2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, sorry I have been missing again and I haven't caught up with all the posts. I have had a bad few weeks, got hit by the b12 exhaustion which was particularly bad this time then after the jab and getting some energy back I tackled a big job in the garden and managed to pull a muscle in my stomach which I am now recovering from but restricted movement for a couple of weeks. In between times the car was in the garage for a repair to the exhaust and yesterday I had to book it back in for a new pump as I had to call out the rescue service after it overheated so I won't use it again until I take it back to the garage next week. Luckily the garage is only a 2 minute drive 😁. I could have left it at the garage yesterday but I had 3 bags of compost in the back 😂.

My birthday came and went and I got some lovely gifts but at least 2 things have gone straight into the cs bag. I am getting quite good at doing that now 😁. We had a meal out at a local restaurant with ln whose birthday is close to mine and they were having a Turkish night with entertainment, a singer performing Turkish songs which sounded lovely but I couldn't understand a word 😂 and a belly dancer who was excellent. I also managed a lunch with my friend who recently had a knee replacement, she is recovering really well and says it's the best thing she's ever done 😁.

Declutter wise various bins have been filled and emptied, emails have been deleted, several LDFPA, a trip to the cs with a big bag of things, presents wrapped and posted, garden attacked and meds ordered etc but slow going. I am adding 70 to my total which seems like a lot but it's been a while since I reported in so now at 2153/2026.

I am now going to try to catch up with all the posts so hugs to anybody who would like one

Take care everyone

MadamMim2013

Morning everyone 👋🏼

Have been deliberately AWOL as spent the last 2 weeks decluttering my mums actual kitchen and fitting a new one! 😮‍💨 Was very full on and I am feeling the repercussions body-wise 😖 just a tad sore/stiff & depleted of energy..🥱

The front & back of her home was also refreshed with a nice coat of paint, along with fixing the guttering, cleaning it and fitting “hedgehogs” to keep further build up/leaves at bay.. Maaaaany other odd jobs were undertaken during the 2 weeks.☺️

Thank goodness for my wonderful hubster (who took a holiday from work to do this 😬🫣) and both my sons who have also chipped in with the work. We celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary during the renovations.. by plastering a wall and having a take out 🤣

Did a tip run yesterday with the last of the rubbish & mountain of cardboard. Had a good rummage in our garage before I left and added to the pile considerably, also took the neighbours green waste to save her a trip.

Today I will attempt a couple of 10 minute tidies with the hope to remove some more clutter.

Did try to keep up with the flow of things & am sending hugs for all.. 💐💗 🤗

Florenceem

MadamMim2013 - belated happy anniversary.

We went to the 90th birthday party - set on a luxury park of bungalows. No one was allowed to leave without taking cake with them. We saw a lovely windmill on our journey.

I was so engrossed knitting and watching series 3 of the GBSB that it got to 11 and I hadn't taken my tablets. I went to bed at midnight and felt really groggy when I finally got out of bed.

I could do with some tea bags so will pop out later for them and to get a local paper.

Bestie suggested yesterday that I sort the garage stash first and then I will have space to bring down keeping bits from the ROD. At the moment I feel all sorted out but hope to get back to it soon.

I spoke with my son last night - he and his wife are going to Wales for a couple of days. He said he was cryng yesterday - so understandable after his loss. He is nowhere near ready to drive 40 minutes to school and stand in front of a class of 30 pupils.

vulpix

Energy shifter, lets do it. 5 lbs is eminently doable by Christmas.🎄

That is a lovely colour front door Florenceem. A friend of ours lost his son who was a similar age to Jasper in a car accident. He had a long time off from teaching and did go back but found a different job eventually as teaching is relentless pressure. I think your son should cry when ever he needs to.xxxx

Mrs SD, I like old stuff, it is generally made better and of course recycles. The only new things I have bought in the last 30 odd years have been beds and mattresses, bedding, carpets and a hoover,washing machine and fridge freezer. I have bought fabric to make curtains but tbh it is cheaper to buy pre loved curtains. I bought some new but second hand cotton curtains to back the quilt I have made for DGS'2s birthday. The quilt I made his brother cost almost £100, this one about £60.

MadamMimm, Happy anniversary. I bet your Mum is delighted with your families hard work. I could do with a work party here for a couple of weeks. Do you travel?🤣

LiverpoolAnne, I almost sent a search party for you. Happy Birthday and Happy Birthday Lovely Neighbour. I hope you and the car are back on top form soon.xx

The framed print has left the premises and gone to it's new home. The lid of the the pan I cremated in the bin.

More front garden weeded yesterday. The ground was very wet so only an hour done. One more go at it should finish it. I forgot to plant the free bulbs from a garden centre. Soon my pretties.

Just had my hair cut and now I will tidy the house a little then sit down in daylight to sew the cat buttons on the quilt.

Vx

2Scratters

@QueenJess you made me smile with the vintage fountain pen and also the pencil. I too love the vintage pens and propelling pencils. I have a bit of a collection of them going on. At least they don't take up a lot of space and fit nicely into a leather pencil case. If you ever need some old fashioned leads give me a shout I am SABLE in them.

@Brambling get onto your local Councillor/MP and advise them of the lack of support. Maybe the hospital liaison team could help too. Good luck.

@Miss_BaLu keep yourself well to be able to help the rest of the family in this difficult time.

Trying to think what have I been able to get out the house. Did give some items to DS for 2 of his car boots that he did back in the summer. I may need to check if there is any stuff left that may need to come back that I need to sell or choose to give on, the rest I'll let him dispose of. The living room is becoming quieter visually as stuff is moved out to where it belongs. i.e new kitchen. That is going to take longer to get sorted as DH's health has deteriorated and is no longer fit to do jobs.

I am working on getting a new bed - drawer divan is likely to be my choice as we are now in a one bed bungalow due to the kitchen redesign. A drawer can become the laundry basket to save some floor space and the bathroom itself is only 6 x 6 feet and that has an external sliding door which I love.

Busy just lurking about the house and trying not to declutter DH to the hospital. He's not a happy bunny at the moment bless him 😕

2 Scratters xx

London_1

Hi Chums, I've been so busy I've not had a chance to post much

Off to the mainland next weekend to see my DD, DGD's and two Great grandaughters

Best news I've had was my DGS Danny in New York and his wife are expecting a second baby to add to their little family of 3 year old Daisy. he's chuffed to bit as it will be a boy and my first GGS

He will be due on April 12th next year, and his other great grandma's 90th birthday is on the same day as he is due :) so lots of very smiley faces around at the moment :) :) :)

I'm reading my way through some of my books and slowly getting a pile every now and again that goes to the Charity shops in Ryde . Two of my teacher DGS are coming over at half term for a visit, and we are looking forward to that

The youngest DGS Mikey graduated in June from Essex Uni and is living on the Island with us.

Not much work around on the island bless him, but as soon as he arrived he sat at his computer and appied for everything he could. He finally seccured a temporary job at the local large supermarket filling online orders for people . Its only 16 hours a week but he does get extra shifts which he always says yes to.

He gets up at 5.00 am and walks the mile to work to start at 6.00 am and then walks back at lunchtime, he says its better than nothing and he doesn't want to just be idle

I feel for him as he's finished 4 years at Uni and there is so little graduate work around. He says goodness knows when he will ever be able to repay his student loan but he's managed to clear his overdraft at least

I hope everyone is OK and still finding things to declutter I can't believe we have been here over two years now

I have to have a biopsy in November as I had an itchy mole suddenly appear under my left arm and the medical services here are brilliant and I cannot fault them.So fingers crossed they will be able to remove it and find out what it is

Apart from that not a great deal has happened, it got extremely hot in the summer which I found nice but a bit too much for me as I'm fairskinned. At the moment the weather has been a lot cooler and a nice drying day today with a slight breeze and 21c, which is more my cup of tea.

Which is exactly what I'm off to make now as my lovely son-in law has just arrived home from work so I shall do the honours

Onwards and upwards chums

JackieO xxx

Deb4

Happy Friday everyone

Not done much really been too college which was good, on Thursdays we crafted with paper pulp and and I made some leafs left it at college to dry, our topic is nature. Hopefully will be able to paint them next week.

Tomorrow I am going back to Works to take the painting by numbers back so the will be leaving the house.

I have sold 2 more items so they were posted this morning.

Emails and photos have been deleted over the last week.

Looking at what birthday cards I need to get for the rest of the year, I did get some Christmas cards in the sale last year.

Think that's everything for now

X

dND

Welcome back @London_1 I just spent a while this afternoon finding out when you last posted as I was wondering how you were and when I came back to the thread, there you were. 😁

In a similar vein, has anyone heard from @Dizzycap ?

Dxx

Yorkie1

@Miss_BaLu so sorry to hear the news - condolences on your loss. I hope it went ok yesterday.

@Florenceem what a shock to hear about your door paint sticking. I think I've probably left it too late to do my door frame this season, to allow enough time for the gloss paint to dry before closing it at the end of the day.

@EnergyShifter have you thought about asking an AI tool to help you refine your biography? I don't use it much, but you can ask it to redraft in a more polished style, or whatever improvement you wish.

Good luck in your mattress search @weenancyinAmerica I agree with the others about not going for a foam mattress if you have warm weather. I have heard that wool mattresses (or toppers) are good at regulating heat, but they're not cheap. There's no real substitute for going and lying on various beds, but it's difficult if you have bad back and don't have easy access to transport.

@dND sorry to hear the anxiety has risen. There's absolutely no shame in taking time out from functioning if the brain is overwhelmed.

Congratulations @Mrs_Salad_Dodger and DH - what a lovely evening out.

@TC77 you've reminded me that I must go through my aftersun and sun cream. I also have an aloe vera after sun which smelt off when I used it this summer - it's been opened several years. I did buy a replacement one but haven't yet got round to emptying the old one to recyle the bottle. It would be so much easier to send it to landfill!

@Liverpool_Anne I admire you in being able to donate gifts to the CS. I attach so much sentimental value to something someone has given me, that I find it hard to get rid of it, even if it isn't what I might use. Perhaps I need to reflect further on this. And belated happy birthday

@2Scratters I have a 4-drawer divan base for my bed. Well worth it. I put my bedding and towels in the drawers. I've also sent you a message back re. the washing machine - not sure if it's the right model, but hopefully helpful!

Good family news @London_1 and good luck with the biopsy next month.

I had a very productive time with my 2 hours' free energy last weekend. Two washing loads, 1 dishwasher cycle, and vacuumed. I had intended to mow the lawn for the first time since before the first heatwave, but it was a bit rainy (the weather, not the lawn - that was 6" high in places!!). Luckily the weather improved and I did the mowing on Tuesday.

I too need to declutter a large amount of weight for me. I've eaten very badly for most of the year as the brain just wanted chocolate and crisps. I've just signed up to J0e W1cks, so will accompany you all too.

I loved GBSB - the winner was a local person so we were all rather happy.

Have watched the first two episodes of GBBO - hopefully Nigella and Paul H will relax around each other. I found the first episode a bit uncomfortable as it seemed as though they were jostling for position.

Strictly is back and I'm here for the sparkle and dazzle!!

And Celebrity Traitors last night … well I'm hooked, haha.

Florenceem

vulpix - I haven't made a quilt - I would like to. The batting seems to be the expensive part. What do you use?

2Scratters - I hope your hubby's health improves soon.

London_1 - so good to see your post.

dND - yes I have missed @Dizzycap

For those who have a market in their town - what is the produce stall like? I got a cauli in Asd. today - much cheaper and bigger than on the stall.

I have watched more episodes of the GBSB.