Hoarder's Anonymous, Part 6

[Solo]

Well, here we are embarking upon part 6 of our epic journey of sorting out our homes.

We are a varied group of likeminded householders that are leading somewhat challenging lives; be that living with too much 'stuff' that we find difficult to deal with, houses that are falling apart (mine included), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves that makes sorting out our households challenging, to say the least. So...

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for support, adding their own ideas to help others out, storage ideas, even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it. Encouragement abounds here, and we do not criticise. EVER! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't know where to start, can't be bothered but really do want to be bothered...think you are lazy, just need to see it in print here...we'll help. We'll virtually fist bump your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises, and if you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you. Here for one another because we get it - the highs and the lows, the art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement.

Welcome to thread #6 of Hoarders Anonymous - Carrying On Sorting It Out

HERE

I've caught up on the thread. The house decorating sounds nice @SingToTheSky.

We're still in lockdown and I hate it. I understand it's necessary, I follow the rules. But I just hate it.

I'm not on top of housework, I'm not decluttering anything. I know I can get the house tidy again but I'm just not managing it at the moment. I'm managing homeschooling, cooking meals, grocery deliveries and things like that.

Lockdown seems to be a massive black hole sucking the energy out of life. You are doing great getting the homeschooling done and getting everyone fed. Well done.

We have identified stuff to be recycled. Stuff for charity and stuff for the bin. Nothing is going out as the bins are full and the recycling is overflowing with 6 days to go to collection.

The place is still an absolute shit tip. I keep having another bash at putting a few more things away. (Bin,charity, recycling or away)

Got Playmobil to put in loft. Need to take ds's out of his drawer before it goes up and completely clear the living room and dd's bedroom of teeny tiny swords.

Phew! I'm now caught up with the thread.

I have done a few things...

Since coming back from our holiday, I did all the laundry (washing) and managed to get it all dry.

Dd is currently at her Grandma's and so this afternoon/evening I got the new king-sized mattress upstairs - a 2 person job (it says so on the packaging), and struggled with the old one which Dd will be having - before opening the new one onto the bed base. It says it takes 3 to 5 hours to be ready to use and I can't wait! I've had the mattress since the beginning of January, but Dd is so unhelpful that it's been waiting and waiting to go upstairs. The 200 days for trying it out are now up, so I hope I'm happy with it.

I used a product to get rid of mould from the bathroom grout and it has also worked on the silicone sealant which is amazing. I've got to clear the bathroom out and do some more grout on the other side of the tiny room.

I've been really bad with the washing up but I did it yesterday.

I want to get rid of some clothing that I wouldn't consider getting shot of before, but I realise that I don't like all of the more recently (over the last few years) purchased stuff, so it's got to go. It probably wouldn't fit me now anyway.

I also want to clear and clean my porch out and get rid of a load of coats. I want to put a chest of drawers out there for hats, gloves, scarves etc. Slippers maybe too. And bring my lovely plant home from Mums to put on it.

I'm going to go and make my bed up, and get into it! I can't wait :)

You are all doing so well. Good luck with the house move Nordic.

And I'm going to ache like hell tomorrow!

What’s the product you used on the sealant ? I have yet to find one that works !

Today I read a quote "just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're failing". I needed to read that today.

Me too down.

Today. Got to wash up and do kitchen. Got GP phone appointment.

Gp appointment not due for 90 mins and it is all I can think of.

I have started washing up.
Put a load of washing on
hung up the previous wet load
Dangled over the end of the sofa and sorted a bit more of the junk on the he floor. Got one bag of charity stuff out.

@Nordicmom

What’s the product you used on the sealant ? I have yet to find one that works !

musthaveideas.co.uk/pages/mould-magic-web

It's called Mould Magic. Don't buy it from anywhere else as there are similar things but I can't say if they work or not. This stuff definitely works! Fan. Tas. Tic!

By the way Nordic I left it on overnight. I did one of those comedy double-takes when I went into the bathroom the following morning.

I’ll give it a go Solo in the new house if I need it

Hi all. One more week of the holidays here. Trying to get a bit more decluttering done.

good luck sing.

I have picked the name out of an old school skirt and put it out for charity.

some bits and bobs have been thrown out from the dining table.

rang shoe shop and booked an appointment for a fitting.

I have decided that at least Monday to Friday I'm going to dedicate an hour (minimum) to 'doing' at home, starting on Monday.

Stitched Dd's name labels into 2 blouses. Everything is clean, but I need to steam her kilt and blazer.

Well done both!

I sorted some more books yesterday. Three recycled (too tatty to donate) and a couple to sell, plus about 15 finally moved into the “definitely keeping” shelves. Slow progress but still progress.

Sing where do you sell your books, please?

I’ll be selling them in one go on fb hopefully, as it is mostly home ed related stuff so can shift them locally. Haven’t got the brain space to try eBay etc!

No, I won't sell on eBay, but I just wondered really as I'm thinking of getting rid of some of the paperbacks I have but it probably won't happen and was thinking Money Magpie.

I was going to do understairs repacking but looking round there are more messy areas that need doing first.

there are going to be lots of boring updates as I track progress but I need a kick up the arse today. ther are goiing to be lots of faffy little things added as I try to find the floor and table in the living room.

spare keyboards and two boxes of cereal taken to the big cupboard upstairs(currently on ds's bed as I sort cupboard a bit) . (kid liked cornflakes then went off them.)
recycled five other language instruction manuals and some undone home learning
put out one wire and one jar of olives for ex.
thrown three things in the bin.
picked up the cover of the pouffe and put it back on.
taken three things back to dd's room
brought down three squash bottles from the big cupboard and put in squash cupboard.

I have madde the mistake at looking at the whole thing and gone argghhh too omuch. need to find one thing I can do next. (listening to cricket and one of the top batters was talking about taking one ball at aa time and not lioook too far ahead... going to channel that today and tackle one ball piece of rubbish, recycling or clothing at a time

@Solo how is the Monday doing house hour going?

Today:
1 basket washing to DD to put away
Ds's clothes put away in his room
Cleaned bath/loo/ tiles/basin/plugholes
1 small load washing hung.
Some pots away.

There is a lot more to do.

Hi Susan :)

Bath, washbasin all cleaned as they were minging. Wiped the tiles at the back of the washbasin too.

Put away the dry washing up and washed up several days' worth of dishes, glasses, mugs, cutlery, and pans. Don't know if that came to an hour, but I could so easily have done nothing, so... I must put a timer on for tomorrow's efforts so that I do a full hour.

sounds like well over an hour to me. (I recognise that list)

I am typing on the computer...

todays jobs include running a new cable from the socket to the box....

I do not have to deal with the ufo flying round the light... I have heard the plink plink, plink of it on the bulb then a ding as it hit something in the bin underneath... I think it has fried itself.

I am stealth tidying the living room. ie I try to take something to where it belongs as a go up and down to the loo. or spending a few minutes potting five or so things in the recycling/bin

also washed up and put lots of pots away.

washed the school blazers ready for return this week.

Thanks Susan :)

I steamed Dd's blazer and kilt and new blouse on Sunday.

Not done my hour yet, but I've stripped the bedding and once Dd gets home, I'll put a lights and whites load on to wash.

Will report back :)

We completed on and got our keys to the new house last Thu . Since then have been moving things in , we hired a van in the weekend . The actual moving day with a truck is in the end of the month . DH has also done some more dump and charity shop trips . Yesterday we had everyone in and deliveries there too. We had the alarm guy , aircon and ventilation , shutters and awning company , landscapers come over and some mattresses and half of kids bedroom furniture delivered . The rest is due in mid October . Oh yes and the internet box arrived and actually works . Only one thing was cancelled ;some furniture for downstairs and my new little desk . Am annoyed and stressed about this though since we ordered everything inc a dining table from them and the first three are already cancelled due to some warehouse issue ! Also got a bit of a crazy quote from window fronting company for the front door so will have to shop around a bit for that . as expected the shutters for 23 windows plus 2 blinds are a fortune ,getting a big discount though but I’m sure that’s a sales technique. We are moving forwards with ordering the shutters they will take a long time due to be fitted in jan if we order now . An awning we’ll put up in the spring for next summer . Today we have the snagging company and another delivery from the firm that cancelled yesterday so we’ll see . Builders are meant to come around to look at a door that’s sticking in an en-suite as well . We still need to book the heating guy, water softener company , the window frosting comp for front door , get more shelves from the wardrobe people ,find a gardener , a cleaner and a window washer. I have been ordering a hundred and one things since we are replacing a lot of stuff after waiting to buy a new house for a while to do that . Been decluttering as I pack even though we just got the keys I have a huge sense of urgency and and a bit of a panic we only have less than 3 w left now eeek ! DH has been signing up with utilities etc and yesterday tried the new vac cleaner that’s really good we’re so used to cordless sticks haven’t had a bigger plug in one for years now this is a revelation will still use the new stick one for daily quick vacuuming and the stairs but the corded to do a weekly proper one I think . He also used the new cordless karcher floor washer . It was really good he said . I had enough of the mop from this u can throw the rolls in the washing machine . There’s light coloured tiled open plan kitchen dining family room ,hall and an utility room plus a wood floored tv and a formal dining room , a grassy garden and our new dog so I expect to have to wash the floor often ! He also put up the temp blinds on the whole downstairs bar the utility and the garage door and windows I think . Now has used up all the blinds from this comp . He ordered more from Amazon we can use if they’re ok if not we’ll get more of this same type . He also mowed the front lawn , sides and some of the main lawn before the battery running out ,more today . We are getting a bigger wider mower for the main lawn to put in nice stripes . Had to buy new machines our old one broke and went to the dump . He emptied rest of our stuff from the old house from his shed and took a bunch to dump and garden table and chairs and moved his tools and work benches to the new garage in the weekend and took our mattress toppers to the laundromat next the bedspreads when collecting the toppers . That’s an another job we need to put in garage cupboards and storage shelving . Also will have a dividing wall put up in the attic room and have to get the banister painted I don’t like the wood colour , rest of it is white .
We are hopefully completing the sale of our old house in the end of the month as well when we are moving but I believe it when I see it ! Would be amazing to get that done pay off the small mortgage left and to be the mortgage free ! Kids have started school DD in her new one and it’s going well . She is starting a new activity there today ; air rifle shooting ! She’s getting used to using a school bus while we’re still in this rental . Dh has been dropping her off to it in the morning and DS collecting I am grateful for the help . After we move I’m on my own so having to use taxis since I can’t drive unless we get a nanny . We are going to need a cleaner since the house is big so I have briefly looked at a nanny house keeper but the thought is odd we’ve never had anyone in the house regularly . I will probably get a weekly cleaner and a regular driver to take me to school and back , and to London for appointments etc instead . I used to just hail taxis on an app in London but it’s not so easy at our new location bar Uber and I think I’d like the predictability of a booked school run rather than the daily stress of finding someone. Kids have been also having medical app and I’m meant to as well but my blood test just got cancelled due to the global test tube shortage of all things , should have done it in June … they’ve offered me the flu jab so might book that in although might just book for all of us privately at the same time like last y . I think DD will get it at school like before .
A bit of a problem appeared yesterday , out of the blue the doggy daycare called and told me there isn’t any space on the doggy bus to take our puppy in on any day of the week from our new house even though they just told me there was last week when I made the address change and earlier already too . I’m fuming since I found out yesterday that I don’t seem to be able to get a black taxi that might take a small dog so I can’t get there although in theory I could do it on the school run if there was . I’m now on the waiting list but I’ve had to give notice from end of the month until there is a spot on a bus . This will also hamper our pre Christmas Finland trip plans since I’ve booked boarding through them . I’ll have to try to find alternatives . I was soo tired I went to bed early avd here I am the woke up at 4 😡. Very hungry now too …