The Bluestocking: it's the season of mulled wine, conversations about pineapple and, of course, gerbils. Confused? You will be...

[EdithStourton]

Welcome to the anarchic and marvellous women-only on-line pub, the Bluestocking. The booze won't give you a hangover, the cakes won't make you fat, and the conversations are fascinating, covering knitting, health and safety, the Muppets and anything else that comes to mind.

Climb Peak Woo, have a cuddle with Rosie the Red Panda, and watch out for capybaras busy with any necessary building works.

Welcome in (and name change at the door if you need too).

Let me guess. Was it "survive 2025”?

Feels like it some days!

I had to do something to sort to house out. Didn't matter if it was a big something or a little something, or something that had to be split over many days. But had to be something towards the house becoming tidier, cleaner, more organised etc.

So there has been many days of getting rid of five or ten random pieces of tat / sorting out one drawer / slowly collecting up all items belonging to the same group from around the house.

Some days it felt like I wasn't achieving much but I take a photo every day of the something I've done and I looked through them all last night (needed a boost to get me through the next month) and I know it makes a difference as I can see it every day but bloody hell looking through all the photos showed how much of a difference it's made!

This is brilliant!

What's your new year resolution and what will it be for 2026?

Boily, that's truly fabulous. Well done you!

2025's is above. I'm tempted to carry it on because there is still way to much stuff and still lots of things that need sorting out now I've corralled similar things together, but if I do I might give myself 2 days off a week!! Especially as I'm running out of knackered pairs of socks and pants to get rid of on the days where I'm too blghhh to do anything.

One of my favourite photos of my daily task is below. It took many daily tasks to get to the point I got to do the task in the photo but the end result is glorious.

And it's also a prime example of the fact that I have way to much stuff!

I'd be happy to lend you my husband, Boily - he's a never ending source of knackered socks. I have no idea what he does to them!

That was a cross post. Brilliant that you have done so much.

In fact, here is the recognition.

🏅 TITLE OF HONOUR:

Order of the Relentless Declutterer

A formal-sounding decoration for someone who’s fought the ancient battle against Stuff and lived to tell the tale.

📜 CERTIFICATE

“The Golden Broom Citation”

Awarded for:

• Courage in the face of rogue laundry piles
• Tactical disposal of mysterious objects of unknown origin
• Exceptional discipline in stacking, folding, and banishing
• Diligent pursuit of clear surfaces in adverse conditions

Signed by:

• The Gerbil High Council
• Myrtle Lion (Prof.)
• Farrier’s Girl (Quality Assurance)

Stamped with the Official Purity of Shelf seal.

🎖️ BADGE

A small enamel pin of:

• A broom crossed with a feather duster,
• Crown above,
• Tiny gerbil at the base shouting “GOOD ENOUGH IS PERFECT.”

Colours: deep plum + gold.
Style: looks like it came from a fictional medieval guild.

🏵️ MEDAL

Medal of Heroic Domestic Crusading

Front: Boiled Beetle’s initial in gothic script, surrounded by laurel leaves and tiny icons of bins, baskets, and folded towels.
Reverse: “In Recognition of Your Mighty Efforts Against Chaos.”

Ribbon: burgundy with a single silver stripe (symbolising the elusive clear hallway).

🎁 GIFT

A choice of all the symbolic celebratory objects, depending on her sense of humour:

• A ceremonial “Not My Problem” chest – a beautifully decorated small box into which mysterious household items can be swept without guilt.
• A gerbil-sized cleaning squad (wooden carved set) — each named, each looking industrious.
• A scented candle called “Room That’s Actually Tidy” — warm, spiced, and smug.
• A carved wooden sign reading “I Have Done Enough Today” — for display above whatever remains untidy.

@MyrtleLion

<wipes away tears on sleeve>

Thank you so much. I'm honoured. Literally.

When can I expect my gerbil-sized cleaning squad (wooden carved set) — each named, each looking industrious?

Well, Christmas starts tomorrow, so they're going to be very excited and busy for a while...

And me. I blame my age... 😬

Isn't Boily inspirational!

As for the gerbils, it's only just Advent, they mustn't overdo it or they'll never survive to January 6th, never mind February 2nd.

But November is nearly over. Only another 7 hours and 38ish minutes and I can go back on the booze.

Though I probably won't actually set the alarm clock for midnight.

Aww <puffs up chest slightly> I have a role at the "Bluey" Quality assurance......
I think I'll have a mulled wine to celebrate😊Thanks Mytle and well done Boily on the declutter programme.

Only "probably", Dean? 😂

Look, making a resolution and sticking it out for 30 days was HARD, Boily's 365 is both amazing and terrifying, and I am not going to make another commitment.

I still have two things I have to do for other people. Three. And two little things. And then I am going to be sublimely selfish and dissipated until the days get a bit brighter.

Oh and another thing I forgot.

What is it with PEOPLE?

I wonder what those are.

clicks on picture

gasps in admiration (& a touch of jealousy)

Oh wow! I mean... so many... so beautifully organised... & so largely untouched. 😂 Can I award Boily The Order of the Hoarder? As one to another. You'll get 8 medals, dear Boiled, just in case you lose one & because one can never have too many. I've been sorting out sewing stuff this week & it seems every time I couldn't find my thimble, I bought another one or two (to be on the safe side), as I now have... rather a lot of thimbles. 🙄

Sending good wishes to Marie for her tiresome building work this week. 💙 Don't forget that modelmaking programme that starts tomorrow. It might be just what you need once the workmen have gone.

I used your words as a prompt, & the AI came up with something rather wonderful...

Thank you. I shall hoard them all.

<laughs maniacally>

Thankfully not a sewing person so my sewing stuff fits neatly into one shelf which is an entire shelf too much really given I can't even successfully thread a needle.

Oh my word!

Aren't they so adorable!

I'm assuming the unnamed one supervising from atop the ladder needs no name as it's Maud!

Do you want a needle threader? I have lots, in 2 different styles.

Thanks, but I've got some.

Still can't thread a needle!!

True. Just noticed the dust motes in the air, & the fact one's called 'Squeaky' - squeaky clean, or mode of communication? Does the AI have a sense of humour?

People are the worst, I agree. Obviously not the people here, but generally speaking, people are far too much like hard work. And I say that as a hardcore extrovert.

I've tried making an image to go with this but the AI has lost its sense of humour & won't play ball. Sorry, Deano. Congrats on making it this far - hope you manage to hold out to midnight.