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).

Don't know what I did there!

@Sameclutternewname Well done for keeping on keeping on, regardless but sorry life's overtaking you at the moment. Hopefully you can grab small amounts of time out of it regularly. Years and years of not having enough time to sort things out is a part of how I got in to this mess until making it my main priority was the only option. Financially I definitely left it too late.
Hopefully end of this year beginning of next will see the renters bill in, then all the stress and chaos over building improvement work will have been worth it.
I'm afraid I haven't actually followed through properly on neighbors boxes. 😔She asked for more time after failing to find anywhere. I told her I was sorry but they where now sitting in a pile with other things to go to the dump. If she can retrieve them before the next big dump run, happy days for all, if not sorry, they will be going, have done my best. So, not quite what I'd intended, but getting there.

@FiniteSagacity The planning it even when we can't do it, and mentally listing what we want to see the back of, is a good strategy and the 'sitting with it' or 'coming to terms ' with the need to let go, does seem to help. Not sure if it's the separating the decision from the action, or preparing for the action by holding the decision for some time in advance, and if it's different for different folks, but very definitely something there. Yes to both recycling guilt, and how things waiting to go out, easily become clutter magnets and surfaces themselves!

@Ricoletti No it doesn't sound bizarre. Quiet a few of us here have bashed our heads on the screen working these things out until we realised that for many of us we've missed steps or building blocks somewhere along the way. It doesn't matter how 'obvious' something is with hindsight if it isn't at the time. 🙂We';re all continuously learning and firing off each other.
I thought i was messy, lazy and disorganised with no follow though. I realise now this is just how my brain operates and I need to find strategies!

We are trained from young to judge ourselves negatively when something doesn't come easy or we don't seem to be able to manage what others can.
It's a dreadful trap as we talk ourselves down instead of up.

If you live somewhere not remote I'd put the Stakkabox on Gumtree freebies tbh, complete with suggestion it can be used as a planter if it's what I think it is... If it is, it's quite desirable to some and someone might solve the disposal problem for you.

@BlueSummerBaby Well done with the kitchen improvements! Eradicating the broom and mop corner is fab, and well done on the systematic clearing out and choosing, and getting stuff where it should be. Lovely to read.

@TalkToTheHand123 Well done. Hope the impending 'Gasmancometh' visit spurs you on today. 😅I'm prepping for 'Contractorssupervisorscometh' visit tomorrow, so will also be at it today.

Thanks @Elleherd although there is not much time left. He is due to visit tomorrow.

I've cancelled my gym membership and have no plans to drink alcohol for a while, so hopefully I can make inroads over the next few weeks.

Turmeric stains on worktop:

YouTube
Simplify Your Space channel
11 days ago, 10min video
Simple Home Hacks

@BlueSummerBaby that sounds hopeful.

@TalkToTheHand123 Hope all goes well.

Got a bit more paint on walls and equipment cleaned up, also got some cheap and cheerful filler, but ran out of time and energy. Fixed a bit more fence, moved a few plants and trying to do the general marshaling of stuff into order while awaiting supervisor, and hopefully more info about whats going on, in what order, so we can plan life a bit better and stop falling behind with everything else.
Have paid work tomorrow and need to do some prep for that too.

Met new project manager yesterday. Mixed news but at least some idea about what's going on, and a few promises of some carrots from all this to try and offset the continual stick hanging over us. New project manager says they prefer to work with affected tenants, not just make demands of them. All reasonably positive so far, fingers crossed for it to continue.

Has said if when windows come out again, he'll inspect and if it's all as damaged as I'm reporting, he'll sort new ones.
Also going to replace the bodged guttering system I had to rig up as an emergency measure when last contractors left us with none.

Surprise issue is we're loosing old concrete bunker type storage at the end of the garden, which has to be cleared out fast of anything wanted (shoved half of what was in the shed neighbors dog ate into, in it!) as they need to excavate under it next week, and it was assumed we knew. We didn't and everything the last building firm wanted out of the way from the back of the house, is now in front of it and has to go somewhere else.

But if I get it done fast, and can get the remains of neighbors huge tree trunk that's been an issue for years, into sections, they'll remove it when they remove the bunkers, and have thrown in taking some of the old fencing and posts removed from other (now empty) access point flats and headed for the skip, and rebuild my missing fence line with them for me. May not be the greatest condition, but will give me back a fence line that side and I can replace it bit by bit as finances allow, and hopefully end several issues there in one swoop.

Other big advance is they saw the old contractors stuff dumped at the front and had most of it removed, there and then; a big plus for a more normal life.

So yesterday ended up being avery big clear up of the front where the bulk of the dumped stuff was removed from, and a start on cutting back bushes grown over it, that I couldn't get near before.
Neighbors across road happier, one sack of clag and four sacks of greenery and tree branches from the back, to dump and green bins.
Also put yet another coat of paint on bedroom wall as it dried looking like some sort of camouflage pattern! Hoping it's the paint, not damp showing up from the dodgy guttering system.
Not as much prep for today's work as should have, but hope to get away with it.
Going to be a busy weekend.

Hi all. Bedroom reclassified to hoarders status. Hopefully have some motivation this weekend to make inroads.

Have done so much preparation clearing in garden to try and move all of the stuff at the back again, but really struggling physically and still have lots more to do.
TBH have been putting off clearing out the bunker itself because I know how difficult it's going to be and much it's going to hurt, but has to be done today while it's quiet, as trying to do things with contractors around causes problems.

Rain's back Tues, so if I'm going to end up immobile, trying to push it to then.

So far two sacks of rubbish, and two sacks of greenery gathered, plus two sacks of good compost cleared from a compost bin. Partially repaired smaller greenhouse that got very damaged moving it for original contractors, and cleaned up lots of stuff for future use.

@TalkToTheHand123 How's it going?

Hi @Elleherd , I did a little in the bedroom, about 30mins worth. Little bedroom is now back to square 1. Has damp in corner from when gutters were clogged and a couple of cracks in the ceiling.

Kitchen is a little better, but still very cluttered. Doing a nightshift now so hopefully can next do some tomorrow.

@TalkToTheHand123 The cracks are easier to deal with (fast dry non shrink filler) than the damp IME
Well done. Keep at it, eventually it pays off even if you can't instantly see it. Hope you have enough energy to get more done today.

I wasn't able to get things anywhere near finished yesterday. Pain got too much and I got slower and slower until it made no sense to try to keep going.
I have to manage today with contractors around which always slows everything up, and get things to a point everything's out of the way and can cope with wind and rain due tomorrow. Currently, getting the tree trunk into sections feels impossible.
Did manage to throw lots away but have only half cleared the bunker.
Three big sacks and one sack of greenery made it to the dump, but annoyingly three other sacks where turned away as not enough staff to check them and along with tree branches have had to come back.

Managed to eventually finish getting the bunker fully cleared out on Monday, but things from it being kept, and the stuff that was in front of it, has ended up in the wrong place. Wasn't possible to put it anywhere better with the contractors all over the place. Hoping to sort that out over the weekend and possibly cull a bit more.

Trying to find someone affordable to cut neighbors tree trunk into sections for me as don't think I can, and I'm getting harassed every-time I'm seen going near it. Think they think I'm trying to get it back over their side.🙄
Contractors have dismantled part of the bunker but seem to have run into problems, but I met my part of the agreement so... Waiting to be told what's going on there.

Sacks and branches that had to come back, successfully went of to the dump/recycling, along with seven more sacks and two of greenery.

Launderette happened, but then everything caught up and been really struggling to move. Unsuccessfully tried to get appointment for a blood test.
Carer and I gave up trying to get me up yesterday, so stayed flat; caught up accounts, some bills, and some prep for today, which is paid work, but I'm not in any fit state for it tbh, or the approaching weekend. Fingers crossed again.

Good luck Elle. It's difficult pacing the race. Hope you recovered enough to get up today.

Been slow going flat sorting. Wednesday was a lot of appointments. Was in and out like a fiddler's elbow. Good exercise going up the stairs.

Three days on driving. One did shopping as well. Washing has been done. Minimum washing up. More elderflower champagne made. (Not all for me)

Today I need to get stuff done.

I’ve discovered Anglo collections from here- you book a collection every month so once it’s booked I feel duty bound to give them at least 3 bin bags by the deadline.
no more driving bin bags around for months in the boot of my car!!

We've started. (And stopped and started and stopped)
Some ceramics washed and put away.
Some cutlery washed.
Draining board cleaned.
Started on bathroom (bath plughole and started the grouting).

Bath and basin and surrounds finished.
DD washed up a lot.

And <drumroll>

Rang HMRC. Took me ages to stop shaking. (Not the content of the call, just speaking to people on a phone due to autism!)

Well done @BlackeyedSusan! (especially for getting through to an actual human at HMRC) I know what you mean about stop,start,stop. It feels never ending and here at least often ends in not quite finished tasks

@notnorman Hope that's helpful and works for you. Let us know how it goes.

Made it up and to work Friday but wasn't able to do much useful so ended up doing something I hadn't been contracted for, for free. It kept the client happy but left me with the original work to be taken home.
Over weekend launderette happened, and a bit of light sorting area around bunker and got another three bags of greenery to recycling before things went pear shaped again and I spent the rest of it uselessly flat on my back.
Made it to hospital yesterday for a scan which might just shed some light on something.
Hoping to catch up a bit today. So far this morning cleaned up the corridor and mud trail left by contractors going through yesterday. Another never ending task currently but have learnt; if it looks like a building site entrance, it absolutely will be treated as one.

Well done Elle.

We are going to pre scan blood tests today.

Hope it went well Susan and wasn't a take forever one. I'm grateful, but was frustrated to lose the day as turns out it was assumed I was using patient transport services so would be sat there all day anyway, so they kept putting others in front of me despite me having a timed slot.😠

Yesterday: Put a notice on the front door saying 'Run out of mugs - no more tea and coffee for contractors until they turned over the site for mugs, cups and plates they've not returned.'
30 odd recovered; to have cement and unknown tarry building stuff on almost all of them scrubbed off. 😡
Removed old built in kitchen cupboard that's ended up with an accidental contractors boot through it and added it to list of things I'm looking to them to pay for.😒
Kitchen floor's been developing a large worrying dip where they've been tramping back and forwards with materials and equipment. After they'd gone yesterday, took up the plastic builders floor covering stuff, and hardboard to investigate and discovered waters leaking from somewhere again, and soggy floorboards. 🙄
Was all set to have a right go this morning, but was greeted with a box of plants, a bunch of flowers and an apology note, and them forming an orderly queue and jumping over the exposed damage one by one, carefully.😆
Now waiting on one of the senior lot to come and inspect.

That's definitely a better response than the last lot would have given you elleherd! Free plants 😄 what did you get?

I ended up with some unused wall space so of course I filled it up, with hooks this time, so now there's tidy hanging stuff instead of a pile of stuff on the floor. Progress ✨

Dd washed up. And hung washing.
I washed Ds's hand wraps by hand, dried and re rolled them.
Fetched washing from ex's.
Got ds to school.
Went shopping.
Put some washing up away.
Caught up on sleep as I was woken by yelling in the night.

I've helped DD sort out her wardrobe a bit as things kept flinging themselves out due to the arrangement of clothes. I've got a pile of clothes to go . I need to work on getting them out . Preferably before the end of term so they can go to school uniform exchange.

Can add: cleaned bath and basin.
Put dry pots away, washed up, put more dry pots away.
Unpacked some shopping.

Just been scared witless by a very close very loud firework.

@BlueSummerBaby They are definitely a much nicer lot! I'm not certain but think the plants are Verbena.
Well done with the hooks and removal of piles on the floor. Nice to have a proper place for things, rather than piles..

@BlackeyedSusan Well done, especially getting the pile of clothes to go together. Sorry to hear about the firework. Some of them are horribly loud.

Lots of bits and pieces here trying to improve the general situation in between lots of trying to recover and make swollen bits un-swell. It's all progress, but have to do a lot more today to get things properly on the go again in terms of getting stuff out,

Got worst of paid work done and finished off.
Moved some stuff for friend and vehicle generally tidied up.
Cut out some old mastic that was bleach stained from trying to prevent mold stains (Can't win.🙄) and re- masticed it. Messed up one bit, but still a lot better.
Cleaned the worst of recent accumulated building dust and dirt off back windows. Need to do it properly, and the front ones, but it's a start.
Cleared up the worst of general contractors muck accumulating under scaffolding.
(Piece of board has been put over floor boards and it's on the 'we'll look when we've finished the big structural stuff' list.)
Load of plant pots and carriers from bunker sorted out and stacked, still more to do and at some point a good sort through. Other bits and bobs sorted and greenhouse tidied up and better sorted.

Back on the thread after an enforced illness break - thankfully nothing too serious, but a rotten flu bug which left me with a terrible cough for weeks!

@Elleherd as always, I am in awe of you keeping going through the nightmare of building work, not to mention dealing with managers, contractors etc. A massive WELL DONE to you, and I hope this week is productive!

@BlackeyedSusan I hope HMRC were helpful when you were able to speak to them? I've actually found it very useful to speak to them in the past, however, this doesn't make up for the mind numbing process of trying to get through... also a thank you for using the phrase 'in and out like a fiddler's elbow' which was a favourite of my lovely DGM

@TalkToTheHand123 did you manage to get any further repair/ decluttering work done?

Things are not too bad within the house - apart from the constant struggle to keep on top of things, I don't think I will ever be one of those people who find it easy! - but outside the garden could really do with some TLC DP took pity on the chap who did our tiling (slowly and badly) when he came back with a sob story about having no work, and asked him to spend a day tidying up the garden; the idea was that once someone had done 90% of the work, we could finish the rest and then have a space which it's actually nice to sit in. Well, he did maybe half a day (including a long break!) and then of course hasn't been back, as DP paid him up front - I now resent the idea of spending time tidying up the garden when someone's already been paid to do it!

In other news, DM has had a couple of falls at home and it's highlighted that she can't manage the upkeep of her house any more. She moved in a few years ago as she couldn't cope with the previous house but has 'never got round' to unpacking everything - she's long retired and has no other time commitments! She does have physical problems and is more or less confined to a mobility scooter/ zimmer frame now, but could still sort through stuff, fold clothes etc from a chair - plus my younger disabled sibling lives with her, between them they could do more but just prefer not to. Which is I suppose their choice, but when the house is filthy and is getting back to hoarder status (part of the reason she moved last time!), it makes it very difficult to allow for someone with extremely limited mobility. I don't think she will acknowledge this in the slightest though...

Sigh - had an email from my manager not long after I posted here asking if we could have a meeting tomorrow - he's sent me through a Zoom request (I WFH, he's a couple of hundred miles away!). He didn't say why though and now I'm worrying about what it could be he's a very nice chap but we rarely speak TBH, maybe once or twice a week as he doesn't actually cover for me or anything when I'm off, someone else in the team does that. My thoughts are divided between redundancy, asking me to take on extra tasks, and me having done something wrong... I can't think of anything I've done massively wrong and I wouldn't mind the extra tasks (work can be quite quiet sometimes) but redundancy would be tough. And now I will overthink this until tomorrow's meeting when I finally find out the reason for it

Hi all. I did quite a bit of gardening and cleaned a couple of cupboards in the kitchen, emptying quite a lot of bottles of alcohol in the process.