2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Deb4

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82059576#Comment_82059576

Thank you @Green_hopeful it's horrible at the moment, unfortunately there isn't many part time jobs out there but I'm hopeful that something will turn up soon.

Green_hopeful

We go to see my grandad in his grave a couple of times a year. He is buried far away so we camp in the church car park. It’s about half way to the West Country so a good place to stop. The vicar is lovely and offered us a visit to her other church. We didn’t camp at her other church but we visited and had a lovely tour with one of the volunteers.

Anyways we found the “find a grave” website really useful and interesting for finding relatives. When i mounted my husband’s family’s medals we found lots of information on find a grave. My husband’s great grandad was a conscientious objector but he went to war as an ambulance man. There is an article about him and his friends who joined up together and all survived. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219836650/harold-braddock The medals are mentioned are the ones we have.

TC77

@Grannykate thank you a good reminder. I havr a notebook and when I have to amke a complaint- especially.phone call i note the day and subject etc so I can go back if it becomes a frog. I'm working throught dates and saving emails as pdf 's as they've asked for evidence , although not sure i noted calls as didnt think this would end badly! When I finish hopefully this morning i'll leave til tomorrow to read again to ensure as concise. At work and with kids always tell them they've got to think of the person youre writing to and they want to get key points asap.

Have other frogs which I have been putting off.getting in habit of tidying the kitchen at night and if not finished then doing this first thing and makes things much calmer.

Feels v hot already here. Got a bus to the park last night as no shade across the heath so indoors this week I think

Green_hopeful

i made my first external blind yesterday. Looks better than the sheet version. Its held on with vine eyes and carabiners so i can unclip it. It’s about 3 inches from the window so i can still open the windows at night. Its water resistant fabric so should be ok for a little while outside. I thought after i had bought the fabric i could have used shower curtains for the same effect with less effort.

retiredinfrance

Fantastic blind,@Green_Hopeful and I just love your garden. Out here is a brown blasted heath and rock hard earth.
DS visit is prompting lots of cleaning and DH is tidying up the garage- not my priority!
Went to the tip yesterday with a boot full of small stacking cardboard boxes which we usually use for our apple harvest but likely none this year .I have also been clearing photos . I have a friend who sends funny photos every day and they mount up. Poor girl, she is a widow and quite lonely so I just thank her and delete later.

Claiming 10 for boxes and 5 for photos = 220+15=235/365

Hugs for everyone who would like them .

Florenceem

Morning all.

I was amazed when I saw the football result.

Eldest son sent me a message - he was walking the dog at 5.45 this morning and was nearly hit by a drunk driver who was on the wrong side of the road and ended up in a hedge a few doors down from M. I told him God wasn't ready for him. Driver did a runner but police have him now. Spoke to bestie who reminded me that God puts blessings onto a believer's children and their children.

Carpet men arrived at 8.30 and lots of banging with front doors open - at least it is good weather.- house is getting plenty of fresh air.

Sewing machine man due about 10 but depends on the traffic.

If everyone has gone early enough - I will take my loaded shopping trolley to the charity shop.

I did try a new battery in the clock I brought home from charity shop but thought it wasn't working - clock went home yesterday with bestie's husband who says it is working. I was listening for ticking but it doesn't make a sound - didn't think to see if little wheel on back of clock was going round.

Just heard from builder J who is coming today so I won't be going out.

EnergyShifter

Good Morning! I used to regularly post on this forum up to 18 months ago - unfortunately I fell off the EDT in December 2024 and must have got amnesia from the fall - memory appears to be coming back now because I can remember lots of names - well done everyone for sticking with it!

So in a nutshell - if anyone remembers me and is interested - 2025 and the beginning of 2026 was hard !! I finished my supervision course and certification in January. Then I started my Vocations Process for Pastoral Ministry. In the spring my darling little old cat Finn started getting ill and incontinent and eventually was PTS in May . I really struggled afterwards - I knew I’d miss him but this was a different level. In the June / July I had the gruelling selection process for Pastoral training and was assessed for ADHD - several weeks later I found out I’d got through selection and I had ADHD which was a strange thing to get my head around in middle age . Just before I started the Pastoral training my son had a hyper-manic episode after years without relapse. That in turn triggered my PTSD and I really struggled. Sadly at the very beginning of 2026 my son suffered a relapse of psychosis. The beginning of the year was tough but then I started taking anti-anxiety meds and it made a massive improvement . Because my son is on anti-psychotics the two of us are pretty chill at the moment and life feels calm 🙏. I’m still working as a freelance coach - 3 days pw client contact & up to a day of admin etc . DS is looking for a job but no luck so far .

I finish my Pastoral training this evening (surprised and delighted I managed to continue) and will take a year to discern my future as all the upheaval got in the way of that last year.

so - decluttering - I managed not to re-clutter too much during the last 18 months which I’m pleased about. The meds are amazing for anxiety but seem to completely demolish my drive and motivation - so a couple of months ago I thought I needed to shake myself up by watching and reading “Swedish Death Cleaning “ this led to reading “ Uncluttered Faith” then taking out a Patreon subscription for “the minimalists” podcasts and binge listening to that.

I was remembering about how lovely this forum is and thought it might be a good time to rejoin if you’ll have me! I will do my best not to fall offf the EDT this time. I haven’t thought about goals but since the beginning of July I have been playing the “minimalist game” so I might just start there !

vulpix

Deb4 xxx

Green hopeful. keep hold of those marbles! I could do with a few myself.

EnergyShifter, I remember you. Welcome back. What a time you and your son have had. here's hoping for smoother waters for you both in future. Serious kudos for being able to stick with your Pastoral training. Was it you that moved to a very run down house with a massive overgrown garden? That of course could totally be someone else.🤣

Have to go, Mr V is one of those people who want to get up half an hour before they go to bed.

Shock footie results.🦁🦁🦁

Vx

Green_hopeful

@retiredinfrance the garden is prettier from the other side but its nearly all in pots on trays. It’s super dry here and we recycle all our shower water and washing machine water. Because we are on heavy clay in the dry of East Anglia it’s nearly impossible to keep plants alive in the ground. Here it is from the other side in a previous year

Rootle

25/26/27 - 3 full bags of clothes to charity recycling bin. I wish it had made a bigger difference in the wardrobes than it has but it's something.