2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

TC77

no physical declutter out really except small amount of paper.
BUT have drawn a line under 2 frogs, with the energy company that caused DD1 and me months of preparing court and debt stuff, and ok  they wrote off what they realised they shouldn't have charged as their error but only token apologies I have made a complaint to the ICO as they failed on 2 occassions to provide all or any data requested. Took time but done - and should be able to throw out several folders of stuff but will go through at the weekend as took longer. Also drawn a line under another issue - I feel wronged but won't get any further so need to protect my sanity! Have so many other major frogs that knocking these on the head was important.
Some electronic decluttering.

Mrs SD, apologies I think I forgot to thank you for my medal which I am proudly wearing and has helped me persevere. 

Brambling

Two hours volunteering training this morning followed by my pre op this afternoon which is a hour away so nothing done here today, especially after a bad couple of nights not sleeping.  I did spend ten minutes trying to find two new packs of knickers brought a couple of months ago a put somewhere completely random. I almost convinced myself that I had imagined buying them! The socks and night clothes brought the same time for after my op were put in a logical place and I remembered where I had put them 🙄

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

Restless night kept waking every 1.5 hours. Finally up 08:05 dressed & packed. Overcast but dry & quite bright at 08:50 with a temperature 13°C DH took down 2 bags & packed them in the bike before breakfast. We had decided to be brave & go back up to our room for the other bags, jackets & my helmet after breakfast. Breakfast was serve yourself coffee & toast but freshly cooked full Scottish for DH & scrambled eggs & bacon for me. We had a leisurely breakfast & then a leisurely stroll back up to our room. Pootled about for 10 minutes making sure we had everything & then trekked back downstairs where DH loaded the remaining bags into the bike & I paid the dinner, drinks & breakfast bill. A very few minutes of riding & we were in the ferry port by 10:05 for an 11:00  Ferry to Skye. Finally started boarding at 10:50 & left at 11:08 - smooth trip but a bit chilly & everyone was fully disembarked by 11:48. A bit overcast on Skye but dry & temperature forecast to reach the heady heights of 19°C. First stop we filled up with petrol. Then we went here, there & everywhere all over Skye (including a cafe stop where we had coffee & shared a fruit flapjack & a fruit scone with jam) as the weather became better & better until we arrived at our hotel, Kings Arms in Kyleakin, Skye at about 17:05. Lots of sunshine through the day although occasionally cloudy with a chilly breeze. Yippee there is a lift in our hotel 🥳 We have a room overlooking Loch Alsh & the bridge to the mainland. It is a glorious view which got better & better as the  sun set. Pic 1 when we arrived, pic 2 (unknown couple) taken at 21:25, pic 3 taken at 22:40, pic 4 at 23:01 & pic 5 at 23:26

Pic 1 17:15

Pic 2 - 21:25

Pic4 - 23:01

Pic 5 - 23:26

As there was a coach party in, we couldn’t get a booking for dinner until 20:15, so relaxed in our room for an hour or so before showering & changing. Went down to the bar at 19:30, had a drink then went into the restaurant. DH had lentil soup followed by salmon & king prawns in an Hollandaise sauce - see pic

Whilst I had beetroot smoked salmon with capers & slices of buttered brown bread followed by venison haunch in an Hollandaise red wine jus - see pic

Delicious food 🤤 with each of us thinking our choice was the best 😂 We took the bill to reception to add to our room bill but for some reason the receptionist wanted it paid there & then 🤔 So DH’s treat as he paid using phone banking app. We then went for a short walk along the waterfront & admired the setting sun before returning to our room. 

Thursday’s animal report: sheep, cows, goats, 2 pigs, horses, a pony, 3 very large chickens, wagtails, swifts, sparrows, blackbirds & a solitary kite. DH saw a deer 😊 Now to the cheerleading 

GrannyKate, I do hope you have as good weather as we have had when you & your sister have your holiday 🙏 Sounds like a marvellous day out yesterday 🥹 & much as I miss peat compost, it is heartening to hear that so much land is reverting to nature 😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 Loved This “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.” talk about showing everyone who the boss is 🤣

TC77, it is always easier to stay awake when there is so much to see 😉 No need to feel ashamed about not knowing the birds - we often have difficulty & only find out what we have seen when we google 😅 Sorry to hear that you are exhausted 😔 however I would put it down to lighter mornings, not getting dark until late & the heat is energy sapping as well as making it difficult to sleep. Lovely to hear that the celebration of your aunt’s life went so well 🥹 Well done on making inroads on a couple of frogs 👏 Keeping everything crossed that DD1 gets a suitable job soon 🤞 Hopefully it will have cooled down by the weekend & DD2 can help you with some decluttering 😉

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear that you have lost your voice 😔 Thanks for the warning about hot weather potentially affecting the efficacy of medications 👏

vulpix, it certainly is a small world 😊 DD1 going up Ben Nevis sounds a bit/lot too energetic for me 😅 Shame that the new garden isn’t big enough for a tree but lovely that you will be able to take a cutting from a plant donated by the lovely bit_by_bit 🥹 The things a daughter will do for love of her Mother 🥹 No wonder you were both a bit frazzled after 3 hours of paperwork & filling in forms whilst trying to glean the relevant information from scraps of paper & the back of envelopes etc 😱 That is appalling service from Halifax 😖 Hopefully once the houses have been sold & you are safely ensconced in a new home, you might be able to find some time to complain to the Banking Ombudsman 🤨 I think that you should take a photo of your brother carrying the box of rocks out of the house & putting them in his car 😂 That is the only way to be sure 🤣 I am keeping absolutely everything crossed that you love the house you are viewing on Saturday & that your offer (if you make one) is not only accepted immediately but that the owners are keen to push everything through as quickly as possible 🤞🙏 Really enjoyed reading This “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.” sounds like you will enjoy discussing options with the working jeweller 😊 Reading This “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!” all I could think was phew 😮‍💨 - I think even you would have had your work cut out to be ready to move out on Monday 🙊 This is the perfect place to gather your thoughts & offload some stress 🥹 Don’t forget that the TLC Carriage is available 😊

Gers, crikey we were close 🤩 Funny you should mention the “horse-box coffee place at Lock 10” as that was supposed to be the landmark 😅 We didn’t realise that the lady running it was doing just weekends 😞

BridgetTheCat, frog boiling is just fine probably tastier than frog munching 😂 That is a big saving 👏 Perhaps you can revisit your childhood holiday spots & recreate any photos taken ☺️

Florenceem, excellent decluttering 👏 You must have oodles of space now with so much ‘stuff’ leaving the house 🤞Hopefully you will start to like the new song the more you practice 🤞Somehow buses never seem to get the temperature right 😞 

Lovely post weenancy 😊 You have some wonderful memories - thank you for sharing them with us 👏🥹 When you come over the pond with your friend we will have to arrange a get together ☺️ 

TC77, well done on drawing a line under two frogs - especially the energy company one 👏 Shame that you have had to cut your losses on the 2nd frog BUT keeping your sanity is far more important & precious 🥹 Well done on finding time to do some electronic decluttering 👏 Pleased to hear that you are enjoying wearing your medal - a reminder that you are doing really well with your decluttering 😊

Brambling, hope you found the new knickers 🤞(maybe they were already packed in your hospital bag 🤔) Wishing you all the best for your op 🥹 & a speedy recovery 🙏

All caught up although it has taken a bit longer than I intended but that is because I kept admiring the sunset & taking photos 🙊 Cwtches to all 🤗 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards: ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2025: 1048/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00

YBR

The chair has gone ... Yes it is lovely, and if your legs are long enough it's very comfortable too. Unfortunately there's not enough space in the new place.

I should have been writing a sermon, but have been procrastinating: this was yesterday, and the day before (around work):

I woke up really early, even before dawn this morning so decided to tackle some stuff in the garden before it gets too late. I've made a new frame and moved the tomatoes out of the greenhouse, so that it can be taken apart and packed. However, that can't happen quite yet, I realise.  

When the shed was dismantled, we moved some cement into the greenhouse to keep it dry. so we need to (1) finish pressure washing the patio (2) use the cement to repoint where required then (3) The green house can be properly emptied and taken apart.

I expect I'll have a siesta later!

CRANKY40

Good morning, 

Sorry everyone, I've just read and caught up. We've had a poorly cat which was PTS yesterday morning. DS is devastated as she has owned him since he was 4 - I bought her as a friend for him when his dad died and she has looked after him and co parented with me for almost 16 years. 

Another one here with Scottish ancestry. My gran and my mum were born in Glasgow although my gran lived in Inverness for a while when she was young because of the Glasgow slum clearance scheme. My 3x great grandparents were both born on the Isle of Iona. I would love to travel there one day. I've really enjoyed reading your tour updates Mrs S_D apart from the fall obviously.

I have been decluttering (slowly) and it's probably easier to just give the new total for this monthso far which is 170 up to yesterday evening. We also decluttered a lot of cat stuff from the house yesterday but I couldn't bear to count that. Most of it has been stuffed in black bags and put in the shed for now except the food which I gave to next door for their cat and the remaining cat litter which a ferret owner is coming to collect today (I put it on Olio). 

Vulpix I used to work with a lady from Hong Kong who had one of those sliding diamond bracelets and I've wanted one ever since I saw hers. If you have it made could you show us so I can admire it from afar please?

Take care all of you 😊

London_1

Yet another of Scots descent, my lovely tiny Mum was a 'weegie' from Glasgow, and my Father from Brechin in Angus.
Having done both sides of the family tree and got to 1612 on my late Fathers side, and 1694 with my late Mum Before that her family, according to handed down information were from Iona as well, but my Fathers ancestors were from the French Pyrenees and a little place called Puy who escaped to the Uk because of religious persecution (Huguenots)

My parents emigrated down to London in 1938 and where both my middle brother and I were born.
So I'm a bit of a Heinz 57  
Visited Scotland many times over the years and apart from the midges (certain times feel pretty lethal) and sometimes changeable weather I've always found it very beautiful, plus the folk are terrific and extremely friendly.Lovely to hear about your travels and seeing the photographs  

JackieO xx

QueenJess

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger the 2 course meal you chose is exactly the same as the one I would have chosen too.  I love smoked salmon and venison... my mouth is watering!

I am continuing a mind numbingly slow sort out of my to do list (I keep needing to rest because of the op, but I hate resting!).  Trying to do a tiny bit of the garden and a tiny bit of the house everyday.  However, looking around my bedroom, I seem to have stuff everywhere, so clearly I need to clear up in there today.

DD has given me a colouring book and some colouring pencils etc that she doesn't want, so I am using them up whilst I am stuck sitting around for periods of time.  In the same vein, I opened my jewellery box today with the aim of changing my earrings (I usually just wear the same ones all the time) as if I have things, I should be using them.  I put one pair on that look lovely (but I've never worn) and realised I don't like them on.  I then put another pair in and realised I don't wear them because they aren't quite me and I don't love them.  So both are now in the charity bag and I'm wearing a different pair I used to wear quite a lot.  I'm down to about 5 pairs now.

More decluttering completed and the chia seeds and whole almonds are so close to being used up now!  A few bits in to declare though: +2 DVDs, +1 bag, +1 hair clip, +2 toiletries.

Digital:
10 - photos deleted

Physical:
1 - frozen mango used up
3 - colouring pencil/crayon used up
1 - colouring book finished (recycled)
1 - Hair stuff I don’t like (Buy Nothing)
1 - packaging reused
1 - useless pencil binned
2 - garden pots (Buy Nothing)
2 - Earrings I don’t wear (charity)
1 - DS tat (charity box)

New total 2,300
Use it up total 187
Net physical things in/(out) -586
Mini kitchen challenge 41/50

June - Use Up Challenge:
1. Screen cleaner
2. Packaging
3. Whole almonds
4. Frozen candied orange juice
5. Frozen mango
6. Almond milk
7. Floss pick
8. Cotton pads
9. Seed packet
10. Floss pick
11. Packaging
12. Packaging
13. Packaging
14. Stationery
15. Kitchen cleaner
16. Packaging
17. Packaging
18. Packaging
19. Chia seeds
20. Seed packet
21. Seed packet
22. Seed packet
23. Seed packet
24. Stationery
25. Moisturiser
26. Packaging
27. Stationery
28. Stationery
29. Stationery
30. Seed packet
31. Stationery
32. Stationery
33. Stationery
34. Alternative flour

35. Stationery

36. Stationery

37. Stationery

38. Packaging

39. Stationery

Hm custard creams have been provided in the tlc carriage, along with colouring books and pencils

GrannyKate

Sitting around not doing much as its too hot.  Need to cut the grass.  Car has gone for service. Sox is chilling out - he doesn't like this heat.  It's not really sunny just unbearably hot. 

573 Cut down some bushes and put in recycling
574 Cancelled fencer who has once again failed to turn up.  New neighbours need fence urgently because of dogs so they are going to try and find someone and share cost with me (think its their boundary anyway) 
575 General rubbish bin emptied and it still stunk so I cleaned it out with hose (Jet washer at DS2s) I got pretty wet doing it!
576 Barbecue set found and given to DS2
577 More bags of shredded paper out for recycling
578 Banking done
579 Dishwasher guarantee registered 
580 Appointment arranged to see painting of ancestor in private part of Edinburgh University on Monday.  
581 Case pretty much packed
582 Rest of June cards written and will post tomorrow plus one for early July. 
583 Emptied everything out of car ready for service today - random rubbish binned 

Florenceem

CRANKY40 - very sad when you have to part with a loved pet.
Mrs SD - lovely photos. I haven't been to Scotland.
Sorted more stuff for the charity shop this morning. I can only take a trolley full each day - lots to go so not really seeing a difference yet.
Not so hot here today - I took a fan for on the bus but didn't use it.
There was a stall selling garden ornaments and plaques in town today. I stopped to look but Mr F was in front of me and kept walking. I wanted 3 of a design so the stall holder asked me to keep an eye on his stall while he went to the car park to his van.
 I thought Mr F would turn around and come looking for me. He didn't - just carried on to the harbour bus stop! When I arrived at the bus stop - I said - why didn't you come looking for me - I could have been dead!

Brambling

Sorry to hear about the cat Cranky, she always sounded such a character 

some lovely photos Mrs SD 🙂 underwear was found in the new cupboard which contains art and crafting stuff?? The rest of the stuff in the other spare bedroom chest of drawers 🤨 

Volunteering today in a non air conditioned office 🥵 so too tired to do much tonight