2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Fizz2015

Hope everyone has been able to enjoy the lovely sunshine today. We visited a carboot but left after a 10min wizz round. Either traders or some really random stuff being sold. Nothing caught our eye thankfully. Stopped for a lovely walk on the way home, the views were amazing.

@Muddy_Walker and you in Wales? That park looks familiar. 

TC77

@Muddy_Walker wow, lovely photos, looks wonderful.
@vulpix not sure how stylish I am, default at weekend jeans (but found a flattering flared pair at CS) and jumper, -Can I ask what SYLO is? I can only think of style your left overs?
Seem to do so much less these days, sit down for a few minutes and half the day has gone.
Long walk with a friend and her dog, we do a few circuits of the park but nothing like MW's photos.
Dropped off electrics/cables to donation hub but didn't look out more to take.
Small bits of rubbish out, but did sort some papers and some shredding, counting as 7 so didn't meet my target but if I didn't declare a large figure I would have done less. Washing done and some ironing
373 
I need to do a little each day, only did the paperwork as couldn/t find something and spent more time looking than tidying

Dizzycap

Good evening all

@ Muddy_Walker - Lovely pictures Home from home xxx "I think Babyface has more bedding than all of us put together 🤣🤣🤣" Naturally Minxy girl has finally found her 'voice' again this evening after a rather croaky initial start of 5 minutes hopping between high strangled chicken noises and low out of tune Barry White grunts, and it wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination - ouch! And she actuially cleared her throat in between attempts and then looked at me before another try, which made it even funnier - A total comedian and never a dull moment at Animal Farm *Oink, baaar, moooo 

I honestly can't believe how much I've achieved today with washing, cleaning & even listing, even though I said I had lost me mo-jo with listing, I suddenly found inspiration I think because it gave me an opportunity to stop & sit down for a while with a large glass of water & several mugs of coffee One of the neighbours popped over to bring me several medium flatpack boxes to hopefully, recycle out again with decluttered items in That's saved me a Mr. Sains trip next week xxxx I'm hoping to potter around the garden a little tomorrow but I've got 3 appointments to get to. Babyface in the morning and then 2 Dr's in the afternoon, so it might be a tall order, especially as I know I'm really going to pay for today, but things had to be done and I wasn't going to off load my responsibilty of looking after babyface who is now conked out on her back with baby in mouth xx

Time is now ticking on, nighty night all as I pop off to make one more coffee before we go off to Bedfordshire or is that bedlum? A peaceful evening and night  & hugs to all xxxxx

sqwiffy

That's a super new room Granny Kate. Really, we need to do decorating in several rooms. We had damp all along a side wall where cavity wall insulation had crumbled and was wet, We had to get it taken out and leave it to dry out then later we'll have to do all along that side of the house. It's not helped by our living on houses that were originally marshland. If you lift up floorboards under the stairs when the water table is high, you can see the water. We have to make sure there's good airflow.

I hope your house sale went through today Crazycatlady. It's a stressful process. Please post some photo's. Which reminds me, Dizzycap, that's a fantastic garden. Mine's a postage stamp but it's more gardening than I want sometimes! I haven't done too much here since getting back home yesterday.

Today Saturday, along with my sisters, mum and some of the other ladies in the family have been invited to a neice's for an afternoon tea to celebrate mother's day. Then we've been invited to DD2's for an evening with cheese, wine and games. Well, its Sunday now. The afternoon tea was super and we all had fun as only girls can do when they get together. We had prosecco as well as tea and then I drank more wine than usual in the evening ( nd OH is able to drive again which saved a taxi fare as he's not a drinker) so that I was dehydrated and a little hung over the next morning. Serves me right! Then we were off to Sunday lunch at DD1 with her partners DM too. After a delicious lunch, DD1, her Ronnie, my DH and I went for a long walk in the beautiful sunshine. I was expecting to go back to look after my DM tonight but got a message to say my DN was staying over so I wouldn't be needed until Mon night. So DH and I were able to have a binge night of all our recorded programmes.

Dizzycap, don't fight that fatigue. You need the rest. That babyface keeps you very busy.  Liverpool Anne, that CS is nowhere near you. It's in a place called Cowplain.  Diminua - Millie is cute. Muddy walker - Well done on the crochet. I know what you mean. At my Art group some of our more experienced artists sometimes give unsolicited advice to newbies and it can take away the joy of just creating and make them feel that they can never achieve as they compare themselves. I think you should only give constructive opinions IF asked and only then, be kind. I find most people will improve their own work if they are given time and examples around them. Mrs SD, thanks for your encouragement. Vulpix - great dolls, I'm sure they'll be loved and what a lovely idea for a gift for your mum, a memory. WeeNancy, at last someone in your house who helps rather than hinders! Cranky40 - I'd have to go to Malta for my christening church so might need to wait for that. My DD's both know I hate all that commercial stuff and would rather have time with them than gifts and if they must buy things, a small token is enough. Lets face it, when you get older, you don't really need stuff often as you usually already have enough!

Muddy_Walker

Helloooo awake at stupid o’clock having woken up almost every hour needing a pee 🤬 I do have a few things on my mind and of course at gone midnight worries seem even bigger grrr.
I am in Wales - SE Wales about 20 miles (I think) from Cardiff. That’s as close as I can narrow it whilst being “safe online”!
I did some more of the scarf yesterday evening and having counted carefully have decluttered (ok lost) about 9 stitches from the sides. Never mind I’m enjoying making it and hubby will be thrilled once it’s done ☺️

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Dinner was delicious 🤤 Roast - pork, potatoes, parsnips & carrots plus cabbage, cauliflower, Yorkshire puddings, hm gravy not forgetting the crackling 😋 Much as I love a roast dinner the amount of washing up is huge & seems to take forever 😞 Wudupa

588 - 589 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

589 - 590 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned 

Still on Saturday’s posts which I will try to get through - wish me luck 🍀

vulpix, you must be getting excited now - especially as you are getting the suitcases out of the loft 😜 MrV is a bit of a joker isn’t he 😉 Excellent work sorting out your clothes etc & earmarking even more to be decluttered 👏 Good luck finishing the knitted toys 🍀 unless of course you get distracted by finishing your DS’s jumper & starting a matching one for DGS 😂

Lovely to see you D123456789 👋 & you don’t need to declutter anything to pop in & have a chat 😉 Well done losing weight 😊 & Excellent decluttering by both you & LO 👏 I will keep my fingers crossed that some gentle persuasion will finally persuade your DH that decluttering is a good thing 🤞

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear that your treatment followed by household tasks led to you being “overtired & grouchy” 😔 Beautiful colours & well done on teaching yourself to crochet 👏 Obviously we are friendlier here on MSE  😂

vulpix, the knitted dolls are brilliant 🤩 I especially love the pig 😊

Dizzycap, what a lovely way to spend the rest of your Saturday ☺️ What a wonderful Mum you have 🤩 here are some flowers for her 💐  So pleased to hear that babyface is continuing to recover so well ☺️ I haven’t had chow mein for years & now I know what I will be ordering the next time we have Chinese 😉 Excellent decluttering 👏 & good luck with the new listings 🍀

Excellent decluttering of crafting materials Soontobeoap 👏 Please don’t worry about letting other decluttering take a back seat as you will come to a natural halt on decluttering crafting supplies 😊

QueenJess, I totally agree with your comments about  “sad backstories” & This “ The reality is things stack up and you don't notice when you are busy and one day it's overwhelming.  No need for any other reason.” is so true 👏 Personally I would like to see a bit more of the cleaning, decluttering & repopulating the house 😉 Excellent work defrosting the freezer 👏 Thanks for the apple & blackberry crumble with custard - it was delicious 😋 

Florenceem, shame the table top sale was so quiet but you still managed to raise a decent amount of money for SA funds 👏 Pleased to hear that you managed a surprise visit to see  MrF & that he was seen by a doctor 🥹 I wish the dolls were mine but it was vulpix who knitted them 😊

Muddy_Walker, looking forward to finding out what the yarn is called as I would love to knit a scarf in those colours 😊

weenancy, so sorry to hear that Idiot One & Idiot Two are making life so difficult & depressing 😞 I must confess that I cannot understand how either of them are being allowed to get away with so much “rather frightening s??t” both domestically & internationally 😢😞 Sending you many, many cwtches 🤗 

Great decluttering TC77 👏 Please don’t be so hard on yourself - remember you are working full time & it will take a bit of time to get back into the swing of things after your ‘Gap Month’ 🙏 Good luck with your listings of the dresses 🍀

Brambling, as long as more books are going out than coming in, I really cannot see a problem 😊 Absolutely loved This “I did give my sister three items which were sitting in my table, she did leave muttering that three items would need to leave her house now, she is also decluttering.” 😂

Wonderful post weenancy 🥹 & so true 😊

Brambling, not an excuse just a perfectly reasonable explanation 😊

Dizzycap, what an absolutely brilliant start to your Sunday 🤩 I really enjoy hearing about babyface’s antics 🥹 so uplifting especially so soon after her op 🥹 As to not doing any listing, I think you have more than earned a rest & a chance to just potter 😊 Don’t forget to pop into the TLC Carriage 😊 I think there is still some apple & blackberry crumble left although all the custard has been consumed 😉

Managed to catch up on Saturdays posts, so just Sunday posts to reply to 🥳 Wishing you all a good night’s sleep 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 590/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

Dizzycap

Muddy_Walker said:

Helloooo awake at stupid o’clock having woken up almost every hour needing a pee 🤬 I do have a few things on my mind and of course at gone midnight worries seem even bigger grrr.
I am in Wales - SE Wales about 20 miles (I think) from Cardiff. That’s as close as I can narrow it whilst being “safe online”!
I did some more of the scarf yesterday evening and having counted carefully have decluttered (ok lost) about 9 stitches from the sides. Never mind I’m enjoying making it and hubby will be thrilled once it’s done ☺️

I'm with you on that one Muddy_Walker - up & down so many times I feel like a yo-yo and finally gave in with attempting to get any further limited sleep at 4am

The Tazmanian Babyface Devil has just thundered down the hallway and is ready for action - TAZ VIDEO The full Monty: Loo, cuddle, breakfast, drink & meds, baby game and now conked out snoring her head off with waggy tail and piggy grunts - someone's feeling good this morning and now it's time for dare I say, a peaceful mug of coffee before I get my backside into gear It looks like it's going to be another nice day with a lovely red pink sky as dawn broke Both of my Camelias have burst into blossom, the Magnolia has formed numerous buds, and the tulips have taken off with a glorious display of colour this morning - Lovely!

Time to get my backside in gear as it's a long day today with lots to do. Wishing eveyone a lovely peaceful & positive decluttering Monday - Take care all xxxx

TC77

Mrs SD thank you for all your encouragement and support  
Little cat dropped at vet for blood tests ( thyroid) and been advised big cat should be starved for 24 hours and then chicken - I'm on the way to the office and left a very unhappy big cat, he did have his first modest breakfast before I had the advice!
Unfortunately  I'm the wrong shape for tucking shirts in trousers generally which is the elegant style. Lost weight on holiday so have found 3 pairs of trews too big on hips / bottom  but for some reason waist hasn't reduced. Will keep to the Autumn and see if still the same shape but anything still too small is going as won't ever be that size again.
Forgot took 4 medicines back to pharmacy and 8 lots of paper decluttering. So much paper along wirh everything else so just need to keep going. Also lots of WhatsApp and text chains removed , counting as 10 so 22 to add.
388. 
Maybe tonight I can sort 12 things !

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Woke up at 09:00 to glorious sunshine & clear blue skies 😊 The forecast for Monday is mostly sunny with a high of 16°C & a low of 5°C & sunset at 19:32 👏 I have my first cuppa & have settled down to catch up with cheerleading Sunday’s posts: 

TC77, love the additional category of books 😉 It is so easy to get into a bit of a mess especially when you don’t know quite where to start 😉 However, I have every confidence in you & know that you can & will tackle each area/pile & will be successful 😊 After all, you have have done it before 👏 If I remember correctly you have a very nice piece of furniture in which your paperwork (once dealt with) can be stored 🤔 Good luck 🍀 I am keeping everything crossed that DD2 is starting to look forward to her study time in Australia 🤞

Excellent decluttering charlies_tribe 👏

Lovely cheerleading Moorviews ☺️ & excellent decluttering 👏 If you do decide to convert the dresses into tops and/or skirts, can I put in a request to see before & after pictures 🙏

Lovely cheerleading CRANKY40 👏 As to This “Mothering Sunday......breaking mother’s hearts all over the UK. I've banned it from our house for it just being a commercial monstrosity these days. It's true origin is that today you are supposed to attend a service at the church where you were christened - your "mother church" as it were. DS and I went in M&S last week (for a look, not a buy) and there were so many very expensive bouquets of flowers that we were surprised. I expected just a few extra flowers in the normal display but these had overrun into the clothes section.” I think that possibly all ‘special days’ have become “commercial monstrosities” 😢 and more to the point why wouldn’t you treat your Mum, Dad, partner etc with love & respect through the entire year not just on one day of the year 🤔 Excellent decluttering over the last few days 👏 Poor DS having to hail a black cab - not exactly the cheapest option 😧 Hope you had a successful day of decluttering & managed to take advantage of the nice weather 🤞

vulpix, good luck with the amendments to the piggy doll’s face 🍀 although I thought he was just perfect 😉 What a lovely, thoughtful gift for your Mum 🥹 Hope you have a wonderful holiday 😊 I hadn’t realised you were leaving it to the very last minute to pack 😉😉

London_1, what a lovely way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon - in the garden decluttering & potting on 😊 The saucer & teacup bird feeder sounds delightful & is obviously a hit with the birds 😊 Hopefully the ducks will be regular visitors now that they have found ‘you’ or should that be ‘your garden’ 🤞Sounds like both you & your DD had a lovely Mother’s Day 🥹 The wonders of technology making it possible to see each other across the miles 😊 How marvellous that you will get to see your 4 DGS over Easter 🥹 Good luck with the baking 🍀 Just thinking if you start now you just might have enough baked goodies to fill their hollow legs 😂 Hopefully the weather stayed fine & you managed to get your walk on the beach with the dogs 🤞

Muddy_Walker, what a gorgeous location 🤩 I do hope it was as warm as it looked 😉 I especially loved the photo of the nesting swan 😊

GrannyKate, lunch sounds wonderful 🥹 I do hope Sunday was a rest day from packing up the kitchen 🙏 Wishing you every success in getting your weight & blood sugar down by healthy eating 😊 

Dizzycap, talk about a busy Sunday 🤩 Whatever happened to a day of at least some rest 🤔 How lucky is babyface - she seems to have enough bedding to stock a shop 😉 I rather like the rename of Mothers Day to “Little Miss Naughty Happy Tyke Day” although it is a bit of a mouthful 😂 Hopefully the vet will be very pleased with babyface’s recovery 😊 

QueenJess, great work in the garden & excellent decluttering in DD’s room 👏 I am awarding your DD a medal 🏅 Also noticed that you sailed past your next decluttering target, so a Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way. Fingers crossed that the cuttings are both successful & that you have a choice for the shady corner planting 🤞

Florenceem, polyanthus is such a lovely flowering plant & very kind of you to give it to your friend ☺️ which I think you would have done even if you were green fingered 🥹 So sorry to hear about such a young lady passing away & so quickly 😔 especially tragic that a 15 year old has lost her mum 😢 Fingers crossed that the hospital staff remember to take MrF to his outpatient appointment 🤞 It would redeem them a little (at least in my eyes) as they have not covered themselves in glory so far 😞 Hopefully Monday’s counting with C won’t take too long & you will be able to get on with your day 🙏

Fizz2015, well done on not feeling like you had to buy anything 😉

TC77, “SYLO” is a reference to the Stacey Solomon show Sort Your Life Out 😉 This “Seem to do so much less these days, sit down for a few minutes and half the day has gone.” sounds horribly familiar 😅 Well done on dropping off the cables 👏 Steady decluttering which will pay dividends as you will soon start to notice a difference 😊

Dizzycap, This “Naturally 😆😆😆 Minxy girl has finally found her 'voice' again this evening after a rather croaky initial start of 5 minutes hopping between high strangled chicken noises and low out of tune Barry White grunts, and it wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination - ouch! And she actuially cleared her throat in between attempts and then looked at me before another try, which made it even funnier 😆😆 - A total comedian and never a dull moment at Animal Farm 😆 *Oink, baaar, moooo  ❤️” had me in stitches 🤣 After being so active & productive on Sunday, I am keeping everything crossed that you slept well & aren’t suffering too much today 🤞

sqwiffy, a lovely chatty post & some wonderful cheerleading 🥹 It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend ☺️ & such a lovely offer from your DN, giving you an unexpected night off 😇

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear about the sleepless night 😔 Fingers crossed it is a ‘one off’ & you will get a good night’s sleep tonight 🤞 I hope you will be kind enough to post a picture of the completed scarf as the colour scheme is so gorgeous 😊 I keep going back to look at the photo you posted the other day 😉 I can’t believe that it is already 4 pages back 😬 

Dizzycap, I love all the wonderful titles that you have for babyface ☺️ although This one “The Tazmanian Babyface Devil” might just be my favourite 😂

TC77, sorry to hear that both cats are under the weather 😞 & require extra attention adding to your busy days. Excellent decluttering 👏 As to the elegant style, could you get away with long tops over trousers with a thin belt around your waist 🤔 P.S. your previous post had you at 373 so plus 22 = 395 👏 

So happy, I have caught up 🥳 Hope everyone has a lovely day & that everyone is getting lots of lovely sunshine ☀️ See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 590/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

florianatwobob

@CRANKY40 my mum was also quite passionate about it being ‘Mother Church Day’ which did exempt us (to a degree) from the commercialisation aspects of Mother’s Day. She still got flowers, choccies and cards though and first dibs on the TV programmes that day.!

Bag of stuff taken to the air ambulance shop on Saturday and I have dutifully signed up to gift aid for them. 

Dropped 3 books off at Mr Waitrose for their free mini library. I’m beginning to think I may be devoted to Mr W purely for the ease of recycling items (and it’s my nearest supermarket).