2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

florianatwobob

@Florenceem I saw my mum tie herself in knots trying to keep my dad safe when he developed dementia. She took her vows ‘in sickness and in health’ extremely seriously. I also saw the toll the sleepless nights, worry, negotiation with and management of Dad took on my mum’s mental and physical health. 

My dad was 73 when he died, he’d started developing dementia in his 60s. My mum was 10 years younger than my dad. Looking after Dad curtailed Mum’s life because she didn’t want his vulnerabilities exposed to others, she was worried about what others would think. She wanted to protect him. Caring for Dad also shortened Mum’s life. She died when she was 72. I lost both of my parents by the time I was 35. 

The thing is people want to help. If people can’t view the situation with compassion then you don’t need them in your life. They are not ‘your people’.  Their opinions don’t matter. The only opinions that matter are yours and Mr F’s People who care will support you. If Mr F needed someone to keep him company to give you a break I’m sure they would.

Yes life may take more planning and be less spontaneous but life can still be rewarding and rich and fulfilling for you both. You give so much to other people, don’t forget that you too deserve to receive the help and support you extend to others. 

I know that what I’ve written is quite raw but it comes from my experience and I would hate to see someone else go through what my Mum did. And by all means tell me to butt out!

Brie

I'll just add my general concern @Florenceem but you must do what you think right.  I hope that will include taking care of yourself.  I tell people at the food bank who are reluctant to accept help to not forget that they have helped others so now it's time that others help them.  I think I'm like you in that I'd be reluctant.  But do what works for you.

And @oceanspirit I've got to ask what "Sunday undies" are for you!!

CRANKY40

@Florenceem obviously I'm not familiar with Mr F's health problems so I went back a bit to see if there was anything that jumped out at me. People with dementia can remain active and less than a month ago you were sending him to post parcels so it doesn't sound right. If I'm not mistaken you couldn't send him to another room with something just now. The only thing that struck me is that he has new painkillers. What has he been given if you don't mind me asking? I obviously can't give medical advice on here but if you call 111 please mention it. If I took all of the painkillers that I am allowed each day I would sleep round the clock. 

Today was "interesting". I'm fairly sure that I have the same weather as Liverpool_Anne. It snowed on Sunday, vanished in the rain on Monday morning and then the snow made a comeback overnight. My son had an exam in university this morning. I usually drive him there for things like this as I stand a better chance of getting him there than public transport if theres a problem and oh boy did we have problems today.

The usual way to the motorway was gridlocked. We discovered that the roundabout close by had been reduced to one lane in each direction by people working on the actual roundabout (they used cones) so three lanes and two lanes were all reduced to one and there was snow.....Chaos! I did manage to get him where he needed to be by going a different way but a journey that usually takes 15 minutes took 50. I abandoned my plan of leaving him to make his own way home (by bus that would have had to go the same way that the gridlocked traffic was trying to go).and waited for him. The value of a city with tourist attractions that sell coffee, have toilets and have something for you to look at while you wait for 2 hours should not be underestimated.

Consequently the decluttering total yesterday was 20 but today it's only 5. Tomorrow won't be great either - I'll explain my Wednesdays tomorrow 😊

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

DH & DSis left at 15:30 (gave DH £80 as a deposit for my hygienist appointment at the end of the month) & I went out 15 minutes later. I was lucky to get a bus immediately although had to wait 15 minutes for the return trip. Popped into M&S for & few bits, posted a letter & was indoors by 16:35. Lucky enough to find a seat on the bus & even luckier to spot a £2 coin at my feet 😊 It has been months since I found even a penny, so feel very fortunate 🍀 Since I have been in I have put away the shopping, hung up my coat, emptied the td & folded items, put in a 2nd load of washing, made a drink & updated my accounts. Returned to the kitchen & made a meaty Bolognaise sauce. Now having a little rest before I get back to cheerleading starting with those posted on 5th January DH phoned 18:15, they are on the tube & are hoping to be home in an hour or so. Arrived home 19:21. They both now have a hot drink & dinner will be ready in 15 minutes 😉 Service with a smile 😃 

37 - 38 Kitchen recycling, magazine - recycled

39 - 40 Kitchen & office detritus - binned

Duchess2, well done on having such a positive attitude to decluttering 👏 It has taken some of us years to stop beating ourselves up when we don’t make as much progress as we would like with our decluttering (usually because that pesky RL gets in the way 😅) before finally remembering that our decluttering journeys are marathons Not sprints 😉 

BlueJ94, dogs eating snow is so amusing 😅 they always look so surprised when they realise how cold it is 😂 Hope you were successful with the 5th January’s plan of action 🤞

Lovely cheerleading Moorviews 😊 Great work with the Christmas decorations 👏 Sounds like you & MrMV had a thorough & comprehensive sort out 😊 Now you just have to ‘persuade’ your DCs to do the same 😉 either that or start charging them rent for storage 😂

Florenceem, so very sorry to hear that MrF is having so many problems & causing you so much worry 😥 Not usually one for prayer, but I  will be praying for you both 🙏 

florianatwobob, lovely words & sentiments 🥹

QueenJess, nothing wrong with rescuing Useful items from Buy Nothing 😊 especially as we all know that nothing will go to waste now that it has found such a good home 👏

Excellent work with the Christmas decorations & the cleaning EcoIntent 👏

Muddy_Walker very conscientious of you 😊 Usually if I get up early because I can’t sleep I watch TV or read 😅 Excellent work - you got so much done 👏 Re the 1p Challenge, I agree that monthly is the way to go 😉 I have been doing it that way for at least a couple of years 😉 Way too much faff trying to find the relevant coins especially for the first couple of weeks 🤣

oceanspirit, sorry to hear that Mr Overwhelm put in an appearance & stopped you sleeping ☹️ Hopefully making a plan satisfied him & you got a good night’s sleep the night of the 5th 🤞

I am posting this now as my concentration has taken a holiday 😕 Sleep tight everyone 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 

DH Awards:

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 40/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

charlies_tribe

Good morning. 
Sending hugs Florenceem. Please look after yourself too x
Monday I tackled the bathroom and yesterday I did some of the kitchen list but the day just dissappeared and I didn't get as much done as I wanted. I was absolutely freezing and spent most of the day wearing my tshirt, hoody and oody thing over the top. I just couldn't get warm, which didn't help with motivation. 
I did manage to clear most of the pile of cardboard we've been collecting in to the recycling. There isn't much left to go now.
Going to get some kids off to school, see how DS2 is as he was feeling ill last night and get cleaned up before parents evening and a SW visit this afternoon. 

19 Bathroom rubbish

20  bathroom recycling

21-30 10 cardboard boxes from kids room recycled

31-36 6x cardboard boxes

37 Pile brown paper

38 Paper delivery bag

39-41 3 cardboard wrapping paper tubes

42 Leaky goggles

Moorviews

Big hugs to Florenceem, you are in a truly unenviable situation xx

Yesterday, I went through the bathroom cupboards, emptied some very out of date bottles and put them in the recycling. I thought I might use the products last year but I didn’t. It was nice to get a bit more space back and to do a toiletries inventory. I’m still trying to catch up with the laundry. Harder when we have the wet weather. A large basket, washed, dried, folded and put away. This is easier now that everything has a place. I have started a new charity shop bag too. 

@charlies_tribe  - A gap in my wardrobe is that I don’t have a nice big, warm, wool jumper. It is really noticeable at the moment! It will be another day for wearing my body warmer in doors. 

Florenceem

Morning all. 
I went up to bed at 8.30 and Mr F went with me. He took a while getting into bed but did and in fact - is still there. I have called him 3 times but he goes back to sleep. He has had more than 11 hours sleep now.
I feel better after nearly 9 and a half hours sleep. I got up at 6.30 and have done all my upkeep jobs. 
I will take some bits round to SA soon.
CRANKY40 - Mr F was given Codeine tablets for the pain when his Cellulitis was really bad but he only took a few then and none since. Mr F has never been one to take painkillers - I think he has a high pain threshold after breaking 3 ribs and not knowing.

GrannyKate

Morning all.  I'm so glad today has got off to a better start for you @Florenceem.  I would endorse all others are saying and remember that what 'other people' think is not really worth worrying about and you need to do what is best for you and Mr F.  People should remember that saying about walking a mile in someone's shoes before passing judgement.  

Electricians and roofers here for an early start.  Today will be noisy and messy so I am going out. Window person came for final measure up.  I need new lintels above bedroom windows which is another £700.  

45 Windows measured and order placed for work and new lintels.  To include cat door for new household members once they come.
46 Electrician day 2 completed - lots of dust rubble etc out
47 Roofer day 3 completed - garage roof almost done, alleyway complete and old workshop roof removed and taken away.  New wood installed.
48-58 Eleven ceiling light fittings in recycling for visit there today.  Too old to send to CS.
59 A few bits of wallpaper stripped
60-61 Pictures in CS bag
62-70 Empty frames in CS bag
71 Photos downloaded and saved
72 More committee papers sent out

@daisy_1571 - re letters - last year I found a box full of personal letters probably covering from when I was a teenager to the advent of email.  I read a couple - thought about it and shredded the lot.  I didn't want to read them and I certainly didn't want anyone else to read them. I've not regretted it at all.  

D123456789

I put my head into the loft eaves cupboards of doom. Too cold to climb in ! 

I see a number of cardboard boxes that I think belong to DH and have old photos in. There is a box of pictures in frames - we have lived here almost 11 years and have no pictures on the wall so I don’t see them being put up any time soon 😂 no doubt they are of sentimental value to DH so they won’t be decluttered ….

i see a box of ring binders which I think are empty so they can go once I am brave enough to climb in and retrieve them.

There are also quite a number of plastic storage boxes which I think were used when we were moving house and renovating. They all seem to be empty. I can’t think what we need them for in the house. I haven’t been in our shed for years ( that’s DH territory) but perhaps they might be of use in there.

i also spot 2 nappy pails - i wonder if they might be useful for excess toiletries etc as they are nice solid buckets with lids. Will have a think about that or else will put them on free cycle or olio. 

Apart from a couple of boxes of Christmas decorations I don’t see much else in there. A job for a slightly warmer day though as it’s minus 1 here and the loft feels very cold!

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, slowish day yesterday, 2 pairs of Sunday knickers and a pair of socks into the rag bag. Kitchen bin and kitchen recycling emptied, a holiday with friends booked and I set my timer for 25 mins to clear down some more emails but they are currently sitting in the recycling bin until I have done a few more. These are taking a bit of time as rather than just reading the subject line I am actually reading them but getting there. One of my targets for this year was to spend less time faffing about on digital devices so the 25 min timer is a useful tool for me, it's easy to lose half a day just mindlessly scrolling though I still want to get a new laptop as it is a bit of a struggle with just my phone.
I discovered in my toiletries stash a tube of cream called time filler . It is supposed to correct wrinkles, I think I would need a bucket of cement to do that 😂 but it's being used never the less 😁.
Ln phoned to ask if she could put our phone numbers down as contacts for her emergency bracelet thing that she is getting tomorrow. Absolutely yes, no problem, in fact I would have been upset if she didn't put us down for it. She also said her dd is going to visit her ds and dil, who are expecting the baby, in a week or so, so I will wrap the baby blanket and pop it in to her and her dd can pick it up anytime she calls in,
A load of washing was swished and onto the maiden but the jeans from the last wash not quite dry so the next load were left for today. I also walked to the sm as OH, who did declare a snow day, needed something, and it was a good opportunity to test out the waterproofness of my new walking boots through the snow, slush and puddles everywhere. They passed the test but I do need to get some memory foam insoles for them if I am going to use them for longer periods, maybe a job for today . The podiatrist continue to not be answering the phone so I might call in today as it might be a problem with the phones as I tried 2 numbers at 2 clinics 🤷.

@Florenceem, big hugs and just to add my twopenny worth, I have seen far too many people struggle with caring for others who have ended up in a crisis situation due to sheer exhsustion. If Mr F needs to be in a care home, even if just for respite, then it needs to be done and what other people think is not worth thinking about. Take care of yourself.

@Brie Sunday knickers are holy, ( holey), knickers 😂

@Blue_Doggy any dry fruit I have I add a small handful to my porridge as it is cooking but I do love dried fruit

Right off for another cuppa
Hugs to everyone who would like one

40 holiday booked
41 kitchen bin
42 kitchen recycling
43 & 44 Sunday knickers
45 Sunday socks
45/2025