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

Sunday: I was up & dressed by 10:30. After early hours rain the rest of the day was very breezy & warm with a high of 18°C. If not for the wind it would have been a lovely day. DH & I had a bowl of hm soup for lunch 😋 I spent the day knitting & watching TV. Although I made time to cook a full roast beef dinner with roast potatoes & carrots, cabbage & Yorkshire puddings. DH was on gravy making duties 😉 Plenty of beef left over for Monday night with mash for the 3 of us, green beans for DSis & lo leeks in cheese sauce for DH & I. Wudupa. Late afternoon/early evening the rain started & it has rained on & off ever since 😞

136 - 139 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, 2 newspapers - recycled 

140 - 143 Kitchen & lr detritus, 2 manky cloths - binned 

GrannyKate, sounds like a tiring Saturday especially for DS2 doing the driving 😔 Great work on Sunday, it does sound like you are settling in nicely & getting some excellent decluttering done 👏 I will definitely let you off “missing a number” 😉 

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 Pleased to hear that most of your dad’s furniture fits & that not much of it needs any work 😊 Hope you manage to get some time off work so that you can spend time with your guests 🤞I am also keeping my fingers crossed that it stays dry 🤞All you can do with the decluttering & dealing with frogs is to continue ‘plugging away’ 😊 & Remember to celebrate each & every success 🙏

vulpix, lovely post 😊 & especially love your offer to TC77 of ‘actual’ hugs 🥹 Pleased to hear that you & MrV like the new car 😊 As to the key episode, we had exactly the same issue with a motorbike 😉 Sounds like you had a great time at the Christmas Fair & how lovely to catch up with old acquaintances aka potential friends 🤞 I must admit to falling off my sofa when I read this “At last today I don't feel under pressure to do anything. I am just going to potter.” 🥲 I do hope you managed to restrict yourself to ‘pottering’ 😉 DGS will be everywhere now - his mum & dad will have to have eyes in the back of their heads 😉

dND, I see that now the builders have finished the inside work you are powering ahead with your unpacking & decluttering 👏 Re the Silver Cross dolls pram, I would sell as is - a nice project for someone else to complete 😉 Good luck with sourcing your various white goods & appliances at very reasonable prices 🍀 

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear about your uncle 😞 Excellent decluttering & another milestone reached 👏 One Gold Star ⭐️ on its way 🙂 Surely without cherries makes it fruit cake rather than Christmas cake 🧐 

TC77, enjoy your new cordless vacuum 😊 Of course, the missing charger will now turn up in the next couple of days 😉

Florenceem, sorry to hear that MrF is in so much pain 😞 Hopefully your GP will be able to prescribe some painkillers 🙏  as being in pain is not conducive to sleeping 😔 More excellent sales on V 👏

Just noticed the time, so even though I am almost caught up with the cheerleading, I am off to bed 😉 Cwtches for all 🤗 sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366:  143/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £681.70

Moorviews

We have decluttered Storm Bert and have some much needed sunshine. Washing about to go on the line! 

I noticed your efforts in the TLC carriage and was very thankful @basketcase as I have been in there yesterday due to feeling sick and dizzy and it was probably me that messed it up!
Muddywalker - I agree about it being a very difficult year for many people. It’s good that your mum has your support. 

dND - it really sounds like you are making great progress now and can start to enjoy what you have in those boxes.  

vulpix and Florenceem - I am not sure either of you know what “rest” is as you both always sound so industrious and productive! I hope that Mr F starts to feel better soon. 

I have things that I need to go out for today and must make myself a list. I must admit that I really don’t feel like doing much still. 

GrannyKate

Morning all.  This week has been set aside mostly for tradesman so currently waiting in for TV engineer.  Electrician came yesterday - I need a rewire really so that is going to be pricey but not unexpected.  I have set aside what is I hope enough to cover roof, electrics, any plumbing including bathroom, drive and next year the kitchen.  The problem with the remaining boxes in room of doom is they are going to be the ones I have nowhere to empty to and on which I should have taken more brave decisions before I moved.  

An hour or so spent in the garden yesterday when it stopped raining collecting up stuff.  I would like to put washing out but need lines replaced - they are cord which is all green.  I found a brand new line and prop in a box in garage so just need tall people to be here to sort.  

1656 December birthday cards written
1657-9 Three bags of random stuff to tip - 2 garden and 1 household
1660 Bag of paper to recycling at tip
1661 Bundle of cardboard to recycling at tip
1662 Banking updated
1663 Shredding done
1664 Electrician visit - waiting for quote

I hope TV engineer is not going to ask me any questions.  Luckily DS2 came up for the electrician's visit and he can be here Saturday when they do broadband. Will see if I can do anymore changes of address on line but using data from my phone.  I may then tackle a box.  

vulpix

 Moorviews, gosh, I always think of myself as being sloth like. I wish I had the energy I had when I was younger. I do sit and craft a lot but if I have the telly on, I get up and do something every add break. soak pots, next time wash pots next dry pots next put away next do a bin run etc. The cats also help me get up a lot as they have a tag team for going in and out. I am trying to keep active as I don't want to seize up altogether with arthritis. Sadly I can't walk the hills like I used to or even walk very far at all these days. I do agree that Florenceem is an absolute force of nature, she gets so much done.

 Vx

~FlowerPot~

Morning loveies. I've just been to the beach and waved at London1, somewhere across the solent!
Certainly decluttered the cobwebs, rather windy, but bright and sunny, thank goodness the storm has passed. I hope no one had any damage!

~FlowerPot~

home now and had lunch, risotto leftovers~ yum!

I have looked through and tidied 2 drawers from the understairs chest. out with a few things, dog coat too small, box of candles, i was given years ago, but they are just too narrow so in the CS bag. and a few other bits thrown.

Now just building up the strength to collect leaves in the garden. They are pretty much all down now, so time to clear the lawn and the paths. I will set a timer for 30 mins!

{{{big hugs}}} to all

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, well I have had a bit of a busy week with one thing and another but have done very little decluttering . The mini break was really lovely. It was freezing, hovering around 1° at it's warmest during the day and dropping to -5° overnight with a very cold wind but even when there were icicles hanging from the railings we used the hot tub . We had no snow at all, hard frost on the grass but clear blue skies until just before we came away. The sky at night was spectacular. Living in a city there is far too much light pollution to see a good night sky. We spent most of our time just chilling out but we did go into Penrith for lunch one day and I have to say Penrith was a lovely little town. Lots of old fashioned shops like men's outfitters and a little wool and sewing shop . All the shops had their Christmas decorations in the windows and the clock tower was lit up, all very festive. We didn't spend long there as it was so cold and OH's knees weren't good but we did say if we were in that neck of the woods again it would be worth another visit .  I did quite a bit of my crochet Managed a phone call with my dniece. Her DH had already gone back to Bequia as he had to finish building a pergola otherwise their guests arriving on 2nd December would have no shade, the old one blew down in the hurricane.. She travelled back yesterday after finishing ALL the work in the house. I am still amazed they got it all done, she has sent me some videos of it and it looks brilliant, definitely shouldn't have a problem renting it out until they need it for themselves .
We came back late on Thursday afternoon but the weather was kind until we got to Lancaster when the snow and sleet appeared. While we were there I got 1 LDFPA but as we had wet towels etc from the hot tub they came home washed but not dry so the first job after unloading the car and a cuppa was to sort out the washing . Most was just dumped in the conservatory still in bin bags but the wet stuff was put on the maiden and since then some loads have been done as soon as there was space on the maiden as the weather has been very wet here but luckily not as bad as some places, only temporary local flooding. The council seem to have got the message about sweeping the leaves up to prevent the drains being blocked when it rains . All the other unused clothes and food has been put away and bags stored where they live
On Friday I trotted off to my driving course, all ok and actually some quite interesting bits that I never knew, for example sometimes when speed reductions appear on motorways it's about air quality, so next time I am sitting in slow traffic around Birmingham I can at least console myself with the thought I am helping with the air quality, though I must admit how crawling along helps I haven't yet yet worked out .
On Saturday we went out for lunch with OH's family for nephew's birthday. Luckily OH did the driving as I was a bit wiped out from all the driving I had done in the past week. The weather was dire and the roads were difficult. The food was good but the service very slow. This is the second time we have been to this restaurant and both times have had to wait an hour for food to arrive which is not fun when you have an 18 month old who is used to getting food more or less as soon as he's been sat in a high chair. We went there again as it has a very good gluten free menu for OH's dsis but even she said we wouldn't be coming back, much to my relief as the veggie options were very limited. When we got home I took myself off for a lie down with some painkillers as I could feel a migrain coming on and luckily caught it in time.
Yesterday I had planned to go to knutsford services to meet with a friend who was returning home to the s coast after visiting family near Preston and I had not had time to get to see her but it was decided that as the weather was so bad and she had such a long journey we would postpone. I was disappointed to not see her but at the same time glad not to be out driving again so spent the time sorting out the washing after a lie in . The footy was on the box and I had a nice long phone call with my dsis. We have sorted our limits for Christmas presents .
This morning the sun is out so a load is on the line and another is swishing, still more to do but realistically it probably won't completely dry so some will have to wait for drying room . I have a gas engineer coming tomorrow to try to sort out the smart meter so I need to clear and clean the hall at least and I need to get to the sm as we have no bread and also need milk. OH has just trebled the shopping list . While we were away I took the opportunity to have a gentle chat about a few things, meal planning so I have an idea about shopping. I am fed up making all the decisions about what we eat and when OH cooks resorting to pie and chips from the freezer. I also discussed the state of the kitchen which is a constant mess and how I would like to have nothing on the worktop except the kettle. I am fed up having no work surface to actually prep food. OH agreed but I have yet to see any improvement. I guess I will do another sort and clean up and then just put my foot down

Broke off here as OH was telling me we needed shampoo and I got distracted by pointing out the 2 bottles on the end of the bath . So I have been shopping and have put the fridge and freezer stuff away, got the washing in and 1 LDFPA but 1 on the maiden and a bag of gubbins removed from the hall into OH's car boot where it came from about a year ago so I need to go and finish sorting that and get the tea sorted.

I have tried to keep up with the posts but my brain is full of other things right now so I will say hugs to anybody who would like one and hopefully I will get back on track with my posts tomorrow

From when I last posted
1733 bedroom bin
1734 bathroom bin
1735 kitchen bin
1736 lr bin
1737 - 1740 LDFPA
1741 bag of general rubbish
1742 bank stuff and cc paid
1743 driving course
Take care everyone
1743/2024

oceanspirit

Last posted a week ago.  The Sunday I had home alone was very productive and I was totally wiped out the following day - did lots of cleaning and cooking for the freezer, some little repair jobs and some laundry.

Since then, been topping up cooking for the freezer by doing extra portions when cooking the meals for the day and continuing to use up ood or short dated tins and packets.  Also general tidying and admin.  We have also been tackling the jungle of a garden, doing a small amount of time each day as we both have to pace our energy. Hopefully at this time of the year it won’t grow back too quickly so at least we have a small chance of getting on top of it before the spring.

Tomorrow OH is out again all day however I can’t do as much as last time he was out as am going to a swimming pool with friend in the afternoon and need to save some energy for that - I find the getting changed in a hurry plus actually being in the water very tiring so I can’t do much before I go.

Will catch up on reading posts over the next few days - am about a week behind I think.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening all, small steps continuing here - I've taken all my soft plastics to the c00p to recycle and put 2 old magazines (from 2014!) into my recycling bin. The magazines are from DD2's recent decluttering effort in her old bedroom - there will be much more!
Love Deni
xx

basketcase

Hi All!

Today it was cold – “1°C feels -6°C” and quite windy.  I was cold and tired, so decided to hold a small pity party in the TLC carriage.  But I'd no sooner got there than I gave myself a talking to and an anatomically impossible kick.  So I left and did a few bits instead.  Plus, I managed to wrangle an alligator so the day wasn’t a total loss.

 Admin Alligators:

• My ‘official’ day for admin is Wednesday, but this was an alligator!  I’ve actually bought Travel Insurance.  We’re not going till 18 December but I heeded Martin’s warning that you should get the insurance when you book not when you go.  So I did.
• I also poked the mobile contract lizard with a stick as I walked past it.  I did ask my offspring for ideas.  DD: “You won’t be able to get my package mum.  When I said I was leaving, they bribed me to stay.”  Told DS this & he said: “I didn’t even have to do that. They rang me saying ‘We see you’re out of contract.  If we give you this really good, fixed contract for 2 years, will you stay?’” So he said “Oh.  Go on then…”  Typical!  Anyway, I used a comparison site today, but want to have a think about the options – and check if I can go through Quidco and save a bit more. 

General decluttering:

• Another bag of general recycling out - mostly cardboard boxes, cans and containers as I use stores up.
• Contributions to soft plastic (frozen food bags etc)
• Emptied very small container. Bit n pieces to CS bag.
• 5-minute tidies continue.
• Lunch was chunks of melted cheesy bread with leftover ½ can of cream of chicken soup.  Tea was the decluttered chicken & leek pie plus sides.
• Yesterday’s lemon dehydrating experiment was interesting.  When I went to store the slices, I noticed that they looked good but were still slightly sticky to touch.  So I gave them another 2 hours at a higher temperature.

NSDs

Paid for the travel insurance so still 13/15 NSDs.  Slightly annoyed that to achieve the travel insurance goal, I couldn’t achieve another NSD but such is life.

I’m glad to hear the stories of all those who enjoyed the weekend, are powering through the clutter, have eaten those frogs etc.  Thoughts and prayers for those who are experiencing difficult times – their own or their loved ones.  And of course hugs, chocolate and cake in the TLC carriage for anyone who wants it.