2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

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

Saturday is another gloriously sunny day but unfortunately there is a strong biting wind as well. High 18°C low 6°C DH is on the phone chatting to his DSis - phone call usually lasts about an hour as she can talk for England 😅 I am starting on Thursday’s posts:

Dizzycap, what a great top 🤩 Is there no end to your talents 😊 I am hoping you will post pictures of your other creations in due course 🤞 I am keeping everything crossed that if a vet visit was required, that Minky Taz Girl was given the all clear 🙏 Loved the clipping 😊

Lovely cheerleading Moorviews 😊 Sorry to hear that you were exhausted on Thursday ☹️ so I hope you managed to get some rest 🤞

_Dolly_Rocker_, pleased to hear that you feel slightly better 🙂 & hope that you continue to recover 🤞Excellent & eclectic decluttering which is worthy of a medal 🏅 which is on its way 😊

CRANKY40, sorry to hear that DS has been in a lot of pain 😞 Sending healing vibes that he is improving & that physio will help him recover more quickly 🙏 Excellent decluttering which has earned you & DS a medal🏅 🏅 each 😊

Excellent decision on Thursday morning TC77 👏 By putting one pair of trousers in the CS bag & wearing a different pair you effectively decluttered 2 items - I completely understood 😊 I am very impressed, as from memory, in the past you would have changed your trousers & put the ill fitting pair back in the wardrobe 😉 In honour of your new found resolve I am awarding you a medal🏅 

Dizzycap, great news that Minkzie Taz Baby Devil didn’t need to go to the vet on Thursday 🥳 Loved that you managed to MacGyver a solution to babyface’s desire for a bath 🤩 So impressed in fact that I am awarding you a medal 🏅 I do hope you managed to rest after all your exertions 🙏

dND, pleased to hear that you did get a call back from the doctor 🙂 Hopefully once you have completed the blood test forms, the actual blood tests will take place quickly with quick results; so that a proper treatment plan can be put into effect 🙏 Please be careful of your back & try not to overdo it in the garden 🙏

suzeesu2000, sorry to hear that you have been so poorly & I do hope that you are now on the road to recovery 🤞 Excellent work getting the laundry done & some great decluttering 👏 However, please try not to overdo it, whilst you are still recovering 🙏

Muddy_Walker, gorgeous pictures 😍 

Brie, love This “decluttering by association.....the gardener has come and decluttered the grass from the lawn” 😊 Definitely counts as you are disposing of the grass 👏

I have reached the end of a page & the end of my cuppa 😉 so a perfect place to stop & have a break. I hope everyone has sunshine & is having as good a day as possible 🤞see you later 👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 622/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

_Dolly_Rocker_

Loving all the nice pics so here's one of Bailey and Luna.

Yoshimi2025

Deleted Instagram x 2
Felt like I wanted to do it for ages, haven’t had Facebook for years.
Then deleted 72 saved passwords from my Apple account! 72!!! 

3 plant pots ditched also. 

CRANKY40

I've outdone myself today. DS kindly lifted the bags of gardening stuff hiding under the table out onto the floor for me to sort out. Gardening never really had a chance last year. First we had a weeks holiday in May and then when we got home I had an operation on my knee the next week. That put me out of action for long enough to not plant or grow anything other than what was already out there. 

There was other stuff stashed in the bags such as a file containing DS's schoolwork at home from covid lockdown, some seeds that somehow became separated from the usual seed storage place and other junk. There was even half a packet of biscuits from the last time DS helped one of our friends in their garden. Anyway, 55 things relocated either to the charity shop bag, the recycling bin or to the general rubbish.

DS built the small solar fountain that we also didn't do anything with last year. We've put rocks and pebbles in the bottom so that there is somewhere for bees to land and also to make sure that if anything falls in then it can get out again. I also found the saw that I need for cutting down some more of the ivy. 

Florenceem

I decluttered some weeds yesterday while I was waiting for my lift - surprising the difference it made - weeds were growing by my drive gates.
This morning I popped to SA to print a label - was asked if I was available next week to unlock/lock up and supervise volunteers. At least I won't be going to visit Mr F in hospital.
Wrapped and labelled a V sale then walked into town.
I popped to the community shop - treated Mr F to some cheese.
£land still had the 3 packs of Turkish Delight for £1 so I stocked up for me and got some for my friend.
Got some more cash and managed not to lose any today.
After taking the parcel to the off licence - I splashed out on a Gypsy Tart - Mr F and I like them.
The bus saw me coming and left before I got to the stop as usual.
The hospital phoned to say that Mr F was on the way to me - it was meant to be after lunch - good job I was at home.
So I have Mr F home after 20 days. He came home with a zimmer frame so we have one upstairs and one down now.
Mr F is managing to get himself in and out of his chair + to the cloakroom and using the toilet - all things I had to help with in January when he was discharged from hospital. Mr F only had 4 days in the rehab unit.
While I was on the bus home - I was people watching - folk don't know what to wear - there is a chilly wind off the sea but sunshine too. Clothes ranged from winter coats and hats/gloves to shorts and flip flops.

Brie

Glad to hear that Mr F is so much better than previously.  Long may it remain so!!!

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

I have my 2nd cuppa, as does DH & am settling down to another session of cheerleading:

florianatwobob, I will join you in being excited about ‘bulky waste collections’ 😁 It is a lovely feeling to see large items taken away especially if you don’t have to wait weeks 👏 We are a lot luckier here, as we get Two free collections per year for up to 5 items 🙂 Not quite sure how putting up the price & reducing the number of items is conducive to getting people to use the bulk waste collection service rather than fly tipping 🧐 Very weird 🤔 Great news that you are not at risk of redundancy 🥳 & can now plan ahead 😮‍💨 

Florenceem thank you for the compliment about my knitting 😊 What a kind gentleman to walk you home & carry your bag on Wednesday night 🥹 So pleased to hear that the cottage hospital where MrF is having his rehab is such a lovely place 🥹  It sounds like he is doing really well & I will keep everything crossed that he will be fit enough to come home at the weekend 🤞🙏

Broke off to let DSis look at the jewellery I had set aside for the CS. She is now grinning like a Cheshire Cat as she is the proud owner of a gold bracelet, a pair of gold earrings (both of which she is wearing) & a white metal chain. It is lovely to see her smiling so much 🥹 Also means I can bump up my numbers 😉

623 - 625 Jewellery to DSis

Dizzycap, loving all the tales of babyface 🥹 She is a real character & I love that she chases the ‘bully pigeon’ 👏 I especially love that you have such a charming way of curbing her enthusiasm …… by dressing her in neon pink 🤣 I think I would probably hide & sulk if I was made to wear pink let alone neon pink 🤣 Pleased to hear that after all the activity you both managed to get a good rest 😊 Excellent work with your listings & good luck for quick sales 🍀 which will probably mean you need more boxes 😉 How exciting that there might be two king swans 😊 & fingers crossed that you get to see the fox cubs frolicking even if it will be accompanied by lots of noise🤞

DH has left it very late to head out on his walk 16:40 but at least the sun is still out 😊

Brambling, hope you enjoyed your lunch out on Thursday ☺️ A pity you don’t like the rearrangement of furniture in the lounge 😔 Please, please make sure that once you decide on the next rearrangement that you get help moving any heavy furniture 🙏 I don’t want you to injure yourself. 

sqwiffy, my solution to the issue of losing a post is to type everything up on iPad notes & then when finished I copy & paste into MSE, do a quick read through to check for poor grammar & spelling mistakes & then post asap. Touch wood it has worked so far 😉 Shame about the cancelled lunch date ☹️ Hopefully you can get the car fixed & rearrange soon 🤞 Good luck decluttering the table 🍀

Dizzycap, great cheerleading & encouragement for sqwiffy 👏 I adore that photo of babyface 🥹

Thursday’s posts are replied to, my coffee cup is empty & I am ready for a little break 😉 See you later 👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 625/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

florianatwobob

Oh how I envy you your free bulky waste collections Mrs SD!! The local housing association occasionally has an estate tidy up day for their tenants and as we’re on a mixed housing estate the home owners get to benefit too from the skips that are brought in. Unfortunately we’ve not had one for about 2 years. Those really do help with fly tipping!

The flip side of decluttering and my council’s approach to recycling etc is that you do find yourself really considering what you’re buying and how easy it would be to recycle/dispose of items when they reach the end of their life. 

Many garden weeds decluttered from the front and back gardens today. Still more to get rid of but my sciatic nerve is telling me that it will be having much to say for itself if I carried on today. 

I did however get to sort out my ‘strawberry patch’  (it’s a huge pot) which has been in my to do list for about 3 years. Quite pleased with myself for that! Now, if I’m lucky, the snails and birds might share some with me for a change. 

Whilst all this we were being closely supervised by the resident Robin. At one point he was sat on the top of the fence about a foot above my head. Very brave and nosey! 

sqwiffy

Dizzycap, such a funny little dog photo, made ny day . Nice looking cake Liverpool Anne. I feel like baking now but I have to try and finish that table! Which I managed as you can see by my photo. However it does show the need for another job which is restaining it after we had a rather tipsy visitor spilt red wine and DH sanded it as it wouldn't wash out. Some of the filing is still underway as I took it up to my loftroom ( which is my room of doom) but I have done most of it. I'm not brave enough to show you a photo of that room yet.

Lovely to hear Mr F is coming home Florenceem and pleased that you haven't decluttered any more tenners! It's hard to keep up Scratters, like your idea. I give myself little rewards to do jobs too. Today after I'd ticked something off my task list, I gave myself half an hour in the sunshine reading my book!  DND, I was asked to go for a blood test ( ours are just wait, no appointments) for my testosterone, after waiting and my turn was told they are special ones and can only be done at 9.05 and 9.25 so I had to pay parking and come another day! Did that, and then when results came back, was told my testosterone was way too high and had a gone within 8 hours of using the testostogel. So I now need to return again! Why do they not tell you these things before you go for the test? Dollyrocker, so good to see those two enjoying the daffodils. Cranky40, well done, can we see a photo? Mrs SD, you're so organised! It was my friends car that broke down, not mine.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, reporting in now as I am out tomorrow morning to meet the baby I haven't yet been able to see in the park and when I get back I will be watching the footy on tv 😁. 
I have had a reasonably successful day. I got into the loft and have cleared about a fifth of the carp out onto the landing. I hoovered the landing first and put down a pair of old curtains to keep it clean, mostly 😂. Everything brought down was wiped with a damp rag to help keep the dust under control. So the scores on the doors so far are 3 big cardboard boxes broken down and into the recycling. 2 bin bags of packaging into the bin, those polystyrene noodles get everywhere 😂. A bag of paper packaging into the recycling.. 2 bin bags of carpet and underlay off cuts into the bin. Lots of little bits of carp into the bedroom bin which was emptied twice. I have found 4 king size duvets 😲, one will have to be sent to the cleaners as the plastic bag was ripped. 4 pieces of what I think is bathroom carpet, one was bright pink and I am accepting no responsibility for it as I know I would never have chosen it. I will unpack them and measure them and put them on the freesite if they are ok. If there are no takers they will go to the tip. Also found 2 rugs that I will use so that's a win. A very heavy wooden tool box that I think was my ddad's full of tools that I will have to sort through but amongst other things were some short nails and those U shaped nail things that I will be able to use when I fix ln's fence one day next week, so another win. 2 big bags of yarn, one from my dmum and one with a wip that must have been mine. The pattern is with it but I have no idea where I am up to with it and no idea if I have enough yarn to finish it 😂. I will get to it at some point 😂. 2 very old tins of paint binned, not accepting responsibility for these as I would never put paint in the loft. Also found 3 bin bags of towels, tea towels and pillow slips 😲. Naturally they all need a wash and sort out. 1 load done and left on the line to dry, at least 3 more loads to do but they can wait a day or two. Also brought down a hard suitcase, luckily empty 😂. The pull along handle was broken by some careless luggage handler last time it was used. Not sure what to do with that as it is otherwise ok and even has the keys with it. What do people think? 4 things put aside for the cs.Finally the kitchen bin was emptied and my wheelie bin is now nearly full and I may have to ask ln if I can put something in hers if I run out of space 😂. I didn't make it into the garden for a tidy up but I did take a break and had coffee over the fence with ln with a piece of fruit cake as I was in need of a break and some fresh air 😂.
I finished up after tea, put the ladders back, removed the curtains and took them outside for a good shake, hoovered the landing again and have had a shower and washed my hair. I am going to watch the footy highlights now and have a cuppa and then to bed 😁.

Lovely photos of dogs 😁
Hugs to everyone who would like one

449 - 451 cardboard boxes
452 & 453 bags of packaging binned
454 bag of paper packaging recycled
455 & 456 bags of carpet and underlay binned
457 & 458 tins of paint
459 & 460 bedroom bin
461 kitchen bin
Take care everyone
461/2025