Hoarders Anonymous. Thread #8. We Are Keeping On Keeping On. Fighting The Cluttered Fight.

[Solo]

We are a group of likeminded householders who 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 is), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves (me too) that means sorting out our households is challenging to say the least. So...

You are all welcome to join us for support, adding your ideas to help others out, storage ideas, and even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it, but this part can be so very difficult; we are often attached emotionally to our 'things', afraid of letting things go just in case we need them.

Encouragement and support abound here in our band of clutterbugs. We never ever criticise anyone! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone, but this can be very difficult to achieve.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter, mess, disorganization and generally don't know where to start. If you can't be bothered, but really do want to be bothered. If you think you are a bit lazy, or if you just need to see your highs and lows and everything in between on the screen here, join us, and we will help you. We'll virtually high-five your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises. If you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you, here for one another because we get it. The art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement

Some helpful links. They aren't for everyone, but have a look if you fancy:

• Help For Hoarders by Jasmine Harman (the author/producer of the BBC1 documentaries My Hoarder Mum and Me and Britain's Biggest Hoarders)
• The FlyLady Cleaning Method by Marla Cilley
• The Organised Mum Method by Gemma Bray
• The KonMari Method by Marie Kondo
• A Slob Comes Clean by Dana K. White
• The Getting Things Done Method by David Allen

And a LINK-#7

I'm not sure if The Flylady link is working, but if not, you know what to search for.

Welcome to thread #8 of Hoarders Anonymous. Thread #8. We Are Keeping On Keeping On. Fighting The Cluttered Fight (and winning, one small step at a time).

Thank you. I have!
I have surrounded myself with stuff, and it doesn't matter how tidy or clean it is, it is still insanity and mal-adaptive behavior. Sadly the space I think I yearn for, doesn't actually feel so good. Hopefully because it wasn't at the pace I needed.

Hi all. Went to bed earlier as shattered. Woke up so planned to do a bit tidying in middle bedroom but got distracted trying to find sone clothes in big bedroom so ended up doing 20mins tidying in there.

@TalkToTheHand123 If all bedrooms could use it, then going with whatever one grabs your attention sounds smart to me.

Update: Things aren't going great here. Landlords still haven't given gas paperwork needed, so a section of flats are living without hot water and gas heating. Am still relying on aunt's for baths and batch cooking.

I met the remit last week, though not perfectly, but it was ok. Got the late order much needed paid work done in the nick of time. Finances are stretched.

Have been too exhausted and hurting to go to the storage unit and start de cluttering boxes there which was the plan, and the last load got shoved in randomly any old how. Was going to start on all that this week instead, but we've now been set a new goal post.

New surveyor is professional, which is such a relief, but is becoming ashen faced about major issues he's been uncovering.

Got told yesterday pretty much everything except furniture has to be out within a week and then we'll need to live like that for a week, with equivalent of "only what would be needed for a caravan holiday" in our home.😯
All cupboards, drawers, etc have to be entirely emptied so that they can move them from room to room. Some built in furniture has to be dismantled. They will deal with carpets and lino, but all floors will potentially be coming up and down daily. Still saying we'll be alright for Christmas, so hanging onto that.

Two other flats in the same situation as us, refused to co-operate, demanding alternative accommodation, or removal companies, storage and hotels paid for while all this is going on. They seem to have little idea of the reality of living here, but a higher sense of rights than I have.
They've been giving me a hard time for saying I didn't feel it was wise and pointing out what happened to others who didn't co-operate when all this was being done shoddily last year. But I've wondered if they might be right.

Yesterday I got told to move everything else out, they got eviction notices.😶

Storm Bert;s destroyed part of the fences that the previous fallen tree and dog hadn't. The part disassembled shed got flattened and scattered, and it's a mess.
Next door's beast dog currently has the upper hand.
Looking at how many fences are down locally, I'm hoping I might be able to get some repairable ones on freecycle.

Yesterdays partial clear up (stopped on receiving 'everything must come out' news) produced five and a half sacks of rubbish and recycling, and it got to the dump as well.

Aunts situation isn't moving as fast as expected, though at least the neighbors insurance company have been being responsible and treating her kindly.
Managed to do a very basic post storm clear up there, and some cleaning up.

Trying to build energy to start the pack it up and move it process all over again, but am quite drained from it all, and launderette also has to happen today.

Sorry not been around and not caught up. But I need you lot. Having a fucking meltdown over getting stuff done today. Lust time to help me cope.

One washing basket of clothes taken up and put on dd's bed to be put away later.
Some dry washing sorted to make room for new washing.
One load of washing emptied into the basket.
Some old toys picked up (again )and put in another bag to send to charity.
One rucksack of shopping emptied.
One kid taken to school.
Fed breakfast
Given two sets of clothes.(School and home)
Some recycling taken out of bathroom
Some recycling taken out of ds's room.
Some dirty washing picked up and put in a bag to take to be washed.

Still not got a washing machine, two taps mended or the kitchen floor found. "The heap" is less heapy.

I still have too much stuff in too little space. However, things have stopped getting worse (after mum's death two years ago now)and making glacial progress towards improving things.

Hello, can I join you all please?

I'm sure many of you are in similarish situations to myself. I used to have a fairly organised, neat and clean home to be proud of but I've been through a lot of crap over the past three years or so and things have gotten out of hand.

When things were at their worse, I stupidly bought clothes online which I now really need to sell. And then there's all the piles of random stuff that I keep 'just in case' but never ever use.

I became a single mum for the second time under awful circumstances. My ex turned out to not be the person I thought he was and has let both me and his DC down massively. I have no practical support from family. My DM has memory issues, shes still alive but it feels like ive lost her already. My youngest is also my most difficult DC, is a total whirlwind at home a la ADHD but seems to mask at school. She is into everything and spreads stuff everywhere to the point that I can't be bothered to tidy anymore. When I do, the place is trashed within hours.

So i threw myself into work but life became totally overwhelming. I'm still working but have now massively reduced my hours (temporary) so I can try and get a grip on things. I was on the edge.

Our house is small and I'm so overwhelmed with stuff. Am going to try the little and often approach but would welcome any tips. So desperate to not live like this anymore.

Welcome @DragonsFurry ☕️

At the start of the thread are things many of us have found helpful. But my favourite is a slob comes clean (Dana K White).

I am currently going through aversion therapy in the shape of clearing my hoarding parent’s house. I never want my DC to have to deal with something like this (and I know DPs had to clear grandparents’ house so didn’t manage not to repeat history). So once their house is cleared I’m going to get serious about mine.

I also think my eldest DC has ADHD and would benefit from less stuff to have to manage but Dana says start with your own stuff first.

I have a clothes tip dragons. Selling takes time so personally I don't bother. The money is gone regardless and if you sell you only get back a fraction of what you paid, IMO it's not worth it when you're in a hoarding or major clutter situation. What does help, I've found, is to not feel like a tramp on a daily basis. So either recycled anything holey, stained, bobbly or misshapen or cut it up for cleaning rags, if the fabric is suitable and you don't already have a hoard of cleaning cloths. Then every time you wear something and it's too small, shrunken, scratchy, miles too big or it just makes you feel shit to wear it, put it in a bag and when the bag is full off it goes to the clothing bank or charity shop. Repurpose stuff eg throw on more layers instead of buying new winter jumpers, wear anything cozy as pyjamas instead of buying new pyjamas, anything stretchy becomes gym wear etc, nobody cares if you're overdressed so throw a hoodie over the party dress, add leggings and your winter boots and go do whatever it is you need to do. Every season do a cull at the end for the past-its-best stuff again. I've found this to be the quickest way to start to use it all up and weed out the really useless quite quickly. It's dealt with the guilt of feeling wasteful, for me, it's not wasteful if the stuff is of zero use or if I've worn it enough that it's past it's best. I don't faff with the laundry either. There's two piles, lights and darks, in between colours I just decide which side of the dividing line they come down on and they join the relevant pile. Everything is on at 40°C except bedding and towels at 60°C and it all gets tumble dryer at this time of year. If that basic laundry system kills it off, then it wasn't meant to be and as it's now of no use it can leave my home guilt free. Do one laundry load per day as soon as you get up and put it away before you go to bed.

Books is another hard one for me. My too there is if you've read it before then unless you know you regularly pick it up to re-read it, get rid of it. You can put them in the paper recycling bin as the quickest way to get rid, unless you definitely know that your local charities want them I wouldn't risk a wasted journey.

I'd do a toy declutter before the Christmas influx makes you feel even more overwhelmed. Anything broken, too noisy, that leads to arguments or that doesn't get played with, get rid of it. Do it when DC aren't around, I believe they don't have the brains for decluttering properly when young and always want to keep everything, which just isn't practical, as the parent you need to be making the decision because you're the one not able to give them your best self due to being totally overwhelmed by clutter and mess 24/7. I don't see it as a cruelty but as a kindness to allow you to parent better. They can learn to declutter and have more control over their stuff once they're a bit older.

Re DD are there any rooms or cupboards you can put locks on? Ones nobody except you really goes into? Less things she has the opportunity to spread around then. Half a day spent doing that could save you endless hours of tidying time. I've noticed they seem less popular now but high shelves your DC can't reach will help with the mess too.

If there's anything you're keeping purely for emotional attachment and you never use it or display it, take a photo and get rid of the item. You can make an album, scrapbook or photobook of them and still have your memories without them taking up the physical space.

So that's my top tips.

Elleherd I wonder if any part of this will end up being a blessing in disguise? Perhaps you'll have the perfect opportunity to dehoard as you bring things back in after completion of works? The works do sound like they may get done properly this time too.

The others may not be so fussed about eviction if they're not hoarders, easier for them to find somewhere that'll accept them and easier to move. They're not wrong with what they wanted, it is what should be happening, especially as you've all been messed around so much.

I wouldn't let people suck up your energy though, if new people come whether they also get evicted or not isn't your problem, so if they're not open to advice from someone who's been there longer I just wouldn't bother with the convos filled with negativity towards you. I'm sorry about your trashed garden and the fence. Well done for getting through as much as you did with the cleanup though.

IDK if this applies to you, I guess it depends on why you hoard, to an extent, but the thing that's always put me off storage units is the knowledge that for the same cost or less (because lets face it, I'd have it quite some time) I could just go out and replace all the stuff instead if I really wanted to, which would be less hassle. It's always stopped me from getting a one every time I'm tempted to put it all in there and then slowly dehoard from the unit.

Fingers crossed for the next installment! 🙏🤞🤜🤛

Susan you survived, maybe that's today's achievement and it's a good one.

Not a lot happening here, slowly plodding onwards. Succommed to Black Friday sales. Oh well. I'm human. Also bought organisers for 2025, decided that although I could use what I have, draw up my own bullet journal etc, it'll just be another pressure on me and easier to use some ready made ones. Yes, plural. I'm going to have a go at turning over a new leaf in 2025 and becoming The Perfect Housewife. Bold aims! I know I'll fail. Nobody's perfect. With any luck though I'll get more done and feel less like I'm drowning.

@DragonsFurry Welcome. Sorry life's given you a bit of a kicking.
Difficult to offer meaningful tips without knowing how difficult you find letting go of that 'just in case' stuff etc.
For a long time 'just in case' and 'could be useful' stuff, really worked for me and mine. Then it quietly started not to. There are ages and stages. What I didn't realize was I'd become mentally dependent/attached to the stuff as 'security.' Part of what actual HD is. Less of a problem if it's 'just' decision making that you're struggling with.
Time and energy are obviously scanter resources, and you need to value them.
Trying to sell clothes, really depends on your abilities, time consumed, how much they're worth (it's always whatever others will pay) etc. Very easy to end up following sunk cost fallacy. (as it is with relationships!) So work out how much your time and energy are worth vs what you can realistically recover, when feeling you must try to recuperate some money. Will it be financially worthwhile?

You can't run any organised life, including for your ADHD DD in a disorganized situation, and it will cause more and more issues down the line until things become impossible.
I have way too much stuff for the size of where I live. I'm an organised hoarder (a double edged sword) but some of what allows me to be this, may be helpful. (Also living round disability and offspring with SN's)

See through drawers and boxes, lists, systems, color coding etc, all OTT in my case, but allows things to be kept track off and reduces cleaning time.

Everything (and there is a lot!) has a place. It's crucial. There are boxes in the corridor where items spotted in the wrong rooms are deposited as I pass. It makes it easy to pick up a 'kitchen' box, and just go redistribute it all to it's places, in a quick burst.

Mag locks on cupboards are invisible, but give parental control. Allocate 'dump 'n run' see through boxes to Dc's. Whatever they dragged out, must at least be chucked into those boxes at end of day. Can't get more out, without putting away once half full, gives a fighting chance.

Keep a clear sink, clear kitchen surfaces (or at least one to work on) keep on top of laundry, batch cook and heat when going through difficult periods. Get up while others are asleep, gets massively more done.

A bit at the beginning of every day, and at the end, as a minimum. Count what you have done, it helps yoyu see it, and spot patterns and how to change them or build on them.

@FiniteSagacity It really is aversion therapy, isn't it. I helped others because I understood, but it quietly did a great deal for me too. I hope it helps you in shifting the mind set and freeing you from the family habit.

@BlackeyedSusan For a moment I was hopeful that you actually did mean 'lust to help you cope.' 😂
A good list always helps with the overwhelm and lets you see where the day is actually going. Well done in stopping things getting worse, and that glacial progress will hopefully automatically get quicker as your household adapts to the new stages that life's bringing.
Heaps becoming 'less heapy' is always a good sign.

@BlueSummerBaby I am not human!😇I am ignoring Black Friday sales.
My name is Ellieherd, I am a hoarder, I do not need more stuff. 😂
Christmas is coming and we all know that will impact...
Well done keeping on plodding. Plodding is good. Good luck with your 'perfect housewife' aims!

Conversations aren't my choosing, neighbors demand them and very difficult to avoid. Not hoarders but understandably very upset. Losing SH and being unable to afford alternatives isn't good, regardless of bringing it on themselves.
Although we have separate gas meters, the supply can't be individually turned on and off, and all the ground floor flats are currently the incomer for several others. Not our fault, but lots of angry people not understanding reality.

The social housing bill is very much needed but is also behind why a lot of this is happening now, as landlords rush to cover up their long term neglect, spread blame, and tenants think they've rights before they actually have.

They're out in a few weeks, and plans are already drawn up to adapt their two flats, add further extensions to already shoddy extensions, and make four smaller flats out of them. 🙄Surveyor looks worried!

Agree storage units are generally a really bad idea for those struggling with HD.
Here it was originally a cheaper way of extending business premises and paid for themselves as tax write off. Used for business stuff then had to split one into two units, but was given additional height and extra free space to compensate. Domestic stuff went into the free space. Mistake.

Cut long story short, although all sorts of issues with storage companies, all financially sensible, but concerning on other levels, then Covid really changed things.
Landlord of my business premises, and the storage co, both massively put up rents when lockdown's started, and I had to move both into cheaper out of town units. That's when I realised how much domestic stuff had also crept into my workshop as well as the storage units. Adding to it, some stuff is both.

Covid was my industries death knell, profit margins collapsed and no longer financially viable. But the big one I'm locked into a contract until 2026.
Since then had to move across locations, and am scrabbling to find a different way to earn a living. It may recover, but so much is currently collapsing.
But, I can't make any living I have skills for, without premises/or storage.
My employability's limited and I wont survive the benefits system. There has to be quality of life, not just existing.

Lot of equipment and materials aren't easily replaceable, some aren't simple disposal either. Huge amounts of money involved, and a question of any future, or not.
A lot of domestic stuff could just be dumped, but I'm not able to just do it, though I continue trying in the hope I can change myself.

I am trying to treat this as an opportunity, but blessing in disguise it isn't.
It's stripping the finances out of a long term worked for plan, and there's unlikely to be enough time or money to properly de-clutter as stuff comes back in. It's mainly a painful expensive forced churn currently.

I had planned the reduction of work and sistematic de-cluttering, disposing, over a year, starting this summer (already running late and having to let pre paid for study go to waste) and at this point any end goal has already had to move to Xmas 2025 and I'm in danger of running out of money no matter what I do.
I am tbh mainly trying to get my family to a point I can exit knowing they're sorted enough.

Sorry if you're still reading, I've banged on a bit, but out of time to edit it down.

Elleherd, things sound tough but your persistence is amazing, and thanks for the tips! Hope you’re ok and the ‘exit’ you describe is not depression-related💐

I’m flitting from one thing to the other today as so much seems urgent and so much needs doing, but I think it’s actually productive and kitchen looks better. Have discovered a magnetic kitchen roll holder that goes on the side of the fridge as I’m trying to get stuff off the worktops. Some reviews say it’s a bit short but if I buy it from b and q I’ll get a chance to see it before I buy it, a bonus these days. Put a few small things in the bin that are broken/stained beyond cleaning or repair and started a new charity bag, so that was progress! All the best to everyone else in living a life where stuff serves us rather than the other way around.

I hope some good news comes your way in 2025 Elleherd you've had more than your fair share of bad luck. One more year until you're out of that contract. Not that I want to wish time away. Maybe if you end up starting in a new industry you could be a professional declutterer for people, IDK how people get into that, it's just an idea because you seem good at being self-employed.

I'm not surprised the surveyor is looking worried! It all sounds chaotic. At least you won't have the neighbours bending your ear in a few weeks. I guess their choices are moving into HMO to downsize, living with family or using the homelessness system, unless they've ability to move to a cheaper area where they can afford the rents. Depends where they're already living though, for all I know it could already be the cheapest area. Good luck to them anyway, they must be worried. I hope whoever moves in next is ok and not troublemaker, fingers crossed for you.

I understand the need for an exit plan, whatever that looks like. Life isn't easy, for some it's harder than others. The pandemic reminded me how fragile life is. It's partly why I'm decluttering. If I got struck down by a mystery illness tomorrow and didn't recover, there are things I'd want sorted first, so I'm sorting them now. I'm also counting down to retirement and I'm not sure what that'll look like for me (or if it'll happen when planned). I want to be ready to move quickly if that turns out to be the best option. So the less stuff the better.

Back to the subject of clothes, I watched an interesting video on YouTube today. It was a fashion influencer who confessed to being a clothing hoarder. They were decluttering the entire closet. So I was paying attention out of curiosity and I kept pausing it to write down both the rough amount of each clothing item and the exact setup for the various wardrobe/drawer/shelf/cupboards etc. My home looks around half the size of theirs, I have I'm guessing twice as much stuff as them and half the amount of storage (and ideally I'd have even less storage than I have now and more space). No wonder everything doesn't fit in here! It's given me a bit of perspective regarding how much I need to get rid of and what suitable storage might look like.

@Thehillsarealivewithbutterflies No not depression, but there's things going on that mean I need to be able to provide for others one way or another and not leave an awful situation for already vulnerable off spring, and I may be running out of time, money, physical ability, and ways to achieve it, so all eventualities do have to be looked at.
As people age they have to prepare for exiting. For many disabled people that has to happen horribly earlier and every time circumstances substantially change, and I'm now massively changing ours, with the knowledge if I fail, I may not be able to cope with the consequences.
Perseverance only carries us so far, we need physical health, (and good MH) too.

flitting from one thing to the other today as so much seems urgent and so much needs doing I think as long as you don't leave those things part done, (or can follow up later) it can work productively and break the monotony of focusing on a couple of things, only to then find yourself trying not to be overwhelmed by what still needs doing.

Don't know if it would suit your purposes, but there are adjustable magnetic roll holders of various designs, that might solve variable roll length problems?

Well done with the chucking and the charity bag! Definitely progress, and a very big Yes to everyone getting into a situation where possessions serve us, not us, them.

@BlueSummerBaby It does feel like some luck is overdue, but there's definitely a few others on this thread also owed some. I think it's the times.

Apparently being 'agile' is what's been keeping me afloat with work, however messily, while so may round me have been going bankrupt, and I think it's an increasingly needed thing for all age groups.
I know a concerning number of people who've recently been made redundant after 20/30 years, but a few years short of retiring and are encumbered by being entirely unprepared for major life changes, so your approach sounds sensible.

Good to hear about getting better perspective on the clothes and storage.
It is difficult sometimes. I recently de-cluttered a load of shop hangers onto someone else and they assumed they came from the whole family. No, I really do range up and down 5 sizes according to fluctuating health. 😣
How much each of us genuinely needs, regardless of space, depends both on circumstances, and finances.
Conversely, the more money one has, the easier it is to have a more minimalist lifestyle.

Because of family make up, there has to be a fair few duvets. A tip for anyone using vacuum bags: Don't shrink contents then stack them in drawers, cupboards, or boxes etc. Put them on their sides once shrunk, so the vacuum aperture is at the top. Then if they start ingesting air, or fail and puff up, and stop the drawer fully opening, it's relatively easy to get the vacuum nozzle in and restore order instead of having a a jammed drawer you can't get open or a major sorting job on your hands. No longer an issue here since figuring out a solution.

Have got more packed and into storage but nowhere near enough, there is just so much still to do inside and out, three days left to achieve it all, and I'm physically not holding up as well as I'd like.
Trying to get others helping is a lost cause taking up more time than actual results yielded, and more draining, than plodding away with less drama.

Launderette and batch cooking for the week done, but paid work this afternoon, so trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot again, and hold down panic.

Hi all. A little progress over the last few days, although not much, but glad to at least not get any worse.

I've done a bit of cleaning in not so obvious areas. It's been a bit of a shock as just haven't noticed the muck before.

Hoping to have a good go at the kitchen area next. Bedrooms are quite a way off acceptable standards but kitchen more priority. I'd like living room a bit tidyer also so hopefully can tidy some small areas at some point.

Shed and loft are a long way off being touched.

@TalkToTheHand123 All progress is progress, just as clutter mounts up from small increments, so do small increments of progress against it. Well done.

If you ask any cleaner they'll tell you most people don't notice build up 'in not so obvious areas' and are shocked when they're told extra time will be needed to tackle it. We all have varying levels of blindness to things and out of sight is often out of mind.
Getting the kitchen where you want it before Christmas starts to impact, is definitely smart.

Update: made myself pack and take another load to storage last night after getting back shattered from work, but there is still so much more to achieve, and I'm just physically breaking.
Got back from that to find someone had tried to break in and the bottom of the door smashed in, though something made them take off without going in.

Had to drag heavy furniture against remains of door, very little sleep and have to add repairing it onto everything today.
Keeping going but suspect it's now a losing battle.

Sorry to hear about the attempted break in and damage to your door, really horrible and I’m not surprised you didn’t sleep well. Hope you get it sorted/boarded up today and sleep better tonight.

No longer a heap. More lots of stuff spread on the floor. Another bag sorted.

Must take some charity stuff to the garage and get help to get it out again and to the shop.

@Thehillsarealivewithbutterflies Thank you. I boarded it up and then last night repaired it as best I can and it looks ok, but not sure how strong it is if someone is determined.
@BlackeyedSusan Well done on de-heaping the heap and sorting another bag. It sounds like your progress may be less "glacial" than it may feel.

Update: Didn't think I could do it, but managed almost everything yesterday, just.

Couldn't manage to de-construct two pieces of built in furniture, the vehicle is full of (mainly empty) crates and boxes, and one room still has a load of made up empty boxes, but surveyor and builders foreman's happy, and fine with it.
I've kept more stuff for our use this week, than they would have preferred, but he said everyone does and as long as it's placed in boxes so can be easily moved, they're ok with it.
Storage unit has last couple of loads chucked in a bit randomly, and boxes from the last load aren't labelled, both of which need sorting out.
Lots has had to go into greenhouse that shouldn't be there and needs relocating.
Gas people arrived and asked for access to another part of the garden that they hadn't previously specified. They did however help achieve it after realizing how exhausted I was. They've also taken up a bit of the decking for me as a result.
Two more large bags of garden waste generated, kind neighbor let me top off their garden waste bin as it was being collected, with one of them.
Gas men have made really good progress, though it's back to mud everywhere.
Builders have rolled up carpets and started in one room and hall.
I've repaired and painted damaged door.
Thought about @KingArthur1964 a lot during all this, and hoping they're ok.

I deeply hurt all over, am battered and bruised, and really want a day off but as they say no peace for the wicked. But I've done it, (!) and can start looking at how to integrate it all better into the bigger plan. Keeping on keeping on.

Wow, Elleherd , sounds like amazing progress on lots of fronts!

I was planning on facing lots of drilling jobs today on a day off eg so we can have curtains up but have found out that two of my family are wfh. Maybe I’ll do some anyway as the actual drilling bit won’t be long. Also planning for some Christmas stuff, assembling ikea furniture and chopping up branches to take to tip. Too stormy for fence fixing , damaged in storm Bert. I need to find the charity bag I started! Then away for the weekend clearing late relative’s home. Strange how we share some of the same mix of challenges.

Charity bag in garage. Need to get it to the shop!

Both Ds and I got injured yesterday.
I had a comedy fight with a door in which a chair got involved. Several joints hurt yesterday so progress was slower than desired. Ds has hurt an ankle and is off school so no school run (yay) but other duties instead.

I will have to drive him around if he wants to go to his dad's though.

Stuck door suddenly unstuck!

@Thehillsarealivewithbutterflies Hope you managed to get prep for curtains and other bits done. Definitely no point in trying to do fences until after storm Darragh's finished. I've done what I can to reinforce whats left of the fences here but have 'work on fences' on next weeks list. Had a few big gusts already.

Hope this weekends clearance goes as well as it can. You probably know all this, but while you're doing it, do actively look after yourself, take breaks, eat properly, step outside every so often. (depending on where you are given the storm) It's an emotionally and mentally exhausting process as well as physically, and easy to just try and fit it into our lives without recognizing the impact it has on us.
There are just so many overlaps and commonalities for folks on here.

@BlackeyedSusan well done getting charity bag out of house - the rest will follow. Sorry to hear about the injuries and comedy fight, though glad you can laugh, and the doors unstuck itself. Old doors and frames here often randomly swell and stick. I think it's changes in humidity and heat.

Yesterday was just back to back workmen of all kinds, and lots of mud, but gas guys have done lots.
I can barely move around from all the stupid things I've done to myself over the week, and carer struggled to get me into chair this morning, but I need to get outside and nail things down better to tolerate winds, then work out what I need to get done beyond launderette for all.

I cleared out and hoovered down the back of the big wooden box the Christmas tree stands on. Got rid of equivalent of a bin bag full of stuff. (Rubbish, recycling ,charity)

Feeling well chuffed.

Things have changed direction...now getting better. Still very slowly but even so...

@BlackeyedSusan Yay! Well done! Nice to hear things may be shifting and you're gearing up for Christmas.

Drowning in workmen here and a post storm clean ups still haven't happened as still really windy yesterday.

Minor damage both here and at aunts, but both escaped relatively lightly. Launderette and even some pre Christmas shopping happened.

Currently got remains of aunts landlord's bed base in vehicle. It was beyond end of life with broken slats and now badly water damaged. Cheapskate landlord was waiting for 'a free one' on Facebook and thinks people will deliver at their own expense too as 'they're desperate to get rid of them.'

He did eventually say the old one could go to the dump, so broke it up before he could change his mind.

Annoyingly she'd accepted the idea that at her age what was the point of spending money on anything for her use.
.Ended up spontaneously buying her a good 2nd hand settee bed and rented a zip van all for the grand total of £25 and Dc stepped up and did the heavy work both ends.
Have put her mattress on it as a temporary solution, before Scrooge found some bed bug infested wreck to foist on her, or I lost my temper completely.
Both aunt and cats pleased at least.

Trying to get to grips with what I actually need to be doing in the middle of builder chaos.

Well done on sorting the bed for your aunt.

I cleaned the bathroom basin yesterday.

Apart from that:
Two supermarkets: buying presents for neighbours. And food shopping. (Carried up two flights of stairs) so College run(85 miles total) fed boy. Supported coursework (not) getting done.

Today: kid to school, supermarket to get more presents. pharmacy to collect prescription for ex. I need to catch up on late night after non completion of course work in my bedroom space.

Returned ex's bag, fleece that came home with a kid, parcel that was delivered here due to him moving, and prescription.