2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Florenceem

Just half a bag of stuff left on the table outside - there was really a lot put out there.
Yesterday I left home at 7 for SA and got home at 3.30. J came to set up and put away. 
We raised £492 + £1,000 on V sales.
Total raised for 2024 - just under £7,000.
I had an early night.
This morning I found the missing sold items and parcels are wrapped.
Re clothes rails - I would need more than one if I hung stuff up.
Mr F is the same - eating and drinking but still in pain.
I went to Church this morning. There was an afternoon service but I stayed at home - needed time indoors after Friday and Saturday.
Dgs finished the current run of Chicago yesterday and came home today. Great news - his agent phoned - got him a stint - dancing for the King of Bahrain. Hotel, meals and flights paid and a nice sum of money - he will be home a week before Christmas.
So sorry to hear of the loss of Jack Russel - I have lost quite a few dogs over the years - always hard.

London_1

Thanks for the good wishes and hugs chums. My DD and son-in-law were devastated when they came back.They said the vet was a lovely lady and took her time and let them stay and stroke her when she was PTS and din't rush them at all. My DD is a real doggy lady as is her husband and now they are down to two just Teddy the feisty little rescued Westie, and Stan, the rescued greyhound.
Stan was literally saved the day before he was due to be PTS as no one seemed to want him .He is a large dopey dog who would given the opportunity eat his way through anything offered. He's pretty soppy and there seems to be yards of him when he folds himself down.

Teddy, the Westie, had been left tied to a tree and abandoned to starve, and when he was rescued he was really a very poorly little dog The vet wasn't even sure if he would make it  He had all of his fur shaved off (apparently they don't have hair, but fur ,and he has to have it cut every 8 weeks as it grows very quickly) as he was filthy, and full of mange and god knows what else. The vet thought because he an albino he was brought to breed from but either couldn't or wouldn't do the business.
 
So was just dumped and left to starve, he was a very anxious little chap and  frightened of almost everything But my daughter is very patient and slowly he began to trust people again. He hates men wearing hats for some reason and will bark and growl if one comes near him, so who knows what he had to put up with before he was rescued. But he's a friendly little dog as a rule just hats on men he doesn't like.

Tonight we put the tree and the decorations up and doing that I think took her mind of today, she loves Christmas and we always put them up the day before her sisters birthday Both my daughters were born in December my eldest tomorrow anomy youngest who I live with ,on the 19th.It's always a busy time this month. Out house is lit up like oxford street at the moment as she loves the lights and the reindeer and santa's the full 9 yards and at almost 55 she is more like a five year old she gets really  into it with her decorations. But it was good to keep her busy and motivated I just hope she sleeps ok tonight as the last few nights have been difficult because the dog was so poorly .

So two sad things have happened in the past couple of days lets hope fingers crossed that things turn around in this new month.

 I'm waiting to hear how my other friend is she is in Guys Hospital at the moment, and had her operation yesterday I think. I will phone tomorrow and see how she's doing, she sadly has lung cancer but they are hoping its been caught in time .
Its a worry for her as her husband is wheelchair bound, and she is his carer. I live 120 miles away and can't get up to help her , I'm also waiting to hear when my other friends funeral is in Manchester. Life really chucks it at you at times doesn't it

Take care everyone and hug your loved ones tonight

JackieO xx 

vulpix

 I am so sorry about the loss of your little dog London 1. I am sure she had the best life a dog could have with your family. Thank goodness for people like you who rescue animals in need.
 
That is a fabulous amount raised Florenceem, and thank goodness for people like you too, who work with people society finds uncomfortable.

 Thank you, Queen Jess. I think I would enjoy where you have been today. I am just too stingy to buy things though. Most of my furniture I upcycle I get free, or under a tenner. I appreciate something with good bones and can see how it will be in my mind. I must have rescued a hundred pieces of furniture in my time and countless things made from cast off fabrics etc. It pains me to go out and actually pay for something. I'm not tight in the slightest, just don't like waste. I will pay a lot for quality but always try to buy second hand.

 I didn't get as much done as planned because I had unexpected visitors which was lovely. The kitchen is still a work in progress but has improved a bit. No sewing done today either, need to get on with that.

 For the charity shop tomorrow a white ceramic lantern thing, Like a saucer with a dome that illuminates a picture by a candle inside. iyswim. Also to go 15 yankee candle melts and 3 yankee candles. I have kept all the tea lights.

 I enjoy hearing about everyone's decluttering, it helps me not be complacent.

 Vx

suzeesu2000

@London_1 so very very sorry to hear of the loss of your daughters little dog. Heartbreaking to lose our little furry family members. 

TC77

Made myself do a couple of frogs this evening, reply to lovely solicitor who has given me some initial advice and then signed up to new broadband so can change over before DD2 back from uni and should be up and running.
Can't believe how much stuff I have, having got the xmas things out from the eaves, seen the boxes of summer things put away - didn't realise how many, and of course can't track down my xmas cards  - but maybe I used them all up?! definitely have sable of wrapping paper!  Hoping that as I'm not counting frogs the numbers for this year and next will get me close to decluttered! Love the idea of it being easier to clean and being able to keep track of things and find them easier 

6 xmas decorations in CS bag, and a few bits in recycling/ bin
1748
Went to Xmas concert with some audience participation with some friends which was fun so trying to have some balance. Busy week at work with one new person off work and also multiple frogs, hopefully some to finish as well as others to start.
Ordering some festive nibbles, assorted teas and other beverages for the TLC carriage as hopefully people will make good use of it.!

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 did consider getting dressed but didn’t 🙊 The height of laziness I know but I contented myself with knitting & watching TV. The scarf is finished, the wrist warmers are sewn up & I now have 2 sets of knitted items + a pair of wrist warmers for cs. Dinner was pork steaks, mash & savoy cabbage. Wudupa.

184 - 186 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, magazine - recycled

187 - 188 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

Liverpool_Anne, a mostly successful Friday 👏 Hopefully you managed to pick up the nasal spray yesterday 🤞 Some great decluttering 👏 As is usual, some lovely cheerleading ☺️ I was so pleased to see that you investigated the Vine House Farm website & have found a few items to enhance your bird watching experience 😊 The nuttery cage is right outside our kitchen & the tits especially seem to love it 🙂 

vulpix, pleased to hear that you got a very good night’s sleep 🙂 I do hope that MrV adhered to your instructions not to spend any money 😉 unless it was a Christmas present for you 😊 Just wondering if your son could set up a website to get people to read his stories & offer feedback 🤔 Is your son named Endeavour by any chance  🤭 - yes I have been watching Morse today 😉 This “It's the bane of my life thinking of what food to make” had me nodding my head vigorously in agreement ☹️

oceanspirit, sorry to hear that you ‘wore yourself out’ 😔 but pleased to hear that you are now going to pace yourself & then treat yourself to a couple of weeks away 😊 Some great decluttering 👏 

QueenJess, sorry to hear that there was no one to say goodbye 😞 It would have been nice to know you were appreciated 😔 I do hope that your DD is getting better & that you & the rest of your family don’t succumb 🙏  Meanwhile the admin might be boring but at least it is getting done in between nursing duties 👏

GrannyKate, nice to see you 👋 Sounds like you are settling in nicely & getting organised 😊 Some excellent decluttering & unpacking 👏 I do hope you are not overdoing it 🙏 & that you are spending time in the TLC Carriage away from the unpacking etc 😊

London_1, so sorry to hear about your DD’s little Jack Russell 😢 Relieved to hear that the DGS especially Jack got to say goodbye even if only by FaceTime. Sending lots of cwtches to all your family especially Jack & your DD 🤗

Great decluttering + dealing with frogs TC77 👏 Sorry to hear that you were not 100% on Sunday 😔 Hopefully you managed to get some rest & are now fully recovered 🤞

Excellent decluttering over the weekend Liverpool_Anne 👏 & great work in the kitchen 👏 Good luck clearing the rest of the work surfaces 🍀 Lovely cheerleading 😊

florianatwobob, thank you for sharing such lovely memories ☺️

vulpix more lovely reminiscences about market towns 😊 Great decluttering 👏 & what a bonus that you & MrV are reaping the rewards of decluttering the sheds 🥳 like finding lost treasures so not having to spend any monies 🥳

Excellent work in DS’s garden Duchess2 👏 I do hope you are taking plenty of rest & allowing your body to recover 🙏

Excellent decluttering Nelliegrace 👏 I love the idea of a “reverse Advent calendar 😉

QueenJess, so pleased to hear that your DD is feeling so much better 😊 I am putting in a request that if DD does go to nursery, you take an hour or more to get some rest Before you start tackling baking, cooking & washing 🙏 That book sounds wonderful 🤩 there are some very clever people about 🥳 The antiques shop you visited sounds amazing 😻 Good job I don’t know where it is as I would probably spend a fortune 🤣

Excellent decluttering Foofoopuppy 👏 Very impressed at how much has gone 😊 so I am sending you a medal🏅 

You have been busy (yet again) Florenceem 🤩 Great news about funds raised for SA & even better news for DGS - he must be absolutely brilliant 🥳 Keeping my fingers crossed that MrF’s pain meds will finally start working 🙏

I have made a good stab at catching up with the cheerleading but am flagging now, so will post this & head off to bed 😉 Cwtches to all 🤗 Sleep tight 😴

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366:  188/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £681.70

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, had a great day at the footy but a slow decluttering day . Bathroom bin, bedroom recycling and lr bin were emptied after they were filled with various things . When I got home after having some food all I did was crochet . I did spend some time in the morning researching some Christmas gifts for my dsis and bil and I think I have nearly everything sussed out for everyone except OH's bil but I am working on that and I think I will order stuff today and have a spendy day and just get it out of the way . I also spoke to ln about mops and have a recommendation so I might pop out to the shop and try to find it . Then if OH isn't batch cooking and wrecking the kitchen again I will get in there and clear and clean the other half of the worktop. It's a plan anyway

@florianatwobob I love the idea of cattle being walked to market . I remember the old coal wagons, never see them now though. I also remember the rag and bone man with his horse drawn cart and my  Dad running out with the coal shovel to pick up the horse manure for his roses , he'd have been following the cattle as well .

@Vulpix I love paperwhites and hyacinths in the house at this time of year. I usually get a little pot of them and then plant them in the garden for next year. I have never managed to get them to flower for Christmas from planting the bulbs so I cheat and buy them . I have decided I don't like candle melts, too much mess and I have put the ceramic melt thing in the cs bag. I do like candles though but only certain flavours, mainly lavender or lemon, some of them are just overpowering and bring on a migraine.

@London_1 sorry to hear about the little dog. When I left school I took a year out before going to uni and I worked in a vets so I would say that vets only put animals to sleep who really can't be treated and it is the kindest thing. When my childhood dog got to that point my Dad took him to the vet via the pub as he was so upset he said he needed a stiffener, not a big drinker but he was very soft where animals were concerned. Pets are truly wonderful things but it's heartbreaking when we lose them. My last pet was a budgie and I cried buckets when I had to have him pts. Hugs

@QueenJess glad your dd is recovering and you'll be able to get some baking done, your dd will probably help you declutter some of it

@Foofoopuppy it sounds like your parents are decluttering as well . I think it might be quite easy to reclutter if people are bringing you things

@Florenceem an amazing amount of money raised . Re the clothes rail could you hang the hangers on each other iyswim. You could hang them in date order they were listed say in groups of 5. Then any not sold after say 4 weeks would be easy to identify and you could deal with them. Sorry to keep talking about it but my organisational brain is working on overdrive with this and I just have visions of you ending up with a pile of things that haven't sold needing re-ironing etc. and you becoming overwhelmed with it all. Please just ignore this if you have a perfectly good system in place . Great news about your dgs, I hope he enjoys Bahrain

@TC77 I am also sable with Christmas wrapping paper and bags, though I am now getting a bit short of birthday paper and bags but I am determined to uu all I have before I buy any more

@Mrs SD we all need a pj day once in a while

Right off to get another cuppa and get something done. Its lashing with rain here and not looking very inviting at all out there.

Hugs to everyone who would like one

1779 bathroom bin
1780 bedroom recycling
1781 lr bin
Take care everyone
1781/2024

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 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

Monday: Up before 09:00 but yet to get dressed. DSis & DH are both up as well. I am having my 2nd cuppa & will then get dressed & make & hopefully execute some plans for the day 🤞 It is currently dark outside but at least it is dry & the temperature is a balmy 9°C 😉

London_1, thank goodness for people like your DD & her husband 🥹 It is shameful the way some (too many) people treat dogs (in fact any animals) 😢 So sorry to hear about your friend in Guy’s Hospital 😔 Hopefully she has good news after her operation 🙏 Happy birthday to your older DD 🎉 🎂 

Lovely post vulpix 😊 Great decluttering 👏 Unexpected visitors …… my worst nightmare 😉 closely followed by expected visitors 😂 So happy for you, that all your hard work has paid off & you can enjoy having visitors 😊

TC77, some great decluttering 👏 You are definitely on a roll & I am pleased to hear that you are managing to strike some sort of balance between decluttering/tidying, working & spending time with friends 😊 Good luck finding your Christmas cards…….. if you still have some 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, lovely chatty post 😊 Pleased to hear that you enjoyed the footy & also relaxed with some crochet 👏 Not raining here but it is rather dark ☹️

Hope everyone has as good a day as possible whatever you are doing 😊 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366:  188/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £681.70

vulpix

It's wet here today too but I am on a washing marathon. Usual washing plus changing the bed to Christmas duvets. Sorry,not sorry, yes I am a big kid.We have two single duvets on our kingsize bed. I have a lower tog as I am much hotter than Mr V. hahaha

 DD1 wants the Christmas decorations. Those folding honeycomb balls. I got them when we did a baby shower for DIL. She also wants me to take some tumblers to Vulpixmas. We all know that I will be doing my damndest not to have them back. DS also wants 3 good quality saws that I kept under the stairs so they didn't rust. I have to be careful with DS, he will say yes to everything offered. He has my Mother's squirrel gene. Luckily it skipped a generation with me.

I found a chipped glass so that's in the bin. I used to have enough glasses to stock a pub and got rid of possibly a hundred before we moved. We still have loads, just cluttering the cupboards up. Doesn't really affect me as I can only reach the bottom shelf!

 My bin monitor neighbour asked me last week if I would teach her to knit. Yes of course. I am now informed that there will be 3 of them and one wants to learn to crochet! I think we start on Thursday, strangely it is at my house. I think iv'e been had.

 Liverpool Anne, with the bulbs, I give them a chill in the shed for a few weeks and in theory they should bloom in 6 weeks from planting. I have brought them into the kitchen window  sill now to let them green up whilst still being cool.

 The Christmas chair will definitely be going after Christmas. Mr V is using it to dump stuff on it. The other chair needs more sanding and varnishing before it is finished. I think that one is a keeper. 

 The sewing box has sold and Mr V has sold some massive speakers £300 kerrching. He may be serious this time about retiring.

 Vx




 

Wednesday2000

It is very dark and miserable here today. My husband went out and bought a three foot real xmas tree yesterday so that brightens up our living room with the twinkly fairy lights.

I just called the kennel to check my dog is booked in for a few days before xmas as we have a few things planned to go to in London. My husband now has to go to a funeral in that week too, sadly, as his aunt died so we had to book a hotel for a night. I ordered more flea and worm treatment for my pets and another warm cardigan from Amazon just now as I found a cardigan I really like so I bought a spare. We were going to buy a new TV as it is Cyber Monday. We wanted to have one in our bedroom in case we get ill again like we did and have to stay in bed. I need to book two restaurants for that week too so I will do that after my bath. I have been decluttering the kitchen the past few days. I have stocked up with tins of soup (in case we get ill again) and I had to rearrange the cupboards.