2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Floss

YBR said:

Here 
Here you are:

Thats very handsome - I had 2 wicker Art Deco style chairs with those lovely curved arms in a previous 1930s house, bought for £10 each at the tip shop!

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

Oops I forgot Tuesday’s animal report: cows, sheep, horses, swifts, magpies, jackdaws, blackbirds, seagulls, bumblebees, a single red kite & best of all TWO Emus 😊 & have also forgotten to mention that I have seen lots of white & purple foxgloves.

Wednesday cont’d: DH had a full Scottish breakfast, juice & coffee whilst I had a bacon roll, toast & marmalade, juice & coffee. Went back to our room, finished packing then took everything down in one go & whilst DH loaded the bike I paid the bill. We were on the road by 10:00. Quite overcast but bright & dry with temperatures about 14°C. We headed off towards Oban via the Crinan Canal. DH dropped me off at Lock-gates 11 & 12 whilst he drove back to lock-gates 9 & 10 to take a photo. When he got back he had to wait whilst I watched as a sail boat went through the lock - it was fascinating 😊 We then drove into Oban where DH picked up a new watch charger cable from Arg*s (as the one he brought from home had stopped working so he had ordered a new one) + filled up with petrol & then collected me from the car park. A light drizzle started about 12:45 & continued on & off until about 15:45 - sometimes stopping & sometimes becoming heavy drizzle ☹️ Temperature got up to a giddy high of 14°C We drove to Ardchattan Priory, took a photo & then headed back to catch the Ferry to Corran at 14:16. DH dropped me off at the pub so I could use the facilities whilst he headed off to take a photo of a lighthouse. When he got back I ordered coffee & a toasted egg, tomato & spinach filled bagel from the food van parked outside the pub, which was closed. Then back on the bike in heavy drizzle driving along the A861 before eventually joining the A30 to Mallaig. Arrived at our hotel, the West Highland Hotel at 17:10. Surprisingly my jeans were only slightly damp by the time we arrived 😮‍💨 Checked in & were informed that we were on the 2nd floor 😩 up two steep flights of stairs & at the end of a long corridor. Eventually got to our room laden with bags & promptly collapsed on the bed 😂 A nice room with a great view across the water to Skye 🤩

just a shame about the stairs ☹️ Whilst we were recovering we managed to see the steam train as it set off for Fort William. DH showered & changed; I washed & changed. Went down to dinner at 18:45, had a drink in the lounge & went into dinner at 19:30. Another great view across to Skye. I ordered the soup of the day (butternut squash, chilli & coconut which came with tomato & oregano crusty bread followed by fish pie & more bread. DH ordered scallops with Stornaway black pudding & mint pea purée followed by homemade cheesy cod & prawn fishcakes with chips & salad. My soup would have got full marks if the chef hadn’t been quite so heavy handed with the chilli 😉 DH thoroughly enjoyed his scallops 😋 The fish cakes were very tasty BUT the fish pie was exquisitely delicious 🤤 Sad to say that there was way too much fish pie (you will see from the pictures), so after I had my fill, DH finished off all the fishy bits & a decent amount of the cheesy mash. 

Sat outside for a while enjoying the view before heading back to our room 21:10. DH is listening to another podcast whilst I write my post.

Wednesday’s animal report: cows, sheep, horses, ponies,seagulls, cormorants, oystercatchers, sandpipers, a grey heron, wagtails, blackbirds, a thrush & my first deer of this holiday 👏 

Muddy_Walker you must have been a bit run down to catch a cold so easily 😞 You are not being a baby at all. This “Mrs SD be careful in those strange hotel rooms! They sound quite vicious…….” had me in stitches 🤣 Please stay safe in the mini heatwave 🙏

vulpix, sorry to hear about the sleepless night 😔 Hopefully you had a successful visit with your Mum & managed to get the letter writing & form filling done 🤞Definitely not sorry to be missing the heatwave - 30°C or higher is just too hot 🥵 although I wouldn’t mind a few extra ° here 😉 Will it be possible to take a cutting from the rowan tree for your new garden?   I promise I will try harder to stay awake on the back of the bike 🙂 Keeping everything crossed that you get a good vibe from the viewing of the semi 🤞😉 although I do seem to remember that you buy with your head & not your heart 😊 Hopefully the house is better inside than the photos would suggest 🤞The visit to the jeweller sounds exciting & fun 🤩 Although not too sure what to make of This “……. and see about making something with all the unwanted diamonds that I have” 🤨 surely there is no such thing as unwanted diamonds 😂 Excellent work with the packing 👏 Nothing wrong with This “I may have bought an old sewing machine table for a fiver. Ooops. It will use up a can of black stove paint I have been keeping for Justin. Of course it may or may not become a permanent resident.” restoring the table will come as a welcome break from packing 😉

London_1, you have been busy 👏 How lovely that your DD’s friend is visiting & that the weather will be lovely as DD shows her around the island ☺️ Ooh yummy - home grown spuds & tomatoes 🤤 

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 & great work on the ‘Use It Up June’ challenge you set yourself 🤩 Thanks for the fairy cakes 👏 I went all girlie & had one with pink icing 😅

Florenceem, a very busy morning 🤩 Sorry to hear about the alarm at SA, hopefully it didn’t go off again 🤞Hopefully DiL has now collected the dresses & DD has collected the 2nd batch of craft supplies 🤞

BridgetTheCat, sorry to hear about the knee pain 🥺 Hopefully you will get some good quotes re a stairlift & once you have picked a contractor the job will be done quickly & efficiently 🙏

All caught up & perfect timing as I am just starting to nod off 😉 Please stay safe in the heat 🙏 Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards: ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2025: 1048/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00

GrannyKate

I love your holiday reports Mrs SD.  I booked a 5 day trip taking my US sister from Edinburgh up to Skye at beginning of October - hope my driving is up to it.  A few frogs to do before I leave for Edinburgh to meet DGS1 on Sunday - train this time. Local history trip out yesterday to Crowle Moor Peatland Railway.  Nice cake and coffee and very interesting talk.  Government paid millions to but back the digging rights so peat no longer extracted.  5000 acres of open access land gradually reverting to nature.  

566 A bag of garden waste to tip
567 Bag of batteries to recycling
568/9 Two large bags of shredding and other paper to recycling
570 Scotland in October bookings all made
571 More committee frogs eaten up
572 Removed some unwanted plants from bed in middle of lawn which I will grass over. Bag to go to recycling but think it will fit in my brown bin.

Right children will be here soon for school run.  I need to pack for Sunday.  New neighbours moved in yesterday so had a chat.  They have two small elderly dogs and were concerned about the cat - I expect the cat would win in any conflict there.  Apparently he went in their kitchen yesterday when the door was open.  

TC77

Mrs SD please do stay awake on the bike. All looks amazing and I'm ashamed to say I wouldn't know all the different birds.
Feeling exhausted as waking up far too.early and bed late. Lovely celebration of my aunt's life and wonderful to see my cousins who live on 3 different continents and went with my other cousin representing her older sisters. 
The home to do work til.midnignt and awake early again yesterday and today. No decluttering but did do a call to move a frog forward rather than an email and an email before bed rather than put it off. Hoping I will have more energy at the weekend.dd2 back at the weekend and dd1 looking for jobs as nearly finished her 'volunteering' for the health service but few newly qualified jobs especially for childrens nurses and she struggles with nights and the long shifts so we will see. 
@YBR I love the chair
@vulpix I hope the house may be right, the lack of tidying by the vendor may deter others
I'm hoping it's the weather sapping my energy and interest in tidying, sorting and cleaning 

Muddy_Walker

Helloooooo
Still got my cold and have lost my voice……trivia time - there are certain medications that can affect how the body works in the heat ie making it very difficult to cope and regulate your temperature. I know certain antidepressants is one of those but can’t remember any others….so take extra extra care all!!

MW

vulpix

Hi all.
 You just missed my DD1 in Oban Mrs SD, she was there the day before you, Small world. She took herself up Ben Nevis yesterday and on to Stirling today for a work thing. I love to hear where all of you have been out n about.
 I will take some of a plant with me that Bit by bit gave me from her garden, The new house garden isn't big enough for a tree really.

 So... over 3 hours with my Mother. On the phone to banks who don't like the fact she has no internet banking or phone banking. Writing letters which was made so difficult as she has all her information on the back of envelopes and scraps of paper in great piles everywhere. Filled in the forms for the house sale. I asked her for her NI number, I kid you not she eventually produced it on a piece of paper the size of a stamp. She is 91 and it got all a bit much for her. ( was all a bit much for me too) I have always been used to her being razor sharp but noticed she isn't quite what she used to be. Anyway it's done and will not need to be done again. Just the notification of all the bills to do when the house finally completes. We have given up with the Halifax, their customer service has been dreadful. She has emptied the account and it can just pass away with her with a few pounds in it. They will ONLY accept driving license and passport as proof of identity. My Mother has never had either.
 I am assured that my brother is collecting the box of rocks this week end. Hahahahahahahahahaha yeah right.

 We are not able to view the house we like until Saturday. It has good bones, and is the one. It's not in bad repair just every possession they have is out, on the floor , and on every surface. I think the photo's will be putting everyone off, luckily for me. There is work I would do on it but nothing major, just new kitchen , bathroom and decorating really, oh and remove the fires for something more pleasing to the eye. Not sure how old the house is but it has the feel of an Edwardian house but with slightly smaller proportions, but not 1930's. Manageable garden if very over grown atm. No hedges, yessss!

I am having a slow morning before going to Sheffield to the jeweller. We met him when we were selling some gold and asked if they knew a working jeweller. He happened to be in the back at the time. He said unless your diamonds are super good quality and big it isn't worth trying to sell them as so much jewellery has now been sold for scrap the stones are not worth much. Best to have the gold you don't like made into something you do like and use the diamonds too. So I am thinking a bangle. I have seen one with diamonds in it which can move, like an abacus iyswim. This guy has a workshop down a back street which looks like a garage. He only has people there by appointment. I love a jewellery workshop. An ex boyfriend was a working jeweller. Fascinating.

 Mr V is working on the sewing machine table. Wire brushing the legs and using up a tin of stove paint on them.

 I have actually managed to do a bit more packing, there were a couple of things packed that I will probably get rid of when they are unpacked but they are fine for now and only small.

 Whilst I was on Mr V's phone to the bank yesterday my phone rang which set DB's dog into a barking frenzy which it can keep up for a surprisingly long time. Our buyers want to come to see the house on Monday. I thought  she said they wanted to move on Monday in all the heat, stress and commotion! All's well that ends well!

 Daisy, I feel like I am meeting myself coming back recently, well for the past few years tbh. I'm not sure we will be able to come for a visit soon. You two should have a road trip down South. We live in good bike country.

Better shake a leg. Sorry no decluttering to report just off loading a bit of stress here.

 Vx

Gers

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

1. We headed off towards Oban via the Crinan Canal. DH dropped me off at Lock-gates 11 & 12 whilst he drove back to lock-gates 9 & 10 to take a photo. When he got back he had to wait whilst I watched as a sail boat went through the lock - it was fascinating 😊 

You could have waved to me from there, just over a mile away! And we could have met up briefly. There's usually a horse-box coffee place at lock 10, mostly at weekends.

BridgetTheCat

Another frog boiled today - is that the expression?

Gym membership cancelled.That’s £44 a month saved 😀

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger I’m really enjoying your Scottish travels to all my childhood holiday spots ❤️

Florenceem

Yesterday Daughter and Granddaughter came to collect the stuff I had sorted ready for them. So another huge pile decluttered.
DD said reception class loved the Easter bits.
Dil and 2 Dgd's came to collect the altered dresses.
I went to singing group - we started to learn a new song - not keen on it so far.
I didn't get home until nearly 10 as someone wanted to chat after singing practice.
C phoned this morning - I was still in my nightie - could I go and unlock at SA as there had been a mix up in communication about leaving the alarm off for a therapy group.
I carried on with sorting stuff for Daughter's school art cupboard.
A heavy trolley full of stuff was taken to the charity shop.
We needed a bit of shopping so went to Li.. - so hot on the buses.

weenancyinAmerica

Loved my visits to Scotland. Edinburgh was my mother's favorite place, but I like Crief and Stirling (especially the Castle) too. Enjoyed my stays in Glasgow, loved the Library there. I used to spend a lot of time in Inverness as the longest train ride I could take was from London to Inverness. Used to take the night train one way and the day train back again. My favorite book store in Scotland is in Inverness. The Ulster Historical Foundation included trips to Scotland as an add-on to their Irish trips and we managed to get to multiple whisky distilleries while there. Lost track of how many times I have been there - over 16 at least. Never made it out to the Isle of Mull though and my best friend has now discovered that is where her ancestors are from - so wants to make a trip there, so I may be coming back again in a couple of years.