Mayhem on Monday - 18/2/19

Finally my bedroom is a bedroom and not a bedroom/office.

I have been wanting to remove the large desk from our bedroom and move it to the room that my son and his wife were using until they moved out.

This is the offending desk - it's huge and, thanks to Hubby, usually messy. 

 

This is where my dresser used to be - right in the window and blocking the heat from the radiator.

 

This is how the bedroom looks now and here is Hubby at the desk in its new location.

We still have a lot of sorting out to do (I want to get an easy chair for the bedroom and change a few other things) but Hubby is finding it hard to adjust.  We've also moved my sewing machine from our bedroom into one of the smaller rooms that I want to be more of a hobby room for me.  This means Hubby lost a big surface that he used to dump a lot of stuff on.

I've tried to make it as easy as possible for him but I'm sure it will take time to get used to the changes.  But I'm pleased we've got this upheaval done.  I just wish I'd stuck to my gut instincts when it came to moving the desk.  I wanted to take it apart but Hubby was worried it wouldn't go back together too well and that we would be able to get it down a flight of stairs.

Well he was right that we could get it down the stairs, we just couldn't get it through the second doorway so had to dismantle it anyway.  It was very easy to take apart and it went back together ok too.  I'm proud of myself for not saying "I told you so!"  but I definitely thought it lol.
 

#Jusjojan - 27/1/19 - Cathartic

Just Jot It January is hosted by Linda H Gill - here's the link to her site where you will find all the rules and the place to leave your link to your own post if you decide to join in plus links to all the other participants.

The background to the challenge can be found here.

Your prompt for JusJoJan 2019, January 27th is brought to you by Enthralling Journey! Click here to find her last post and say hi while you’re there! Enthralling Journey’s word for our prompt today is “cathartic.” Use it anywhere in your post or make it the theme of your post. Have fun!

Well I knew things were going too well, posting nearly every day and then oops, a two day blank!  Including a Friday when I often post several meme type posts.  

My routine was different this week, looking after Grandson Nathan two days running on Wednesday and Thursday left me very tired on Friday so I opted for some retail therapy and a date night with Hubby.  I needed to pick up a few bits and pieces now that I'm having Grandchildren here regularly, including a travel cot.  We also needed a new kitchen bin as ours was falling apart and I managed to get most of what I needed.

For our "date" we went to a local bar that serves food so no cooking!  It also meant a bit of exercise as we walked there and back.  It was nice to get out but the food was a bit too spicy for my taste and I definitely didn't like the choice of music playing.  It was also a bit loud.  But we were out, together, so that's a win as far as I'm concerned.

Saturday we had Grandson Rory here for a few hours so the travel cot was christened.  He seemed to like it.  He's rolling around and nearly crawling so it will be handy to have somewhere safe to put him if I'm here on my own with him.  Our son had a meeting to attend and our DIL was at a baking course.  They both joined us here later and the bonus was that we all got to try the vegetable pie our DIL had made on the course which was delicious.

The rest of the weekend has been quiet.  Hubby was out with a friend to a music venue today so I put my time to good use.

I have tidied my clothes, shoes etc.  Oh yes I've been watching Marie Kondo on TV and my daughter had her original book.  I didn't follow her methods religiously though but I have tried to store things vertically or folded as she suggests which does make sense.  I certainly did not thank each item that I was throwing out or checking if things I kept were giving me joy.

Now I just have to get around to disposing of the things I'm not keeping but it was definitely cathartic doing the tidying!

No before and after pics though - I forgot to take the befores and I'm not going to parade my underwear on the internet!
 

Weekend catch up 14/12/15

It was quite a relaxed weekend but productive and enjoyable. 

I started by getting more decorations up including my hand crocheted banner.  I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. 

I also bought a new crib scene for this year.  The candle holder next to it was given to us by my Mother-in-law many years ago.

Another thing we did was to sort out out top two bedrooms.  One is stripped ready to be redecorated the other was full of our daughter's things.  We need both of them usuable after Christmas as my son's future in-laws are coming to spend a night.  So we managed to get a lot of stuff put up into the loft and put the bed etc back into one room and made enough space in the other room for an airbed.

Someone asked why we didn't carry on with decorating but both ceilings need re-plastering and we can't get that done before Christmas so our guests will just have to put up with bare walls.

I also gained a bureau and screen from my sister-in-law last week so they are now up in the smaller room which I plan to turn into a workroom/sewing room.  The bureau will be very useful for that and the screen is hiding some stuff that still needs to be sorted out.

 

So Saturday was a bit tiring but satisfying.

On Sunday we had a more relaxing day and in the afternoon we attended a Christmas Carol concert given by the choir that our daughter-in-law sings with.  The choir were really good and we were able to join in with some of the carols.  Afterwards our son and DIL joined us for dinner.  That was really nice as it wasn't planned and we probably won't see them again now until after Christmas as they are off to the USA next Sunday. 

Today has been a day for chores, washing and paperwork.  But once again that's been productive and thus satisfying.  The Just Do It mantra is still working.

A stroke of luck 11/12/15

In yesterday's post I mentioned that I had booked a collection of portable TVs with the council.  Not having done the booking online until the afternoon I anticipated that the earliest they would be collected would be this morning and as it was raining I intended to put them out first thing.

I had not long been back from doing some shopping yesterday when I heard someone trying to put something through my letterbox.  I went up to check to find it was a standard council form saying that they had tried to carry out the booked collection but the goods were not available.

Fortunately the driver was still parked outside and I managed to catch him and get him to take the items.  He wasn't happy though, telling me more that once, that items needed to be put out immediately the booking was made.

Well I was happy to have caught him but not happy that a) he hadn't rung my doorbell b) his attitude wasn't great and c) the confirmation e-mail that contained my reference no (without which you're booking is unconfirmed) was sent at 12.17 am today.

I was all set this morning to compose an e-mail of complaint but when I checked the website again, although when making the booking you are told to wait for the confirmation e-mail with reference no before putting goods outside,  it does say very specifically in the information section about collections that items should be put out immediately a booking is made.  Clearly they need to update the automated response at the end of the booking routine to match this but hey, life's too short and I got my rubbish taken away for free and on the same day.  And if I was the van driver going around in the rain trying to collect non-existent stuff I guess I wouldn't be too happy either.

But I am happy.  The final thing I did yesterday that shortened my to do list was to put my christmas tree up!

It's the little things....10/12/15

So drum roll please, blogging four days in a row.  Maybe I can make this into a good habit but let's not get ahead of myself.

I've been tackling some things on my immediate to do list again today.  I investigated switching some of my tax allowance, which I am not using, to my husband.  There have been notices about how this is possible thanks to the re-introduction of marriage allowance.  I was all excited about this.  Even gathered the papers together that the website said I would need. But we failed at the first hurdle!  Apparently hubby earns so much that the Government considers he doesn't need the benefit of marriage allowance.  Oh well, at least I can cross it off my to do list.

Seems to be the way of things, 3 steps forward, 1 (or sometimes 2,3 or more (yikes) back!  I needed to gather together the old portable TVs we have around the house to get the council to collect them.  Now we've become digital the portables are outdated.  Anyway in locating one I noticed a box of my Mum's stuff that I've been meaning to throw out for a while.  However, when I started going through the box I realised that I'm not ready to just throw it out.  It's mainly cards that my Dad sent her over the years - he always bought her beautiful cards with lovely words in them.   But there were also telegrams he sent her during the war (WW2) and his time in the army.  Plus telegrams they received on their wedding.  I even found the name tag from when I was born.  So many memories.

Well of course I can't just get rid of those.  They're part of our family history and should be kept but in a way that's relevant.  So I think I'm going to photograph the cards and create an electronic record - it's interesting to see how styles changed over the years.  I also plan to make a scrapbook of the other documents that can be passed on. 

That task has been added to my long term tasks and although I didn't achieve much with that box today, just allocating it as a future task and having a plan for what I need to do makes me feel more positive about the box just sitting where it is.  It's on the plan now and I'm on a mission.

And the TVs are ready to put outside the house tomorrow to be collected!  Baby steps, baby steps!

Back to normality 4/11/15

Well I'm sure everyone is bored with hearing about my daughter's wedding last week.  I can't believe it's over a week since the happy day.  Thank you to all those who checked out my posts and left lovely comments.

Last week I was very tired and I think suffering from the anti-climax of the event.  I didn't get much done at all.  It was not a great week.  Not helped by the clocks having gone back and the nights drawing in.  I don't like the short days and long nights but I did have the company of this lovely cat:

Meet Lady.  My daughter's cat who we are looking after while the girls are on their honeymoon.  I can bore you about that instead of the wedding.  They flew to Las Vegas and spent 3 nights there managing to take in an Elton John concert during their stay.  They are currently in California.  Driving down from San Franciso to Santa Barbara before heading on to Hawaii.  They were supposed to be hiring a Mustang convertible but ended up with a rather sensible looking estate car that looks a bit like a tank.  Personally I'm glad the convertible wasn't available!

The poor cat must be wondering what's going on but she seems to be doing ok.  She's stopped hiding in the downstairs bathroom and seems happy to sit with me on the sofa and sleep at the bottom of my bed.  She'd not eating a great deal but she is eating and drinking so I think she's settling.

She hasn't done many poos, but given the little she is eating that's not worrying me and she has done everything inside her litter tray.  In the past when she's been stressed there have been accidents but so far so good.

This week I've gone back to decluttering.  This is even more crucial now as our son and his wife have asked to move back in when their tenancy expires next April so that they can save money for a deposit for a house.  Of course we have said yes but it does mean I need to get on with sorting out the house!

Fortunately I have found a home for my leftover jumble - my cousin is involved with her local dog shelter and they are about to open a charity shop and need stock.  I've been meaning to visit my cousin for ages but with the wedding and helping out with my sister-in-law it hasn't happened.  Now I have a real incentive to go so hopefully I'll be going up to her the week after next with a carload of stuff.  

I've also discovered that portable TVs count as bulky waste items as far as our council are concerned.  We have 3 of those in the house plus a couple of old DVD players so I'm going to get them together and book a collection.  

Baby steps.

An improving week

So far my week has improved each day but maybe I shouldn't say that as it's only Wednesday!

On Monday I had a hospital appointment for a colonoscopy.  For anyone who's had that done you will know it involves a bit of preparation - enough said! It was fun on Sunday being able to eat nothing and having MIL and offspring here for Sunday lunch.  For those of you who haven't had the pleasure it's not as bad as you anticipate.

We arrived in good time for my appointment only to be told I wasn't on the list!  The receptionist asked me if I'd done all the prep.  I managed to reply sweetly that I had.  (Why would I turn up if I hadn't done the prep?????)  Fortunately they fitted me in but of course there was a lot of waiting around.

The good news was that I was given the all clear before coming home so that was a major relief.  The bad news was that, having opted for conscious sedation for the procedure, I couldn't have any alcohol for 24 hours.  I survived.

Yesterday, bouyed I think from cutting my ties with school last week and having the medical all clear, I decided it was time to tackle my shed.  It's a job that's been on the to do list for a while but it was warm and sunny yesterday so I tackled it head on.  Everything was taken out.  I then swept all the cobwebs, dust etc out.  Good job my daughter-in-law wasn't around - she can't bear spiders.

After the clearout

Next I sorted out what needed to be thrown out - some old garden chair frames that had rusted, an old lawnmower that had died and couldn't be economically fixed and an old BBQ that again had rusted and was falling apart. There were also two bikes of the kids which will need cleaning up and new homes found.

Once I'd done the sorting I was then able to put back only the stuff that needed to be kept.  I was also able to put my daughter's bike that we are storing (temporarily!) into the shed, freeing up space in our hallway.  Hubby has been moaning so long about having 3 bikes in the hallway.  But typical of hubby, he doesn't do anything to solve/alleviate the problem.  (Our house is terraced so there is no side entrance and to get anything out to the garden involves going down a flight of stairs so not practical to keep bikes anywhere but the entrance hallway really.)

Waiting to be sorted

I then arranged a bulky waste collection by the council for the rubbish.  (They are quite good at removing rubbish for you and it's free!)  Once I'd done that I placed the rubbish in the front garden as instructed.  Well, the council man has just knocked and asked about my rubbish which, yes you've guessed it, had disappeared.  I've no idea when or how it went but it's gone!  If someone could make use of my rubbish they are welcome to it.

Today I think I've earned some blogging time :)

Thursday talking 21/5/15

Well it's Thursday so nearly the weekend and we have a long weekend to look forward to as Monday is a bank holiday.

The weather today has been lovely. I hope it continues.  I've spent most of the day in the garden and I even put some sunscreen on!  The gardener was here in the afternoon so she was directing my efforts.  The garden is looking so much better.  Unfortunately hubby is no gardener and I've had spells over the last couple of years where I've had a frozen shoulder, then a trapped nerve and generally not been able to do much in the garden.  It fell into neglect and was quite overgrown.

Then we heard of Lisa.  She has made such a difference but now that I'm here she's also getting me more involved with it.  So today I have weeded, planted and mowed the lawn.  Well the grass, I wouldn't call it a lawn, it's not very level and has lots of weeds plus a few bare patches.  Although I did put some seed on the bare patches.  Hopefully they will grow before the birds pinch it all.  

I don't encourage the birds into the garden.  There are a lot of cats around including one of our own so I don't think it would be fair to encourage them in to get attacked.  Although our cat wouldn't move fast enough to catch anything.

I'm actually typing this on the patio.  It's getting a bit chilly but the sun is still out so I'm enjoying the peace and quiet.  Might have to get a jumper soon though.  And, despite all the comments on the Hodgepodge yesterday, I'm wearing leggings.  But I do have a long top over them that covers my rear end!

I think I will need a soak in the bath later to ease the muscles that are protesting a bit at this unexpected exercise.  And my hands and nails definitely need some attention, despite wearing gloves.

I didn't work non-stop.  In fact we didn't have an early start today.  Embarrassingly I wasn't dressed when the Tesco shopping arrived.  I'd planned it early so that I would be up and dressed and have lots of the day ahead of me.  Then I forgot it was coming!  Hopefully I'll remember to collect my mother-in-law tomorrow!


Some of you asked about the jumble trail I mentioned on the Hodgepodge.  I think jumble trails are a fairly new thing here.  There is a website set up to co-ordinate them.  Basically you have an organiser who selects an area and a day for it to take place.  People can then sign up for a small fee to be included on a map which is on the website.  Sellers set themselves up at home to sell so a bit like a yard sale and buyers can trail around the various stalls.



I'm looking forward to it.  Just have to get all my clutter organised.  I have made inroads on that but it's hard.  The other day I had to sort through a crate of paperwork of my Mum's, most of which just needed to be shredded and disposed of.  But of course it brought back memories.

Then I decided to tackle a damp patch in one of our spare rooms.  There had been a leak from the roof which is now fixed but the wallpaper and ceiling in the room had been affected.  I decided to start stripping back the wallpaper but it started to cause quite a bit of dust.  So before I continue I need to move the mattress off the bed so it doesn't get messed up.  It needs to move into the other spare room - except that is full of stuff.   So I have to clear the stuff before I can move the mattress before I can.......getting the picture?  The stuff of course will be what we try and sell on the jumble trail so for now it has to stay put.  Except I need to move it. 

Ever feel like you're going round in circles or is it just me?!

Decluttering - a step at a time

As I've mentioned before I'm in the process of trying to declutter out house now that we are empty nesters.  I've just been doing a bit at a time working on the basis that every little bit I do will eventually add up to get the job done.  I'm also working on not bringing more clutter into the house.

That's difficult when you have a hubby who loves to browse charity shops and our local Saturday market stalls who often have books/secondhand goods on sale.  And of course I'm not a lot better - case in point, I went to say hello to my daughter yesterday.  She's a Samaritan and the branch where she volunteers was having an open day and they had a stall outside selling amongst other things - books!  Of course I came home with two.  But in my defence I do have some already boxed up to donate back.  There is an Oxfam shop nearby that only sells books so I often drop books off there as you can get the car near enough to do so.

That's one problem I have with decluttering.  I hate just throwing stuff away so I try to recycle/donate as much as possible but it's not always easy to deliver things to charity shops, especially on my own.  Hmm I think I'm just making up excuses here or worse still procrastinating.

We were talking to someone yesterday who recommended a book by Marie Kondo called "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up".  Marie has a different approach to de-cluttering in that you should do things by categories.  So for example you would gather all your clothes together.  Everything.  All in one place for example your bedroom floor.  Then you would go through the items and only keep things which bring you joy.

That's probably a bit of a simplistic view of her principals (I haven't read the book) but I if I followed that rule I'd be walking around with no knickers on because I can't say that any of my knickers bring me joy!  They serve a purpose.  They keep my backside covered, definitely a good thing, but joyful?  NOT.  (And for those of you out there with delicate wispy bits of fabric known as lingerie that leave very little to the imagination, sorry but that's not my thing.  And even if it were I'm still not sure they'd bring me joy.)

I'd also struggle to get all the books in this house in one place to go through them in such a cut-throat way but there probably are some things I could apply it to.  Just had a great thought.  I could apply it to hubby's CDs which seem to end up all over the place.  Very few of them bring me joy so I could definitely reduce the amount of space needed for them.  Trouble is that would probably also relieve me of a hubby and OMG think how much space I would have then.....lol

Reality check

It’s day one after the A – Z Challenge but I decided not to have a rest and to find something to post about instead.  It was quite useful having a theme for the challenge but now it’s back to real life which is usually what I blog about. 

My life has taken a major twist over the last couple of months.  I’ve gone from having a very stressful job, working long hours every day to being at home all day, every day.  Initially this change was very hard to adjust to.  My blood pressure was high, I was feeling very low and there were quite a few duvet days to start with.  It’s been a reality check and I’m not totally sure whether I’ll look for another job yet or consider myself retired.

It has given me a lot of time to watch TV.  I’d like to say I watch programmes that are enlightening and educational but sadly I can’t.  I watch some quiz shows which will of course exercise my brain but I also watch a lot of American shows.  I steer clear of reality shows and I’m not a British soap opera fan.  I used to watch them a lot but made a conscious choice not to get hooked into them.

What surprised me this week were the comments about a storyline in a popular show.  A main character had been written out.  Although I agree that it sounded as if it hadn’t been done very well, the comments of some of the fans were worrying in that some of them carried on as if it were a real person being killed off rather than just a character in a show.  I wanted to interject and tell them to get a grip but who am I to judge what other people watch and how much of themselves they invest into it.

It did make me more aware that I need to find things to fill my time.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying it’s bad to watch TV it’s just that I feel I’m doing too much of it at the moment and I could spend my time more productively. 

I’ve had a few things to keep me busy this week – we’re having a gathering for family and friends on Sunday to celebrate hubby’s 60^th birthday.  That’s got me back into making lists!  Just getting his immediate family together involves over 40 people.  Fortunately we are not doing this at home, we will use the social club that we are members of.

I’ve also started on decluttering the house.  One box at a time.  If every box takes as long as the first one this will keep me occupied for a long time.  The box I tackled was one left behind by our youngest son when he moved out.  I’d asked him if it was just rubbish or if anything needed to be kept.  His response was it was just rubbish.

Well, it’s a good thing we recycle!  There was a lot of paperwork in the box so I started to sort it out into a bag for recycling and a bag for the rubbish bin.  I won’t embarrass my son my divulging just how many things I determined were fit for neither bag but….I have a pile of important papers waiting for him and we’ve gained a lot of working pens.  I also spent a lot of time shredding paperwork that couldn’t just go straight into the recycling bin.  It took me most of a morning to get through that one box.

However, I now have one less box of junk to go through so it’s a step forward.  Positive thinking!