2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

WickedLady4

TC77 said:

Mrs SD, sadly many experienced nurses are paid the same as newly qualified so more cost effective and most advertised as needing post registration experience, but you can't do 'bank' temp shift until 6 months experience and been told can't work as a healthcare assistant once qualified. However, her tutor has said jobs will come up. 

Gosh: when I qualified in 1975 we were all able to get Staff Nurse posts on the wards. Maybe not your favourite ward but there were plenty to go round. I stayed for 3 months then left to do Agency work whilst awaiting a place on a specialist training course. How things have changed!

QueenJess

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

QueenJess, you are such an inspiration 🥹 when I read This “I stopped being able to see things to get rid of in the house, so I opened up the loft and had a quick scout through it. Lots more now gone! I'm sure there's more in the house to go, but not quite seeing where they are right now as most the stuff I am seeing are things that are waiting to be used up. I'm sure they'll show themselves soon.” 🥹 I was amazed at how dedicated you are to decluttering 🤩  I also realised that I need to work a lot harder at ‘opening my eyes’  as I have stopped ‘seeing’ my clutter at all (there is plenty of it sigh 😞) & then actually start getting rid of it. 

People talk about this a lot online - when you are in your home all the time, you don't really see the clutter anymore.  Lots talk about taking photos of a room and imagine you are someone else coming into the room for the first time or taking a photo from an unusual angle you don't usually see the room from.  That often makes you see the room differently so you can identify the clutter.  

I've not tried it myself yet, although I do use the time post holiday to declutter more as you see your house a bit differently after being away.  I might give it a go in the kitchen as it's still a struggle to keep that room tidy and I'm sure there's too much in there.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,  got up early to sort my ticket only to see an email that says I can pick up a paper ticket at Wembley.  Got to bring photo ID so a quick rummage for my passport and I was done 😁. Took dniece to the train station, packed a bag and set off. Reasonable journey but I realised I had forgotten a small handbag, only small bags allowed in to Wembley so had to buy a bag at a service station 🤪.

Right off to find some food, the bar here is closed for refurbishment so will have a wander 😁

Hugs to anybody who would like one 
Take care everyone 

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 set the timer for an hour & am taking a break from cheerleading to watch a bit of TV 😉 Dosette  box sorted for the coming week. Whilst watching TV I dealt with today’s mail & also repaired a seam on a pair of knickers. After watching one episode of TWD, I decided to prepare ingredients for dinner - lots of peeling & chopping & mostly done. Now having a short rest before finishing the rest of the prep. but will do a little cheerleading:

London_1, what a brilliant morning of decluttering 👏🤩That is a lot of storage space you managed to tidy, sort & declutter 🥳 Worthy of a Gold Star ⭐️ which is on its way to you as I type 😊 I am also awarding you a medal 🏅 for ‘releasing’ your knitting patterns to new owners 👏 Fingers crossed that the ‘elusive’ top is in your DD’s room 🤞

Lovely cheerleading post Soontobeoap 😊 Sounds like you are enjoying having the grandchildren to visit despite the mountain of food packaging 🥹 I will join you in a shout out to basketcase 👋 📢 hope you are OK 🤞

Broke away from cheerleading to finish the prep & start cooking. Will post this & come back after dinner. Meanwhile cwtches to all 🤗 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1459/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

London_1

Yay DD found my missing top in her wardrobe so I’m pleased with that

DGS Ben and I went to Sandown boot-sale today and I bagged three jigsaws (to be put away for cold winter afternoons) three free coat hangers that a stall holder said I could have, nice wooden ones as well 👍 and a little gnome figure for my DD on the understanding that it is the one and only one we ever have plus a  linen laundry basket for my bedroom for a pound , spent a total of £3.20 including a donation of 50 p to the Lions who hold this every Saturday morning for two hours
Ben bought his Mum a pretty little bracelet, and one for his girlfriend Imogen and I think they were only a couple of pounds each. My DD loves any sort of jewellery especially bracelets and hers had a tiny green square cut but piece of sea glass fixed to a delicate thin chain She was so pleased bless her. 

Ben had been such a good chap digging the garden and weeding so I shall be treating him to a nice lunch out next week before he goes back to London.
This afternoon I popped into Newport and managed to get a metre of hemming tape in the haberdashers  there for 35p, one of the towels in the downstairs shower room has started to fray a little at the edge. 

Tomorrow my first job will be to hand stitch the tape the the frayed bit
Dd said Oh don’t bother Mum and I said well there’s nothing wrong with the towel just the end but and I’m not one to throw something out that I can repair if possible 
it’s a bath sized one as well so we’ll worth the 35p and half an hour of my time
Then tonight my eldest DD text me to say her and her OH had caught rhe decluttering bug and had been hard at it all day and have a carful to go to the tip tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣it’s getting addictive isn’t it 

JackieO xx

diminua

My Dad was taking the car with a load of garden rubbish and plastics so I tagged along and finally got the old laptops to the refuse centre along with some other stuff I've wanted to get rid of for ages but couldn't face taking on the buses - carpet sweeper, old saw, old rusty shears (I used to have an allotment) metal bin that rusted so badly the bottom dropped out, wicker laundry basket that was slowly unravelling, attachments for the vacuum cleaner I took previously and a wooden art box which had cracked.   Then, since it was such nice weather, we went to Nonsuch park and had a wander and a coffee. I'm now back in the black as far as the in/out ratio goes.  

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 got home 19:15 just as I was putting the cottage pie in the oven - perfect timing ☺️ Once cooked I served the cottage pie with lots of fresh broccoli 😋 DH went out for a walk after dinner. 

I will do a bit more cheerleading before doing the washing up. 

Bananabreadyum, I am hoping you will PM me with your former identity so I can keep up to date with your awards 🙏 Love the new name 🥹 which conjures up a delightful image of you relaxing in the garden with a cup of tea (or a tall cold drink) & a slice of banana bread just watching the world go by ☺️ Sorry to hear that RL has been so dreadful 🥺 Your family home sounds wonderful & I am sure it will be snapped up very quickly & hopefully by a new family rather than a developer 🙏 Good luck with helping your mum sort & declutter 🍀 Sounds like you will have to channel both your inner Stacey & your inner Dilly 😉 Although the good thing is that it will build up your decluttering muscles & should make it easier to sort & declutter your stuff when you move next year 😊 Good luck with the listings 🍀 

TC77, just wondering if maybe you have a friend or family member with a van who would be happy with petrol money & being fed 🤞 Hopefully the upholsterer’s quote is reasonable 🤞 As to This “Also quote for sorting neighbours overhanging trees and removing large shrubs etc.” surely the neighbour is responsible for keeping their trees in check 🤨 A great start towards your weekend decluttering target 👏 

Pennypincin good luck with the kitchen worktop decluttering 🍀 I need to revisit mine as it is almost as bad as it was before getting the coffee machine ☹️ 

Liverpool_Anne, sounds like you have had a great time with your niece 🥹 & how lovely to have live entertainment with your meal 😊 Good work with the decluttering - every little helps 👏

weenancy sounds like you had a lovely birthday 🥹 & what a treat to have both your nephews phone 🥹

Bananabreadyum, surprising/annoying in equal measure how many people can’t read or won’t read adverts properly 😠 Excellent decluttering of photos 👏 & wishing you every success in persuading your mum to declutter one of the big cupboards 😊 Cake will be an excellent incentive/reward 🥹

Happy_Kitties, shame that you need to make early purchases 😕 Any chance of banishing the cats from the kitchen 🙊 or would that class as cruel & unusual punishment 🤔 Some great decluttering 👏 & good luck catching up with the birthday presents 🍀 

vulpix, I love This “My bin monitor neighbour came to call yesterday as I was sorting my wool, fabric and trimmings stash.( all over the sitting room floor) She left with some wool and half a jar of homemade blackberry jam. That was to save me from myself. We were gifted it and I had already eaten half the jar in a few days. Oh, I also gave her some beads for her friend who makes jewellery.” 🥹 talk about a serendipitous visit ☺️ MrV seems busier than ever since his last attempt at ‘retiring’ 😂 It sounds like you have your weekend mapped out 🥹 I am hoping that you will honour us with a picture of the newly made cushion 🤞Great news that your stepson is visiting & can assist MrV with the heavy lifting 🥳 Fingers crossed that you have more than a few banana boxes in the loft that DD1 can bring down 🤞Sounds like this weekend might be your last opportunity to photograph the “box of rocks” although I won’t hold my breath that your DB collects them 🤣

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏

Willowtree222, as you say every bit out counts 👏 Excellent work using up tubs of preservative to treat the fences 👏 especially with a damaged wrist 👏 Sounds like a good idea to declutter whilst your DD is at her dad’s place 😉 I suppose one way to look at her desire to keep your clothes, shoes & bags is that you have good taste ☺️

Great work moving all the bedroom furniture Wednesday2000 👏 

I have managed to catch up a bit more with the cheerleading but am losing concentration now. I might be back after giving my iPad a chance to recharge 😉

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1459/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

TC77

Been watching too many dramas but made myself look at a frog this evening which  I need to talk through with dd2 but not as daunting as I thought.
Had energy this morning which dissipated but have chipped away.
A few new.things I struggle with including
Cushion and cover, sports bag that no-one has ever used.
Damaged glasses case
Paper.x.3

Mobile charger, battery pack and dd2s ergonomic mouse she doesn't like to donation  hub bag
Flip-flops, packaging x 3, old instruction  leaflets,  cricket ball,  xmAs decorations made by dds, decluttered print into a frame I already had, small bits of debris and some.craft stuff.
So 29/50 so we'll see if I get the full 50!
Off to bed as falling asleep..
Night folks x

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 continued: wudupa

1460 - 1461 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1462 - 1464 Kitchen, lr & DSis bedroom detritus - binned

Timer is on & one last attempt to catch up with the cheerleading 🤞

TC77, sounds like you have found the perfect use for the old bedspread 😊 This “……. sadly many experienced nurses are paid the same as newly qualified so more cost effective and most advertised as needing post registration experience, but you can't do 'bank' temp shift until 6 months experience and been told can't work as a healthcare assistant once qualified. However, her tutor has said jobs will come up. Decluttering £ to DD1 and going to exhibition after work with her next week.” sounds very catch22 😞 no ‘bank’ temp shifts until you have 6 months experience, but no experience as no jobs 😠 it beggars belief 😢 I will keep everything crossed that the tutor is correct & DD1 gets a job soon 🤞 More distressing is that experienced nurses aren’t earning more - how can that be 🤔 Good luck in your search for a retro style fridge-freezer 🍀

WickedLady4, very interesting 🤔 Thank you for sharing 😊

QueenJess, what a great idea - thank you for sharing 😊 I will have to try the idea of taking photos & maybe even scale it down to taking photos of cupboards & drawers 🤔 

Liverpool_Anne, relieved to hear that you managed to finally get your footy ticket 😮‍💨 Just wondering how small the bag has to be? 

London_1, yippee to DD finding the elusive top 🥳 The Sandown boot_sale sounds wonderful & great prices 🤩  What a thoughtful & hardworking young man Ben is 🥹 It only seems like a couple of days ago that he arrived - time passes so quickly when you don’t want it to 😞 Hope the repairs to the frayed bath towel don’t take too long 🤞 Read This “Then tonight my eldest DD text me to say her and her OH had caught rhe decluttering bug and had been hard at it all day and have a carful to go to the tip tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣it’s getting addictive isn’t it” & was very impressed 👏 I am awarding her & her OH a medal 🏅 🏅 each 😊 Hopefully not a one-off 🤞 

Excellent decluttering diminua 👏 Definitely merits a medal 🏅 which is on its way 🙂 I have to say when I saw the list of items you took to the Tip, I was not surprised that you didn’t want to travel by bus 😉

Brilliant decluttering TC77 👏 & well done on starting a new frog 👏 Good luck meeting your target 🍀 which I do think you will reach ☺️

Will you look at that, I am all caught up 🥳 Wishing everyone a good night & will see you tomorrow.  Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1464/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

Dizzycap

Evening all it seems a while since I've post & I've seemed to have missed so much.

@ Mrs_Salad_Dodger Condolences on your sad loss  & I do hate those phone calls which seem to increase as I get older  There's never a correct way to break sad news over a telephone 

Nice to see lots of decluttering on the go and cluttering up of dramas  I'm still chugging along with my decluttering sales and haven't got much more to shift    Been cluttering up the washing washing machine and cluttering up the washing line everyday as I now have 2 sick animals to look after  Babyface has developed an allergy to grass after 4.5 years of walking, running and rolling in it. All her feet blistered after I allowed her back on the back lawn  Anyway, another 10 days of antibiotics and now she's had to start wearing doggie socks while all her blisters drain off with me having to wash her feet in hibi twice a day and change her socks.  She is, however, now going out for a sniff potter walk in the morning to help me post off decluttering parcels (not many items left to shift now!) and a nice late night walk which is lovely to see. I took Gorda to have her nails clipped and a general checkup with a push on her ears being checked again after 2 months and came away having booked her in for a next day op for ingrowing claws & when checked under general, both her ears were full of absesses which had been draining into her stomach & naturally gave her a urine infection   How the health of an animal can change so very quickly! Needless to say, I'm undertaking a daily double house visit giving Gorda copious amounts of medication, checking her over, & taking her for a very gentle shortish walk, if she want's to along with lots of kisses, cuddles, & tummy rubs     I finally coaxing her to eat today & she ate for England with 10 minutes baby killing inbetween each eating session - I put her on total rest for the day & tonight was the first time she crazy wriggled and wagged her tail off when I arrived - I couldn't get throught the door That was lovely to see & someone is beginning to feel much better I'm still managing to keep the HH basic & garden decluttering & cleaning going but I just had to get the gardener to come & cut the lawn on Friday as I'm on my knees looking after the 2 fur babies who have both begun getting better at the same time and are absolutely full of it tonight! 

Anyway, on a more positive note, the weather has been super & I really hope everyone is enjoying it! I can't say I've seen much of it in the afternoon as I'm having to clutter up on sleep.

Ooo, it's getting later so time for a coffee & quick MSE read through before I potter off to bed. Babyface is already in bed snoring her head off just for a change xxxx Take care all & I hope to pop back soon  xxxx