6°C. As I went to bed so late, I only got up at 13:30 😱 DH & DSis are just setting off (13:50) to the garage for the car’s first MOT. We are fortunate that the garage is just around the corner - so easy for us + we are supporting a local business 🙂 Car passed with only a new headlight bulb required 🥳 DH was impressed with the set up so if the car needs servicing it will be taken to the same garage 😊 I did 2 loads of LDFPA. I have started knitting my next set - beanie first. Dinner was hm cottage pie & broccoli. Wudupa.

122 - 123 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

124 Kitchen detritus binned

London_1, brilliant news that all the building & electrical work is almost complete 🥳 I know that you are looking forward to everything being completed but I think you will miss the builder (& his baking) 😉 How wonderful that your DD has been able to recommend your builder to her management company 😊

Duchess2, yep - I just received a postcard from my ‘get up & go’ from St Lucia - currently 29°C 😉 Apple crumble with vanilla & caramel ice cream sounds so yummy 😋 

TC77, good luck with your weekend plans 🍀 

vulpix, sounds like you were fairly restrained whilst you were in Abakhan 😊 I am resisting any further visits to the website although when DH & I start the 2025 Round Britain Rally I might just try to persuade DH to factor in some time for me to wander around one of the stores 😅 Your current car sounds rather dangerous - no wonder you want a new one 😥 I hope you enjoyed your unexpected lunch with your DD yesterday 😊 “Progress not Perfection” sounds like an excellent mantra 🤩 

QueenJess, nothing wrong with buying books 😊 Great work restricting your spending & only decluttering by using up 👏 Good luck with your freezer reorganisation 🍀 Very tasty flapjacks😋

BudgetingBelinda, excellent work sorting out the contents of the bathroom cupboards 👏

Lovely to see you Deni_debt-free_dreamer 👋 Sounds like steady progress in your decluttering & your tidying 👏 I do hope DD2 has been regaling you with tales of her travels whilst doing her laundry 😊

vulpix, I do hope you are managing to stay warm & keeping safe in the snow 🙏 Steady decluttering 👏 & I notice that you are still finding items to declutter 😉

Florenceem, so very sorry to hear about your protracted A&E experience 😔 Although pleased to hear that MrF was finally seen by a very attentive doctor & that proper treatment was started. I am hoping that Friday was spent at home 🙏 & that both you & MrF have managed to get some rest. 

daisy_1571, wonderful ideas 😊

Moorviews, excellent decluttering of MrMV’s clothes 👏 I had a rueful smile at this “My penalty is a large pile of mending as it turns out that he just stops wearing things once there is a problem to fix.” 😏

vulpix, good luck completing all your projects 🍀 I do hope you have a very successful Christmas Fair & manage to sell everything on your stall 🤞I am very impressed that you are still finding items to declutter each & every day 🤩

Fizz2015, excellent work on the selling site 👏 Hope the weather is fine so that you enjoy your weekend at the Christmas markets 🤞 

basketcase, wow you were busy Wednesday & Thursday 🤩👏  You have made a brilliant start & great progress re ‘Operation Paperwork’ 👏 Congratulations on the physical decluttering & the Dragon Slaying 🥳

Muddy_Walker, well done on getting through the work week without having to resort to ‘hiding & drinking’ 👏 Hope your hubby can get an appointment with the dentist sooner rather than later 🤞 Please, please find some time to relax over the weekend 🙏

I am almost caught up but eyelids are drooping so I am off to bed 😉 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366:  124/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £681.70

QueenJess

London_1 said:

RSJ = Rolled Steel Joist goes towards strengthening the bit in the house where perhaps a weight bearing wall was. Usually over a window its a lintel. Weird the things you pick up along the way.

My late brother David was a fixer-upper, and could turn his hand to anything

.He was severely dyslexic but give him an engine to repair or a house to build or practically anything where he used his hands he could do it  He had various businesses over the years from a garage ,two stereo fitting shops, a taxi business , a video shop and built not only his sons house
His son Steve bought a house that was falling to bits, and my brother stripped it back to the bare walls and removed floors and ceilings  so there were just the shell of the place and completely renovated it from basement to roof (replaced the roof as well) he built his own boat, and had god knows how many different cars during his life plus rebuilt a motor caravan, plus ran a greengrocery shop as well,

 His last projects was started in 1997, he bought a tumbled down place in France that hadn't been lived in since 1948 a house (complete with tree growing through the roof, it was virtually derelict)  plus some land and turned it into a three bedroomed detached property with swimming pool

It took him three years, as he was also running a business in the UK so went backwards and forwards via coach on a Sunday overnight and returned to England on the Thursday morning to work. But he did it, then decided to buy the falling down property next door, and did the same to that.

 He taught me so many things about building, decorating, changing the oil in my car, and a tyre, and all sorts of things, and even got me laying flooring at one point when he was doing his renovations .hence why I know about RSJs I can also plaster a wall and tile a loo  
His dyslexia never stopped him, as what ever paper work or accounts were needed doing I would do them for him.

 In fact I often could sign his cheques better than he could and often  did.  We worked together for many years, and sadly he passed away in 2016 and to this day I still miss him, he wasn't just my big brother he was my best friend along with my late husband. He was a bit of a 'Del Boy, a real eastender, but with a fantastic gene for working his socks off, rarely took a holiday, as to him he just hated lying around doing nothing.  
To him building things whether it was a house or a business was the best thing in the world. Then he would sell it, and start another one often vastly different from the one before. 

He's ring me up and say "Sis I've been thinking ", and I'd say  'OK what's the next project Dais ? ' As a little girl I could never pronounce David, and would call him 'Daisy' or 'Dais'. and off we would go starting on something totally different and new 

Last year my eldest grandson Danny's wife had a little girl, and Danny rang me from New York where he lives and said 'Would it be OK to call her 'Daisy' Nanny ?'
 I said yes I think he would be delighted that you call her that, so my third little great granddaughter is a 'Daisy' I hope she has the work ethic of my big brother Daisy and she won't go far wrong

Florenceem I'm so pleased you have got things moving for MrF but you too must take care and look after yourself as you will burn out if you are overdoing it and it won't help either of you.

They say if you want something done find a busy person One of my DDs is like that, and she rushes around all the time, then when she goes to bed she lies there thinking of all the things she hasn't managed to get done that day !

so slow down and let others help you as you help them

JackieO xx

I love that you knew this from a lovely personal connection, whereas I knew this from a Gavin and Stacey episode 😂

GrannyKate

Morning all - another short post until internet arrives a week today.  I've been here a week now and is starting to feel like home.  I keep turning the wrong way in the hall and find myself in the wrong room. The local DGCs have stayed over twice as DS2 had very early starts several days.  Only 1 minute to his house and about 3 to school in car.  I've been out and about this week but lots of tradesmen booked for next week so planning to stay in.  I want to tidy a bit outside but it is too cold although I have fetched anything that might be vulnerable in from garage.  There is only lego, christmas decs and garage/shed type things out there now.  Framed pictures are all in one place now in room of doom (Bedroom 1) and there are far too many to go on the walls here.  

I sorted through kitchen and moved a few bits round and have stocked up on regular items although only keeping smaller amounts in smaller storage jars.  My old kitchen was very much equipped for my late husband who loved to cook and bake.  I have managed to arrange things so anything I might use is easily accessible.  There are some very high cupboards in kitchen for things used left often.  Trying to avoid buying storage things and to make use of what I have but I did get a toilet roll holder and some small narrow pots to fit in bathroom cupboard and a larger mat for porch which has a very cold floor.  

Tried to register at new doctor but queue of 12 at reception with only one person on the desk.  Its not easy to park there so it was annoying as I got a good space. Will carry forms round with me and try again.  I went back to old village and got my hair cut and made appointments up to Christmas.  I have been going to same hairdresser for 25 years so will continue to go there for the time being.

Plan is, once roof repair and electrics done, to decorate bedrooms and sort bathroom and then move on to living room and kitchen/diner.  The last two are quite liveable with for the time being so kitchen will be a job for next year.  I am getting better at missing post and tree in the way of turning into drive but think the small conifer tree will go sooner rather than later.  I love the outlook from here looking out across a small green with trees (DGS4 called it a park but that is something of an overstatement) - I previously only looked at houses opposite in my other bungalow.   

My thoughts are with all having difficulties especially @Florenceem.  I have had cellulitis 3 times now and it is awful  Second time I was in hospital 4 days on IV antibiotics. Last year I made a fuss to get early treatment before it reached that stage as I knew what it was.  A nurse colleague told me that once you have had it you will likely get it again.  

I am not sure if it was Vulpix who mentioned shortage of haberdashery shops but I would recommend the small town of Brigg if you are over N Lincs way.  There is a haberdashers and a knitting and crochet shop (Closed Mondays).  

Getting light now but still cold - I will have a shower and get going.  New shower is okay but not as roomy as my old one. I have yet another car boot full of stuff for CS and tip. 

1629 - eleven plastic food containers to CS
1630 - three doormats to tip
1631 - cardboard boxes and packaging to recycling
1633 - lots of changes of address done - I am going to include this for friends and family in early Christmas cards once I get a new phone number next week.
1634 - Six boxes emptied yesterday. Of my 109 boxes I have 25 to open in Room of Doom and 12 mostly lego in garage plus 4 Christmas boxes which I didn't count.  4 out of 28 bags (bedcovers) have not been rehomed yet.  
1635 - Car boot load to tip on Thursday. 

Raining steadily now but not quite as cold. 

London_1

Good Morning all, although looking out of the window it doesn't look very good . Extremely wet and windy, like a baby, as my late Mum would have said

Don't think I will be venturing out in it today, so a good reason to do some serious paper decluttering

 I'm pretty sure I don't need all the paperwork from the buying of my previous house in 1995 anymore I seem to have reams of paperwork filed 'just in case' well today they will be shredded and' just in the recycling'  

I want to sort out stuff that will go into my new sitting room, carpet is being laid on 2nd December so once down, we can connect the tv, and get lots of stuff moved from my bedroom down stairs to my sitting room. 

No more boxes cluttering up my bedroom at last I will actually see the radiator, just in time for the cold weather

I'm really looking forward to it and my youngest DD said the tree she had spare last year, which is a small pre-lit one can go in there, as we always put the decorations up on the 2nd December as its my eldest DD Shelley's,  birthday.

When she was born in 1967 my late husband picked me up from the maternity hospital in East Croydon, and on the way home to our tiny two roomed flat said.... 

"Oh I meant to tell you I forgot to get some coal in so it might be a bit chilly when we get home, and I've run out of cups as I've not really bothered much with the washing up so its a bit piled up in the sink". 

My heart sunk, and I just thought goodness what sort of mess will it be in, as I had been in hospital for 12 days after having her.

 I'm thinking if its that cold I'm going to take the baby and I off to my brothers house for a day or two until he gets it sorted
The atmosphere in the car was to say the least as frosty inside as out as it had been snowing.

Well arriving home and climbing up to the first floor where our tiny flat was I opened the door and in the sitting room which was spotless, and everything shining and polished was a lovely fire and the room decorated, and a tiny tree up in the corner, and on the mirror over the fireplace he had written with a bar of soap
'Happy Christmas and welcome home Mum and baby Michelle' the kitchen too was spotless and tidy
 The scallywag loved winding me up at times, but he was such a softie when it came to family.

 Every year since then right up until I lost him in 2003 he would always write on a mirror in our house 'Happy Christmas to all here tonight', and we would put the decorations up and the tree and to this day both my DDs put their tree up and decorations and write on the mirror 'Happy Christmas to all here tonight'  on my eldest DDs birthday.I can't believe she is 57 this year and her sister will be 55 on the 19th December I had two Christmas babies.  

it will be the same here as well.There is a Christmas decoration shop in Ryde and my DD has bought an ornament to go on our tree that says 'Happy IoW  Christmas 2024' as it will be our first Christmas here. She's as daft and soft as her late Dad at times bless her.

JackieO xxx

 

vulpix

 Thank you Granny Kate for the haberdashers recommendation. We haven't been to Lincolnshire for ages, we should rectify that. You are doing so well with your house move, I hope the pain of it all is diminishing, like having a baby!

 Lovely Christmas memories London 1. My brother was born 8th December. Possibly the same year as your daughter was born. It had snowed a lot and I remember standing in the garden of the maternity hospital with my Dad in brilliant sunshine and waving to my Mum and baby in an upstairs window. Children were not allowed to visit. We always had our Christmas decorations up for my brothers birthday party. It was considered quite shocking to be so early with them.

 Mrs SD, in my opinion the North Wales Abakhan is the best and it has an extremely nice cafe or husband creche. I bought some lovely part alpacca wool the other day for £1.80 100g. I wish I had bought more. I finished the last hat last night but was too tired to make a pom pom so went to bed.

 Gordon Bennett ! Fomo just wouldn't leave me alone. One of his alternative names is Mr Fidgety -Strokes. I was just starting to go to sleep and at 12:45 The smoke detector in the sitting room made us both jump out of our skin by shouting "low battery". I now know I am old. It was very difficult to get both feet on the sofa arm and stand on tiptoe to reach the smoke detector. I felt very unsafe. I would never have slept otherwise. The nice American lady told me every minute that the battery was low. I don't know when the moment happened where I became physically old. I may be able to do the splits but my balance is  not good.

 I need to get a wriggle on and get myself to my old village for the Christmas fair. I volunteered for the cake stall with the thinking it would quickly sell out and I could go home early! I am stuck there now till Mr V comes back with the new car. There are infrequent busses but they move in mysterious ways. Too cold waiting for a bus that might not turn up.

 Laters Vx

daisy_1571

loving all these family memories of wonderful brothers,  husbands and children plus hearing about those that are in new homes xxxxx

London_1

We have a cafe in Newport called 'Gods Providence House' thats originally built in 1522 and still has some of the old flagstones in the entrance
Brilliant place for a coffee and cake or light lunch.
Apparently it got its name as when the Black Death arrived in Newport, the ones who sheltered there survived through 'Gods Providence' and its been there ever since I was there the other day for a good pot of tea and lunch and was looking at the flagstones and thinking of all the thousands of people who over the past 602 years had walked on them, including me now  (I'm a bit of a history nut ) Outside the cafe is a notice saying well behaved dogs and husbands welcome  

JackieO xx

Duchess2

Ahhh London1 have a tear in my eye (I’m a big softie too). It’s lovely to remember lost family members with little rituals. I know we think of them all year round, but it’s so special at Christmas. I’m itching to put up my deccies but I always get fed up with them and take them down on 1st Jan, so I’ll hold out a little longer. There’s nothing better than sitting all cosy with just the lights of the tree. Good luck with your Christmas fair today Vulpix. Just the job to get you in the Chrimbo frame of mind. Declutterring the lounge today, moving furniture and hoovering to get ready for those deccies in a week or two.  I’m sure I can hear them jingling from the loft. Haha. 🎄 Have a good day folks. Stay safe and warm and watch out for storm Bert💦💨

Muddy_Walker

London-1 your brother sounded like an utterly wonderful person! Thank you for the Rolled Steel Joist explanation. Quite hard to say that quickly 😋

MrsF you do sooooo much for the SA, it’s ok to look after yourself now and then and it’s really nice they save dinners for you. Could they drop them off to save you going back out in bad weather?

MrsSD - Inwas going to start on Some of the Things but as I have a very sleepy dog next to me I will stay right here and rest/snooze/eat and read. 

Stay safe in storm Bert everyone xxxx