2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

retiredinfrance

Although I have loads of car litter which I think cat litter would be better!xx

GrannyKate

Hi all - thanks for compliments on mum's sugar craft.  She was very talented and wanted to go to art school but her father didn't think it was 'respectable' (late 1920's). She left school at 14 and was apprenticed as a milliner (Luton).  I know that during the war she made some exquisite hats and head dresses for friends weddings from next to nothing.  She made wedding cakes well into her seventies and only stopped because of the arthritis in her hands.  It always amazed me that she could achieve perfect symmetry around the cake and on different layers all by eye and without measuring anything.  

Off out to meet DD at NT place near M1.  She was 50 yesterday.  

666 Chased plasterer but no response yet
667 More gardening, weed clearing etc - planted rhubarb in garden ( I bought it with me in a tub) and blueberry bush
668 E mails all cleared down
669 Expenses claim frog sent off
670 Outdoor paint on one wall of shed
671 Collected up random metal from round garden
672 Cut both lawns

Right I'll set off now and catch up later

QueenJess

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger I think Mr SD deserves a ⭐️ for that weight loss. A great effort as weight loss is hard. I’m glad the NHS are providing support.

Yesterday DD bought a pack of snap cards with her money and then later brought me some other cards she had and said “I don’t want these ones anymore”. Clearly she’s on the programme. She’s 4!

I’ve decluttered a few digital bits, but taking a bit of a hiatus this week and then will be back with avenge soon as I’ve already realised a handful of things I no longer need in the house that can go.

BridgetTheCat

Hi, as much as I enjoy this community I’m going to declutter myself off social media for a while. I tend to become obsessive about it so it’s good to have a digital detox for a few weeks every so often.

Good luck with the decluttering!
Cheers 
Bridget the Cat

vulpix

 Nice to hear how you are getting on Retired in France, that you have had the nice sort of busy too. Fingers crossed for Mr RIF's appointment.

 Floss, I have met you. you are not overweight at all. I think you must weigh yourself whilst wearing very heavy clothes! I think these bmi charts are for teenagers, not the very slightly more mature lady.

Dizzycap you are a whirlwind,you achieve so much. Your house sounds so clean. I am shamed by ignoring my oven every day. It's not filthy but I know it's there! In fact I will add the oven to my frog list.

 Fingers still crossed for your daughter London 1, and for everyone having the same treatment.xx

 Soontobeoap, are you going for a colour with your new sofa? I am always interested in house style stuff.

 YBR, things always fall into place don't they. I was like your daughter at her age, I needed a sense of urgency before I was spurred into action!

 Liverpool Anne, I like your OH's style. Why have one birthday event when you can have several. I will keep that idea in mind.

 The thing about my next door neighbour is that she gives a cheery wave every time she bounces past! I do get out of the chair, honest but I am at least 40 years older than her.

 Lots of knitting and crochet done this month for my knitting challenge. Another month to go. I will wait till the end before posting it all off. That should make a big space. ATM all my wool is in a big storage bag that delivery people use. I could actually fit in the bag. I would like to get to the point of being able to give the bag away. Erm, The other day, Mum gave me some beautiful wool for the charity shop that she will never use. She said she bought it to knit herself a cardigan years ago. It's a lovely shade of red in 4 ply. I will try and find a pattern and knit her a cardigan. That will take me out of my comfort zone. I stick to very easy patterns usually that I could knit in my sleep.

 Vx

Floss

vulpix said:

 Floss, I have met you. you are not overweight at all. I think you must weigh yourself whilst wearing very heavy clothes! I think these bmi charts are for teenagers, not the very slightly more mature lady.

 Vx

I have put weight on since we met, my post-BC health conditions are not exercise-friendly, and since finishing work I've had quite a few social meals out!

daisy_1571

yes, giving up work does seem to do that floss, says she who should be 8foot 10 to make the numbers balance 😉 🤔 🙄 😜 😀 🤣 

Rootle

30/52 - a few items from the loft out to the bin. 

QueenJess

vulpix said:

 Nice to hear how you are getting on Retired in France, that you have had the nice sort of busy too. Fingers crossed for Mr RIF's appointment.

 Floss, I have met you. you are not overweight at all. I think you must weigh yourself whilst wearing very heavy clothes! I think these bmi charts are for teenagers, not the very slightly more mature lady.

Dizzycap you are a whirlwind,you achieve so much. Your house sounds so clean. I am shamed by ignoring my oven every day. It's not filthy but I know it's there! In fact I will add the oven to my frog list.

 Fingers still crossed for your daughter London 1, and for everyone having the same treatment.xx

 Soontobeoap, are you going for a colour with your new sofa? I am always interested in house style stuff.

 YBR, things always fall into place don't they. I was like your daughter at her age, I needed a sense of urgency before I was spurred into action!

 Liverpool Anne, I like your OH's style. Why have one birthday event when you can have several. I will keep that idea in mind.

 The thing about my next door neighbour is that she gives a cheery wave every time she bounces past! I do get out of the chair, honest but I am at least 40 years older than her.

 Lots of knitting and crochet done this month for my knitting challenge. Another month to go. I will wait till the end before posting it all off. That should make a big space. ATM all my wool is in a big storage bag that delivery people use. I could actually fit in the bag. I would like to get to the point of being able to give the bag away. Erm, The other day, Mum gave me some beautiful wool for the charity shop that she will never use. She said she bought it to knit herself a cardigan years ago. It's a lovely shade of red in 4 ply. I will try and find a pattern and knit her a cardigan. That will take me out of my comfort zone. I stick to very easy patterns usually that I could knit in my sleep.

 Vx

I hate those BMI charts with a passion. I get what they are trying to do, but it does not work on all body shapes. When I was at school you had to be weighed by a nurse and got told if you were under or overweight by that chart. I hated it because they kept telling me I was underweight and needed to eat more. Actually I did loads of sport, am a tiny person and I ate absolutely loads of food. I knew I was fine and thought it was all stupid.

Good job I didn’t have any body hang ups or anything as it could have otherwise screwed me up. It’s the reason I’ve opted the kids out of being weighed at school. DS would have the same problem as he’s built like me and is equally sporty.

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

Wednesday is rather a dull cloudy day but quite warm with a high of 24°C, low of 17°C & humidity 59% An hour later & the sun is making a valiant attempt to appear from behind the clouds 🤞…. without much success 😞 Straight into cheerleading:-

retiredinfrance, will keep everything crossed that your DH gets the all clear on Friday 🤞🙏  Wow, you have been very busy 🤩👏 This “Well decluttering stopped at 360/365 (300?), as we had visits one after the other from DS and DD, so we were cleaning the house so that they wouldn’t think we were struggling” made me smile ☺️ & This “… all with temperatures over 35 and at record 38. But French houses are built to deal with this so we were fine inside - going out was a different situation!” brought back happy memories of my parents home in France 🥹 Very pleased to hear that you managed to fit in some time to watch Wimbledon, golf & cricket 😊  Good luck selling the ‘house books’ 🍀 & well done on avoiding the CS 👏 which definitely deserves a medal🏅 I promise I won’t reclaim it should you decide to purchase fabric when it goes on sale 😂 I am also polishing up a gold star ready for you hitting your target of 365 😉 Again, it is lovely to see you & I look forward to seeing you once in a while 🥹

Lovely post TC77 😊

Excellent decluttering Liverpool_Anne 👏 So pleased that OH was on hand to help with the 2nd carful of wood 🙂 I confess that I would have counted as 10 per carload 😅 Fingers crossed that OH surprises you & you have two bags of his clothing for the CS 🤞 Lovely cheerleading 🥹 & I can understand your reluctance to follow weenancy’s suggestion for the sugar-craft lilies 😧😂 

retiredinfrance, fingers crossed that the ‘cat litter in a sock” works getting rid of the smell in your leather brogues 🤞 I didn’t even notice - my brain translated as ‘cat’ 😅

GrannyKate, how wonderful that your mum was so talented 🥹 Just think, if things had gone differently we could have been buying cake decorating books written by your mum 🥹Although so pleased to hear that she managed to turn her artistic talents to millinery 🤩 Excellent decluttering 👏 Belated Happy Birthday to your DD 🎉🥳

QueenJess, DH’s weight loss is definitely worth a medal🏅 (which I have now added) ☺️ This “Yesterday DD bought a pack of snap cards with her money and then later brought me some other cards she had and said “I don’t want these ones anymore”. Clearly she’s on the programme. She’s 4!” is absolutely brilliant 🤩 & so lovely to hear - I am awarding her a medal 🏅 Love the idea that you are taking a hiatus from decluttering but have still managed to identify items that will be ousted when you are off hiatus ☺️

BridgetTheCat, it has been lovely getting to know you 😊 Hopefully you will pop back once you have had a rest from social media 🤞Meanwhile I wish you more successful decluttering & a pain free knee 🥹

Lovely cheerleading post vulpix 🥹 Sounds like you are doing really well with your knitting challenge 🤩 That wool sounds beautiful 😻 good luck knitting the cardigan 🍀

Floss 😅 

daisy_1571 🤣

Great decluttering Rootle 👏

QueenJess, all I can say is “Well Said” 🥹 The problem is that even with the wealth of information available bmi is still prevalent & has probably caused more issues than it has solved 🥺 😞 

All caught up & will now sort out something for dinner. Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 😊

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1398/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00