2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Wednesday2000

I went through my paperwork box yesterday and shredded the old bank statements. My bank doesn't send the paper version anymore so I don't know why I was keeping them. Everything is very organised now with the new plastic folders. I also found some xmas cards that I didn't remember that I put in there!

I am going to go through my shoe cupboard later now I cleaned my trainers and slipper boots and take everything out, clean the shelves and put everything back. I did throw away one pair of slipper boots that had a hole in the sole.

It is horrible and dark and rainy again today. I need a hot drink.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@Brie so sorry to hear the news about your Mum, even when it is expected it is still hard news to hear. Take care of yourself, hugs. If you really need a copy of the death certificate could you arrange for it to be sent via DHL or some other service, just a thought.

I had to take the car to the garage today to get the brakes sorted so I put a load in the washing machine before I left and now I'm home with a cuppa waiting for it to finish and it will go out on the line for a few hours. Yesterday I got 3 LDFPA, 2 from the maiden and 1 from the line . 2 loads didn't quite dry so they are on the maiden to finish off. I posted 3 parcels, the faff with overseas parcels now is annoying, fill in a customs form online or in the post office and it takes ages, even for a simple calendar. The lady I got the jam from at the church Christmas fare had said she would like jars so I sorted out 8 and passed them to ln who will see her tomorrow. I had to sort out a footy ticket for OH's bil and then I did a whizz around filling various bins so bathroom bin and bathroom recycling, kitchen bin and kitchen recycling and lr recycling emptied. I did a quick dash to the sm, all put away and then wrapped some more presents, another to go to the post office tomorrow or today if I get the car back early enough so more wrapping uu from stash. I have written the cards for the neighbours and a couple to post but I need to get them finished today. My back started creaking again so I had to pop to the pharmacy to get some cream which I find better than taking painkillers.

I have caught up on the posts but very leaky brain this morning

@Vulpix I love the chairs hope the cold clears up by Christmas

Broke off to put the washing out and take a call from the garage who said the discs need replacing as well as the pads so they will have to order them in so I might be lucky to get the car back today, ho him

@GrannyKate you are cracking on. Good idea to get the loft hatch moved. It was part of the work I had done and had a ladder fitted. I do have some carp up there but at least when I get round to sorting it out I will be able to get to it safely rather than risking life and limb which wasn't too much of a problem when I was younger . Re the pictures maybe you could keep a few extra and change them every so often if you really like them . I don't think I have ever had a carpet in the bathroom and I don't really understand why people do

@Duchess2 I think I would bung some food in the slow cookers as well and fill the freezer with left overs

@Wednesday2000 yes I was glad it was only a nightmare as well . The thought of all the insurance paperwork brought me out in a cold sweat . Online gov stuff always stresses me, glad you were able to sort it out

@Siebrie I think you need to ask some hard questions about the " missing" money but I do have a suspicious mind

@Pennypincin maybe the slow cookers can help with the healthy eating if you have nice meals ready to eat when you need them you might be less tempted to snack etc. Something I should consider . I have struggled with my weight all my life and one of the reasons, apart from sheer piggery , is because I used to wait until I was hungry before thinking about sorting out a meal so I'd snack while it was cooking. Any left overs could be frozen for the days you don't cook. 

@weenancyinAmerica hugs, please look after yourself

@Florenceem please take some time for yourself, you are no use to anyone if you are ill, hugs

Well it's time for lunch and pff just like that the morning has gone so I better get on with something . Just had a text from my dsis to say the parcel I posted yesterday has arrived , amazing!
Hugs to everyone who would like one

1825 - 1827 LDFPA
1828 - 1830 parcels posted
1831 - 1838 jars passed on
1839 footy ticket sorted
1840 bathroom bin
1841 bathroom recycling
1842 kitchen bin
1843 kitchen recycling
1844 lr recycling
Take care everyone
1844/2024

Brie

Liverpool_Anne said:

Hi all,

@Brie so sorry to hear the news about your Mum, even when it is expected it is still hard news to hear. Take care of yourself, hugs. If you really need a copy of the death certificate could you arrange for it to be sent via DHL or some other service, just a thought.

It's a good idea but apparently the government will only do this if you provide proof that you need the certificate urgently.  There is an alternative proof of death that you can get from a funeral director so my brothers have been asking about that.  

Brie

@Florenceem
Just remembered something relevant to you perhaps.....one of mom's carer's for the last 2-3 years used to be an officer in SA.  She's been great about relieving us of some of mom's clothing.  First when she moved into a care facility - she no longer needed some really lovely stuff she had (cupboards would barely close they were so stuffed).  And now we've asked if she will go through the rest to see what's worth salvaging.  She has close relationships with a number of women who need something good to wear but can't afford it.  Mom had lots of dark trousers, white blouses and dark cardies so really quite nice as office wear.  And anything else that she doesn't have a home for will go to one of their stores - places the size of a large Tascos.

And I'm pleased too that my brothers thought to offer her and the other long term carer one of mom's paintings each.  They're nice bits of art but one only needs so many especially when you're in a family of artists.  So a little less to declutter.

Florenceem

Liverpool_Anne - there was carpet in the bathroom when I moved into Mr F's house. It may have been a 1970s thing as that was when the house was built and Mr F hadn't done much to it.
Another wet day here but the wind has eased.
Coughed a lot in the night.
This morning I took photos but the light was dreadful.
I had parcels to wrap after finding the sold items.
Another argument with Mr F about who was going out with the parcels. I told him that if he insisted on going - I would go with him - so would be out in the cold for longer than if I went on my own. Even when he doesn't have a bad leg - I walk much faster than Mr F - I don't seem able to amble along.
Anyway I went into town - again the PO wasn't too busy.
Yesterday when the selection packs were counted at SA - there were 109 and I only paid for 107. Lad on the till today called the manager as I wanted to pay for the extra two.Obviously not a regular occurrence but I dreamt about money last night so maybe the £2 was on my mind.
I have just trimmed Mr F's hair and beard - he was so shaggy. Mr F is planning to go to SA tomorrow - first time for over 4 weeks.

SuperLooperSaver

Hello again!

I took a large bag to the CS the other day - so I'll add 2 more to my total!

We are finally buying a house, after viewing loads, and we will move around spring, so there's a lot more decluttering to do!  It has carpet in the bathroom!

Enjoying any moving house tips I come across.  Numbering boxes sounds good.  I keep a list of addresses to change, but it won't be up-to-date, as I've not moved for a few years now.

SuperLooperSaver.

London_1

Condolences Brie on your loss , just remember the good and forget the bad or sad times xx

Well last night I felt so uncomfortable, and had a dreadful night, awake from 1.30 pm onwards ,just couldn't get comfortable at all.

DD insisted I go to the Drs, so I phoned at 10.30 am this morning explained to the lovely receptionist what had happened (the facial bruises are starting to appear (and I look like I've done 10 rounds with Tyson)

at 10.45 the surgery rang back to say they have squeezed me in for 12.noon I was really pleased

My super son-in-law Simon took me in his car as I was even finding it difficult to walk let alone drive. I saw a lovely lady Dr and she examined me thoroughly and says she pretty sure I've cracked a couple of ribs.
She gave me a script for some stronger painkillers and looked at my knee and said she's going to refer me to orthopaedics as she thinks my osteoarthritis is starting up in my left leg

 I've had it in my right leg since 1973 and back then my old doctor said I'd be wheelchair bound by the time I was 40. But being a cussed person I've just kept going, and although I'm registered disabled as my right leg and hip joints are basically clapped out I just won't give in.

I try to keep walking, and today its a bit more of a hobble ,but last Thursdays fall was my left knee just refusing to hold me up hence I went down on the stairs like a sack of spuds. O the joys of growing old

So tomorrow Simon is taking me for an Xray at St Mary's hospital at Newport ,  as she said the Xray will go to the consultant and I will get a letter for an appointment  to see him .The Island NHS is amazing but then the population isn't very large so probably why it works more quickly.

Fingers crossed tonight I'll at least get some sleep as I'm just about to take the third lot of painkillers and they do make you feel quite sleepy

Its certainly a lot colder today and still quite windy. My carpet chap came and laid the carpet this afternoon and the builder put the outside tiles on the window ledge and the building work should be completed tomorrow afternoon.Then Thursday my new chair comes and Simon wll start moving stuff downstairs for me.Curtain are ready to be hung and definitely by Friday I'll at last be settled in my sitting room.Its been a long time but I'm so pleased with the results

Right time for my meds and hopefully off to the land of Nod

Take care and keep warm chums

JackieO xx 

weenancyinAmerica

Oh JackieO - sounds like a bad fall. I think I hit 75 and am totally falling apart so I know the feeling. Still have bruises from my fall when I was attacked by an unassembled (still in box) bookcase from IKEA (the tall bookcase). Hope you get better soon and can relax comfortably in your new sitting room.

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: Dry bright day but still breezy & chilly with a high of 7°C. I was up at 08:00 but have done nothing apart from knit & clear down programmes from the planner. DH went out on the bike so he could clock up 10,000 miles for this year 😉 + he made soup. I tidied a corner of the living room. Dinner was the rest of the pork with mash & baked beans. 

268 - 274 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, brochure, newspaper, cardboard box, magazine, large tin - recycled

275 - 277 Kitchen, lr & office detritus binned

I will concentrate tomorrow & catch up with the cheerleading 🤞Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 2029/2024: New Target 366:  277/366

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £681.70

GrannyKate

Morning all - hugs and condolences where needed.  @SuperLooperSaver - the box numbering has worked well.  I have 21 boxes unpacked out of over a 100.  I know that 3 contain things listed for sale, 8 are toys (mostly lego) but some can be in the house or may go to DS2 when he is more sorted, 10 are photos and albums - the last need sorting and I do have a plan for the remaining ones but parking that until after rewiring done.  Waiting on roofer still.  Smart meters done yesterday and rewire starts 6 January.  DS2 is going to dismantle fitted wardrobes after Christmas so we can start on main bedroom as soon as wiring is done. The carpet in the bathroom is a pain as DGS4 is not fond of showers unless he can play and I have no bath.  I got a waterproof bath mat but concerned as floor underneath is wood.  Need to get bathroom remodelled and sorted asap.  I packed quite a few boxes early on and I have found that they contained the most items I didn't need or want and there have been quite a few trips to CS and tip.  

I did quite well with the frogs the other day and reduced a huge in-box to zero and binned all the junk off computer.  Two days later I have 10 things in in-box but have managed to delete lots of junk as it comes in on the phone.  I need to unsubscribe lots of things again particularly all that for buying and selling houses.  

1707 Smart meters fitted and old ones taken away
1708 Six weeks worth of photos downloaded.  Mostly to do with houses, tradesmen meter readings etc so lots just deleted
1709 Many hundreds of emails dealt with
1710 Christmas cards posted
1711 Three boxes for DGD1 put with stuff to take down on 22nd
1712 Drive cleaned and treated - looks so much better and no longer slippery but needs extending and replacing.  Bill paid. 
1713 Christmas lights on main tree died - replaced yesterday and old ones to recycling this am
1714 Banking done and tried to estimate outgoings for next year.  I have new books ready to start using on 1 January
1715 Boxes down to 21 - checked there is nothing I can empty at the moment

With regard to changes of address I had a rough list I had been adding to over the last few months and as I do one I make a list in my main 'moving' notebook of who it was, method (ie on line, phone) and date.  I have been very surprised as to just how many there were to do and yesterday I thought of a few more (Family history societies I belong to) - looking through my archived email folders and saved documents has also highlighted some I had forgotten.  It cost £96 for redirection for a year for myself and DS2.  I stuck to one new address as it would have been £150 to redirect DS2's post to his new address rather than everything here.  I have taken advantage of Christmas and I am including printed change of address sheets in cards for family and friends.  

It's 10 and I'm not dressed so shower time and then I need to pop out.  Children are coming a day early so mother can do extra shifts but their dad will feed them.  Going over to the old area and will drop stuff at tip and go to small SM to avoid spending silly amounts on tat.