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

Wow! Nordic busy times for you. And 23 windows! I have 8 . You must have a massive new house. Congratulations on your Completion, and good luck with the other completion.

Thanks Solo ! The house is biggest we’ve had and it’s got lots of windows and light thanks to them . We will finally get a window washer for the outside and i forgot there’s also 3 skylights that will need cleaning sometime I’m sure ! And solar panels that’s another job ive forgotten ! We need to get that company in to give an introduction to the system !!! DH is thinking there’s manuals and that the heating is similar to now so he won’t need to see anyone about that. I hope he’s right . I’m a bit worried that there’s too many things in this house that can and will break or at least need annual maintenance. We need to be organised about it so that’ll be down to me ! It’s crazy atm I can’t believe there’s a funeral too unbelievably as well and DH is helping with the music for it because he did it for his dad’s funeral . Another mammoth day for mainly DH today . We had the snagging comp come over and they only found minor faults luckily . Much less than normal in a new build . I don’t have the report yet but apparently about 100 things where as I’ve heard about average 300 in new builds before but maybe I’m remembering wrong . Then half a dresser arrived , don’t ask me why they sent it separately it’s a pain since we don’t live there yet , DH is back in the office now and I don’t drive . we have maybe another 10 things + from them left and I called to chase delivery comp about yesterday’s cancelled delivery . they’re missing 1/3 items apparently so I’ll wait to hear about that . He’s payed the deposit on shutters and the two blinds so next a measuring guy will arrive ,need to schedule that in . he tried to register for a garden waste bin but due to a country wide shortage of truck drivers the council isn’t giving out any new ones 🤬great so we’ll have to get a compost bin I suppose next to the aircon vents on the far side of the house unless we want to be going to the dump weekly with the sacks of grass clippings . he tried to do the water company but they didn’t have our address yet so will have to ask the developer about that and a few other things like the alarm company’s phone no ,the guy didn’t have a card yesterday and we’ve just got an email . also need to get the details for a carpenter and a decorator for the attic room wall and banister painting . DH got a quote from a more reasonable window film company for our front door which has lot of windows along both sides and oddly in the middle too so gives us no privacy it’s one of my only complaints in the house besides not enough built in bathroom storage . Then he emailed the wardrobe company about getting more shelves , made an app with the water softener company to get a consultation and emailed landskapers to have meeting after moving in October . we finally ordered our washing and machine and a dryer ,I’ll feel a bit better once they’ve arrived next Tuesday . DH also raced back to our post office to pick up his coffee machine he forgot on sat , finished moving the lawn , watered all the plants that have been put in by the landscapers in the front already ( I will change these to white later but it looks nice and neat now with all the public areas planted and looked after and the front gardens done by the developer so I do appreciate the effort) . I’ll also get little trees on both sides of the door there’s convenient spaces for that there . He then washed the wood floors in the tv and the dining room after doing the tiles yesterday. He needs to do more emails but that might have to wait for tomorrow he’s still hanging wet laundry atm before going to bed. We managed to take another carload today so slowly moving it over . This weekend DS will have to do a few hours at a school open morning but I do hope there’s not much homework so he can help with the move . He says it’s full on now he’s got 4 A level subjects plus an engineering EPQ so I hope it won’t be too much . Soon they’ll also start things like volunteering on Fridays for a term. We will hire a van again this Sunday so need to get a few loads together for it . We can take a few remaining things except suitcases from the topfloor big storage cupboard and from DH study cupboards where he’s got his stuff mainly in labeled clippy boxes so they’re ready to go . Also things lll illle his 3 d printer can go straight to the garage . I’m going to send over clothes I won’t wear for now and all my shoes I’ll put in the plastic shoeboxes that just arrived . I already have a bunch of them so they’ll be easy to chuck in a big box . I could also pack some of Dd art stuff etc from a chest of drawers we’re not keeping . Also could pack up the spare room storage cupboard with its wrapping papers etc. Maybe I’ll just send the too small kids clothes boxes too to the attic and accept there’s no way I can deal with them now . They’re neatly packed at least . The problem is how tired I am also in horrendous sciatica pain atm so everything is hard physically and my migraine dizziness stalls my thinking and I have lots more things to organise and choose so feeling like we don’t get it done I time ! Making DH take a few days off every week now that we aren’t travelling in oct I’ve cancelled the boarding i don’t want to be going anything else like packing and physically travelling a few w after the move if i survive it ! I think I’ve solved the doggy daycare problem though . We’ll tell them we are going down to one half day or full day until they find Us place on the bus and when DH is home we’ll use it otherwise he won’t go and it won’t be too expensive and we’ll stay in their books . I do hope there will be a place in the bus soon since I do need ideally 2-3 half days to help me out in the future .

I have a grand total of 5 windows! (2 bed flat)

ex has 8 if you count the one above the front door. (2 bed terrace)

We've got 9 windows.

We're still in lockdown, I've got one more week of homeschooling then we'll have two weeks off from homeschooling.

Our house is a tip! I try not to think about it. I know I can get it tidied up, I just can't face it at the moment.

Nordic it sounds like Dallas house! In a good way. But way out of my league in terms of organisational challenges!!!

Slinks back to rustic hovel

DD is going to uni this morning we are taking a taxi there cos no car anymore...it's near here though...30 mins
House is a warehouse with piles on every surface. Ds going back next week to Lancaster so his uni piles tottering around too.

I don’t know how there’s so many windows when several rooms just have one but we’ve counted and then the shutter comp guy too so it’s true and it excludes the 3 skylights that we wont put anything on I guess and the little windows around / above the front door .
Needles to say DH has concluded we are definitely getting a cleaner and a window washer once settled and that he won’t be cleaning anymore after work and I can’t do the weekly cleaning while my arthritis pain is getting worse. daily housework will be bad enough now that I’ll be alone with the dog while he’ll be in the office 4 d a week , and having to do school runs etc again too . There’s 6/7 bedrooms inc one we’ll make the study and a carpeted attic room with a skylight and two other windows we’ll put a dividing wall in to have as part storage part gym , 3 reception rooms one a double ( a tv room , a formal dining room , the open plan kitchen dining family room with a fireplace and 3 sets of double glass doors to the garden , a utility room , 4 bathrooms and downstairs loo , a double garage and quite nice size garden . I’ve never lived in a house that big but it still feels homely not all the rooms are that big and the style of the house is cozy to me ! Stairs are much better for me and for our dog than in our current rental which is like climbing the Everest if you aren’t well!
Today furious packing we have so many boxes in the kitchen / diner / hall ready to go that we are starting to put them in the livingroom . We have a van hired for 4 h tomorrow early evening and DH will take a carload tonight as well . I have decluttered as we go quite a good amount of cables , console games , kitchen stuff , shoes and clothes etc going . We have pretty much finished looking through and packing living room , emptied top floor storage cupboard except for suitcases we’ll put clothes in on moving day , next continuing my shoes ,bags, clothes in my bedroom . kids are back DS is dusting his drum kit then that can then go in the van next I’ll ask him to bring me DD too big and winter clothes boxes ,plus a plastic box of shoes ,and all her spare trainers etc down and pack them , Dh is doing his study then more kitchen . DS had to go help with an open morning at school and took R to the park to play basketball after lunch now had to tell DD to entertain herself so we can get on . I did promise a board game tonight if she does behave , no homework for her thankfully .

Nettleskeins , that’s why I’ve been decluttering , boxing up and labelling ,ordering cupboards and storage boxes baskets etc and planning endlessly I’m determined to have clear surfaces and everything in order in its place as much as possible . 3 others plus dog will hamper my efforts no doubt but kids bedrooms are on first floor like the master so can keep on eye on everyone easier and the guest room , tv room and dining room for instance I will keep bare except furniture with nothing extra in them then they’re easy to maintain . I’m set on still chucking so much in this packing process !

Now just feel like falling asleep while DH is cooking dinner but somehow I’ll have to wake up and forge on with DD spare wardrobe contents now in livingroom for me to check luckily it’s mainly plastic boxes Ive just organised so they’re ready really and spare trainers for school etc I might decant to another clippy box and recycle the shoeboxes plus her winter coats on hangers just going to new wardrobe . Then there’s all the clean laundry too

Nordic I'm tired just thinking of that huge house! I'm envious of a couple of your rooms. A second bathroom and a utility room. I'd love a 3rd bedroom and off-street parking/garage, but I'll likely never get any of those, so hey ho! :) Sounds lovely, though, so well done!!

I grew up in small flats without my own room
until 14, one bathroom . growing up in the city centre in an old building no one ever had two bathrooms except one friend . my parents have only had houses ( rented ) after both of us kids left home . I found having a second bathroom here odd first and we’ve never had a garage before so this is a first for me . DH grew up in a large house with a garage , workshops , boat shed and a huge garden so is more used to this style house . He has grand plans for the garage . we’ll put in cabinets and shelves and his workbenches and machines etc will go there plus surfboards and motorcycle maybe the second car we’ll get for DS to learn to drive on but not our main big one which won’t fit length wise with those cabinets even though it’s a double garage .

I had no energy to do nothing but clean and tidy downstairs plus do a bit of laundry in the day then tonight managed to fold the laundry mountain some of which is going to rags and clothes bank . Am putting aside new bedding and getting it packed to take and packed rest of my bathroom stuff from my en-suite that i won’t need for the 2 w . I’ll try to get my remaining shoeboxes and handbags in a box for taking tomorrow hopefully . Dh is going in our own car so can’t take so much . He’ll take stuff from the under stairs cupboard and I do have clothes on hangers that could go . We’ve got washing machine and a dryer coming and hopefully 7 chairs . He’s got a long list of jobs inc building more of the kids furniture and emails to do there while waiting .
Our puppy got groomed at his daycare today so that’s one job done. DS started his new medication so I do pray he’ll be ok on it !
I got another invite to the flu vaccine but now in October after moving so I think we’ll just all go private together instead once it’s in stock there .

Was going to say I think I’m getting sick just in time for the last push with this move 🤬. I have the tell tale throat feeling and even less every than before

I am hoovering round my bed on the floor....and picking up and chucking away stuff. Roll on the end of spider season!

All laundry was done and up to date, but I'm sick of askig Dd to bring hers downstairs for washing.

Yesterday (?), maybe Tuesday I cleaned the bath, bath slip mats, window sill, and basin. Washed up and dried up.

Also cleaned the kitchen sink and washing up bowl.

Sorted through coats today, swept hall floor
Threw out some mouldy bread
Collected up all the plastic carrier bags and put them next to the front door (grrr) for shopping
Washed one set of bedsheets
Cleaned a loo and basin
Collected up some laundry from various floors (not all though)
Threw away lots and lots of catalogues

DH took another load when he went to the new house on tue . The washing machine and a dryer arrived on that day ,both should now be in working order .also we got our dining chairs and a one for my little desk .kids will borrow two until their ones arrive in oct . DH has finished building their furniture . DS has all his except a night table , a chair for his desk and the 6 big pull out drawer storage unit being moved from here . DD room is emptier . She’s missing her bed , a desk chair , a chest of drawers and a toy chest ,she will also get the same kind of big 6 drawer storage unit as DS from this house . Rest of the blinds still haven’t arrived from abroad ( downstairs DH has put up blinds on all 3 sets of big double garden glass doors , the kitchen window , the dining room one and the tv room one , not yet on utility room’s 2 windows or the glass door or the garage glass door since he run out of these blinds) . getting a bit nervous about packing , only a week and 2 d until moving day now . I feel like we can’t get it done at this rate with DH never here and me so crippled . On wed the shutters got measured and then ordered for delivery in January . DH has also dealt with the utility companies again that we have had trouble signing up with , builders about the outside snags , wiped insides of the wardrobes and the kitchen cupboards ready for use (just linen cupboard needs some sort cleaning stuff used on the shelves apparently, I guess it was covered in building dust )?otherwise things have been clean . He’s been continuing to look after the flowers in the front and mowing the lawn weekly , vacuuming and washing floors and he got DS the last spot on the new school bus route pheew. Yesterday there was a zoom call with the form teacher about DD settling in the new school , luckily she’s making friends and doing well . Funnily enough she’s fast making friends with another new girl who’s mom I sat next to and chatted with at the coffee morning the other day . I’ve sorted out the doggy daycare . If I can arrange my school run in a black taxi with a nearby company I found that seems to have them I should be able to transport our dog there and back on Fridays on the school run ,they’re near each other . If DH can work from home that day sometimes he will do it . This is until we get a place on the doggy bus again I’m on the waiting list for . I’ve also chased all our missing furniture and now we have two pieces coming tomorrow our dining table and possibly 2 counter stools or a larder it’s a bit of a mystery atm due to a different delivery company . DH will go to new house overnight since delivery window for them is from very early morning although I should get a smaller slot today for at least one of them . I got more packed ;I decluttered a pile of my clothes from 3 storage boxes and got them down to two to go to the attic room , we packed 2 suitcases from our wardrobes DH has now done his clothes until moving day most of mine still wait to go on hangers , did nearly all remaining shoes and bags from my bedroom , then we did about 9 boxes of kitchen (2 together )on wed , I sorted out the mountain of stained and only separately washable laundry and sent off a laundry bin for the new utility with only 3 things in it I’ll tackle later . Utility is very nearly packed only a few things left behind until moving day in the all the smaller cupboards but the tall vacuum cleaner cupboard needs emptying still .I am replacing the ancient ironing board so that going ! Dh did more of the kitchen in the evening on wed . Yesterday he went to work and then to a business dinner all night so he didn’t get anything done here just at the worst time . I spent hours doing normal housework and endless laundry then packed meds in two boxes (a quite a lot of old stuff again to take to the pharmacy even though I looked at them in the beginning of the year ) , also packed all the spare food so those cupboards are empty except a few items . I have 3 kids clothes boxes and topfloor storage cupboard contents to
sort out today and maybe more kitchen although I’ve been there now two d in a row and had enough .I’d leave it for DH unless I wanted to check what we’ll keep ! there are a few drawers and one corner cupboard left but I think because of my constant pain DH has to lift it out for me to sift through . DS helped a lot after school yesterday so I could finish those food cupboards. He picked up DD from her bus , walked the dog and fed him , they made their own dinner , he vacuumed and helped with laundry , put away a small Waitrose order then made his own bed .

DS has to clean in the topfloor today / tomorrow he missed doing it last weekend since he helped with moving and at school open day plus he has a lot of work for school now ( doing 4 A levels and an EPQ) . Atm he is trying to come up with his EPQ engineering project idea . We have only taken both kids drawers of stuff from their 6 drawer storage units (3 from DS ,3 were empty for now so still here to pack stuff in ) and plastic a box of DD lego plus DS drums and DD clothes that were on hangers in her little wardrobe so we will need to deal with their rooms this weekend ! Felt hopeless last night about making it on time but I’ve been admiring the empty cupboards in my clean and tidy kitchen ( except for the packing mess ) and all packed boxes ready to take today and tomorrow after slightly more sleep than normal ,maybe 6 h ,so feel a bit more positive about it . ill actually sleep a few h next after a shower and more late breakfast .I already tidied and did laundry so i need to pace myself ,also yesterday the damn boiler was not working again so no hot water to wash my hair after my day of toil . Looking forward to a nice long shower now now. Im trying to believe we can do this in a week but I really need DH here packing a storm and he won’t be due to working , constant appointments at the new house and then the funeral on next Friday . he’s got a bunch of stuff in the study and all the furniture to take apart everywhere etc so there is work there too . God I’m tired ! Another problem here is that since we could only order furniture quite recently once we found out our house is definitely ready and we are replacing a lot of it most of it hasn’t been delivered so we don’t have cupboards for a lot of our stuff downstairs. we will either have carry the boxes to the attic or put them in the garage which also doesn’t yet have the storage cupboards or shelves or make our dining room the temporary box room . I guess that’s what we’ll do since I’m not going to live in middle of boxes !!!! Dining room won’t have a table and chairs anytime soon ,I haven’t chosen them yet but there will be dresser and a glass cabinet ( also a piano later ) so there’s space for boxes and then I’ll just close the door on the mess . I’m lucky that I have my own bedroom furniture already from when we moved here , it’ll be my sanctuary while we sort out the rest …

Nordic
I'm tired just from reading that.
4 A levels AND an EPQ sounds a bit is it necessary?

I've thrown away most of my Tupperware and jam jars. I've taken my glasses off, that helps.
I've also thrown away several redundant picture frames. Very hard to decide but I'm going to close my eyes and put them in a sack.
I've also thrown away a thriller.

Feel proud of myself for throwing ANYTHING away.
DS still packing his stuff for new uni term (train journey)
I'm feeling weight lifting at thought of his possessions leaving building ..at least a fifth of them

Also thrown away 3 biscuit tins

Well, the more I chuck the better it feels. I started with low level things like newspaper recipe clippings and an old telephone directory, then moved on to jam jars and sausage sticks. Put all jugs in one place, scrubbed a cupboard out. Threw away some ends of spice jars. 3 jars of nutmeg, whole ones! Ridiculous. I haven't chucked but it shows what happens when cupboards silt up and you can't see what you have.
Pulled out all the recipe books, dusted and put back in a scrubbed shelf. Grease and moth in there, clutter just harbours horrors!!
Threw away some more interiors mags, tore out a few pages as a carrot to myself.

Also threw away 5 unredeemably greasy glasses which don't match anything, we have plenty already.
Found coffee filter and the egg timer and the kitchen timer which had just been bobbing around cupboard unused for ages, and I thought I had lost.

Nettleskeins , DS is very ambitious and academic he know what he wants to do which in engineering and for that an EPQ in engineering is recommended he’s also got maths , physics and computer science and chemistry all of which he is very good at ( takes after did dad ) and they’re necessary for his chosen area of study except chemistry which he can drop after this first y if he wants. I just said about it to him when he remarked on how full on it all is already but he said no ( there’s time for this to change of course ) . I reckon he can do it ,he got the equivalent of 11 A* in GCSEs in a super academic school . Luckily this y they do quite a bit of other stuff too on Friday aft at least to balance it out . they have General studies courses , PSHE and volunteering on Fridays also an aft of sports one day and all the clubs . He does piano lessons as well . He’s started a new sport ;basketball in his free time and will see if he has a chance to play it in the day since he’ll take the school bus home so can’t do aft school .
He’s aiming for Oxford or imperial ( where my DH went to do 2 degrees ) have to think about other options soon . He’s got good chances I think . I’m very glad he’s discovered a passion ( automotive and aerospace engineering ) at this young age ! I never knew what I wanted to do except to explore the world and to have a family both of which I’ve done …

wownettle, you are managing to get rid of loads.

I was hoping to join solo in an hour of work a day, but seem to have failed as fatigue set in.

however, today I have cleaned the bath, including hte manky plug hole that was full of hair, the basin, tiles, and loo.

I have also sorted the washing into piles and one is in the machine.

this morning I planted perpetual spinach in ex's garden having filled the pot up on Monday.

On Friday I will drill holes in another pot and fill with compost to plant some early peas.