2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, up late because I was watching something on the tv but a good day today 😁. Bedroom bin, lr bin, 3 sessions of ironing, 1 cardboard box recycled, 1 bin bag of hard plastic to the tip and..... drum roll please, the top box to the tip 😁 so the hall is clear again. After tea I did some crochet, about 2/3 done now😁

@Florenceem I really don't know what to say 😪 big hugs. What @Brie said sounds like a plan, ask for a hospital bed with pull up sides so Mr F won't be getting up without someone to help him and it might be worth you speaking to your Drs for you as I feel your stress levels are reaching a critical level, not sure what they can do but I just feel someone needs to know how stressed you are.

@Vulpix yes I think that pattern could be sized up, let me know how you get on with it when you have tried it. I don't think I will be in London on the 19th, the match I am hoping to get to is actually in March, usually Feb but it's moved and I am not going to see my sister just yet but I hope one or more of the southern based declutterati can make it 😁

@Willowtree222 good idea, I will try olio with the candle jar 😁

@CRANKY40 hope you recover quickly, hugs

@Mrs SD, yes I do love that radio presenter, I have listened to him for years, he is so funny at his own expense and I have to say during the pandemic he really helped to keep me sane 😁

@Brambling I think PITA is just trying to make sure you get enough sleep 😁

@Squiffy Aussie is very cute 😁

Right off to bed now
Hugs to everyone who would like one

146 bedroom bin
147 lr bin
148 hard plastic to the tip
149 top box to the tip
150 - 152 ironing
153 cardboard box recycled
Take care everyone
153/2025

Duchess2

Because I worked so hard on the deep cleaning on Sunday I decided to let my back recover from furniture moving and did absolutely zilch yesterday. The aerial man turned up with lots of tutting and sharp intakes of breath (as they do) and gave me a quote for the best part of £500!!!!! We already have sky q and aerial was a backup, so I politely declined. A little research whilst sitting on my derrière came up with air tv services and satellite not being sustainable past 2030 according to ofcom and streaming services being the way to go. So I downloaded a Freeview app to my smart tv.  I can get all the programmes I would normally watch without an aerial over the internet.

Loving all the pet pictures. I don’t pray personally but I hope your faith brings you some comfort in your current difficulties @Florenceem. Caring for my DM broke me physically and mentally. Stick to your guns my love. You owe it to yourself xx

TC77

I will catch up reading on way too work but want to update while I remember some things.
Sold dd1's glass dining table that has been here for over 18 months and used while mine sold and waiting for my dad's.. counting as 2 as v heavy glass section is separate to base!
Surplus new chopping board, mug and other kitchen items in cs bag  4 
Paper declutter, unsubscribing, ood food , 2 jars I might have kept for donation hub. Too wet on Sunday to talk to.drop off but hoping they'll accept this week. Submitted cat insurance claim from sometime ago and modest financial frog.
Somewhere  I have a list of items so will check and add if I find 236. 

Florenceem

Brie - I have prayed and thought about Mr F. He must sleep upstairs - I am no good with disturbed sleep which I would have if he were downstairs. Tiredness can bring on a Meniere's attack.
Brambling - yes I have heard about carers - I am not going to have them. If Mr F is fit to return home - he won't need one. Lovely cat.
sqwiffy - beautiful bird. We had a budgie when I was a child.
Liverpool_Anne - a hospital bed would have to be downstairs and as I said above - I wouldn't get the restful sleep that I need as I would be upstairs worrying. I would still have to come down in the night - take down the sides and help Mr F to the toilet. 

Willowtree222

Bins empt9ed today but frustrating something blocked it and it was only half emptied. I can still carry on decluttering and getting rid of waste but it means a couple of tip runs. Nothing impossible anyway. Would have just preferred to have my normal bin.

CRANKY40

Good morning, 

I'm still very sore and didn't declutter anything yesterday. I'm going to be looking for waist level things today as bending down really hurts. I need to take ds over to the city to have his cv looked at by the uni carreers team before he applies for some placements.

@Brambling our cat does that too. She started yelling at 10:30pm last night. That is my cue to turn on the heated throw on my chair and go to bed. She will come and sit on my bed for 15-20 minutes then she'll stand up and wants me to follow her. We go back to my chair, I move the cushion that has been keeping the seat warm and the cat climbs up and goes to bed.  So spoilt!

@Liverpool_Anne thank you for your good wishes. 
@Florenceem I'm thinking of you 

Take care all of you 😊

kiss_me_now9

Oh @Florenceem what a poor outcome. I do feel for you! 

If you don't mind a bit of a me-rail, as a therapist as well, my questions are: 

1) Why do they not know how he dresses himself? A self care assessment would highlight a lot of things (I do one or two a week, and often on my ward we have several a day going on, they are incredibly useful for showing problems with function and processing that other activities or just seeing someone move do not show) and they should be doing one. If you normally have a shower at home, they should use this in the assessment (there will be one somewhere on some ward). 

2) They are unfortunately correct that Mr F has a right to return to his home, it doesn't really matter how much equity/share he's put into it. However that needs to be done in a safe and practical manner, and sending him back with no adjustment is not either of those for either of you. 

3) Are they keeping his catheter in long term now? If so how are they supposing that gets emptied at home? As you will not be willing to do it (and should not suggest you will) and it doesn't sound like Mr F would be able to do so himself? If he has it out they will need to assess his toileting needs. How will a urine bottle and commode be emptied (if he can't get to the toilet)? Is that something you're willing to do? Why hasn't he been going to the toilet on the ward - just using a bedpan? Have they assessed his mobility fully? 

4) Have they done night diaries/24 hour diaries? What do those show? 

5) How have they determined he needs a bed downstairs? Is that through an assessment of his ability to do the stairs or is that because they've decided it's easier? What space do you have downstairs? It sounds like they're suggesting a micro-environment for him upstairs. In my experience these often do not work for people with cognitive impairments well because it's totally abnormal to them. 

6) How will he manage his medication and meals? Is that something you're willing to do again or is that something they'll need to put care in for as you do not feel able to do so? 

7) When you aren't in the home, what will he do? Is he safe to be left alone? It is not fair to ask you to be with him 24/7 if you do not agree to do so. 

8) If you both would be more comfortable with him upstairs, is he safe on the stairs? Is he likely to go walking around at night or is his mobility too poor for that now? How will he get up the stairs in the first place? 

Care can go a long way but it doesn't sound practical in this instance. Have you had care at home before? In my trust unless things are incredibly different and difficult at home we have to go with care at home as the first line of attack - it's all to do with the latest Government policy of Home First/Discharge to Assess. It sucks, if I'm honest, and often ends up with readmission because it isn't practical and it doesn't work. We have a social care team who will reject all our recommendations for respite/placement if the individual hasn't been at home with care first. I hate it. Often our hands are completely tied and we have to offer options that are far less than ideal. It is often counterproductive and confusing at best for people. 

It will likely take some time for care to be found if they keep on pushing that direction so there is some time to get the above questions answered. I'm so sorry you weren't met with compassion and empathy for your situation. Unfortunately sometimes people even in these professions lack the ability to think beyond their job role at what they're asking families to do. If you can find another therapist to talk through your concerns with, then you may find a bit more willingness to have a discussion rather than be told what is happening. 

vulpix

Hi,

 Welcome to the decluttering thread to any new people I may have missed. The thread is so busy I am struggling to keep up. I am looking forward to hearing about your journey.

 Get well wishes to poorly people.xx

Beautiful cat Brambling, such a squishy face.

Beautiful bird sqiffy, he looks the picture of health. My Mum always had a budgie and they were all called Joey. 

Fabulous result about the top box LiverpoolAnne. It will be a while before I can try to alter the the pattern, I will do it though. I would like to get a few crafts out of the way before starting a new one! There is the chair cover, I want to make a sausage dog toy , finish knitting and sew up 3 baby jumpers and I have an idea for an embroidery.

Fabulous result about the table TC77.

Mrs SD, Enjoy your family time on 19th. I really would like to catch up with you again. It would be better when the weather warms up a bit.

Wednesday, I have to confess the only thing I know about London is where it is on a map.I would happily be guided by you for 19th or any other time if it's not convenient to others who would like to come. I know you are Vegan so eating out sounds good to me! I have to say ,I can't do lots of walking any more due to rubbish bones!

Sticky, I will be North Oxfordshire so we will be neighbours. My DIL is a teacher and DGS's nursery is on half term but she is taking her Mum for radiotherapy all week. Not on the 19th though. I do come down fairly regularly so we can definitely catch each other another time.

Mr V made a "thing" last weekend. An electrical thing in a big flight case. Anyhoo he is in the studio tidying up after it and is chucking stuff away with gay abandon. Wires,leads, other electrical gubbins I know not what. I am very happy about this. He has realised that sorting his sheds now will save DSS a massive job in the future. He has made massive progress and keeps chipping away at it. He has gone from a double garage full to the roof and front to back to a 5 x 8 studio where you can walk in and sit down at the desk.
 Mr V and I differ in our tidyness styles. I like to tidy everyday in the house. I tidy downstairs before I go to bed so I don't get up to it. Mr V dumps stuff in the studio until you can't get in and then has a day sorting it all out. Horses for courses.

My weight loss has had a severe disruption with my trip down South last week. I have lost 2lbs . still that's better that 2 on.

Hahaha,oops we are going out for a meal next week with some people from Mr V's band days. The aim is research for my book idea. That's a very over due frog. How is Mr D's book coming on Daisy?

 it is very difficult to type with a Fomo lay on my arm,he is lovely and warm though. It is Up Helly Aa in Lerwick tonight. It will be live streamed from 7pm. Highly recommend if you are interested. DD1 and OH are having an up Helly Aa live stream party. It is a Huge day in the Shetlands, Bigger than Christmas. All the different Viking Squads visit halls all around town afterwards and perform funny sketches. There's food and dancing and lots of drinking until tomorrow morning. Tomorrow little will be done in the Shetland Islands.

Better shake a leg. Vx

Florenceem

kiss_me_now9 - thank you for your input. 
I have ordered a waterproof mattress cover but it won't arrive until tomorrow at the earliest. Surely I have to be given time and notice before they discharge Mr F?
I took 2 trolley and 2 bags full to the charity shop this morning.
I walked down to see if the £2 charity shop was open after the plumbing issue. It is so I walked home and took a trolley and bag full there.
I am down to 14 bags of V items to declutter now.
By this time it was wet and windy. I didn't fancy an uphill walk home so I went down to the harbour to get a bus. I nearly got blown over!
I was soaked through on my legs - the water was running off my coat onto my jeans.
I have done nearly 9,000 steps so far today.
About to have my meal.

kiss_me_now9

Give the ward a call @Florenceem and check what their plans are. I'd be very surprised if they have made plans to get him home today/tomorrow (but not entirely unusual unfortunately, due to the bed pressures at the moment, but not you or Mr Fs problem).