2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, bit of a mixed day today. Literally just as I was putting my coat on to head out to the dentist the phone rang and it was the dentist cancelling the appointment as the dentist was ill so it had been rearranged for next Tuesday, money decluttering postponed for a few days 😁. Went to the post office instead and posted a card to my friend in Paris and 2 Christmas presents and a birthday present plus cards, more wrapping used up 😁.  Also bought some stamps so probably decluttered more money than I would have done if I'd gone to the dentist 😂. On to the sm to pick up some treats and bits for OH, called at the pharmacy and collected my and OH's meds and then home for lunch, used up a small portion of left overs from tea yesterday. All the bits for OH wrapped and bagged and hidden until Christmas day 😂. Finished wrapping the rest of my Christmas presents and the christmas paper all put away. Found another birthday present to wrap but had had enough wrapping so moved into card writing. All cards that need posting were written and stamped, they will go in the post box tomorrow, only hand delivered cards for friends and neighbours left to write, I will do them tomorrow 😁. OH was looking at the big river online for a gift for friends dgs and was moaning about the postage. Let me order it I said, I get free postage, so much trawling later and it was ordered, will be delivered free by 1 pm tomorrow and OH gave me the cash which saves me a trip to the cash machine 😂. 
After tea phoned my Dsis, she is still working hard on her physio but is able to walk quite a good way now. I have arranged for a friend to paint a picture of the dog from a photograph but I only have a few on my phone so Dsis is going to look some out over the weekend when she has a bit of time so I am glad about that 😁, something I should have thought about a while ago. Alfie, the dog, has just celebrated his 18th birthday and is doing remarkably well considering he's been on his last legs for about 5 years 😂.

@Green_hopeful hope you don't mind me asking but why are you storing baby / maternity clothes in your house? I understand they might be needed again but do they have to be kept in your house? How long will you keep them?

@BlueJ94 take care of yourself, this flu doing the rounds is a bit of a nasty one, hugs

@MadamMim2013 happy birthday, sounds like you had a great day 😁

@Soontobeoap anytime you want to wash ceilings and walls I have several available 😂, seriously well done 😁

@ionafan I love shredding paper, there is something very satisfying about that job 😁.

@Muddy_Walker mini cakes are a brilliant idea, I used to do them with the kids in school, they cook much quicker, we used old sponge pudding tins 😁 but any clean tin would work. We used a receipe that used mincemeat that tasted great and was so much cheaper than buying all the dried fruit etc, it is amazingly expensive. I have bought an un iced cake this year which I could decorate but as neither OH or I really like icing we decided to just leave it off 😂, the cake won't last long enough to need the icing once we start eating it 😂.

@Brie I gave up on La Plante a good few years ago, didn't enjoy her writing style but looking at the blurb on this book I might have been tempted as it has had some good reviews and I do enjoy a good murder 😂 but I will remember to avoid it now, thank you 😁

@Brambling very kind of you to be helping your friend and I think you were right to take the shredding home, if it's been waiting since June she probably won't deal with it 😁

Right time for bed
Hugs to everyone who would like one

1674 foreign card posted
1675 - 1677 presents posted
1678 meds collected
1679 Christmas wrapping finally finished
Take care everyone
1679/2025

London_1

I nipped into Ryde yesterday and dropped some CS bits off and decided I'd pop into Peacocks as they had a Christmas sale on.
I found a nice pair of PJs for my eldest DDs ma-in-law that were reasonably priced, and if I downloaded the app I got an extra 10% discount as well,so bought them, after first checking with my eldest DD her size ,She's not a tall lady, and DD wasn't sure if she was a 10/12 or a 12/14.I got the smaller size looking at the top I think it should fit her.
Got them home, and was about to wrap them up and looking at the trousers they were far too little, very short (think half mast) and would probably fir one of my great granddaughters .So this morning they are going back to be changed.
 I know Margaret (DDs Ma-in-law is only 5.ft but these were really tiny.  They are very good in Peacocks and always are willing to change things,and I have a gift receipt as well for changing bits.
So its off back to Ryde this morning to change things.They are going to the mainland just before Chistmas so I want them to be right,

 I always get her lots of little things to unwrap and put them in a pretty bag.She's a lovely lady and at almost 90 very bright and full of fun.She,like me, at our age, really need very little, so appreciate things we use.I always get her a box of liqurice allsorts, some nice biscuits (posh ones from M & S) I get a packet as she really would struggle to empty a tin before they went soft.  
Some nice soap, a candle, and really odds and ends we have been exchanging gifts like these for years as we get on well together,are both widows, and have even had the odd coachng holiday together so neither of us have to drive. I do like to get her a nice pair of PJs or a nightie as well.


I quite enjoy buying odds and ends for 'Margarets Chrismas Bag' through the year, even the odd paperback.  I know she gets a great deal of enjoyment out of her bag of surprises bless her.
The year we were in lockdown for Christmas I filled her bag with nice things to eat, small tins of food as her appetite is small but nice bits, a jar of good marmalade, a little tin of salmon, all small items but carefully wraped as I know she is also like me and likes to recycle stuff if she can

She does the same for me We don't spend a fortune, but we know what we both like and its not the cost its the loking for the right thing.She got me one year a nice jigsaw she had spotted in  a CS, and a lovely ball of lavender wool for my charity blankets I knit, we are both quite happy to have things to reuse, as being of the generation that wastes nothing 
This year I dropped in a small packet of nice  breakfast tea bags and a tiny jar of IoW honey as well.
We both decided years ago that opening little things seemed such a nice way for each of have bits that we would probably never buy ourselves. We never buy boxed sets of the Christmas stuff in the shops, just too much packaging and a bit boring
 If I buy her a nice talc, its usually one on its own, not in a box with stuff she'd never use. The family all think its funny that we look for odds and ends, but we both know each others tastes.    

Its never how much a thing costs, but the thought behind it, Knowing she will smile at her bag of goodies.

My family know I have one absolute NO NO when it comes to presents, and that's slippers. I must have at least 6-7 pairs in my shoe box, that have been gifted at Christmas, as folk think because you are elderly you need slippers

I have a nice warm bootee furry ones for the really cold January/February weather that my eldest grandson bought me about 9 years ago.They literally only get worn in extremly cold weather, and I think they will last longer than I will.:)
 I have summer ones, and ones I wear, that are quick drying to use when I come out of the shower. Ones I only used when I was in hospital, and ones with more solid soles to use when hanging out the washing. I also have probably several pairs that I've never worn yet  

Its difficult when you are getting on a bit  and the family say "What would you like for Christmas ?" My needs or wants are so few. If I want something I'll just buy it I neither drink (medication ) nor smoke,never have, but a nice packet of stem ginger biscuits I enjoy, and they say well thats not much , but I like a decent 'posh' biscuit with my afternoon cuppa.
I'm partial to spearmint polos as well, and appreciates a couple of packet of those as well

One of my grandsons Jack is great at buying quirky gifts, and will spend a lot of time looking for the right one
Last year he had a jigsaw made for me as I do like a nice jigsaw in the winter . He had it made with lots of pictures of him and his brothers printed on the front and I loved it as they were photos of the boys all growing up together with me over the years, holidays and Christmases etc great to do and brought back lots of very happy memories.

A nice packet of tea or decent ground  coffee goes down well,I really don't need a lot  and I'm more than happy with what ever I unwrap on Christmas Morning.

My eldest granddaughter usually gives me a calender made with photos of her two little girls, my great granddaughers though the year, as they live on the mainland, and this year it was lovely seeing them every month growing up.
It really is the thoght that counts.Henry, one of my grandsons is very like me, and extremely practical (he is a merchant banker after all )  He was after some blades for his fancy new razor, they apparently last 4 months at a time and you only get three to a packet, so I got him a packet and a nice snowy white tee shirt he wanted and I know he will be chuffed to bits with his present. He also likes things he can use. Once Ive changed margarets PJs and wrapped them that all my presents wraped and sorted ready to deliverwhen we go to the mainalnd on the 22nd to deliver eldest DDs ones and my eldest DGD's and families ones The ones here for Christmas Day are in my bedroom stacked away. My DD and son-in-law will do the Christmas food shopping as I do my best to stay away from crowded places  at this time of the year as having low a immune system its better I don't catch anything, and a warm crowded shop is a great breeding ground for germs and viruses.

DGS Henry and his young lady arrive tonight so I'm really looking forwar to meeting her, first time he's brought a lass home so he must be keen.

Well the kettle is calling soI must obey its time for a cuppa

Have a good day everyone and try not to stress too much as Noddy Holder screeches out

IT'S CHRISTMAS  

(and it will be cabck again next year )

JackieO xxx 
  

Muddy_Walker

LiverpoolA that sounds amazing with mincemeat! Do you think you could find the recipe please?

London I love a good mix of bits and bobs too!

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

Thursday was a bright, cold & sunny day with a forecast high of 12°C, low of 8°C although still a bit breezy. I was up at 09:00 as I had decided to organise the freezers with a view to emptying the garage freezer & defrosting it. This has resulted in having various items defrosting including last bags of los for our next hm soup & several one person portions of bolognaise sauce which has helped with the menu plan & shopping list 🙂 The garage freezer now only has ice blocks/bags & ice cubes in it, so is ready to defrost 🥳  The kitchen freezer is now organised (how long that will last is anyone’s guess 😉) but will need defrosting although that can wait until the new year. Rather usefully (bumping up my numbers) I have 5 plastic takeaway containers & 7 small plastic sauce pots to wash & recycle 🥳 DH & DSis headed off to MrS at 14:00 & had a good journey there but it was jam packed in the sm ☹️ *When they got back I put away the chilled food but left the rest - my kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off 😬 I worked around the mess to make dinner - pork tenderloin medallions in an ‘off the cuff’ creamy mushroom & mustard sauce, mash & green beans 🤤 I eventually did the wudupa but still have the pans to wash. *DH switched off the fridge/freezer in the garage after putting down towels. Tomorrow I will wash the drawers, wipe down & dry the inside of the freezer & switch it back on ready for Christmas goodies & meat - I need to make a trip to the butchers in town. I also need to sort out a couple of donation bags for the CS. 

2266 - 2280 Kitchen recycling, 2 newspapers, 5 plastic takeaway containers, 7 small plastic sauce pots - recycled

2281 - 2282 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

London_1, so pleased to hear that you are feeling 100% better 😊 What a lovely lady at knit & natter 🥹 Also what wonderful news for the other lady & how wonderful that others are rallying round - a real community 🥹 Well done on being all sorted for Christmas 👏 I am way behind but not panicking…….just yet, although I have no idea what to get for DH & he has no idea what to get for me 😅 We are as bad as each other 🤭 Fortunately DH & I have managed to sort a couple of presents for DSis 😮‍💨 

QueenJess, sorry to hear that you have been so unwell 😔 hopefully you are on the mend now 🙏 I see that being unwell didn’t slow you down much - some excellent decluttering 👏 & very impressed with your ‘Use It Up’ number of 502 - a medal 🏅 is on its way. Thanks for the reminder about next year - I need to start working on next year’s thread + collating awards data. 

Lovely post Willowtree222 🥹

daisy_1571, hadn’t thought of that 🤔 

Liverpool_Anne, a busy & successful couple of days ☺️ Some good decluttering & well done on using up more food 👏Fingers crossed that the dentist visit went well & that it wasn’t too expensive 🤞

Green_hopeful, having space for 3 drawers of baby clothes is a sign of how successful your own decluttering has been 👏🤩 Well done on the extra decluttering especially the duvet to your uncle 👏 Good luck with the garage decluttering 🍀

BlueJ94, sorry to hear you are unwell 😔 Please don’t rush back to work 🙏 Two days doesn’t seem enough to recover from flu.

Belated Happy Birthday MadamMim2013 🎉🎂🥳 Sounds like you had a lovely day ☺️

Excellent work Soontobeoap 👏 If your mojo continues in this vein you will have given your whole house a spring clean 😊 A great Christmas present to yourself 🤩

Lovely to see you ionafan 👋 Excellent decluttering of paperwork 👏 Hopefully your shredder coped with 9” of paper 🤞just curious how many times you had to empty the bin 😉Your visit to the NT sounds like a lovely way to spend time ☺️ Home made marmalade 🤤 

Muddy_Walker, a pity that you are disappointed with the cake 😔 Although it is unusual I actually find it rather appealing 😊

Brie, a pity about the book 😞 but I don’t see it improving 😉

Floss, I quite agree 😉

Brambling, loved This “After a week stay I declutterred my sister back home on Monday, she's my sister and I love her but she's hard work! I was driven to wine and chocolate so haven't declutterred any lbs.” ☺️ My DSis has now been living with us for 7.5 years 😉 Excellent work dealing with the financial/tax frog 👏 & very pleased to hear that it ended up being more of tadpole than a frog 😊 What a wonderful thing to do for your elderly friend 🥹 Hopefully you will be able to sell the vinyl & raise some money for her 🤞

Almost caught up but am struggling to keep my eyes open having napped earlier 😞 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️🏅🏅⭐️😇🏅🥇 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2282/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

Green_hopeful

@Liverpool_Anne I asked the same question. The answer is that they are not very organised so they think they don’t have room to store them. I think it will only be for a couple of years. We have 8 adult kids between us plus quite a few elderly relatives that we help. I would like to say we could offer advice that would be listened to but sadly people don’t want to listen or have different agendas. I have to accept others have different views. 

GrannyKate

Hi all.  Sounds like everyone is in the Christmas mood.  Children taken to school and I've come back for breakfast.  I am going to make myself go into town and see if I can finish off the stocking gifts.  I need to go to school for Chrstmas celebration this afternoon as DS2 can't get back as he has a long distance job today.  I did have somewhere else I could be but happy to miss that.  

Christmas tree up and decorated - Sox is just staring at it.  It's not raining today so he has taken himself out this morning - or he had as he just appeared miaowing as I typed the words. Sniffing Christmas tree on his way to his favourite windowsill.  I have two large quite low windows in the lounge each with a radiator under it. He moves between them surveying his estate.  They need a clean as they are covered in cat nose marks at the bottom. 

1192 Christmas cards all written, stamps bought and most posted.
1193 Christmas tree collection booked for January with hospice 
1194 Christmas tree bought and decorated
1195 E mails read, answered, deleted, saved etc.  Continuing to do unsubscribes as I go through.
1196 Banking done

Right I'll drink up my tea and go into town. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@Muddy_Walker, I didn't bring any of the recipes home stupidly 🙄 as they were all tried and tested quick cooks as the kids made their own lunch one day a week so they had to be made and ready by lunch time 😂, but I did a Google search and found this one that looks right on easypeasyfoodie.com 
Can't do a link because I don't know how 😂
150 g butter
150 g dark soft brown sugar
2 large eggs
411g jar of mincemeat
200g glace cherries
150g sr flour
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp cinnamon
30ml sherry or Apple juice

Preheat oven to 160C/140 fan/gas mark 3/325 F
Grease and line an 8 inch round tin with baking paper.
Beat together butter and sugar until smooth.
Add eggs one at a time beating until smooth after each one
Add mincemeat and cherries, stir gently until evenly distributed
Gently fold in the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon until fully incorporated.
Add sherry or apple juice and stir gently until mixed in
Tip the mixture into the cake tin and straight into the oven
Bake for 50 mins to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean
Allow to cool for 20 mins in the tin then remove and allow to completely cool before decorating, probably about 2 hours.

Hope this helps 😁. I must say I find this website very useful and everything I have tried does work so good luck if you try it 😁

@Green_hopeful yes I wondered if it was because they were not very organised 😂. Still seems a bit of a shame you have to use your storage space for other peoples things, think I would probably box it up and stick it in the loft 😂. You are very kind to accommodate them, more than I would do except in a dire emergency 😂

Time for a cuppa
Take care everyone
Still 1679/2025

ionafan

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger - I have just finished shredding all the old financial papers.  For accuracy, I measure the box and it is only 7" tall, but I had to empty the shredder box 8 times, as nearly every A4 page had some confidential information on it so had to be disposed of carefully.  Apart from complaining of indigestion and getting overheated a few times, the shredder has survived the ordeal quite well

This was the final batch of paperwork from my working days, so only personal stuff will be going into the shredding pile from now on.

I must go and deal with some marmalade next: it has been simmering away in the SC all morning, without sticking or burning

Muddy_Walker

Liverpool Anne - thank you! I will give that a go 😄
MrsSD my cake colour combination won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve added some curling ribbon round the bottom and it does set it off nicely. I’ve never conformed to anything really - result of a boarding school I hated!

Green_hopeful

@ionafan when I had to shred loads i cut the personal information out and just shredded that. I had already sorted it to be similar items so often i could cut out the personal details on several pages at once. Saved lots of time.