2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Moorviews

It’s so important to have people around you that you can trust @Florenceem. I hope the builder can get everything you need done. Your grandson J sounds like a lovely helpful young man to have around. You are doing a great job tracking documentation down and wading through the paperwork and making an amazing amount of progress. 

@jivjules1 and @MadamMim2013 - sending hugs and thanks for sharing and raising awareness of a situation that many young people and their families are experiencing and suffering. I wish your sons the strength they will need to navigate their way through to a better way of life and future prospects of happiness. 

Not too much happening here other than trying to get straight after some remedial work done in the house. I have also had a virus which has wiped out my energy. Barely any food has come in since before Christmas and we are still finishing off the root vegetables from then. I have now done a full inventory of the freezers and have this on my phone. Looking at the cupboards as well, I can see that I am still buying too much for our needs. Having the freezer inventory on my phone will hopefully really help. 

I am enjoying taking items that I know will be saleable to the CS. Instead of knocking around in a cupboard or in my loft they may be given welcome in another home. 

I have been getting behind with reading along here. As fast as I catch up it moves along! Absolutely brilliant as everyone is doing so well 👏 🎉 Thanks too to Mrs SD for the beautiful knitting and cheering us all up and along 😊

Florenceem

My friend has suggested getting a fireproof box for important documents - anyone got reccommendations - lots on the big river site to chose from.
Been sobbing this morning trying to sort out formal uniform. I kicked up such a rumpus that the boss of the trading department contacted me. The jacket I was sent yesterday came from the roadshow stock - that is why the tag is crumpled and the packaging not A1 condition. This jacket will be collected by courier on Monday.
The boss put me in contact with the woman making my jacket. The computer saw that a size 12 had come back into stock so it was sent to me.
I don't normally get so cross but I have spent over £300 with them and it is for such an important day.  

ionafan

@Florenceem this is the water- and fireproof box of which I have an older version.  It's not as good as having a proper bult-in safe, of course - anyone can pick up a box and walk away with it - but I couldn't afford a full-size safe.  Fortunately I have never had this box tested under real emergency conditions, but it has a good lock, is very sturdy and gets top reviews.  You need to make sure that whatever you buy is big enough to take A4 paper flat, and be aware that the security features and materials make the boxes very heavy.  Do tell your next-of-kin/executors where it is kept, in case it ever has to be recovered.

Foofoopuppy

I am really disappointed in myself, and have hopefully learnt a lesson.

To prep for the house going on sale we've finally done all but two of the list of annoying things from over the years. It's taken us about 3 hours. 3 hours! And the house looks a lot better for it!

The last two are bigger jobs that will take a bit longer, but i am kicking myself for just living with them instead of doing these smalls jobs.

Some decluttering continuing, we've got rid of a computer chair and large box that were for the cats. Some old bedding used for protection from painting then chucked. 

Some very worn bits of clothing that I can finally let go off, gone. 

Plus a dozen small jobs off the to do list!

However looking at stuff to pack or move has reiterated that actually I do want to keep the vast majority of what we have, so I have done a good job in decluttering previously. 

Florenceem, it sounds like kicking up a fuss was absolutely necessary, and as it wasn't your immediate go to when you had the first issue I think you can forgive yourself for needing to put pressure on them. You are going through such a difficult time and have done so much for SA, the least they can do is get this sorted for you.

GrannyKate

There is a safe in the garage here which I may bring into house eventually.  I always had one at my old place.  Another successful sale and collection this morning - the second table/desk sold for £30.  I have got another full bag of stripped wallpaper ready to go.  I am stripping the small hall outside the bedrooms at the same time as bedroom 3 as I think I will get any plaster repairs done at the same time.  There is a door between the two parts of the hall so I can treat them separately.  I contacted the electrician and the plumber so waiting to hear from them.  DGD3 rang and asked if would take her to school as it is very wet - I guess she didn't go this morning.  I have a walking group wander this afternoon at 2 - starting at the beck very close to my house so determined to go and not take the car to the start.  Having soup and sandwich then I'll change into some warmer trousers and my walking shoes.  

Hugs to all who need one.  @Florenceem - that time leading up to the funeral/ celebration of life can be very long.  Thinking of you.

114 Plumber contacted re getting rid of radiator
115 Electrician contacted - re some sockets and moving light pull - he is checking his diary
116 Over 500 emails deleted from archived folders
117 Table/desk sold and collected 
118 Various things posted 
119 Loads of tomatoes made into puree/stock and 6 pots in freezer. 
120 Sorted through outside freezer and found another joint and quite a few meals boxed up

I am going to go and get a better step ladder tomorrow.  The only one I kept is too small and rickety and nothing to hold on to.  There is still quite a lot of decorating to go.  I feel I will do bedroom 3, the inner hall, lounge and then outer hall/porch and leave the bathroom/toilet until last except for getting new doors to match my others.  I am going to set aside a saving account specifically for the bathroom work as it will be expensive.  In the meantime I'll potter away in the garden once the weather improves.  

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 oil 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

Wednesday is a dull dark day set to rain on & off all day from 08:00 with a high of 9°C (feeling 8°colder due to a strong SSE wind) & a low of low 6°C. Re the downstairs loo, DH already had a bottle of drain cleaner, which has been used on both loo & sink already. Touch wood it appears to have done the trick 🙂 so no expensive call out to plumber 🥳 I will do a spot of cheerleading whilst having my first & second cuppa 😉

Florenceem, sounds like whatever the builder has done to the cloakroom sink has worked 👏 The final test is when you run the tap/s for the first time🤞 You have done a good job sorting out the files in the office 👏 Good luck with the contents of the filing cabinet 🍀

vulpix, don’t forget to count all the balls of yarn that you have used up 😉 Fingers crossed for the dental appointment 🤞 This “DD1 on her way to the Shetland Isles. 60 mph winds and sleet. That should make an interesting journey on the little plane. They don't often cancel the ferry and flights. They work with harsh weather up there.” sounds rather scary. I do hope she has phoned to confirm safe arrival 🙏 As to DS & family visiting, please don’t tire yourself out doing too many jobs 🙏 After all they are coming to see you & MrV not inspect your house ☺️ Enjoy the baby cuddles 🥹

Lovely post Moorviews 🥹 Sorry to hear that you have been unwell 😔 Hopefully you are on the mend now but please take it easy whilst you build up your energy levels 🙏  Good work with the freezer inventory 👏 The bright side to having previously overbought food stocks is that January’s grocery bill will be a lot lower 😊 Sounds like decluttering to CS has become a bit of a hobby 😉

Florenceem, Sorry to hear about the jacket mixup & the stress & upset that this has caused you 😢 sending more cwtches 🤗🤗 

ionafan, thanks for the useful information about the fire proof box 👏

Foofoopuppy, please don’t be so hard on yourself 🙏  I think many of us fall into the same trap of leaving jobs/tasks around the house undone for whatever reason - RL, procrastination or even thinking that the job will take far longer than the time we have available to complete it ☹️ Then we are pleasantly surprised by how little time is required to sort them out 😊 Good luck with the bigger jobs 🍀 I would be very proud about This “However looking at stuff to pack or move has reiterated that actually I do want to keep the vast majority of what we have, so I have done a good job in decluttering previously.” 🥹  Excellent decluttering & well done on getting so many jobs ticked off from your To Do list 👏

Hope everyone has as good a day as possible despite the weather 😊 See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 131/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Ms_Potato_Head

Try not to be too hard on youreelf @Foofoopuppy Life just runs away from us sometimes! There are so many plates to spin. Good luck with your house sale. 

I'm currently a little deflated after a negative week at work, but still plodding with the unpacking at home. I'm trying to keep a track of my 'net' total, so I don't re-clutter:

Household items: 8
Toiletries: 2
Clothes: 2

2026 net total: 46

London_1

Yorkie1 said:

 

@London_1 loving the stories of how the schoolchildren are being encouraged by growing things.

 

DGS Ben is a real country lover and I know he misses out on living in the city, and his love of growing things he has hopefully passed onto his class at school. The children are interested that they can eat what they grow, and at parents evening one of the parents said to him 'Oh you are my sons reason he dragged me to a garden centre'  
He was really pleased, and thanked my DGS for capturing the boys interest. This young lad of 10 had been seemingly not in the least interested in much at all, and his Dad was worried about how living on an estate where the boy could easily drift the wrong way.
He said their balcony had lots of pots of edible things growing, and the first thing the boy did in the morning was check his plants and seeds. Ben was chuffed to think it had made a difference to this young lad and he said he is one of the best ones in the class. Its just finding out what interests the children and pointing them towards something other than just roaming the streets.

He says its often the boys that like to grow things more than the girls(usually to eat ) although the girls like to try to beat the boys
He started them off originally by buying a bonzai plant (He went to Japan when he was at Uni and loved it ) the kids chose a name for it, and he became 'Bob the Bonzai' as they all had to choose a name, and the boys outnumber the girls so it was decided that it was a male bonzai

He said he explained how to care for it, and in the holidays it was taken home to be looked after by one of the children. (a lot easier to manage than a hamster) and less messy

The children in his class became quite proud of their Bob the Bonzai, and at the end of the school year Bob was kept by one of the children and brought back for the new class to help look after

 It had become quite a talking point with the kids in the school playground the new intake enjoyed looking after it as well. He said not only did it give the kids an interest he explained a lot about Japan to them and the different customs he learned about when he was there.

His Head was pleased as often Years 5 & 6 are the turning point for many of the children before they go to'big school'  Ben loves his job and the kids all seem to get on with him well.
He was the eldest of four boys so is used to having lots of young people around. He is courting a really nice lass who is also a teacher, and they have very similar outlooks I'm hoping that they will last and things may progress further He gets out at the weekend as much as he can and goes fishing with a couple of  pals and last weekend he started training for the 'Walk the Wight' in this May. Him and his pal walked from St Albans to Stanmore where he lives. He loves walking, birdwatching, fishing and almost anything that takes him out in the open air.

 He will be down at half term, and we will be sorting out the greenhouse and garden definitely more spuds to go in and possibly we will try some runner beans in a wigwam or two this year as well as tomatoes of course.

Well this week was OK on Monday as I went to play Cribbage with my U3A friend in Newport ,but yesterday wasn't great as I had a tummy bug and was quite unwell last night .
I slept it off though and feel a lot better now, but missed my knit and knatter this morning.
I think some nicely scrambled eggs will do me tonight for tea as I'm really not much in the mood for food at the moment.

 Killer jigsaw is still ongoing at the moment, slow going with all the blessed christmas trees and snow.

I hope everyone is dry and warm, as looking out of the window its still bucketing down out there, and pretty breezy as well  

Onwards and upwards chums

JackieO xxx 

daisy_1571

Grannykate 

Hope I catch you before you buy/order steps.

I cant recommend these ladders enough.  Slim design means they can slide into a tiny space up the side of a wardrobe, cupboard or bookcase.   Soooo light to carry around.  Very sturdy and safe to climb.  Good size of treads.  Love them.  We have 3 now. A downstairs one, upstairs one and outside ones.  I think 2 are 3 step, 1 is a 4 step or maybe the other way round.

https://www.therange.co.uk/decorating/ladders-and-steps/bergman-slimline-step-ladder#3823645

I'm sure I got the first one through scotts of stow but they don't seem to do them now.  I definitely sent away for them after seeing them in a catalogue but the range seems to be sticking them now


Dxx

ilovetea

I usually post in the evenings but the last to evenings we have had power cuts 1 for 4 hours the other for over 3 and a half. So posting early in case it goes off again. On the plus side must have saved some money on the electric. :-) 
Bit of decluttering done.
44.  flat sheet didn't seem deep enough  - ragbag
45   Christmas top , charity shop.
46-47 newspapers recycled.
 48 Tesc@ mag recycled.
49  Cross stitch mag to a friend.
50  Old mobile phone. Old Nokia. worked out I had had it for 22 years.
51. Christmas decoration. Hidden by cat under the side board.
52  watch, Cost me £2 from the charity shop Have worn it for years but can't open it to put new battery in.
53-54  over 200 e.mails.
Going to start sorting through some crafting stuff . Might take a looooong time.

  ilovetea  xx