2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

GrannyKate

Morning all. Hugs to everyone having difficult times. I have a meeting this morning but already have 5 apologies so no idea if anyone will actually come. I may be talking to myself and drinking tea on my own. I actually rang my new bank yesterday to check on something and a real person answered listened to my question and said he could check that out for me straight away as it was a generic question so I needn't go through security questions. Two minutes later I got a response. This is the one Martin often recommends as they have the best scores for customer service. Hopefully I will get the switch bonus in due course. I found receipt to take back curtain rail for a refund (still in packaging).

Plasterer and joiner came yesterday and we have a plan for the work in small bedroom, inner hall and also to relocate the loft hatch with a new ladder. There is an issue with the ceiling being bowed where the hatch will go so this should sort out two problems at once. The current hatch is at the back of a long thin cupboard and has a horrible narrow metal ladder. I will be able to make better use of the cupboard as well but will just leave the old hatch where it is. I don't use the loft a lot but have boxes to sort up there and stuff stored for DS2. It was a lovely day yesterday but breezy but I managed to cut the front lawn - I had left it too long in the Autumn and of course all the rain has just kept it growing. I need to do edges but guess DS2 has my strimmer.

Finished off paperwork for next week and sent out. I plan to drop some bits off at CS, get a small shop (this month I am determined to hit the grocery target), return curtain pole to Mr D and I may go and look at bikes for DGS4's birthday. He got into his preferred school where his brother and sisters go. This is good as technically neither of his parents live in catchment although his dad is very close to edge. My house is in the catchment area but I think the main thing is having three siblings there. None of them in primary school after September and oldest two are both 21 this year. I was saying to DD it seems literally yesterday that DGS1 was getting ready to go off to uni and now he is doing finals. Just remembered to ring hairdresser as I managed to lose appointment card before I put it in diary. I paid off last of Portugal flights on CC but the plan for Cyprus in July may need looking at. We've only paid a deposit on villa so far.

262 Drawer full of shredding done

263 Front lawn mowed

264 Random weeding done and recycled

265 Receipt box sorted through and most in shredding - they were mainly xmas gifts which have long gone

266 Committee papers sent out

267 Holiday paid off.

Florenceem

Lovely day here.

J came at 9 and put another coat of paint on the new wood in the bedroom. Then he painted the bedroom door.

I hadn't asked him but J decided the new wardrobe doors needed another coat so did that.

Before he left I asked him if he had any Philips screws as I can't remember where I put the ones for my tin picture in the kitchen. J didn't have any so we looked in Mr F's toolbox which I had put out in the garden storage box. There were 4 short screws in there so my picture is back on the wall - I will take it off the builder's list.

I have left J a message about coming to paint the cloakroom door tomorrow morning then that will be another room completely finished.

I am planning to pop out to look at curtains and bedding for my bedroom this afternoon. I am out at the Lent course tonight.

vulpix

Hi, I am keeping up with the thread,just.

What a nice cuddle chair,thanks for the idea.😁 Something like that could work in our sitting room eventually. I envisage the sitting room to be the last to be finished.

Positive news for you and your friend Brambling. I hope your friend has a choice of care home.

I had a Mini from new. It kept showing faults which turned out to be a curcuit board fault not a fault on the car. It was a fab car but couldn't pass an MOT with faults showing. Every time they were switched off they came on again once the wheels turned.Sadly I sold it as by then she was getting on a bit and she had been a first car for the 2 eldest kids. It would have taken more than the car was worth to replace the curcuit board. I have seen it in Aldi car park so someone either fixed it or has a dodgy MOT!

Decorating is so much more than decorating. The whole house is in disarray.Our bedroom is empty, the furniture is on the landing, all sorts in the small front bedroom from our room and the bathroom, including two cats who think the small front bedroom is the new place to sleep. The behemoth of the kingsize heavy, unfoldable mattress is wedged in the bathroom door.You have to shimmy past.

Yesterday the feature paper wall was gone over and all the tiny bits of paper removed. More rawl plugs removed and holes filled.Just the simple task of taking the carpet up. Err no. They have built the full wall of wardrobes over the carpet. Much time, energy and almost tears were spent getting the thing out, down the stairs and in the car and off to the tip, Bye,Bye! Much hoovering ensued and an almost row till we realised we were stressed and knackered not cross with each other!

The little window in the bathroom is bricked up. The window is still there on the outside. It needs scaffolding so J can make good the stone work. There is a big hole where the new toilet will be, currently stuffed with and old curtain. A positive show home!

Everything off our bed is having a hot wash and going out on the line. Once we move back in it will be a no cat zone. They take delight in muddy footprints on fresh bedding.

My beautiful newly decorated spare room is a tip as we are in there but so are the contents of our underbed storage and curtains etc.

A specialist chap is coming later to see about reusing an Edwardian door as the front door. Fingers crossed for that. It won't be cheap but I think it will make the house look like the grand old lady she should be.

Need to crack on, it's craft club. I shall be glad of a rest.

Vx

Pennypincin

People seem busy. And productive.

I hope the decorating people are having done is finished quickly, done well and with as little mess as possible. And as little stress too.

I've put 2 separate lots of pens and a new, unopened bookmark on the church recycling group and all have been asked for. Hopefully I will have them gone Sunday or by Sunday.

I've also re-homed some more pens to someone who's grandson is into art, but they won't leave until next week.

I've decluttered all the new small microwave containers, the large ones will be going soon as I made soup and a friend will be recieving the soup in the new large containers.

I won't be buying them again, not in a hurry anyway as they were too thin and flimsy for my liking.

GrannyKate

Afternoon all. Successful morning out and 5 people did turn up for my meeting. Errands done on the way home then some shopping. Just notified DGCs coming a day early but not a problem this week. Sox has been going dizzy because I decided to open all the windows for a couple of hours to let fresh air in - he has been jumping in and out of windows and running round the house to go in the other side. Sulking now because I have shut the windows as it gets a little cooler but back door is still open for a while. I hope it stays nice tomorrow as hopefully I can get outside for a while. I have bought quite a few bits of furniture from Dunelm - DS2 complained about the assembly instructions but things seem really solid and look nice. I have a nice chair from there which I got for corner in bedroom. I had seen it but was unsure then there was one in store 'as seen' for fraction of price as a couple of small scuffs on wood where you don't notice them anyway.

268 Stuff dropped off at CS

269 Curtain pole returned and refund obtained

270 Bag of plastics to SM

BlueJ94

The room of doom is an absolute state again.. taking some accountability and posting a before photo now and will update a second photo later on once im happy with it...

BlueJ94

So far so gooood

Yorkie1

Great progress @BlueJ94

@Pennypincin I find these small storage containers from Lakeland quite robust. I put them in the freezer, take them out, immediately 90 secs - 2 mins in the microwave so I can take the lid off without risking breaking it, then the food can either be decanted into a saucepan or further cooked in the microwave.

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906990#Comment_81906990

This did make me smile @DundeeDoll. I really don’t like finding typos though! 😂

I‘ve never been on this thread before, so I’m grateful to you introducing me over here.

Florenceem

vulpix - your house sounds like mine - no bedroom furniture so clothes are in black sacks until the new stuff is delivered.

Pennypincin - I gave lots of containers away on Freegle but think I need to get rid of more.

BlueJ94 - you have done a lot. I have 2 rooms of doom.

I went to the Lent course. My bestie gave me a lovely jug that came into the charity shop. I had one jug on my kitchen windowsill that I wasn't keen on so swapped them over and reject can go back to the shop.

J has got back to me - he will be here at 9 tomorrow morning to do some painting.

The gas men have reached my part of the road now - cars have notes on them - no parking.

I have decided that I won't buy curtains to dress my window in the bedroom - I am having a roman blind. When I go to stay with my daughter in Greenwich - we will go to Walthamstow market and buy some velvet fabric so I can sew some. Then I won't be breaking a lifetime of never having bought curtains.

I have a little bit of cleaning to do tomorrow in the kitchen then it is done. I do need to reorganise a cupboard. I will be pleased when my roller blind is installed in the kitchen.

I am wondering if J would be able to build Ike. units for my craft room - how difficult are they? J put together Mr F's walker and the garden storage bin. I could ask J's dad to help out as well. They will be more reliable than J the builder.