2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

GrannyKate

A bit tired today but holiday washing done and put away. Collected Sox early this morning. He has been fine at cattery and occasionally allowed himself to be stroked. He is stalking round the house now, going in and out and checking food bowls for extra treats. DGS4 is still off school today so he came to collect Sox and is here now. DS2 goes back to work Thursday so he has been to move some furniture into bedroom 3. His work van is flat and he only has electric key fob so can't get into his van to get his drill so can't do the other jobs.

Journey out was fine but we hit an issue over hire car when we got there and price doubled and they were very unhelpful (not just us as people in front of us and behind us met problems too). We decided to get an uber to the house and see how we got on. In fact, despite being in a very rural area, we managed fine and had three days out and a supermarket trip and airport transfers and actually spent less on taxis than the original cost of the hire car before they doubled it. My brother has a lovely pool and there were restaurants in walking distance. Food delivery from supermarket was a euro. Two trips were to a beach resort for the day. Then the first night there was a power cut and we couldn't sort until the following morning. We were so tired we had salad and rolls and went to bed. After that everything was fine. It was very hot the last four days - much hotter than when they went at the same time last year. There has been a lot of spring rain and the wild flowers everywhere were stunning.

I have things to do but feel very tired. Plumber coming tomorrow to fit radiator for bedroom 3 and remove hall radiator. I hope joiner is coming Thursday to take some wood off bottom of door as new carpet is thicker. I need to sort out some bills to pay and move money round.

412 Meeting decluttered and papers to shredding

413 Holiday decluttered along with money - everything put away

414 Checked in for May trip to Madeira with my friend

I'll find some pictures in a bit

GrannyKate

Portugal April

Floss

@GrannyKate It looks lovely! Have you been to Madeira before?

Green_hopeful

Three hockey sticks and a hockey bag collected from the garage of doom. Someone else is coming to get five footballs later. We found a load of harrods bags from clearing my in laws house and popped the footballs into one of them.

We went to the tip, with an old van battery from my mums doorstep, a very manky armchair that has been in our garage for years and some actual rubbish.

We went to my mums storage unit today. It’s costing her a fortune. She acknowledges she can’t let go of things. She found some beautiful china and linen sheets she had forgotten about. I said why don’t we get rid of some stuff at her house and then she can use her beautiful belongings. She wants to empty it but can’t work out how to manage it. She was talking about a hypnotist. I thought they might say, ‘you are feeling sleepy, you have become a minimalist’. We might all sign up for that. Anyway we managed to bring back an empty box, a damaged paper bag and an empty pad of paper😀 might be another few trips to clear it.

With my Freecycling efforts I remembered a local upcycler that might take the things I don’t know what to do with. He made quite a bit of money with some cameras i gave him so I have brought in a box to start gathering items. We have quite a few bits where no one wants them but i don’t like throwing things in the bin.

@Brambling big hugs. I feel your frustration.

GrannyKate

Yes weather was lovely in Portugal after the first windy couple of days. I have been to Madeira quite a long time ago with late DH. My friend has never been there and I am happy to go again. Hotel with half board this time so perhaps more relaxing.

Not much really done today as DGS4 decided to stay and eat most of the food I got at shop this morning. Sox has been very friendly all day - exploring his estate and coming for head scratches. Not happy things have moved again as he can no longer jump from mantelpiece to a basket he likes to sleep in and I have washed the bed and rug he took to the cattery. He seems happy to be home and hasn't suffered from his stay at a 5* establishment. Done banking and worked out what needs to be paid over the next few weeks. Some tomato and cucumber seeds planted in potting shed and weeding done.

415 Banking done and upcoming bills sorted

416 Weeding done and a few seeds planted in potting shed

Floss

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970977#Comment_81970977

Take walking shoes! The Monte Gardens will be beautiful at this time and the cable cars to Monte and then to the Botanic Gardens are fab. If you get chance to go walking in the levadas the views will be incredible.

florianatwobob

We had a bit of a garden rearrange on Saturday. The potted honeysuckle was moved from the back garden to the front garden. The birds are currently not sure what they think about it.

Potted up 5 geraniums and repotted an osteospermum. Two geraniums in the front garden and 3 in the back. The osteo is also in the front garden. All in cheap pots so if they are ‘half inched’ I’ll be annoyed but not devastated.

The garden is looking very cheerful.

TC77

Hi,

I have been reading along but waited to be safely home before posting. Sorry to hear about illness, family loss and other difficulties and loved seeing photos of cats, homes etc .

Lost my umbrella on travels, had my nail scissors confiscated by Australian security on an internal flight, decluttered ££££ . I went out with v little ,7kg of luggage as started in warmer climes and had to borrow dd2's clothes in melbourne which was 13 degrees for part of some days . Came back with a new suitcase some things for me (new) and some of dd2's things. Dd2 will be home end of June and has a friend lined up to help her do her bedroom at home.

I have a long list of decluttering for the coming months but first some key frogs along with work to focus on.

Also abandoned a flannel en route

Florenceem

I phoned the blinds shop - N would come on Friday but may be able to visit today as in the area.

I took donations to the charity shop. Then went to get masonry paint. I had looked online - it was in stock. I couldn't see it in the shop so asked someone to look for it in the warehouse. He couldn't find it so I said if I order click and collect - you will have to find it. He said if they couldn't they would cancel the order and do a refund. They had the smaller pots but two of them made it £10 more than a large one. So I asked if I could have 2 small ones for the large price. Store chap said he couldn't do that - I would have to speak to the manager - okay I will do that - he got on his headphone mike and spoke to the manager who told him where the 5 pots of paint were - in a different area of the store. Fancy putting paint down by the bathroom fittings area.

N arrived and measured up. He had a book of fabrics in the van so I chose a grey colour blind which will be ordered as soon as I receive and accept the quote.

I put all the stuff to be collected by my daughter in the porch as I was going out to the Dr. She collected it all.

The Dr was on time when I arrived but 40 minutes late by my appointment. She was not happy with me - I have lost more weight. She said if I lose more - my bmi will make me anorexic. My blood and liver results are improving. She has given me flavoured shakes - I will try them but someone I know had these and didn't like them.

She also said - don't do so much as I am burning calories. She understands that I keep busy because I don't want time to think about what has happened.

weenancyinAmerica

@Florenceem - make sure the shakes have been refrigerated long enough to be really cold. Don't drink them if they are warm.