2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Florenceem

Liverpool_Anne - I remember planning my new kitchen - so many decisions to make - I had a complete change around apart from keeping the sink under the window - need a view when you wash up.

I pootled about this morning - did chores and some washing plus had a shower.

Then the post arrived - 9 letters - I am sure they store it up to make the round worthwhile.

One was a catalogue which I have requested to stop but it takes a few weeks.

One to Mr F was to say they couldn't take a direct debit on February 2 from Mr F's account - of course not - it doesn't exist now. This company has been told that Mr F has died and the account is meant to be moved to my name - now I will have to ring them on Monday. I was told that the February money was being covered as a gesture of goodwill and my debits would start in March.

Another letter was to me from the same company requesting me to set up an online account.

Then I had 2 identical letters from HMRC saying Mr F was owed £21/2 K which I have already received.

Another letter was from HMRC with a cheque for £126.

A letter came from the water company to Mr F - they have been informed of his death too.

The worse letter was from the pension company - they will not release the funds until a form is filled out - I don't know the answers to the questions. Eventually after being on hold - I was told if I answer a question - they will release the funds. The question was - can I confirm the pension pot was less than 1 million!

The last letter was a Farrow & Ba paint chart.

To be contd….

Florenceem

Brie - that jug came from Mil's flat.

My friend's husband came to collect the food for the COL and I went to the hairdresser. My friend met me there and we went to SA.

We were having tables so a relaxed cafe style COL. We soon round out of spaces at tables so two more were put up. Still not enough - some people sat on a row of seats down the side of the hall. Some people had to go and sit in the balcony - which is never needed apart from the yearly candlelight Christmas service.

One man and his daughter had travelled down from Essex - I had spoken to him on the phone but never met - he had known Mr F since 1975. A woman had come down from west London - again - I had never met her. There were people there from our old Church and others from the SA congregation. There were friends from his Round Table days. People came from a charity shop nearby where Mr F would pass by and chat to them. Neighbours came and relatives of deceased clients of Mr F. An old friend of his came - we had never met.

Then there was my family - 14 of them round two tables plus 2 granddaughters arrived after school - we had a group photo before we left as we don't often meet all together. We were short of 4 grandchildren and my eldest daughter and her husband who are travelling home from a holiday in Chile tonight.

It was a wonderful tribute to Mr F - we had tambourines on the table for a SA song. There was plenty of food - I got my children to take lots home with them, There were unopened packs of cheese - Mr F's favourite food.

So many people said that my bestie and I did Mr F proud.

I went to the lectern with my bestie but she read and I only answered a few questions that she asked me about Mr F. Of course she has included how I fell in love with a gentle giant with a 57 inch waistline but slimmed him down to 38 inches.

Now I feel flat as it has all been about the preparation of the COL.

Many thanks for all the messages of support on this thread.

Floss

@Florenceem it sounds like a CoL you should be very proud of arranging

TC77

Morning,

@Florenceem echoing Floss and others. Sounds like so much love and support for yiu and Mr F.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Daily To Do List - written the night before
2. Sort out sleep patterns - initial targets: bed by 03:00, up by 10:30
3. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc.
4. Commence ‘Operation Financial Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
5. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed
6. Plan & Execute ONE Major Project - 2026 New Bathroom
7. Target 2026 items out

Friday continued - left the house at 12:20 & was home by 16:45. The hygienist visit was OK apart from the ouch of payment 😣 Stopped off at the pub before heading home & had a pint of Guinness & read my newspaper. Got wet on the walk to the tube station & caught the start of the rush hour & it was only 16:00 😬 Got wet a second time walking home from the bus stop ☹️ DH made me a cappuccino when I got home & had also done the washing up. I had a bowl of hm soup to warm up - a tad spicy but it did the trick 🙂 Watched Countdown  & Ballykissangel then made dinner. Quiche & boiled new potatoes for DSis, salmon fillet, potatoes & peas for DH &  me. Wudupa.

278 - 281 Kitchen recycling, 2 newspapers, drinks cans - recycled 

282 - 283 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

TC77, I do knit whilst watching TV so at least I have something to show even if the programme is disappointing 😉 Pleased to hear that you are remembering your successes 😊

London_1, beautiful sentiments for Florenceem which we all share 🥹 What a lovely story about your DD 🥹

Liverpool_Anne, that is quick 🤩 Hope the appointment with the audiologist goes well & that a treatment is found 🙏 Excellent decluttering & well done on making a start on refilling your freezer 👏

TC77, no need to be embarrassed 😊 You have a plan & the decluttering looks eminently doable 😊 Good luck 🍀

Fell asleep on the sofa, so will finish the cheerleading later. Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐💐 

DH Awards: 🏅

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 283/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

TC77

Morning, focusing on frogs this morning as long list of emails and other actions before decluttering.

Trying to adjust my view of the value of things, think people have mentioned how we can endow our things with value as they are ours.

Hope to report back positively later.

Ms_Potato_Head

@Florenceem I am really glad for you that the CoL went well. MrF clearly meant a lot to a lot of people and you did him proud.

@TC77 your spare room looks like my own room did! Tad overwhelming. I did a box or s bag a day and I'm getting there. Hugs.

This week I have cleared:

Bags of miscellaney: 1

Household items: 4

Paper work: 24

Books: 1

Running total for 2026: 87

MPHx

daisy_1571

Florenceem so glad the celebration went well. It sounds like a proper celebration indeed, so many friends and family wanting to be there. I'm sure it will feel very flat for a while after the focus of the col however I'm sure in time you will find your 'new normal'

Hugs to everyone this morning. Fabulous opening ceremony last night, we were delighted to spot Valentino Rossi in there. Weve already been enjoying a couple of days of curling but it all starts in earnest today - I'm predicting square eyes in the daisy household between hours of olympics for us both and the rugby which mr d will be watching when he can squeeze it in. Our planner is already at its highest its ever been at 65%, goodness knows where it will be in a fortnight 😆

Dxx

London_1

Good morning chums , I'm glad for you Florenceem that the COL went well .Isn't it annoying when you get letters from companys that already know the situation HMRC should be well aware any way

When I lost my lovely OH in 2003 about 9 months later I had a call from a car company that he had previously bought a car from a couple of years earlier

This was how it went

Me. Hello

Young Man. Can I speak to Mr W please ?

Me. I'm sorry you can't

YM. Oh come along, just put him on will you

Me. I'm sorry I can't, he's not available

YM. Now come alonge dear, just be a good lass and put him on

Me. I'm afarid that's impossible (by this time I'm getting up to boiling point

A. At his rudeness, and B. I dislike being called Dear by anyone let along someone I probably have shoes older than)

YM. Just give him the phone Luv I just want a quick chat to see if he's interested in buying a new car

Me (I also don't like being called Luv by anyone apart from my late OH) so I said

"He can't come to the phone to chat to you I buried him 9 months ago you moron and informed your company as well".

YM total silence for about 10 seconds then he said

"Oh for F***'s sake" and slammed the phone down. I think I totally ruined his day.

I was startled to say the least ,then I thought of how my late OH would have thought it hilarious and started to laugh.

When my eldest daughter heard what had happened she emailed to company and gave them a rocket. the next day I had a large bouquet of flowers delivered from the company, and the director phoned me up and apologised for the salesmans behaviour.

Today I'm off out to Lunch with my two daughters and granddaughter They are just at Portsmouth getting on the ferry.

I have been sppilt rotten by the family, and thank you New Roads Ahead for my lovely card bless you.

Sadly last night I had a text from my niece to say my broither-in-law, my OH's younger brother had passed away in a hospice in Andover.Bless him a lovely chap who was at almost 92 still alert and well until a fall a week or so ago and sad his heart was failing and he had pneumonia. But he just slipped away in his sleep bless him. But he's now at peace and out of pain. :(

Youngest DD gave me the biggest hug this morning and said Uncle Ray is with Dad now Mum, bless her

Right time to get a wriggle on as we have to pick up eldest DD and DGD off the ferry and the re is a lot of road works

JackieO xxx

GrannyKate

Morning all. Glad COL went ok @Florenceem. Take things easy now although the paperwork mountain will take a while to climb on top of. I haven't done much - felt a bit 'anyhow' yesterday - not ill just a bit fed up for no good reason at all. I still have frogs to do but just didn't fancy it yesterday.

On the positive side I did open a new bank account and initiated a swap - it wasn't as simple as is sometimes suggested but think I've done it right and I should get a nice bonus. It's not my main everyday account but one I use for annual payments and most of my monthly direct debits funded from widow's pensions from late DH. The old bank were the most unhelpful when DH died and I have been meaning to bin them for some time. I am pleased with myself for tackling that on my own. Many years ago this bank (or their forerunner) closed my DD's account with them for suspected money laundering. She was at uni and her dad paid her termly rent into the account and she took it out almost straight away to pay the rent. They said this was unacceptable - I've never reasoned out why. I need to pay some money into the new account within 45 days and use it for payments 5 times which I can do.

Because of the postal delays (US and UK) I decided to post dsis's card for early March yesterday - this involved 4 PO visits 1) no parking available anywhere and pouring with rain 2) got parked at first place but till broken so no money transactions possible, 3) close early on Fridays 4) finally posted at third place I'd tried. I have bought several March cards and all February ones have gone (only 2 but both in US). Plasterer has contacted me so I hope to sort out some dates next week.

Right I need to get on with things.

185 February cards all posted plus first March one

186 Decluttered random food things to DS2

187 New bank account opened and switch initiated